Perilous Journey: The Mennonite Brethren in Russia 1860-1910, John B. Toews, 1988

haft in Russland, 1789-1910 (Halbstadt, 1911). 9 Documents published in Friesen contain an autobiography, memorandum and excerpts from several letters. Ibid., 569-77. 10 See James Urry, "John Melville and the Mennonites: A British Evangelist in South Russia, 1837-C.1875," Mennonite Quarterly Review, LIV (1980), no. 4, 305-322. 11 David Epp Diary, July 19, 1842. Epp recorded that he accepted six "chests" of Bibles and New Testaments for distribution in the Chortitza settlement. 12 Ibid., September 20, 1838. 13 Ibid., January 17, 1839. Epp made a second visit to both schools early in 1839. See February 2, 1839. 14 /6ici.,May27, 1841. 15 Ibid., June 22, 1841. 16 Ibid., July 7, 1841. i? Ibid., February 2, 1839. 1" Ibid., April 30,1839. 19 Friesen, 82. 20 Ibid. 21 "Aus der Gnadenfelder Gemeindechronik," Mennonitisches Jahrbuch, (1909), 109-10. 22 Friesen, 84. 23 J. Martens, "Statistische Mittheilungen ueber die Mennoniten-Gemeinden im suedlichen Russland," Mennonitische Blaetter, Vol. 4(1857), 33. 24 Figures recorded in the Dietrich Gaeddert Diary (Mennonite Library and Archives, N. Newton, Kansas). Read by the elder at the New Year service on January 1, 1861 and January 1, 1865. 25 Adolf Ehrt cites 5.18 as the average family size in Das Mennonitentum in Russland (Berlin, 1932), 54. 26 In David Epp's Chortitza the unofficial Kirchenkonvent still worked closely with local congregations. See for example January 27, 1838; January 30, 1841; July 9, 1841; October 30, 1 841 ; November 27, 1841; January 14, 1842; April 15, 1842; July 2, 1842. 27 Ibid., May 26, 1842. 2 « Ibid., July 2, 1842. 29 Ibid., December 27, 1842. 30 Franz Isaak, Die Molotschnaer Mennuniten (Halbstadt, 1908), 117-121. 23 31 Ibid., 119. On August 14, 1846 Hahn wrote to Mennonite civic leaders in the Molotschna stipulating that religious leaders must not involve themselves in secular affairs and that the primary duty of every citizen was "to obey the authorities appointed by the government." Ibid., 114-116. 32 Jacob P. Bekker, Origin of the Mennonite Brethren Church (Hillsboro, Kansas, 1973), 56. 33 Ibid., 57. 34 John B. Toews, "The Mennonite Village School in Nineteenth Century Russia," Journal of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Vol. 7(1984), no. 1,27.36. 35 Mennonite Library and Archives (North Newton, Kansas). Benjamin Ratzloff to Elder Jacob Hildebrand, Rudnerweide, May 21, 1840. 36 Mennonite Library and Archives (North Newton, Kansas). Jacob Martens to Elder Jacob Hildebrand. Tiegenhagen, August 29, 1860. 37 Gaeddert Diary, August 21, 1860. 38 Ibid., May 15, 1862. 39 Ibid., January 5, 1871. « Ibid., August 31, 1869. 41 ibid., August 19, 1869. 42 Ibid., August 6, 1869. 4 3 Ibid., August 24, 1869. 24 CHAPTER III NEW BEGINNINGS David Epp's diary faithfully reflected both his broader spiritual concerns and his personal pilgrimage. He understood the difficu