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

obsession. An early, enthusiastic participant and disciple of Epp has written a detailed and very interesting account of the movement and particularly about Epp. Now a sober critic and an honest and reasonable Christian, he writes about these things in his book entitled Unser Auszug Nach Mittelasien (Our Exodus to Central Asia) by Franz Bartsch, teacher in Lysanderhoeh, Province of Samara (published by “Raduga,” Halbstadt). The first leader in the movement in the Molotschna was Abraham Peters (Fuerstenau-Friedensruh), a former public school teacher, who in 1873 established his own church under the name ‘‘The Brethren Church among the Mennonites” (referred to as the Abraham Peters Church to distinguish it from the Hermann Peters Church). This church drew a number of members from the Ohrloff-Neukirch Church and other parishes. This church differed from the Mennonite Brethren Church of 1860 in its freedom in the matter of baptism 349 and a pronounced Kleine Gemeinde character in the positive sense which expressed itself in strict church discipline in all life situations, particularly in economic issues. However, preoccupation with petty things was another characteristic. The “Abraham Peters Church” also held, as did the Volga brethren, that in the imminent period of the Anti-Christ, the only place of refuge for God’s children was in central Asia (Jung-Stilling’s theory). It should be mentioned here that our “Mennonite Wuest,” the late Minister Bernhard Harder, was for some time a strong supporter of this view, in sharp contrast to his cousin, the frequently mentioned Elder, Johann Harder. The generous provisions for exemption in military matters, granted to the Mennonites by Alexander II, seemed to them, as it did to those who emigrated to America, an unevangelical association with “the Beast,” the state, hostile to God. However, these people considered the West, including America, a type of all that is opposed to God, so that in this respect they were separated from Elder Isaak Peters and other emigrants. Br. Bernhard Harder was satisfied with the concessions for exemption granted in 1874, and as a result was condemned for this by both the "Americans” and also those bound for Asia. The writings of the Bavarian Pastor Cloeter were widely read by the "Exodus” or “Kingdom-believing” people. The pastor had established an “exodus colony” by the name of Gnadenburg, in the Terek District (this was a sort of a pre-refuge). However, with respect to military service, the pastor held the view generally held in Protestant circles, and he also held infant baptism in high regard. Our Mennonite The M.B. Church 1885-1910 571 “exodus brethren” combined a rigorous Mennonitism with the old German evangelical pietism, 350 and certain of Jung- Stilling’s views. “Under the wings of the great eagle”— Russia, the fleeing “wise virgins” were to be “kept secure from the great tribulation.” In 1880 several dozen Molotschna f