Preservings 11 (1997) - Plett Foundation

efore moving to Paraguay. Many other ministers
also spoke as well as Aeltester David
Doerksen from Saskatchewan.
Schroeder’s journal also recorded other
interesting occasions, like Sunday, October
29, 1922, when Rev. Peter Toews presided
at the marriage of no less than four couples
in the Chortitz Church. On June 20, 1948,
another farewell service was held for the
second group moving to Paraguay. Again the
Church was filled to overflowing with services
held in the morning and again the afternoon
with seven speakers speaking, three
in the morning and four in the afternoon.
Above all this I am sure that even though
in the early years weddings and funerals
were held at home, many were also held in
this church.
Bishops.
Over the years many Aeltesten (Bishops)
and Prediger (ministers) have served here,
61 in all. 8 of these were also elected as
Aeltesten. 5 moved to Paraguay in the 1920s
and 5 in 1948. Aeltesten who served here
were the following: Aelt. Gerhard Wiebe in
Russia and when they first came to Canada;
Aelt. David Stoesz 1879-1903; Aelt. Peter
Toews 1903-1915; Aelt. Johann Dueck
1915-1923.
From 1923-25 we had no Aeltester so we
were served by Aelt. Heinrich Friesen of the
Sommerfelder. Aelt. Martin C. Friesen
1925-1927, Aelt. Heinrich Friesen of the
Sommerfelder again 1927-1931. In October
of 1931 Aelt. Peter A. Toews of the
Sommerfelder came to conduct an Aeltester
election. Aelt. Peter S. Wiebe was elected
and ordained by the same Aeltester in March
of 1932. He remained Aeltester until 1961
when Aelt. Henry K. Schellenberg was ordained.
He remained until 1983 at which
time our present Bishop, Bill Hildebrandt,
was ordained.
Ministers.
Ministers who have been ordained in
Chortitz since 1924 were: Rev. and later
Aelt. Martin C. Friesen 1924; Rev. and later
Aelt. Peter S. Wiebe 1930; Rev. Cornelius
W. Friesen 1930; Rev. Peter G. Falk 1933;
Rev. Heinrich G. Klippenstein 1939; Rev.
Jacob C. Friesen 1939; Rev. Abram F.
Kehler 1948; Rev. Peter S. Kehler 1948; and
Rev. Heinrich S. Kehler 1955. Rev. Abram
F. Kehler is the only one alive today and
was able to attend our celebration.
Deacons.
There were 11 deacons before 1926 when
Abram P. Schroeder was elected. He remained
until 1960. In 1973 Jacob Harder
was elected and ordained. He remained until
1984 when our present Deacon, Jacob
No. 11, December, 1997
Klassen, was elected and ordained. Both the
last two deacons were able to attend our
celebrations.
Song Leaders.
Over the years many song leaders have
served: Heinrich Klippenstein, Heinrich
Harder, Johann Rempel, Gerhard K. Kehler,
Jacob Harder, Jacob G. Stoesz, Peter G.
Falk, Jacob Wiebe, Jacob K. Kehler, Peter
S. Wiebe, David Hiebert, Johann S. Kehler,
Henry S. Kehler, Cornelius Hiebert,
Heinrich Hildebrandt, Peter S. Kehler,
Johann K. Rempel, Henry P. Wiebe, Abram
F. Kehler, Peter W. Dueck, Abram K, Funk,
Johann W. Dueck, Gerhard U. Kehler, Peter
C. Hiebert, Diedrich W. Dueck, Jacob
H. M. Doerksen, Jacob F. Schroeder, Abram
Enns, Abram H. Kehler, and our present
leaders, Abram Funk and Abe Dueck.
Sunday Schools.
Until 1919 the schools among the
Chortitzer Mennonites were private schools.
They were conducted in the German language
and the Bible, New Testament and
Catechism were used for reading and
memory assignments. Only songs out of the
“Gesangbuch” were sung. In 1916-19 the
private schools were outlawed by the Provincial
Government and replaced with public
schools over the next ten years.
The time originally used to educate children
in Christianity was now lost and a new
system had to be developed. In areas where
public schools were first formed, Saturday
schools were implemented. This gradually
turned into our present Sunday schools. On
August 21, 1932, Sunday school was first
held in Chortitz with 22 students present and
Peter Peters as teacher. In the late 1930s and
early 1940s Saturday schools were once
more conducted with Johann Goertzen and
later Heinrich G. Klippenstein and Peter S.
Wiebe as the teachers.
Jacob F. Klassen taught from 1945 until
he moved to Paraguay in 1948 and also
Abram F. Kehler until he was ordained as
minister in the same year. In 1949 a separate
Sunday School building was established
with Heinrich S. Kehler and Cornelius S.
Blatz as teachers. From here on the attendance
grew until 1968 when the present
Sunday school building was built. We do not
have the names of all the teachers but there
have been up to 16 teachers and 130 students
at one time. At present our Sunday
school is small with 8 students and 3 teachers.
They are Aron Doerksen, Peter Funk and
Jacob Doerksen.
Growth and Change.
During his dedication service Aeltester
David Stoesz expressed concern that his de-
sire was that a time would not come where
the Ministers would be speaking to empty
pews. From Aeltester Peter S. Wiebe’s
records we see that services in this building
was very well attended in times past. He
leaves a record of Communion recipients for
the years, 1938 to 1943. They were anywhere
from 317 persons in October of 1938
to 464 persons in June of 1943. Also the
number of baptismal candidates are given
from 1932 to 1961. They numbered from 7
persons in 1958 to 66 in 1940.
During this time changes to the inside of
the building were also made. In 1943 the
pulpit was moved from the South wall to the
East end and the seating was rearranged.
Also the West entrance became the main
entrance and the North entrance is not used
anymore.
Conclusion.
Time has not stood still since the worship
house in Chortitz was dedicated. In it’s
senior years the church at Chortitz has taken
a back seat to the many other fine Church
buildings in our conference. It does not offer
what others do. We do not have banquet
facilities or such for weddings or funerals
but what remains important is that it is used
for that which it was originally dedicated,
which is to glorify God and worship our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We have Sunday School and worship services
every Sunday morning and we invite
each one of you to come and join us, it will
be a blessed experience.
About the author.
Jacob Doerksen is a Sunday School
teacher in Chortitz. He is a member of the
Board of Directors of the Hanover Steinbach
Historical Society and a frequent contributor
to Preservings.
See article by Jakob K.
Doerksen in Preservings, No.
10, June 1996, Part One, pages
34-35, regarding the 100 year
history of the worship house
at Chortitz, Manitoba.
“Preservings” is the Newsletter of the Hanover Steinbach Historical Society Inc., Box 1960, Steinbach, Manitoba, R0A 2A0, published semiannually
at Steinbach, Manitoba. Editor, Delbert Plett, Steinbach, Manitoba. The publication of the Newsletter is funded in part by “D.F. Plett
Historical Research Foundation Inc.” We are always looking for more individuals who may want to contribute articles and/or photographs. Please
send subscriptions, articles and/or photographs to HSHS c/o Box 1960, Steinbach, Manitoba R0A 2A0. Annual subscription membership fee is
$10.00.
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