Toews, John (1877-1933)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1930 Feb 5 p. 1

Birth date: 1877

text of obituary:

Soviets Execute Four Mennonite Ministers

Brother of Mt. Lake Editor A Victim of Fiendish Religious Persecution

(From Mt. Lake View)

Mt. Lake, Minn., Jan 30. — On Saturday afternoon the editor of this paper received a letter from his cousin, Mr. D. P. Enns, member of the Canadian Mennonite Board of Colonization at Rosthern, Sask., informing him about the execution of his brother, Rev. John Toews, in the Soviet capital, Moscow. The report came from Mr. G. S. Derkson of Herbert, Sask., who has been informed of the execution of his brother, D. Derksen, in Moscow. Besides these two victims of the Soviet persecution, two other ministers of the Gospel were shot to death. One of these was Rev. Jac. Rempel.

Rev. Toews came to Moscow last November with his family, trying to obtain permission to leave the country. He was however apprehended by the officials and locked up in one of the worst prisons of that metropolis. Many other representatives of the Mennonites were captives with him, some had to suffer the most inhuman treatments, while others were released after they signed a promise not to oppose the program of the Soviet regime in any way. Since all further details regarding the date and so forth are still missing, we are unable to state the time of his execution. The family of Rev. Toews joined the five thousand immigrants in Germany after the arrest of the brother. They are at present located in the immigration camp at Prenzlau, not far from Berlin, awaiting further developments. Their many frinds [sic] in Canada trust that they will be permitted to join them there, but if plans do not materialize, they will have to go to Brazil with many others.

Rev. Toews was born in 1877 in a small village in South Russia. He received a splendid education and after serving as teacher in the ordinary village schools he became instructor and superintendent of a high school in the Jekaterinoslaw government. In the meantime he was also active as pastor and evangelist and was especially busy as leader in Bible courses which he was called to conduct to different Mennonite circles.

In all his activities he manifested a firm conviction and an unshakable stand for the principles of his faith. When during the first great immigration of the Mennonites several years ago many leaders and pastors of congregations left for Canada, he could not conscientiously join them stating that he had to remain with the flock and push the battle for his Master until all opportunity to do this would cease. Quite frequently he was forced too appear before the anti-religious officials who regarded him as one of the influential anti-revolutionists and who brought false accusations against him These trials were accompanied by hard trials and tortures of which the brother was not allowed to report in his letters. Since conditions were changing from bad to worse and it was impossible to even exist materially, the family joined the thousands of immigrants on a trip to Moscow. Former attempts to leave the country had failed because the case of Rev. Toews was still in the balance. His appeal to the officials at Moscow resulted in his final arrest and persecution. Although his passport was bought and provision was made for him to leave, all conneceions [sic] with his family and friends were cut off abruptly and the execution followed. In a private letter we are informed of an earwitness who reports that Rev. Toews had to answer his charge in the Moscow courts for three hours in succession during which time even the Reds marveled at his steadfastness, exclaiming: "This man cannot be persuaded!" In his undaunted testimony for His Lord and Master, the brother died as a true martyr.

Rev. Toews leaves his wife with two sons and an adopted daughter, two brothers of whom Jacob lives in Winnipeg, Man., who left Russia in 1925; W. J. Toews, his younger brother, lives here. The deceased reach and age of 52 years.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1933 May 3 p. 2

text of obituary:

Mennonite Minister Dies In Russian Exile.

Mt. Lake, Minnesota, April 27. — According to authentic reports Rev. John Toews, brother of W. J. Toews of this city, passed away in the extreme northern region of Russia where he spent the last three years in exile. Rev. D. D. Petkau, his roommate and co-sufferer in exile, sent word to Winnipeg, Man., reporting that sad incident. Rev. Toews was suddenly taken sick of heart failure on January 31, and after suffering for three weeks died on February 21, in the house of the old widow where he roomed. On the following day, February 22, his remains were buried in a lonely grave among the green fir trees of the Russian forest.

Rev. Toews, who was one of the best educated leaders among Mennonite circles in Russia, had become the target of communistic persecution because of his prominent work among his people. During an attempt to leave the land of bolshevistic terror in November, 1929, he was held in a prison at Moscow for eight months while his family continued their emigration to Germany with about 6,000 other Mennonite refugees. Since the severe trials at prison resulted in a sentence of five years exile in the icy region near the White Sea, the family joined the other groups in going to Brazil, South America, where Mrs. Toews with her two sons and an adopted daughter are at present sharing the hardships of pioneer life in a strange country, still hoping for the final release of their dear husband and father.

In January, 1930, false reports were circulated that Rev. Toews and three other prisoners had been executed by the Soviet officials. This report spread quickly over many parts of the country; but in a few months definite proof had been received that this report as well as other reports of brutal execution were without foundation. During his exile Rev. Toews and other men of prominence was transferred from camp to camp, being forced to hard labor in the woods, so that finally he was classed as physically unable to continue in this work and only at rare occasions was called out to perform physical work, which of course, always resulted in a severe reaction upon his health. Although held as a prisoner, he did not receive any support from the government in the line of food or clothing, so that his many friends in various parts of the world assisted him as much as possible. He remained unwavering in his convictions and was ready to lay down his life as a martyr for his Master if need be. His many letters to his dear friends, students and members of his congregations, have been a source of inspiration which has strengthened the bonds of friendship and his memory will long linger with them in the years to come.

The deceased reached the age of 55 years and is survived by his family in Brazil, his brother Jacob in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and his younger brother, William J. Toews of Mountain Lake. — Mt. Lake Observer.