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

e evident that, although our church-registry 24 had been kept according to the spirit of the law, it was not founded upon any legislative statute. Upon the request of our deputies for good counsel, the Director gave proposals concerning the manner of revision of the present books, and the keeping of these books in the future. “Consequently, we have the honor to obediently petition your High Excellency: I. Every Mennonite church (church-parish) elects a Revision- Commission, composed of: a) one church-elder or minister, b) one member, who is employed in an administrative office, and who is known to the authorities and enjoys their confidence (colony-administrator, district judge and others), and c) one ordinary member. The person who keeps the church-register of a given church-parish belongs to the staff of the Commission as reporter and consultant. Every Commission will be presented to the provincial authorities for confirmation. Copies of the civil-registers (church-registers) are herewith enclosed. II. The keeping of church books (registers) shall in future be assigned either to a church-bookkeeper, especially elected for this purpose by the church (church-parish) from among its members, or to an ecclesiastical minister of the church. This church-bookkeeper will be presented to the provincial authorities for confirmation, and is responsible for his business-administration before the law on a general basis. Preservation of Independence 641 “The birth, marriage, and death registers (lists) will be kept in two copies, and presented to the provincial authorities at the end of the year for approval. One copy will be returned to the church. “Every congregation annually elects a commission composed of three members for a preliminary examination of the books prior to their being forwarded to the provincial authorities. This commission will be presented to the provincial authorities for confirmation. “The book, as well as the church-seal, approved by the respective authority, shall be kept in a safe place under the responsibility of the church-bookkeeper. The certificates of registration issued represent exact copies of the civil statute. Ill “School Affairs of the Mennonites “A. The Supervision of the Mennonite clergy (‘Spiritual teachers,’ Article 1104-1105, Part 1, Vol. 2) concerning the religious-moral training of youth. The Colonial Statute (Part 1, Vol. 12, #5) already stated that the Lutheran pastors, Catholic fathers, and ‘the spiritual teachers’ of the Mennonites are to exercise a ‘careful supervision with regard to the religious-moral training of youth, both in and out of school.’ Such rights and duties are reinforced by a Most High decree of May 2, 1881, and are in agreement with Article 440, Part 1, Vol. 11, edition of 1896, where it is stated: ‘The ministers shall conscientiously visit the village schools, and shall supervise the religious training of youth in the schools, as wel