- US GCA HM1/278-Box 17-Folder 7
- File
- 1939-1947
Part of Harold Stauffer Bender Papers
1/2” Folder. jxqa Wabash College Registrar Fred. C. Domroese to Bender, March 17, 1942: following a conversation with Bender recently at Denison University, gave statistics about graduation rates of Wabash College students, in “lustrums” (5-year periods).jxqa Loren Wade and Ada Wade (Sterling Illinois) to Bender, October 6, 1943: about what apparently was an encounter with the local draft board about “Cecil” [Calvin Wade, Cecil Wade]] fulfilling requirements--needed two certificates that he would be admitted to a medical school “after finishing in ‘45”.jxqa Telegram, Bender to Loren and Ada Wade (Sterling Illinois), October 11, 1943: certifying Cecil Wade [Cecil Calvin Wade] as full-time pre-medical student scheduled to complete his curriculum by July 1945; reference to “LOCAL BOARD NO. 2, WIITESIDE COUNTY” and to Classification II-A; notarized documents being mailed.jxqa Copy of telegram, John M. Stager (Appeal Agent, Springfield Illinois) to Major Baird V. Helfrich, Legal Adviser of Illinois State Selective Service System), October 14, 1943: asking for forwarding file of Cecil Calvin Wade [Cecil Wade] concerning medical students; a permission for Bender to appeal.jxqa “Mrs. Loren Wade” (Ada Wade; Sterling Illinois) to Bender, October 15, 1943: sending copy of Stager’s telegram [see just above]; surely hoped Cecil be deferred [[Cecil Calvin Wade, Cecil Wade], but clear the local board would not do it.jxqa Reply, Bender to “Mrs. Loren Wade” (Ada Wade, Sterling Illinois), October 21, 1943: thanks; agreed the deferment doubtful, but would do everything possible.jxqa Bender to Michael Waldner (Bon Homme South Dakota) and Daniel Wipf (Alexandria South Dakota), April 12, 1941: reference to a letter from Waldner about drafted young men, glad you have decided to have yours go to Mennonite camps; mention Orie O. Miller; glad Waldner had recovered health. / Most of letter is about collecting $300 of the $446 Elias Waltner [sic--Elias Waldner?] had promised the Hutterites would pay for the 1929 publication of John Horsch’s book The Hutterian Brethren [The Hutterian Brethren, 1528-1928: A Story of Martyrdom and Loyalty]; not enough copies had sold to pay the printing, but it was very worthwhile to have this English-language account; to be sure you are not responsible for Elias Waltner’s promise, but might the Hutterites pay $300?jxqa Bender to Michael Waldner (Tabor South Dakota), April 28, 1941: happy for your April 25 letter [not extant here], with promise to pay; personal regards etc.; no Mennonite boys called to camp yet, not expected before June 1 [CPS; Civilian Public Service; conscientious objection, nonresistance, pacifism, military draft, alternative service, Selective Service System, noncombatant service]....jxqa Michael Waldner (Tabor South Dakota) to Bender, August 22, 1941: short letter, handwritten in difficult German script, in pencil; perhaps about either military drafted young men [CPS; Civilian Public Service; conscientious objection, nonresistance, pacifism, military draft, alternative service, Selective Service System, noncombatant service] or about paying for printing of John Horsch’s The Hutterian Brethren [The Hutterian Brethren, 1528-1928: A Story of Martyrdom and Loyalty].jxqa Bender to Michael Waldner (Bon Homme Colony, Tabor South Dakota), November 11, 1941 [in English]: happy for your October 31 letter [not extant here]; on John Horsch’s death and its circumstances; on his contacts with Hutterian brethren and specifically with Elias Waldner [Elias Waltner?]; report on the printing and sales of John Horsch’s The Hutterian Brethren, 1528-1928: A Story of Martyrdom and Loyalty; ... willing to send you 2000 of 2100 unbound copies for $300; also had 280 bound copies on hand; glad you are having good harvest, etc.jxqa Bender to (Dean, Indiana University Medical School), April 7, 1939: commendatory letter supporting application of Goshen College student Robert Walter to medical school.jxqa Bender to Henry B. Frening (Head of Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame), May 24, 1940: understood Robert Waltner had met with you about doing graduate work in Chemistry; commendatory letter.jxqa Bender to Dr. John Warkentin (Northwestern Medical School, Chicago), June 15, 1941: apology for confusion about time Warkentin was to meet Bender's train on May 20...; Dr. John Schmidt, brother of Dr. Herbert Schmidt, was en route to Paraguay [South America]; Bender had spoken to your father [apparently Abraham Warkentin] in Newton about your own plans....jxqa Bender to Weaver Book Store (New Holland Pennsylvania), June 1, 1943: sending a list of books to purchase for “the Bible School” [Goshen College Bible School, incipient Goshen Biblical Seminary], per conversation when Bender was in the East....jxqa Bender to Allen Weaver (Kansas City Kansas), July 7, 1944: replying to Weaver’s June 13 letter [not extant here], Bender gave requirements and information for earning the Th.B. degree.jxqa B. T. Weaver (Hartville Ohio) to Bender, December 21, 1940: had Bender's letter [not extant here]; “The congregation” [surely writer’s congregation] was “Old Order Amish Mennonite” [sic], “a branch of the D. J. F. Miller Church.”jxqa Bender to Frank Reel Elliot (sic--Frank Elliott, Frank R. Elliott, Admissions Director, Indiana University), August 4, 1942: about Christine Weaver, an “older” Goshen College student, who in the past would have gotten some credit by equivalency examinations but those now were canceled; proposed credits by tutoring or somehow by examination, and asked whether she might then be admitted to Indiana University for graduate work....jxqa Frank R. Elliott (see just above) to Bender, August 7, 1942: “We” provided for credit by examination, or tutoring would work, if Goshen College certified the credit.jxqa Bender to Floyd Weaver (Renssalaer Indiana), February 3, 1940: much enjoyed having “Kenneth” room with the Benders for Winter Bible School (probably a son, Kenneth Weaver); inquiring about his getting more education....jxqa Frances M. Weaver (Ronks Pennsylvania) to Bender, March 2, 1944: had recently met a Dutch man [The Netherlands, Holland] interested in becoming a Mennonite; would Bender help get The Complete Works of Menno Simons in the Dutch language....jxqa Reply, Bender to Frances M. Weaver (see just above), March 6, 1944: responding to her “interesting letter”; such book was “exceedingly scarce” in the United States, and even the English was out of print; the man could read the Dutch edition at Mennonite Publishing House or at the Schwenkfelder Historical Library at Pennsburg Pennsylvania.jxqa Bender to Reverend William B. Weaver (Danvers Illinois), November 11, 1944: Glad for Weaver’s September 22 letter [not extant here]; about “gathering Mennonite periodicals”, and specifically files of The Evangel; Central Conference Mennonite leaders had not been responsive; had sent you a letter two years ago with no reply, then written R. L. Hartzler [surely Raymond L. Hartzler, Raymond Hartzler], Ben Esch [Benjamin Esch?], Harry Yoder, Allen Yoder, and “Stoneback” [probably George Stoneback], none of whom could help; understood Weaver had gotten missing numbers from Alvin Beachy; mention Robert Friedmann doing checking....jxqa Bender to Angus Weber (Saint Jacobs Ontario), September 5, 1939: you may have seen in Gospel Herald that “we” had a special offer for preachers to attend [Goshen College?] a semester at almost no expense; understood Ontario ministers Lorne Schmitt, Moses Baer, Arnold Ginerich [sic--Arnold Gingerich?], and Roy Koch were interested; encouraged Weber to work with his congregation to release Koch to go; could talk with Weber next week when in Ontario for “the Amish S.S.Conference” [Western Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference, surely]....jxqa Esther Weber (Lititz Pennsylvania) to Bender, June 7, 1939: with Miss Kauffman resigning as librarian [surely at Goshen College; probably Stella Kauffman, later Stella Kauffman Binkele], writer wished to be considered for the post, beginning more or less with a “semi-apprenticeship”....jxqa Reply, Bender to Esther Weber (see just above), June 10, 1939: would give “careful consideration” to her proposal....jxqa Bender to P. J. Wedel (Peter Wedel, Peter J. Wedel; Registrar, Bethel College in Kansas), October 4, 1939: With Silas Hertzler on leave, Bender was compiling annual report on attendance at Mennonite schools and colleges [see anual reports in Mennonite Quarterly Review]; questions about Bethel College enrollment, how to read the statistics; please return the questionnaire sent some time ago.jxqa Bender to Gerhard H. Wegner (Chicago), October 16, 1941: would be glad to verify your stay at Goshen College to immigration officials; dates Bender would be gone and not able to give personal testimony.jxqa Telegram, Bender to Mary Wenger (Manheim Pennsylvania), August 30, 1943: understood she wanted to study French in a four-year college: Goshen College could offer four years of it, low cost, possibility of $100 scholarship....jxqa Bender to Samuel B. Wenger (Attorney, Lancaster Pennsylvania), January 18, 1946 [Samuel Wenger]: inquiring about setting up a trust fund in Pennsylvania for a gift a “good brother” might give for historical research--and if so, tax and inheritance implications, etc.jxqa Reply, Samuel S. Wenger (see just above) to Bender, January 23, 1946: nearly 2 pages, answering Bender's specific questions.jxqa Bender to Abdell Ross Wentz (President of Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg Pennsylvania), April 12, 1943: In Church History, had read addressee’s review of Muhlenberg journals [surely of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg]; did Muhlenberg make specific mention of Mennonites in colonial Pennsylvania?jxqa Bender to Margaret Frawley (of American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia--AFSC), December 18, 1941: acknowledging her December 4 letter [not extant here] about Mr. Jean Wertheimer; mention Mr. Bennett and Mr. Wiens [Ernest Bennett ??]; on the problem of getting Wertheimer, as a foreign person, into medical school; had met Wertheimer and his father in Lyons in 1940, and much regretted the policy of American medical schools; so no way around that policy... [Historic Peace Churches; Quakers; World War II].jxqa Dan West (Daniel West? Goshen Indiana; letterhead of Church of the Brethren Ministry and Education) to Bender, May 6, 1941: One Paul Jones of Yellow Springs Ohio had requested “our” [Church of the Brethren] literature and wanted conscientious objectors at Antioch [Antioch College] to know background of Historic Peace Churches; suggestion that Bender might send the man some Mennonite literature. / Sorry “none of your representatives could be with us at Manchester”; invitation to come and visit.jxqa Reply, Bender to Dan West (see just above), October 31, 1941: understood there would be a Historic Peace Churches seminar in Virginia; “I must tell you that our Virginia people are so thoroughly convinced about their own interpretation of trends and attitudes in the Church of the Brethren in Virginia that they shrink from every contact with your people there”; so long as that was true, Bender could not possibly cooperate in such a seminar; would like to receive reports, but was so exhausted he could do no more.jxqa Dan West (see just above) to Bender, September 23, 1943: Orie O. Miller had communicated that he expected MCC [Mennonite Central Committee] to keep up with Heifer Project developments; a meeting would occur at West’s home September 27--was sending agenda; West did not have authority to invite Bender but would welcome a telephone call; and Bender could ask the new Secretary, Marvin Senger [sic], to come and talk.--attached: one-sheet agenda with 13 points.jxqa Bender to Dan West (see just above), October 6, 1943: sorry, would be traveling and unable to attend the September 27 meeting; hoped to have a talk with Marvin Singer [sic--Marvin Senger?] this fall.jxqa Dan West (see just above; Brethren Service Commission stationery) to Bender (Basel address), November 6, 1947: heard you had the “difficult mission” of bringing European and American Mennonites together; Mennonites had “spread out” in the last decade and might do so further in light of world needs; Church of the Brethren officials were much concerned to have a strategy enabling their small contribution to do the most good; West valued Bender's thinking, and asked him to outline Mennonite strategy; our two churches had such common purposes that good to have more “fellowship between our two little handfuls of Christians whose genius forbids taking part in war” [pacifism, nonresistance, Historic Peace Churches, ecumenism].jxqa M. L. Price (Superintendent of West Liberty Public Schools, Ohio) to Bender, April 20, 1942: replying to Bender's of April 20 [not extant here], still would like to have Bender “officiate” at Baccalaureate service May 17, giving the sermon....jxqa Bender to H. W. Siddall (Western Clergy Bureau, Chicago), November 24, 1942: as dean of Goshen College Bible School [incipient Goshen Biblical Seminary], inquiring about theological students receiving clergy certificates; reference to Selective Service System’s recognition of them [CPS; Civilian Public Service; conscientious objection, nonresistance, pacifism, military draft, alternative service, noncombatant service].--similar letter, same date, Bender to Manager of Western Clergy Bureau, New York City.jxqa Bender to Mrs. Dallas Westfall (sic; Goshen), August 29, 1939: thanks for her application to teach piano; supposed that “Mrs. Sudermann” and “Miss Jeanette Leek” would have priority, but would depend on advice of “Mr. Kreider” [probably Noble Kreider],jxqa Bender to John Findlay Williamson (sic--“d” and “a” in Findlay; Conductor, Westminster Chorus, Westminster Choir School, Princeton New Jersey), May 31, 1940: inviting Westminster Chorus to sing again [surely at Goshen College]; thought last contract paid meals, lodging, and $350.jxqa Bender to John Finley Williamson (sic, no “d” or “a” in Finley”; see just above), December 13, 1940: in cooperation with “music-minded people of the city in a local association”, again inviting Westminster Choir [sic, “Choir instead of “Chorus”] on same financial terms.jxqa Bender to John Finley Williamson (sic; see just above), May 13, 1941: Bender had written earlier, Williamson had replied [not extant here] that he must await a decision about a South American tour; renewal of the invitation.jxqa Bender to J. O. Buswell (President of Wheaton College in Illinois), July 11, 1939: understood Wheaton Bible faculty had devised and administered a test of Wheaton students’ biblical knowledge; Goshen was thinking of applying such to its students; could we have a copy of Wheaton’s test?jxqa Bender to B. L. Stradley (University Examiner of Ohio State University, Columbus), March 25, 1944: concerning George P. White, a Goshen College student with a medical discharge from the U.S. Army who now wished to study Veterinary Medicine; information on White, including courses taken at Goshen, benefits he was receiving from his discharge, and something of his condition; would he be eligible?jxqa Bender to Neva White (Ann Arbor Michigan), March 29, 1946: about some difficulty evidently between Miss White and “Mr. Cressman” [surely J. Boyd Cressman] over some matter having to do with material sent to Heckman Bindery; Bender gave assurances he would take care of the matter and keep Cressman from assuming responsibilities that were not his [Mennonite Historical Library?].jxqa Bender to Neva White (Librarian at Goshen College), December 9, 1947 [Bender writing from Basel]: had December 9 letter from Dewey Yoder about trunk with books for Mennonite Historical Library, shipped at Bender's request by Irvin Horst via Lulu Smith; some unwise routing; complete set of De Zondagsbode purchased by MHL, a gift from the library of Pastor C. Nijdam...; writing to John C. Wenger [J. C. Wenger]; what account to charge for the shipping; about MHL’s “classified catalog”; Robert Friedmann apparently had not followed all instructions strictly when cataloguing--detail; other problems, mentioning Der Bote, Rundschau, and Mennoblatt; mention Carl Kreider.jxqa Bender to H. P. Randall (Editor of Who’s Who Among Students), October 11, 1939: on whether Bender would cooperate in the compiling; wanted to see last year’s edition.jxqa Thomas Larking III (of a business in Boston) to Bender, January 20, 1941: inviting Bender's help in compiling Who’s Who in Indiana and offering a special price.jxqa Thomas Larking III (see just above) to Bender, July 2, 1941: returning edited draft of Bender's biography for the publication; price offer.jxqa Bender to Edward Wiebe (White Water Kansas [sic--Whitewater Kansas?]), July 14, 1944: on what Wiebe needed to enroll at Goshen College; Goshen allowing credits from Hesston College, and from Los Angeles, credits at half value; mention B.A., B.D. and Th.B. degrees....jxqa Albert C. Wieand (Chicago) to “Bro. Miller” [?? E. E. Miller, Ernest E. Miller, Ernest Miller ??], April 5, 1943 [legibly handwritten on stationery of Bethany Biblical Seminary]: was returning a bibliography, apparently with contributions from a librarian named Moyer at Moody Bible Institute and suggestions from librarian at Northern Baptist Seminary; submitted information on time and money expended--marginal note signed (Ernest?) instructed to send $10).jxqa Dr. Herbert Wiens (Göttingen, British Zone, Germany) to Bender, March 25, 1947 [handwritten German--for which this annotator is ill-equipped]: mentopm Dr. Crous [probably Ernst Crous]; writer was from line of Mennonite Elders [more or less bishops?] of southern Germany; hard experiences in World War II [WWII]; had come to think of living in a new land, America; on getting his doctorate [in Slavic languages???]; had made a visit to Russia; details, further remarks; on having a visit with Bender....jxqa Bender to P. J. Wiens (Newton Kansas; perhaps Peter J. Wiens), November 4, 1943: about obtaining numbers of Bundesbote, Mennoblatt, and The Mennonite; mention Dr. Warkentin [surely Abraham Warkentin] as ill.jxqa Reply, P. J. Wiens (of Historical Library at North Newton Kansas [Bethel College]; see just above) to Bender, November 8, 1943: same subject, naming some specific numbers.jxqa Forbes B. Wiley (Denison University, Granville Ohio) to Bender (and five other deans plus two professors--names not “Mennonite”), March 3, 1942: about preparations for a conference on March 14--no indication of purpose or content.jxqa Reply, Bender to Forbes B. Wiley (see just above), March 5, 1942: planned to attend along with four members of Goshen College Advisory Council.jxqa Bender to Norman B. Wilkinson (Muhlenberg College), December 4, 1942: enclosing notes on books Wilkinson had sent; had added three titles and a paragraph describing “all of Smith’s books [probably C. Henry Smith ?]; apology for delay, Bender having been out of the office much this semester and behind in “extracurricular work” [probably due to: CPS; Civilian Public Service; conscientious objection, nonresistance, pacifism, military draft, alternative service, Selective Service System, noncombatant service].jxqa L. E. Williams (Clarinda Iowa) to Bender (as “Librarian”; handwritten), June 29, 1940: understood Bender's church appointed him to write a history of Mennonites in America [note: surely the assignment that eventually resulted in The Mennonite Church in America: Sometimes Called Old Mennonites, mainly by John C. Wenger with Bender contributing (Scottdale Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 1966)]; writer identified parents and himself as members of Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, and of its oldest Iowa congregation; gave some history; mention Daniel Brenneman, and Rev. Andrew Good of New Carlisle Ohio....jxqa R. N. Williams (Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia) to Bender, July 17, 1944: regarding Bender's July 13 inquiry [not extant here] about Dutch manuscripts, better wait until after the war [World War II] for photostats, as both “our” photography and the cameras were “in the Armed Forces”.jxqa [penciled “Lois Winey?”] to Bender, March 13, 1942 [Goshen College Library note stationery]: suggestion for remarks about library fines in Bender's chapel speech.jxqa L. Winey (Lois Winey) to Bender, March 13, 1942: small note about some library finances (including fines).jxqa Lois Winey (Goshen College business manager’s office stationery) to Bender, July 2, 1942: was working on next year’s budget; wondered about summer session work for “Dr. Amstutz, Carl Kreider, Paul Mininger, Mary Royer, Jacob Suderman, John C. Wenger, Olive Wyse, S. C. Yoder, Walter Yoder [H. Claire Amstutz; J. C. Wenger; Sanford Yoder, Sanford C. Yoder]; mention Paul Erb, Harold Hartzler [H. Harold Hartzler], Hershberger [probably Guy F. Hershberger, G. F. Hershberger, Guy Hershberger], President Miller [E. E. Miller, Ernest E. Miller, Ernest Miller]; other questions.jxqa Bender to Fred E. Winslow (Western Springs Illinois), November 13, 1939: thanks for inviting Bender to October 23 meeting with Rufus Jones as speaker, even though Bender's schedule had not let him come.jxqa D. S. Wipf (“Alex. S.D.”--probably Daniel Wipf, Daniel S. Wipf) to Bender, May 4, 1941: had Bender's of April 9 [not extant here]; delay in answer so as to talk to “Mike Waldner” [Michael Waldner; note-probably about purchase of unbound copies of John Horsch’s The Hutterian Brethren, 1528-1928: A Story of Martyrdom and Loyalty--see correspondence in this folder with Michael Waldner]; “We” [probably Waldner and Wipf] would be willing, “just to help you out”, but not likely other communities would be; account of accident with a wood saw happening to Waldner’s son David Waldner, David almost losing his hand.jxqa Bender to Miss Opal Wise (c/o Elmer Wise, Nappanee Indiana), February 21, 1939: about state aid for her tuition; mention Leland Byler.jxqa Felix van der Wisse (“Vredesgrup”?) to “Dear Friend”, August 8, 1947 [in quite good English]: had heard from Amsterdam MCC [Mennonite Central Committee] that “Mr. Miller and Dr. Kreider” were trying to form relief teams to work in Java, Indonesia; wanted particulars for August [?]-22 conference at Fredesheim of the “Mennonite Peace Group” [surely meaning Doopsgezinde Vredesgroep (Dutch Mennonite Peace Society)]; suggested Bender inform the group when there; interested in sending some of their people, and in having “our C.O.’s in Indonesia being placed in this relief work” if it could be arranged with the government [conscientious objection, nonresistance, pacifism, alternative service].jxqa Bender to S. A. Witmer (Dean of Fort Wayne Bible Institute), October 23, 1942: about Rev. T. T. McIntosh who was inquiring about his record for study at Goshen College; Bender wanted certain materials, so as to follow standards of NCA [the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools].jxqa Bender to S. W. Witmer, March 10, 1942: changes Bender wanted in writeup for Goshen College Biology Department for next year’s catalogue; details; mention Witmer’s upcoming sabbatical and his daughter [then or later Mildred Witmer Harriman, Mildred Harriman].jxqa Reply, S. W. Witmer (apparently Ciudad Valles, S. L. P., Mexico) to Bender, March 18, 1942: about those details; then observation various phenomena in Mexico from butterflies to cheese made by Mennonites [Old Colony Mennonites?] at Chihuahua.jxqa Bender to Paul Wittrig (Imlay City Michigan), March 26, 1939: about scheduling a women’s chorus to sing at Imlay City on its way to Canada; mention Brother Raber in Detroit [Franklin Raber, Franklin B. Raber, Franklin Benjamin Raber] and having the men sing there; mention a Brother Duerksen [?? John Duerksen, John P. Duerksen, John Paul Duerksen ??] and a Brother Burkhart [probably I. E. Burkhart, Irvin E. Burkhart].jxqa Reply postcard, Paul Wittrig (see just above) to Bender, March 28, 1939: plan suited well.jxqa Reply, Bender to Paul Wittrig (see just above), April 3, 1939: arranging the program with M. C. Lehman [Martin Clifford Lehman, “Cliff” Lehman] as speaker; about putting notices in newspaper.jxqa Donnel Woelinga (Haren near Groningen) to “Dear Friend and Brother” [written to John Horsch--see next letter], May 18, 1945 [handwritten in quite good English]: understood letters could now go from Netherlands to USA; good wishes for you and family; Europe through bitter crisis, still danger;...; Allies had brought liberty; Germany such a “sad country”; writer’s retreating movements since March 1940; anxious concerning son Haeÿr's return from Bohemia, he now two years in “compulsory service”; many families much more sorrow; recently had a letter from Ernst Crous...; was David Horsch “your brother?”--he had fallen ill and died; a quotation [in German] from Crous apparently about the death; church in Netherlands had resisted influence of war generally well; not much to write about Mennonites--last Doopsgezind yearbook was 1942; a paragraph on [apparently] Hitler’s loss of believability; wanted news from Mennonites in America.jxqa Bender to Donnel Woelinga (see just above), October 24, 1945: reference to your April 18 letter to John Horsch; Horsch’s death in 1941; David Horsch was John’s cousin, not brother--Michael Horsch was brother; on relief work of American Mennonites in Europe (France and England all through the war, except a short time when German’s occupied France), now in Egypt, Italy, India, China, Paraguay--soon in Phillipines [sic--Philippines]--concern for needs of all “but especially... household of faith”; on “complete exemption” [sic] to conscientious objectors in United States and Canada [CPS; Civilian Public Service; conscientious objection, nonresistance, pacifism, military draft, alternative service, Selective Service System, noncombatant service]--some detail; hoped to hear from you again; would like Doopsgezind Jaarboekye for 1941-1942.jxqa Donnel Woelinga (see just above) to Bender, January 31, 1946: thanks for yours of October 24; news of John Horsch death sad--he had “done so much for the church” with his “fundamental Bible-principles”...; earlier had read American Mennonite papers, now not for a long time; appreciation for news about CPS [Civilian Public Service; conscientious objection, nonresistance, pacifism, military draft, alternative service, Selective Service System, noncombatant service]; Dutch situation and Dutch Mennonites quite different; Sondagsbote had stopped late in the war, had not yet begun again; a monthly, de Noodbrug [“need-bridge between Mennonites in the Netherlands”] carried some news of Mennonite relief work; mention Peter Dyck; Dyck could not inform the writer about Mennonites who had chosen armed services; about a Mennonite minister in Groningen who had left his post to become a navy chaplain; congregation had replaced him with a young man, D. S. Bremer, who was a “Christian anti-militarist; had not been able to obtain Doopsgezind Jaarboekje” of 1941-1942; P.S. gave news from Peter Dyck about Benjamin Unruh losing all his Mennonite records--had taken them for safe-keeping to a district where the Russians then occupied; thought Christian Neff still alive; T. O. Hylkema--[gave an unclear account of him (going to Berlin to help Mennonite refugees?] had not stayed in the Russian Zone; mention Samuel Goering.jxqa Postcard, H. A. Wolfer (Woodburn Oregon; probably Henry A. Wolfer) to Bender, November 26, 1940: send mail to Woodburn, not to Hubbard Oregon.jxqa Bender to World Book Company (Chicago), May 26, 1939: did not understand the credit rating by which you would ship only C.O.D.--and was it against Goshen College or Bender himself?jxqa [regarding Russell Wright] Bender to Fernando Payne (Dean, Indiana University graduate school), April 18, 1940: Wright had taken up mathematics late in college but done very well, Bender wanted to encourage him to enter graduate school at Indiana University; what additional courses might he need?...jxqa Corporal Russel E. Wright (in a training camp at Wolters Texas) to Bender, February 18, 1942: was seeking a meteorologist position in the Air Corps, that would give him nine months at University of Chicago; please write a “To Whom It May Concern” commendation letter.jxqa Reply, Bender to Russel E. Wright (see just above), February 25, 1942: enclosing the letter.jxqa John M. Wurz (Lethbridge Alberta) to Bender, January 30, 1940 [penned in a German script this annotator cannot read; stationery of Hutterian [Hutterite] Brethren of Wilson]: mention Mennonite Life and Bender's Life and Letters of Conrad Grebel, the Martyrs Mirror”, and John Horsch correspondence [last word unclear].