Preservings $20 No. 25, December, 2005 - Plett Foundation

Introduction
The Brommtopp was made from leather
with horsehair sticking out of the top. When
the hair was greased with resin and stroked or
pulled, the drum vibrated making a low humming
sound. On New Years Day groups of young
men would go in costumes from to house, with
an earthy New Year’s wish. The practice was
preserved particularly among conservative Mennonites
in Manitoba, such as the Old Colony and
Sommerfelder. It was an ancient custom going
back a thousand years or more. In England the
practice was known as “mumming” and the
participants as “mummers”. Thomas Hardy in
Return of the Native, refers to mumming.
Das Brommtop-Lied (The Brommtop
song):
Einleitung (der Frager)
Wir haben uns die Freiheit genommen
Und sind hier angekommen / zu fragen ob
wir konnen mit dem
Brommtop herein.
Sie durfen antworten, ja oder nein.
1. Wir kommen hier an, ohne Furcht und ohne
Schand’
Einen schoenen guten Abend, eine froechli-
Dear Preservings,
I’m writing this letter out of concern for
some Mennonite people who receive these
magazines free of charge. They’re placed free
of charge in churches.
My father-in-law (who has passed away)
had subscribed for these magazines a few years
ago. I have those books new. I have reviewed
them. All five books that I have examined are in
some way encouraging or promoting Catholicism.
One book has a 6 page article on “Mother”
Theresa. (No. 22, June 03.) She was no true
Christian! She did lots of good works. They are
as filthy rags in God’s eyes. Next there is a long
article on the Pope, or some priest who died,
and people are supposed to believe that they’re
Christians? Not if they’re not born again! “Ye
must be born again.” John 3:7.
Do you want to “preserve” false religions;
a history that leads people to hell? That sounds
strong, but it’s true. Do we want Religion or
Christ? Christ and Him Alone.
Something about these magazines seems
strange. They’re printed to preserve the “Mennonite”
faith – following Menno Simons’
teachings, but at the same time going exactly
against what he believed! Menno hated the Roman
Catholic Church’s false teaching. He came
out! Menno was hunted for being a true believer.
Brommtopp
che Zeit,
Den Brommtop haben wir uns selbst
bereit’t
2. Dem Hausherrn wuenschen wir,
Ein’n gedeckten Tisch.
Eine Kanne mit Wein
Dammit unser Herr kann froechlich sein.
3. Die Hausfrau wuenschen wir,
Eine Kueche mit Geschirr
Einen Hof mit huebsche Braut, dazu ein
trautes Heim,
Darin sie beide koennen gluecklich sein.
4. Dem Braeutgam wuenschen wir,
Eine Kutsche, eine Zier
Eine schoene huebsche Braut, dazu ein
trautes Heim,
Darin sie beide konnen gluecklich sein.
5. Die Braut, die wuenschen wir,
Eine goldene Kron’
Auf’s andere Jahr, einen jungen Sohn.
6. Dem Sohn, dem wuenschen wir,
Ein gesatteltes Pferd
Dasss er kann treiben die Herde durch’s
Feld.
Letters
God protected him. It was only the Roman
Catholics that wanted to get rid of him. Why
then now are we walking back to Rome? Are we
reading the Bible? Is it following a man? I feel
sorry for ministers who are trying to bring the
gospel to their people. They’re often lacking in
knowledge of the scriptures. They need a lot of
help. I go to a conservative Mennonite Church,
so I know its true. Let’s not hinder the gospel by
mixing truth with error – that will never work.
It’s the whore church of Revelation 17, which
the world is looking to.
I have been religious and very sincere all
my life, but I was lost in my sins. I was saved
from all my sins when I realized Jesus’ work on
the cross was enough. I trusted in Him (Jesus)
alone plus nothing for salvation. Now I am free.
If Christ shall make you free, ye shall be free
indeed! Christ + nothing = salvation. We work
because we love Christ.
Thank you for reading my letter.
Sincerely,
Helen Braun
Dear Helen Braun,
Thank you for your letter. You raise a good
question: What is salvation? The answer, as you
indicate, is to be found in Christ. As you rightly
point out, the Bible also teaches that faith results
7. Die Tochter wuenschen wir,
Ein par Schuhe mit Schnellen
Auf’s andere , Jahr einen Junggesellen.
8. Dem Knecht, dem wuenschen wir,
Eine Geraupe und Geschirr,
Das er kann putzen dem Herrn seine
Pferd’.
9. Die Magd, die wuenschen wir,
Eine holzerne Kann
Auf’s andere Jahr, einen puckligen Mann
10. Dem Schweinejung wuenschen wir,
Eine Knutte in der Hand,
Das er kann treiben den Eber durch’s
Land.
11. Den Gauern hoerten wir,
Wohl mit der Flasche klingen
Wir gedachten, er wurde uns ein Schnapchen
bringen
12. Wir stehn auf einem Stein,
Auf einen breiten Stein,
Und unsere Reise soll noch weiter sein,
(nach Hause sein).
in good deeds, in a life of discipleship. That is
exactly what “Mother” Theresa did in her work
for the poor. She lived out her faith in Christ. I
think that is also what Pope John Paul II did. He
lived during difficult times in Poland, under a
communist regime, where to be Christian meant
to live a life of sacrifice, danger, and possibly
death. In this context he was a committed, faithful,
believer in Christ.
Both “Mother” Theresa and Pope John
Paul II were not part of your church. But I
think the spirit of God is greater than any one
of our denominations. God’s spirit moves
people to faith in many contexts, and in many
forms and patterns. Let us not make God too
small. You speak about being born again. It
is good that you found faith in Jesus in this
way. But not everyone has to have exactly the
same experience in order to have genuine faith
in Jesus. There are many ways. The way that
your parents and grandparents found faith was
different from what you describe for yourself,
but nevertheless, it was just as authentic as
your experience. We do violence to the spirit
of God, and dishonour the witness of the Bible,
if we try to force everyone’s faith experience
into one mold. Let us rather rejoice that God
moves people in many groups and cultures to
faith, iscipleship, peace and love.
Preservings No. 25, December 2005 - 93