Our human nature is generally such that, when given a small measure of security, it takes for itself a greater measure. And the noble cross, which is only taken up by true Christians, is still eagerly escaped. Therefore, my dear children, I urge you, bend yourselves willingly under your crosses, because you will come into difficult times, or the congregation may be plagued by a spirit of confusion with many contradictory thoughts and opinions among the members, where one says, “Here is the Christ,” and the other says “there he is” (which means that each believes himself to be right). Then dear children! I encourage you along with the apostle Paul, who says: “Lust not after high things” (or higher learning) “but rather cling to what is lowly and do not consider yourself to be smart” (Romans 12:16–17). And if you hear about a poor, lowly, despised heap, which is despised and rejected by the world, cling to such a thing, and think on the words of the apostle Paul: “He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:28–30). And if you hear from the cross, it is Christ, with his spirit of grace and of prayer.

And even if the times are so changed,
That we nearly pass away from resentment
And the distress increases because of it
So that no goal is in sight
Have patience, it will soon be over.
Life’s difficult pilgrimage
Soon we will be taken away,
To where the plagues turn from us,
All the same guard yourselves against meanness and extravagance,
Just as the little bird is troubled
Before it sees its foe,
That quickly will this day come upon us.

My dear children, read the Proverbs often, which among other things remind us: “For he guards the way of the just and protects the path of his faithful ones. . . . For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you” (Proverbs 2:8, 10–11). “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck and write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and shun evil. Honor the Lord your God with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:1–12).

Patience is difficult to bear,
While we are earthly beings.
That some here in joy
Suppose they are with God,
Who does indeed explain himself clearly:
“I punish those I love
And whom I highly grieve,
It’s them that I love dearly.”

As was already mentioned, through this good news from Ottawa relief was brought to many hearts, but unfortunately it did not remain this way for long. It was soon made known through the papers that the national registration cards had to be filled out, which again aroused not a small amount of concern throughout the entire congregation. Again the brotherhood was summoned, and Aeltester Ohm Johann Friesen along with the other Ohms and Vorsteher [civil leader] were sent to Winnipeg to inquire further. And if my memory serves me correctly, we were told by the authorities in Winnipeg that every male, but especially the young ones, was to carry his card with him. And if he were travelling and was stopped by soldiers or military officials, he would be able to provide them with official documentation that he was indeed a part of the Mennonite congregation. These cards had to be signed by the Aeltester of our congregation and stamped with the church seal. Again peace and fleshly security reigned. But instead of regarding this outcome as a result of God’s grace, things continued to decline morally in the congregation. Sin was heaped upon sin, and the great equalization with this world seemed to gain the upper hand. The watchmen on Zion’s wall once again began to sigh and to preach freely from the pulpit.

Anger hasn’t existed,
From the beginning of the world.
Anyone can read
What changes Christ has wrought.
Neither love nor faith exist on earth,
Everyone has his own trick and ruse,
The rich persuades the poor,
And wrings him of his sweat,
So that only his pennies ring.
Who can measure everything?
What drives the world with force?
With its drinking and eating?
Pride and great splendour.
God will not bear it for long.
Look, that we do not catch his judgment,
For then you are lost forever,
And chosen by the Devil.
It would be better to never have been born!
It would be better never to have been born!

Our situation was very much like that of Israel, which we read about in Ezekiel chapter 16: “And the word of the Lord came to [Ezekiel] and said: ‘Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices and say, “Your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, and because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord. But you trusted in your beauty, and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who walked by and your beauty became his”’” (Ezekiel 16:1–2, 14–15). This has been fulfilled among us. And how could it be otherwise? It was sad to look at our young people. In the one pocket they carried the cards signed by the Aeltesten verifying that they were Mennonites and that they were therefore exempt from military service. And in the other pocket they carried their bottle of schnapps, and went calmly and surely into the drinking establishments and playhouses, indulging in a godless life without giving a thought to Solomon who said in the Proverbs: “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor. . . . Who was woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine [or beer or brandy] when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! It goes down smoothly, but in the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper” (Proverbs 23:20–21, 29–33).

Therefore protect us Lord from drunkenness,
And teach us to consider,
That drunkards languish in eternity,
Without a single bit of cooling.
Keep our lives here in sobriety,
And help us from this time forward,
To indulge in the drink of your goodness.

And so the war cry came ever nearer and it appeared that nothing was helping, and the hatred and envy of all citizens – the English – was almost at its peak, so that they began to say to us: “The Mennonite boys live no better than ours do. They live so godlessly and go openly into the whorehouses, and they dress and wear their hair the same way as the English. And yet our sons must offer up their blood, bodies, and lives for the fatherland and the Mennonites present themselves to the world as the same. We will see to it that in the next war they are taken into military service just as our sons are.” And after this devastating war had dragged on for about four years, we heard that a dangerous disease had broken out among those fighting, which had not only impeded the war, but in some places had brought it to a standstill. And with this the words of the wise David were fulfilled, which are written in the Psalms: “Come and see the works of the Lord, the devastations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear . . . [that] not one of the warriors can lift his hands” (Psalm 46:8–9; 76:5).