The Great Trek of the Russian Mennonites to Central Asia, 1880-1884, Fred Richard Belk, 1976

Trek of the Russian Mennonites cret groups throughout a number of Dutch communities. From these ‘“‘Melchiorites’” arose a new movement, led by two brothers, Obbe and Dirk Philips, the adherents of which eventually came to be called “‘Obbenites.”” In 1536, Menno Simons, a man who had become converted through a personal study of the Bible and the writings of Martin Luther, joined the Obbenites and soon became their leader. For 25 years Menno worked toward uniting Dutch Anabaptists and wrote books and tracts which would help to strengthen his Anabap- tist congregations. This work led to a united denomination that came to be called ‘““Mennist.’’ He taught the same basic principles as the Swiss Conrad Grebel — free church, baptism upon confession of faith, nonresistance, rejection of the oath, the principle of freedom of con- science, and voluntarism in religion and he insisted on high ethical standards of life and conduct. Because of Menno Simons’ personal charisma and his influential writings, all Anabaptists ultimately came to be called Mennonites, although until the twentieth century the Swiss Mennonites called themselves Taufgesinnten (‘‘Baptism-minded’’), and the Dutch used the equivalent term Doopsgezinden. Theological Outlook These Mennonites were a peculiar people. With their em- phasis upon separation of church and state, the early Mennonites registered a strong protest against the leaders of the Reformation, such as Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin, who at first shared the belief that the church and state should stand apart, but later changed their view as to when political power could be used as a means of propagating their faith. Though never denying the legitimacy of civil government, the Mennonites taught that its duties were strictly secular and that it had no authority to enforce new religious doctrines or practices." Another attitude that was prevalent among early Mennonites was their otherworldliness. Hope for finding peace and security here on earth seemed remote to them. Persecution had accentuated the gulf between “the world’ and the true people of God who had a heavenly home. The biblical denunciations of the world were em- phasized in sermon and practice, while a strong effort toward a progressive holiness was continually stressed." Mennonite belief in the other world came from their supreme source — the Word of God. Scriptural authority was beyond ques- Mennonite Backgrounds NORTH SEA © Leeuwarden THE NETHERLANDS W itmarsum ¢ *$ ONordhorn Enschede © og Gronau Osnabniick 3 Munster C) \ Menno Simons was born in Witmarsum and was active there. After his conversion in 1536, he fled eastward, living in Groningen, then near pin on Emden and in Wis- tenfelde, Schieswig- Holstein. Because of the per- sonal charisma and influential writings of Menno Simons (1496-1561), all Anabaptists ultimate- ! ly came to be called Mennonites. 27 -