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Book notes

A fine illustrated book entitled The Amish and Their Neighbors: The German Block, Wilmot Township 1822-1860 has just been published by the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario. Written by Lorraine Roth the book is based on numerous sources, including a large body of records discovered in the archives of the University of Toronto. The book is well illustrated with many fine pictures of the region. The book retails for $ 20.00 and is available from the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario and the Mennonite Heritage Centre in Winnipeg.

One of the smaller Mennonite Church denominations were the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren. Blending anecdotal and socio-historical analysis, Calvin Redekop in his book Leaving Anabaptism: From Evangelical Mennonite Brethren to Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches examines how over a period of a century this group found itself “leaving Anabaptism.” He identifies dynamics pertinent to minority religious groups facing majority cultural assimilation. Published by Pandora Press this 265 page book retails for $29.00 and is available in Mennonite bookstores.

The Mennonite church preaches and often practices mutual aid – sometimes with success and sometimes not. A new book examining mutual aid from a Biblical, theological and historical perspective has recently been published by Herald Press. Building Communities of Compassion: Mennonite Mutual Aid in Theory and Practice, edited by Willard Swartley and Donald Kraybill, is an attempt to understand this practice within the setting of the Mennonite church. In many ways this is the first attempt at analyzing this practice and how it has functioned within the Mennonite Church. This 308 page book retails for $21.50 in Canada and should be available in Mennonite bookstores.

Canadians may be familiar with the controversy surrounding the trilogy Lebensraum written by Ingrid Rimland. This three-volume novel spans seven generations and 200 years in its depiction of the life and struggles of Mennonites from Russia. The novel has received much attention due to the fact that the third volume especially, has strong Nazi overtones. Full-length reviews of the trilogy have appeared and will soon appear in various Mennonite periodicals. These books are unavailable in Canada and must be specially ordered from the US, as customs is restricting their distribution in Canada. Each volume is approximately 500 pages in length and retails for $US25.

A second edition of The Golden Years of the Hutterites has been written by Leonard Gross. Significant new material has been added to his 1980 publication from unpublished sources located in eastern and western Europe. Some 280 pages in length the book sells for $25.00 Canadian and is available in many Mennonite bookstores. It is published by Pandora Press.

A number of books have recently appeared on the theme of peace. Reworking his 1981 survey Peter Brock has produced another volume (1998) entitled Varieties of Pacifism: A Survey from Antiquity to the Outset of the Twentieth Century. Published by Syracuse University Press the 112 page book retails for $15.95 US.

Perry Bush, Associate Professor of History at Bluffton College, explores the changes within the Mennonite communities and mainstream American society between the 1920s and 1970s in his book, Two Kingdoms, Two Loyalties: Mennonite Pacifism in Modern America. The book is available from Johns Hopkins University Press for $39.95 US.

Seniors for Peace, an offshoot of MCC BC has published Alternative Service for Peace in Canada during World War II, 1941-1946. Edited by A.J. Klassen, the book details the experiences of many Canadian Conscientious Objectors. The book retails for $25,00, consists of 372 pages, and is available in most Mennonite bookstores.

A large number of family histories and biographies have been published in the last number of months. The Blumstein Legacy: A Six Generation Family Saga has been produced by Leland Harder and Samuel Harder. Replete with many stories and photographs, this book traces this family from Ukraine to North America. Comprised of 273 pages it also contains extensive genealogical data on the Harder family. Available from the Harder Family Review, P.O. Box 363, North Newton, Kansas 67117.

Longtime minister and leader of the First Mennonite Church (Schoenwiese) in Winnipeg, Denk Wer Du Bist is a book of stories of the Johann Hermann and Agathe Enns families. Autobiographical, with significant additions and a wide array photographs, this book describes not only the story of this family but also, in part, the story of the Schoenwiese congregation. The 259 page book is available from family members.

Available in English translation is Lifting the Veil, part confession, memoir and critique of the life of Jacob J. Janzen. Originally published as Aus meinem Leben: Erinnerungen von J.H. Janzen, it was translated by Walter Klaassen and edited by Leonard Friesen. Comprising 128 pages this book is published by Pandora Press and sells for $14.00 Canadian.

Abram J. Berg has written his story A Memoir: My Life’s Journey. Born in Ukraine and coming to Canada in 1923, Abram settled on a farm near Hanley, Saskatchewan. The depression years forced him to leave farming and he became a typesetter working in Steinbach, Rosthern and Saskatoon. Edited by Betty and Dick Epp, the 197 page book is available from Betty and Dick Epp, 2326 Cairns Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7J 1V1.

Born in Ukraine, orphaned at age five and raised in an Old Order Mennonite home is the unusual story in Plucked Up by the Roots: The Story of Henry Wieler. Written by Leonard Freeman, the 67 page book may be purchased from the author for $10.00 at R.R. #1, Elmira, Ontario N3B 2Z1.

Two modest private compilations are The Story of My Life by Cornelius Penner and Family Book: Gerhard Enns 1844-1911. The latter book contains some good family tree information compiled by Luise Martens. Copies may be viewed at the Mennonite Heritage Centre.

Compiled with diary entries, genealogical data and many photographs is The life and times of Johann Jacob Friesen 1852-1931 and the Gerhard Neufeld Family recorded in his diary 1885-1926, Paulheim, Molotschna Colony, south Russia. The title says it all. The book is published by Kathy (Dyck) Rempel of Wheatly, Ontario and available for viewing at the Mennonite Heritage Centre.

Jacob’s Journey: The Memoirs of J.E. Kroeker is edited by Barbara and Timothy Dyck. The life story of a southern Manitoba businessman, the book takes one on the journey of life during the depression and the subsequent recovery. This book is well edited with an excellent layout. Copies are available from the family.

Pacifism in the Twentieth Century by Peter Brock and Nigel Young just released in March 1999 centers on an analysis of the various movements advocating personal nonparticipation in war of any kind with an endeavor to find nonviolent means of resolving conflict. The authors consider conscientious objection, pacifism during the post war years (focusing on Catholicism and Judaism) the antinuclear movement, and the Vietnam War. Published by Syracuse University Press this 452 page book in paper cover retails for $29.95 US.

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Last modified October 31, 2000.

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