Eastern European Baptist History: New Perspectives, 2007

on Drauga Balss to stop its political involvement.” Well-known Baptist pastor Janis Inkis criti- cised the newspaper, claiming that “a Christian newspaper can preach only that which strengthens the faith and warms the heart in hope of the coming of the glorious Friend”. Here religion is understood as individualistic piety striving for personal salvation, rather than “worldly politics” focusing on eschatological fulfilment. The ALBLS responded to the criticism by stating that it did not support communists, but equally denounced any form of injustice, be it done by communists or the anti-Bolshevik [white] forces led 8 A, Egle, “No Filadelfijas’, Drauga Balss, no. 4 (1920), p. 59. 4 “No Nujorkas’, Jaunda Tévija, no. 1 (1916), p. 27. 6 Péteris BuSmanis, “Editoriels’, Drauga Balss, no. 1 (1919), p. 3; Drauga Balss was published from 1918-1920. The author has not found in libraries any issues from 1917 mentioned in the bibliographical index. 6 K, Freidenfelds, “Spéks, kas ir iek§ mums’, Drauga Balss, no. 1 (1919), p. 6. 7 Janis Birznieks arrived in the USA in 1915. Beginning in 1916 he was pastor of the Boston Latvian Baptist Church (ordained in 1917). However, he left this position after a couple of years. Later, after obtaining US citizenship, he changed his Latvian name to an American one - John Adam Brave. He received a Doctor of Divinity degree. “Janis Birznieks’, Kristiga Balss, no. 12 (1952) pp. 146-147. 8 “Latviesi Amerika’, Latvijas Sargs, no. 194 (28 August 1920). ® A. Freijs, “Latvijas baptistu draudzu konference’, Drauga Balss, no. 17 (1920), pp. 261- 262. © Janis Inkis, “Véstule iz dzimtenes’, Drauga Balss, no. 7 (1920), p. 110. 112 by Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak or Major General Anton Denikin.*' This was a reminder that Russian anti-Bolshevik armies could not be viewed as liberation movements alone. Yet Drauga Balss did not publish only posi- tive views on socialism. For example, in 1919 and 1920, a lengthy article was published by New York Baptist pastor Isaac Haldeman, a prominent premillenialist preacher who opposed Rauschenbusch. In the article, trans- lated by Janis Blumbergs, Haldeman compared socialism to Cain, who “left God's presence and went to build a city, society and civilisation which is not in accordance with the divine plan”.® In Drauga Balss one can find side to side texts promoting social activism and pieces on revivalist thought. That should not be surprising. Rauschenbusch also is known as the translator of D.L. Moody/Ira Sankey gospel songs into German. Some words should be said about two most distinguished persons among those American Latvian Baptists who were influenced by Socialism — Péteris BuSmanis and Janis Daugmanis. Péteris BuSmanis, before immi- grating to the United States, served as pastor in the Liepaja Zion Baptist Church (1905-1907).® He is characterised as one “who already in early youth was inclined toward progressive ideas’.™ In the United State