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

t a church structure. God helped wonderfully: within two months the new building was approved, and exactly two months after the old building had been closed, on January 11, 1897, it was re-opened by the chief of police. The congregation moved in on that same day and joyfully sang songs of gratitude and praise. On September 14, 1897, the new building was opened. Many brothers and sisters from near and far participated, as did many guests. The building, which could accommodate 800, was too small for the dedication celebration. Blessed was the proclamation of the Word! The church was now able to meet in peace and quiet, and was particularly grateful to the government (for which it prayed regularly in the worship services) that it had decided in their favor. There were trials and times of spiritual drought, to be sure, but the Lord always proved to be a helper. September 11, 1900, was a day of special blessing. The church, which until this time had been an affiliate of the Rueckenau Church, now became independent. Br. Isaak Fast was ordained as elder. The brethren Franz Froese and Peter Rempel (formerly student at St. Chrischona, for a time preacher in the Baptist Church of Girardov, now for several years itinerant minister of the M.B. Conference in North America) were ordained as ministers. In 1894 Br. Jakob Enns had been confirmed as deacon. The Lord is standing by the church with His help, 560 THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH as He did in the past, and will not let it suffer lack of any good thing. Sunday schools, choirs and youth programs offer the youth much opportunity for good. This is how Br. Fast concludes his report: “The ways which the Lord chooses to go with His people are amazing, but He brings all things to a wonderful conclusion and crowns His people with grace and mercy. This is the experience of the M.B. Church of Memrik in every respect, and we are encouraged to erect an Eben-Ezer— Hitherto has the Lord helped us!” 2. In May of 1902, the church at Memrik, together with the affiliated group to be mentioned below, numbered 350 persons, of whom five were active public school teachers. By 1904 two members of this church had studied theology at St. Chrischona: Peter Rempel and Gerhard Berg. 3. The leadership of the central church of Memrik in the ten villages of the settlement of the same name were the following brethren (about 1905): elder: Isaak Fast (died 1909); ministers, Jakob Doerksen, Abram Neustaedter, Franz Froese, Gerhard Berg . . . ; deacons: Heinrich Fehdrau, Jakob Enns, Aron Friesen .... 4. Branch groups affiliated with the M.B. Church of Memrik: 1) Alexandropol, Province of Ekaterinoslav, District of Bachmut (Postal Address: Otientino, Province of Ekaterinoslav). Situated about thirty versts from Kotliarevka, on land purchased in the village of Alexandropol and vicinity. Founded after 1888 by Mennonites of whom about fifteen families were M.B.’s, including the Minister Ja