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

. In the name of the greater part of our brothers in the faith, we declare ourselves ready to accept personal service. Since we are insufficiently acquainted with the discharging of this service obligation, we request, in a most humble statement and after mature examination, that we be permitted to express which of the kinds of service 23 permitted us we would prefer as being most desirable for our circumstances. At the same time, we feel compelled personally to express our warmest thanks to Your High Excellency for this condescension to us in truly fatherly friendship, and we add the most humble plea that before His Majesty you be the interpreter of our most humble petition, and that you specifically recommend the following points: “1) That, should a change be made in the military law in the future, so that as a result we would lose the most gracious privileges now granted us, we be permitted freely to emigrate. "2) That our schools, which the gracious monarch of the Russian Empire has thus far allowed to remain under our free administration, might remain thus and enjoy the rights of other comparable schools in §274 596 THE STATE §275 the empire, in connection with which, out of a feeling of duty toward our dear fatherland, we obligate ourselves to devote all possible attention and care to the learning of the language of the land. “3) That, through placing our young men in a few places and in closed groups, it be made possible properly to supervise them, to provide them with the necessary nurture, and to practice church discipline according to our confession of faith and our church regulations. “With deeply -felt wishes and the heartfelt prayer: God keep and protect His Majesty our most gracious Tsar and lord, Her Majesty the Tsarina, His Imperial Highness the heir-apparent and the whole Imperial Household for many, many more years! We remain Your high Excellency’s most obedient servants. [Signed on April 22, 1873, by the religious and civil leaders of the Molotschna districts. Those of Chortitza added their endorsement when Totleben visited them.] b) The law of May 14, 1875, in translation states the following: "The Mennonites are exempted from bearing arms. On the basis of special regulations, their service is performed in the work-places of the marine department, the fire brigade and in the special mobile detachments of the forestry department. This does not apply to those Mennonites who have joined the sect since January 1, 1875, or have immigrated from abroad. “Regulations concerning the discharge of obligatory service by the Mennonites "Those Mennonites, who prior to the publication of this law concerning military duty, belonged to the sect and had settled 24 in Russia, will, after expiration of the special rights 25 granted them by imperial decree on January 1, 1874, and their becoming subject to the above-mentioned law, discharge their obligatory military service a