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

. 29 During the current year, a group of members of the M.B. Church was accused of unlawful, propagandists actions. A prominent provincial official authorized to make arrests and take other measures, carried on investigations. However, in spite of the most thorough and most comprehensive treatment of the matter, he declared such actions to be inopportune and did not carry them out. Yet this gentleman declared, that a certain group of “Mennonite Brethren” were not Mennonites, but Baptists (which was not substantiated, however, by higher authorities). At this point, a concern emerged among some good but anxious members, among a few evil-minded ones out of envy and malicious joy, among others, and including some leaders of the Mennonite congrega- tions, because of a basic conviction and in honest opposition as well as 650 MATTERS OF FAITH §298 among several over-zealous “brethren.” Among them certain excitement and contention surfaced, as well as in the Mennonite press. Much that was embarrassing was unnecessarily said; we would gladly consign this to the forgetfullness of society, and to the gathering dust on the yellowing pages of the newspapers. Anyone interested to discover the truth, objectively and calmly, for himself, should read statutes in part “D” of our book, beginning with #70 (which arouse our antipathy, and are so numerous as to be nauseating, but which are necessary for objectivity). Another symptom causing anxiety during the last summer was the sudden prohibition of “solemn baptisms under an open sky” disclosed to the representative of the Rueckenau M.B. Church, H.J. Braun, and to the elder of the “Molotschna Evangelical Mennonite Brotherhood,” Heinrich Guenther. As a result of a personal and written petition of the two leaders mentioned above addressed to the governor of Taurida, and the latter’s cordial and immediate presentation, the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior completely rescinded the matter and informed the two brethren (Braun and Guenther) via telegram that they were released from their restriction, and that “the baptism of Mennonites under an open sky” was permitted on the former basis. 30 These and other things created a somewhat tense atmosphere and apprehensions for the “General Conference.” Praise God— it all transpired publicly and officially, in complete quiet and peace, in the best way as already described. Obviously, there were undercurrents, but also a wholesome counter-pressure in both camps. An educated “Old Colony” minister 31 writes to the author: “We in the Old Colony are somewhat slow, hence we are not excited too quickly. Here, too, people have read with interest (in the papers] about the outbursts on both sides, but have reduced them to the proper measure of personal irritability, and therewith prevented a too strong generalization .... And we . . . men of the Old Colony . . . would have, I believe (in the event tha