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

pled with the discipline exercised by the congregation, should produce a unique brand of gentleness in the individual Mennonite, that their strict religiosity, their simple affirmation of the truth and their original frugality [simplicity and moderation] kept them from violent outbursts of passion and made deception as well as extreme anger infrequent occurrences, is a natural consequence of these principles. But the [earlier hostile] treatment on the part of their neighbors and government officials must have had a decisive influence on the formation of certain characteristics, which certain people have believed to have observed in them. Thus some have asserted that Mennonites are sly, slow, uncommunicative and distrustful. In the earlier period the Mennonites were hated more by all religious groups, avoided more by them and thus forced to rely more upon themselves. The constant fear in which they lived forced them to be cautious and deliberate. They sought to lead an exemplary pious and faultless life and to confirm this with outward appearance, in order, they believed, to be best able to refute the calumnies of their opponents. d) It is probably because of this that a certain caution and fear, a certain withdrawal into oneself and a partial avoidance of alien religious groups arose in them, a unique characteristic some have discerned in their early history. [Only then?] e) Their customs are simple, while crimes 56 and illegitimate births 56 are infrequent occurrences amongst them ; still less frequent are suicides. 56 These assertions regarding the Mennonite congregations are confirmed by statistical evidence [ca. 1820]. Simplicity, order, nearly fearful cleanliness, abstention from sports and boisterous activity prevail [?!] in all friendly gatherings as well as within the circle of the individual f amil y f) As a steward of his property, the Mennonite deserves praise; industry and cleanliness prevail in his home and farm buildings, peace in his family. No one has made more progress in agriculture than the Prussian Mennonite [to 1820]. g) The Mennonites aid and support their brethren in the faith in every case of necessity without being called upon to do so, indeed without having any agency or direction to take charge of such matters. [It is especially for this purpose that the deacon is the elder’s assistant, and that the spiritual Mennonite congregation is an ancient apostolic association for mutual assistance: I Cor. 16:1 and other passages!] The poor among the Mennonites never suffer want; the Mennonite whose buildings have burned down, who has been robbed or who has met with 76 DUTCH-PRUSSIAN ANABAPTISTS an accident can count on having nearly everything restored to him. [Compare our Russian Mennonite insurance system, an outgrowth of these principles.] Other Protestants and Catholics also often benefit in this way at the hands of the Mennonites, although this seldom happens where