THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

d confidence in him. Secretary Bernhard Fast and Friesen prepared a petition to be presented to the government. It was based on the legislation relating to the Mennonites and on the statement of the Ministry of the Interior of March 6, 1880. This request was signed by the leadership of both churches (Nikolaifeld and Tiege) and, if we are not in error, the area administrative officials as well. When, however, the churches were closed in 1896, two prominent members of the Mennonite Church of Nikolaifeld were delegated to go to the Molotschna in order to seek advice and support. A very important man there, when he heard that the Mennonite Church had signed a petition jointly with the “Brethren,” is said to “have been silent, but to have looked very critical and to have shrugged his shoulders” (precisely sol). In Sagradovka itself, there appeared a man who up to this point had not associated either with the “Brethren” or with the Mennonite Church, and who certainly did not have the confidence of the Mennonite leadership. This man was regarded as experienced in legal matters, and became the authorized agent for the Mennonite Church. In writing, and verbally, it was now stated that there existed a peculiar brotherhood. Somehow it was associated with the Baptist movement, and with “Stundists.” The Mennonitism of the “Brethren” was questioned. All of this, of course, "without any unbrotherly intention.” Even immersion was cited as putting the Mennonite identity of the Tiege Church in question. In St. Petersburg, an evangelical Christian of high standing, a retired admiral, Baron von Mirbach, 344 who had given such help as he could to the Sagradovka delegation, now began to raise questions. He asked if the group at home were living in peace. “Brethren,” he said, “is there no ban among you!?” (We know this from a reliable Christian who was present.) Ultimately it was the Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod, Konstantin Petrovitsch Pobedonostzev, who decided the issue. He did so in the spirit of the request of the summer of 1895. (The details come from one who was present.) The Procurator found the whole thing absurd. In the late summer of 1898 both church buildings were opened on the same day through one and the same official order. Prior to this, a special investigation had been undertaken at Sagradovka by an officer assigned 550 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH by the regional government office on orders from higher authorities. (This was done with the help of the neighboring Lutheran pastor [!!] who was brought in as the expert. He proved useful to the “Brethren” because he had expertise in church history, and was unbiased.) In the presence of the officials of the Area Administrative Office authorities and the leadership of both churches, Nikolaifeld and Tiege, it was to be established whether the Tiege Church was indeed Mennonite. The official reported to the authorities that the so-called Mennonite Brethren