MENNONITE HISTORIAN

Published by the Mennonite Heritage Centre and the Centre for MB Studies in Canada Volume XVIII, No.2, June, 1992

reference to it in the Northend MB Church minutes occurs on January 1, 1931. 'They state that Abram B. Peters and F.F. Isaak informed the church about the organization and work of the Bible School. The church responded affirmatively and agreed to provide its basement rooms as classrooms. An additional note indicates that Br.1 I. Bartsch reported on his experience with the Winnipeg Bible Institute (later Winnipeg Bible College, now Providence College). Although the precise nature of his comments arc not reported they led to a decision by the church to make an announcement in the periodicals that the church had no connections with the institute.4 About a month later, a notice A group of students at Burrows and Andrews In Winnipeg taking Bible School courses In 1920. did appear in the Mennonitische Rundschau Courses were conducted for several years In an earlier period (ca. 1919-21) under the stating, "Es wird hiermit erklilrt, daB die MB leadership of William J. Bestvater, the first MB missionary In Winnipeg, and Peter E. Penner. Gemeinde zu Winnipeg nichts mit dieser Photo: Courtesy of CMBS. Winnipeg, MB Schule zu tun hat, sie in keiner Weise unterstOtzt, und sie auch nicht befUrwortet.,,5 Evidently, the comments MBBC Antecedents: The Winnipeg German made by BartSch were very critical, although one can only speculate about the reasons. Bible School The first instructor of the Winnipeg by Abe Dueck German Bible School was A.B. Peters (1860-1959), who had been a minister and 6 The story of Mennonite and Mennonite was the Winnipeg German Bible School. teacher in the MB Church for many years. Brethren Bible schools in Canada has not According to Klassen the school functioned He offered two hours of Bible instruction yet been told. Individual institutional from 1929 to 1942. In fact, it seems to on Thursday evenings (6:00-8:00 p.m.), histories or anniversary booklets exist for have existed only from 1930 to 1939, primarily for the Mennonite young women some Bible schools (e.g. Winkler Bible although some informal instructional classes who were associated with the Mary-Martha Institute, Bethany Bible Institute, Elim Bible may have existed both before and after. In Home. It should be noted, however, that a Institute, etc.). However, the story of many some respects it might even be considered somewhat similar instructional program had may never be told, and the role and impact to have been a forerunner of MBBC, since been offered by William J. Bestvater and of the Bible schools as a whole still awaits a some of the same individuals were involved P.E. Penner approximately ten years earlier. definitive analysis. in the governance and instruction of both According to a notebook by Anna Thiessen, At the occasion of the 50th anniversary of schools. One notes, for instance, that these courses were offered for two months the founding of the first MB Bible institute Cornelius A. DeFehr chaired the Board of on winter mornings for a number of years.? in Canada (Herbert in 1913), a pamphlet the school during most of the years of its In 1933 some significant new steps were edited by Abe J. Klassen was published by existence. He would become a leader in taken to create a more comprehensive the Board of Education of the Canadian establishing MBBC as well. program under more secure auspices. MB Conference. This pamphlet gave very Very few references to the school can be Frank C. Thiessen had arrived from little detail about any of the schools but found in any of the literature pertaining to Rosthern the previous year. He had left focused on some of the pioneers and listed the period. Several brief references occur in Rosthern because of the difficulties which a total of twenty-one MB Bible schools in Anna Thiessen's, The CiJy Mission in that school was experienCing. He already five provinces. It also tried to give a sense Wuznipeg.1 William Neufeld, in his history had a vision for a Bible school and no doubt of the impact of the schools by giving some of the ManitOba Mennonite Brethren was instrumental in prompting various indication of the number of students who Church, devotes several paragraphs to the individuals to organize a society.8 In any were engaged in various forms of Christian school, apparently based on an interview event, on March 22, 1933, an organizational service. rather than on any primary written meeting was held to create a society to Many of the Bible schools were very sources.2 support and operate the Winnipeg German small and existed for only very brief periods The Bible school appears to have begun Bible School. of time. One of the more obscure schools sometime in the fall of 1930.3 The first (cont'd on p.S) Page 2 The Bergthaler / Chortitzer areas in Saskatchewan, and soon many more Hochstadt,8 3) Heinrich Wiebe, Johann would be going to Paraguay. These Friesen and Benjamin Ewert at Edenburg, Church Registers volumes give the year in which families and 4) Jacob Hoeppner at Schanzenfeld and by John Dyck moved to Paraguay and indicate also which Rosenthal. A total of two hundred and ones returned. twenty families are recorded. Some families, Conclusion The title page is inscribed: "Kirehenbueh however, appear in more than one list. der Gemine zu Chor/ilz; 1m Jahr 1907 im While many of the families recorded in Chortitzer Gemeinde Buch 1887 (East Fruehjahr wngesehrieben von die these temporary church registers also appear Reserve) A and B: Kirchenlehrer Corn. Friesen u. Jolr. Neufeld. " in the later permanent Bergthal records, a When about two-thirds of the Bergthaler A later note adds: "In diesem Buch sind larger number had by that time joined the members moved to the West Reserve 1917 - 227 Fami/ien II. 23 Familien olme Sommerfelder Church. A few had joined between 1879 and 1881 the church there Nwnmer". Mennonite Brethren congregations and received its own Aitester, Johann Funk This list begins with the family of Aitester some had transferred to non-Mennonite (1836-1917), in 1882.1 Controversy related Peter Toews - followed by the families of churches.9 Many families had moved to to issues like higher education ruptured the ministers Cornelius Friesen, Johann Saskatchewan by the time the permanent group in 1892 and brought the Neufeld, Peter Giesbrecht, Heinrich Friesen, Bergthal register was started and do not Sommerfelder Gemeinde into being. Now Heinrich Doerksen, Peter P. Wiebe and appear in any other Manitoba church it became more practical to start a new Johann K. Dueck. The next two families lists.1° register on the East Reserve than to bring are those of the two sons of Oberschulze Early temporary Sommerfelder records the 1878 books up-to-date.2 These Jakob Peters (1813-1884). Volume "A" has have not yet been made public. When they registers, dated 1887, include fewer families three hundred families and Volume "B" lists become accessible they will no doubt help but provide additional data on those who three hundred and ninety-eight. clarify some of the transfers of families remained on the East Reserve. These records have previously been between different lists. One of the The title page is inscribed: "Kirchenbuch available only on microfilm and a significant aspects of these two lists is the der Gemeine zu Chor/ilz; 1m Jahr 1887 im photocopied set is now open to the public at fact that they include families which later Monal Januar angefangen aufs neue zu the Steinbach Bible College library.5 moved out west and do not appear in any schreiben, Um die jenigen Familien in diesem other lists in Manitoba. For some of those BlIch wegzulassen welehe von dieser Gemeine West Reserve Continuation families this may be the only record weggezogen sind. 1st umgesehrieben worden The above mentioned East Reserve available in Manitoba. mmKirehenlehrer Frans Dyekin Sehoensee". Chortitzer church registers have their Entries begin with the family of Aitester counterpart in the West Reserve Bergthaler ReinIander Mennonite Church Gerhard Wiebe (1827-1900), as usual, with and Sommerfelder church registers which This register includes about two dozen the date of his election as minister and as are the records for those Bergthal families who had at one time been recorded Aitester and the date of his resignation in Gemeinde Buch 1843 (Russia) families who in the Bergthal Gemeinde Buch (Russia). 1882.3 This is followed by the families of moved to the West Reserve. Like the East Some of these were families who had ministers Franz Dyck, Kornelius Stoesz, Reserve records, these also include people returned to the Chortitza Colony in Russia David Stoesz (1842-1903) elected as Aitester from Chortitza and Molotschna who had before the emigration and subsequently 4 April 1879 - Kornelius Friesen, Johann joined the Bergthal migration.6 In came to Canada with those emigrants. Neufeld, Peter Giesbrecht, Heinrich Friesen addition, they include many families Others were, no doubt, influenced by ties to and Peter Toews.4 formerly part of the Reinl1lnder (Old close relatives among the families who came This set of registers also inCludes a list of Colony) Mennonite Church, as well as later to Canada from FUrstenland and those families who stayed in Russia, those immigrants that kept coming in the 1890s Chortitza. who went to the United States and a list of and past the turn of the century. baptismal candidates in 1858. Included as Particularly significant to researchers on Fndnoles well are annual statistics for some of the the West Reserve are two sets of records years from 1886 to 1899 and senior citizens' that have had very little exposure. One is a 1This date of ordination is based on an entry lists for 1885, 1922 and 1926. preliminary set of registers of the Bergthal in the Aitester David Stoesz diary, These records have previously been Church and the other is the set of early Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives available only on microfilm. A photocopied Sommerfelder Church registers. }MHCA), Volume 1559. set is now available in the Steinbach Bible The preliminery Bergthaler church For details on the controversy and the College library, and will shortly be copied for records have been dated by an unidentified schism cf. Henry J. Gerbrandt, Adventure in MHCA as well. researcher as having been in use from 1885­ FaiJh. (Altona: Bergthaler Mennonite 1895. (The dates may need to be Church of Manitoba, 1970), pp.78ff. The Cbortitz.er Gemeinde Buch 1907 (East reviewed). These are recorded in four Sommerfelder Church is celebrating its Reserve) A and B: segments in two ledgers, each of which centennial this year. By 1907 many more changes had taken includes some ministers: 1) Wilhelm Harms JOn Gerhard Wiebe's views cf. Gerhard place. A large number of people had and Franz Sawatzky at Hoffnungsfeld,7 2) Wiebe. Causes and l1lSt01y of the moved to the Hague and Swift Current Johann Funk at Altbergthal and Emigration ofthe MeTIIIOI'Iites from Russia to

MENNONITE HISTORIAN is published quarterly by the History Archives Committee of the Conference of Menncnites in Canada and the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies (Winnipeg) of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches. Editors: Lawrence KIippenstein (MHCA) and Abe Dueck (CMBS). All correspondence and unpublished manuscripts should be sent to the editoriat offices at 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3P OM4. (Phone: (204) 888·6781) or 1-169 Riverton Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R2L 2E5 (Phone: (204) 669-(575). Individual subscriptions may be ordered from these addresses. ISSN 0700 8066. Page 3

FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY Janzen/Kroeker - Looking for information 1933. Contact: Richard D. Thiessen, 781 about Franz Heinrich Janzen and wife Kildonan Dr., Winnipeg, MB, R2K 2Gl. by Alf Redekopp Maria Kroeker of Lichtfelde, Mol. Their Plenert - Looking for the parents of children were Maria (grandmother of Andreas Plenert, b. 1826 in the Kulm region Bernard or Louise Mamm); Peter of W. Prussia. Andreas married Helena Queries (Elizabeth Fa~t), Pragenau; Heinrich; Franz and the couple moved to the Crimea Martin; Jakob (Agatha Neufeld) in the 18505. Contact: Arnold V. Fast, 41 Gnadenfeld Mol. and Aulie Ata, Turkestan, Jefferson Dr., St. Catharines, ON, L2N 3V3. Esau - I am interested in information on the father of Johannes Janzen minister and descendants of Peter P. Bau (1820-1880) teacher, died in Brazil; Helena (Jakob Wiens - Looking for the wife (d.1851) and and his wife, Maria Wiebe (b.1816). Their Konrad); and Elizabeth (Kornelius Funk). in-laws of Johann David Wiens (1800-1887). children included: Katharina Bau (1851­ Contact: John Konrad, 4805 Meadfield The couple lived in Schoenau, Mol. and one 1920, who married Jacob H. Teichroeb Road, West Vancouver, BC, V7W 3£6. child was named Maria (1844-1920). (1844-1907); and Margaretha Esau (1857­ Contact: Arnold V. Fast, 41 Jefferson Dr., 1929), who married Wilhelm J. Wiebe Klassen - Johan P. Klassen b. 6 JUly 1868 in St. Catharines, ON, L2N 3V3. (1857-1904). A grandson was Dietrich Russia, father Peter Klassen, mother Anna Peter Dyck (b.1872), who married Helena Wolfe. Mother died 28 February 1874, Yurtke-Jung-Young - I am looking for Krahn (1872-1946). The Esaus lived in father remarried to Helena Buhler 11 July information on the name of Jacob Yurtke­ Blumenhof, Manitoba and their children 1874. Johan came to Plum Coulee area of Jung-Young (b.? d.1926), burial in Melville, moved to Saskatchewan and Mexico. Manitoba around 1875 or 1876. For Saskatchewan, who married 1) Catherine Contact: Richard Thiessen, 781 Kildonan approximately eight years he lived with a Elizabeth Redenbach (b.? d. 1910), burial in Drive, Winnipeg, MB, R2K 2Gl. Peter Neufeld family, then following Mrs. Melville, SK; and 2) Rosealia Rusch. This Neufeld's death, lived with a Niebuhr family. family is believed to have roots among the Fast - Looking for the maiden name and Johan married Susana Klassen (b.September Schwaben Anabaptists of Switzerland and to parents of Maria (or Anna?), the wife of 1872) daughter of Abraham Klassen and have cOOle to Canada from Russia. Aron Cornelius Fast (ca. 1828-?) from Elizabeth Kauenhoven, on 16 July 1891. Contact: Renee Averitt, 1736 Thomas Dr. Friedensdorf, Mol. Aron and Maria Would like to hear from anyone who knows N., Highlight, CA, 95660, USA. married ca. 1847 and were original settlers in ofJohan's life with the Neufeld and Niebuhr the new village of Hierschau. Their children families. Contact: Gladys Christensen, 970 were Johann (1848-1889), Peter, Gerhard Sanderson Cr., Prince Albert, SK, S6V 6L4. (1862-1906) and Maria. Her second New Publications marriage was to Isaak Barg of Hierschau. Koop - Searching for information about They both died sometime after the turn of Jacob Abram Koop, b. 15 June 1827. Hildebrand, Ed D. Hildebrand. A Family the century. Contact: Arnold V. Fast, 41 Father of Jacob Jacob Koop, 1864-1923, HiWJry. (New Westminster, BC: By the Jefferson Dr., St. Catharines, ON, L2N 3V3. possibly Omsk, married 1) Susanna Harder; author, 1992). Hdc., 231 pp. The story 2) Anna Wiens. Grandfather of Jacob begins with Heinrich Hildebrand (b.1752) Franz - Looking for the parents of Helena Jacob Koop, born 1888, came to and his wife Cornelia Neuman (b.1756), Franz (ca. 1827-?). Helena was born in the Leamington, ON, via Batum and Ephrata, resident on the outskirts of Danzig. For Kulm region of West Prussia and married Pennsylvania. Contact: Walter R Koop, more information, contact the author at Adnreas Plenert (1826-?) in 1850. The RR#5, Leamington, ON, N8H 3V8. 1901-612 5th Ave., New Westminster, Be, couple moved to the Crimea in the 18505. V3M lX5. Contact: Arnold V. Fast, 41 Jefferson Dr., MartenslPauls - Anyone with information St. Catharines, ON, L2N 3V3. about Agatha Martens!pauls, died about 1888, wife of Franz PaulS (b.1821 d.1911), JUST RELEASED! Goosen - Looking for the parents of Maria of Kronsweide. Children were Franz Goosen (1833-1874). Maria was married to (Katharina Janzen); Heinrich (Maria A Man ofHis Word: . Heinrich Peter Dyck (1832-1870). Both Martens); Agatha (Peter Froese); Susanna A Biography ofJohn A. Toews died young and left behind two small (Jakob Unrau). Contact: lrmie Konrad, by Elfrieda Toews-Nafziger. children, Elisabeth (1869-1960), and Sara 4805 Meadfield Road, West Vancouver, BC, (1870-1920) who were then adopted by a V7W 3£6. Pb., 183 pp., $13.95 CAN. Bestvater family in Wernersdorf, Mol. (plus $1.00 postage and handling) Contact: Arnold V. Fast, 41 Jefferson Dr., Mathies - Looking for the wife and in-laws St. Catharines, On, L2N 3V3. of Aron Abr. Mathies (1818-1907) of Order from: Pordenau, Mol. Their children: Abram, CMBS, 1-169 Riverton Ave., Harder - Looking for the parents of Anna (1859-1916), Aron (d. 1911), Franz, Winnipeg, MB, R2L 2£5 Aganetha Harder (1800s). Aganetha first Tina, Jakob, Margareta, Liesa, Cornelius, married a Loewen (?) with whom she had Peter, Heinrich, Agata, Johann, Sara and four children. Her second marriage ca. David. Contact: Arnold V. Fast, 41 Ifyou wish to announce any genealogical 1857 was to Peter Abr. Riediger (1810­ Jefferson Dr., St. Catharines, ON, L2N 3V3. research in progress that you are involved in, 1872) of Lichtfelde, Mol., and they had two or ask questions about items on this page children, Justina (1859-1941) and Susanna Penner -I am looking for any information contact: AI! Redekopp, Centre for MB (1861-1925). Contact: Arnold V. Fast, 41 on the ancestors or descendants of A1tester Studies, 169 Riverton Ave., Winnipeg, MB, Jefferson Dr., St. Catharines, ON, L2N 3V3. Abram P. Penner of Orenburg, who died in R2L 2£5. Page 4

Thanks to Viktor Sioux Falls Heritage Events For three weeks in June we were assisted by Viktor Hein, a volunteer who came to us The CMC sessions at Sioux Falls, SD, will from Bielefeld, Germany. A few years ago, be held on July 20-22. Several heritage Viktor and his family emigrated to Germany activities are planned. from Dzhambul in Kazakhstan, then in the 1. CMBC Publications and MHC heritage Soviet Union. books will be for sale. Viktor arrived on May 4 and spent a total 2. A Heritage Centre report will be included of six weeks in Winnipeg, working in the in the regUlar presentations to the delegates. CMBC library and tbe MHC arcbives during 3. An exhibit of related literature will be tbat time. His long-term goal is to become available with piCk-ups free of charge. a teacher. He also visited several 4. The Historical Committee of the General Mennonite schools and tried to practice his Conference will mount its own exhibit for already well-developed EngliSh-language the GC sessions held there JUly 22-26. skills wbile staying in Canada. Viktor returned to Germany on June 19.

New Acquisitions - The Mexico William Heinrichs Is the person on the tar BergthalerIChortitzer Church Files left of the photo. He had a son Jacob. (ConeL from p.2) Nothing else Is known about this group. Registers With tbe help of Bruce Wiebe, of can you provide more Information? Write to Winkler, Manitoba, the archives bas secured MHCA, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB, America. Trans. by Helen Janzen. tbe loan of fifty Manitoba Old Colony R3P OM4. Photo: Courtesy of Viola Andres (Winnipeg: Manitoba Mennonite Historical village ledgers taken to Mexico in 1922. and Kathy Martens. Society, 1981). These ledgers may provide several thousand 1Franz Dyck and David Stocsz travelled to pages of data on the history of about fifteen BC 50th Anniversary the West Reserve for the ordination cited in villages initially settled by Reinlander (later CO Reunion Note 1 above. Old Colony) Gemeinde families wben they 5Cf. Microfilm #184, MHCA. Celebrating B.c. Reforestation came to tbe West Reserve in 1875 and 6An attempt to identify the various origins (1942-46) later. The materials will be copies and of early Bergthaler members in Manitoba is returned. They are already available to in Sandra Bergen, "The Bergthal Church in Friday, August 7, King Road Cburcb researchers. Southern Manitoba: A Statistical Analysis Tuesday, August 11, Black CreekM3 The large church registers listing Old of Origin and Settlement", unpUblished Church, Vancouver Island Colony Mennonite families in Mexico bave ~aper, CMBC, 1987. been pbotocopied and also placed in tbe On Hoffnungsfeld, cf. John Dyck, Registration: $42.50 or $32.50 if arcbives. Indexes have been typed up by "Hoffnungsfeld Influences", unpublished i prepaid before July 15. Bill Harms and Bruce Wiebe. paper read at a history workshop in Altona, Mail In: 50th Anniversary CO Reunion, MB on April 25, 1992. King Road MB Church, 32068 King Rd., Abbotsford, Be, V2S 4N5. BCf. Esther Epp, "AI tester Johann Funk: For further information call: [604J His Life and Work", in Mary Jeffery, ed. 853-6338 or 854-5210. Altester Johann Funk. A Family Tree. ~Winnipeg: By the editor, 1980), pp. W. On Mennonite Brethren beginnings in Manitoba cr. Arnie Neufeld, "Canada's First A Date to Hold Open Mennonite Brethren Church at Winkler, Manitoba", Mennonite I1lS!orian, XIV (June, Jack Dueck, a weU-known story teUer 1988), pp.I-3; (Sept., 1988), p.3. and heritage promoter wiU be in IOCr. Leonard Doell. The BergthaJer Winnipeg on Friday, October 2. His Mennonite Church of Saskatchewan, 1892­ special dramatic production titled 1975. (Winnipeg, MB: CMBC "Mysteries ofGrace and Judgement" wiU Publications, 1987). be presented at the Jubilee auditorium on the Concord CoUege (formerly Dr. Serhel PlokhlJ of Kiev, Ukraine, checked MBBC) campus. John Dyck is research director for the the Slavic holdings of the Mennonite Heritage Center during a visit on June t 8. Hanover Steinbach Historical Society with Dr. Plokhlj has till recently been professor of offices at Steinbach Bible College. The history at the Dnepropetrovsk University. society has published two of John's books, He directed research on Mennonites and Obersclwlze Jakob Peters 1813-1884.­ other Germans In southern Ukraine while /VltNr\JO~!MRiT~GECEN'~E Manitoba Pioneer Leader and Working working at the University. 600 Shaftesbury Blvd Wlnntpeg,Man1wba,Canada R3P OM4 Papers ofthe East Reserve VJIage H'lStories Photo: Courtesy of Erwin Strempler. Winnipeg, MB 1874-1910. Page 5

Winnipeg German Bible School It invites participation in an evening course (cont'd from p.l) offered by A.13. Peters in the Northend church as well as a separate course for Twenty-four persons were present at this Sunday School teachers by Fe. Thiessen. meeting where e.A DeFehr was elected This, it states, is a continuation of the Bible chairman. H.S. Rempel and F.F. Klassen school of previous years. It then appeals for were elecled as assistants, J.F Isaak as financial belp from the Women's Society, treasurer, and H.F Klassen as secretary. concluding with the following comments: Most of these men would remain active in Steht diese Arbeit unler den Miidchen den the Board for the duration of the school. ii1teren Schwestem und Miittem nicht At the first Board meeting about a month besonders nah? Wie und wann warde Ih,. later thc ofliciClI name of the society WClS Frauenverein Willig sein beizusteuem?ll worded "Society of the Winnipeg German The memo was signed by e. DeFehr and H. Bible SCh(Xll". Klassen. The minutes of the spring and summer Some classes may have been conducted in Board mectings of 1933 reveal fairly subsequent years but clearly the vision of a ambitious plClns. Courses were 10 be Winnipeg Bible school was gone. It suffered offered every night and three teachers were Rev. Abram B. Peters (1860-1959) wa. the the fate of many other Bible schools, to be appointed. A13. Peters and F.e. first principal of the Winnipeg German Bible although the context was very different from Thiessen were appointed almost SChool. Photo: Courtesy of CMBS, Winnipeg, MB most of the others tbat failed. Winnipeg immediately. There was to be special had a growing Mennonite and Mennonite for the year. But the report to the Society emphasis on proficiency in the German Brethren population and might have been in May also injected a more realistie note by language because of the need to continue to expected to have been able to support such stating that the number of courSes had had foster worship and instruction in the a scbool botb financially and in terms of to be reduced. German IClnguage in the churches. Other student enrolment. Why did it fail? Was it The next year again showed how difficult German speaking groups were also to be that it focused too much on the needs of it would be to establish a strong scbool. invited to participate in the venture. The the young women who were working as Adequate financial support was difficult to dangers inherent in adopting English were domestics in the city and could only attend seeure and tuition fees were kept low very referred 10 repeatedly in later discussion. on Thursdays? Did the emphasis on deliberately to encourage students to enrol. Nevertheless, an English language instructor evening courses and tbe lack of an Esther Horch declined to teach a further in the person of Esther Horch was soon identifiable institutional base make it too year for personal reasons, altbough sbe appointed as well. difficult to appeal to a broader potential returned again in later years. Wbereas A pamphlet entitled, Die deuJsche base of students? Was tbe urban courses bad earlier been condueted in three Bibelsclwle zu. WUlnipeg (nd), (probably environment not suitable for such a project? centres (Northend, Southend and issued fairly early), states three main It was perhaps the only school to have the Kildonan),9 this declined to only two. In purposes and target groups for the school: term "German" in its name. Does this later years each of the three centres 1) to satisty the desires of young people to suggest that Winnipeg became tbe testing appointed its own representatives to the know the Scriptures; 2) to prepare teachers ground for the attempt to preserve the Board in addition to the regular members. for Sunday School; 3) to serve the young German language and tradition, and that Student enrolment and Society women who are working as domestics in such a venture was destined to fail? membership remained fairly constant in the various households in Winnipeg and who Whatever the reasons, the Winnipeg next several years. The participation of the are generally free on Thursdays. This German Bible School never became what its Soutbend Church seemed to decline prospectus envisioned a three-year program founders had hoped it could be. A new somewhat whereas Kildonan's increased. It following the model of other Canadian Bible institution, named the Mennonite Brethren seems that the day courses never really Schools. A total of eight courses were Bible College, emerged in 1944, with a became viable and must have been projected for Thursdays to enable the young strong mandate from the Canadian MB discontinued very soon after. Most .vomen to complete the equivalent of one Conference, with well-known and respected references to the scbool refer to it as an rear in two. Other sessions were to be held teachers, and with a program more suited "Evening School."lO .n the evenings. Fifteen specific subjects for an urban context. Some continuity with By 1939 the school seems to have Nere listed. F.F. Klassen was listed as a the previous school did exist, however, in accepted its ultimate demise. A memo to eacher in addition to tbe otber three that e.A DeFehr once again became one of the women of the Women's Society of the lIready referred to. At the August meeting the leading forces in the new institution. Northend and North Kildonan churches on <\.13. Peters resigned as principal (he was Ben and Esther Horch both became January 5, reveals a note of despair. llready seventy-three years of age) and Fe. 1939, involved in its instructional program. rtliessen was appointed to that position. In the fall tbe Society reported a C Centre for Endnotes nembership of thirty-four and a student M Mennonite 1Anna Thiessen. The CiJy MISSion in :nrolment of thirty-nine. Twenty-six of B Brethren Wlllllipeg. Trans. by Ida Toews. (Winnipeg, bese were from the Nortbend ME Church MB: Centre for Mennonite Brethren Ind thirteen from the Southend Church. By S Studies in Canada 1-100 Aiwerlon Ave. Winnipeg, em.- R2l 2E5 Studies, 1991), pp. 35, 86. The original he time of the March meeting of 1934 a German edition is entitled, .Di£ StadJmission leak enrolment of fifty-eight was reported (concL on p.7) Page 6 The Polish Mennonite Friendship Association

A Polish-Mennonite symposium held at CMBC in 1990, the interested support of many individuals, and above all, the vigorous leadership of Dr. Peter J. Klassen of Fresno, California, helped to bring the PMFA into being. It has a board consisting of members from Germany, USA, Canada, Poland and the Netherlands. The Poland tour in the summer of 1991 helped to give this organi­ zation further visibility and impetus during the past year. To become a member, simply send $25.00 CAN (or $20.00 US) to MHCA, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3P OM4, or to Dr. Peter Klassen, 1838 S. Bundy Ave., Fresno, CA, 93727. You will then receive regular information about planned Members of the Board looking after the Memorial Menno Simons Cottage at Bad Oldesloe near projects, related publications, and other Hamburg, Germany. (Back 'or): Helmut Enss, chairperson, Horst Bergmann, Rudl Fleguth. news of interest to people working in this (Front 'or): Otto-Fr. D6rwald, Ulrich Wiebe, Gerhard Janzen. Persons wishing to send field. donations to help support this project may contact: Helmut Enss, Hainholzweg 22, 2408 P.S. The membership of the Society Hemmelsdorf, Germany. Photo: Courtesy of the Board currently totals seventy-seven. Of these, forty-seven are from Canada, twenty-four from USA, three from Poland, and three from other countries (Germany, Netherlands, MexiCO).

The church bUilding of a Pentecostal congregation In Gdansk (Danzig) Poland that formerly housed a Mennonite congregation. Members of the Polish Mennonite Friendship Association placed a plaque In this building on June 25, 1991. It recalls the earlier presence of Mennonites and seeks to encourage friendly relationships between Mennonites and those who have come to live In this community. Photo: Courtesy of Barbara Toews, Fresno, California.

Helmut Reimer, of Duesseldorf, Germany, and co-founder of the Hans Denk Polish Symposium Papers Available Fellowship, was actively Involved In promoting Mennonite contacts with Polish Most of the papers presented to a Polish Mennonite Symposium communities In areas once Inhabited by at CMBC in July, 1990 are available in a special issue of Mennonites. He passed away last summer Mennonite Quarterly Review (April 1992, Pb., 288 pp.) while participating in a cemetary restoration $6.00 CAN (plus GST and postage). Order from: work camp In Stogi (formerly Heuboden), Mennonite Heritage Centre, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB, R3P OM4 Poland. Photo: Courtesy of Dick H. Epp. Saskatoon. SK Page 7

Winnipeg German Bible School Book Reviews (concL from p.S) (COliC. from p.5)

Grenke, Arthur. The German Wuutipeg (Winnipeg, ME: Selbstverlag, 13QqfJ Community in Winnipeg, 1872-1919. in 1955). (New York: AMS Press, 1991). Hdc., 2William Neufeld, From Faith to FaiJh: lhe fascinate you 334 pp. History ofthe Manitoba Mennonite Brethren A collection of historical books Church. (Winnipeg, MB: Kindred Press, on the Mennonites in Russia. A by Lawrence Klippenstein 1989), p.180. priceless heritage too valuable 30ne pamphlet (nd) explicilly stated that it to lie dormant! was begun in 1930 and the 1934 and 1935 Published works on German Canadians Annual Reports (released in the following still do not comprise a very long list. The Describes the begin­ fact alone makes this book (originally a years) state that the school had operated for nings of the Menno­ doctoral dissertation) a noteworthy item. Its five and six years respectively. Winnipeg nite Brethren move­ German Bible School filcs, Centre for MB ment in Russia. An contribution is further enhanced by its Studies, Winnipeg, (hereafter citcd as account of religious, approach - we get an indepth look at a local WGBS Records). agricultural and eco­ community. 4Minutes of Northend MB Church nomic aspects of the The study is most interesting and useful Canadian MB Church Records, CMBS: Kuban colony. where its sources are most adequate. Those Microfilm 91, pp.2160-61. $9.00 are the sections on the German language 5MennoniJische Rundschau, 54 ( II press of the period studied, and a discussion February 1931), p.II. Details the Temple of political views among Germans in the 61t is interesting to note that Peters was movement from its city. Where primary sources were not born in the year of the birth of the MB beginnings in south­ accessible, the author sometimes needed to Church in Russia and lived almost long ern Russia to its make more general observations. This enough to celebrate its lOOth anniversary. colonization in Pales­ would apply to such themes as religious 7WG BS Records. tine. These "Friends institutions and secular formal voluntary 8Kaethe Klassen, the daughter of F.e. ofJerusalem" attracted some of the groups. Thiessen, comments on these events in a "best and most intel­ biographical essay about her father, "Franz If some have wondered why German ligent" Mennonites. Thiessen: Lehrer und Prediger," Canadians have not taken stronger $9.00 MennoniJische Rundschau 102 (29 August community initiatives it will help to realize, 1979), p.lO. as this study makes clear, that Germans in 9See Minutes of October 1, 1934, WGBS. An anecdotal histo!)' Canada came from a number of different of the Mennonite set­ JOS ce Annual reports of the Northend MB countries. They had their differing internal tlements in southern Church, CMBS Archives. views in areas like politiCS, as happens in any Crimea. Included llWGBS Records. are stories of families group_ In religious areas, denominational like the Kroekers, differences existed, as elsewhere. who established the Abe Dueck is the director ofthe Centre for The author contends also that the Raduga Publishing Mennonite Brethren S/lldies in Winnipeg, settlement pattern affected the kind of House and the family communities that emerged. Internal MB. of Benjamin and Abram H. Unruh. migration within the country kept the German population somewhat on the move. $9.00 World War I brought significant new Events and Other News pressures that would have long-term effects ECHO HISTORICAL SERIES for Germans in the city, and the country as * On October 11, 1992, Prince Albert a whole. Questions related to German Grace Mennonite Church will celebrate its Canadian identity had to give 'Nay much of 50th anniversary. Contact E. Richert for the time to dealing with problems concerned more details. Ph: [306] 764-2051. with settling down, and relating to a somewhat alien society. A good foundation for further research LOST: The address of a person who Available from local bookstores has been made as well. One discerns a ordered these books: B. Harder's or directly from the pUblisher. number of themes which ought to be Gelegenheitsgedichte, Johann Carnies 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., followed up: the views and broader (D.H. Epp), Onsi Tjedils, and Die Winnipeg, MB R3P OM4 (204) 888-6781 contributions ofthe German-language press, Geschichte del' Whitewater (include $1.00 per book for postage & handling plus 7% of total for GST) church community life, the contribution of Mennonitengemeinde. If you ordered leading individuals in politics, the arts, these titles, please write us. The ~ business, etc. Perhaps a way can be round books can still be had here. PUBLICATIONS to further clarify the settlement patterns as well. Page 8

BOOK REVIEWS the colony of Templehof. A Mennonite Hildebrandt, Georg. Wieso lebst Du Templer church was later established in the noch • Ein Deutscher im Gulag. Sawatzky, H. Mennonite Templers. Kuban among the Mennonite Brethren. (Stuttgart: Abend, 1990). (Winnipeg: CMBC Publications and Several Mennonite Templers from the Kuban, including Heinrich Sawatzky, Manitoba Mennonite Historical Krueger, Katharina. Schicksal einer established the colony of Wilhelma near Society, 1990, Echo-Verlag, 1955). Lydda in 1902. These settlers joined other Russlanddeutschen. Erlebnisbericht. Trans. by Victor G. Doerksen. Pb., Mennonites who had already settled in (Goettingen: Verlag Graphikum, 103 pp., $9.00 CAN. Palestine in the 1870s. 1991). Pb., 194 pp., $15.00 CAN. Sawatzky argues that those Mennoni.tes Goerz, Heinrich. Mennonite SettlemenLs who joined the Templer movement "did not Reviewed by Peter H. Rempel in Crimea. (Winnipeg: CMBC want to deny their Mennonite principles; Publications and Manitoba Mennonite rather they wanted to realize them..." (23). "Comrade, you were our brother in Historical Society, 1992, Echo-Verlag, He also states that there was sorrow on the suffering. Now you live in freedom. Write, 1957). Trans. by John B. Toews. Pb., part of many Templers as well as other even if you only write what you have 65 pp., $9.00 CAN. Mennonites like P.M. Friesen over the fact experienced. That will suffice." Charged that a separation had taken place. with this request, Georg Hildebrandt, born In reading the book one catches a hint of as Isaak in the Mennonite settlement of Reviewed by Richard Thiessen the Templers' movement in theological Borisov in 1911, has written a gripping thinking from a Pietistic faith to a account of his sojourn under Stalinist Two more books from the Echo rationalistic or humanistic way of thinking oppression. Hildebrandt spent much of this Historical Series have been recently about the Christian life. Unfortunately, quarter century in prisons and labour translated and made available to an English­ there is very little personal reflection by camps. His experiences are similar to those reading audience. Like the tirst title in the Sawatzky on the Templers' history in recurded in the many other memoirs of lives new series, The Kuban SeUlemenL, (reviewed Palestine, and how their apparent lack of spent in the GULAG. The distinguishing in MH, December, 1989) these recent success affected their theological thinking feature of Hildebrandt's account is the publications are translations from the and spiritual life as a society. The book transparency in his re-telling of his original German, with the addition of more concludes with Sawatzky's essay on the strategems for evading and then surviving recent maps and illustrations, reading lists, Kingdom of God, which did not appear in the cruel prison system. That a basically and occasionally, material not appearing in the original German edition. decent man resorted to deception in order the original volumes. MennoniJe SeUlements in Crimea was to survive reveals the fundamental distortion Heinrich Sawatzky was a member of the written by Heinrich Goerz and has been of moral values in the Soviet state as Temple Society ("Friends of Jerusalem") translated by John 13. Toews. Goerz sought directed by Stalin. who migrated from the Molotschna to the out former inhabitants of Crimea to Katharina Krueger was separated from Kuban, and later to Palestine in 1902 before recollect their stories. Thus, the book is a her husband of seven years soon after passing away in Australia. Thus, this is a collection of eyewitness accounts of every­ Germany's invasion of the USSR. David first-hand account of the events surrounding day events in Crimea, including agriculture, Krueger, a teacher in Halbstadt in the the formation and development of the commerce, church life and education. Ukraine was banished to a northern labour Mennonite Templer movement. Goerz's book serves as a good resource camp along with all other German men in During the mid-19th century, the for those who are interested in descriptions the fall of 1941, never to be reunited with founders of the Temple Society believed of the various Mennonite settlements in his wife. She experienced the German that the people of God should be gathered Crimea, which by 1926 numbered seventy occupation and witnessed the extinction of from every nation to be a holy people. settlements encompassing fifty-five thousand Jewish neighbours and the dying of young Focusing on the Biblical prophecies dessiatins of land and forty-nine hundred German soldiers. She fled to Germany with con(;erning the Kingdom of God, the Mennonites. It also contains information the German retreat and experienced refugee Templers believed that as a holy people they about the various Mennonite congregations, life there. After a desperate but brief were to have their own land in order to and is a good source of information about relationship with a German refugee from develop a model society. Palestine was seen several important figures in Mennonite Yugoslavia, she bore a son and was as the obvious location - hence they were history, such as Heinrich 13. Unruh, his sons "repatriated" by the Soviet authorities and also known as the "Friends of Jerusalem". B.H. and A.H. Unruh, and also the cousins deported to northern Russia. The care of By 1869 the German Templers had Abraham J. and Jacob Kroeker. her child became the sale purpose of her established two colonies in Palestine. This account of the Mennonites in life amidst the harshness of the labour camp Mennonites in the Molotschna were CrimC2 basically concludes with the decade and the persecution of Germans. Her book introduced to the Templers' teachings of the 1920s. The years from 1930 onward is an admirable account of a mother and through Johannes Lange from Gnadenfeld, are summarized in a few pages. Overall, the widow struggling to survive, to care for her who attended the Templers' school in Ixx>k is brief but informative, and would be child and to maintain her German identity in Wuertemburg. Soon others in Gnadenfeld a good place to begin for anyone interested the USSR during and after a war which also became Templers. Resistance from the in reading about the Crimean Mennonites. pitted her homeland against her ancestral larger Mennonite community resulted in the home. secession of twenty members of the Gnadenfeld congregation in 1863, and their Richard Thiessen is head librarian at Peter H Rempel is assistant archivist at resettlement in the Caucasian area. Here Concord College (fonnerly MBBC) in the Mennonite Heritage Centre, in Wmnipeg. the Gnadenfeld Templers helped establish Winnipeg. ME. Manitoba. concl. on page 7