Book Review

Delbert F. Plett, Saints and Sinners: The Kleine Gemeinde in Imperial Russia 1812 to 1875 (Steinbach, MB: Crossway Publications, 1999), pb., 352 pp., photographs, maps, C$10.

reviewed by Hans Werner

Delbert Plett has spent twenty years researching the Kleine Gemeinde. The fruits of this research have been the six-volume Kleine Gemeinde Historical Series. This new history aims to present a synthesis of the Kleine Gemeinde story for the general reader. Saints and Sinners has twelve chapters with themes that touch on the religious, cultural, political and family connections of this relatively small, but important 19th century reform group in Russian Mennonite history. The author's reverence for the group's religious and cultural forbears results in a sympathetic analysis of the group's contributions to Mennonite experience in Russia 'acknowledged' by the author in the preface as an intentional point of view (p. 5).

Plett's history is clear in its belief that the group's leaders are the most important and the driving force in the story of the Kleine Gemeinde historical experience. Aeltester Peter Epp, Heinrich Balzer and Klaas Reimer, along with a host of other ministers and leaders dominate this story of the Kleine Gemeinde. A glance at the index reveals the prominence of individual personalities in the book's pages.

More disconcerting is Plett's view of what he calls the 'Separatist-Pietist' influence in Russian Mennonite history and its characterization as the universal enemy of the conservative tradition in Russia and the Kleine Gemeinde in particular. Plett finds little that is redeeming in the so-called 'Separatist-Pietist' orientation whose its proponents seemingly knew no bounds in opposing the Kleine Gemeinde. In addition to their pervasive negative theological influence, 'Separatist-Pietists', as Plett has it, had nothing but disdain for Kleine Gemeinde poetry (p. 144) and their 'arrogant spiritual elitism' restrained them from even 'cracking a smile at the' earthy humour of Kleine Gemeinde members (p. 169).

The thesis about a 'Separatist-Pietist' conspiracy is accompanied by Plett's confusing treatment of some personalities with connections to the Kleine Gemeinde story. Johann Cornies is decried for his heavy-handedness but most particularly for his banishment of calligraphy (Fraktur) from the school system. Most of the references to Cornies, however, betray a silent admiration of Cornies with whom the Kleine Gemeinde leaders seemed to enjoy a mutually supportive relationship. Similarly, Plett digresses from history to portray the contemporary writer, Patrick Friesen, as both a recognized poet in the best of Kleine Gemeinde poetic tradition and as a member of the 'so-called Mennonite literary tradition' that dismisses and disparages the efforts of leaders groups such as the Kleine Gemeinde (p210).

Does Saints and Sinners fulfill its goals of providing a synthesis of Kleine Gemeinde experience for general readers? In spite of a lack of consistency in attributing quotations to their sources in the text (there are no footnotes), Plett's extensive knowledge of Kleine Gemeinde genealogy and family history offers many insights for readers of Russian Mennonite and Kleine Gemeinde history. The role of the narrative as a synthesis of what has been written is, however tarnished by diatribes against those who represented other religious orientations in opposition to or critical of Plett's view of Kleine Gemeinde 'Great Tradition.'

Hans Werner, of Winnipeg, MB, is a doctoral student at the U. of Manitoba, and chair of the MMHS Research, Scholarship, and Publications Committee.

Book Notes

Gerhard Froese of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has published an illustrated biographical sketch of his father, Abram Froese (1899-1942). The book is entitled Das Gefangenenlager: Bilder aus längst vergangenen Tagen. Erinnerungen an meinen Vater und seine Zeit (pb., 56 pp., $25.00 plus postage). The sketches were done by Abram while in prison (Siberia, etc.) from 1937 till the time of his death.

Just off the press! Mennonite or Nazi? Attitudes Among Mennonite Colonists of Latin America, 1933-1945 (Waterloo, ON: Pandora Press, and Scottdale, PA, Herald Press, 1999) by John D. Thiesen of Mennonite Library and Archives, North Newton, KS 67117. Order from Pandora Press, 51 Pandora Ave. N., Kitchener, ON N2H 3C1 (C$28.00 plus shipping and GST).

A brief popular version in paperback of Menno Simons' biography, written by Gerhard Ens of Winnipeg, Manitoba, can now be obtained from Mennonite Heritage Village, Steinbach, MB R0A 2A0 for $2.00 plus postage and shipping.

In April this spring Herald Press of Scottdale, PA and Kitchener, ON, released a new translation of Peter Riedeman's Hutterite Confession of Faith (pb., 264 pp.), first published in German in 1565. The translation was prepared by Dr. John J. Friesen of Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg, MB. A dozen or more representatives of Hutterite communities in Manitoba attended a book launch reception held at the Mennonite Heritage Centre in Winnipeg earlier this spring.

Vol.III of The Bote Index, published by CMBC Publications in Winnipeg, is now in print. Vol.I and II were published in 1976 and 1991 respectively. All volumes can be obtained from CMBC Bookstore, 600 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 0M4. Vol.III has been indexed by various individuals including Olga Rempel of Virgil, Ontario, and most recently Helene Friesen at the Mennonite Heritage Centre, who is also the editor of Vol.III.

Watch for the next issue of the new journal of the Mennonite Literary Society, Rhubarb. You are invited to submit entries for the youth issue planned for the spring of 2000. Mail to: Rhubarb, MLS, 200 Lenore St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 2C5.