HERITAGE POSTING

Newsletter of the Manitoba Mennonite Historical Society No.30 September 2000

1,500 attend to see West Reserve mark 125

by Elmer Heinrichs

Mennonites from the original East Reserve, Jandsied, from Winnipeg, and many other points came to Fort Dufferin on the Red River near Emerson to join Mennonites in the former West Reserve July 16 in celebrating 125 years of life here in Manitoba's Red River Valley.

Fort Dufferin came alive again when approximately 1,500 persons in comfortable shirt-sleeve weather overflowed a large tent at an afternoon worship and celebration program Sunday to commemorate the arrival of their forefathers here in mid-July 1875.

In a call to worship and prayer, John J. Friesen noted the resourceful and bold men and women who immigrated to Canada from Russia. The congregation responded wholeheartedly with a hymn "To God Be the Glory".

Scripture readings in German and English of Deuteronomy 8:10-18 by Henry G. Rempel and by Rev. Dave Dueck "Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God"... to follow every command so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land.

Greetings by Adolf Ens, on behalf of our Society, included appreciation for the participation of co-host, town of Emerson, and many volunteers.

Elmer Penner, representing Emerson Mayor Wayne Arseny, hailed it as a significant day, noting how many generations of Mennonites have grown up here building towns and churches. He added that Fort Dufferin was a unique site, one of beginnings, and urged pressure to preserve it.

Greetings from government representatives by Jacob Hildebrand, for Rhineland RM Reeve John Falk; Emerson MLA Jack Penner; Pembina MLA Peter George Dyck; and by Provencher MP David Iftody, presenting a Canada certificate of appreciation for the Mennonite people. Good wishes from Portage-Marquette MP Jake Hoeppner were read.

Doris Penner, for the Mennonite Heritage Village Museum board, noted the unique churches and house-barns, common on the West Reserve, and a common faith in God. Orlando Hiebert conveyed greetings to the West from Hanover Steinbach Historical Society.

Karen Peters, chair of the 125^th anniversary committee of the East Reserve, which celebrated its 125^th in 1999, cited her own roots here in the West Reserve. Suggesting Mennonites recognize the influence of many cultures, she presented an East 125^th afghan to the West.

Rev. Peter D. Zacharias referred to Psalm 137, to recall memories of the first Mennonites arrival here on the West Reserve. "They found leaving Russia hard, arrived here, and then had to wait. But they were a people of hope and respect. Mueller led the organization of villages, planting of trees, etc. Johann Wiebe organized a church, and when people moved out to the villages they began digging shelters in the ground. These were men, women and youth of vision."

A drama "Their Tears, Our Sheaves" written by Wilmer Penner, directed by Henry G. Ens, told the story of two families who with many others left Russia and after a long and tedious voyage disembarked at Fort Dufferin near Emerson in July, 1875. A scene depicts the struggle of quite a few settlers: to remain in Manitoba or to accept an invitation to go to Kansas.

After another congregational hymn "Nun Danket Alle Gott" Rev. John I. Peters, of the Sommerfeld Church, offered a brief meditation based on Proverbs 29:18 and one of the psalms. "We thank our forefathers - they worked hard, lived in semlins and broke the virgin soil. They kept the faith and passed it unto us. And God has blessed us financially and spiritually."

Long-time MCI teacher and principal Gerhard Ens, in closing remarks, suggested the Reinländer - often misunderstood - who first came in 1875 were really "a renewal church. "This time too should be a time of renewal. Let us be a waiting church," added Ens, closing with prayer.

Faspa with farmer's sausage, sightseeing where settlers came ashore, and a Christian music concert with modern and old-style singing, by groups including the Hutterite and Old Colony Mennonites.