End of an Era: Die Mennonitische Rundschau and Der Bote
by Henry Neufeld

 Two Mennonite German language periodicals, Der Bote and Die Mennonitische Rundschau, recently ended publication due to declining readership. At a May afternoon session MHSBC paid tribute to the significant place these periodicals hold in the history of German speaking Mennonites in North America and beyond. Similar acknowledgements were held earlier in Winnipeg, St. Catherines, Leamington and Saskatoon.

 The Rundschau has the distinction of being the longest running Mennonite periodical: 130 years when the last issue was published in January 2007. David Ewert, who for the past 17 years had written the column Fragekasten (Question box) for the paper,  provided an overview of the history and purpose of the Rundschau.

 Helen Franz, a long time reader, contributor and Bote Board member noted that the paper had provided inspiration, news and devotional material for 84 years until its closing in early 2008. Der Bote was initially published in Rosthern, Saskatchewan as Der Mennonitische Immigrantenbote, a weekly paper; later it became Der Bote, moving to Winnipeg.  In 1991 it became a bi-weekly paper.
 Ingrid Janzen Lamp, who  worked for Der Bote for 44 years, the last five as editor, thanked readers for their faithful support. Retired pastor Jake Tilitzky, described Der Bote as “a constant companion during my pastoral years.” Tilitzky noted the gap in reporting obituaries left by the closing of these papers: “Who will bring the news of my passing, a picture, and a note about who spoke and sang at my funeral?” he asked.  In 2006, Der Bote still had over 2300 subscribers. The last issue was published in spring 2008.

 The Rundschau’s origin in Nebraska followed the migration of 18,000 Mennonites who emigrated from Russia to the USA and southern Manitoba between 1874 and 1880, said Ewert.  John Funk operated a printing press in Elkhart, Indiana and in 1877 began publishing the Nebraska Ansiedler. Meanwhile, J.F. Harms, who worked with Funk, moved to Kansas to become editor of the MB paper, Zionsbote.

 In 1908 the Rundschau was transferred to Scottdale, Pennsylvania, published by the Mennonite Publishing House.  In 1923 it was transferred to Winnipeg to reflect the arrival of some 20,000 immigrants in Canada from Russia. Edited by Herman Neufeld, the paper was financed by shareholders and subscriptions.

 In 1945, the Rundschau Publishing House became the Christian Press and was purchased by the Canadian MB Conference. Due to anti – German sentiment during WW II the Rundschau’s front and back cover pages were printed in English.  By 2006 the Rundschau’s circulation fell to about 1500 and a special anniversary issue in January 2007 marked its end.

 These two papers served the German speaking immigrant community well; they provided new arrivals with information about where Mennonite churches were located, enabling new settlers to move to places where they could find fellowship in Mennonite circles. Additionally, both papers served their faith communities by providing connections between churches in North and South America and Europe.

 These papers provided “spiritual help to [the] readers, many of whom longed for devotional materials,” said Ewert. They tried to pass on the values of the Mennonite-Anabaptist tradition and to help new Canadians distinguish between cultural baggage and fundamental biblical truths. Both papers published sermons and devotional articles.

 Obituaries, with considerable detail, were often read first in these two papers; they were of major importance.  When Der Bote announced it was ceasing publication, they received a flood of obituaries and added extra space to report them. The afternoon also included German hymn singing led by Jake & Erna Tilitzky.