Ratzlaff, Benjamin (1791-1874)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1937 Jan 6 p. 2

Birth date: 1791 Apr 1

text of obituary:

REVIEW OF THE LIFE OF ELDER BENJ. RATZLAFF

BY J. J. FRIESEN, HENDERSON, NEBRASKA

Of late we have been privileged to have had access to some valuable historical material on the life and unusual experiences of Elder Benjamin Ratzlaff. He was one of the ministers of those Mennonites who advocated leaving Russia for America in 1874 because of the new military law just previously passed by that country. Rev. Ratzlaff, was a member of that first exodus, an account of which may be of interest to the readers of the Mennonite Weekly Review.

Some of the main leaders were such men as Elder Suderman, Elder Buller, Elder Peters, Elder Ratzlaff, Rev. Richert, Rev. Epp, Rev. Gaeddert and others.

Lately we have read a book written by one who remained in Russia. In it the writer referred to these great and worthy leaders and their particular motives and movements prior to this immigration in a light which might cause the reader of that book to come to conclusions which would not give them due credit for their valuable service and sacrifices they have made for all the Mennonites concerned in Russia.

This book singles these leaders out as "extreme and fanatic". Had they been more appeasing, consoling and unfavorable to the idea of leaving Russia because of this new law, in the end all would have tuned out all right. The government still offered them certain privileges which the majority of the Mennonites accepted and because of this, stayed.

The author finished that book in 1910. We are inclined to wonder if he had finished it now or 13 years ago, he might look at those heroic leaders in a different light. The good Lord only knows what might have happened in regard to this law had those leaders not lived up to their convictions and backed them up with the great sacrifice of property and homes.