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

ral Asia came together on April 4, 1884, at the home of Bernard Regier to discuss the most rapid means of expediting aid to the coming refu- gees. As the meeting began, a well-known Mennonite immigrant, Chris- tian Krehbiel, was named chairman and David Goerz was elected secretary. Claassen presented documents and letters from Nebraska Mennonites telling of their desire to have a joint meeting to discuss mutual concerns. Claassen was promptly chosen to represent the New- ton group in Nebraska. In the meantime, an emergency subcommittee was formed to handle immediate requests for help. Each member of the committee was given specific responsibilities, such as contacting newspaper help, actively seeking contributions and support from other American groups, and also sending word to Prussian Mennonites. Goerz was appointed to inquire with steamship companies and railroads about special rates. He was even given the option to negotiate con- tracts. Estimating that it would take anywhere from $8000 to $10,000 Migration to America 179 to bring the refugees to the United States, the men discussed ways of obtaining means of procuring low-interest loans that could be easily secured. Closing the meeting, they chose the ‘American Menno- nite Aid Committee’ as their name and sent a telegram to Khiva and a letter to six families in Aulie Ata telling them of their ambi- tious plans.‘ Following the meeting, Claassen left for Nebraska. Six days later, L. E. Zimmerman called several leaders together for a special meeting at his home in Beatrice, Nebraska, where Claassen outlined the hopes and plans of their Kansas brethren. The Nebraskans expressed their willingness to cooperate,: urging only that it was imperative to help the Lausan refugees first because of their great need and their dangerous situation among the Turkomans. Previously, on April 2, this group had committed themselves to an all-out effort for Lausan when they sent a telegram to the noted J. F. Funk, editor of the Herold der Wahrheit, a Mennonite paper, in Elkhart, Indiana, entitled a “Call for Help,” which had received wide distribution. Feeling they were already involved in an active campaign, they did not feel they should dissipate their limited resources through a commitment to help Central Asia. They wondered, moreover, whether joint effort would hinder the progress already made toward helping the Lausan people.® As the meeting continued, however, Peter Jansen, an important Nebraska Mennonite, was given a liaison assignment similar to that of Goerz. Plans were also made to send money to an intermediary named Johann Bergmann at Lysandérhoh, in the Trakt, in order to help the Lausanites travel from Orenburg to Germany. ° Returning from Nebraska, Claassen called a meeting at his home on April 18, in which he informed his brethren of the actions of the “Aid Committee for the Needy Brethren in Khiva’’ at Beatrice. Somewhat peevishly, the Kansas comm