Benjamin Unruh

[barnhart]

A few random observations...
1. I was unaware of the close working relationship between Bender and Unruh
2. Unruh declared his loyalty to the Nazis quite early, in the mid 30's yet the Americans led MCC was still debating ongoing funding for him as late as 1944. After a nearly a decade they still couldn't decide if to cut ties with him.
3. Unruh was right to speculate about the Jewish heritage if bishop Hershey of the MCC. I know because I descend from that family on my mother's side and yes, they have Jewish ancestors.
4. Some MCC leadership saw the problem with Unruh very early and never wavered in their descent, like Orrie Miller.

[JohnH]

Arnold Newfeldt-Fast is very up-front in telling about this sort of thing, something that I agree is necessary not only for honesty sake, but as a caution for all of us as we encounter the future, what ever it brings. I have linked to some articles of his on various occasions in the past here on the forum, mostly in respect to the challenges faced by those of my people who, for one reason or another, were either unable to leave the Russian Empire, or later, the Soviet Union, or chose to stay, perhaps thinking that the situation would reverse itself after the initial upheaval. I have not met him in person, but have interacted with him on the FaceBook group for 'Russian Mennonite' history and genealogy. I have copied many of his writings over the last nearly 4 years. Much of it is rather unpleasant to read, but I do think that it is necessary to do so.

THat was a period of history many would like to forget. My wife got like 2/3 through Gossen's "Chosen Nation" before she had to put it down, and could read no more. It has forced me to come to the conclusion, if we lose nonresistance, we lose everything. It is just a matter of time.

And the first step towards losing it is deciding to get wrapped up in politics.

You and your cohort may have already lost more than you realise.

[Neto]

Arnold Newfeldt-Fast is very up-front in telling about this sort of thing, something that I agree is necessary not only for honesty sake, but as a caution for all of us as we encounter the future, what ever it brings. I have linked to some articles of his on various occasions in the past here on the forum, mostly in respect to the challenges faced by those of my people who, for one reason or another, were either unable to leave the Russian Empire, or later, the Soviet Union, or chose to stay, perhaps thinking that the situation would reverse itself after the initial upheaval. I have not met him in person, but have interacted with him on the FaceBook group for 'Russian Mennonite' history and genealogy. I have copied many of his writings over the last nearly 4 years. Much of it is rather unpleasant to read, but I do think that it is necessary to do so.

THat was a period of history many would like to forget. My wife got like 2/3 through Gossen's "Chosen Nation" before she had to put it down, and could read no more. It has forced me to come to the conclusion, if we lose nonresistance, we lose everything. It is just a matter of time.

In times of desperation unacceptable solutions are much easier to accept. This is not an excuse, but there is a warning here for all who claim to be followers of Christ. In this case, the problem started long before the unthinkable solution was accepted.

An on-line search tells me that the Allied powers began receiving information of the Naz1 'final solution' as early as June of 1941, with verification in December of the following year. One could ask how much the average Mennonite there in the USSR knew of this. But the lack of strong convictions came about long before this dilemma was encountered. Lack of spiritual vitality was the reason for the formation of the Kleine Gemeinde in the early 1800's, and also the reason for the formation of the Mennonite Brethren in 1860. Then, after the collapse of first the Russian Empire, and soon followed by the defeat of the Russian Republic by the Red Army, the brutal treatment of the Soviets took place, and by 1941 Christians in the USSR had already gone through more than 20 years of strict religious suppression. Many Ukrainians and Mennonites of the former colonies had also been starved to death in the Holodomors of the 1920's and 30's.

I agree that nonresistance must be maintained, but it is based on a true and vital relationship with God. I'm suggesting that by the time this solution was accepted, for many cultural Mennonites nonresistance was no more than a traditional cultural heritage, that the core of belief had been lost decades before. A fellow brother in our congregation here in Holmes County commented to me recently that he wonders sometimes how deep 'Christianity' goes for many of our own people, even in our congregation, where the Gospel is preached from the pulpit and taught in Sunday School. Hard times can bring about either unthinkable betrayal of our core beliefs, or strengthening of these beliefs. I will suggest that unchallenged beliefs can be difficult to maintain. "God has no grandchildren."

[barnhart]

I sympathize with that position Neto.

[Anthony]

Arnold Newfeldt-Fast is very up-front in telling about this sort of thing, something that I agree is necessary not only for honesty sake, but as a caution for all of us as we encounter the future, what ever it brings. I have linked to some articles of his on various occasions in the past here on the forum, mostly in respect to the challenges faced by those of my people who, for one reason or another, were either unable to leave the Russian Empire, or later, the Soviet Union, or chose to stay, perhaps thinking that the situation would reverse itself after the initial upheaval. I have not met him in person, but have interacted with him on the FaceBook group for 'Russian Mennonite' history and genealogy. I have copied many of his writings over the last nearly 4 years. Much of it is rather unpleasant to read, but I do think that it is necessary to do so.

THat was a period of history many would like to forget. My wife got like 2/3 through Gossen's "Chosen Nation" before she had to put it down, and could read no more. It has forced me to come to the conclusion, if we lose nonresistance, we lose everything. It is just a matter of time.

I agree with you, but it seemed to me like they lost a lot more than non resistance. I skimmed the article but looked like Unruh went to university, got caught up in the german nationalists trends of his time, and totally dropped his christian convictions in favor of modern secular ideals. This time it manifested in supporting Hitler. There was a steady drift evident from his late teenage years.

Interesting article

[Judas Maccabeus]

Arnold Newfeldt-Fast is very up-front in telling about this sort of thing, something that I agree is necessary not only for honesty sake, but as a caution for all of us as we encounter the future, what ever it brings. I have linked to some articles of his on various occasions in the past here on the forum, mostly in respect to the challenges faced by those of my people who, for one reason or another, were either unable to leave the Russian Empire, or later, the Soviet Union, or chose to stay, perhaps thinking that the situation would reverse itself after the initial upheaval. I have not met him in person, but have interacted with him on the FaceBook group for 'Russian Mennonite' history and genealogy. I have copied many of his writings over the last nearly 4 years. Much of it is rather unpleasant to read, but I do think that it is necessary to do so.

THat was a period of history many would like to forget. My wife got like 2/3 through Gossen's "Chosen Nation" before she had to put it down, and could read no more. It has forced me to come to the conclusion, if we lose nonresistance, we lose everything. It is just a matter of time.

In times of desperation unacceptable solutions are much easier to accept. This is not an excuse, but there is a warning here for all who claim to be followers of Christ. In this case, the problem started long before the unthinkable solution was accepted.

An on-line search tells me that the Allied powers began receiving information of the Naz1 'final solution' as early as June of 1941, with verification in December of the following year. One could ask how much the average Mennonite there in the USSR knew of this. But the lack of strong convictions came about long before this dilemma was encountered. Lack of spiritual vitality was the reason for the formation of the Kleine Gemeinde in the early 1800's, and also the reason for the formation of the Mennonite Brethren in 1860. Then, after the collapse of first the Russian Empire, and soon followed by the defeat of the Russian Republic by the Red Army, the brutal treatment of the Soviets took place, and by 1941 Christians in the USSR had already gone through more than 20 years of strict religious suppression. Many Ukrainians and Mennonites of the former colonies had also been starved to death in the Holodomors of the 1920's and 30's.

I agree that nonresistance must be maintained, but it is based on a true and vital relationship with God. I'm suggesting that by the time this solution was accepted, for many cultural Mennonites nonresistance was no more than a traditional cultural heritage, that the core of belief had been lost decades before. A fellow brother in our congregation here in Holmes County commented to me recently that he wonders sometimes how deep 'Christianity' goes for many of our own people, even in our congregation, where the Gospel is preached from the pulpit and taught in Sunday School. Hard times can bring about either unthinkable betrayal of our core beliefs, or strengthening of these beliefs. I will suggest that unchallenged beliefs can be difficult to maintain. "God has no grandchildren."

IF you ever get up to Winnipeg there is an interesting section in the Museium of Human Rights on both the Hodomore and Canadian treatment of Mennonites and Hutterites in the WWI . I fear that hard times may be coming, I hope I am wrong. If so, are we willing to flee as many of our predecessors have done, or do we align with cultural trends.

My understanding is that the Mennonite church, in Germany in particular, began to lose nonresistence fron at least the Franco-Prussan war period, where Prussian hegemony was extended throughout Germany. Noncombatant military service soon followed, before they knew it they were wearing "Gott Mit Uns" belt buckles. Populism and national pride are that seductive.

[Judas Maccabeus]

A few random observations...
1. I was unaware of the close working relationship between Bender and Unruh
2. Unruh declared his loyalty to the Nazis quite early, in the mid 30's yet the Americans led MCC was still debating ongoing funding for him as late as 1944. After a nearly a decade they still couldn't decide if to cut ties with him.
3. Unruh was right to speculate about the Jewish heritage if bishop Hershey of the MCC. I know because I descend from that family on my mother's side and yes, they have Jewish ancestors.
4. Some MCC leadership saw the problem with Unruh very early and never wavered in their descent, like Orrie Miller.

There is a picture around showing a picture of Hitler hanging right in front of the church hall in Paraguay. Information than does not flow as quickly as it does now, so can we really assume that they knew the whole truth about this one.

Interesting that Orie Miller seemed to have seen this. There is a book "The Minority Report" floating around that is highly critical of his role in the MCC. Has anyone else ever read that, this book is out of print as far as I know.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Arnold Newfeldt-Fast is very up-front in telling about this sort of thing, something that I agree is necessary not only for honesty sake, but as a caution for all of us as we encounter the future, what ever it brings. I have linked to some articles of his on various occasions in the past here on the forum, mostly in respect to the challenges faced by those of my people who, for one reason or another, were either unable to leave the Russian Empire, or later, the Soviet Union, or chose to stay, perhaps thinking that the situation would reverse itself after the initial upheaval. I have not met him in person, but have interacted with him on the FaceBook group for 'Russian Mennonite' history and genealogy. I have copied many of his writings over the last nearly 4 years. Much of it is rather unpleasant to read, but I do think that it is necessary to do so.

THat was a period of history many would like to forget. My wife got like 2/3 through Gossen's "Chosen Nation" before she had to put it down, and could read no more. It has forced me to come to the conclusion, if we lose nonresistance, we lose everything. It is just a matter of time.

I agree with you, but it seemed to me like they lost a lot more than non resistance. I skimmed the article but looked like Unruh went to university, got caught up in the german nationalists trends of his time, and totally dropped his christian convictions in favor of modern secular ideals. This time it manifested in supporting Hitler. There was a steady drift evident from his late teenage years.

Interesting article

What makes me wonder is, the university system in Germany at that time was full of what became late 19th century liberalism/secularism. Was it disconnection from his home community that caused this, or the spiritual state of where he came from? Did his uiversity education give him a platform that he otherwise would not have had, and without it, not even been a footnote?

For the record, the entire German Mennonite Church got caught up in this, in "Chosen Nation" there is reproduced telegrams congratulateing Hitler on his election is starkly nationalistic terms. They disowned Ebhart Arnold's group for their antinazi stand. My take is that he was not an outlier, but the "mean."

[Neto]

I looked at the GAMEO article on him, and I was embarrassed to see that he was baptized into a Mennonite Brethren congregation (in Crimea) at the age of 18. He was born in 1881, so that was around 1899. By 1900 he was already out of the community, and attending university in Switzerland.

I can try to make excuses (for the MBs, which is my own faith heritage), saying that he didn't stick around long enough to get much additional teaching within the congregation, but he also apparently never moved his membership anywhere else, and the congregation did not put him out, either. So there are no excuses that hold any water. The apple rolled far from the tree, unnoticed.

[JohnH]

In other words, embracing the world (such as higher education, university, trying to conform to worldly trends of what is moral / right / acceptable) often has disastrous results.

An obvious example of this is abortion and everything evil that goes around it... and the blindness I see from so many Christians on this issue. And, once again, higher education and the desire to be highly esteemed and to be prestigious is often how it sneaks it.