MENNONITE LIFE APRIL 1 9 6 6 An Illustrated Quarterly Published by Bethel College, North Newton Kansas EDITOR Cornelius Krahn ASSOCIATE EDITORS John F. Schmidt, Walter Klaassen DESIGN CONSULTANT Robert Regier DEPARTMENT EDITORS Faith and Life Walter Klaassen, Chairman Henry Poettcker (Bible) Leland Harder (Church) Russell Mast (Worship) Heinold Fast (Theology) John Howard Yoder (Theology) Orlando Waltncr (Missions) Esko Loewen (Service) Social and Economic Life J. Winfield Fretz, Chairman J. Howard Kauffman (Family) Calvin Redekop (Community) Eldon Gräber (Education) Howard Raid (Agriculture) John Sawatzky (Industry) Paul Peachey (Sociology) Jacob Loewen (Anthropology) Fine Arts Paul Friesen, Co-chairman Elaine Rich, Co-chairman Mary Eleanor Bender (Literature) Warren Kliewer (Drama) Walter Jost (Music) Robert Regier (Art) History and Folklife Melvin Gingerich, Co-chairman John F. Schmidt, Co-chairman Irvin B. Horst (History') N. van der Zijpp (History) Delbert Grätz (Genealogy) Gerhard Wiens (Folklore) Mary Emma Showalter Eby (Foods) ADMINISTRATION Vernon Neufeld, President Albert J. Meyer, Dean Erwin C. Goering, Dir. of Public Affairs Hartzel W. Schmidt, Controller MENNONITE April, ig66 Volume X X I Number 2 LIFE CONTRIBUTORS New Wineskins for Old Wine 51 DELBERT WIENS, who formerly taught at Tabor By Delbert Wiens College is now doing graduate work at t'.ic Univer­ sity of Chicago, The Renewal of the Church 57 JOHN MILLER is founder and leader of Reba Place at Evanston, Illinois. This paper was pre­ By John Miller sented at the Student Services Summer Seminar, Elkhart, Indiana, 1964. HAROLD II. GROSS, professor of philosophy at Interpreting the Signs 61 Bethel College, preached this sermon in the Bethel College Mcnnonitc Church. By Harold II. Gross GORDON D. KAUFMAN, professor at Harvard University presented this paper at the Mcnnonitc Graduate Fellowship, Cambridge, Mass. 1963-64. The Christian in a World of Power 65 JAMES DOUGLASS teaches at Bellarminc College, By Gordon D. Kaufman Louisville, Kentucky. CLAYTON KOPI’ES is a senior at Bethel College, Easter, 1966 North Newton, Kansas. 67 REINHARD II. VOGT is pastor of the First Men- By Elaine Sommers Rich nonite Church, Winnipeg. The paper was presented at the Mcnnonitc Graduate Fellowship, Waterloo. Ontario, 1962. The Human Family and Vietnam 68 ELMER F. SUDERMAN is professor of English at By James Douglass Gustavus Adolphus, St. Peter, Minnesota, where he presented this message in the chapel service. CORNELIUS KRAHN relates what the Keller “Naked and Ye Clothed Me” : The Story of Mennonite Collection consists of and how it was obtained by the Bethel College Historical Library. Disaster Sendee 72 GARY WALTNER spent a number of years in a By Clayton Koppes trainee program in Europe during which time lie visited the Habuuer. He teaches at Freeman College. Some Marks of a Christian Scholar MELVIN GINGERICH, JOHN F. SCHMIDT, 76 NELSON P. SPRINGER, and J. P. JACOBSZOON, By Reinhard H. Vogt annually report in the April issue about Mcnnonitc research and publications. Being and Doing 79 COVER AND BACK COVER By Elmer F. Suderman Mcnnonitc Disaster Service, Kansas, Mcnnonitc Central Committee. Ludwig Keller: a Prophet and a Scholar 81 By Cornelius Krahn PHOTO CREDITS: Pages 73-75, Mcnnonitc Central Committee (by Among the Habaner of Czechoslovakia 84 Larry Kehler, Arlin Hunsbcrgcr, Ebony Magazine, Richard Blosser, Wichita Eagle-Ihacon, R. Wayne By Gary Waltner Clemens); Page 112. Robert Schräg; Pages (16-91, Gary Waltner. A Hutterite Mill of 1612 90 By Gary Waltner Printing and lay-out by Mcnnonitc Press North Newton, Kansas 67117 Mennonite Research in Progress, 1965 92 MENNONITE LIFE is an illustrated quarterly mag­ By Melvin Gingerich, Cornelius Krahn, ]. P. Jacobszoon azine published in January, April, July, and October by Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. Second- class postage paid at North Newton, Kansas 67117. Mennonite Bibliography, 1965 93 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One year. $3.00; Three years, $7.50; Five yean, $12.50. Single issues, 75 cents. By John F. Schmidt, Nelson P. Springer, J. P. Jacobszoon IN T H I S Delbert; Wiens analyzes our I C C I I CT Mennonite heritage in an ar- 1 ^ O U t , tide entitled “New Wineskins for Old Wine.” This treatise, applicable to most religious groups, may jolt some but will stimulate all who read it. ( Those who would like to have the complete text should write to the Mennonite Breth­ ren Publishing House, Hillsboro, Kansas, where it appeared in a booklet form. The reprint constitutes excerpts from the booklet.) “The Renewal of the Church” by John Miller presents a similar but more radical challenge. “Interpreting the Signs” by Harold H. Gross presents the same concern in the context of Christian’s attitudes toward the world. Similarly, the following two articles by Gordon D. Kaufman and James Douglass treat the question of the Chris­ tian’s responsibility in a world of power and struggle, the latter being a voice from a Roman Catholic. *3 The “Work of the Mennonite Disaster Service” by Clayton Koppes gives a glimpse of Mennonite Fanner mill race of Ilabaner mill. activities in communities with emergency situations. U'oodeii shall is visible. The articles by Reinhard H. Vogt and Elmer F. Suderman, although in a different way, pick up the thread of the issue and present it as a challenge in the life of a student and scholar. How a scholar can also be a prophet is featured in the article dealing with Ludwig Keller, whose large archival collection was recently “air-lifted” from Eastern Germany to the prairies of Kansas. *3 Gary Waltner, who re­ turned recently from several years of service abroad, relates what he found in an area in Czechoslovakia where 300 years ago there was an “ideal” communal Christian life. Museum pieces presented in illustra­ tions still tell the story of the witness of the Hutterites of that day. The bibliographical and research infor­ mation of this issue gives a glimpse of the work that was done this past year in getting and presenting information about the Mennonites, past and present. New Wineskins for Old Wine By Delbert Wiens “New Wineskins for Old Wine” is reprinted from a more complete treatise under the same title published by the Mennonile Brethren Publishing House, Hillsboro, Kansas, where copies can be ordered. Emphasis on the Package Since we have almost lost the capacity for personal trust in God, we need him to assure us that beliefs It is fascinating how tenaciously a group can cling in propositions are our guarantee. Because we have to its forms and institutions. The original spirit can ignored discipleship and ethics, we want him to tell evaporate all unnoticed. With that gone, we cling ever us of the glories of our long-ago “conversion.” And we more firmly to the shell that housed it. We let the want him to win an occasional outsider so that, by kernel go because we concentrate upon the husk. Then proxy, we can be reassured that our teachings have yet we cling to the husk lest, that gone, we should see that the mark of truth and power upon them (but not too we hold nothing. often: the complexion of our group might change). One of the great revolutions of our time is the revo­ Above all, he must not meddle with reality. Our busi­ lution in packaging. We sell the same old contents ness dealings and home life are none of his affair. by wrapping them in vivid orange and reel. It is the Well, we have not yet entirely come to this. Perhaps package that counts. Does the Sunday school have five we never will. But who can deny that this trend is departments (at least) and two teachers for every upon us? Would we recognize an Amos or a John the class? Is there a men’s organization and a ladies organi­ Baptist if he were to come upon us? Or would our zation and a youth organization? Are budgets met? Is piles of stones be ready? the building new and shiny? Are there more members It is my thesis that our forefathers had what was, at the end of the year than at the beginning? These for the most part, a genuine and fresh experience with may all be good things.They may be evidence of inner God. In order to teach and preach what they had re­ life. Or they may be the measure of our diligence at ceived, they set up systems of explanations, rules, and sprucing up the package while the contents mold away. institutions. In time, the systems tended to become cen­ And so we laymen, who have identified our­ tral. And so these “forms,” which for the fathers were selves with a good Christian church are anxious walls of defense and channels of power, have tended to put on a good appearance before the world. We to become, for us, walls of imprisonment and rituals. want to present a shiny package. We are concerned What, then, shall we do with these forms? about our “image” (to use an almost-sacred modern One answer is to learn to live with them, to pretend word). We cut our ministers to fit our needs. We want that these formulas are adequate substitutes for the someone who will represent our ambitions, someone new wine that intoxicated our fathers. No doubt many who will be respected as a “good Joe” by the rest of of us, failing to escape our forms because even the the community. revolt against them has been ritualized, have been We want someone who will be an expert at sprucing content to settle down in packaged conformity. up our package. And may heaven help him if his suit Another answer is to attempt to turn the clock back.