MENNONITE LIFE M A R C H 1 9 8 5 In this Issue

This issue focuses primarily on the last quarter of the nineteenth century, but the themes are diverse, ranging from biographical and family sketches to community studies. Mennonite Life would like to thank Rebecca F. Krehbiel and the Illinois Historical Society for permission to reprint her article on Albert H. Krehbiel, an early American impressionist artist. The article originally appeared in the spring, 1984 issue of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical So­ ciety. This publication contained two other articles about Krehbiel’s murals, and reprints of the issue may be purchased through the So­ ciety for $3.50 each. Rebecca F. Krehbiel resides in Geneva, Illinois, and with her children established the Krehbiel Corporation to pro­ mote the exhibit and sale of the works of Albert H. Krehbiel. John F. Schmidt, former archivist at the Mennonite Library and Archives, has translated a letter printed in the Vulksfreunden Beuhachter in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1877. In the let­ ter Henry A. Hunsicker of Freeland, Pennsylvania, describes his visit during the summer of 1877 to the Mennonite settlements east of Newton, Kansas. Richard H. Schmidt of Newton, Kansas, views the Alexanderwohl settlement north of Newton during the same period. Schmidt has revised sketches of the Hochfeld village. He prepared this manuscript for his grandchildren and focuses on the house-barn-sheds of Peter Schmidt, Sr. and Jr. Richard H. Schmidt also created the sketches of the barns which accompany the article. Thomas B. Mierau of Wichita, Kansas, has produced a multi- generational account of a Mennonite family, the descendants of Elder Benjamin Ratzlaff. He traces the family from West Prussia to the Molotsehna Colony of Russia to various locations in North America. The spiritual pilgrimage of Elder Ratzlaff and emergence of the Mennonite Brethren Church are themes explored by Mierau. George Hume, a British engineer, spent thirty-five years in Czar- ist Russia, primarily in the area of the Mennonite colonies of South Russia. In his memoirs, Thirty-Five Years in Russia, Hume describes his impressions of the Mennonites and his contacts with the Menno­ nite colonies. Hume’s career is related to the production of agri­ cultural machinery by several large Mennonite firms in Russia. Robert Kreider introduces selections from Hume’s account. The back cover reproduces advertisements from the Mennonite manufacturing firms in South Russia. The final selection in this issue reprints two poems written by Simon P. Yoder of Vistula, Elkhart County, Indiana, in 1873. Yoder printed and sold copies of these poems to aid the migration of the Mennonites from Europe and Russia to North America. The Men­ nonite Library and Archives has copies of lists which detail Yoder’s sales. MENNONITE

March, 1985 Vol, 50 No. 1 LIFE

Albert Henry Krehbiel, 1873-1945: Early American Impressionist 4 Editor Rebecca F. Krehbiel David A. Haury

Editorial Assistants Among the Kansas Mennonites 9 Stephanie Hiebert Barbara Thiesen Henry A. Hunsicker Translated by John F. Schmidt Front Cover John Jacob Krehbiel Family, ca. 1860: Mary K., Linda A., Mother, Albert H.. Isaac R., Fred A., Father, Edgar A., and The Hochfeld Village 12 William J. Richard H. Schmidt Back Cover Advertisements from Friedenstimme, Rus­ sian Mennonite paper, 1908, 1914. Elder Benjamin Ratzlaff: Photo Credits His Life, Times and Descendants 17 Front cover and p. 6, Rebecca F. Krehbiel: pp. 4,5 and 7, Illinois State Historical Li­ Thomas B. Mierau brary; pp. 10-11, Mennonite Library and Archives; pp. 13 and 15, Simon W. Schmidt; pp. 18-19, Thomas B. Mierau and Mrs. Henry Ratzlaff; and p. 22, George Hume, Thirty-Five Years in Russia. The Introduction of the Reaper into Russia 21 George Hume Edited by Robert Kreider

MENNONITE LIFE is an illustrated quar­ terly magazine published in March', June, September, and December by Bethel Col­ lege, North Newton, Kansas. Second Class Immigration Poetry postage paid at Newton, Kansas 67114. 27 S. P. Yoder SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One year, $8.00: Two years, $14.00 (U.S. Funds).

ISSN 0025-9365 Book Reviews 30 A lbert Henry Krehbiel, 1873-1945: Early American Impressionist

by Rebecca F. Krehbiel

Albert Henry Krehbiel, the artist who created exquisite murals for the Supreme Court Building of his adopted state, was a man of many talents and many artistic moods. Eleanor Jewett, art critic of the Chicago Tribune, once said of Kreh- biel’s vibrant Illinois landscapes: “His pictures will long be remem­ bered for their happy note, their impression of joy in nature, and the sheer beauty of their impetuous, ir­ responsible color.”1 A uniquely personal view of the artist can be found in his papers and correspondence, which form the basis of this essay. The author, wife of the artist’s late son, Evans Kreh­ biel, read through newspaper ac­ counts, reminiscences of family members, and original writings of Albert Krehbiel in preparing this narrative. Albert Henry Krehbiel was the third son of Anna and John Jacob Krehbiel of Denmark, Iowa. The elder Krehbiel, a prominent Men- nonite layman and properous car­ riage and buggy maker, was later a cofounder and first president of the board of trustees of Bethel Col­ lege in Newton, Kansas.2 During his early years in Iowa and Kansas, young Albert developed the love for the outdoors that he sustained and celebrated throughout his life. One of Albert’s happiest recol­ lections was of the annual county fair at Newton, at which the finest of his father’s wagons were dis­ played and judged. It was the de­ light of the Krehbiel children to clamber into the' shining farm wagon and lead a proud caravan of coupled vehicles—a spring wagon, Working from scaffolding in his barn studio in Park Ridge, Krehbiel repro­ several buggies, a beautifully up­ duced his sketches onto huge canvases for the wall and ceiling murals of the holstered carriage, and perhaps a Illinois Supreme Court Building.

4 MENNONITE LIFE “Docks at Navy Pier” by Albert Krehbiel, an oil on canvas, measuring IS by 21 inches, shows mid-1920 Chicago. store wagon—all demonstrating the filled with drawing caricatures of Newton to Chicago. art of expert builders, painters, and teachers and students'—-instilled in Within a few years after entering upholsterers. the boy a passion for painting and the Art Institute, Krehbiel was a- The lemon-yellow delivery wagon color. Albert Krehbiel’s only desire warded the Institute’s American was enclosed much like the delivery was to enter the field of art—totally Traveling Scholarship, which en­ trucks of today, but resplendent against the family’s wishes. During abled him to go abroad for study with gay trim, bold lettering, and his teens he agreed to learn the under the greatest of the European fancy striping. On its spacious sides blacksmithing trade in order to meet artists, including Jean Paul Laurens, were large wine-colored panels dec­ his father’s’ demand that he have considered the last of the great his­ orated with rococo borders of gold something to fall back on in case art torical painters. In addition to and red; the name of the company failed to provide a living. He pur­ classes with Laurens at the Acade- was lettered in genuine gold leaf, sued his study of art first at Bethel mie Julian in Paris, Krehbiel spent and every letter was shaded in both College and then at the School of summers in the museums of Holland red and purple. On one wagon, Al­ Design and Painting at Topeka. and France. During his last year in bert was allowed to paint even the Family legend has it that late in Europe he made a walking and wheels and running gear in wine the 1890s Krehbiel’s talent was dis­ painting tour through Spain, ob­ color. At the fairgrounds, the Kreh­ covered by the director of the Art serving the impressionist Velasquez biel wagons competed with “factory- Institute of Chicago, William Mer­ at first hand. (Years later, nine of made” buggies—including those chant R. French, during one of his Krehbiel’s Velasquez studies were manufactured by Bain and Stude- frequent lecture tours through the displayed at the Art Institute Exhi­ baker—but such vehicles simply West. With French’s encouragement, bition of Copies of Old Masters,) could not win. Krehbiel enrolled at the Art Insti­ In Paris, Krehbiel received hon­ Decorating his father’s brilliant- tute. Family tradition further has it ors seldom given Americans. The wagons—together with schooldays that he pedaled his bicycle from Academie recognized his work with

MARCH, 1985 5 gold medals in 1904 and 1905, and and take a weekend train to Fox Following the mural work, Kreh­ the news was rapidly transmitted to River Grove or Cary in nearby Mc­ biel resumed his teaching at the Art the newspaper at Newton: Henry County or across the state to Institute. In 1914 he became an in­ Galena. structor in the Architecture Depart­ Newton Boy Successful Artist In 1907 Krehbiel entered the com­ ment of the Armour Institue (later An interesting letter has been received from Albert Krehbiel . . . [who] is petition for design of the murals the Illinois Institute of Technology), now in Paris and has received three and decorative paintings for what a program cosponsored by the Art gold medals, the first position in paint­ was being called “The Temple of Institute.5 Summers he continued ing, and two prizes of 100 francs Justice,” the chambers of the Illinois teaching at the Ox-Bow Inn at apiece. Nine of his pictures are hung Supreme Court in Springfield. He Saugatuck, and later he established in Julian college, which is more than his own A K School of painting any one artist on record has had, and was chosen over several competing he also has several pictures in the artists, and his selection by the jury there. A member of a Saugatuck most exclusive Paris salon.3 was said to be unanimous. family who spent many summers as Krehbiel and his artist wife spent the Krehbiels’ neighbor during the Returning to the United States several months in research and plan­ 1920s and 1930s provides this image with a total of four gold medals and ning for the execution of each of the Chicago artist: the coveted Prix de Rome, Krehbiel mural. They purchased the vacant married Dulah Marie Evans, an Art lot next to their Park Ridge home, He spent so much time in a class Institute classmate and a highly tal­ moved a barn onto the property, and that we never saw a great deal of him ented member of the Arts Club of except when he was walking through converted the barn into a studio. the grounds or giving a public art Chicago. Since graduation, Dulah Much space was needed for the lecture in the gallery near the Inn. ... had established herself as a com­ canvases—some as large as twenty- Mr. Krehbiel expected a great deal mercial artist, specializing in covers one feet by sixteen feet—and for from his students but gave generous for women’s magazines and such credit where it was due. He often the equipment needed to hold and seemed quite intense, but he had a well-known trademarks as the Ivory move them. Sketchbooks were filled genial side and was extremely court­ Soap babies. The newlyweds settled with costume designs. Dulah Kreh­ eous to anyone sincerely interested in in rural Park Ridge, at the north­ biel created Grecian gowns and art. The picture of him in my memo­ ern edge of the city. ry’s eyes is of a lean, longlegged man robes, and then she served as her in casual dress with a large hat— Albert Krehbiel accepted a faculty husband’s model so that the draping straw—slightly peaked, wide brim appointment at the Art Institute, would be authentic. When the can­ turned jauntily up at the back . . . un­ and he pioneered the Institute’s vases were installed in the magnifi­ der that a quick penetrating glance Summer School of Painting at cent mahogany courtrooms of the and a small pointed beard. He gave Saugatuck, Michigan. Inspired by the impression of possessing much Illinois Supreme Court and the nervous energy and perhaps difficulty Saugatuck and his own scenic part Third Appellate Court, they were in tolerating those who weren’t as of Cook County, he later remarked, greeted with praise. keen minded as he. I have a sort of “I became addicted to landscapes.” William Carbys Zimmerman, State cartoon of him in my recollection: He painted mostly along the Des Architect and designer of the Su­ Albert Krehbiel, hat tilted and beard Plaines River near Park Ridge. Oc­ . . . a pair of narrow legs streaking preme Court Building, considered across the Oxbow grounds with a casionally, he would gather his gear Krehbiel’s work an example of the panting brace of art students in hot best mural painting ever executed pursuit!6 in the West. Editors of the Green Bag, a magazine for lawyers pub­ The recollections of a nephew, lished by the Riverdale Press of Marion Krehbiel, are equally fond: Boston, wrote: “The panels are not “ [He was] my favorite, since he was only paintings of the highest order, a breakaway from staid family tra­ but are painted in such a manner as dition, struck out on his own, [and] to form an unquestionable and an rode a bicycle all the way to Chicago essential part of the general decor­ from Newton, Kansas to pursue his ative scheme” of the courtrooms. The magazine had strong praise for the “natural attitude” of Krehbiel’s figures, which were “free from still­ ness and arranged with grace and dignity.” The artist’s “truthful por­ trayal of familiar types” gave his work “the character of distinctive American art.”4 Krehbiel’s success with public art was repeated in 1908 when he ac­ cepted a commission for the murals Top right. Krehbiel’s “Colorful Row­ in the Juvenile Court chambers of boats.” Bottom right. Krehbiel’s Albert H. Krehbiel, ca, 19^0. Chicago. “Unbelievable Winter Color.”

6 MENNONITE LIFE MARCH, 1985 7 art. . . . In general [he] was what Greetings of the season. Hope your Many of my patrons in this neck of we’d have called “the wild one” in gas is holding out. People here cannot the woods have got a liking to go out get adequate oil to heat their homes in the deep snow-—just from my paint­ his day. . . . He and I had fishing and are flocking to hotels. Certainly ings. Nothing like getting into winter tales to swap . . . and he always fine to be working in the snow again weather. Even then it is fine to sleep seemed to have time for us kids.”7 —the calm—the peace of the winter with the snow blowing in one’s face When in Park Ridge, Krehbiel out-of-doors is hard to improve upon. through an open window. . . . was a friendly and colorful neighbor It has been a wonderful Dec. so far. A painter never seems to grow old. Upon the least excuse the snowflakes who could frequently be seen hitch­ Nature has so many new things to re­ would be in the air. Transportation is veal that one dislikes to miss a single ing a ride with the local grocers, so uncertain. I did not go to Sauga- day. Charles Kobow and his son Bill, in tuck though I have an outfit of paint order to find the most scenic, out- and canvases awaiting me there-—the In June, 1945, on the day of his sun has crossed the line today; the of-the-way reaches of Park Ridge. advent of winter—the wind is in the retirement from the Art Institute, When Krehbiel was planning a south . . . that will be the prevailing Albert Krehbiel suffered a fatal painting day he would drive out with wind for the next 3 months. I’d better heart attack, thus bringing to an young Kobow in the early morning get to work for it looks like a Jan. end a career of nearly four decades. and be picked up late in the eve­ thaw. His contributions to the people of ning for a ride home in the grocery A letter to his brother Will at Illinois had been great, and had he cart. What amused the grocer was about the same time was more re­ been more of an egotist and less of that Krehbiel always wore two pairs flective : an academician, his name and art of long red flannels! All of his paint­ would be better known. As a young ings were done “on location,” and The recess painting period proved so man, his paintings had won gold he had to dress accordingly! good that I did not wish to break the medals in international competi­ The artists’s appreciation of land­ work until the rain had washed away tions ; later they were exhibited at the snow. This happened on Dec. 30. scapes was not limited to Midwest In my work I have had to deal with the Louvre, the Pennsylvania Acade­ winters, however. Some of his most instinct (now declared a science) and my of Fine Arts, the Century of striking work was done in California feeling—a problem of how shapes and Progress, and the Salon des Artistes and New Mexico. The vibrant hues' voids can be arranged so as to produce Francaises. He delighted his neigh­ of Santa Fe scenes seemed to add the sentiment one wishes to portray bors and colleagues with occasional . . . the real words in a painter’s world. an especially brilliant splash to his I have been more productive than any exhibits at the Art Institute, the palette. He was fascinated with the painter in my period—and there are club rooms of Chicago’s Cliff Dwel­ flow of color—not so much in the many dealers in the biz who could lers, and even at the Pickwick The­ forms themselves but the way that take my stuff since there is plenty atre near his home in Park Ridge. forms were affected by light and and make a name at a price. This may happen in time. My interest is His legacy was to several genera­ weather. not so much in a sale as it is in the tion of students, to those who loved Krehbiel in his later years often call of the wild to enable one to cre­ the rural scenery of the northern reminisced in letters to his family. ate or establish rather a new phrase Illinois region, and to those who In 1942, at age sixty-nine, he ob­ of Nature. I’ve missed many a sale found inspiration in the murals of in not giving up a painting day out­ served great changes at the Art In­ doors to meet a patron downtown.” the Illinois Supreme Court Building. stitute because of World War II. In a December letter to his brother Within months, on March 2, 1943, ENDNOTES Will he noted: as he became more sensitive to the 1 July 15. 1945. Pt. 7, p. 4, col. 3 (fac­ simile in Rebecca F. Krehbiel comp., Albert chilling weather, he complained of H. Krehbiel [Chicago: Privately printed. Recently at a faculty meeting . . . the onset of age, but he was quick 1977], p. 17). the board advised the closing of the 2 The Mennonite Encyclopedia (Scottdale. school altogether to keep out of the to conclude, “A painter never seems Pa. : M ennonite Pub. House, 1957). II, 304-6, red . . . such a drop in students. The to grow old.” III, 235: W. J. Krehbiel, History of One Branch of the Krehbiel Family (McPher­ dean maintained it was better to re­ son. Kan. : Privately printed. 1950), pp. 82- duce the faculty to almost nil. Im­ Crippled and staggering with age, 84 (facsim ile in Albert H. Krehbiel, pp. 14- agine my surprise in getting a letter I don’t seem to like the zero wreather 16). •"* Facsimile in Albert H. Krehbiel, p. 17. that my contract is to remain the like I used to. I remember the times i Mr. Krehbiel's Paintings in the New same. Sometimes giving pays abnor­ when at 20 degrees below, I could Illinois Court House,” Green Bag, March, mal interest. . . . I’m five years be- take a dog trot of half a mile and 1911, pp. 135-36 (facsim ile in Albert H. yohd the retiring age designated by return to my easel feeling like a red Krehbiel, pp. 8-11). 5 "Albert H. Krehbiel—An Architect's Ap­ the association.8 hot stove. ... preciation,” Illinois Society of Architects For sixteen summers I was busy Monthly Bulletin, Oct.-Nov., 1945, p. 6 teaching classes out of doors [at (facsimile in Albert H. Krehbiel, pp. 12- His enthusiasm for his art was 13). undiminished, however, even in the Saugatuck], To get away from the fi Barbara Petrie to the author, Jan. 9, crowd of students at night without 1981: copies of this and all letters hereafter midst of Chicago’s winter and war­ losing an arm, I got into my boat and cited are in the possession of the author. time restrictions. On December 22 " This letter to the author is dated Nov. fished. The second summer I got over 15. 1980. he happily wrote his nephew Mar­ 70 bass. I have only a one-half track s This letter is dated Dec. 25, 1942. ion : mind . . . it runs from fishing to 9 This letter is dated Jan., 1943. 0 painting. . . .

8 MENNONITE LIFE Among the Kansas Mennonites

by Henry A. Hunsicker Translated by John F. Sclunidt

This letter is reprinted from Der Vulksfreunden Beubachter, Lancas­ ter, PA, Aug. 5, 1877.

Since I have spent almost a month offered to take me and J. G. Strass- wanderings from Holland to Prussia in Kansas and have been among the burger (of SchwenksviJle) to a Rus­ then to Russia and finally to Amer­ Mennonites there, it may be of in­ sian Mennonite settlement several ica, the best place. Low German is terest to your many readers to read miles from Newton. Our drive took still mostly spoken among these peo­ more about them and where they us over a high road from which we ple; Russian expressions are also live. had a beautiful view of the sur­ known but in their schools and Over 6,000 Mennonites have re­ rounding area. The farm buildings, churches the pure standard German cently settled in the counties of recently built, are very commodious is being used. Since the people had Chase, Marion, Harvey, McPherson, and present a sharp contrast to the just recently settled here and their Butler, Reno and Rice and more are so-called sod houses and shanties surroundings were still very primi­ coming from Europe and states of which pioneers in the west have tive we could see household items our own continent. The choice of usually built. We soon met Hermann of first quality showing careful land for settlement is made by a Sudermann [a member of Emmaus workmanship and artistic taste evi­ competive committee chosen by the Mennonite Church and a leader of dently brought from Europe and new arrivals from their own group the Kansas Conference], a friendly, now standing here and there await­ whose judgment and experience in genial, open-hearted man, and the ing a suitable setting in the new' regard to land quality, climate, etc. reception which we received from house. The children too impressed is fully trusted. him was typical of the hospitality us with their poise and their man­ The vocation of Mennonites in with which we were greeted every­ nerly behavior, evidence of good up­ Kansas is farming. Hence, they have where by these people. No sooner had bringing and cultivation of spirit. settled on the fruitful bottom lands he introduced us to his wife and the Since the Sudermann house was of the Cottonwood and the upper other members of his family than not yet finished and since another Arkansas River valleys along the he bid us tread into his Sanctum group of Russian Mennonites had route of the Atchison, Topeka and Sanctorum, and make ourselves at just come from Russia and needed Santa Fe Railroads. These lands sell home. That the invitation came from housing, Sudermann took us to his cheaply from $2 to $6 per acre the heart was shown by the con­ neighbor Wilhelm Quiring [Quiring, payable in eleven years, even cern expressed and the manner in like Hermann Sudermann, resided in though Mennonites have often paid which all of our wishes were met the Prussian Mennonite village of cash for their land. The diligence, and our needs were satisfied. The Goldshaar, a few miles southeast industry, and moderation of these warm reception and the familiar of Newton, Kansas] (also a Russian people assures them of permanence manner showed clearly that we were Mennonite) where we were com­ and a greater prosperity in the near here dealing with a noble-minded fortable and lovingly quartered. future. person and his whole behavior indi­ Quiring is indeed, “A true Israelite On Sunday afternoon, July 7, cated that he had definite knowledge in whom there is no guile,” and his Henry Cornelson, a Prussian Men- of books and writings. wife a true example of Christian nonite of the firm of P. Wiebe & After having made us as com­ concern and genuine hospitality. Co., lumber dealer in Newton and fortable as possible, Sudermann gave Various members of these families Halstead (to whom we are greatly us a brief story of his family and have recently intermarried and all indebted for many favors shown us) their ancestors, as well as their of them participated in the pleasant

MARCH, 1985 9 2>ie Kolonie ©olbjdjar Bei Jiettiton.

evening devotions in the house of Bro. Quiring before they separated for the night. Such a devotional service is, I understand, customary among these Mennonites. We had expressed a desire to Bro. Suder- mann that we remain in their midst over Sunday and participate in their religious services; this was why the two families joined to go to their main settlement [Emmaus] 14 miles further northeast, [actually south­ east] to attend their worship ser­ vice. So it happened early at 5 the next morning a light wagon pulled by two spirited horses stopped at the door with the young people of both families. Bro. Sudermann, Bro. Strassburger and I mounted and away we flew over the wide prairie, occasionally disturbing a flock of prairie chickens and fully enjoying tr the brisk morning air and the sing­ -V* ing of our “German Band” as it v A •• harmonized so beautifully with the mood of the sacred day. bishop [elder] of this group which On our way we drove through a meets weekly in the schoolhouse lo­ settlement of Mennonites from Rus­ cated in the midst of the settlement. sian Poland [Grace Hill Mennonite At eight in the morning we stop­ Church], consisting of some fifty ped at the beautiful farm of Bern- families which had occupied a strip hard Harder [one of the founders of of land from 6 to 10 miles wide. the Emmaus Church] in front of The landscape is more rolling here his large house recently built on his and it is clear to all that the indus­ 640 acre farm. Here I was told try of these people in cultivating there was to be a preparatory ser­ their fields and erecting buildings, vice for commission service to be that makes this area look so much held a week later. After our team Top. Bernard Harder, ca. 1877. better than surrounding areas. The had been taken care of we were in­ Right. Farm of Gustav Harder, son honorable Johann Schroeder is the vited into a comfortable new kitchen of Bernard, ca. 1890.

10 MENNONITE LIFE where the table, spread with butter, with goodness as can be seen at first edge of high German leaves much cheese and an excellent coffee, await­ glance. to be desired and I was thus con­ ed us. This was breakfast No. 2 For dinner I was invited to Diet- fronted by a problem. For the cour­ as mother Quiring had already pre­ rich Classens [another founder of age to venture, without hesitation, pared a small lunch for us before the Emmaus Church], a noble to use the best of German, I was we left. Soon the brethren from the Prussian who has a wife, six highly complimented. After the so­ vicinity began to arrive and Brother sons and a daughter and 1280 cial visiting had continued for some Harder had his hands full, taking acres of land on which he has two time, some undertook the homeward care of their horses. Many who sets of farm buildings, all new and journey. On the other hand, others came from a greater distance, ar­ excellently arranged. The dinner reunited and again sat down for a rived after the service had started. which consisted of turkish plums, lunch consisting of “Roll-kuchen” Many adjoining larger rooms were soup, meat, bread and butter as well bread and coffee. This done, we used for the service. The Reverend as noodles and plenty of milk to took farewell from our new friends Leonard Sudermann, bishop of this drink, was served in a well-lit and and became the charge of Peter congregation [Emmaus] (although well-ventilated room. Everything Dyck [who became the first elder he himself was from Russia and a was orderly, clean and neat and of the Zion Mennonite Church, El­ brother of Hermann Sudermann) led showed the high standard of the bing], a Prussian living some six the group as minister. Leonhard housemaker. miles from Peabody. We accompany Sudermann had been introduced to Since it had been announced at him, his wife and daughter nine me before the service. One recog­ the service that a catechism class miles across the prairie and at sun­ nizes him at once as a leader; he is would be held for younger people, set we arrive at his house. This is a a large well-formed man, a Martin we again met at Bro. Harder’s place very large farmstead with the Luther, physically considered. His at two-thirty in the afternoon and largest new buildings that we have presentation is outstanding, his found a large group of young people yet seen among the Mennonites. The voice full and deep, pleasantly mod­ there. At three o’clock Bishop Suder­ man showed us his garden as well ulated, and his articulation excel­ mann and his spiritual staff of as his oats and cornfield, all of lent. He is, in a word, a very com­ deacons and singers took their which testify to his skill and success petent, thoughtful minister, easily places. At the conclusion of the sing­ at farming. Judging from his pres­ understood by his listeners. Several ing by the young people and the ent circumstances this man must hymns were announced and sung prayer of the bishop, the latter pro­ have brought along about $30,000 followed by prayer and the sermon ceeded to catechise the members of from Prussia. by the bishop on the text John 1, his class—some 35 altogether—by After sharing meal No. 5 and a verses 8 and 9. The sermon lasted directing the questions to them con­ further visit we took part in the one hour. cerning the attributes of God and family evening worship and then re­ After the sermon I was intro­ receiving their answers. His ques­ tired for the night. During the night duced to various members of the tions are simple, pointed and arouse a heavy thunderstorm passed over congregation, among them also interest. In the class, attention is and disturbed our sleep. The rain Abraham Sudermann, older brother given to individuals as they cite stalled our trip to Peabody, yet of the Bishop and of Hermann. As scripture passages in their discus­ friend Dyck was so good to take us in the case of his brothers, his is sion. to the railway in time to reach Em­ also of a noble nature, a powerful After the class there was friendly poria by evening. physique, glowing with love for his visiting when I soon noticed a dif­ The anti-war and non-resistant fellowman, of practical piety, and ficulty: my Pennsylvania-German principles of these peace-loving and charity, and a heart overflowing was not understood here! My knowl­ yielding Christians, moved there to forsake everything rather than permit themselves to be impress­ ed into the Russian or Prussian military service and to settle in a country whose government re­ spects the principles of peace and protects all in its enjoyment. Much could be said about the peculiar customs and usages of these people as well as about their devo­ tion to their religion, based on the scriptures according to the teaching of Menno Simons, a reformer living in Europe in the days of the great Reformation. But since my letter is already too long I must leave that for the present. Henry A. Hunsicker Freeland, PA., 27 July, 1877

MARCH, 1985 11 The Hochfeld Village

by Richard H. Schmidt

2“iori]fdii lflillage with lUlumenort in the south background and & prm gfdi) in the north background as it appeared in 1877

12 MENNONITE LIFE The perspective picture of the Great-Grandfather Peter Schmidt go there by lantern light and pack Hochfeld Village with Blumenort in Sr’s House-Barn-Shed more ice around the body. With the south background and Spring- Abraham’s death Marie’s father, my feld in the north background (as Mrs. Alvin Schroeder, the former great-uncle, David Schmidt, inherit­ published on page 76 of the April Marie Schmidt, was raised on great­ ed the place. A new and more mod­ 1970 Mennonite Life) was drawn grandfather’s place, and she lived ern house was then built and the old in 1877 by an unnamed artist who there until retirement. Now at 87 house was sold. accompanied Real Estate Agent C. she resides in the Bethesda Home in It has been appropriately said that B. Schmidt on a visit to our Menno­ Goessel where I visited her and re­ Great-Grandfather’s house should nite settlement. While the perspec­ ceived the following information: have been built on wheels. The first tive view appears beautiful, errors Originally the barn stood north- buyer moved the house to Sec. 26 in the picture beg for correction. A south with the house attached to Menno Twp. Two years later it was church with an eighth strip of land the south end. Entrance to the house sold and moved to Sec. 13 West appears at the south end of Hoch­ was by a door on the west side and Branch Twp. In 1926, it was again feld. Also the sketch shows four also through the barn door. sold and moved to Sec. 26, Spring when there should be six households A few years after the house- Valley, Twp. McPherson Co. Then in Springfeld. I have edited these barn-shed combination was built it in the early 1950s the house was errors out. So, rather than being was realized to be impractical. The again sold and moved to 403 W. mine, this is the 1877 picture with lean-to was sawed off, cut in half, 10th, Newton, Kansas, where it my editorial corrections. and the open sides were then joined. stands at the time of this writing. Several of the villagers are re­ The new building became a hen­ With extensive remodeling and membered as influential church house. Then the barn was sawed off additions that house has lost its leaders. Heinrich Banman of Blume­ from the house, moved north and original identity (except the length nort was a school teacher and min­ given a quarter turn (with the which has not changed and is exactly ister, serving as the Elder of Alex­ former west side to the south). the length of the Unruh-Fast house anderwohl from 1910 to 1915. The Marie also described the room ar­ in the Kauffman Museum Complex Cornelius Voths of Hochfeld house­ rangement of the house and the of Bethel College). Incidentally, the hold No. 6 were the parents of H. R. location of the big cast iron kettle description of the room arrange­ Voth, our pioneer missionary to the and brick hearth. ment and the brick hearth that Hopi Indians at Oraibi, Arizona. After Great-Grandfather’s death, Marie Schroeder gave of Great- Heinrich who was 19 at the time of great-uncle Abraham Schmidt in­ Grandfather’s house is exactly like immigration had taught himself herited the place and he lived there that of the first unit of the Unruh- English, and he was the only one until his death in 1912. Marie said Fast house, Consequently, the in our two shiploads of immigrants they laid Uncle Abraham’s body in Unruh-Fast house was used as a who could communicate and serve the barn in the boys’ room. In the model wrhen drawing the floor plan as interpreter while our group was evening she and her mother would of Great-Grandfather’s house-barn- buying implements, horses and cows shed. during the time they were housed in the King Bridge Shops in To­ peka. Heinrich Goertz of Springfeld was ordained in 1867 as a minister of Alexanderwohl. Peter A. Wiebe of Springfeld became the Elder of the Springfield Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church. Cornelius Wedel of Springfeld, who was the father of C. H. Wedel, the first President of Bethel College, became a minister of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Brethren Church of Goessel. The other villagers were staunch, industrious farmers who helped build a prosperous Alexanderwohl community. Widow Mrs. Heinrich Voth, Blumenort, was the mother- in-law of Peter A. Wiebe and the great-grandmother of my wife, Tina Bergen. Peter Schmidt Sr., Hoch­ feld (household No. 5) was my great-grandfather and Peter Schmidt Jr., (household No. 4) was my grandfather. Great-Grandpa Peter Schmidt Sr.’s House-Barn-Shed.

MARCH, 1985 13 ORIGINAL WEST, NOW SOUTH SIDE

KITCHEN-DINING­ BEDROOM LIVING ROOM STALLS FOR 10 HORSES AND TWO COWS IMPLEMENT AND FEED SHED

BEDROOM THE BOYS' BEDROOM

16’ x 42' LEAN-TO REMOVED BARN AND SHED 25' x 52', HOUSE 20' x 52 AND CONVERTED TO HEN-HOUSE

Top. Great-Grandpa Peter Schmidt Sr.’s House-Barn-Shed (Now owned by great grandchildren, LaVern and Jane Schroeder). Left. Great-Grandma at her brick hearth which she fired with dry cow chips, prairie grass or straw. Later when the mulberry hedges were mature enough she burned twigs, never coal. The bottom tier was the bake oven.

The barn, which still stands where 4”x6” loft floor joists are spaced feld Village was dissolved (see Men- it was placed after being sawed off 45”. In the barn part the 2”xl0” nonite Life March, 1981) grand­ from the house, was carefully re­ loft joists are spaced 36”. Two 4”x father Peter Schmidt Jr. bought searched. (Note that all lumber di­ 6” lengthwise beams supported by the Peter Unruh place (household mensions are full and sometimes a 4”x8” pillars reinforce the joists. No. 7) and Peter Unruh moved east little oversize. Also, there is a lack The loft floor is l ”x5” tongue-and- to the middle of Section 7. Cornelius of consistantly uniform construction. groove. (The loft served as granary. Voth later built himself a small re­ This makes it difficult to describe The wheat was carried in two bushel tirement house east of the road and how the barn is built). The studs sacks up the stairs.) The shingle his son-in-law Peter P. Schmidt are mortised into double 2”x6” sole roof is on spaced sheathing over moved into the Voth place (house­ and top plates. On the north and 2”x6” rafters spaced 40”. The walls hold No. 6). After great-grand­ south walls the 4”x6” studs are are covered with 5V2 ” lap-siding father’s death, grandfather dropped spaced 32”. On the west end the that has never seen any paint. the title Jr. and called himself Peter 6”x6” studs are spaced 72” with The boys’ room, where my great- H. Schmidt. a 2”x8” lateral plank 20” from the uncles Abraham and David slept, is Now that two Peter Schmidts floor and a 4”x6” lateral 74” from still intact. It is lathed and plastered, lived only a few rods apart nick­ the floor. The upright sheathing and the window trim is painted names became imperative for identi­ boards are I 6 V2” to 18” wide. On bluish green. I felt in that room as fication. Peter P. with his beautiful the north wall the sheathing is di­ if in the presence of ghosts of yes­ golden beard became Gold Schmidt agonal. On the east end the top teryear. and Grandfather who always kept plate is a 2”xl0” on edge and the The stall arrangement has been a large beautiful patch of potatoes 2”x4” studs are spaced 24”, and the altered. However, with the help of by the roadside and sold wagon sheathing is horizontal. (No doubt, Marie and her son LaVern who lives loads of potatoes to the Hillsboro this wall was built new after the on the home place, the original in­ grocers became Potato Schmidt, and house had been sawed off.) terior of the barn has been platted that he has remained to this day. Door posts are 6”x6” mortised in­ as accurately as possible. to the plates. In the shed part the When in 1880 or 1881 the Hoch­

14 MENNONITE LIFE Grandfather Peter Schmidt Jr’s studs are 4”x6”, others are 2”x6”. 10-row Hoosier drill with chisels House-Barn-Shed Spacing is 24” and sometimes 36”. instead of disks. It was in the early The upright sheathing is l ”xlO” to 1920s when that drill was disas­ l ”xl2”. In the part that still has sembled and shipped to refugee im­ the loft floor the 2”x9” joists are migrants. Other items were a one- spaced 24”. (Since the lofts were horse corn row drill, check-row corn Originally the house was attach­ used as granaries, I am astonished planter, wooden harrow with steel ed to the south end of the barn. that both Great-Grandfather’s and teeth, and a saddle that Grandpa When the barn was sawed off, it Grandfather’s barn loft joists were had made. The saddle had neither was given a half turn and moved spaced so far apart). The shingled horn nor stirrups. I preferred rid­ farther north. Cousin Walter roof is on spaced sheathing over 2” ing bareback when cultivating po­ Schmidt recalls his father saying x5” rafters spaced 26”, 32”, 36” and tatoes because the saddle did not that Grandmother’s large summer in some places 40”. The walls are fit me and the oily black leather kitchen had been the attached house. shingled. dirtied my overalls. The barn also The exterior dimensions and door Both Great-Grandfather’s and contained an interesting Russian and window arrangement were used Grandfather’s barns had 12”x30” harness with breast-strap instead to illustrate the house. One can say vent openings in the walls bv the of harness and collar. In the center nothing of the interior room ar­ stalls. These are closed over in both of the wide breast-strap was a large rangement of the house; however, barns except (as shown in the photo­ ring for fastening the neck yoke. we have a fairly accurate memory graph) on the south wall of Great- The homemade articles, such as a of the interior arrangement of the Grandfather’s barn. wooden hay fork, wooden scoop barn. In my time Grandfather kept his shovel and wooden garden rake with Like Great-Grandfather’s barn horses and cows in a newer, smaller wooden teeth were of great interest and shed, this barn also is not con- barn. It seems the old barn was to me. Especially fascinating was sistantly uniform in construction. valuable only as a storage place for the wooden door latch with latch The sole plate is 4”x6” and the top old things. I fondly remember some string on the east (originally west) plate is double 2”x6”. The mortised of those antiques. There was the door.

Grandpa Peter Schmidt Jr.’s House-Barn-Shed (Now owned by great-grandchildren Randolf and Laura Flaming.)

ORIGINAL WEST, NOW EAST SIDE

LEAN-TO BARN AND SHED 32' 48' HOUSE 16' x 26'

IMPLEMENT AND FEED SHED GRANDMOTHER'S SUMMER STALLS FOR 10 HORSES KITCHEN, BELIEVED BY AND TWO COWS SOME THAT IT PROBABLY WAS THE ATTACHED HOUSE

MARCH, 1985 15 t 80 N

/- Heinrich Schroeder 80.10 H ------SCH. No. 80 80. 10 Peter Pankratz 160

80.10 Cornelius Wedel 80

80. 10 Peter A. Wiebe 80 1 8 ------17 80 Heinrich Goertz 160

40 Jacob Pankratz 80

40 Heinrich Franzen 80

Cornelius David Voth Richert 53. 33 53.33 20 Peter Schmidt Jr. 150

19 Cornelius Voth 80.82 159.24 2 1

Peter Schmidt Sr. 79.11 David Schmidt 80 40 Peter Unruh 105.54 Cornelius Richert 214.32

David Voth 108.63

SCH. No. 35 K15 Goes sei 3 mi . So.

By 1885 Springfield, Sec. 17 and 18, and Blumenort, Sec. 19, were still in­ tact. In these two villages the people had settled on their own land. In Hoch­ feld, Sec. 20 and 21, the people had settled in a compact group on land to which they did not hold a deed. As a result, Hochfeld was already dissolved by 1885. Dr. A. E. Janzen, former professor of Bible at Tabor College, Hillsboro, states that Gnadenau, seven miles east, ivas also short-lived be­ cause they, like Hochfeld, had settled compactly away from the land they owned (as had been their custom in Russia). The map is traced from a photocopy, furnished by Raymond F. Wiebe, of part of Menno Township, as it appeared in the Marion County Atlas of 1885, published by the Davy Map and Atlas Co., Chicago, III.

16 MENNONITE LIFE Elder Benjamin Ratzlaff: His Life, Times and Descendants by Thomas B. Mierau

For more than a half century nonite Church, withdrew “his sword mocked and ridiculed; but they held Benjamin Ratzlaff struggled with from its sheath and thrust it into fast to their faith and prayed for the issues of nonparticipation in a hedgepost.”3 deliverance. After three days the war, spiritual awakening, and church The Jeziorka and Przechowka con­ government gave them permission renewal. From the day when first gregations were part of the Gronin­ to emigrate.7 Benjamin and his wife the Mennonite Ratzlaff withdrew gen Old Flemish Mennonite Society moved from the province of West “his sword from its sheath and (Groninger Doopsgezinde Societ- Prussia to Franztal in the province thrust it into a hedgepost,” nonpar­ eit).4 Originally this group opposed of Brandenburg. ticipation in war became a major the uniting of Flemish congrega­ The villages of Franztal and the expression of faith in the Ratzlaff tions with Frisian congregations, adjacent Brenkenhoffswalde were family. Neither imprisonment nor both Dutch Mennonite groups. The formed in 1765 when Frederick the loss of material well-being could Old Flemish, who separated from Great gave thirty-five Mennonite deter Benjamin from following the the Flemish about 1630, tended to families, who had been expelled by principle of nonparticipation in war, be more conservative than either Polish nobelmen from Culm, per­ Benjamin emigrated twice in his the Flemish or Frisian groups both mission to settle in the marshy lifetime to preserve this Mennonite in doctrine and in practice. The Netzebruch, near Driesen in Neu- principle. Groninger Doopsgezinde Societeit mark. Mennonites from the two vil­ Earthquakes, death, and suffer­ dissolved in 1815, so the restrictions lages formed the Brenkenhoffswalde ing held special meaning for Benja­ which kept the different Mennonite Mennonite congregation, a congre­ min Ratzlaff. Benjamin saw the groups separate were based on cus­ gation that belonged to the Gron­ hand of God beckoning his people tom during Benjamin Ratzlaff’s life, inger Old Flemish Society.8 On May to deeper spiritual commitment. rather than on doctrine.5 25, 1819, Benjamin was elected min­ Benjamin welcomed the spiritual re­ On June 19, 1813, Benjamn Ratz­ ister in this Old Flemish congrega­ newal within the mid-nineteenth laff married the widow Anna (Rich­ tion.9 century Mennonite Church. But, ert) Becker. They resided in Jezior­ Benjamin and his wife emigrated when the spiritual renewal move­ ka where their first two daughters, from Franztal, Brandenburg, Prus­ ment in 1860 threatened the Russian Helena and Eva, were born in 1816 sia, in the spring of 1820 to a village Mennonite privilege of nonpartici­ and 1818 respectively; both died in of the same name in the Molotschna pation in war, Benjamin became an April, 1818. Also in 1818, Benjamin Colony, province of Taurida, South opponent of the emerging Mennonite was elected “Dorfschulze” (mayor, Russia.10 Helena, the daughter of Brethren movement. village guard) of Jeziorka.6 Benjamin and Anna, was born Octo­ Benjamin Ratzlaff was born April That same year the Prussian gov­ ber 10, 1820, in the village of Franz- 1, 1791, in Jeziorka, West Prussia, a ernment attempted to draft Benja­ tal, South Russia. January 23, 1827, son of Elder Peter Ratzlaff and min and three other brethren into Anna gave birth to a son, Benja­ Ancke Unrau. Benjamin’s paternal military service. Following the min II. Anna died the same day. Be­ grandparents were Adam Ratzlaff teachings of their religious faith, cause his mother had died, Benjamin and Maricke Wedel and his maternal their consciences would not permit II was raised by another family who grandparents were Peter Unrau and them to submit to the draft. They lived in Rudnerweider, four miles Trincke Wedel.1 The Ratzlaff family made many trips to the high au­ from Franztal.11 Benjamin remar­ belonged to the Przechowka Menno­ thorities to appeal the conscription. ried April 25, 1827, marrying the nite Church. Benjamin’s great- Finally, the authorities imprisoned widow Eva (Nickel) Wiehert in great-grandfather was the first them for refusing to submit to the Rudnerweide. A daughter, Eva, was Ratzlaff to join the Mennonite draft. From prison, Benjamin and born to this union June 13, 1828.12 Church. He was a Swedish soldier the others petitioned to the high April 9, 1835, Benjamin was elect­ of Pomerainian descent ;2 who, mov­ government for permission to emi­ ed elder of the Frisian Rudnerweide ed by sermons he heard in the Men­ grate. While in prison, they were Mennonite Church following the

MARCH, 1985 17 death of Elder Franz Goertz. Ben­ Though Benjamin saw acts of God jamin was confirmed by the com­ in nature and felt the spiritual munity April 21st, when Elder awakening of the pietistic move­ Bernhard Fast from the Orloff con­ ment, scripture was the foundation gregation performed the ordination of Benjamin’s faith in God. Gerhard service.13 By his association with Wiebe, elder of the Bergthal church, the Rudnerweide congregation, Ben­ recorded the response of Benjamin jamin left the Old Flemish to join Ratzlaff and Peter Wedel at an all a Frisian congregation. Mennonite conference held in the On January 11, 1838, the Molot- Alexanderwohl church to discuss schna colony experienced a strong new curriculum materials being in­ earthquake lasting more than a troduced into the Mennonite schools minute-and-a-half. The Ratzlaff in South Russia. Illustrated biblical family was sitting down to supper stories had been proposed as a sub­ when the doors and windows vib­ stitute for the Bible when instruct­ rated and the ground moved. Benja­ ing the younger children. The con­ min envisioned the earthquake as servative church leaders saw the in­ a sign from God, preparing them novation as a threat undermining for the day of judgment. Later that the value of the scriptures. Wiebe winter, February 13, Benjamin ex­ writes, “I raised my eyes to look at perienced a severe day of testing the old Aelteste, and God be praised where he re-examined his religious and thanked, there were still true Elder Benjamin Ratzlaff. convictions and begged the Lord for watchmen in Zion.”19 The church assistance.14 supported Elders Ratzlaff and On September 21, 1847, Benja­ Wedel, and the move to remove the min’s second wife, Eva, died after Bible from the curriculum was de­ having suffered from illness for feated. August 16, 1874 (Gregorian calen­ eight years. He married the widow By 1872 it became increasingly dar).21 Benjamin’s one-year-old Katharina (Goertz) Penner from clear that the Russian government grandson, Heinrich, died at sea Pastwa February 12, 1848. Kath­ would rescind the privileges given while the ship sailed on the North arina died January 13, 1850, at the to Mennonites to entice them to set­ Sea. The child’s mother “held him age of forty-one. Married August tle on Russian soil. As the rumors in her arms covered with a shawl. 27, 1850, Benjamin and his new wife of loss of privileges, most impor­ Had the officials known of his death, Susanna (Hiebert) Regier lived to­ tantly the loss of exemption from he would have been buried at sea. gether nearly twenty years before military service, reached the Men­ When the ship docked at some port she died March 5, 1870.15 nonite villages, Mennonite leaders [London] in England, the baby was The spiritual revival in the Men- became increasingly alarmed. Benja­ taken by his father to an American nonite church, culminating in the min Ratzlaff, though retired and cemetery [in London] and buried... emergence of the Mennonite Breth­ elderly, strongly supported the emi­ [Benjamin II] then caught the ship ren Church, occurred during Benja­ gration movement so that his grand­ when it docked at another port [in min Ratzlaff’s term as elder of the children and other Mennonite young England].”22 The S. S. Teutonia, Rudnerweide congregation. Benja­ people would be free to follow surviving a fire as it crossed the At­ min’s signature appears on numer­ Christ’s teachings and not partici­ lantic, arrived in New York on Sep­ ous official documents during 1860 pate in military service. When the tember 3, 1874.23 and 1861 pertaining to the emerging delegation preparing to visit Czar Benjamin Ratzlaff, with his son MB Church. The documents signed Alexander at his vacation home in and his son’s family, arrived at the by five elders (Toews, Warkentin, the Crimea to seek assurances of immigrant house in York County, Ratzlaff, Wedel, and Lenzmann) op­ continued military exemption met in Nebraska, on October 14, 1874. At posed the formation of the MB October 1872 at Alexanderwohl, two o’clock in the morning October Church. The German historian Benjamin Ratzlaff was not among 31, Benjamin Ratzlaff died follow­ Christian Neff labeled Benjamin them. Benjamin had concluded by ing five-and-one-half weeks of ill­ Ratzlaff an ardent opponent of the then that emigration was the only ness.24 Benjamin Ratzlaff was bur­ forming Mennonite Brethren alternative and that seeking further ied on the land in which he had Church.16 Benjamin resigned as el­ assurances from the Czar was fu­ hoped to settle.25 der in 1861. Little is known of Ben­ tile.20 Elder Benjamin Ratzlaff, who jamin’s spiritual pilgrimage from Benjamin Ratzlaff joined the reached the age of eighty-seven 1861, but we know that Benjamin family of his son Benjamin II as years, seven months, twice emi­ was baptized into the MB Church they boarded the train at Halbstadt grated to preserve the Mennonite in Russia;17 and, when he died in on July 22, 1874 (Julian calendar), practice of nonparticipation in war; America he was buried on the sec­ and headed for the port of Ham­ married widows on four separate tion of land where the Mennonite burg, North Germany. They boarded occasions, and was widowed four Brethren built their church.18 the S. S. Teutonia at Hamburg on times; fathered five children, four

18 MENNONITE LIFE daughters and one son; served the Mennonite church in Prussia and in Russia; initially opposed, but later embraced the emerging Mennonite Brethren Church in Russia; began his ministry in an Old Flemish con­ gregation, became an elder in a Frisian congregation, and in retire­ ment joined a Mennonite Brethren congregation; and, at times felt God speak to him through natural and historical phenomena, as well as, through scripture. After settling in America, Benja­ min II and his wife, Sarah (Neu­ mann) Ratzlaff, were baptized in the York river May 10, 1877, and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church. The 14th of May, Benja­ min II and Sarah’s “sod house was struck by lightning. One whole side was exposed to the elements. [Benjamin II] and the children were seated around the table, and he was reading the Bible by lamplight. Everyone was knocked out, but he came to first and went to [Sarah] and lifted her from where she fell over the cradle—she Nichols. The late 1820’s and early and hope, “Lord, you forgive all his came to—and then he went from 1830’s were times of crop failures sins with your blood.”32 child to child and revived them. All in South Russia. Benjamin inter­ A nagging question remains un­ but Benjamin [III]. He was seven­ preted the famine as judgment from answered. What could have caused teen years of age.”26 God, “After a seven year plague of Benjamin Ratzlaff’s shift in atti­ On June 2, 1897, Benjamin II and grasshoppers the Lord punished tude toward the Mennonite Brethren Sarah Ratzlaff moved from Nebras­ again with extreme heat and dry­ Church? Spiritually, Benjamin prob­ ka to California where they joined ness.”28 The earthquake of January ably was never at odds with the their children. Benjamin II’s son 11, 1838, was God preparing his emerging Mennonite Brethren lead­ Johann had moved to Escondido, servants for the day of judgment. ership. The Mennonite Brethren California, on February 19, 1895. The day of testing—“schwere Prue- movement was in one sense a con­ Benjamin II and Sarah’s daughters fungstag”— was sent by God to servative movement calling the peo­ Sarah, Helena, and Anna together strengthen Benjamin’s faith. The ple of God back to the believer’s purchased $80 worth of train tickets call to emigrate was also a call to church model of the early Mennonite and headed for Azusa, California, faithfulness. Benjamin Ill’s death church.33 Benjamin would not have on June 25, 1895. And, on May 3, was seen as an act of God, “The been a stranger to the quiet pietism 1897, their son Peter also moved to Lord took away my oldest brother that was a forerunner to the ex­ Azusa. Peter and his family moved Benjamin when he let him be killed pressed pietism of 1860. After Ben­ back and forth between Nebraska by lightning.”29 Helena’s diary in­ jamin left Jeziorka and settled in and California several times, but in cludes three further references to Franztal, he served the Brenken- the fall of 1926 they left Nebraska earthquakes.30 hoffswalde church under the leader­ for good. Benjamin II and Sarah Intertwined with the view of God ship of Elder Wilhelm Lange. The Ratzlaff are buried in the Oakdale as judge, expressions of God as re­ warm pietism of Elder Lange not cemetery at Azusa, California.27 deemer appear often. Comments only influenced the Brenkenhoffs- The theme that God speaks and similar to the one following the walde congregation, but influenced acts through natural phenomena and entry of the death of Eva (Nikkei) the religious life of the Molotschna historical events surfaces repeatedly Ratzlaff, Benjamin’s second wife, colony after 1835. The Brenken- in the history of the Benjamin are frequently recorded in the hoffswalde congregation led by El­ Ratzlaff family. This theme is car­ diaries, “After laying sick in bed der Lange immigrated to the Mo­ ried for three generations in the for 14 days the Lord relieved her lotschna colony, establishing the vil­ progressive diaries first of Benja­ from all pains and took her to heav­ lage of Gnadenfeld in 18 3 5 34 Like­ min Ratzlaff; then, of Benjamin en.”31 Following the account of Ben­ wise, Tobias Voth, who was born in Ratzlaff I I ; and, finally, of Peter jamin Ratzlaff Ill’s death by light­ Brenkenhoffswalde the same year Ratzlaff and Helena (Ratzlaff) ning comes the affirmation of faith Benjamin was born, brought a quiet

MARCH, 1985 19 pietism to the Orloff school in 1820. The dilemma was resolved when submitted in trans. by Mary (Nichols) Ulrey, 914 Krentz Lane, Yuba City, Cali­ Like-minded contemporaries of Voth the Russian government recognized fornia 95991, 1 & 2. Note: The practice of the Mennonite Brethren Church as placing children into other homes after the included Franz Goertz who preceded death of one parent was not uncommon in Benjamin Ratzlaff as elder of the a legitimate Mennonite institution South Russian Mennonite society. The Waisenamt (orphan’s bureau) appointed Rudnerweide congregation and within the context of the larger guardians to care for children after one or Bernhard Fast of Orloff who or­ Mennonite society. Thus, the auton­ both parents died. See: John B. Toews, “The Diary of Jacob Epp 1860-1880,“ Jour­ dained Benjamin as elder. It was omous Mennonite society was pre­ nal of the American Historical Society of elements of progressive-minded peo­ served, while a believer’s church was Germans From Russia, Vol. V, No. 1, Spring 1982, 41-42. ple within the Orloff (Flemish), allowed to separate itself ecclesias­ 12. Peter Ratzlaff, “Journal,” 2, 3, 5. tically from the rest of Mennonite 13. Ibid., 3; P. M. Friesen, The Menno­ Rudnerweide (Frisian), and Alex- nite Brotherhood in Russia (1789-1910J, anderwhol (Old Flemish) congrega­ society. (Fresno, California: Board of Christian Literature General Conference of Menno­ tions who kept quiet pietism alive in Benjamin Ratzlaff, who had re­ nite Brethren Churches, 1978), 168; and, the Molotschna colony during the tired as elder of the Rudnerweide Franz Isaac, Die Molotschnaer Mennoniten, (Halgbstadt, Taurien, South Russia: H. I. 1820’s and 30’s.35 Benjamin’s rela­ congregation towards the end of Braun, 1908), 268. tionships with Wilhelm Lange, To­ 1861, was free in his retirement to 14. Peter Ratzlaff, “Journal,” 3. 15. Ibid., 3 & 4. bias Voth, Bernhard Fast, and follow openly a more pietistic 16. Christian Neff, “Benjamin Ratzlaff,” course. Benjamin acknowledged the Mennonitisches Lexikon, Vol. III, 430. Franz Goertz undoubtedly prepared 17. Robert O. Epp, One Hundred Years him for his “schwere Pruefungstag” Mennonite Brethren Church as a of Bethesda Mennonite Church, (Hender­ son, Nebraska: Centennial Committee of in 1838. Spiritually, Benjamin was believer’s church which called its the Bethesda Mennonite Church, 1974), 1 in tune with the Mennonite Breth­ members to pure living in the cause &39. 18. “Family Registar,” Mennonite Breth­ ren movement. of Christ. In this context, it may be ren Church Records of Henderson, Nebms- Politically, Benjamin was clearly possible to understand why Benja­ ka, began 1879 by Peter Regier, trans. John and Bertha Quiring. at odds with the emerging Menno­ min Ratzlaff once “an ardent op­ 19. Gerhard Wiebe, Causes and History nite Brethren leadership. Under the ponent” of the forming Mennonite of the Einigration of the Mennonites from Russia, trans. Helen Janzen (Winnipeg: charter granting Mennonites the Brethren Church within a few years Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society, could come full circle to join the 1981), 19. privilege to settle in Russia, secular 20. Ibid., 26 society was defined by ecclesiastical church. 21. Jacob J. Friesen. “Recollections of the Emigration from Russia and the Pio­ structures. The Mennonite colonies neer Life in America 1874,” unpublished were granted tracts of land by the paper in Henderson, Nebraska, file at Mennonite Biblical Seminary library, Elk­ Russian government; and, the colony ENDNOTES hart, Indiana, 1-4. Note: The Gregorian as a whole was responsible to the 1 . Church Records of the Old Flemish or calendar was twelve days later than the Groeningen Mennonisten Societaet in Julian calendar in 1874. Russian authorities. Mennonite in­ Przechowko, West Prussia, trans. Lydia 22. Helena (Ratzlaff) Nichols, “Journal,” Pankratz and Anna M. Unruh, (Goessel. 7. dividuals did own land, but only in­ Kansas: Mennonite Immigrant Historical 23. Stanley E. Voth, ed., Henderson Men­ sofar as individual ownership com­ Foundation, 1980), 8, 12, 13, 28, 29, 35, nonites from Holland to Henderson, (Hen­ 2. Letter from Eric L. Ratzlaff, 209- derson, Nebraska: Henderson Centennial plied with colonial structure. In­ 32040 Tims Ave., Clearbrook, B. C., Can­ Committee, 1975), 23-28; and, “S. S. Teu­ dividuals excommunicated by the ada V2T 2H2, April 7, 1983: Eric L. Ratz­ tonia, Hamburg Departure, New York Ar­ laff, Familienregister von Erich L. Ratzlaff rival, September 3, 1874,” Shiplist, in Clar­ Mennonite church were stripped of Ausgabe 1971, ( Winnipeg, Manitoba: Pub­ ence Hiebert, ed., Brothers in Deed to citizen status as well, including the lished by Author, 1971), 5; and, Horst Brothers in Need, (Newton, Kansas: Faith Penner, Die ost- und west-preussischen and Life Press. 1974), 176-8. right to own property in the colony. Mennoniten (Mennonitlscher Geschicts- 24. Helena (Ratzlaff) Nichols, “Journal," verein E. V., 1978), 322. 3. To be a part of the society meant 3. Church Records of the Old Flemish 25. Jacob J. Friesen, “Recollections. . . ,” one was a part of the church.36 . . . , 3; and, Thomas B. Mierau, “The 12; and, “Review of the Life of Elder Origin of the Ratzlaff Families of Nebras­ Benj. Ratzlaff,” unpublished paper in J. J. The documents signed by Benja­ ka and South Dakota," Mennonite Family Friesen file at the Mennonite Library and min Ratzlaff and the four other History. Vol. II, (January 1983), 25. Archives, North Newton. Kansas, 5. 4. Groningen is the capital of a Dutch 26. Helena (Ratzlaff) Nichols, “Jour­ elders as well as the majority of province of the same name. There were nal,” 7. correspondence written by the lead­ fifteen Old Flemish congregations in tire 27. Ibid., 4-6; Peter Ratzlaff, “Journal," province of Groningen in 1677. The Old 7; and, Letter from Mrs. Henry G. Ratz­ ers in the Mennonite Brethren Flemish congregations in Groningen gave laff, 3623 Burton Ave., Lynwood, Cali­ movement called on the civil powers much financial assistance to the Old Flem­ fornia 90262. April 22, 1983. ish congregations in Prussia during the 28. Peter Ratzlaff, “Journal,” 3. to mediate in the dispute. Religious great floods of 1738 and 1765. 29. Ibid., 6. 5. N. van der Zijpp, “Groningen,“ “Gron­ 30. Helena (Ratzlaff) Nichols, “Journal," issues were not debated in the docu­ ingen Old Flemish Mennonites," and 5 & 6. ments.37 Clearly, the primary issue “Groninger Doopsgezinde Societet, ” Men­ 31. Peter Ratzlaff, “Journal,” 3. nonite Encyclopedia, Vol. II, 593-7. Also, 32. Ibid., 6 was not spirituality, but separation Ernst Crous, “Przechovka,” Mennonite 33. P. M. Friesen, The Mennonite Broth­ of church and state. Benjamin fear­ Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, 225. erhood in Russia (1789-1910), 201-227. 6. Peter Ratzlaff, “Journal,” trans, Hen­ 34. H. G. Mannhart, “Brenkenhoffs- ed the collapse of the privileged au­ ry G. Ratzlaff, 3623 Burton Ave., Lyn­ walde,” Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. I, tonomous colonial society where wood, California 90262, 1. 416: and, Cornelius Krahn, “Wilhelm 7. Ibid. Lange,” Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. Ill, Mennonites were free to govern 8. H. G. Mannhart, “Brenkenhoffs- 288. walde,” Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. I, 35. John B. Toews. Czars, Soviets, and themselves. Undoubtedly, Benja­ 416; and, Christian Hege, “Brandenburg,“ Mennonites, (Newton, Kansas: Faith and min’s prison experience in Prussia Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. I, 404. Life Press. 1982), 19-20. 9. Cornelius Krahn, “Benjamin Ratzlaff," 36. C. Henry Smith, Fifth Edition Re­ justified his fears. Because the Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. Ill, 255-6. vised and Enlarged by Cornelius Krahn, emerging Mennonite Brethren move­ 10. Benjamin Heinrich Unruh, Die nieder- Smith’s Story of the Mennonites, (Newton. landisch-niederdeutschen Hintergründe der Kansas: Faith and Life Press, 1981), 274. ment posed a threat to the existing mennonitischen Ostwanderungen im 16., 18., 37. Franz Isaac, Die Molotschaer Menno­ political order, Benjamin opposed und 19. Jahrhundert, (Karlsruhe, 1955), niten, 122-210; and P. M. Friesen, The 369. Mennonite Brotherhood in Russia (1789- the movement. 11. Helena (Ratzlaff) Nichols, “Journal," 1910), 233-262.

20 MENNONITE LIFE The Introduction of the Reaper into Russia by George Hume Edited by Robert Kreider

A British Engineer Describes a Sales More than six per cent of the pro­ the idea of going into the interior Trip to the Molotsehna in 1861 duction of farm machinery in all of to investigate the situation, which Russia in 1911 came from Menno- on its fruition was destined to effect nite-owned firms. a complete economic transformation By 1860 a “wheat revolution” had An enterprising British engineer, in the whole of the farming indus­ occurred in South Russia. Silk, flax, George Hume, contributed to that try in South Russia.”3 and tobacco production declined wheat revolution when in 1861 he George Hume left the Russian sharply. Sheep and cattle produc­ introduced a group of Mennonites Steam Navigation Company. A new tion decreased. In an article on in the Molotsehna to a reaper ma­ position took him to Constantinople “Agriculture Among the Mennonites chine and, soon thereafter, a thrash­ where he chanced to meet a Mr. of Russia” in Mennonite Life Cor­ er. George Hume describes this in Graham, who had once been a fel­ nelius Krahn reports that around his memoirs, Thirty-Five Years in- low apprentice with him in England. 1850 the Russian hard winter wheat, Russia, published in 1914 when he Together they decided to launch a which was native to the coast of the was 78 years old.2 plan for “the introduction of labour- Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, was Hume was born in 1836. His saving machines into the Mennonite increasingly prized on the London family brewed Scotch ale in the colonies.” They purchased machines market.1 As new ports were opened, village of Feltham near London. for reaping and thrashing. Mr. Wag­ the Ukraine became the granary of After his elementary schooling, he ner promised to “advance any sum Europe. was apprenticed to become a me­ that was necessary without any Mennonite farmers of the Mol- chanical engineer and worked as a binding documents.”4 George Hume otschna, served by the nearby Sea ship builder. His last project during proceeded to Berdyansk, sixty miles of Azov ports of Berdyansk and this period was the Warrior, “the southeast of the Molotsehna, for Mariupol, were producing as many first engined ironclad.” At the close his new base of operations. as a half million bushels of wheat of the Crimean War, 1854-56, he For thirty-five years Czarist by 1855. Stimulated by the oppor­ finished his apprenticeship at the Russia was George Hume’s business tunities for the sale of wheat abroad, engineering firm of John Penn and turf. In Russia four of his children aggressive farmers expanded their Son of Greenwich. He was appoint­ were buried, one in a Mennonite holdings. Land prices rose. The ed by the Penn’s Works to accom­ cemetery at Berdyansk. To the end arable land on an average Molotsch- pany a paddle steamer built for the he remained an English gentleman, na Mennonite farm increased from Russian government, the Mithri- proud of his nation, confirmed in 60 acres in the early 1850’s to 120 cla-tes, for delivery to the Russian his evangelical commitments, con­ acres in 1888. Soon Mennonite en­ Steam Navigation Company at descending in his views of Russian trepreneurs were building reapers, Odessa. Orthodox religion, and full of Eng­ threshing machines, improved plows He accepted a position offered by lish curiosity about strange and far­ and other farm machinery to meet this Russian company. In Odessa, away peoples. One senses linkages the demands of a wheat-export econ­ where he became a part of the Eng­ between the mission of Mr. Mel­ omy. lish colony, he met a Mr. Melville, ville’s Bible society and Mr. Hume's Beginning with Peter Lepp in the an agent for the British and For­ British entrepreneurial acumen. To­ Chortitza colony in 1860, eight large eign Bible Society, who taught him ward the end of his memoirs, writ­ agricultural machinery firms Russian. Mr. Melville and his Brit­ ten on the eve of World War I and emerged in the Mennonite communi­ ish business friend, Mr. Wagner, three years before the Bolshevik ties. Among the farm implement ignited his interest in “the Men­ Revolution, Hume envisioned “a manufacturers were Lepp, Wall- nonite section of the German colo­ great future” lying ahead for the mann, Koop, Neufeld, Classen, nies,” which lay two hundred miles Russian Empire: “. . . it would be Franz, Schröder, Klassen and Jan­ to the west. Hume writes: “It was a solid buffer between the Eastern sen. The A. J. Koop factory in Chor­ at Mr. Melville’s instigation that I and the Western civilization. . . . titza in 1911 employed 376 workers. became filled with enthusiasm at I entertain a sanguine hope that,

MARCH, 1985 21 under judicious laws and a system of arms was contrary to their re­ of national education, the country Chapter V. Introduction of ligion, and, under special Charter, will progress along the paths of Reaping Machine into Russia exemption from military service had peaceful evolution, avoiding reac­ been granted them by the Empress tion and revolution.”5 On arrival at Berdiansk with let­ Catherine of Russia. George Hume discovered after his ters of introduction from Mr. Mel­ The villages of this section of the wife’s death a complete collection ville to the British and German colonies, with a population of 60,000 of all the letters he had written Consuls respectively, Messrs. Cum- inhabitants, embraced the whole dis­ to her during the fifty-one years of berbatch and Jansen,6 I found that trict from Berdiansk to the River their married life. This aided him they had already been apprised of Malotchnaya, and certain colonies greatly in his writing. Reprinted be­ my coming, and had provided com­ beyond the Dnieper. They are mod­ low is much of Chapter V and a fortable quarters for me. The town els of arrangement and construc­ small partion of Chapter IX of is situated on the Sea of Azov, a tion, and were planned under the Hume’s memoirs, Thirty-Five Years shallow sea lying in a saucer-like supervision of a special Government in Russia. No changes have been depression, said to be gradually inspector. Each farmstead is pro­ made in his spelling of place names. drying up, and united with the vided with barn and stables attach­ He rarely identified a person’s given Black Sea by the Straits of Kertch. ed at right angles to the dwelling- name which presents problems in This desiccation seems certain, as houses, all being substantially built identification. We are grateful to within my own experience vessels and tiled with Dutch tiles. Their Dr. Von Hardesty, Associate Cur­ which in 1860 could be loaded at gable ends are whitewashed and ator in the Department of Aero­ six miles from the shore, before face the street, presenting a very nautics, National Air and Space my departure in 1890 were forced neat appearance, and this with the Museum, Smithonian Institution, to load at a distance of sixteen trim fences and gates gives one a for finding this memoir and bring­ miles. On its northern apex is situ­ justifiable impression of industrial ing it to our attention for publica­ ated the town of Taganrog, once a prosperity. Another pleasant feature tion in Mennonite Life. One of Dr. flourishing seaport and noted as the is the large number of storks, whose Hardesty’s areas of special interest place where the Emperor Alexander nests are perched upon the ridges is nineteenth century Russian his­ I died. It is at the mouth of the of the houses. I consider this bird tory. River Don, one of the largest one of the most chivalrous of his streams in Europe. . . . kind, seeing that the male always arrives first and prepares the home nest for his mate. At the time of my arrival, a con­ spicuous feature of each village throughout the colonies was the number of windmills used for grind­ ing corn. These followed the medi­ aeval practice of turning the sails The Mennonite Colonies ( which were covered with sail-cloth) to the wind by a pole. The grain The harvest of 1861 had been so was thrashed out by being trodden superabundant that a considerable under foot by oxen or horses, though portion of the crop remained un­ I noticed, among the larger land- harvested, through scarcity of la­ owners, a large granite stone cut bour, until very late in the autumn, into wide teeth was also used. The and then much of it rotted in the winnowing was done by throwing fields. With the breaking up of the the corn into the air. In fact, the ice and the opening of navigation whole operation was biblical and in that year, we received our ma­ primitive, and of course under such chines from England; and, intro­ conditions the quantity of land duced by Mr. Jansen, I started on a sown was very small. The only at­ journey through the Mennonite colo­ tempt at mechanical working I nies with a view to introducing the found to be grinding the corn by reaping and thrashing machinery, treadmill worked by the weight of which had not hitherto been seen the horses on a plane table. there. On my preliminary journey, The principal village, or town as I found that the colonies consisted they call it, was Halbstadt, which of a large number of villages in­ contains the municipal buildings, habited by the followers of Menno, educational high schools, etc. It is a sect of Bible Christians who had with a deep sense of gratitude that emigrated from Prussia on the in­ I record the fact that I received the troduction of obligatory military ungrudging hospitality of these Georye Hume. service in that country. The bearing good people and was invited to all

22 MENNONITE LIFE their social gatherings, more es­ that a young Ennglishman had ar­ information I was ready to give, he pecially to those called in America rived in the district, bringing with turned to the villagers, who were “Bees,” which are organized in him a newly-invented wonderful standing by open-mouthed, and sen- every village. In the autumn the machine, which was erroneously tentiou.sly gave his opinion. “That pigs, which form the chief meat said to be capable of cutting three is no machine; that is a grass­ food during the winter months, are acres in one day, and this had ex­ hopper.” To this I replied, “No, no! killed and dressed. Sometimes, how­ cited much curiosity. On the ar­ it is no grasshopper, but a locust, ever, it is proposed to kill an ox or rival of the machines at Steinbach,7 and you will see it clear the corn a calf, but this is only done when I again proceeded thither to erect to the ground cleaner than the work the principal joints thereof are prev­ them, and met a Mr. Dick, a preach­ of locusts.” The ultimate result iously ordered. I have been present er, who was much respected proved my locust to be nearer the at festivals where sixteen pigs have throughout the colonies. After ex­ truth than his grasshopper. been killed and dressed in one day, amining the machine when I had The machine was American, the hams being put into brine, and fully explained it to him, he said Wood’s patent, consisting of a cut­ all other joints made ready for cur­ that he began to see that there was ting bar with dog-tooth knives, a ing or prepared for sausages of a possibility of its doing the work I plane table with a seated back for various kinds, besides which a din­ predicted. The only thing he feared raking off the sheaves, and a re­ ner has been provided and cooked was that the beater apparatus which volving beater for bringing the corn for the occasion. In my time it was brought the corn on to the knives on to the knives. When all was always roast goose stuffed with might thrash a considerable quan­ ready, Mr. Dick ordered the horses chestnuts. tity of grain out of the ears. Mr. to be harnessed to the machine. The division of the sexes prevails Dick had seen something of the They were a beautiful carriage pair, at the festivals, the women sitting world beyond the village, having evidently very fresh, and not re­ at one side of the table and the been to Moscow and St. Petersburg, cently in harness. I took my place men at the other. From place to and had inspected mechanical con­ on the very small seat provided, and place, in due course, the “Bees” fly; trivances used by manufacturers lifting the reins prepared to guide the same ceremonies are performed, which had astounded him. He was the horses; but they suddenly took until the last village in the circuit a man of considerable culture and the bits in their teeth, and well it has stored its winter provisions. natural ability, and became much was that the men had stood off, for The inhabitants of these villages interested, ultimately asking me to they began kicking and plunging so are farmers possessing about 120 go to the village of Podonau,8 his that it was a marvel how I escaped acres of land, and in the larger ones dwelling-place, where he would show being thrown under their heels. there are so-called “Beisitzers,” who me a field of rye on which the Then the unwonted rattle of the have no land, but are the artisans machine might be tried. gearing at the rear caused them to of the districts, such as blacksmiths, Of course I pointed out to him stampede, and mad with terror they carpenters, etc. It was in such a that the horses had not been trained, rushed through the village to the village as this that I first tried the and that the noise of the machine open steppe. I feel sure that Mazep- mower. When the machines arrived usually affected them before they pa9 tied to the wild horse was child’s in the spring, I had visited on in­ had become accustomed to the work­ play to this. With the machine leap­ troduction a very large estate be­ ing. We arranged that on a certain ing and shaking with the irregu­ longing to a rich German proprietor, Friday morning a preliminary trial larities of the ground, it was with and had asked him to allow me to should be carried out apart from the the greatest difficulty I kept my give the machines a trial on a field reaping, and, if satisfactory, the seat; there was no question of using of corn, and also whether, seeing cutting should take place on the en­ the reins, for I was forced to let that he was often sending corn to suing Monday. the horses go their own sweet way, Berdiansk, he would allow two reap­ On bringing the machines to and it was only when, in a white ers to be brought thence in the re­ Podonau, the blacksmith of the vil­ foam they gradually became ex­ turning empty wagons to his yard, lage, called locally “The Mechanic,” hausted that I was at last able to to remain until July for inspection was specially invited to inspect them conquer them. by the colonists. His decision was and give his decision upon them. When I found that I could control that he had heard that such ma­ He was a veritable type of a Dutch and guide them with the machinery chines were very good at thrashing burgher of mediaeval times—broad in full work, I dismounted, soothed out the corn, but never that any in the beam, with his unstockinged and pacified them, and wiped them one in the colonies had used one. feet thrust into slippers much trod­ down with dry steppe grass, leading He had already engaged a sufficient den down at the heels, and smoking them gently towards the village. number of men for cutting his corn, a cherry-wood pipe at least four Half-way I was met by a large num­ and could not therefore give the feet long. Such was the umpire who ber of the villagers on horseback, trial, but would willingly order the was to give his verdict upon these who expressed their surprise at reapers to be brought from the town unfamiliar machines. It was only finding me safe and sound. One of on the wagons, and they could then necessary to look at the man’s face them, a young man, gave me his stand in one of his barns for in­ to see that he had decided on his horse, and assured Mr. Dick on his spection. verdict. After going round and ex­ arrival that they were so thorough­ It had, however, got noised abroad amining the reaper, refusing any ly broken in that he could go any-

MARCH, 1985 23 where with them, which was con­ tune ; also should a priest or cat ets. This formed a new community, firmed practically the next day, Sat­ cross before him when first driving and ultimately took the name and urday. The bridles of Russian horses out in the morning, the driver will leadership of Menno. are without blinkers, and this fact return and begin his journey afresh. The main tenets of this new sect was probably the cause of a great A series of bad harvests ensuing, were first, that, discarding all part of the mishap. In subsequent it was long before any extended use priestly domination outside the Bi­ trials with fresh horses, I always was made of the machines, so that ble and the believer’s conscience, no had the training done with their we earned little or nothing from our forms or ceremonies should be toler­ eyes bandaged. first venture. Subsequently, how­ ated in the Christian Church. Sec­ Mr. Dick, uninfluenced by the en­ ever, the use of them extended. Our ondly, that neither baptism nor the treaties of the women folk, decided business in the steam machinery Lord’s Supper conferred grace, and that cutting should be tried on the increased, and the manufacture of that it was only those of the New Monday as arranged. When the reapers and such small machinery Birth that formed the true body. great day arrived, people from the was eventually taken up by others, Baptism is performed by pouring neighbouring villages flocked in on thousands being made yearly in fac­ water on the head, and formerly, or horseback, or in buggies, to see the tories in Chortitz, Alexandroff, and it may still perhaps be, there was wonderful sight of a modern har­ Berdiansk. It was interesting to me, the custom of feet-washing with the vester; and as I drove it, I was fol­ the pioneer, on visiting the colonies Lord’s Supper. Further, amongst lowed by a crowd critically examin­ in 1891, to be shown the machine their tenets, marriage out of the ing the ground to see how much which I had introduced into Russia community is forbidden, or only corn had been thrashed out, and in 1861. This Wood’s machine, being sanctioned after profession of faith. their verdict was “Not half so light and suitable for their horses, They deny all right of the civil much as by hand work.” When the now finds a home in almost every authority to bind their conscience trial of the Burgess & Key machine peasant’s cottage or colonist’s home­ under any circumstances whatever. (which gained the first prize of stead in South Russia. This excludes the taking of oaths £500 for reapers at the Great Exhi­ and the acceptance of any office bition of 1851) was carried out, the The Mennonites under Government, even to the ex­ Russian peasants following it were To the general reader it may be tent of refusing magisterial duties. simply astounded at seeing the corn of interest to give a short descrip­ Whilst they inculcate obedience to come rolling off in a long continu­ tion of the origin and experiences all laws which do not bind their ous swathe ready for the binder. of this people, all the more that it conscience and are rightly enforced At last they took off their caps and seemed extremely strange that for by the civil authority, they repudi­ crossed themselves, devoutly pray­ conscience’ sake they should have ate under any circumstance the tak­ ing that they might not have been found in Russia, the most despotic ing of human life. As a consequence, present at an invention of the devil. of all countries and known for its they refuse all enactments forcing On another occasion when the intolerance, a refuge and asylum. them into obligatory military ser­ steam thrasher was at work, a de­ All the more extraordinary was the vice, and stand fast on the charter putation from a neighbouring vil­ fact that, at the time of their immi­ given them by the Empress Cath­ lage came begging our man in gration, the Holy Synod of Russia erine, which conceded to them full charge to call out the unclean spirit was using every means in its power freedom for ever from conscription, that was doing the work, so that to bring the adherents of all other and granted to each family an allot­ they might see it. He, instead of communities under the priestly dom­ ment of land for their support. The explaining to them the working of ination of the Greek Church. Yet date on which the sect was founded it, told them that he could not do here I found them, in a corner of was 1523, in the town of Zurich. that, because he would have to work the Empire, enjoying the full rights In their church government they the machine himself, besides which and freedom of citizens, and prac­ have no settled ministry; their lead­ there would be the devil to pay tising their religious tenets without ers, who preach without text, are amongst the villagers. I admonished let or hindrance from the Russian chosen from the community. This is him, and explained to him that in hierarchy. considered a great honour; and ow­ introducing these machines we look­ This remarkable community dates ing to the sermons being in High ed upon ourselves not merely as the its origin from the time of Luther, German, instead of the German pioneers of a great industry, but and is considered to be the first dis­ which is the common speech of the also as emissaries of civilization, senting section of that period. Its people, the preachers chosen must and, seeing that superstition and original founder was one Obbo Phil- of necessity be men of fair educa­ ignorance go hand in hand, our duty lipoz10 in 1523, who, however, left tion. The women take no part what­ lay through enlightenment to de­ the community early, in disagree­ ever in the church government, and stroy the source and power of it. ment on the point of church fellow­ in their simple chapels are seated The Russian peasant, owing to the ship. The name Mennonite is de­ separately, the men to the right and state of ignorance in which serf­ rived from Menno Simens (1492- the women to the left of the preach­ dom has kept him, is naturally most 1559), who became in 1537 the mis- er. Instrumental music in worship superstitious. A woman will not sioner of that body, which had sep­ is prohibited, and to an unaccus­ cross the road before a man, fear­ arated itself from Luther owing to tomed ear the long-drawnout ending ing she might bring him misfor­ being in disagreement with his ten­ to each line of their hymns sounds

24 MENNONITE LIFE very monotonous. universal obligatory military service ists 12 These labourers, with the well- In their services they have been that sent them farther afield; and known impressibility of the Russian compared to the Quakers, being as each country in turn adopted con­ peasant in religious matters, be­ much addicted to silent prayer; scription, they have fled from its came missioners of the new doc­ they also agree in their opposition enactment. trines in their various villages, and to military service. On more than When in 1870 universal military to so great an extent that the priest­ one occasion the members of the service became law, the Mennonites, hood were greatly affected in their British Quaker sect have visited the having in mind the charter which material interests through losing colonies and preached in their chap­ specially exempted them from it, their fees for marriages, christen­ els, which, they pointed out to me, were much agitated, and on the ings, burials, etc. On this the ec­ they had considered to be a great Government insisting, a large num­ clesiastical authorities took action, honour conferred upon them by the ber left for Canada and the States. and sent round commissioners, com­ English community, and consequent­ In order to stay the exodus of so prising priests, deacons, and su­ ly much appreciated. laborious and God-fearing a com­ perior members of the clergy, to re­ Again, they have been compared munity, the leaders (including port as to the number of Stundists to the Plymouth Brethren, with among them our dear friends the in the various villages of their dis­ whom, certainly, they have much family of the German Consul, the tricts. affinity. They differ from them, Jansens, with whom we have kept A German Mennonite friend re­ however, in church government and in touch ever since) were forced to lated to me the following incident. practice, one special point being that leave, and probably the majority He was at the time the mayor of they do not require for church fel­ would leave followed. This drastic the village, when he received notice lowship strict uniformity in their action, however, did not avail to from the ecclesiastical authorities of religious opinions, a tenet which has stay the exodus, so General Todle­ Ekaterinoslav that a commmission caused so many doctrinal differences ben, the hero of the defence at Se­ was visiting the district, and and splits amongst the Plymouth bastopol, was sent down armed with amongst others his own village. He Brethren, otherwise a most esti­ full powers to settle matters. This was to prepare them lodgings and mable class of Christians. ended in a compromise arrange­ all due hospitality, as well as fresh As a community, the Mennonites ment, under which they could not horses for their next journey. Hav­ are highly esteemed by all classes be called to the fighting ranks, but ing found necessary lodging for the in Russia, being strictly honest in must serve three years in the For­ others in the village, he himself hos­ all their dealings, and reliable in all estry Department, and be trained pitably entertained the leaders, and their undertakings. Instances have as bearers of the wounded and in in course of conversation inquired personally come under my notice the art of giving first aid. whether they had found many when (as very seldom occurs, how­ The present adherents of the sect Stundists in that locality. To this ever) a member of their communi­ number about 250,000, of which they cheerfully replied that, thanks ty being unable to meet his liabili­ 80.000 are in the United States, to God, there were not many in that ties, the colony has subscribed the 75.000 in Russia, 60,000 in Holland neighbourhood. amount due and satisfied the debt. and 25,000 in Canada, the remainder Knowing of the widespread char­ During my frequent visits to the being spread in small communities acter of Stundism in his own dis­ villages, I used, together with my in Germany, Poland, Switzerland, trict, he felt much surprise, and took host and his family, to attend their Galicia, and France. an early opportunity of interview­ services. At that time Spurgeon11 Shortly after the Crimean War, ing the coachman who had been was greatly esteemed; his sermons an agitation took place among the driving them, the latter himself a were translated into German and more earnest Christians of the de­ Stundist. To the queries put the Dutch, and very often formed the nomination, in consequence of their Russian replied that they had only subject of the discourse, being much opinion that there had been a ser­ found one, an old woman, who, un­ prized. ious backsliding of the community, like the others, declined to . pay the From the above it will be seen as a whole, from the principles for sum (perhaps two roubles) demand­ that in the eyes of the Church of which they stood. This movement ed in order to place them in the Rome a community of this descrip­ led to the formation of a brother­ ranks of the orthodox. My friend tion would be considered not only hood among them, which eventually thereupon objected that purchasing subversive of all religion, but a attracted the attention of the priest­ exemption in such a manner was danger to civil authority. Hence ly authorities. Year by year, during not consistent with the principles much persecution epsued; members the time of harvest, there was a held by the Stundist community, of the sect were tortured and great immigration of Russian la­ and was answered, “Brother, I fear drowned, and, as was usual in those bourers from the villages of the in­ that you have not studied your Bible times with those who only wished to terior for the ingathering. These to profit, for have you not read live their religious life quietly and usually returned annually to the the words in the Gospel (Luke xvi. apart from the world the blood of same Mennonite household, and join­ 9), ‘Make to yourselves friends of the martyrs led to the teaching and ed with them in their evening medi­ the mammon of unrighteousness’?” spread of the new religion to Ger­ tations, known as the Gebetstunde, —which, if stretching a doctrinal many, Holland, and France. It was or hour of prayer. From this name point, certainly brought immediate mainly, however, the introduction of eventually arose that of the Stund- relief to a harassed community. . . .

MARCH, 1985 25 Chapter IX. Life in Poltava to the carriage in a few minutes the morning, taking three hours’ and Kharkov landed us on the bank, and the rest in the middle of the day, after horses were then also extricated, which we proceeded until sunset. Owing to a two-years’ succession the whole operation taking nearly The next stage of our journey of bad harvests, it became evident half an hour. was Einlager,14 where we stayed that Berdiansk did not offer suf­ Soon after we arrived at our two days with our friends the Un­ ficient prospects for expansion that host’s house, when I related the gers, for whom I had erected the could yield permanent support for whole circumstances. On hearing first mill, which I was pleased to two families. In the year 1863, on this, Mr. Reimer became extremely find was making large profits. At January 20th, I had married, and angry, and at once sent a man on that time it was the custom to work therefore taken upon myself great horseback to bring back the men on the principle of barter, the own­ responsibilities. . . . who had helped us. On their arrival, ers of all windmills receiving one- Having taken the above resolu­ after being bitterly upbraided for tenth of the corn delivered instead tion Mr. Graham and I resolved to breaking the accepted law of the of money, and this same principle dissolve our partnership, he remain­ Steppe, which enjoined mutual aid was being carried out at this time ing in Berdiansk, while I went forth to be given in case of necessity, with the steam mills. The trade had to seek new fields. Previous to our without payment, he made them re­ so increased that those bringing final departure, I had visited, to­ turn me the money, and threatened corn, no matter what quality, could gether with my wife, a number of to impound the team if they did not immediately receive in return bar­ the German colonies, and, armed do so; he would not even allow me ley, wheat, or rye already ground, with an introduction from Mr. Jan­ to give them a small gratuity. without having to wait. sen, the German Consul, we made We had now to prepare for the We then proceeded on our further the acquaintance of the leading greater trek. For this purpose we journey to Ekaterinoslav,15 a city members, who heartily invited us had a large fourgon, a covered that had been founded within a few to stay with them during our inland roomy coach, drawn by three horses. weeks by Potemkin to prove to journey. After long deliberation My wife and our German colonist Catherine the Great the prosperity with our friends, the city of Pol­ housekeeper slept inside, and myself of her newly-conquered Tartar ter­ tava13 was considered to offer the and our driver (also a German colo- ritories. In this city we stayed with best prospects for a settlement, it ist) under the vehicle. Taking as Mr. Tiesen, for whom I had erected being the centre of Russia’s finest we did a circuitous route, as long my second mill after which we took agricultural districts. This town is as we were in the German colonies our last stage to Poltava. . . . well known also from a historical we had a roof over our heads every ENDNOTES standpoint, as being the scene of a night, and we stayed a week with 1 . Cornelius Krahn, “Agriculture Among the Mennonites of Russia,” Mennonite crushing defeat of Charles XII of Mr. Cornies, the Government in­ Life X:1 (January 1955), 14-24. Sweden by Peter the Great. spector of the Mennonite communi­ 2. London: Simpkin. Marshall, Hamilton. Kent and Co., 1914: reprint: Amo On our first journey, the follow­ ty. Contrary to the Mennonite ten­ Press and The New York Times, 1971). ing incident occurred. It had been ets he had married a wife from 3. Ibid., p. 37. 4. Ibid., p. 50. arranged that we should stop at the Germany; he was also a man of 5. Ibid., p. 308. 6. Cornelius Jansen (1822-94) and his fam­ house of a Mr. Reimer, who at that great intellectual powers, and pos­ ily emigrated from West Prussia to time was the mayor of the village sessed a large estate, on a portion Berdyansk in 1850, returned to Danzig, and in 1856 returned to Berdyansk, of Orloffka. To reach this place we of which he had planted an exten­ where he served as the Consul for had to cross the River Malotchnaya, sive forest, thereby proving that the Prussia and Mecklenburg. He was one of the leaders in the migration of where our coachman, having mis­ climate and soil of the Steppe were Mennonites to the United States, ar­ judged the ford, drove us into the amply suitable for the vigorous riving in Ontario in 1873 and subse­ middle of the stream, when we im­ quently settling in Beatrice, Nebraska. growth of trees. Following his ex­ 7. One of the southeast villages of the mediately sank to the axles of the ample, the Russian Government Molotschna colony. 8. The next to last village in the south­ carriage. The position became a very planted large tracts of Steppe land east corner of the Molotschna colony. difficult one, as it would have been with forest trees, and it is in insti­ 9. A Cossack chiefton, 1632-1708, who ac­ cording to legend was strapped to a impossible for the driver to descend tutions connected with the develop­ wild horse and sent into the wilderness. without himself becoming embedded, ment of these that the youth of the The horse eventually reached a camp of Cossacks, where he became their lead­ and water began to invade the car­ Mennonites receive instruction in er in the struggle for Ukrainian inde­ pendence. riage itself. forestry and first aid to the wound­ 10. Obbe Philips, C1500-1568, brother of At this juncture we heard in the ed instead of undergoing military Dirk Philips. 11. Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892, well- distance the voices of men approach­ service. known Baptist preacher in London. ing the ford, who soon appeared In this house one of the dishes 12. A pietistic revival movement among the German and Russians of the accompanying their teams of bul­ provided for dinner was peacock, Ukraine in the nineteenth century. locks. We therefore hailed them, and a water melon of their own 13. A city 100 miles north of Chortitza. 14. A village in the Chortitza settlement. and they commenced bargaining as growing that weighed forty-five Abraham Unger was the first elder in the Mennonite Brethren Church, 1862- to the amount to be paid them for pounds. This was about our half­ 76. rendering assistance, the sum finally way house, from which we now en­ 15. Now Dnepropetrovsk, was the largest city in the vicinity of the Chortitza settled being 25 roubles (£2IOS.). tered on our Steppe journey, rein­ Mennonite settlement, which was fifty The coachman could by leaning over vigorated and refreshed. For many miles to the south. The Thiessen, Toews, Hesse, and Fast families were engaged unlock the traces, thus freeing the a long mile the driver and myself in the growing milling industry in horses; the bullocks being attached walked on foot; we started early in that city in the nineteenth century. 26 MENNONITE LIFE Immigration Poetry

by S. P. Yoder

Introduction and Ontario. For example, during S. P. Yoder was a bedfast invalid The following two poems, “Chris­ the first week of February, 1874, he when he began to write poetry in tianity Requires Peace” and “Chris­ listed five purchases: February 2, the 1870s, but he recovered to some tian Love and Sympathy” served a Moses Brenneman, Elida, Allen Co., extent and married in 1880. He con­ unique purpose. They were composed Ohio, $1.00; February 3, Mary A. tinued to write poetry until his by Simon P. Yoder of Vistula, Elk­ Slagell, Chenoa, McLean Co., Illi­ death in 1926, and in 1916 a book of hart County, Indiana, in 1873, and nois, $.10; February 3, Anna Shank, his poems entitled Political Medita­ Yoder sold copies of the poems for St. Martins, Morgan Co., Missouri, tions of Thoughtful Paragraphs was $.06 each and donated all of the pro­ $1.00; February 4, Ben. Brenneman, published. Yoder was also a fre­ ceeds to aid the migration of the Elida, Allen Co., Ohio, $1.00; and quent contributor to the Herald of Mennonites from Europe and Rus­ February 5, J. S. Good, Nodaway Truth. sia to North America. John F. Funk Mills, Page Co., Iowa, $.10. S. P. The following two poems are re­ promoted the sale of the poems in Yoder’s son, J. Harvey Yoder, do­ printed not only as an illustration the Herald of Truth. nated copies of the poetry and the of S. P. Yoder’s writing but also S. P. Yoder’s poetry was popular, records of sales to the Mennonite as a demonstration of the concern and his records indicate that he re­ Library and Archives (Small Ar­ for and support given to the Men­ ceived orders from fifteen states chives, 1-26) in 1974. nonite immigrants of the 1870s. —David A. Haury

CHRISTIANITY REQUIRES PEACE

The following Poem was written by a young man who has been an invalid for a number of years, and writes only with the greatest difficulty. But, anxious to do something, for the cause of the Prince of Peace, he with much labor wrote these lines, and proposes to give the proceeds to the Aid of the needy brethren, who are about to emi­ grate from Russia to America for conscience’ sake.

The righteous prophets long foretold What were the doctrines he did preach ? That cruel wars must cease— What saith his holy word? That Christ the Shepherd for his fold, Did Jesus his disciples teach Would bring a reign of peace; To wield the bloody sword? When men would walk in the light of the Lord, O no; but he said they should bless and love And no more desire to lift up the sword: Their enemies, and be harmless as doves. When none need quake at the fierce battle’s roar, Christ, lowly in heart, meek, merciful, kind, For nations should not learn war any more, Left none but gracious examples behind:— But follow the paths of peace. So we should follow the Lord. Isa. 2 :4, 5; Mic. 4 :3. Matt. 5:44; 10:16.

List to the song of Bethlehem, No law of peace you’ll find so good, The joyful sound prolong; Searching the wide world through, Lo! “On earth peace, good will toward men.” As, Do to others as you would This was the angel’s song, That they should do to you. When the Prince of Peace, our Savior was born, All those who will search the Scriptures can see, To proclaim that peaceable kingdom’s morn. That true disciples we never can be, The gospel of peace he freely revealed, Unless we possess Christ’s spirit which leads Yea, with his own blood his Testament sealed, Us e’en to repay wrong—-violent deeds, To redeem the world from wrong. With deeds that are good and true. Luke 2:14. Matt. 7:12; Rom. 8:9; 12:17-21.

MARCH, 1985 27 He came to save the lives of men, Come, blessed time, seen from afar Then why should we destroy? By holy seers of old, When men accept Christ’s Spirit, then When none shall sanction deeds of war They’ll find true peace and joy. Within the Christian fold. He said unto Peter, “Put up thy sword,” Oh, when shall appear the glorious day, He taught by his deeds as well as his word. When carnage and strife shall have passed away? The Author of peace—he taught us to pray When all men on earth love the Prince of peace, For our enemies too, but not to slay,— And obey his gospel—then wars will cease, To forgive and not destroy. Tis the hope we firmly hold. Luke 9 :56 ; Jn. 18:11.

How can men be so blind in this Lord, cleanse us now from every thought Clear peaceful gospel light, Of violence and strife; As to believe and say, It is Help us to serve thee as we ought, The Christian’s legal right And live a peaceful life. To forge the instruments of carnal strife, We pray thee to cause all rulers and kings And learn the fiendish art of taking life! To humble themselves, and follow the things With sword and gun join in the mad affray That cherish sweet peace:—to obey thy word; To kill his fellow men'in every way! Forever to stay the murderous sword, May God save us from this sight. And cease from carnal strife. Vistula, Elkhart Co. Ind. S. P. Yoder.

CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY By S. P. Yoder

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you that ye also love one an­ other. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” John 13:34, 35. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his broth­ er, abideth in death.” I John 3 :14,

On this subject long I’ve pondered, Listen then while I am pleading, Through my mind these texts still ring: Since in truth it must be said; Is the “New Command” I wondered All around us hearts are bleeding But an outward, formal thing? For the want of friendly aid. Through it we see indications In the light by heav’n begotten Of the workings of the soul; Shall such things forever be? That has changed its inclinations— Have all men then quite forgotten Given all to Christ’s control. Christian love and sympathy?

Oh that men had always hearkened Some are bound by worldly fashions To sweet counsel from above; Till they loathe a Christian life; Precious homes would not be darkened Others yield to angry passions, For the want of Christian love. And engage in envious strife. Now kind feelings oft lie dormant, While ’mongst those who stand professing Anguish dwells where love should reign; Pious, non-resistant ways; And amidst such things discordant Ofttimes see we most distressing Hearts are crushed for selfish gain. Symptoms of declining grace.

28 MENNONITE LIFE By what sign shall true believers Let us now provoke each other Be distinguished everywhere, Unto love and righteous deeds, From mistaken world deceivers? And assist our weaker brother— By the Christian love they bear Thus we’ll scatter precious seeds, To each other, said our Savior. Which perchance may grow and flourish From this holy love will grow In what else were barren land, Humble, true and right behavior, And ourselves and others nourish That all men their faith may know. Through the Savior’s new command.

Fellow man, whate’er thy nation, This would be a world of beauties Trustest thou in Jesus’ word? Like unto the world above, Hast thou found that great salvation If all men would do their duties Which is given by our Lord? From the motive of true love. Let us pray, my Christian brother, Peaceful glories, pure and holy For a deeper work of grace; Would descend our homes to bless, That may cleanse us from all error, If all men both high and lowly And discordant things efface. Were but freed from selfishness.

Sympathetic feelings, brother, E’en the peaceful homes in glory— We should cherish day by day; Homes of angel hosts above; But if harsh towards each other Would be filled with battles gory How can we for blessings pray? If they were not filled with love. All true hearts have inward longing God is love, and he abideth For a higher, nobler life;— Only with the pure in heart; Why not cease from bitter wrongings, Where no party strife divideth Live in love and banish strife? Anxious souls with cruel art.

Henceforth let us aid each other, While we pray the Lord of heaven. It will make our burdens light. For the thing of highest worth— If we kindly walk together That his kingdom may be given In the path of truth and right. And his will be done on earth : Since we now confess Christ Jesus Let us not forget, dear brother, As our Savior and our guide; That pure charity so rare; Let not Satan’s wiles deceive us And in love now walk together Till we yield to hate or pride. Lest we strive against our prayer.

We are called to love each other— We should zealous be to labor Oh for faith and love that we For the good of all mankind; May our selfish feelings smother By our actions lead our neighbor And increase in sympathy! To the fount of love refined: While on earth, Oh may we ever By our “walk and conversation”— Walk together hand in hand; By the fruit the tree is known, Jesus will forsake us never, Hence without dissimulation If we heed his neiv command. Must true Christian love be shown.

We are pilgrims bound for heaven Many wrongs would soon be righted Where the holy ones abide;— Many errors truth remove, Where true happiness is given, Were the hearts of men united And no evil can betide: In the bonds of Christian love. And by faith we look to Jesus For the wicked world’s salvation As the only way to God; Let us labor then and pray;— For from guilt he did release us May Christ’s fold in every nation By the shedding of his blood. Gain in number day by day.

Wherefore then, my Christian brother, First I’d say to every brother, Should we be estranged so long? Let us do the Master’s will; Can we not stand up together And as Christians, love each other— In our warfare ’gainst the wrong? Thus at once the law fulfill! Let no idol gods deceive us; From the throne of grace above us Hope would all be wretchedness Then rich blessings will descend, If we could not trust in Jesus Hosts celestial then will love us, Who is all our righteousness. And our holy cause defend.

MARCH, 1985 29 Book Reviews ings of Luther or Zwingli; that tocentrism of the earliest Zurich Sattler probably left the monastery Anabaptists. At least, in this re­ C. Arnold Snyder, The Life and in 1525 with the radical peasants; viewer’s opinion, Snyder’s position Thought of Michael Sattler, Scott- that he does not appear in the Zur­ here is open to question. But there dale: Herald Press, 1984. Pp. 260. ich records until November of 1525 are no glaring errors. Indeed, the ($19.95 hardback) (the “Brother Michael in the white worst mistake in the book was coat” of March 1525 is not Sattler committed by Herald Press. The Ten years ago, Kenneth Davis’ —Benedictines wore black) ; that he half-title page declares this volume Anabaptism and Asceticism was did not work with Grebel; that he to be the 26th in the Studies in published as volume 16 of Studies was not a confirmed Anabaptist un­ Anabaptist and Mennonite History in Anabaptist and Mennonite His­ til June of 1526; that Sattler’s sep­ series, when in fact the series list­ tory. Davis, in the tradition of Al­ aratist ecclesiology was the insur­ ing opposite the title page clearly brecht Ritschl, contended that Ana- mountable obstacle in his relation­ shows it to be the 27th. Would that baptism could constructively be con­ ship to the Strasbourg reformers, all works of historical scholarship sidered a kind of lay asceticism. Bucer and Capito; that he icas the could claim no worse error! And as such, it was more firmly primary author of the Schleitheim This is a book of exceptional rooted in medieval Catholicism than Confession; that that confession quality, a truly outstanding addition in sixteenth-century Protestantism. was an internal document aimed at to an important series. Not surprisingly, given the general other Anabaptists, not at outsiders Dale Schräg nature of his study, Davis painted like Bucer and Capito; and that he Bethel College with a broad brush in support of his was martyred not at the midpoint provocative and important thesis. of his Anabaptist career, but at its Davis noted, for example, Michael very threshold. Sattler’s Benedictine background as Snyder then turns to a similarly evidence for this thesis, but he had systematic analysis of Sattler’s Bender, Urie A. Stumbling Heaven­ to leave the task of a truly thorough thought. He reviews the extant ward: The Extraordinary Life of examination of Sattler’s life and writings of Sattler, and then ex­ An Ordinary Man, Peter Rempel, thought to others. amines, in turn> Sattler’s Schrift­ Hyperion, 1984, 299 pages. Index. That task has now been accom­ prinzip, christology, soteriology, and plished in the finest sense of that ecclesiology. Sattler’s christocentric A fully-developed biography of a term. The newest volume in the understanding of scripture, accord­ living person is unusual; a full- Studies in Anabaptist and Menno­ ing to Snyder, is derived largely length biography of a Mennonite nite History series, C. Arnold Sny­ from his Benedictine past and the whose life-blood is still pumping der’s The Life and Thought of writings of Trithemius; his Chris­ vigorously in his veins is even more Michael Sattler is a superb book! tology is likewise dependent on these unusual. Yet Urie Bender, well It reveals meticulous research; it is monastic sources, with one caveat— known for his Anabaptist biogra­ well-written; its conclusions are “whereas the monastic teaching out­ phies and novels, presents a portrait convincing, significant, and—al­ lines a process of gradual sancti­ of Peter Rempel, a living and some­ though Snyder makes no overt at­ fication, Sattler now holds to a doc­ times controversial figure in the Al­ tempt at providing such support— trine of election and regeneration berta Mennonite community. generally supportive of Davis’ the­ through the Spirit, which he learned Hundreds of interviews form the sis. from the Swiss Anabaptists” (169). basis of this thoroughly developed Snyder considers first the life of In the areas of soteriology and ec­ profile, a combination of straight­ Michael Sattler. After establishing clesiology, Snyder (not surprising­ forward reporting, narrative, testi­ that much of what we think we ly) sees more evidence of Protestant monials, and interpretation, to re­ know about Sattler is based on influence, but even here the mon­ veal both Rempel’s strengths and naive conclusions resting on very astic strain is unmistakable. Sat­ shortcomings. slender evidence, Snyder embarks tler’s strong emphasis on a pure Who is Peter Rempel? Bender on a critical analysis of the textual and separated community of saints, describes him as a “contemporary and contextual evidence regarding declared so unequivocally in the prairie pioneer,” a modern frontiers­ the life of Michael Sattler. Along fourth article at Schleitheim, “leads man who explored social and spirit­ the way, he concludes that Sattler from Michael Sattler straight back ual truths beyond their traditional was not university-educated; that through to the monastery.” (202) restrictions for the “excitement of he was prior of St. Peter’s of the The Life and Thought of Michael discovering himself, his neighbor, Black Forest sometime between Sattler is so carefully researched and his God.” Rempel began the 1518 and 1525; that he was influ­ and logically argued that one hesi­ Youth Orientation Units (YOU) enced by the Bursfeld Reform of tates to quarrel with Snyder’s con­ near Edmonton, which provide a the Benedictine Order, especially in clusions. There may be occasional home and counseling for drug and the form of the writings of Abbot evidence of the Procrustean bed. For alcohol abusers and boys in trouble Johannes Trithemius; that Protes­ example, in arguing for the almost with the law. tant ideas came to Sattler through exclusively Benedictine roots of Sat­ The book details his life from in­ the social and political demands of tler’s christocentrism, Snyder may fancy to the present, attempting to the peasants, not through the writ­ have too easily dismissed the chris­ show the various environmental and

30 MENNONITE LIFE genetic factors which shaped him seems to be, “Yes, Virginia, even especially in an age when societal and played a part in his difficult Mennonite Brethren can change. forces are mitigating firmly against struggle to break away from narrow Here’s an example of one who it. fundamentalist views into the free­ did. . . As John Howard Yoder writes dom that allowed him to use his I welcome a biography of a con­ in the introduction, this book cen­ counseling gifts. One marvels at temporary. I congratulate Bender on ters on the “life and rationale of Rempel’s willingness to allow his his thoroughness and the balanced the Community which has survived biographer to show the sharp con­ picture he presents. The list of spon­ him for half a century.” The book trast between his readiness to al­ sors of this book is impressive. The has these four major headings: low the boys he counseled freedom book is strong when it treats Rempel This Crumbling World and God’s to make mistakes and his reluctance objectively. When the style waxes Coming Order; The New Order to give his own children the same lyrical, eloquent and repeats ma­ Fleshed Out; The Individual and privileges. terial, I found myself drawing back the Community; and Peace and the The book can be read on various or lagging. For example, the reader Rule of God. Each major unit has levels. First, I see it as an account is told over and over that Rempel various subunits. For instance, The of an unusual person who, hemmed was a preacher, farmer, bus driver, New Order Fleshed Out includes in by socio-religious walls, found and a cowboy and bear fighter at The Church, Unity and the Holy the courage to strike a new mold previous stages in his life as if to Spirit, Mission, and others. despite serious criticism from his force a legend where there may not Yoder’s introduction is very help­ contemporaries who could not un­ be one. Yet despite these minor de­ ful because he sets the context— derstand his need to find new ways tails, the book represents a signifi­ “the causes and cultural currents” of serving Christ and the church. As cant contribution to contemporary of Arnold’s day. For unfamiliar such, the book asserts that it is Mennonite literature. readers, it is important to know never too late to change, and en­ Katie Funk Wiebe that Arnold’s wisdom and his ap­ dorses Christian individualism as Tabor College plication of the Scriptures were necessary when institutional boun­ Hillsboro, KS forged in a crucible called “Ger­ daries become confining and per­ many” and eventually “Nazi Ger­ sonal experience seriously conflicts many,” and in the Christian “move­ with one’s internalized belief sys­ ments” of his time. And, it is vital tem as long taught by church insti­ that readers understand that the tutions. whole of his life, from about 1920 In this regard the book reminds onward, was given to establishing me of biographies of some Christian and pastoring and living in Church- feminists who recount their move­ Hutterian Society of Brothers and community. Arnold told guests and ment toward freedom after discover­ John Howard Yoder, eds., God’s followers alike that “the prophetic ing that their experience and own Revolution: The Witness of Eber­ Old Testament,” “the life of Jesus,” study of the Scriptures no longer hard Arnold. Pp. 224. (Paper­ and “the life of the first Church in meshes with traditional teachings. back). Jerusalem,” were a Word from God On another level the book can be that we, too, should live together read as a case history of the Al­ As I was reading this book, I be­ in Church-community. “Church- berta Mennonite Brethren church, came aware of something churning commnity” to Arnold, and to the for alongside Rempel’s biography in my subconscious. It finally sur­ Bruderhofs which formed with his it traces the history of the Coaldale- faced one day: “This is wisdom help, means a deeply and totally Vauxhall church community, at one literature—I am being reminded of shared life; economically, socially, and the same time both unyielding Biblical wisdom literature!” Indeed, and spiritually. in defining the boundaries of accep­ it felt like I was reading an updated, As one who has lived a life in table Christian behavior, yet ex­ Anabaptist, New Testament version this direction for nearly fourteen hibiting strong faith and much of Proverbs. God’s Revolution is a years, I find both inspiration and kindness toward others. The au­ collection of short sayings, contain­ challenge in this book. I see how far thor is careful to point out that this ing (according to the introduction) I and others have to go! But let me pattern held true for Mennonites of “a selection of those dominant be quick to add that the challenge other kinds and other areas. Yet strands of Arnold’s instruction.” comes primarily by the looking at having objectified this material Another reason for this comparison Jesus which Arnold’s sayings/writ- here, the resulting images of the to wisdom literature is because the ings prompted me to do. And if the static spiritual life and extreme sayings are wise. The range of sub­ book did this for me and would do rigidity of this area regarding ject matter, of course, does not ap­ this for other readers, I expect that male/female relationships, enter­ proach the book of Proverbs. Nor would greatly please Eberhard tainment, and so forth will remain does this collection even cover the Arnold and the Bruderhofs, for that vivid in the reader’s mind. The ac­ range of subjects which Arnold, is their simple goal—to advance the curacy of the portrayal can only be himself, touched on in his lifetime. Kingdom of God. determined by those who experi­ Nevertheless, the writings are wise Steven G. Schmidt enced it. But the final message to and are relevant to anyone attempt­ New Creation Fellowship the Mennonite Brethren reader ing to live a serious Christian life, Newton, Kansas

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