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

n a trip of these men to St. Petersburg, and later to a consultation of all church-administrative councils of the Molotschna (of the older Mennonite, as well as of the M.B. and Evangelical M.B. congregations— see below) in Alexanderwohl on February 7, 1908 (and other consultative meetings). The nature of the legislative project and the position taken by the Alexanderwohl assembly and all other Mennonite consultations is seen in the following resolution, which was accepted eventually by all other Mennonite church groups of Russia in various gatherings. As a result of this document and its consequences, and for other reasons, various statutes were added which are given in #293 and 294. We present the document of February 7, 1908, in translation. 630 MATTERS OF FAITH §293 A. "The Position of the Mennonites with regard to the Question of Freedom of Faith and Propaganda. "I. a) With regard to the question of freedom of conscience, as far as it relates specifically to the Mennonites, we have no other desire than that this freedom, which we have enjoyed in Russia for more than 100 years, also be granted to us in the future. “b) In the code of laws, Vol. XI, Part 1, Division 3, articles 1104 and 1105, the Mennonites are listed together with other Protestant denominations, which implies that in the law Mennonites are recognized as a Protestant denomination or ‘fellowship’ like the Reformed or other Protestants, and are not considered to be a sect; in the projected legislation, however, which has been presented in the Imperial Duma by the Minister of the Interior, we are designated as such. Any restriction of the rights hitherto granted unto us would inhibit the sound development of spiritual, moral and congregational life. “II. Christ’s command: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” etc., we understand to mean that every Christian is obligated to spread the truth of the Christian faith, or, in other words, to preach the Gospel to all nations. We believe firmly in the power of the Word of God, according to the statement of the Apostle Paul, Romans 1:16: ‘For I am not ashamed of the Gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith.’ “III. However, we abstain from any active propaganda among members of other Christian denominations, whether this is understood as imposing our distinctive teachings on others (in order to lure such into our fellowship), or as agitating by extolling our teaching at the expense of other Christian teachings, coupled with a defamation of the latter. “IV. We are deeply convinced of the truth that only the free proclamation of the Gospel in its original simplicity and purity is able not only to enlighten man unto eternal life, but also to bring about the blessed new order of the civic life, so keenly desired by all of us, and to establish immovably the All-Russian throne, ordained of God, as it is stated in I Timothy 4:8: ‘godliness is of val