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

of 80 in 1792. They also wrote him how overjoyed they were at the visit of Elder Warkentin on his return journey from Chortitza in 1794 and how they were concerned to make his stay a pleasant one. [See X.] Wiebe was also in letter contact with the South German brethren,— for example with Lorenz Friedenreich in Neuwied [on the Rhine] and Peter Weber of the Palatinate. He informed these of the conditions in the Prussian congregations, of dispatching Elder [Cornelius] Regehr [‘Regier,’ of the Heubuden congregation] and Minister [Cornelius] Warkentin [of the Rosenort congregation] to 64 DUTCH-PRUSSIAN ANABAPTISTS Chortitza [upon the urgent requests of those from Chortitza these two voluntarily offered— according to Minister D. H. Epp,— to go there, where Regier died, cf. VIII. and X.[, and of the plight of the Hutterian brethren. Then he asked concerning the congregations on the Rhine. Thereupon he received the response that French troops had ravished the region, taken nearly everything except the clothes on their backs, indeed stripped some people of their shoes and clothing and whipped them in order to discover where they had hidden their treasures. ‘They took, it says, the locks from the doors and tore the lead from the windows, but where is contrition and conversion? Pride, the pursuit of sensual pleasures, and open impiety are everyday occurrences.’ Wiebe proves himself to be a pillar of his congregation and the wider fellowship. His broad and loving vision, which he carried in a prayerful heart, encompassed both local and distant concerns. In July of 1795 his notes come to an end. When one reads these notes one cannot help but sense the warmth of upright piety, and one feels little justification to place himself beside one so worthy. Thus far according to Wiebe. [Elder Wiebe’s episcopal stature is no less sympathetic or commanding of respect than that of C. War ken tin, his contemporary and colleague. We are deeply grateful to the highly regarded brother Wiebe, the author, for publishing this passage and we are in his debt for the use of it.] Appendix 2 The following piece, which relates to the emigration of the Mennonites, throws interesting sidelights on the relationships between the Flemish and Frisians toward the end of the 18th century (taken from Rev. D. H. Epp’s Chortitza Mennom'ten^The Chortitza Mennonites]. Our orthography.). a) “Amsterdam, May 15, 1788. The Peace and Grace of our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord be with the beloved elder and the other honorable co-workers of the Mennonite Church outside 47 Danzig! Amen. Dear friends and brothers! We have been accorded the honor of being able to see and speak with the most noble Lord von Trappe 48 in our city, in our homes, and in our church. He has informed us that a certain number of Mennonites, from our [Flemish] congregation as well as from others, have left for Kherson 49 upon the friendly entreaty of her royal Russian Ma