MENNONITE APRIL 1 9 6 9 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 Waltner (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) Delbert Grätz (Genealogy) Gerhard Wiens (Folklore) Mary Emma Showalter Eby (Foods) ADMINISTRATION Orville L. Voth, President William E. Keeney, Dean Merle L. Bender, Director of Development Hartzel W. Schmidt, Controller MENNONITE April, ig6g Volume X X IV Number 2 LIFE CONTRIBUTORS Mennonite Intelligentsia in Russia 51 By N. J. Klassen N. J. KLASSEN came to Canada from Russia after World War II and lives in Vancouver, B.C. His life has been enriched by three cultural streams: Cultural Interaction Among the Mennonites in Russia 61 Russia, Germany, and Canada. By Walter Quiring WALTER QUIRING lives in Saskatoon, Saskatche­ wan. He has written numerous books on the Men- nonites of Russia and of South America, and has Heinrich Hesse (1787-1868): Autobiography 66 been educator and editor of Mennonite papers. Translated by Cornelius Krahn CORNELIUS KRAHN is a native of Russia and the author of Dutch Anabaptism (1968). Abraham Thiessen: A Mennonite Revolutionary? 73 By Cornelius Krahn JACK THIESSEN, professor of German at the University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is at present on a leave in Germany. Arnold Dyck—The Mennonite Artist 77 ADALBERT GOERTZ, professor of physics, re­ By Jack Thiessen sides in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, and is a Men­ nonite historian and genealogist. The Mennonites in Prussia 83 VICTOR PETERS, professor of history at Moor­ A Statistical Distribution head State College, Moorhead, Minnesota, is on a By Adalbert Goertz leave in Goettingen where he is doing research on Nestor Makhnov. Kurt Kauenhoven Bibliography 87 MELVIN GINGERICH is at present on a world tour to make an inventory of archives in Menno­ Selected by Victor Peters in Honor of the Author’s nite mission fields. 80th Birthday n e l s o n p. s p r i n g e r is curator of the Menno- Mennonite Research in Progress 89 nite Historical Library, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana. By Cornelius Krahn and Melvin Gingerich j o h n f . Sc h m i d t is director of the Kauffman Mennonite Bibliography 92 Museum and archivist of the Mennonite Library . and Archives, North Newton, Kansas. By John r . Schmidt, Nelson Springer and others FRONT COVER: Old Farm Home in Chortitza, Ukraine. Sketched CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS by Heinz Hindorf, 1943. C o r r e c t io n s a n d additions in regard to the article by David G. BACK COVER: Rempel, “From Danzig to Russia,” Mennonite Life, January, 1969. Thousand-year Oak of Chortitza. Sketched by Heinz On page 12, column 1, second paragraph from the bottom, the H indorf. paragraph should read: “The text of the petition, . can be found in German in David H. Epp’s11 and in Russian in Pisarevski.12 PHOTO CREDIT: and in S. D. Bondar.”1!3 On page 26, column 2, second line of the Mennonite Library and Archives, North Newton, last paragraph, should have the date 1800 instead of 1788. Kansas. The author, David G. Rempel, used the designation “New Rus­ sia” throughout his article when referring to the area of the settle­ ment of the Mennonites on the Dnieper River in 1789. The editor Printing and lay-out by Mennonite Press added the word “Ukraine” to New Russia in a few instances and North Newton, Kansas 67117 also changed new Russia to Ukraine (see pages 10, 13, and 17). MENNONITE LIFE is an illustrated quarterly mag­ azine published in January, April, July, and October It was not meant to convey the impression that the two terms have by Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. Second- the same meaning, but was to' serve as an aid for those who are class postage paid at North Newton, Kansas 67117. used to the term “Ukraine” and are not so familiar with the term SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One year, $3 .0 0 ; T hree years, $7.50; Five years, $12.50. Single issues, 75 cents. “New Russia.” IN THIS We continue with some aspects of the development of the Mennonites ISSUE in Russia. N. J. Klassen has under­ taken the task of presenting the emergence of a nucleus of a Mennonite “intelligentsia” in Russia. No one has ever presented this account based on firsthand information and supported by statistics. *1 Walter Ouiring relates how the Mennonites of Russia were influenced by their Russian environment and how they, in turn, exercised an influence on their neighbors. The autobiography of Heinrich Heese is a unique record and portrayal of the early economic, educational, and ad­ ministrative developments among the Mennonites of the Chortitza and Molotschna settlements. He appears to be a counterpart to the better known Johann Cornies. The maps and illustrations vividly portray some aspects of the articles. Another almost completely unknown figure is Abraham Thiessen whose activities coincide with the struggle of the landless Mennonites for their right and the first migration of Mennonites from Russia to America. He was exiled from Russia under circumstances similar to those of Cornelius Jansen. Arnold Dyck is featured The residence of Peter Braun in Halbstadt, Russia, a well-known edu­ in connection with his 80th birthday (see also January issue). cator referred to in this issue (p. 55). It is most appropriate to have this contribution in an issue devoted to the cultural life of the Mennonites of Russia. J. A. Rempel, who studied at Jack Thiessen gives an evaluation of the life, work, and the University of literary contributions of Arnold Dyck, while Victor Peters Basel, was an edu­ honors Dr. Kurt Kauenhoven at his 80th birthday with a cator and a lead­ ing minister in the selected bibliography of his writings. Adalbert Goertz pre­ Ukraine. He is sents a statistical report on the Mennonites in Prussia. shown in a con­ centration camp “Mennonite Research in Progress” and the “Mennonite where he perished. Bibliography” increase with the growing interest in this field of research and publications. They have appeared in Mennonite Life since 1949. These Russian lines signed by Katherine Voth j are taken from a penmanship notebook of 1872 j indicating the introduction of the use of the ■ Russian language into the elementary Mennonite '! schools of Russia. It says: “During a misfortune ■ few friends remain; however, those who re?nain t are most helpffid”. (Courtesy Mrs. Otto Unruh). Abraham Dyck, 0 t.' i ; V li M I R Chortitza, bom in A 1859. Sketched by )%m m & c M u o a w M O i , Heinz Hindorf. t '' o\ uysrfnßttC - lURn c rn o ii/. yspjcTHC 7 1 J 0 v . r'HLO'U.vMw-uH-U, in o iU A d c m m m n c - ym o -QCOMJtUUUfr&fi.'iMS.*/, 0 / / / t/'yj/.v potc/u Mr. ... c J J y w, V«; ,yT);iuh.oT/ni a m i i o l AQ ' j): j ■ Ojimr/z/M/r /7TM6 Mennonite Intelligentsia in Russia By N. J. Klassen By intelligentsia we mean the layer of society of the story of this movement in his book, The History of intellectuals with a higher education and enlightened the Russian Intelligentsia. This explains how the word views obtained through formal education or personal “intelligentsia” has been transplanted from Russia and studies coupled with talent and intellectual activities. accepted in other countries. T he Oxford Dictionary defines “intelligentsia” as fol­ The intelligentsia, in Russia, originated under Cath­ lows: “The part of a nation that aspires to independent erine the Great. The French era of enlightenment thinking” and the Thorndyke - Bernhart Dictionary during the 18th century and the struggle for human states: “persons representing, or claiming to represent rights coupled with scientific research had a consider­ the superior intelligence or enlightened opinion of a able influence in the upper crust of Russia. It in­ country.” spired scientific, literary, and historical interests and A higher education is, not so much, criterion as to the founding of scientific academies, universities, librar­ whether one belongs to the intelligentsia, but the men­ ies, etc. Thus the foundation of the activities of the tal activity and its knowledge and its application in Russian intelligentsia of the 19th century was laid. society. Leo Tolstoy had no completed formal educa­ tion, but became a philosopher and writer with a The Beginning world reputation. On the other hand, there are many It was under Catherine the Great that the Menno- people with a formal higher education who prove to be nites settled in the Ukraine. In order to describe the reactionary in their social and economic views and do Mennonite “intelligentsia” of Russia during the be­ not participate in the progress of society and conse­ ginning of this century, we must reach back to the quently, do not belong to the intelligentsia. Many earlier roots. The development of the Mennonite examples of this could be found among the govern­ minority and its economic and educational achieve­ ment representatives of the Russian nobility in the ments took place independently of the origin and days of the tsars.