Vol. 13 No. 2
August, 2007

Contents:

When anarchist Nester Machno and his band terrorized Mennonite villages during the Russian civil war, whole families were killed, and an unknown number of women abused and raped.

How should God-fearing pacifists respond?  Take up arms, or trust in God?   Opinions were divided, and a number of villages formed Selbstschutz (self-defence) units to protect family and property.

Dr. John B. Toews will explore this issue in his lecture titled: “In Defense of Mothers and Sisters: the Mennonite Selbstschutz in Ukraine, 1918” at MHSBC’s fall fundraising banquet on October 13, 2007.
 See page 2 for details.


Mennonite Historical Society of BC
211-2825 Clearbrook Rd., Abbotsford, BC. V2T 6S3
Phone: 604-853-6177 Fax: 604-853-6246
Email: archives@mhsbc.com
Website: www.mhsbc.com
Hours: 9am-4pm Monday-Friday

Roots and Branches is a publication of the Mennonite Historical Society of BC and is mailed three times per year to those who donate $25.00 or more per year. All donations will be receipted for tax purposes. Your contributions are needed to further this work!

Directors: Ben Braun, David Giesbrecht, Ed Hildebrand, John Konrad, Robert Martens, Peter Neudorf, Helen Rose Pauls, Louise Bergen Price, Lora Sawatsky, Ben Stobbe, Richard Thiessen & John B. Toews.

Editor: Louise Bergen Price.
Contributing editors: Lora Sawatsky, Helen Rose Pauls & Robert Martens

Copy editing: Hugo and Jean Friesen

Archive Director: David Giesbrecht

Staff: Mary Ann Quiring