Preservings $20 Issue No. 26, 2006 - Home at Plett Foundation

me no de ole tit.’. .
So this colonization has expanded to this
present time into many families, from various
places. The Kleine Gemeinde made the start in
1906, built two large churches, and grew to a
large congregation, the largest in the Mennonite
settlement. . .
Referring back to the ‘30’s is when we had
the big drought and the times got to be so pressing,
that people began to wonder. Wheat that
was raised in the first part of the ‘30’s was very
low in price, and the debts that people had could
not be met, with the accumulating interest, and
it became a very hard problem, people wanted
to hold onto their land, and were unable to meet
their obligations. So the government stepped in,
and loaned money. Also our Meade people were
very kind, in helping our people. If it hadn’t been
for the Meade business people, many people
would have lost their farms. Although the time
was so pressing that some had to give up in the
long period of drought, we owe the Meade people
a great expression of gratitude for the patience
they had.
The dust storms ceased, and the crops have
been very good, for several years. So people were
lifted out of the drought, and have become prosperous,
that as a whole, we will have to remind
ourselves, that it were not we, that helped us out,
it was the mightiful Lord that helped us out. Praise
to His holy name and blessing.” 28
Personal Emigration & Assets Summary by
Jacob F. Isaac in 1909
“I came here from Nebraska in 1906 and
have 240 acres, a solid piece, perfect in lay and
quality of soil. I have over 160 acres in cultivation
and crops. My 48 acres of wheat is growing well
and promises fully, yes, over an average crop. It
is now June 15 nearly to the changing of colour
toward ripening. I can raise wheat here. Have 60
acres of corn on sod, as that is one of the best
first crops, and yield pays, besides I get the land
in condition at once and the next year it is old
ground . . . I am well pleased with the results the
last two years, and satisfied with this location. My
land is fenced and cross-fenced and have good
improvements. House and barn, etc and total cost
of improvements about $1200.00.” 29
Called to KG Church Leadership
In fall of 1911 I was elected a preacher in this
new community which gave us great responsibility.
As a young married couple, this work was
taken seriously by both of us. The Lord gave
grace and we could do it only in weakness. In
this service my dear wife was a special support.
In 1914 the Lord went a step deeper with us, and
I was made Elder in the church. We both sought
the will of the Lord, and asked what he wanted
us to do. But here too we were made aware that
the grace of God was sufficient for those who
trust him. The important work taken as leader of
the church, I realized that I had not always done
it as I should. I pray therefore for understanding,
and forgiveness. I want to trust the LORD even
though it’s hard. 30 (The text of Rev. Isaac’s acceptance
sermon for the office of Elder/Altester
was published in Preservings #25, 2005).
The 1920’s
In the 1920’s some significant change did
occur in the Meade Kleine Gemeinde church.
Recognizing a need to supplement religious training
for their children a Sunday school was started
shortly after World War I. Some impetus for this
was also due to the fact that instruction in the
German language was discontinued in the schools
during the war. So the Sunday school served as
a vehicle for instruction in the German language
as well as to give religious instruction
The exact year of the first Sunday school is
not known to the writer, but Jac. F. Isaac notes that
on January 6, 1924, Sunday school teachers were
elected for the coming year.Another significant
change is illustrated by a comment recorded by
Jac. F. Isaac on January 20, 1926. ‘Today, for the
first time, the sisters were present at brotherhood
meeting, and I believe with good results.’ Up to
this time all church related decisions had been
made by the men only. . . we see here a remarkable
break with tradition. 31
In 1922 Aeltester Jacob F. Isaac, along with
several other Meade church leaders, were part of
a delegation that included Canadian KG leaders to
explore the feasibility of relocating to Mexico. 32
About five Meade families, including Rev. M.
T. Doerksens, moved to Mexico in September
of 1924. In a few years some families returned
to America. 33
A Typical Meade Kleine Gemeinde Sunday
Since the Meade KG settlement stretched
southeast of Meade for over 20 miles, it was
necessary for the early community to build two
churches, the initial building in 1907 near the
south end of the settlement, also known as the
South or ‘the long church,’ and later the second
one, the North church, five miles south and three
east of Meade. The congregation then alternated
worship services between the South and the North
churches to accommodate travel concerns. Noon
meals were provided for families who traveled
a distance to church. Members in the vicinity
of the Sunday church building made Saturday
preparations to provide spontaneous hospitality
on Sunday (so no invitations were needed, just go
to a home of choice), and a hearty welcome was
waiting with a generous noon meal, plus a lunch
(faspa) in the afternoon around 4:00 p.m. The
afternoon was spent in visiting and fellowship,
while children enjoyed playtime.
The morning worship service followed a
Sunday School (after 1924) for children only,
whose initial purpose was to teach German,
while the adults visited in the sanctuary. In the
late 1930s, the writer remembers having Bible
lessons sitting with children on a bench in the
cloakroom. Men and women sat on separate sides
of the church. Growing children were allowed
to sit in gender specific groups toward the front.
Men and women entered the church building
from separate ends, through a cloakroom where
coats and wraps could be hung. Clothes were
dark colored and drab, with floor length dresses
and shawls for women and no ties for men with
their simple dark suits.
When it was time for the worship service to
Ältester Jacob F. Isaac and his wife Maria Dueck
Isaac with their two sons Levi and Alvin. Photo taken
in 1941. Preservings, June 1997
begin, the ministers would emerge from their
private conference room and file into the sanctuary.
About half way to the low platform stage
they would pronounce a blessing for all to hear
“The peace of the Lord be with you all, Amen.”
Once on stage the leader moved behind the pulpit,
while the others sat facing the congregation. Then
the designated song leader “vorsaenger” would
come to lead the congregation in unison singing,
often quoting a phrase and then the congregation
singing it, and then the process was repeated until
the song was completed. At prayer time the whole
congregation would turn around in the pews to
kneel on the floor. After a lengthy period of silent
prayer, people would wait till they heard the
shuffle of the elders’ feet as they stood up so the
congregation could again be seated. There was no
passing of offering plates, but an alms box was
near the exit to receive donations. Thereafter
followed a sermon in German that had been written
by the speaker and that would usually last an
hour or more. Occasionally baptism by sprinkling
(pouring a small amount from a pitcher on the
head) would be held for the 18 to 20 year olds
who had completed the annual instruction class
of scripture and doctrine to prepare for church
membership. With electricity being unavailable
in the early years, there were no evening services.
Brotherhood meetings, ‘broudaschaft’, would be
held on occasional Sunday afternoons to deal with
issues like church discipline.
The 1930’s
Several trends became evident in the Meade
KG Church during this decade. First, membership
began to plateau in comparison to the Canadian
KG churches. Secondly, unrest among the membership
became more intense. “On the one hand
there is a complaint that the ministers are not
speaking out against modern trends in dress, etc.,
like they used to do. On the other hand, a number
of Meade Young People write about their experiences
at the Meade Bible School. They write
Preservings No. 26, 2006 - 49