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.

It was not persecution or famine that induced our fathers to leave Russia, but the fear that their sons would be drawn into military service. And because of their convictions against military training they are termed as "extreme and fanatic". "Their only desire was to make use of the rich soil of Russia and its czar as an "Abatraktum". That was only a reality to be given them as a protector "des grosen Prividegiuma" and only willing to pay their "just dues."

The Russian government had promised them all of this in the first place to induce them to come to Russia. But since the government was no longer willing to keep this promise they were willing to leave the country, and their conscience would not permit them to do otherwise. It was not for themselves, but for their sons and grandsons that they made the great sacrifice and left. These were noble motives for their posterity.

From the standpoint of dollars and cents it did not look wise for them to leave at that time, for to our knowledge not one of them became a millionaire while a number of those that remained did.

Elder Ratzlaff had already gone through an experience with military authorities in Prussia, which he unquestionably feared might come to his grandsons, should they remain in Russia.

He was born April 1, 1791, in West Prussia in the village of Jeschorki, which at that time was a part of Switzerland. In 1807 he was baptized on confession of faith and taken into fellowship of the church at Pschekofki, West Prussia. In 1818 he was elected mayor (Dorfschultze) in the above named village.

During the time he was mayor the Prussian government made an attempt to draft him and three other brethren into the army for military service. Since their consciences did not permit them to serve in the army they staunchly declined. As a result of this they had to make many trips to consult with the authorities concerned. Finally, they were cast into prison. From this they sent a petition to the higher government officials, asking them to be permitted to leave the country. They waited three days before an answer was given them. During this time they were shamefully ridiculed, mocked and laughed at by people who came to see them at the prison. They decided that should it please God to have them enter a country in which they could have freedom to worship God according to their faith, even though they might be permitted to eat only one meal a day amidst hard work they would thank the Lord for such a privilege. The answer given them was favorable.

Apparently, the Lord granted their hears desire and to be true to the promise they had made to God they immediately disposed of their property and made preparations to leave the country for Russia.

In 1819 they came to Russia where they were granted the desired religious liberty until 1872, when a new law was passed which withdrew the privileges by which the Mennonites had been induced to come to Russia.

In March 25, 1819, Elder Ratzlaff moved to Russia with his family, where he was elected minister by the Pschekofki church. In 1820 he settled in Franzthal, S. Russia.

The year 1832 was a hard year, one of great heat and drouth. A total crop failure was preceded by the seven-year grasshopper plague which he considered a direct chastisement by the Lord, which had failed to correct the evil doings of the people of that country.

In 1835, after the death of Elder Franz Goertz of the Rudnerweide church, Rev. Ratzlaff was elected elder of that church. On April 21 of the same year he was ordained by Elder Bernhard Fast of Halbstadt. He remained the elder there until he left Russia.

On January 11, 1838, at 9 o'clock in the evening a severe earthquake was felt which lasted for one and a half minutes. it shook the windows and the doors in a terrific manner. With fear and trembling the whole family looked at each other, considering that the Lord was speaking very earnestly to them. How will it be at the coming of the Lord's Day? they asked each other.

Feb. 13, in the year of the earthquake, was a "schwerer Pruefungstag" for him. On this day he prayed earnestly to the Lord for strength and guidance.

Four wives preceded him in death, and when the time came that he was about to leave for America he again was a widower. He then stayed with his son Benjamin.

In 1874, when the first emigration of Mennonites left Russia for America, he was one of that number, also his son Benjamin and his family.

On this long journey one of his grandsons died while they stopped in the city of London on Sept. 5. The young man was buried on English soil near that city.

Before Elder Ratzlaff reached his place of destination in America he became quite sick. After five and one-half weeks of lingering illness he died Oct. 31, 1874, at 2 o'clock A. M. in the immigrant house which here served as his first sheltering place. He attained an age of 83 years and 7 months. He died int he steadfast hope that by the grace of God his soul would be taken care of by Him whom he had so faithfully served in this world.

The funeral was held in the immigrant house. Rev. Heinrich Epp had charge of the services. Interment was on the land on which he had intended to build his new home, three miles west and two miles north of the immigrant house in Hamilton Co., Neb. — J. J. Friesen.