Eastern European Baptist History: New Perspectives, 2007

wo Prawdy, no. 2 (February 1959), pp. 15-17. ~ 6 Henryk R. Tomaszewski, “Baptysci w Polsce w Latach 1858-1918", Stowo i Zycie, no. 1 (1993), p. 39. 166 were hostile, afraid of the spread of a “Baptist faith’. Without question, music was one of the most widespread forms of worship in Baptist churches in Poland. A choir served as a kind of preacher, so it was important that the text of a song be clear, understood by the congrega- tion and in agreement with Scripture. Baptist church choirs in Poland sang in the Polish language, so the people could understand them. Congrega- tions often sang songs translated from German songbooks, accompanied by organ or piano.’ Members of the congregations often played musical instruments, composed songs or directed a choir.’ At this time, most Baptist worship services in the land of Poland, known as “Bible hours’, were conducted in the homes of believers. At these meetings, people sang religious songs, prayed, confessed their sins and read the Bible.’ PoLisH INDEPENDENCE (1918-1939) Many generations of Polish society had been waiting for the end of World War I. For many people, it was hard to believe that Poland had again become a free country. There was also sadness in Christian hearts because of the lost. About two thousand members of the Baptist Church had perished in the Great War.’° Polish evangelicals dreamt not only of national freedom, but especially of a spiritual awakening. The Baptist focus on mission inspired other denominations, such as the Free Christian Church [Koscidt Wolnych Chrzescijan], the Pentecostal Church [Kosciét Zielonoswigtkowy], and the Polish Church of Christ [Koscidt Chrystusowy]. In the new, free country of the Second Polish Republic, the position of the Roman Catholic Church had changed, as it was now the most powerful church in the land. Two constitutions (March 1921 and April 1935) guaran- teed that “the Roman Catholic religion, which is the religion of the majority of people in the nation, [held] the primary position among religions, which share equal rights’."’ However, the Baptists churches had something unique that people could not find in other religions. Thousands were drawn to the churches ” In many village churches, the congregation sang a cappella or accompanied by the har- monium [fisharmonia]. One church in eastern Poland near the border still uses the harmo- nium today. ® Dr V. Jelinek, “Swiadectwo Jana Pospieszy?!’, Stowo Prawdy, no. 5 (1965), p. 11. * Tomaszewski, “Baptysci w Polsce w Latach 1858-1918’, p. 20. '? William L. Wagner, New Move Forward in Europe: Growth Patterns of German Speaking Baptists in Europe (Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1978), p. 113. '! Jarostaw Gowin, Koscidt po komunizmie (Krakéw: Znak, 1995), p. 18. 167 like magnets. If we look at the earliest documents, just after Poland gained its independence, we can see that the Baptist Church's united spirit and emphasis on the worshi