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

Eighth Point for Deliberation: Concerning a church manual (book of guidelines). A manual is to be printed which shall contain the forms for the different congregational ceremonies of the three large church groups: Chortitza, Lichtenau, Margenau, etc.; Gnadenfeld, Alexander- wohl, etc.; and Kronsweide, Rudnerweide, etc. The first edition is to be printed in 500 copies. 9. Ninth Point for Deliberation: The question of a songbook. Since a new edition of our new songbook has become necessary, the Songbook Commission is being charged with its implementation. At its next meeting, the Songbook Commission is asked to discuss the manner in which this is to be done, including the number of copies. The request of Elder Dirks, to be released from the Songbook Commission because of his physical weakness and age, was granted. As his successor and president of the Songbook Commission, Minister Abraham Klassen 37 of Ogus-Tobe was elected. 10. Tenth Point for Deliberation: The election of a new Conference chairman. As president of our General Conference for the next triennium, Elder Abraham Unrau of New York was elected. 11. Eleventh Point for Deliberation: The elders Jakob Gerbrand and Johannes Kroeker, both from Siberia, are each granted 300 rubles from the treasury for an itinerant ministry— beginning with the new year, 1911. Note: The Conference expresses its gratitude for love and hospitality to the Schoensee congregation by rising. 12. Twelfth Point for Deliberation: The physical and congregational needs of the new settlers in Siberia. Since, as a result of a crop failure, the need there is very great and will not diminish until the next harvest, we and our congregations do not want to cease to collect love-gifts for the alleviation of the need there. In view of the congregational needs of the young churches, the Conference expresses the wish that at least two visits be made to those areas during the next conference year by itinerant ministers from the so-called “Old Colony congregations” (Chortitza, Kronsweide, etc.) and from the Molotschna congregations. The representatives of the congregations from Davlekanovo and Omsk express the desire that they also be visited on these trips. Preservation of Independence 657 The Conference was closed by Elder Heinrich Dirks with a report about the status of the “foreign missions” of the Mennonites and with a worship service which he based on Eph. 2:10. The original copy is signed by: Conference Chairman: Heinrich Unruh. Conference Secretary: G. Harder. For the establishment of a new congregation, the following form has been prepared by the General Conference (which had convened at Schoensee on October 26 and 27) which is to be filled out by the elder or leading minister of the mother church for the authorization of those persons who wish to join the prospective new congregation. (See note, point 1, a.) Certificate This certifies that settler-propriet