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Harold Stauffer Bender Papers
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N-O - miscellaneous

This is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also--
NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

Rather small file (about 25 items)

{1} TWO entries

Bender to Herbert Neff, February 14, 1959 ±[to Guthrie Center Iowa]±: shocked that Volker had to go to Guthrie Center for treatment rather than return to Germany; at Goshen he said he was okay and refused to go to a doctor....

• • • REPLY, Herbert Neff to Bender, March 11, 1959 ±[stationery of Neff, a medical doctor, and another M.D. at Guthrie Center]±: Volker had pretty well recovered and was now on ship returning home; (more details...).

{2} F. Burton Nelson to Bender, December 30, 1960 [stationery of North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago]: appreciation for Bender visit to North Park campus last month; especially good was discussion of writer’s dissertation project; reminder that Bender said he would consult with Hershberger [Guy F. Hershberger, G. F. Hershberger, Guy Hershberger] about it; dissertation was on “the great global ecumenical conferences... (more ...); [NOTE: for more contact with North Park Seminary, see Bender to Karl Olsson, November 30, 1960, below].

{3} Bender to J. K. Neufeld, February 15, 1961 [Neufeld as editor of Mennonite Observer]: reference to article in February 3 issue with a quotation from three persons regarding Russian Communism; mention a Pierre J. Huss as a source; Bender wanted more information about sources. // That Neufeld had made a tape recording of Bender speech at Mennonite Brethren Centennial Celebration at Winnipeg; Bender supposed Neufeld was not publishing it, and wanted a copy of the tape.

{4} TWO entries

Bender to J. H. Nichols, November 3, 1959 [Nichols of University of Chicago’s Federated Theological Faculty; likely James H. Nichols]: about a report that Bender had temporarily lost so was late in responding; had read the draft and made a few notations; suggested one or two substantial changes; reference to his own section of the report, that needed copy editing; agreed with some suggested changes; wanted to add a paragraph “Application for Accreditation” [Note: perhaps the letters relate to AATS (American Association of Theological Schools-- ? Bender part of a team for accreditation ?).

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to James H. Nichols, November 11, 1959: sending his section of the report as revised; about some information-checking he had done.

{5} Bender to Robert A. Nicholson, September 3, 1959 [Nicholson--Dean of Anderson College, Anderson Indiana]: on Anderson’s faculty retreat with Bender speaking on something like “The Primacy of the Spiritual in the Life and Work of the Christian College”; he would bring Carl Kreider with him.

{6} FOUR entries

Bender to Eugene Nida, February 26, 1958 [Nida of American Bible Society, Translation Department, New York City]: reference to Goshen Biblical Seminary and two Mennonite mission boards [perhaps Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities and Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities] having Nida as consultant several years previous; two Mennonite branches now setting up Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries [AMBS, eventually Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary]...; the two affiliated seminaries would like you to be first in a series of joint lectures; wanted strong missionary emphasis in “our cooperative program”...; cc’s Paul Mininger, Erland Waltner.

• • • REPLY, Eugene A. Nida to Bender, March 14, 1958 [stationery of American Bible Society, New York City]: glad for news about developing the joint seminary; glad you will have Byron Bender teaching linguistics and anthropology at Goshen; best date for Nida to come would be in early March 1959; next winter Nida hoped to be working on a book about communicating the Gospel; wrote of four lectures; hoped some open to general public.

• • • REPLY, to Eugene Nida, April 5, 1958: proposed March 5-9, 1959; President Paul Mininger hoped to have Nida speak in Goshen College Chapel....

• • • REPLY, Eugene Nida to Bender, April 14, 1958: agreed to dates and to speaking in chapel.

{7} Bill Nofziger to Bender, May 13, 1961 [from rural route Archbold Ohio; ? William Nofziger, possibly William D. Nofziger ?]: reference to conversation about Bender coming to give Conrad Grebel lectures; suggest a date?; about need for such presentation, in light of a discussion at Fulton County Ohio Mennonites’ Bible School Workshop which featured a film strip on reverence “in the ‘sanctuary’”; Nofziger had responded that the strip was oriented to Reformed and Lutheran worship, not to a “brotherhood church”.// That Nofziger planned to be in Louisville for the summer program in “the mental hospital”.// About speaking with Gerald Studer re Studer’s experiences at Winston-Salem last winter, Studer advocating that seminary students have required clinical training--comment; reference to “us at West Clinton” [? West Clinton Mennonite Church ?].

{8} TWO entries

re William Nofziger--H. R. Peterson to Bender, March 13, 1962 [stationery of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville Kentucky, Hugh R. Peterson as Dean]: William Dean Nofziger was applying for admission; Peterson asking Bender whether he recommended Nofziger.

• • • REPLY, Bender to H. R. Peterson, March 30, 1962: very willing to do so.

{9} TWO entries

Fred A. Norwood to Bender, April 12, 1958 [stationery of Garrett School of Theology, Evanston Illinois, Frederick A. Norwood in History of Theology; F. A. Norwood]: had been uncertain about study of refugee history, but now with Guggenheim Foundation confirming, planned to do a quarter sabbatical in Europe next Fall; hoped he might speak to Bender first, for names of persons and historical information on Anabaptist and Mennonite refugee migration; mention having material from Dr. Krahn [surely Cornelius Krahn]; (more detail...).

• • • REPLY, Bender to F. A. Norwood, April 18, 1958: glad to help; best times in Bender schedule for a visit to Goshen; could send names now but preferred to talk with you first.

{10} Hans Nussbaumer to Bender, September 14, 1962 (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962) [from Schweighof, Altkirch, Alsace, France; in German, very readable handwriting]: One hears that the Mennonite World Conference was a complete success; mentioned the tour through USA; mention Emil Kremer; changes subject, writing about Samuel Gerber, baptizing children, and something happening at Pentecost... [perhaps annotator is skipping over important material]; about making [first name unclear ?] Graber an Elder, in the Fall; mention Josef Widmer; (more on church affairs ...); family news--all well, thank God; mention the youngest was 12, Roland Nussbaumer, Lydie Nussbaumer.

{11} Hans Nussbaumer to Bender, September 14, 1962 [from Schweighof; typed, in German; (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962)]: reference to news of Bender’s illness, he and family wishing God’s grace; wished to have Bender’s counsel about a letter that Nussbaumer had in hand, H. H. Janzen [?? Henry H. Janzen ??] writing in July to Brother Ernst Gilgen who was preacher of the Free Church of Basel; seemed to raise questions of Janzen’s willingness to serve in Free Church beyond Basel; suggested Janzen was so taken up with the idea of Allianz that one wondered that he had difficulty being with the “Bruder Gemeinde” [Brother Church]; (much more such ...); about attitude of the younger generation, and Janzen’s influence; mention Brother “Sam” Gerber [Samuel Gerber]; mentioned fears for the Bible School [likely Bienenberg Mennonite Bible School--later, (English name) Theological Seminary Bienenberg; (German Name) Ausbildungs- und Tagungszentrum Bienenberg; (French Name) Centre de formation et de rencontre Bienenberg]; extended discussion of the Bible school...; etc. [4-page, single-spaced letter].

{12} Bender to Jean Nussbaumer, September 19, 1962 [NOTE--“Jean” is the French from of Hans Nussbaumer’s given name (Hans/Johannes/John/Jean); airform, in Bender’s pen, in German; from Chicago, to Schweighof, Altkirch, Upper Rhine, France (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962)]: had brought your letter of September 14 along to Chicago where he was again very ill; mention Swiss and Alsace Conference and the Bienenberg Bible School, and a brother losing his influence...; mention the radio ministry [NOTE; see also correspondence with Paul J. Lehman in folder “L - miscellaneous 1958-1962”--for more on the radio ministry, and Janzen’s apparently controversial role in it by 1959 [apparently Worte des Lebens {Words of Life} broadcast from Luxembourg], a ministry begun in late 1950s at least somewhat under auspices of Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities through Mennonite Broadcasts, Incorporated....

{13} Bender to Karl Olsson, November 30, 1960 [Olsson--President of North Park College and Theological Seminary, Chicago]: enclosed letter sent to “Hawkinson”--fellow visitor to your campus; congratulatory language about the campus, and hope the suggestions made would be helpful [? Bender and Hawkinson perhaps an evaluation team for accreditation by American Association of Theological Schools (AATS) ??].// Asked about teaching effectiveness of Marlin Jeschke, who had taught part-time in your college-level Bible Department [Note: soon, Jeschke would begin a career teaching at Goshen College].

{14} Bender to J. G. Oncken Verlag, December 7, 1961 [J. G. Oncken press, Kassel Germany; in German; Bender as Chief Editor of Mennonite Quarterly Review]: requesting a review copy of Torsten Bergsten book on Balthasar Hubmaier; also wanted two copies for Goshen Biblical Seminary.

{15} Wilda Otto to Irene Hershberger, December 3, 1959 [Otto apparently College Nurse; Hershberger Bender’s secretary]: gave requirements for health exams for students entering Goshen College.

{16} TWO entries

Ernest S. Owens, Jr. to Bender, October 31, 1958 [stationery of Chalmette Baptist Church, Chalmette Louisiana]: was a graduate student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, working under Professor C. Penrose St. Amant, in field of Christian History, especially writing of Dirk Voolkertaz Coornhut; thought Coornhut relation with Menno Simons and Arminius [apparently James Arminius] worthy of study; asked about source materials, etc.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Ernest S. Owens, Jr., April 20, 1959: shocked at finding your letter unanswered; this topic was on the fringe of Mennonitism and Bender knew nothing relevant done in the USA; likely Mennonite scholars in Holland had done something; if it was not too late, Bender would be glad to write to an “outstanding Dutch Mennonite historian”.

{17} Memorandum, John S. Oyer to Bender, November 21, 1961: re “Tobias paper on Müntzer” [a “Miss Tobias”; likely a paper submitted to Mennonite Quarterly Review; that Oyer was writing what he would not want shown to Tobias; paragraph on Oyer’s disagreement about origins of Müntzer’s social ideas; paragraph with some good words about her handling of Müntzer vis-à-vis Peasants’ Revolt, but disagreement with some of that also; mention her treatment or lack of it vis-à-vis Luther and same of Zollikon prophets; mention a 1927 Boehmer article on Müntzer, which “Bornkamm” [?? Heinrich Bornkamm ??] had said was the best piece extant on Luther; a few lesser points; but article was “refreshing” as its viewpoint was neither Lutheran nor Marxist.

P - Q  miscellaneous

This is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also--

NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

S2 Si-Sz - miscellaneous

This is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also--
NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

Medium-size file (about 80 items)

{1} TWO entries

Ruben Siemens to Bender, August 19, 1961 [from Etna Green Indiana]: request for some schedule change so Siemens would not have to drive 60 miles round trip to Goshen for one class, Hebrew, each Monday....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Ruben Siemens, August 21, 1961: had talked to Millard Lind; Siemens could report to Lind each Tuesday....

{2} Annelisa Simm to Bender, May 25, 1959 [from Peoria Illinois; penned in excellent English]: inquiring whether there was a vacancy for teaching in the Art Department; that she was a Horsch cousin from Germany; her educational background, including Sorbonne in Paris, and an M.A. degree from Bradley University at Peoria.

{3} Niles M. Slabaugh to Bender, January 14, 1960 [penned from Kokomo Indiana]: had read Bender article in Gospel Herald “When May Christians Disobey the Government [?]”; asked specifically about disobeying Indiana’s time law; two-page letter just on that.

{4} Raymond T. Slabaugh to Bender, August 23, 1958 [from Elkhart Indiana]: letter is penned on reverse side of a letter of August 20, 1958, to Slabaugh from J. Robert Kreider the Director of Development at Goshen College regarding Slabaugh’s pledged gift, and writing as if Slabaugh was of the Sunnyside Mennonite Church; Slabaugh now wrote that he was sending a check, but then wrote at some length about seminary-trained people having a head religion but failing to educate youth in experience of Holy Ghost, true repentance and new birth....

{5}

R. D. Slaubaugh to Bender, April 10, 1958 [stationery of The Brethren Press {Church of the Brethren}, Elgin Illinois]: sending a review copy of a book by William Beahm who was a professor at Brethren Biblical Seminary; hope you will review it in your [Mennonite] periodicals.

{6} TWO entries

Bender to James D. Smart, April 14, 1960 [to Union Theological Seminary, New York City]: understood Smart had published a book The Rebirth of Ministry; wanted information on publisher, etc.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, 4x6 typed index card from Bookstore [?? Goshen College ??] asking publisher’s name of the Smart book, if bookstore was to order it.

{7} Johannes van der Smissen to Bender, August 22, 1960 [from Heilbronn; penned in fairly readable German]: in the Mennonit, had seen something out of Canada about an invitation of Hans de Boer going out via MCC; the two-page letter seems to be a lengthy discussion of de Boer, apparently about his conflict with authorities and questioning MCC sponsorship.

{8} Bender to Tilman R. Smith, November 25, 1959 [Tilman Smith as President of Hesston College]: on a coming meeting of Seminary Council to be held in Chicago; re history of Hesston College’s [spasmodic?] participation in the Council; Paul Mininger and Bender asking Hesston to decide whether Hesston should send someone to this one.

{9} Bender to Tilman R. Smith, February 15, 1961 [Tilman Smith as President of Hesston College]: returning 3 “surplus meal tickets” after a very enjoyable visit there; had delivered Smith’s letter personally to President Paul Mininger.

{10} Virgil H. Smith to Bender, August 25, 1960 [stationery of First Methodist Church, Durand Illinois, Smith the Pastor]: Stateline Fellowship of Churches--Methodist, Mennonite, and four others--inviting Bender to speak at a Reformation Service October 30, 1960 in evening; $50 honorarium plus travel....

{11} Mary I. Smucker to Bender, November 25, 1960 [stationery of Ernest E. Smucker, M.D., Fisher Illinois]: writing as if she were a person in charge of getting ministers in the congregation; mentioned having Marvin Dirks for December 3; hoped Bender might come January 22 or 29....

{12} Ernest and Mary Smucker to Bender and “Sister Bender”, July 11, 1962 [from Goshen street address; Mary Liechty Smucker; Elizabeth Bender, Elizabeth Horsch Bender]: (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962); warm greetings and impressions from Evanston Mennonite Church; I-W boys, Northwestern University Students, etc.; had been with Ron Goetz family and Ron repeatedly asked about you...; warm words for your leadership in the church.

{13} THREE entries

John M. Snyder to Bender, August 18, 1961 [stationery of Eastern Mennonite College, EMC, later EMU, Eastern Mennonite University; Snyder its Controller]: about a postcard from Bender, received by EMC’s Historical Library; reference to a purchase order; need more information; re a price agreed upon by Bender and Irvin B. Horst.

• • • REPLY, Memorandum, Bender to John M. Snyder, August 21, 1961: Bender had sent Horst a typed dissertation of Elsa Bernhofer titled “Täuferische Denkweisen und Lebensformen im Spiegel ober-und Mittel-deutscher Täuferverhöre”--a $15 personal sale of Bender to EMC; had sent no invoice.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to John M. Snyder, August 21, 1961: repeating that there was no invoice; Bender was sending a memorandum to serve your need.

{14} TWO entries

Mario Snyder to Bender, February 23, 1959 [stationery of Second Mennonite Church, Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, Snyder the Pastor]: Mennonite ministers had been contemplating a summer seminary on “the City Church”--an idea “hatched by the “Reba(nites) Place men”; hoped seminary [Goshen Biblical Seminary] might “provide a professor for the summer”....

• • • REVERSE SIDE, penciled draft of what obviously was a reply but to “Dear Bro. Horst”; no date: much interested but it was too late to meet your request this summer; (much elaborated).

{15} Mario O. Snyder to Bender, March 3, 1960 [stationery of Second Mennonite Church, Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, Snyder the Pastor]: very happy with “the Consultation meeting just concluded”; spelled out a suggestion that there be an annual lecture at the Seminary on “the City Pastor and his work”--suggesting lecturers such as Murray H. Leiffer of Garrett, Rose W. Sanderson, F. A. Shippey of Drew University; idea of having discussion led by Howard Kauffman, who had been very helpful “when he was studying here”; mention “Barbara” as if a co-worker with him [surely his spouse, Barbara Jeanne Snyder Snyder {sic}]; a few comments on his “experience at Goshen”.

{16} Mario O. Snyder to Bender, March 13, 1961 [stationery of Iglesia Evangelica Menonita Argentina (Protestant/Evangelical Mennonite Church of Argentina); Snyder the Secretary]: our executive committee discussed that you might be coming to Uruguay to deliver your lectures on the Nature of the Church [Conrad Grebel lectures ?]; suggestion that he deliver same at a seminary in Buenos Aires; about the work in a new area of Argentina.

{17} William T. Snyder to Bender, August 24, 1962 [stationery of MCC Akron, “Bill” Snyder Executive Secretary]: sending a memo to various staff members related to “the Herman Tan and Djojodihardjo tour” and serving Mennonite World Conference visitors; glad to hear good news about your recuperation; counting on your presence at Executive Committee meeting September 8 (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962).

{18} THREE entries

V. Sobotka to Bender, September 15, 1961 [stationery of KOMENSKÉHO EVANGELICKÁ BOHOSLOVECKÁ FAKULTA, Praha {Prague, Czechoslovakia}; Sobotka the Librarian of the Comenius Faculty; in German]: for some weeks writer had a scholarly book for Bender...; perhaps you have received it; now the writer’s son, who is studying medicine, needs Gray’s Anatomy in English; in case you need historical books, I am ready to procure them in exchange for English books.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, V. Sobotka to Bender, January 3, 1962 [stationery of KOMENSKÉHO EVANGELICKÁ BOHOSLOVECKÁ FAKULTA, Praha]: the anatomical atlas had arrived just before Christmas; very thankful; if you need something of our literature, I will gladly procure it.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, V. Sobotka to Bender, February 6, 1962 [stationery of KOMENSKÉHO EVANGELICKÁ BOHOSLOVECKÁ FAKULTA, Praha]: another note about receiving Gray’s Anatomy, etc.

{19} Monroe and Effie Sommers to Bender, July 19, no year, but surely 1962: have a blessed birthday, sorry to hear of your illness; prayers and grace to you and “your dear wife” [Elizabeth Bender, Elizabeth Horsch Bender; Monroe Sommers, Nora Effie Horner Sommers; (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962)].

{20} J. C. Wenger to Samuel Southard, August 3, 1960 [Southard a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville Kentucky; John C. Wenger as Acting Assistant to the Dean]: re your letter of August 1 [not extant here]; Bender was in Europe; as far as Wenger knew the seminary had not faced the question of enrolling a divorced man and Wenger hardly thought the Mennonite Church would ordain one...; some elaboration....

{21} THREE entries

re Southern Baptist Seminary Louisville Kentucky--Bender to Hugh R. Peterson, November 23, 1960 [to Hugh R. Peterson, Director of Admissions; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville]: Goshen had a B.D. student interested in doing his middler year elsewhere; could he attend your school not taking the regular curriculum?...; asked about whether two specific professors would be in residence next year.

• • • REPLY, H. R. Peterson to Bender, November 30, 1960 [stationery of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville Kentucky, Hugh R. Peterson the Administrative Dean]: yes, but certain requirements if he was to receive credit; showed high regard for Goshen Biblical Seminary.

• • • REPLY, Bender to H. R. Peterson, December 6, 1960: thanks, exactly the information needed; would communicate more.

{22} TWO entries

re Fred Speckeen--Bender to Marcus J. Priester, February 7, 1959 [Priester of United Presbyterian Church’s Committee on Graduate Fellowships, Philadelphia Pennsylvania]: enclosing a reference form for Mr. Frederick James Speckeen.

• • • ATTACHED, carbon copy of a one-short-paragraph statement to be signed by Bender.

{23} FOUR entries

re Fred Speckeen--Bender to John H. Gerstner, March 2, 1960 [to Gerstner at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania]: writing re Frederick Speckeen as candidate for teaching speech at your seminary....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Fred Speckeen to Bender, July 20, 1960 [stationery of Boyne Mountain Lodge, Boyne Falls Michigan; Frederick James Speckeen]: sorry to learn of your brother’s death; enjoying Communication seminars...; had been appointed head of speech Department at University of Dubuque in Iowa; dissertation almost finished; Pittsburgh Theological Seminary seemed not to have made a decision on the Speech position....

• • • REPLY, J. C. Wenger to Fred Speckeen, July 25, 1960 [Wenger as acting for Bender; Frederick James Speckeen]: Bender in Europe; thanks for $5 for the seminary.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Fred Speckeen to Bender, October 5, 1960 [Frederick Speckeen, Frederick James Speckeen]: personal and family doings, including a bit on professional activities; had new baby--a congenial discussion of having the child baptized Presbyterian fashion and Bender doing it...; greetings to Elizabeth [Elizabeth Bender, Elizabeth Horsch Bender], Mary Eleanor Bender and Nancy [at some time, Nancy Bender Kostek].

{24} TWO entries

Fred J. Speckeen to Bender, November 15, 1961 [stationery of University of Dubuque; Frederick J. Speckeen Dean of Students; Frederick James Speckeen]: had visited at Goshen, gotten to see Elizabeth [Elizabeth Bender, Elizabeth Horsch Bender] but not H. S. Bender; laid out characteristics of a person who might take over Bender’s leadership role should have; low-key lament that a Seminary Alumni meeting had been “completely Mennonite oriented”....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Frederick J. Speckeen, November 17, 1961: sorry at not seeing you in Goshen; thanks for contribution and “counsel about a new dean for the seminary”; did fact that this year’s Seminary Lectures were by “good Presbyterian Otto Piper” appease Speckeen? comments about focussing on Mennonite issues.

{25} Matthew Spinka and Ford L. Battles to Bender, April 10, 1958 [stationery of The Hartford Seminary Foundation: A University of Religion, Spinka a Professor of Church History; signed as Chairman, Council for Advanced Studies and Waldo Professor of Church History; Battles as Schaff Professor of Church History]: [pleasure of meeting you in New York [City] during the holidays and since then having a telephone conversation; was writing about doctoral candidate William Keeney, who in his research “again realized the sad inadequacy of the present text of Menno Simons’ Foundation Book; Spinka wrote of need for a new critical edition, and thought Keeney well prepared for the task; reference to Keeney’s absence from teaching at Bluffton College, and need for subsidy to travel to Netherlands....

{26} TWO entries

Bender to Matthew Spinka, April 10, 1958 [Professor Spinka of Hartford Theological Seminary]: wanted author and title of a book on “the Social Ideas of the Czech Brethren, which Spinka had earlier recommended....

• • • REPLY, Matthew Spinka to Bender, April 15, 1958: book was The Political and Social Doctrines of the Unity of Czech Brethren in the Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Centuries (1957), by Peter Brock.

{27} Postcard, Bender to Nelson Springer, June 8, 1961 [sent from Copenhagen; Springer of Mennonite Historical Library, Goshen; tourist card with photo; handwritten]: _____ [illegible] “week in Sweden”; had just mailed Springer the Conrad Grebel Book [likely Harold S. Bender, Conrad Grebel, c. 1498-1526: The Founder of the Swiss Brethren Sometimes Called Anabaptists (Mennonite Historical Society, 1950, 326 pp.)].

{28} Memorandum, N. P. Springer to Bender, May 1, 1962 [Nelson Springer, Nelson P. Springer]: listed two books not received from “Irvin Horst’s recent Bargain Booklist” [Irvin B. Horst]; another book he had not found, apparently searching a German book catalogue.

{29} James M. Stayer to Bender [no date but stamped September 15, 1961 [3-page letter neatly penned but not in same hand as Stayer’s signature; sent from Goethe Institut, Bad Reichenhall--apparently in Germany]: extensive and detailed account of checking for all known Anabaptist-related dissertations before leaving North America; named many authors and items; would be settling in Freiburg....

{30} FOUR entries

James M. Stayer to Nelson Springer [penciled “January 1962”] [from Sölden bei Freiburg, Germany]: in late November had sent Bender something titled “The Erfurt Conspiracy of 1527”; would like an acknowledgement.

• • • REPLY, Bender to James M. Stayer, February 27, 1962: apology re the Erfurt Conspiracy piece--lost and then refound; John Oyer [John S. Oyer] was much interested in your conclusion and in general agreed; personal good wishes for your time in Germany.

• • • REPLY, James M. Stayer to Bender, March 6, 1962: thanks for February 27 letter; had not been sure the piece interested Mennonite Quarterly Review, as “Römer and his friends” did not fit Anabaptism theologically, despite historical connections...; about having gotten 1956 dissertation and another item, by Gerhard Zschäbitz...; about students not being allowed to use materials in German Democratic Republic zones and about not getting Clarence Baumann [sic] dissertation from Bonn; ... [another 1.5 pages on Stayer’s researches]; he had accepted a position at Bridgewater College, Church of the Brethren School in Virginia.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, James M. Stayer to Bender, April 2, 1962: brief message thanking Bender for sending “extremely useful information”; distress at hearing of Bender’s illness (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962)....

{31} TWO entries

James M. Stayer to Bender, July 3, 1962 [from Sölden/Freiburg West Germany]: about a conversation with Dr. Heinold Fast in Emden, and need to investigate whether early part of Hutterite Chronicle originated in 1534; about something Robert Friedmann had written about the Chronicle in Mennonite Encyclopedia; wanted Friedmann’s address....

• • • REPLY, Ada V. Schrock to James M. Stayer, July 7, 1962 [Schrock as Bender’s Administrative Assistant]: with Bender in a Chicago hospital for surgery, Schrock was sending the address [Kalamazoo Michigan].

{32} FOUR entries

Frank Bateman Stanger to Bender, April 15, 1960 [stationery of Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore Kentucky, Office of the Executive Vice President]: thanks for a phone call and interest in having Asbury Seminary represented in your seminar on Anabaptist and Wesleyan theology; regretted no one would attend....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Frank Bateman Stanger to Bender, May 9, 1960: Dean Walter Harrelson and Franklin Littell had done the official inspection for Asbury’s recreditation...; Littell spoke much of you... [Franklin H. Littell].

• • • REPLY, Bender to Frank B. Stanger, May 20, 1960: ... Anabaptist-Wesley Seminar had been moved from June to October; hoped an Asbury professor could participate, mentioning W. M. Arnett.

• • • REPLY, Frank Bateman Stanger to Bender, May 26, 1960: about the recreditation process...; would do all he could to have Arnett come.

{33} TWO entries

Bender to Frank B. Stanger, February 2, 1962 [Stanger--Executive Vice-President, Asbury Theological Seminar, Wilmore Kentucky]: thanks for sending copy of your annual report; warm response....

• • • REPLY, Frank Bateman Stanger to Bender, February 5, 1962: thanks for letter; thanks for your gracious congratulations on Stanger’ being named as the Seminary’s President; invitation to the inauguration.

{34} FIVE entries

Edwin J. Stalter to Bender, September 8, 1959 [from Flanagan Illinois]: re previous conversation with Bender about celebration of the Waldo Mennonite Church’s centennial August 6-7; Bender to bring the Sunday morning message; in afternoon, a cooperative meeting with General Conference Mennonites [GCMC] and Evangelical Mennonites, with Bender speaking on “our distinctive Anabaptist witness”...; please advise.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Edwin J. Stalter to Bender, February 8, 1960 [stationery of Waldo Mennonite Church, Flanagan Illinois, Stalter the Pastor]: note the tentative program with change of dates; reference to Amish Mennonite Centennial Anniversary at Gridley Prairie.

• • • ATTACHED, a one-sheet program, other speakers being Joe Davis [? Joseph Davis ?], J. D. Hartzler [likely Joseph D. Hartzler], Earl Saltzman, N. N. Roeschley, Lotus Troyer, Charles Zimmerman, A. C. Good [likely Aaron C. Good].

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Edwin J. Stalter to Bender, March 4, 1960: glad Bender would serve; details--e.g. July 31.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Edwin J. Stalter, March 12, 1960: sorry, needed to be in Europe for a July 23 meeting; could serve your centennial if it were moved to July 7 or August 21; J. C. Wenger [John C. Wenger] would be available July 31.

• • • REPLY, Edwin J. Stalter to Bender, March 15, 1960: was writing to Wenger; hoped you might serve some Sunday in the Fall.

{35} Edwin J. Stalter to Bender, January 19, 1961 [stationery of Illinois Mennonite Conference, Edwin Stalter as Moderator]: the conference’s Mission Board Literature Secretary (Stalter himself) and its executive committee had a project of book lists for their pastors; sources would be a list from Laurence Horst, one from Christianity Today, and pastors’ suggestions; would like one from the seminary; also mentioned lists by J. C. Wenger [John C. Wenger] and J. R. Mumaw [John Mumaw, John R. Mumaw] and more.

{36} TWO entries

James A. Steiner to Bender, March 20, 1961 [from Wadsworth Ohio]: was in communication with Donald Blosser, who was writing a church history paper on “the three Mahoning and Columbiana County Churches” [Midway Mennonite Church, North Lima Mennonite Church, Leetonia Mennonite Church]; Steiner offered to send a draft of a paper on same subject he began in 1932 and has been working on from time to time since; also about getting his “Incomplete” grade resolved.

• • • REPLY, Bender to James A. Steiner, March 24, 1961: was changing the “I” grade to a regular letter grade; about locating some material Steiner had used; was putting Steiner’s draft into Mennonite Historical Library [Note: very likely Blosser’s paper is also in MHL].

{37} A. J. Steiner to Bender, September 15, 1962 [Albert J. Steiner]: statement of appreciation and sympathy in view of Bender’s illness (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962).

{38} TWO entries

Grant S. [Stoltzfus] to Bender, February 27, 1960 [from Grant M. Stoltzfus--name Stoltzfus is added in pencil; sent from EMC--Eastern Mennonite College; later EMU, Eastern Mennonite University]: had forgotten to hand Bender a telegram last evening at EMC; had sent it then from Hagerstown [likely Hagerstown Maryland]; enjoyed time with you.

• • • ATTACHED, Telegram, Elmer Neufeld to Bender, February 27, 1960 [Neufeld at MCC Akron]: “HAVE CHECKED PREB AND OTHER WILL PLAN MEETING AKRON MARCH 19. EMO FOLLOWS” [sic].

{39} Grant M. Stoltzfus to Bender, March 28, 1960 [stationery of Eastern Mennonite College--EMC; later EMU, Eastern Mennonite University]: Irvin Horst [Irvin B. Horst] said Bender wanted a report on raising money in Virginia Mennonite Conference for “the archives” [Mennonite Church Archives; Archives of the Mennonite Church]; for certain reasons, Stoltzfus had asked H. A. Brunk [Harry A. Brunk] to do the job; Brunk said he had little progress to report...; cc Brunk.

{40} Robert L. Stoltzfus to Bender, August 20, 1960 [from Madisonville Louisiana]: ... writer had been serving as a lay worker in two Madisonville churches, while holding a full-time job in a meat market; not adjusting to work under the pastor here, Stoltzfus had gotten advice to seek another location; reference to his training at Goshen and at Eastern Baptist Seminary (M.R.E. degree); other remarks about work experience; writing also to Paul M. Miller.

{41} Victor Stoltzfus to Bender, March 29, 1960 [stationery of Christian Living magazine; letter from North Lima Ohio]: at Christian Living had received an enclosed piece from Andover Newton; wished he had something like this for the 7-8,000 Mennonite teenagers to see; did Bender have counsel for Mennonite Youth Fellowship on how to inspire teenagers toward Christian Service? // Was it time for Christian Living to run a feature article on the seminary?...; references to “the seminary consultation”, Harold Bauman, Kristina Marie, a meeting on “the unfortunate developments at” Leetonia Mennonite Church; Stoltzfus would be on Goshen campus April 29-25--could discuss matters with you.

{42} FOUR entries

Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Studer to Bender, April 15, 1959 [penned, from Eureka Illinois]: protesting a report that Bender and Edgar Metzler had cast vote in favor of admitting Red China [People’s Republic of China] into the United Nations; supposedly they had voted at National Council of Churches [NCC] meeting in Cincinnati; paragraphs on how bad China was with its Communism, then on modernism in the NCC; perhaps we are misinformed [political; ? Mennonite fundamentalism ?].

• • • REPLY, Bender to Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Studer, April 29, 1959: glad you felt free to write; points such as, that none of agencies of Mennonite Church or the church itself were NCC members; Bender was not at the meeting when the vote was taken; agreed about bad nature of Red China, but recognition of a country was a political and not religious act; charge of modernism in NCC “sounds strange to me...”; “I am concerned about the polemic tone of your letter...”; glad you love the Lord....

• • • REPLY, Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Studer to Bender, May 29, 1959: thanks for taking time to answer; glad the church was not NCC member; “No, we have no direct information about the modernistic leaders” in NCC but have read articles the Studers considered reliable--sending clippings; (more ...).

• • • REPLY, Bender to Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Studer, June 5, 1959: yes, there were modernists in NCC but hardly anyone spoke of the orthodox and conservative also in it...; (more ...).

{43} THREE entries

Jacob Sudermann to Bender, March 26, 1958 [stationery of Indiana University, Division of University Extension, South Bend office, Sudermann as Administrator of Adult Education]: confirming Bender’s engagement as a lecturer in “Areas In American Mission Interest” sponsored jointly with Council of Church Women of South Bend; details....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Jacob Sudermann to Bender, June 5, 1958: wanted certain materials from Bender to use applying for a Lilly Endowment grant.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Jacob Sudermann to Bender, November 4, 1958: wanting Bender to sign a certain “invoice voucher” related to that “Areas of American Mission Interest series”.

{44} Bender to C. R. Sutter, April 18, 1959 [to Des Moines Iowa]: reference to a Sutter letter [not extant here] asking about a graduating student who might locate in Des Moines, find work, and assist there; Bender’s answer is sympathetic but not very hopeful; cc John C. Wenger [J. C. Wenger] and “the College Office”.

{45} Bender to Joe Swartz, June 4, 1959 [to Rexton Michigan]: sending a letter that had come to Bender for no reason Bender knew [apparently from “the McDonalds”, and] referring to action with which Bender had nothing to do; you might get it to its “proper place”.

{46} George Swartzendruber to Bender, February 24, 1958 [from Saint Johns Michigan]: appreciation for your service on Sunday February 23; sending a book History of the Baptists and wanted Bender’s response as to its authenticity, etc.; you may “leave the book with Fred” [? Frederick Swartzendruber ?].

{47} Harold L. Swartzendruber to Bender, February 7, 1962 [stationery of Mennonite Mutual Aid, Incorporated, Goshen Indiana, Swartzendruber as Secretary and Manager]: about working with Carl Kreider to have economics students attend annual meeting of Association of Mennonite Aid Societies...; wanted to give same invitation to seminary students....

{48} FOUR entries

C. L. Swartzentruber to “Dear Brother”, March 27, 1959 [a multilithed letter on stationery of Christian Schools, Incorporated, Orrville Ohio; from the Board of Trustees, Swartzentruber signing as Administrator; likely Clayton L. Swartzentruber, Clayton Laban Swartzentruber]: asked recipients to write brief testimonials on “‘The Value of a Church High School’ (To the local church and Conference)”, to put into local church bulletins.

• • • REPLY, Bender to C. L. Swartzentruber, April 28, 1959 [to Route 2, Orrville Ohio]: glad to help; here it is, rather late.

• • • ATTACHED, the statement, dated April 28, 1959.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Clayton Swartzentruber to Bender, June 4, 1959 [stationery of Christian Schools, Incorporated, Orrville Ohio]: thanks; about progress with solicitation and construction [likely Central Christian School]; mention services of William Derstine; mention C. Norman Kraus; seeming reference to a Robert Kreider letter [likely J. Robert Kreider; ? Robert S. Kreider ?]

{49} Clayton Swartzentruber to Bender, January 4, 1960 [stationery of Christian Schools, Incorporated, Orrville Ohio; likely Clayton L. Swartzentruber, Clayton Laban Swartzentruber]: about visiting D. Edward Diener, serving at the Clarence Center Mennonite Church, Clarence New York; after the visit Swartzentruber felt that Diener wanted a change, and was privately writing this letter.

M - miscellaneous

This is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also--

NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

Sizable file (about 75

items)

{1} Telegram, Thomas Mabry to Bender, January 31, 1959 [Mabry--of Life Photographic Exhibitions, New York City]: “PROTESTANT REVOLUTION EXHIBITION BEING SENT TODAY FROM SCOTTDALE PENNSYLVANIA”; may have until February 1.

{2} FOUR entries

re John A. Mackay--Brian Kirkland to Bender, March [no day], 1959 [stationery of Princeton Theological Seminary; Kirkland chairman of Speer Library Campaign]: trying to raise $95,000 remaining to finance the project before Dr. MacKay’s retirement in June [likely the seminary’s president, John A. Mackay]...

• • • REPLY, Stanley Kiehl Gambell and Peter K. Emmons to “Dear Fellow Alumnus, April 7, 1959 [stationery of Princeton Theological Seminary; Gambel president of the Alumni Association, Emmons president of Board of Trustees]: as with item just above, soliciting money for Speer Library Campaign; reverse side, draft of Bender reply:

• • • ATTACHED REPLY (as typed), Bender to John A. Mackay [sic], April 28, 1959: warmly congratulatory letter on occasion of Mackay’s retirement.

• • • ATTACHED, Bender to Stanley Kiehl Cambell, April 28, 1959: enclosing greeting letter to Mackay, and $5.

{3} FOUR entries

Dr. Robert A. Macoskey to Bender, January 5, 1959 [stationery of Alderson-Broaddus College, Pillippi West Virginia; Macoskey of Department of Religion and Philosophy]: enclosing his dissertation, “The Life and Thought of Balthasar Hübmaier, 1485-1525; mention having been in Europe; hoped to see the dissertation printed; suggested Mennonite Historical Society and Mennonite Publishing House might be interested.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Robert A. Macoskey, January 12, 1959: had known nothing of your dissertation, grateful for it; had dipped a bit into it and was interested; in light of other commitments, could not give high hopes of publishing it.\ Re William S. Lewis translation of Hubmaier’s complete writings into English; Goshen had a copy of the translation, about getting it on microfilm.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Robert A. Macoskey to Bender, April 8, 1959: needed his dissertation back, to write some Hubmaier articles; about terms for Goshen getting the microfilm mentioned.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Robert A. Macoskey, April 17, 1959: despite valuable information in the dissertation, “we” had decided not to publish it; thanks for information about microfilm.

{4} Bender to Allan A. Macrae, January 6, 1961 [to Macrae, President of Faith Theological Seminary, Philadelphia]: reference to Macrae letter of December 12, 1960 [not extant here]; Goshen College could not give credit for graduate-level work, but Goshen Biblical Seminary could, and would grant it to Faith Theological Seminary courses; mention Robert Detweiler, “a Faith graduate”, now being assistant pastor at College Mennonite Church.

{5} Bender to Dr. Paul L. Maier, November 28, 1961 [to Kalamazoo Michigan street address]: at the suggestion of William Klassen, asking Maier to review Gottfried Maron, Individualismus und Gemeinschaft bei Casper von Schwenckfeld.

{6} Cleo Mann to J. D. Graber, June 30, 1959 [from Indianapolis, Indiana; Joseph D. Graber]: wrote of meeting a Japanese traveler, a Mr. Tsuda, somehow stranded in a Union Station [bus? train?] in Indianapolis, and taking him home and making a friend; Tsuda was Secretary of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce, a delegate to a missionary conference in Anderson Indiana, and an official guest at the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway; also, he was third-generation Christian and immediately recognized Mennonites as a Peace Church, indeed seemed to know the Mennonite Church’s history, etc.; he might be a person to explore further for Relief, Service, and Peace work; cc’s to Bender, Paul Peachey, Melvin Gingerich.

{7} TWO entries

Albert Martin to Bender, January 15, 1959 [from Zurich Ontario]: Martin was to teach five evening classes of Mennonite history; wanted help for a textbook.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Albert Martin, January 21, 1959: suggested J. C. Wenger, Glimpses of Mennonite History and Doctrine; Bender’s Mennonite Origins in Europe; and C. H. Smith, Mennonites in America; [John C. Wenger, C. Henry Smith].

{8} TWO entries

Ernest D. Martin to Bender, August 11, 1958 [from Columbiana Ohio]: Ohio Conference Historical Committee; writer understood J. N. Byler was a good historian [Joseph N. Byler]; can you give guidance?

• • • REPLY, Bender to Ernest D. Martin, October 8, 1958: “mixed feeling” about J. N. Byler, despite how few people qualified; writing was not Byler’s strong point; why not yourself?....

{9} J. E. Martin to Bender, November 3, 1958: about a person named something like Hartsburg, who had moved near Pleasant Grove Mennonite Church at Seybert, West Virginia, and had attended Goshen College; some description of the man and wanted to know more about him.// Martin and wife had traveled, and stopped at Versailles Missouri and stopped at Mt. Zion Mennonite Church, home of Daniel Kauffman’s rearing, baptism, etc.; proposed there should be some kind of monument there; elaborated.

{10} TWO entries

John R. Martin to Bender, October 7, 1958 [stationery of National Service Board for Religious Objectors; Martin as Associate Executive Secretary]: the NSBRO received Christian Beacon, and it had an article on several persons who met “with the Mennonite delegation in Chicago”; Martin did not agree 2with Carl McIntire’s work, but a statement signed by some of “these Baptist leaders and sent to Bulganin” [sic] had made Martin curious about the men....

• • • REPLY, Bender to John R. Martin, October 16, 1958: reminded Martin of the many pressures and much propaganda that such leaders faced in the Soviet context [USSR, Russia, communism]; but contrary to the editorial writer in Christian Beacon, Bender was sure the men were not spies, etc. (further comment).

{11} Postcard, Paul H. Martin to Bender, February 15, 1961 [from La Junta Colorado]: warm appreciation for lectures Bender had delivered last week at Hesston, and for Bender’s influence on the writer himself.

{12} J. Robert Kreider to Reverend Richard Martin, January 16, 1961 [to Elida Ohio; J. Robert Kreider as Director of Development at Goshen College]: that Bender indeed had the date of March 26 open and would speak a Gospel message that morning and speak on Russia that evening [USSR, communism]; cc Bender.

{13} Ross Martin to Bender, January 29, 1959 [NIBCO stationery {Northern Indiana Brass Company, Elkhart Indiana}]: would be reducing his giving to Goshen College, to support Elkhart’s library; wanted a report on an account by which his wife Esther Martin was paying to support a student named Vivian Yang; Vivian was pressuring the Martins to support her Hong Kong boyfriend’s coming, and Ross wanted her counseled otherwise.

{14} Memorandum, Karl Massanari to Bender, November 18, 1959: passed along an excerpt from a student describing Bender as a great teacher.

{15} C. Z. Mast to Bender, May 3, 1960 [from Elverson Pennsylvania; penned; Christian Z. Mast, Christian Zook Mast]: reference to Bender’s of April 30th [not extant here]; anticipating your presence for bicentennial celebration of Conestoga Mennonite Church; reference to C. F. Kurtz, pastor of Rock Mennonite Church, very interested in history; Mast expressed his disapproval of celebrating Jacob Mast, 1738-1808, but did not explain why; then gave anecdotes at length about a John P. Mast; mentioned many historic leaders with whom John P. had been a contemporary and in some cases had interacted--John K. Yoder, Isaac Schmucker, David Plank, S. E. Allgyer [Samuel E. Allgyer]; mention John F. Funk [J. F. Funk, John Funk; John S. Coffman, J. S. Coffman, John Coffman].

{16} Bender to Paul B. Maves, December 6, 1958 [Maves a Professor at Drew University Theological School, Madison New Jersey]: on an impending trip East, Bender wanted an interview regarding Drew’s doctoral program in Religious Education; a reason was “[w]e are preparing one of our B.D.-M.R.E. graduates for a call to teach in our Seminary”....

{17} TWO entries

Bender to James I. McCord, March 7, 1962 [misspelled as “McChord”--president of Princeton Theological Seminary]: Bender seeking a room at Princeton to attend Sesquicentennial Lectures, particularly James Steward giving the L. F. Stone Lectures...: also mention “the Carlsbad Colloquy, which he hoped Princeton might imitate in America.

• • • REPLY, James I. McCord to Bender, March 13, 1962: passing Bender’s letter along to person in charge of arrangements.

{18}

Bender to William R. McGrath, April 21, 1959 [to street address at Beltsville Maryland]: Horst Quiring wanted McGrath’s address; apparently you have an unpaid bill with him or some book order;... Bender knew Quiring and wanted to keep American Mennonite relations with him “on the highest level”.

{19} TWO entries

Bender to Wm. McGrath, March 8, 1960 [William R. McGrath, General Delivery Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands]: wished to confirm the address--also to know your occupation and your present church affiliation; invited McGrath to attend dedication of new Seminary building at commencement time.

• • • REPLY, postcard, McGraths to Bender, May 17, 1969 [from Christiansted]: ... had done some communication with the “A.M.A.” about evangelistic tour in Europe, but now not planning to go to Berlin but continue “the work here, D.V.”...

[Carl McIntire] 20th Century Reformation Hour Newsletter to “My dear friend”, January 16, 1962: multilithed newsletter with a 4-page printed item folded with it.

{20} John T. McNeill to Bender [no date] [stationery of The Library of Christian Classics; from Folger Library, Washington D.C.; rather sloppily penned]: in his book Conrad Grebel, c. 1498-1526: The Founder of the Swiss Brethren Sometimes Called Anabaptists Bender had cited some items the writer wanted for his editing of John Calvin’s Institutes--wanted to know where to find the items; bit more about himself and his efforts to find the items.

{21} Bender to H. W. Meihuizen, November 30, 1960 [Hendrik Wiebes Meihuizen, Hendrik Meihuizen, Hendrik W. Meihuizen, The Hague, Netherlands]: wished a copy of Weekblad of September 5, 1959; Bender had cut the picture of the Witmarsum Menno Simons Memorial Church out of Goshen’s copy, to use in Gospel Herald.// Some time ago Bender had sent 10 copies of his booklet “Revelation and Inspiration to Professor Oosterbaan [likely Johannes A. Oosterbaan, Hans Oosterbaan] and asked for a Jaarboekje in exchange; he had gotten no response; [note, for reply see Meihuizen to Bender below at February 17, 1962].

{22} Telegram, Bender to H. W. Meihuizen, November 3, 1961 [Hendrik Wiebes Meihuizen, Hendrik Meihuizen, Hendrik W. Meihuizen; to Bethel College in Kansas]: request for repeat of Meihuizen’s Elkhart lecture at Goshen and invitation that he guest of the Benders for dinner.

{23} Hendrik W. Meihuizen to Bender, January 16, 1962 [from The Hague, Netherlands; Hendrik Wiebes Meihuizen, Hendrik Meihuizen, Hendrik W. Meihuizen; penned in English]: reference to a Bender letter [not extant here]; had phoned [writing unclear; likely R. de Zeeuw]--planning an ADS meeting January 30 [ADS=Algemeene Doopsgezinde Societeit--General Mennonite (literally “baptist-minded”?) Society [A.D.S.; i.e., Dutch Mennonite general conference]; “we” had about 60 to go to Mennonite World Conference, unsure that all could be delegates; about having requested and gotten a different MQR than he had intended; footnote about sending ??--Menno words?? that could be found also in a cantata??.

{24} Bender to H. W. Meihuizen, February 17, 1961 [to a Holland address; Hendrik Wiebes Meihuizen, Hendrik Meihuizen]: thanks for Meihuizen book on Menno Simons; Bender would read it when he finished his own The Nature of the Church and Its Discipleship; wanted the Meihuizen book reviewed in MQR.// Bender and Elizabeth Bender [Elizabeth Horsch Bender] planned some weeks in Europe in June and July, would plan to call on Dutch friends; Bender might arrive early to attend International Mennonite Peace Conference [European Mennonite pacifism, nonresistance] at Heerewegen June 4 following 150th anniversary of ADS [ADS=Algemeene Doopsgezinde Societeit--General Mennonite (literally “baptist-minded”?) Society [A.D.S.; i.e., Dutch Mennonite general conference]....

{25} H. W. Meihuizen to Bender, February 17, 1961 [from The Hague; typed in English; Hendrik Meihuizen, Hendrik W. Meihuizen]: [see Bender to H. W. Meihuizen, November 30, 1960, above]; sending the requested copy of Weekblad; understood Goshen had gotten the jaarboeke; Oosterbaan was careless about acknowledgements, etc.; Meihuizen had not yet received a copy of The Anabaptist Vision; van der Zijpp had gotten an honorary doctorate from Amsterdam University [likely Nanne van der Zijpp].

{26} H. W. Meihuizen to Bender, April 10, 1962 [Hendrik Wiebes Meihuizen, Hendrik Meihuizen, Hendrik W. Meihuizen]: thanks for translating Meihuizen’s Karlsruhe-conference address...; wanted certain corrections of the German copy; Irvin Horst [Irvin B. Horst] had said he would be reviewing Meihuizen’s book--about whether Tjeenk Willnk had sent Goshen a review copy; a list of MQR copies he needed, to fill out his collection....

{27} re Paul Mellinger--document, one page, typed, titled “EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER FROM GULFPORT DATED FEBRUARY 25”; same document as attached to Bender to Milo Kauffman, February 27, 1962, in file “K - miscellaneous, 1958-1962”, indicating the document was from a “local Minister”; document tells of a deep rift at Gulfport on the question of, or perhaps the nature of, Christ’s divinity--plus some lesser issues; spoke of one Paul Mellinger having quite a following.

{28} TWO entries

Bender to Bruce M. Metzger, October 24, 1961 [Metzger a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary]: wanted to know the publisher of “a new edition of Goodspeed’s Index to the Fathers...”; trusted “our Mennonite graduate student..., Peter Fast, is doing well”.

• • • REPLY, Bruce M. Metzger to Bender, October 30, 1961: thought the new edition was a photographic facsimile published by Alec R. Allenson, Incorporated, of Naperville Illinois; positive words re Peter Fast.

{29} Bender to a Dean of Graduate Studies, University of Michigan, October 31, 1958 [Dean of the Horace Rackham School of Graduate Studies, Ann Arbor]: wanted leaflet or other information about Oriental Studies at your university; a student on furlough from service in Japan was interested in such study for 1959-1960.

{30} Carl Miller to Bender, November 22, 1960: counting on Bender speaking to youth 5th to 8th grades, to help them begin to think of vocations in terms of Christian commitment; some logistical detail.

{31} D. D. Miller [not Orie’s father] to Bender, September 2, 1959 [David D. Miller, David Miller; stationery of Martins Creek and Berlin Mennonite Churches, Miller as “Bishop - Pastor - Evangelist]: taking off from an (MC) Mennonite General Conference discussion of “the ‘Constitution’”, raised points about whether Bender had not implied too much that discipline lay with district conferences rather than with general Conference; a full-page closely typed letter.

{32} TWO entries

Donald G. Miller to Bender, March 29, 1962 [stationery of Union Theological Seminary, Richmond Virginia]: thanks for great kindness in writer’s visit to Goshen, at “conferences at the Seminary” and in the Bender home...; about a list of Bible questions he could not send but he was sending an exam on which a Mennonite student had made the highest grade of that year’s entrants to the seminary

• • • ATTACHED, exam designed to test basic Bible knowledge.

{33} Bender to Ernest E. Miller [penciled “January 8, 1962”]: Bender’s commendation for bringing “sorely needed” “administrative qualities and educational leadership” back when Miller entered teaching at Goshen College and then the presidency [implied reference to S. C. Yoder? Sanford Yoder, Sanford C. Yoder]; best wishes “as you leave us”.

{34} Ivan J. Miller to Bender, August 16, 1962 [from Grantsville Maryland]: writing as Moderator of Conservative Mennonite Conference, full-page statement of appreciation and sympathy in view of Bender’s illness.

{35} John Ray Miller to Bender, no date–but stamped as if received December 7, 1959 [typewritten on lined paper; NOTE––there is evidence that perhaps Miller did not use his first name John much–J. Ray Miller? Ray Miller?]: appreciated the stand Bender had taken on mode of baptism [check Gospel Herald ?]; offered to help raise money for Bethany Christian High School.

{36} Bender to John W. Miller, April 28, 1959 [Miller at Reba Place, Evanston Illinois]: earlier Bender had sent a note to Princeton Theological Seminary alumni “in this area” about the Speer Library Financial Campaign; was Miller intending to contribute?

{37} John Miller to Bender, September 2, 1962 [stationery of Reba Place Fellowship, Evanston Illinois; John W. Miller, John Wolf Miller]: in light of your illness had been thinking of writing to you or of coming to Goshen to speak with you; had been praying in light of your illness; glad that some from Reba Place had been able to visit you in the hospital; had your book “on the church”--the chapter “on the Holy Community” especially interesting to Miller, who found it “an excellent statement of what it is; a segment of the letter then referred to “the mystery of our own sometimes fragmented relations”, and offers Miller’s confessions for not praying enough for the church, etc.; hoped Bender’s remaining days “may be filled with the ripest fruits of your walk with God.” (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962.)

{38} Lloyd R. Miller to Bender, November 3, 1959 [from Curtis Michigan]: had been thinking about discipleship as it applied to collecting delinquent accounts; might some of your seminary students make a study of this?

{39} TWO entries

Memorandum, Bender to Marvin Miller, September 13, 1961: that Miller was to be Song Leader for Seminary Chapel in September and October.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Memorandum, Bender to Marvin Miller and Paul Wenger, November 27, 1961: Marvin was responsible for song leadership in 1st semester; Bender suggested that occasionally he ask Wenger, and select another person as well, and work with Bender on this matter.

{40} Memorandum Bender to Mrs. Paul Miller and Mrs. Howard Charles [sic], April 14, 1959 [Bertha Miller? Miriam Charles, Miriam Stalter Charles]: re Seminary Student Wives Fellowship--Mrs. Paul Mininger [Mary Ellen Erb Mininger, Mary Mininger, Mary Ellen Mininger] was sponsor of the Fellowship; Bender had spoken with her and she agreed to have Seminary student wives form their own fellowship; Mrs. Miller had offered her home for a first meeting, and Bender suggested she take the lead in planning that meeting, cooperating with Miriam Charles; remarks about whom Bender was willing to designate as sponsor, etc.

{41} FOUR entries

Robert W. Miller to Bender, April 2, 1962 [stationery of MCC Akron; Miller Director of Foreign Relief and Services]: “We” sent announcements of Goshen College alumni banquet on May 5 at Christopher Dock Mennonite School; Miller thought Bender was communicating with LaMarr Kopp about speaking to Mennonite Student Fellowship at State College; Miller wanted Bender to speak in Lancaster County on Sunday morning, probably at Monterey Mennonite Church.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Robert W. Miller, April 5, 1962: What Miller proposed would not work; Bender offered another, complex proposal.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Robert W. Miller, April 18, 1962: Bender would be able to serve at Monterey Mennonite Church on Sunday morning May 6 and at the proposed vespers in the afternoon; he would need some transportation....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Robert W. Miller to Bender, April 30, 1962: affirming the arrangement; mentioned the vesper service as being jointly of the Monterey and Akron Mennonite Church congregations; mention speaking at the banquet at Christopher Dock school on “The Future of World Mennonitism”.

{42} TWO entries

Sam T. Miller to Bender, September 16, 1959 [writing from Venice, on hotel stationery; likely Samuel T. Miller; referred to Martha, likely his spouse]: from internal evidence, on a trip that had taken him to the USSR [Russia]; had stopped at the Bienenberg school [Bienenberg Mennonite Bible School--later, (English name) Theological Seminary Bienenberg; (German Name) Ausbildungs- und Tagungszentrum Bienenberg; (French Name) Centre de formation et de rencontre Bienenberg], where “Lislie Widmer” [likely Liesel Widmer] had shown Miller a history by Bender [Note: reply indicates Mennonite Encyclopedia]; Miller noted [or complained] that his father had not been included, and wrote glowingly of his father [not named]; ended observing how much work must have gone into the book, etc.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Sam T. Miller, September 24, 1959 [to Elkhart Indiana street address]: explained the process of including or excluding biographies of ministers in Mennonite Encyclopedia’ that only 125 out of 2500 in Mennonite branches got included, etc.

{43} TWO entries

William Robert Miller to Bender, September 26, 1960 [stationery of Fellowship, magazine of Fellowship of Reconciliation, Miller the Managing Editor]: enclosed was edited version of letter received, Bender to A. J. Muste, September 12 [Abraham J. Muste, Abraham Johannes Muste], reduced a bit to fit space; “I was quite dismayed by Zhidkov’s report that Russian Mennonites had abandoned nonresistance [European Mennonite pacifism] and was “overjoyed” to learn from Bender this was not true.// A bit more, about the magazine publishing “Randall Thompson’s oratorio, The Peaceable Kingdom” and about “the FOR bibliography”.

• • • ATTACHED, copy of a statement by Bender [apparently the edited version?], titled “Mennonites and Self-Defense”, aimed at correcting A. J. Muste’s article “Their Church and Ours” (Fellowship, November 1, 1959), that drew on a “statement by Jacob Zhidkov” on Mennonites in Russia losing their nonresistance after World War I [nonresistance, pacifism, military draft, alternative service, noncombatant service]; to answer, Bender offered quotations from Mennonite Encyclopedia Supplement article “Selbschutz” that indicated only a small minority of Mennonites in Russia [Soviet Union, USSR] took the self-defense route.

{44} TWO entries

Hiroshi Mine to Bender, July 4, 1962 [handwritten in readable English from Hokkaido Japan]: writer identified self as a young man age 24; that he had “earnestly” studied “your book”; J. Richards and Robert Ree had told him of Bender’s illness [likely “Joe” Richards, Joseph Richards”, and Robert Lee]; that in Hokkaido “we” aim at following “our Lord Christ” fully, since lessons from H. H. Charles [Howard Charles, Howard H. Charles]...; we pray for your recovery.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Hiroshi Mine to Bender, July 20, 1962: more much the same; reference to listening to Bender lecture No. 3; emphasis we are praying for you.

{45} Bender to Paul S. Minear, March 24, 1960 [Minear of Yale Divinity School]: that Hendrik Kraemer had referred to Minear paper that claimed finding 80 terms by which the New Testament referred to the church; Bender much wanted a copy if available.

{46} TWO entries

Gerd Mohn to Bender, July 28, 1961 [stationery of Mohn’s Publishing House, apparently at Gütersloh in Germany; in German]: wanted clarity submitting an Anabaptist bibliography to his press; mentioned working with Dr. Quiring [likely Horst Quiring] and with Professor Bornkamm [likely Heinrich Bornkamm]....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Gerd Mohn, August 3, 1961: wrote of Dr. Quiring and indicated that the Institute of Mennonite Studies was the publisher of the American edition of the Anabaptist bibliography; mentioned the publishing house of Schmidt in Neustadt had not finished preparing the second correction; details of the publication’s status.

{47} SIX entries

re Moravians--J. Richard Jones to Bender, October 31, 1958 [stationery of Moravian College, Bethlehem Pennsylvania; Jones the Head of the History department]: his college planned a symposium March 14, 1959, on German Pietistic Thought in Colonial America--and hoped Bender might do a paper on Mennonite thought there; $300 honorarium.

• • • REPLY, Bender to J. Richard Jones, December 3, 1958: had mislaid Jones’ letter--apology; material for such a paper not “plentiful”, but would be delighted; let Bender know if no one else had been substituted.

• • • REPLY, J. R. Jones to Bender, December 5, 1958: glad Bender would accept....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, J. Richard Jones to Bender, February 18, 1959: details of time and place, invitation to a dinner, etc.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Katherine L. Phelps, March 4, 1959 [to Moravian College; Phelps as Director of Publicity]: responding apparently to a communication not extant here; had rushed material for publicity that Jones had not requested; neither had Jones asked for a manuscript in advance, and Bender had not intended to have it ready much before the symposium; hoped Jones’ illness was not lasting.

• • • REPLY, Kathryn Lane Phelps to Bender, March 9, 1959: thanks for responding quickly “to my telephone request of March 3; sending a release about the symposium; still wished a copy of his manuscript as soon as possible.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Katherine L. Phelps, March 11, 1959: Bender’s travel plan; one or two other Mennonites would be with him and they hoped for a bit of time in your archives....

{48} John H. Mosemann to Bender, July 6, 1962 [John H. Mosemann Jr.; Bender at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago]: had planned to return to Chicago and visit you this week, but learned that Paul Mininger and Elizabeth [Elizabeth Bender, Elizabeth Horsch Bender] were visiting...; glad to be able to announce on Sunday [Mosemann being pastor of College Mennonite Church on the Goshen College campus] that you anticipate returning home on Monday; more, appropriate remarks in view of Bender’s illness.

{49} Memorandum, Orpah B. Mosemann to Bender, August 22, 1958: ask that a Seminary faculty member give the 3 usual lectures on Christian discipleship (named dates) to senior nursing students’ Professional Adjustments class.

{50} Bender to J. R. Mumaw, January 24, 1961 [John R. Mumaw, President of EMC {Eastern Mennonite College; later EMU, Eastern Mennonite University}]: expected to fly to Washington D.C. and arrive at Harrisonburg by bus at 12:15 a.m. January 31; would like material showing when and where his lectures fit into the Ministers Week program.

{51} Bender to John R. Mumaw, April 24, 1961 [J. R. Mumaw, President of EMC {Eastern Mennonite College; later EMU, Eastern Mennonite University}]: reference to recent conversations, at EMC and at Smithville [likely Smithville Ohio]; would carefully consider your written remarks about Chapter I of Bender’s [manuscript?] “The People of God”; that Bender had not intended to give a deliberate critique of premillenialism, but had to admit exclusion of dispensationalist viewpoint; comment on other points of Mumaw...--e.g., “I have tried to set forth vigorously the newness of the Church as over against the Old covenant, but appreciate your prodding on this point”...; (more ...).

{52} TWO entries

Stanford Mumaw to Bender, October 7, 1959 [stationery of Christian Schools, Incorporated, Dalton Ohio]: “We” were planning a groudbreaking ceremony of “our Christian School building” in early November...; what would Bender think of a Sunday afternoon event? Were thinking of Bender having part on the program--possible on certain dates? anticipating seeing Bender at meeting of Mennonite Board of Education at Hesston.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Stanford Mumaw, October 16, 1959: appreciated the invitation but doubted he should take time to do it; would be more interested in the dedication ceremony.

{53} Bender to Professor Dr. L. v. Muralt, December 14, 1960 [to Zollikan Switzerland]: in the last number of the Zwingliina had seen Mr. Stoedtke’s excellent review of Heinold Fast’s book on Bullinger and the Anabaptists [see Heinrich Bullinger und die Ta*ufer: ein Beitrag zur Historiographie und Theologie im 16. Jahrhundert, by Heinold Fast (Weierhof in the Palatinate, 1959), in the series Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein, Weierhof, Germany]; asked to publish an English translation of the review in Mennonite Quarterly Review.// was any review of Bender’s own Conrad Grebel book in prospect? [see Harold S. Bender, Conrad Grebel, c. 1498-1526: The Founder of the Swiss Brethren Sometimes Called Anabaptists (Mennonite Historical Society, 1950, 326 pp.)].

Family correspondence

Includes Harold S. Bender's correspondence with wife Elizabeth, his parents George L. & Elsie Kolb Bender, daughters Mary Eleanor and Nancy, Bender & Horsch siblings, and mother-in-law Christina Funck Horsch. Correspondence with father-in-law John Horsch is filed alphabetically in earlier boxes of general correspondence.

S1 Sa-Sh - miscellaneous

This is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also--
NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

Medium-size file (about 125 items)

{1} TWO entries

Marlin W. Sala to Bender, October 6, 1960 [from Hollsopple Pennsylvania; Sala as Chairman of Sunday Evening Services, Thomas Mennonite Church]: could Bender serve at a weekend conference November 11-13; had been having neighboring church speakers in, explaining their histories, etc.; now wanted someone to offer outline of our church; J. C. Wenger had consented but then canceled [John C. Wenger]....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Marlin W. Sala, November 4, 1960: apology for late reply; had an obligation already, could not serve.

{2} Bender to Mrs. Earl Salzman [sic], February 8, 1958 [to Nappanee Indiana street address; Vinora Salzman]: a list of persons to invite for Class of 1918 reunion--including Bender--with addresses from Alumni Office; cc J. N. Smucker [likely Jesse N. Smucker].

{3} TWO entries

Postcard, J. Paul Sauder to Bender, November 15, 1961 [from Elkridge Maryland]: before Sauder got to writing article on “Breaking Communication” Linden Wenger did it better.// Today the “Herald of Truth” had arrived; made analogy to what if Confederacy had won the U.S. Civil War; what did historian Bender see as significance of the paper?

• • • REPLY, Bender to J. Paul Sauder, November 18, 1961: yes, Linden Wenger article good; “I do not see any longtime significance to the Herald of Truth movement except as a receptacle for a few extremists”; mentioned separation of Paul Landis group and Mervin Baer group....

{4} Copy, Menno Sauder to Mennonite Publishing House, December 24, 1962 [copy is evidently a photocopy, and unstable as early ones often were; of course Bender had died on September 21, 1962, so presence of the letter in this file is a bit strange]: about Sauder wanting to have two historic items republished--Infant Baptism, by John Horsch, and Restitution of Henry Funk (which Sauder seemed to imply was “orthodox Mennonite doctrine” that could counter premillenialism, “a strictly anti-Mennonite doctrine” now being taught at Elmira” Ontario [?? Ontario Mennonite Bible School ??]; wrote of publication prices he had gotten from Economy Printers at Berne Indiana, and not wanting to copyright the republications as that was contrary to nonresistance [pacifism]....

{5} William E. Savage to Bender, October 16, 1959 [stationery of Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore Kentucky, Savage its Business Manager]: “deep appreciation for your visit...” [? perhaps as examiner for American Association of Theological Schools--AATS ??]; could now answer a question about the school’s finances...; attached--a financial statement.

{6} TWO entries

John Nevin Sayre to Bender, January 20, 1959 [stationery of International Fellowship of Reconciliation {IFOR}, Nyack New York, Sayre a Treasurer and a Secretary, and Trocme among the Secretariat]: that André Trocme was visiting the USA in the Fall; offer to schedule him at Goshen; writing similarly to MCC Akron, Lloyd Ramseyer [Lloyd L. Ramseyer] of Bluffton College, Donald Reist at Scottdale [Mennonite Publishing House] and Mt. Joy Mennonite Church.

• • • REPLY, Bender to John Nevin Sayre, April 29, 1959: had meant to speak to you at Evanston about Trocmé visit to Goshen, but Guy F. Hershberger [Hershberger, G. F. Hershberger, Guy Hershberger] had done so; henceforth communicate with Hershberger.

{7} John Nevin Sayre to unspecified, February 9, 1962 [multilithed, full-page, from International Fellowship of Reconciliation {IFOR}]: information sheet on Heinz Kloppenburg, of Dortmund Germany; attached is a note asking recipients to destroy an earlier such sheet as it had errors; Kloppenburg was a Lutheran clergyman and Chairman of the Confessing Church during World War II, etc.

{8} TWO entries

Wolfgang Schäufele to Bender, October 6, 1961 [from Karlsruhe Germany; in German]: begins this letter with a guilty conscience for returning his article late [see “The Missionary Vision and Activity of the Anabaptist Laity”, by Wolfgang Schäufele, in MQR 36:99-115 April 1962]; went on about another case [tardiness] in the previous year. \ Thank you for the check for a copy of Elsa Berhofer dissertation. \ Back to comment on his article; mentioned using work of Professor Littell [likely Franklin Littell, Franklin H. Littell]; asking Bender for further comment etc.; Wolfgang could send the second chapter; closed with thanks for Bender’s friendliness and support.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Wolfgang Schäufele, October 12, 1961: thanks for sending the article; it came too late for the January issue, would appear in the April one; would prefer to have your whole dissertation, to read, and would like to see it published in both German and English....

{9} Bender to Hugo C. Scheffler, August 14, 1961 [to Clearbrook British Columbia]: happy to have your letter, [not extant here] along with “the Walter Fellman Referat”, telling of your family and life in the new world; perhaps we will meet at World Conference next year; Benders’ life was going on as usual... (NOTE: Bender would die on September 21, 1962); “We” had visited for seven weeks in Europe in June and July, including Ludwigshofen and Weierhof.

{10} FOUR entries

Schenkers International Forwarders Incorporated to “Mrs. Harold S. Bender”, January 29, 1958 [of New York City; illegible signature]: itemization of charges of $38.35 for a shipment via M.S. Tübingen and Railway Express Agency; form attached with certain items checked; would be a further charge of $27.85

• • • REPLY, Harold S. Bender to Schenkers International Forwarders, February 8, 1958: were willing to clear the shipment, although protested $17.50 of the charges; your customs declaration was incorrect; facts of the Bender travel....

• • • REPLY, Hans J. Hornbostel to Bender, February 12, 1958 [stationery of Schenkers International Forwarders, New York City]: sorry we could not clear your shipment in New York; needed more exact information on your flight and its arrival; about whether certain china had been declared--and given the time expired, it had been warehoused and there would be an extra charge of $12; the $17.50 was not excessive, but a standard charge.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Attention Hans J. Hornbostel, March 4, 1958 [to Schenkers International Forwarders]: quibble about a form; information about passport, arrival, etc.

{11} SIX entries

Wilfred Schlegel to Bender, October 20, 1960 [from Ails Craig Ontario; ? Cairn Mennonite Church ?]: hoped Bender might give some lectures on church history to “our small congregation” preferably on a weekend or during holiday season.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Wilfred Schlegel, November 7, 1960: “After much thought” felt he must decline, as he was preparing Conrad Grebel Lectures.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Wilfred Schlegel, to Bender, February 15, 1961: Bender had suggested he might be able come about Easter time; reiterated the invitation.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Wilfred Schlegel,, February 21, 1961: declining due to heavy work; he would be attending a World Conference Committee meeting in Kitchener in August and might work this in then, at the “Cairn Congregation”.

• • • REPLY, Wilfred Schlegel to Bender, March 10, 1961 [stationery of Edger ton Private Hospital, London Ontario]: would be happy with that plan.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Wilfred Schlegel, to Bender, February 2, 1962: same invitation, at Bender’s convenience, more officially from the Cairn church council.

{12} Bender to Harold J. Schmidt, February 9, 1959 [to Laden Ontario]: sending a $500 check from J. Robert Kreider, Treasurer of [MC] Mennonite General Conference; authorized Schmidt to send a “Canadian overseas draft for $1000 to Theo Glück, Lamprechtshof, Karlruhe Land, Germany”.

{13} TWO entries

H. J. Schmidt to Bender, January 9, 1960 [writing as Secretary-Treasurer of Shantz Mennonite Church, Laden Ontario; likely Harold J. Schmidt]: Church Council wished to have a Bible Conference at Easter week April 15-17; asking Bender to serve, then or a different week; if not possible, suggest names “from your Department”.

• • • REPLY, was writing a book and being asked to avoid all appointments as nearly as possible; suggest write to Howard Charles and Paul Miller [Paul M. Miller] in that order.

{14} H. J. Schoeps to Bender, July 7, 1958 [Professor Dr. Schoeps, Erlangen Germany; in German]: about a Sebastian Franck book of 1539, Kriegsbüchlein des Friedens [Little war book of peace?];in 1939 the were only eight copies extant in the world; writer’s copy had belonged to the UB Bonn [? Bonn University Library ?] but had damage; had paid 100 DM [Deutsch Marks], would sell it for $40-$50.... How is your book going [? Harold S. Bender, Conrad Grebel, c. 1498-1526: The Founder of the Swiss Brethren Sometimes Called Anabaptists (Mennonite Historical Society, 1950, 326 pp.) ?].

{15} TWO entries

Clifford S. Schott to Bender, April 24, 1961 [stationery of First Mennonite Church, Kitchener Ontario but with address marked through and another street addressed typed]: in the past year a group of First Mennonite members had been holding services at Rockway Mennonite School; they now numbered about 75 and were feeling ready to begin a church; thought Edgar Metzler had spoken to Bender about this; feeling need for another pastor; seeking Bender’s help in finding one.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Clifford S. Schott, May 4, 1961: had nobody to suggest, after some investigation following conversation with Edgar Metzler.

{16} Bender to Otto Schowalter, April 9, 1958 [to Hamburg-Altona Germany]: Hamburg [post office had returned a letter addressed to Dr. Leonard Froese; that letter enclosed--can you help get it to Froese? // Would be glad to hear you are in better health and can preach....

{17} Postcard, Paul Schowalter to Bender, March 26, 1958 [from Weierhof; in German]: by his records he had sent 5 church calendars in November; had they not arrived?...; thanks much for Volume III of the Mennonite Encyclopedia....

{18} Paul Schowalter to Bender, March 10, 1960 [from Weierhof; in German]: received you letter [not extant here] with the tentative invitation to participate in the executive meeting for the next Mennonite World Conference at Bienenberg August 8-9, 1960; did not know your whole timetable, but would share the following--in late July there would be a Missions Conference at Bienenberg with participants from Holland, France, Switzerland, and Germany, and with it annual meeting of European Mennonite Evangelization Committee; mention Brother Waltner [likely Erland Waltner] having the Bible input; and mention a role for Peter Dyck [Peter J. Dyck]; Schowalter’s on personal agenda for August, with travel....

{19} TWO entries

Copy of Lenemarie Funck to Paul Schowalter, September 15, 1960 [from MCC Frankfurt Germany, to Dear Uncle Paul; in German]: about money sent to account for Bender for the Geschichtsverein [History Society]; state of the account; would Schowalter communicate directly with Bender...; cc Bender.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, copy of Paul Schowalter to Bender and 5 more, October 23, 1961 [Paul Schowalter to Bender, Cornelius Krahn, Gustav E. Reimer in Uruguay, N. van der Zijpp in Rotterdam, Samuel Geiser in Switzerland, Kurt Kauenhoven at Göttingen; informal letterhead of “Mennonitischer Geschichtsverein E.V. Weierhof in the Palatinate]: about meetings of the Verein (society), and communication; mention Dr. E. Crous of Krefeld [Ernst Crous] as Chairman offering no objection to re-election; in light of death of Brother B. H. Unruh [Benjamin Unruh, Benjamin H. Unruh] and the aging or sickness of O. Schowalter, A. Fast, E. Schulz, Fr. Hege, and Dr. Risler, the following had been newly elected: Heinold Fast, Adolf Schnebele, Horst Penner, Ott Regier, Heinrich Bornkamm; mention a Dr. Höller and a Dr. Rotthoff; mention H. Quiring and G. Hein [likely Horst Quiring, Gerhard Hein].

{20} Message on a card (not postcard), from Paul Schowalter; to “Dear friends!”, September 19, 1962; in English; [NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962]: had arrived home [surely from Mennonite World Conference in North America]; very warm appreciation for hospitality he had enjoyed and for the Christian spirit he had found; sending a copy of his Yearbook; his address at Weierhof in the Palatinate.

{21} SIX entries

Martin H. Schrag to Bender, October 4, 1958 [from Messiah College, Grantham Pennsylvania]: was thinking of doing graduate work at Hartford Theological Seminary; Hartford wanted an idea of what his dissertation topic might be; Schrag asking Bender for help in defining a Swiss-south German Anabaptist topic.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Martin H. Schrag, October 11, 1958: much interested; Heinold Fast, former exchange student at Bethel College, had suggested last summer that Bender find someone to research the history of Anabaptism in canton of Zurich...; how good a source Goshen’s Mennonite Historical Library would be; Schrag had asked about some minor leaders of Anabaptists; mentioned “Pilgram Marpeck, Felix,Janz, Hans Hut, Jacob Hutter [Pilgram Marbeck; Felix Manz? Jakob Hutter], epistles of Peter Riedemann recently found by Robert Friedmann.

• • • REPLY, Martin H. Schrag to Bender, November 17, 1958: was writing to Friedmann about Riedemann; Bender had suggested working at Temple--but its School of Theology had lost accreditation by AATS; P.S. about a suggestion from Bill Keeney [“Bill Keeney”, William Keeney?] about doing a generic study of early Anabaptist theology.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Martin H. Schrag, December 3, 1958: doubted Union Theological Seminary at Richmond was “suitable for your program”; liked idea Keeney had suggested--elaborated--but it would require much research in German materials; maybe for practical reasons, Hartford Theological Seminary might be best for you after all; would be glad to discuss these matters with you personally; P.S. perhaps Emory University, where Frank Littell [Franklin Littell, Franklin H. Littell] was director of graduate studies in the School of Theology.

• • • REPLY, Martin H. Schrag to Bender, December 8, 1958: accepted Bender suggestion they meet when Bender came to Akron [Pennsylvania] on December 13; more discussion of Schrag’s interests.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Martin H. Schrag, December 10, 1958:jq plan for meeting at railway station in Lancaster for breakfast; penned note at bottom about telegram sent December 12 for breakfast Saturday morning.

{22} SEVEN entries

Martin H. Schrag to Bender, July 22, 1960 [from Messiah College, Grantham Pennsylvania]: liked much Bender suggestion he do dissertation on Mennonitism and Pietism; asked about sources for 18th century influences of German Pietism and Methodism.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Martin H. Schrag, October 3, 1960: answer to yours of July 22 delayed because Bender had been in Europe; suggested beginning with “Pietism” article in Mennonite Encyclopedia and Robert Friedmann book Mennonite Piety Through the Centuries; (more ... including about Pietistic influences on Mennonites in Russia [Ukraine, Russian empire], and about impact of colonial American Great Awakening, and about paucity of material on Mennonites and Moravians...; pointed to Bender article “Outside Influences on Mennonite Thought” in Proceedings of Cultural Conference at Hesston, 1955 [Conference on Mennonite Educational and Cultural Problems, alternatively “Conference on Mennonite Cultural and Educational Problems”].

{23} Bender to Menno Schrag, April 18, 1961 [Schrag at Newton Kansas as Editor of Mennonite Weekly Review]: re letter Schrag had received from Elmer Neufeld regarding representation at All-Christian Peace Assembly June 13-18 in Prague; Bender added that as yet nobody had gotten visas, so announcement of attendees was inappropriate; “we are quite reluctant to make any publicity about this meeting until we are certain of the nature of it...”--no need to stir up Carl McIntire and John Birch Society; requested Schrag publish nothing except what Neufeld furnished.

{24} William I. Schreiber to Bender, 22, 1959 [stationery of College of Wooster, Department of German, Wooster Ohio]: thanks for kind review of writer’s booklet The Fate of the Russian Mennonites and reprint of The Commander; comments on the genesis of the “Fate” booklet; writer had written Die Mennonite St- und West Preussens..., which someone translated; “...had I written the work in English it would have a different flavor...”; wanted a “marked copy” of The Commender sent to “our President Howard F. Lowry; this summer wanted to read Bender’s Conrad Grebel, c. 1498-1526: The Founder of the Swiss Brethren Sometimes Called Anabaptists [(Mennonite Historical Society, 1950, 326 pp.)]; his interest in Anabaptism, mention the Ausbund and “Wolkan’s detailed historical study”.

• • • REPLY, Bender to William I. Schreiber, November 30, 1960: thanks for manuscript on Ausbund hymns....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to William I Schreiber, January 19, 1961: we are seriously considering publishing your manuscript when we have space; [see “The Hymns of the Amish Ausbund in Philological and Literary Perspective”, by William I. Schreiber, MQR 36:36-60 January 1962].

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to William I Schreiber, November 9, 1961: sending a copy of Rosella Duerksen’s dissertation, “Anabaptist Hymnody of the Sixteenth Century”--showing that 11 Ausbund hymns were translations from Dutch; that Amish had used Froschauer translation of the Bible--would this affect your statements about the Luther translation? on Amish having accepted the Ausbund text prevailing at the time of the Amish Schism in 1690; changes since then? etc.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to William I. Schreiber, March 2, 1962: apology for not producing 250 reprints of you article; offer, and costs....

• • • REPLY, William I Schreiber to Bender, March 3, 1962: College of Wooster had approved the rewriting; please order the copies.

{25} SIX entries

Bender to Miss Ada Schrock, December 6, 1960 [to Lowell Massachusetts]: had been correspondence with Schrock about her serving as Bender’s “administrative assistant” next year when Irene Hershberger would be on sabbatical; Bender described the responsibilities and the work.

• • • REPLY, Ada Schrock to Bender, December 30, 1960: decision difficult; she was considering three other options; some language about God’s leading, etc.; asked several questions; some notes at bottom in Bender pen.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, copy of Paul Mininger to Ada Schrock, January 19, 1961 [Mininger as college/seminary president]: upon Bender’s recommendation, inviting Schrock; terms of the on-year assignment; cc Bender.

• • • REPLY, Ada Schrock to Paul Mininger, March 2, 1961: after thought and prayer, thought God was leading her to say Yes; some details as she understood them; cc Bender.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Ada Schrock, March 9, 1961: understood she had accepted; full-page letter, mainly about overlapping a bit with Irene Hershberger to begin Schrock’s work.

• • • REPLY, Ada Schrock to Bender, March 13, 1961: on when she could arrive; did not have the time or money to follow Bender’s plan completely.

{26} Alta Schrock to Bender, August 30, 1962 [stationery of Penn Alps, Incorporated, Grantsville Maryland]: includes statement of appreciation and sympathy in view of Bender’s illness (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962); thanks for Bender kindness and help toward Penn Alps’ and its program (Appalachian art and handicraft, guest house, etc.); mention Liesel Widmer....

{27} Leroy Schrock to Bender, January 30, 1951 [handwritten from Glen Flora Wisconsin]: mention Floyd Kauffman correspondence; gave information for coming by rail or plane.

{28} Bender to Reverend Mark Y. Schrock, June 13, 1958 [to Nappanee Indiana]: Bender had never made a study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and could not speak on that subject; suggested either Professor Jacob Enz or William Klassen of Mennonite Biblical Seminary [J. J. Enz, Jacob Enz]....

{29} FOUR entries

Paul M. Schrock to Bender, October 13, 1959 [stationery of Mennonite Publishing House; Schrock--Assistant to the Book Editor]: had send galleys of “your forthcoming pamphlet”, scheduled to come off the press by November 6....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Paul Schrock, November 3, 1959: reference to “Focal Pamphlet No. 4, which is my address on Biblical Revelation and Inspiration”; wanted author’s copies promptly for announcement to faculties at Goshen and Elkhart....

• • • REPLY, Paul M. Schrock to Bender, November 5, 1959: off press November 6, but publication date was not until November 16; but Paul had arranged to have the first dozen in your hands Saturday afternoon [i.e. November 7]....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Paul Schrock, November 19, 1959: ordering 50 author copies of Biblical Revelation and Inspiration.

{30} Paul Schrock to Bender, November 14, 1960 [stationery of Gospel Herald]: before leaving for South America Paul Erb had asked Schrock to write a lead article for January 10 issue [of Gospel Herald] on “The Mennonite Church in 1960”; Schrock wanted some ideas and perspectives from Bender.

{31} TWO entries

Paul M. Schrock to Bender, November 14, 1960 [stationery of Mennonite Publishing House; Schrock the Assistant to the Book Editor]: sending final page proofs of Brothers in Christ; noted apparent contradictions re Hans Hottinger on pages 45, 47, 49.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Paul Schrock, November 23, 1960: referred to the book as by Fritz Blanke; 4 substantial comments about layout, footnote numbering, and getting proper permissions, including from Blanke.

{32} Bender to Paul Schrock, January 13, 1961 [to Schrock in connection with Gospel Herald]: sending material from [MC] General Conference’s Historical and Research Committee for special Menno Simons number January 27; suggestions about formatting; reference to Melvin Gingerich note suggesting how congregations might celebrate.

{33} THREE entries

Bender to Erich Schultz, July 3, 1958 [to Berlin Germany; in German; ? Eric Schultz [sic--correct]: Bender hoped to come to Berlin and visit the Schulz family and Wolfgang [? Wolfgang Schultz ?]; thanks for your letter of September 13, 1957 concerning the Gerd Rosen book dealer; about the auction....

• • • REPLY, Erich Schultz to Bender, July 9, 1958 [stationery of Berliner Mennonite-Gemeinde (Berlin Mennonite Church), Ernst Crous and Erich Schultz as Elders]: thanks for yours of the 3rd; welcome to visit, possible dates; mention Brother Dyck of Frankfurt [Peter Dyck, Peter J. Dyck] [having the same invitation?]; Wolfgang was not in Berlin but had a place in Frankfurt; about the Gerd Rosen catalogue....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Erich Schultz, July 14, 1958: thanks for your letter; hoped to visit you, and also Wolfgang in Frankfurt; thanks for the Rosen catalogue.

{34} Bender to Samuel L. Schultz, April 22, 1958 [to Wellesley Ontario]: about ordination of Ross Bender; remembered Schultz speaking to H.S. about your desire to keep your conference’s strong young men [Western Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference, eventually Western Ontario Mennonite Conference]; glad that the conference had now approved Ross’ ordination as minister-at-large; about date of the ordination; earlier Schultz had spoken to H.S. about visiting at Wellesley--he might be able to do so in connection with the ordination.

{35} TWO entries

Bender to Paul J. Schwab, November 14, 1961 [Schwab--a professor at Trinity University, Austin Texas]: serving as a reader for the Bainton festschrift [Roland Bainton, Roland H. Bainton], edited by Franklin Littell [Franklin H. Littell], Bender had read your paper on Augsburg and Early Anabaptists; offered a few comments on form of certain citations from Mennonite Encyclopedia; suggested a paragraph at end about Pilgram Marpeck [or Pilgram Marbeck]; cc’s Littell, Dwight M. Chalmers.

• • • REPLY, Paul J. Schwab to Bender, December 4, 1961: nice words for Bender, happy at his pointing up errors in citations; bit of comment about including Marpeck; would send a paragraph to Littell [Franklin H. Littell]; cc Littell.

{36} TWO entries

David Schwartzentruber to Bender, May 12, 1961 [penned from Tavistock Ontario]: about finding three Baptismal certificates, remembering he was to send one to you; about “Earl’s” [Earl Schwartzentruber, Genevieve Schwartzentruber, Genevieve Leichty Schwartzentruber] in Costa Rica [Note: in language study for mission work in Argentina], doing well...

• • • ATTACHED, carbon copy of a typed half-sheet in what appears to be Polish, perhaps a marriage document; obvious references to Mennonite, perhaps to Prussia, and to Harold Bender--to be signed by David Schwartzentruber and by Harold S. Bender.

{37} Bender to Director, Schwenckfelder Library, June 24, 1958 [to Pennsburg Pennsylvania]: wished to spend a day in your library, Friday the 27th; along with Irvin Horst [Irvin B. Horst] of Eastern Mennonite College [EMC; later EMU, Eastern Mennonite University].

{38} TWO entries

re Schwenkfelder Library--Bender to Mrs. Salina G. Schultz, April 10, 1959 [to a street address in Washington D. C.]: very glad for report on Schwenkfelder-Mennonite relations, especially in Holland; mention that N. van der Zijpp [likely Nanne van der Zijpp] would be interested; hoped Correll [likely Ernst Correll] had shown you revised Mennonite Encyclopedia article on Schwenkfeld.

• • • REPLY, Salina G. Schultz to Bender, April 14, 1959: permission to use her report as you choose; at Schwenkfelder Library next she might be able to give more information; that Correll was unwell and overburdened with work.

{39} THREE entries

Salina G. Schultz to Bender, April 21, 1959 [stationery of Schwenkfelder Library, Pennsburg Pennsylvania; her status not given]: adding to her letter of April 6 [not extant here], gave information for Dr. van der Zijpp in Rotterdam that Mennonite-Schwenkfelder materials could be found in the Mennonite Library in Holland; more sources mentioned, including correspondence with Danzig Mennonites.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Andrew S. Berky to Bender, June 1, 1959 [stationery of Schwenkfelder Library, Pennsburg Pennsylvania]: on his library’s not releasing Mennonite materials to Mennonite libraries; had been long discussions about this, and idea that these were regional material prevailed; suggested solution was developing a Mennonite library in southeastern Pennsylvania.

• • • RESPONSE, Bender to Andrew S. Berkey, October 6, 1959 [to Berkey as Director of the Schwenkfelder Library]: Bender’s previous letter [not extant here] had not been fully informed and had rested on Berkey’s own words; he would not press his case, yet wished to comment; some of the Schwenkfelder holdings were from sixteenth-century Anabaptists...; two paragraphs expounding on the suitability of the Library at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries [eventually Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary]; on developing Mennonite library at Lancaster.

{40} FOUR entries

Richard A. Seiber to Amos O. Hostetler, September 10, 1958 [informal stationery of The Methodist Church, Sciota Illinois, Seiber the minister; to Hostetler as Secretary of the Mennonite Church]: was in a project to “chart all the splits and mergers in all the Christian Churches in America”; wanted the Mennonite information.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Richard A. Seiber, October 31, 1958: letter to Amos O. Hostetler had found its way to Bender; advised use of Mennonite Yearbook and Directory for statistics; Bender had made some corrections on material Seiber had sent; several points about the Mennonite Church; might go on to Mennonite Encyclopedia; Bender would be glad to read proofs of your material on Mennonites.

{41} Jean Séguy to Bender, January 8, 1962 [from Paris; handwritten in good English]: happy 1962! (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962.); about Séguy’s article on Schwertfeger’s poem [see “Note on Georg Schwertfeger, by Jean Seguy, in MQR 38:370-372 October 1964]; about the poet’s grandfather having been a Lutheran and a war officer; about recent Anabaptist documents discovered at Colmar; on Seguy’s own researches; mention a writing by Dirk Philips; mention Christ Seul’s Christmas number...; mention P. Widmer [likely Pierre Widmer]....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Jean Séguy, January 12, 1962 [to Paris, France]: Thanks for sending reprint of your article “Constitutions Ecclesiastiques”; would like microfilm of the Colmer documents; on Séguy’s work and what MQR might publish of it...; etc.

{42} Samson A. Shain to Bender, November 4, 1957 [stationery of Temple Shaarai Shonnagim, Lancaster Pennsylvania, Shain the Rabbi]: Mr. Hostetler of Scottdale Pennsylvania had suggested writing to Bender [perhaps John Hostetler, John A. Hostetler ?; writer was studying place names such as Edentown, Nebo, New Salem, and Sodom in Fayette County, wondered if Bender had information.

{43} David A. Shank to Bender, December 28, 1959 [personal typed letter from “Ohain” {Belgium}]: season’s greetings; had discovered Bender’s “message at General Conference” had been published as a Focal Pamphlet and had read it; reference to a statement Bender made at “Chicago conference with the Russians”--“‘we do not have time or place for anyone who is committed to the methods and conclusions of higher criticism...’” [Mennonite fundamentalism ?]; Shank was unsure Bender had answered neo-orthodoxy or whether or not Bender upheld the old “plenary-verbal inspiration”; more discussion, e.g. that Bender’s pamphlet said “‘Not all the Bible is revealed’” yet that the unrevealed was inspired by God...; that most of the pastors in the Brussels “‘pastorale’” were neo-orthodox;...(more such); that Nelson Kauffman had told Shank that Mininger [likely Paul Mininger] was concentrating for the near future on “the whole problem of Biblical authority in our church....

{44} Bender to David Shank, November 8, 1960 [David A. Shank, Ohain Belgium]: thanks for Le Martyrologe Protestant by A. L. E. Verheyden; on whether Shank had paid for it; had Shank sent Bender Guy de Bres by E. M. Baraekman?...

{45} Memorandum, Bender to Ada Shaum, January 9, 1959: the only course to add to transfer credit of Christopher Leuz was “Christian Ethics”.

{46} Memorandum, Ada Shaum to Bender, February 18, 1959 [Shaum wrote as if she were the Registrar on in that office]: replying to Bender’s of February 9 [not extant here], about procedures for communizing records information between the Goshen College Registrar and the Elkhart Seminary’s Registrar [Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, eventually Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary].

{47} Memorandum, Bender to Ada Shaum, April 28, 1959: list of candidates for Seminary Degrees in June or August.

{48} TWO entries

Maynard Shelly to Bender, June 13, 1958 [stationery of General Conference Mennonite Church, Newton Kansas]: had given a $500 check to Cornelius Krahn in January for Täuferakten; it had “never been collected” and Krahn had left for Europe; what do you suggest? cc’s Krahn, Edna Ruth Mueller.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Maynard Shelly, June 16, 1958: Bender had the check, “pending requisition from Europe”; since that was delayed, he was changing it into a cashier’s cheque and holding that.

{49} Memorandum, Bender to J. B. Shenk, March 3, 1960 [Jacob B. Shenk; apparently Registrar]: replying to your memo [not extant here], some technicalities about how to calculate credit; if your office does it differently we need discussion.

{50} TWO entries

Memorandum, Bender to J. B. Shenk, May 9, 1961 [Jacob B. Shenk; as Registrar]: Bender was doubtful and merging college and seminary teachers reports; teaching load for seminary was different, it being a graduate school....

• • • ATTACHED, a sheet, dated May 9, 1961, listing teaching loads of seminary teachers 1959-1960.

{51} TWO entries

Memorandum, J. B. Shenk to Bender and others, October 2, 1961 [Jacob B. Shenk; to Bender, Carl Kreider, J. Robert Kreider, Harold Bauman, S. M. King {Samuel M. King}]: attaching programs of Mennonite Board of Education, Goshen College Board of Overseers, and more; about transportation--no autos going, mentioned air coach.

• • • ATTACHED, spirit-duplicated schedules of those events, at Hesston College, October 19-21, 1961.

{52} Memorandum, Bender to J. B. Shenk, March 9, 1962 [Jacob B. Shenk; as Assistant to the President]: recommending Esther Weber and Paul M. Miller for tenure.

{53} TWO entries

Telegram, Bender to Stanley Shenk, September 10, 1959 [to Souderton Pennsylvania]: replying to letter [not extant here]--had not received communication from New York University.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Telegram, Bender to Stanley Shenk, September 10, 1959: had received reference blank from New York University, returning it immediately.

{54} TWO entries

Bender to Wilbert Shenk, March 9, 1960 [to Sheridan Oregon]: thanks for delivering gifts from Herman Tan for use in Mennonite Historical Library; Tan had prepared the Confession of Faith as a term paper when a student at Goshen Biblical Seminary; encouraged Shenk to consider seminary study.

• • • • • • REPLY, Wilbert Shenk to Bender, March 24, 1960 [from Eugene Oregon]: was pondering the note about seminary study; hoped to do service to the church in the West; for a few years would do graduate study in economics at University of Oregon, meanwhile “reorient myself....

{55} TWO entries

Maynard Shetler to Bender, September 18, 1959 [stationery of Mennonite Publishing House; Shetler as Trade Manager]: sending translation of “stinging review” translated from Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte, Volume 50 Number 1; no need to reply.

• • • ATTACHED, typed copy of the translated review, re Die rechtliche Behandlung der Täufer in der deutschen Schweiz, Südwest deutschland und Hessen 1525-1618, by Horst W. Schraepler (The Legal Treatment of the Anabaptists in German Switzerland, Southwest Germany and Hesse 1525-1618); review evidently by Günther Franz; reviewer claimed to be expert in only one of the territories covered, namely Hesse, but pointed many deficiencies in Schraepler use of Hessian sources....

{56} Bender to Sanford G. Shetler, January 8, 1958 [to rural route Holsopple Pennsylvania]: seminary’s male quartet would go to eastern Pennsylvania, accompanied by Howard Charles, expenses met by offerings; did Shetler want them to give program to you congregation?

{57} Bender to Lloyd Shore, January 27, 1958 [to Louisville Ohio, Shore as Treasurer of Christian Workers’ Conference]: was Fund for Seminary Students set up and available? several men should qualify; please send “regulations and procedures” for use in counseling the men.

{58} Bernard Showalter to Bender, December 15, 1960 [from Salem Oregon]: writing as Chairman of a Mennonite Fellowship looking for pastor for a new church in Salem; Paul Miller [likely Paul M. Miller] had mentioned John Paul Oyer, Irvin Detweiler, and Kermit Derstine, but mentioned that E. M. Yost was courting Oyer [surely Earvey Megli Yost].

{59} J. R. Shultz to Bender, February 1, 1961 [stationery of Washington Brethren Church, Washington D.C.]: thanks for “coming to Ashland and meeting with our Committee [very warm tone].

U-V - miscellaneous

Thi is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also--
NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

Thin file (about 25 items)

{1} THREE entries

Memorandum, Roy Umble to Bender, February 17, 1959 [stationery of Goshen College, Department of Speech]: re broadcasting 1959 Conrad Grebel Lectures [J. D. Graber’s lectures, Joseph D. Graber, “Joe” Graber] on the college radio station; proposed a bit of editing of the recording; committee making recommendation...; cc Leland Bachman

• • • ATTACHED, spirit-duplicated sheet of basic information on the lectures.

{2} TWO entries

Memorandum, Bender to Roy Umble and Viola Good, December 23, 1960 [Bender as Chair of Foreign Student Committee, Good as Foreign Student Adviser]: on grants for foreign students coming to Goshen Biblical Seminary.

• • • REPLY, Memorandum, Roy Umble to Bender, January 10, 1961 [xq]: five points of information from International Student Committee [sic] minutes--all on procedures; that the committee understood “you” did not plan to bring Paul Sato, but instead Hyon Kim from Korea; cc “Miss Good”; in margins, Bender handwriting saying thanks, but the memo did not quite answer all the seminary’s concerns.

{3} From U.S. Treasury--Sterling M. Dietrich to Harold and Elizabeth Bender [stamped as received February 11, 1959] [stationery of U. S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service; Dietrich as District Director--signature is of Francis M. Loudin...; Elizabeth Horsch Bender]: re the Benders’ claim for a refund re tax year 1955....

{4} TWO entries

William Unrau to Bender, October 9, 1958 [stationery of Bethany Mennonite Church, Freeman South Dakota]: Unrau was to write a paper on lodge membership as an issue of church discipline; requested sources and comment.

• • • REPLY, referred Unrau to a chapter in his own denomination’s book Studies in Church Discipline and to Mennonite Encyclopedia article on Secret Societies; not much of an issue in Europe, although the Masons existed there and some liberal Dutch Mennonites may have joined; sending a list of titles from Mennonite Historical Library at Goshen.

{5} TWO entries

Verney Unruh to Bender, October 11, 1961 [airform from address in Japan]: Unruh and family would in the USA next year on furlough; thinking of living at Elkhart and taking some seminary work; wanted a Goshen seminary catalog; on visit of “Dr. Charles” to Japan [likely Howard Charles].

• • • REPLY, Bender to Verney Unruh, October 23, 1961: agreement between the two seminaries was that applicants should apply to their own; contact Erland Waltner.

{6} Bender to Wilfred Unruh [penciled “after May 22, 1959] [Unruh as Associate Secretary of the GCMC Board of Christian Service, Newton Kansas]: re yours of May 18 [not extant here]; you know of the MCC and MDS [Mennonite Disaster Service] policy of not participating in Civil Defense [nonresistance, pacifism]; there was the puzzle of the “Religious Affairs Course” occurring regularly at Battle Creek Michigan. J. Harold Sherk of MCC Peace Section and Boyd Nelson for MDS had each attended it once, but “we hesitate” because in part they seemed like an effort to draw churches into civil defense; yes, Sherk had a point in wanting to be informed, but Bender doubted a Peace Section representative would attend again; if your Board of Christian Service wanted to send someone, Bender thought you would be suitable.

{7} THREE entries

Ben Cutrell to A. L. E. Verheyden, November 28, 1961 [to a Belgium address; from Mennonite Publishing House, Cutrell as Publishing Agent]: sending a copy of [Verheyden’s new] Anabaptism in Flanders, published cooperatively with Mennonite Historical Society; cc Bender.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to A. L. E. Verheyden, November 29, 1961: after too many years, had pleasure of sending your Anabaptism in Flanders...; main problem had been translation--thanks to John H. Yoder for final version [John Yoder, John Howard Yoder].// Had just received your latest work, Le Consiel des Troubles Liste de Condamnés, 1567-1573; mention David Shank [Likely David A. Shank].

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to David Shank, November 29, 1961 [to Obain Belgium]: Dr. Verheyden’s book was finally out, Bender did not have Verheyden’s address [Vilwoorde?], so sending the book to Shank and asking Shank to deliver it.

{8} THREE entries

Margaret Voght to Bender, April 5, 1962 [penned, from an Elkhart Indiana address]: asking Bender to arrange a visit to an Amish church for her and three others, one of them George Ediger.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Miss Margaret Voght, April 10, 1961: arrangement made; would be in bishop district of Milo J. K. Yoder, the “East Clinton District”, next Sunday April 15; it would be a counsel meeting--expect a very long service, with opportunity to step out and eat while it was going....

{9} Bender to Virgil Vogt, February 25, 1959: understood you took the Evangelism course in 1957-1958 but that a schedule conflict kept you from attending “the Evangelism Workshop in Chicago”; you should see Paul Miller [likely Paul M. Miller] and arrange attendance at the Workshop this semester.

{10} THREE entries

Virgil Vogt to Bender, February 7, 1961 [to Grabill Indiana; apparently Leo Mennonite Church]: confirming a phone conversation, expecting you to speak Easter Sunday evening, in a service with other denominations represented; warned against making some mistakes last year’s speaker, president of Taylor University, had made; invitation to preach in the morning; invitation for hosting Bender.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Virgil Vogt, March 22, 1961: regrets that his schedule would not let him preach on Easter morning, but would speak at the “joint meeting”; unsure whether Mrs. Bender would come [Elizabeth Bender, Elizabeth Horsch Bender].

• • • REPLY, Virgil Vogt to Bender, March 27, 1961: invitation to supper before evening service, with Elizabeth or not; how to find their apartment, over a store in Grabill.

{11} TWO entries

Bender to Virgil Vogt, June 11, 1962 [to rural route Spencerville Indiana]: Bender wished to discuss his reservations about points Vogt had made in the Funk Lecture at Goshen, specifically where Vogt cited Paul at Corinth; sending copy of a Bender article on the topic for Gospel Herald; asked for Vogt’s comments and corrections.// Also, Bender had a report about how Vogt had coerced elders in his congregation to accept his counsel to sell their property, acting contrary to what Vogt taught about the church as a brotherhood--perhaps you can give me “straight facts” on this.

• • • REPLY, Virgil Vogt to Bender, June 18, 1962: in response to Bender rejoinder about example of Paul in Corinth, Vogt wrote at length about support of ministers and missionaries in the New Testament; as for Vogt’s own actions, they were “not quite as arbitrary as you have heard”; some elaboration of what happened, including a meeting with John C. Wenger [J. C. Wenger] and Russel Krabill present, which laid groundwork for moving on....

{12} Bender to Masha N. Vorobiov, February 17, 1959 [Vorobiov--Secretary of library at Harvard Divinity School]: thanks for sending Williams’ bibliography Studies in the Radical Reformation [likely George H. Williams, George Huston Williams]--and for the address of the Unitarian Historical Society, London.

{13} G. N. Vose to Bender, September 9, 1960 [from Baptist Parsonage, West Branch Iowa]: thanks for an hour with Bender at Goshen; had subscribed to Mennonite Quarterly Review and ordered available back issues; hoped to visit again before leaving USA.

{14} THREE entries

Bender to Art Voth, January 15, 1958 [to Menno Travel Service, Akron Pennsylvania]: giving his travel plan to Europe in the summer, and some preferences for tickets.

• • • REPLY, Arthur A. Voth to Bender, January 31, 1958 [stationery of Menno Travel Service, Akron Pennsylvania; Arthur Voth as Director]: reservations for flying from New York to Frankfurt July 21-22 and returning Hamburg to New York August 7-8.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Art Voth, February 8, 1958 [to Menno Travel Service, Akron Pennsylvania; Arthur Voth, Arthur A. Voth]: reservations were okay; now, for a “belated customs declaration, needed airline, date, and flight number of arriving at New York last September 23.

{15} Bender to Art Voth, December 3, 1958 [Arthur Voth, Arthur A. Voth, of Menno Travel Service, Akron Pennsylvania]: wanting a roomette on “the General” from Lancaster to Warsaw [likely Pennsylvania to Indiana] leaving December 30.

W - miscellaneous

This is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also--

NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

(Thin file (about 45 items)

{1} January TWO entries

re Elmer Wall--Orlando Schmidt and Daniel Ewy to Bender, April 16, 1961 [stationery of Mennonite Community Church, Fresno California, Peter J. Ediger pastor; Schmidt as Chair of Pastoral Committee, Ewy as Secretary]: as Peter Ediger had resigned to take a position on “the Board of Missions of the General Conference, looking for a replacement; about the stage of their search and about the congregation.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Orlando Schmidt, April 25, 1961: had known Ediger six years, but not in the role of pastor; gave his evaluation and included a bit on his wife.

{2} Daniel Walther to Bender, October 9, 1961 [stationery of Andrews University, Berrien Springs Michigan]: asking Bender to address their student body, having wanted him for a long time; some details....

{3} Bender to Erland Waltner, S. F. Pannabecker, and Paul Mininger, April 10, 1958 [Waltner and Elkhart Indiana address, Pannabecker as President of Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Chicago]: sorry had to report that Walter Eisenbeis felt morally obligated to work for one of his divinity professors and could not serve as research assistant on the Anabaptist Bibliography; Walter also disappointed.// Next week would stop at Concordia [seminary] in St. Louis “to get some clarity on the situation in the Lutheran Foundation for Reformation Research; hoped by now C. J. Dyck [Cornelius J. Dyck] had decided regarding directorship of Institute of Mennonite Studies.

{4} Erland Waltner to Bender, January 17, 1961 [stationery of The General Conference Mennonite Church Executive Committee, Newton Kansas]: it was now cleared that Waltner and I. I. Friesen would be GCMC representatives on the “Planning Committee for the Inter-Mennonite Ministerial Study Conference during 1961”, with Erwin Goering as backup; wanted to know dates of next meeting; further identification of Friesen and Goering; cc’s to Friesen, Erwin C. Goering, Harris Waltner.

{5} Goshen seminary to Erland Waltner and others, February 28, 1961 [the others appear to be faculties of Mennonite seminaries and a few others, mostly members of Bible/Religion faculties, all in the USA]: spirit duplicated one-page document that clearly was a cover message for a “Preliminary Draft of the Conrad Grebel Lectures for 1961 on ‘The Nature of the Church and Its Discipleship’”; the sheet has a full page of information and instructions--draft not to be distributed further.

{6} Erland Waltner to Bender, May 11, 1961 [stationery of GCMC Historical and Research Committee, Office of its Executive Secretary]: invitation to Biennial Dinner Meeting of Mennonite Research Fellowship, in Newton Kansas, on June 7 just before June 8-9 meeting of “the Mennonite Cultural Conference on Mennonite Educational and Cultural Problems, alternatively “Conference on Mennonite Cultural and Educational Problems”]; re nominating new persons for Fellowship membership; mention Melvin Gingerich; Waltner unable to attend, Gingerich and Vice-President J. Winfield Fretz to be in charge.

{7} O. A. Waltner to Bender, November 9, 1959 [stationery of The General Conference Mennonite Church, Waltner Acting Executive Secretary; GCMC]: submitting resolutions of Continuation Committee of Mennonite Mission Board Secretaries; about a Peace Program in Japan [pacifism, nonresistance], associated with Paul Peachey, with [MC] Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities willing to take responsibility; a resolution about Peachey’s visit to India in February and March.

{8} THREE entries

Bender to C. E. Ward Company, June 4, 1959 [to New London Ohio]: Bender wished to purchase doctoral gown and hood; particulars.

• • • REPLY, C. E. Ward Company to Bender, June 15, 1959 [signed by M. Indae; stationery of the company]: understandings of the company, a manufacturer, for a gown from University of Heidelberg, etc.; price list attached.

• • • REPLY, Bender to C. E. Ward , September 30, 1959 [to Cap and Gown Department]: placing his order.

{9} Bender to Weaver Book Store, November 22, 1961 [to Lancaster Pennsylvania]: the store erred in assuming Bender had placed a $249 bid on an auction order; Bender had bid $49 and now asked for adjustment.

{10} Bender to Henry Weaver, Jr., April 24, 1961: re “STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES OF THE RADIO COMMITTEE”; Bender found the statement good in general but offered a list of seven substantive changes or comments.

{11} Bender to Stanley Weaver, March 29, 1961 [Black Mountain Mission, Chinle Arizona]: about Weaver communication with Nelson Kauffman re study during furlough; most of letter is response to criticisms Weaver had made, some about Goshen--unclear whether the college or the seminary, and some on the theme that with professionalization, ministers were changing from church to church opportunistically; [Bender replied somewhat defensively]; ...; cc Nelson Kauffman [Nelson E. Kauffman].

{12} Bender to T. Wever-Boekhandel, April 13, 1961 [to the book dealer’s address in the Netherlands]: ordering 60 items (designated by catalog number).

{13} TWO entries

Paul L. Wenger to Bender, April 4, 1958 [stationery of Augusta Mennonite School, Waynesboro Virginia, altered to indicate Springdale Mennonite Church]: hoped Bender might serve the congregation in a “Non-resistance Conference”; date somewhat flexible; especially for young people; writer was son-in-law of Joseph R. Driver....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Paul L. Wenger, April 18, 1958: “in principle” wanted to serve, but his first open weekend was June 15, then would leave for Europe in mid-July...; yes, remembered Driver from the Holy Land trip....

{14} THREE entries

Dan West to Bender, February 10, 1959 [stationery of the Brethren Service Commission (Church of the Brethren); ? Daniel West ?]: Neighborly beginning; ...enclosing a letter from Martin England; Bender probably could help more than could West.

• • • ATTACHED, copy of Dan West to Martin England [Somerville New Jersey], February 10, 1959; sending your letter to Bender; then some response to what apparently was England’s topic, the proliferation of Protestant denominations.

• • • ATTACHED, Martin England to Dan West, February 7 [no year, surely 1959]: writing as a Baptist “stimulated” by Bender’s “The Recovery of the Anabaptist Vision”; reference to Dr. R. E E. Harkness [Reuben Harkness ??] of Crozer Seminary; mentioned Culbert G. Rutenber; letter is more about need for discussions of Baptists with Mennonite and Brethren groups.

{15} Filled-out application for Clergy Certificate for 1959 [for a Western Clergy Certificate].

{16} Bender to Westminster Press Book Department, February 1, 1962 [to Philadelphia Pennsylvania]: interested in copy of George William’s book on Radical Reformation [George H. Williams, George Huston Williams]; wanted a copy for review in Mennonite Quarterly Review; about ordering some for his teaching....

{17} TWO entries

B. R. White to Bender, August 22, 1958 [from Berkshire England; “member of Regent’s Park College, Oxford]: was working a thesis “The Development of the Doctrine of the Church among Early English Separatists”; was impressed by article on England in Mennonite Encyclopedia, using sources unfamiliar to the writer; was the thesis available?

• • • REPLY, Bender to Reverend B. R. White, August 27, 1958: had referred your letter to Irvin B. Horst [Irvin Horst], author of the article....

{18} Neva White to Bender, February 13, 1958 [stationery of Marquette University Memorial Library]: when disposing of duplicate books, sometimes wondered if Bender was interested, even in Catholic books; sending cards on two of them; hopes you are in the new seminary building, etc.; on her own progress, maybe in Europe next year, much preferring Germany; etc....

{19} Bender to Reverend J. H. Wichert, June 5, 1959 [to Vineland Ontario]: soliciting a set of “the Jahrbuch” [Yearbook] of GCMC churches [in the Niagara Peninsula--or all of Canada, or what?] Also an English booklet Information.

{20} TWO entries

Copy of Gould Wickey to Eric G. Hawkinson [stamped as received December 3, 1960] [stationery of National Lutheran Educational Conference, Washington D.C., Wickey the Executive Director: Hawkinson--Dean at North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago; (NOTE: the letter may have to do with Bender role as accreditation examiner for American Association of Theological Schools]: sending “our report” with copy for “President Olson” [sic--Olsson]....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Copy of Karl A. Olsson to Gould Wickey, January 3, 1961: 1.5 page letter, obviously responding to the report; cc Bender.

{21} Liesel Widmer to Bender, January 17, 1958 [from Bienenberg (likely Bienenberg Mennonite Bible School, near Basel in Switzerland)--later, (English name) Theological Seminary Bienenberg; (German Name) Ausbildungs- und Tagungszentrum Bienenberg; (French Name) Centre de formation et de rencontre Bienenberg; handwritten German]: visit from Theo Glück in connection with Sixth Mennonite World Conference; mention your book, and Mennonite Encyclopedia; going well here; mention MCC; about her work; greetings, and extra ones to “Grandma” [likely Elizabeth Bender, Elizabeth Horsch Bender].

{22} TWO entries

Bender to Liesel Widmer, August 16, 1960 [to Bienenberg, Switzerland; in English]: thanks for her letter [not extant here] and the satisfactory account; will be looking for the tablecloth and Bienen-Nachrichtgen....

• • • REPLY, Liesel Widmer to Bender, August 17, 1960 [stationery of Europäische Mennonitische Bibelschule; in German]: ...you are again “in the clouds” and will soon arrive in Goshen; paragraphs labeled “Bienen-Nachrichten” [Bienen news], “Rasiercreme” [shaving cream], “Abrechnung”[accounting], “Weltkonferenz” [World Conference].

{23} Bender to Liesel Widmer, September 28, 1960 [to Bienenberg/Liestal Switzerland]: Mary Eleanor Bender planned to attend University of Neuchatel second semester; H. S. Bender asked Liesel to get her certain materials for registering; tablecloth had arrived in Frankfurt in good time.

{24} TWO entries

Bender to Pierre Widmer, May 5, 1958 [to France; letter in French]: had written an article on your father-in-law Pierre Sommer for Mennonitisches Lexikon and Mennonite Encyclopedia; asked Widmer to read it critically and correct mistakes; please reply by air mail.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Pierre Widmer, June 3, 1958 [in French]: asking Widmer’s assistance for an article on Sunday Schools for Mennonite Encyclopedia; asked a number of questions [which go beyond this annotator’s French].

{25} Bender to Pierre Widmer, April 14, 1960 [to address in France; letter in English]: requesting two copies of Bulletin de la Societe Belfortaine d’ Emulation, 1958, with an “article by Roger Boigeol on the Anabaptists and Mennonites of the Belfort region.

{26} Bender to Pierre Widmer, September 14, 1962 [to address in France]: letter of sympathy and condolence at death of Widmer’s wife; (NOTE: Bender himself died a week later, on September 21, 1962).

{27} David F. Wiebe to Bender, June 30, 1960: leaving Goshen Friday morning for MCC work in Mexico; thanks for lectures at AMBS on the church.

{28} Delbert Wiens to Bender, June 8 [no year, filed 1962] [no return address]: a personal note--would graduate on June 12 and return to California; bit of joke about being a bachelor and from Yale and treated as a fundamentalist....

{29} Postcard, W. Wiswedel to Bender, August 20, 1959 [likely Wilhelm Wiswedel]: German handwriting in a script unreadable by this annotator. Copy sent to Joe Springer.

{30} FOUR entries

Bender to Carlton O. Wittlinger, August 31, 1960 [to Messiah College, Grantham Pennsylvania]: thanks for critique of Ira Landis [Ira D. Landis] manuscript; 1.5 pages of discussion of Landis and his piece.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Carlton O. Wittlinger, December 4, 1960: about difficulties of printing the Landis article and getting a “completed print” to Wittlinger; article for Mennonite Quarterly Review [see “The Origin of the Brethren in Christ Church and Its Later Divisions”, MQR, 34:290-307 October 1960, and correction, 35:88 January 1961]; thanks to Wittlinger for his “Notes and Queries” item.

{31} Bender to Carlton O. Wittlinger, April 18, 1962 [to Messiah College, Wittlinger as Dean]: confirming plan for Bender visit to your campus on April 23; travel itinerary; sorry he would not get to see President Climenhaga [Arthur M. Climenhaga, Arthur Climenhaga].

{32} TWO entries

Klaus G. Wust to Bender, January 1, 1958 [personal stationery; from Arlington Virginia, representing Institut Fuer Auslandsbeiehungen; to Bender as MQR editor]: a mutual friend, Preston A. Barba, had said Bender was interested in publishing Wust’s article “Books of the German Immigrants in the Shenandoah Valley” in Mennonite Quarterly Review; gave permission after Wust made a few corrections; Wust willing to rewrite to include new material....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Klaus G. Wust, January 6, 1958: anticipating a Yes reply, Bender had sent the article to the printer; now had inquired and it was too late to stop the press for changes.

{33} Memorandum Arnold Wyse to Bender, May 16, 1962: re two persons, LeRoy Walters and Albert Oei coming to the seminary next year (Oei already for the summer); about housing them.

L - miscellaneous

This is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also--

NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

Sizable file (about 75 items)

{1} Byron S. Lamson to Bender, December 20, 1960 [stationery of General Missionary Board, Free Methodist Church of North America, Winona Lake Indiana, Lamson as Secretary]: commendation for fine seminar with fine people, on December 10.

{2} Bender to Christian Landes and Walter Landes, July 11, 1958 [Christian at Lautenbach, Walter at Willenbach, über Heilbronn Germany; in German]: Hope to visit you soon, landing in Frankfurt July 19, proposing to come by on Sunday the 20th.

{3} THREE entries

Bender and Elizabeth Bender to Walter and Helene Landes, May 4, 1961 [to Willenbach, Württemberg Germany]: great disappointment not only at your being unable to come to Mennonite World Conference but also at not being able to have you to come by us...; mention the risk being so large; [more exchange between family friends].

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Helene and Walter to Bender, July 17, 1962 [from Willenbach; penciled “Landes”; in German: 65th birthday greeting; at Thanksgiving Day we greet you, Elisabeth [sic], and your children, and the grandmother; some sentences on thanks to Jesus our Savior, etc....; news about Otto Funck and Rudolph Schmutz; wishing God’s grace and blessing on all aspects of Mennonite World Conference....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Helene & Walter to Bender, July 21, 1962 [penciled “Landes”; Helene Landes, Walter Landes]: today had heard that because ill, Harold was behind in his work preparing Mennonite World Conference; a statement of encouragement and sympathy in view of Bender’s illness....

{4} TWO entries

Paul Lantz to Bender, November 30, 1961 [from Goshen Indiana; handwritten note]: appreciation note at time of Bender retirement from active administration...; that “we” would be moving to Millersburg Ohio taking up where John King had been pastor.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Paul Lantz to Bender, July 25, 1962 [from Millersburg Ohio, handwritten note]: statement of appreciation and sympathy in view of Bender’s illness; hoped to be at Gospel Book Store this Saturday as you autograph your new book.

{5} TWO entries

Bender to John Lapp [John A. Lapp], May 4, 1962: through your sister Mary, Mrs. Willard Swartley [sic--Mary Swartley, Mary Lapp Swartley], teacher at Bethany Christian High School, had learned that you had suggested John Krall might be good as Bethany’s principal; please write, answering certain questions about Krall...; Bethany staff need not wear the plain coat [nonconformity, attire, regulation coat].

• • • REPLY, John A. Lapp to Bender, [no date; stamped as received--appears to be May 19--but “19” is unclear], 1962 [from Harrisonburg Virginia]: replied, partly by explaining why John Krall had not met technical requirements to be a Director of [apparently] Eastern Mennonite High School; that Krall was on its faculty; mention that Jesse Byler had accepted only an interim appointment; mention Krall’s work at Iowa Mennonite School, mention Paul Guengerich.// Lapp asking counsel for himself on a dissertation topic; had turned to missionary history, mentioned India; his professor Holden Furber was receptive; Lapp would visit India, also do much research at Goshen [likely Archives of the Mennonite Church, perhaps also Mennonite Historical Library].

{6} FOUR entries

Leo Laurense to Bender, July 29, 1959 [from Hilversum Bolsward, The Netherlands; typed in good English]: Craandijk [likely Herman Craandijk] had written Bender about committee formed to build a Menno Simons Memorial Church at Witmarsum, to serve the worldwide church and as a local meeting place; some points agreed upon; about a leaflet being produced; questions about the leaflet serving American constituency; Dr. Meihuizen [likely Hendrik Wiebes Meihuizen, Hendrik Meihuizen, Hendrik W. Meihuizen, H. W. Meihuizen] would be coming to North America for meetings of Mennonite World Conference Preparatory Committee [Mennonite World Conference Preparatory Commission; vorbereitenden Kommission] and bring materials....

• • • ATTACHED, one-sheet typed document, in English, that may be draft of proposed text for the brochure.

• • • also ATTACHED, an architect’s sketch of the projected church building.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Leo Laurense to Bender, December 12, 1959 [from Bolsward (Holland)]: the Dutch committee had raised 37,000 fl. for the church building at Witmarsum; what the architect--Brother Walinga--developed would depend on money available; doubted much more would come from Dutch brotherhood; ADS [Algemeene Doopsgezinde Societeit--General Mennonite (literally “baptist-minded”?) Society, i.e., Dutch Mennonite general conference] would not give much as Reformed Church had undertaken much building of churches in new communities and ADS had decided it should do the same; so would like Americans to raise their contributions in first part of 1960; from Meihuizen the writer understood “you” want to use the slides and tape; please return them when finished.

{7} THREE entries

Fragment of letter of Leo Laurense probably to Bender, penciled “Early 1960” [the letter’s final page, signed by Laurense]: appears to have been asking questions about subject(s) other than raising money for Menno Simons Memorial Church building at Witmarsum; reference to material for articles in Doopsgezinde Bijdragen, Doopsgezind Jaarboekje, and others; mention material from Mennonite Encyclopedia.// About support for the church building at Witmarsum, treasurer thought a few thousand gilders were still needed; if you have money available, would welcome it; in the final committee meeting, not yet financial closure.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to various editors of Mennonite papers, December 22, 1960 [to papers who had received a recent release about the Menno Simons Memorial Church]: in that release, please replace the second paragraph’s second sentence with “A new meetinghouse, which is to serve the two congregations of Witmarsum and Pingjum, has been erected to replace the former meetinghouse which was old and in need of much renovation, which has been torn down”;...

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Willis Detweiler to Leo Laurense, February 14, 1961 [Detweiler--Assistant Treasurer (likely of MCC)]: MCC recently had sent a $500 contribution for the meetinghouse; in addition some small contributions had come in, and William T. Snyder [“Bill” Snyder] had requested that they be sent; listed 4 small contributions with names and addresses; cc Snyder, Bender.

{8} Ira D. Landis to Bender, June 17, 1961 [Landis at Bareville Pennsylvania via airform to Bender at European Mennonite Bibleschule at Bienenenberg, Basel area, Switzerland {Bienenberg Mennonite Bible School--later, (English name) Theological Seminary Bienenberg; (German Name) Ausbildungs- und Tagungszentrum Bienenberg; (French Name) Centre de formation et de rencontre Bienenberg}]: thanks for card [not extant here]; very convoluted sentences about contributions and confusion among accounts; tell “Bro. Lawrence” he could expect a total of $1500...; mention meeting of the “Federated Historical Society” this week in Lancaster, about tours; planning solicitation for a new building [?? perhaps Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society ??]; bit of discussion of J. B. Smith’s Commentary on Revelation [Jacob B. Smith].

{9} TWO entries

Leo Laurense to Bender, March 6, 1961 [airform to Goshen from Bolsward, The Netherlands]: reference to Bender letter of January 4 [not extant here]; about status of the fundraising [surely for Menno Simons Memorial Church], with figures, including final cost of about fl. 60,000 of which Americans had given about fl. 10,000; mention monies from Ira Landis, MCC, Canadian “Imm. Board”, Cornelius Krahn, and more; apology for not sending account of the celebration--get it from your church’s delegates and from Doopsgezind Weekblad....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Leo Laurense to Bender, July 19, 1961 [via airform, from Bolsward]: further accounting of gifts from North America “for the Witmarsum church”.

{10} Leo Laurense to Bender, January 1, 1962 [from Bolsward, The Netherlands]: committee for the building of the Menno Simons Memorial Church had held its final meeting; much description of decisions made; many financial figures; Weekblad would publish a short report of the finances.// Now about the bibliography on which Laurense was working; some questions--how to report on mission work in Indonesia, e.g. pre-World War II when Indonesia was considered part of The Netherlands.// One more report on contributions from North America.

{11} Postcard, Leo Laurense to Bender, August 17, 1962 [mailed from St. Louis Missouri, but with return address Bolsward, the Netherlands (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962)]: about getting slides about Witmarsum back to Europe [Menno Simons Memorial Church]; mention Bender assistant Mr. Klassen [?? William Klassen ??] and Cornelius Krahn.

{12} SIX entries

Daniel Leatherman to Bender, January 17, 1959 [from Chicago (Leatherman was a graduate student, recently graduated from Goshen College]: was writing a paper on “The Mennonite Attitude Toward Capitalism (A Reply to Weber)” [Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]; was also using R. H. Tawney, Religion and the Rise of Capitalism [Richard Henry Tawney]; discussed some heavy issues; asked for comment from Bender, John Howard Yoder [John Yoder, John H. Yoder] and/or J. C. Wenger [John C. Wenger].

• • • REPLY, Bender to Daniel Leatherman, January 27, 1959: found the letter interesting, sending it to Ernst Correll who was well steeped in the works of Weber and Tawney; comments on particular statements of Leatherman....

• • • REPLY, Daniel Leatherman to Bender, January 24, 1959: comment on having just discovered Correll and his work; Leatherman wrote as if soon coming to Goshen for his research, setting time for appointment with Bender then.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Henrietta Van Noy to Daniel Leatherman and Bender, March 2, 1959 [stationery of The American University, Washington D.C.]: Ernst Correll, about to enter hospital for check-up, asked that she forward attached notes on Leatherman’s inquiry; asked Leatherman to furnish a fuller outline; Correll was interested....

• • • ATTACHED, 2.5 page document commenting on Daniel Leatherman inquiry, by Ernst Correll.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Daniel Leatherman, March 19, 1959: wonder whether Correll’s material had been of value to Leatherman.

{13} Daniel Leatherman to Bender and Melvin Gingerich, May 21, 1962 [from Chicago]: for his doctoral work Leatherman wanted to do a study of political socialization of Mennonite youth “of grammar-school age; inquiring whether “the Historical and Research Committee” [sic] of Mennonite General Conference might sponsor the study and give financial support; continued with comments on issues and content of the study as projected; mentioned writing to Bishop John E. Lapp; [lengthy letter].

{14} re John E. Leatherman, cross-file sheet directing to Paul N. Kraybill correspondence for a letter concerning an African student; no date given; sheet is penciled “File: John E. Leatherman”.

{15} Quintus Leatherman to Bender, May 9, 1960 [airform from London England]: were planning a conference in London and wanted Bender to speak; wanted to fit itinerary of Bender going to or from the Continent; details; emphasis would be on “the Anabaptist view of the Christian Life and the Church.// Second matter was possible translation of a piece by Karel Kulik re “‘The Net of Faith’ by Peter Chelcicky”--from Mennonite Quarterly Review of July 1959; some detail.

{16} FOUR entries

Copy of Quintus Leatherman to Urie Bender, November 1, 1960 [from London, to Urie Bender of Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]: proposing to publish pamphlets for use in work at London Mennonite Centre; much mention of Herb and Maureen Klassen [Herbert Klassen, Herb Klassen]; proposed six existing items for content, with an item by Bender, others by J. A. Toews, Virgil Vogt, John H. Yoder [John Howard Yoder], John W. Miller; and more to be written (list of proposed topics).

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Quintus Leatherman to Bender, November 28, 1960 [from London Mennonite Centre]: for “CROSS AND CROWN” pamphlet series, wished permission to use your “The Mennonite Conception of the Christian Church and Community” from 1945; question about using the word “Mennonite”--discussion of this; P.S. suggested as a sub-title “the Relevance of the Early Church For Today”.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, manuscript, 7.5 single-spaced pages, with editorial markings; by Harold S. Bender, titled “Church and Community: The Relevance of the Early Church for Today”.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Quintus Leatherman, December 21, 1960 [marked “PERSONAL”]: gave permission asked for in the November 28 letter; glad of plan to publish these pamphlets; saw hand of Herb Klassen [? Herbert Klassen ?] in assigning John W. Miller for “Planned Giving or Self-Sacrifice”; Miller’s “radical position against the concept of Stewardship” was “not the position ofthe [sic] Church, and is not the Anabaptist-Mennonite approach; urged going slow with this suggestion and submitting anything to H. Ernest Bennett of the mission board; do not write to John Howard Yoder about this, as he was a close friend of John W. Miller; also saw Herb Klassen hand in recommendation of Virgil Vogt, who also was “faulty” regarding Stewardship; warning to take care about what Herb and Maureen write, immersed as they were with the Concern group and at Reba Place; Bender had no objection to some Concern group folks writing, but advocated also for using teachers “in our Seminaries...more in thecenter [sic] of our Church’s life” than were Concerns folks; cc Urie Bender.

{17} J. M. Leendertz to Bender, August 30, 1962 [handwritten on air form from Bennebroek (?Holland?), in good English; likely Johannes Matthias Leendertz]: statement of appreciation and sympathy in view of Bender’s illness; gives account of his getting acquainted with Bender and observing his career; high commendation for Bender’s influence.

{18} Harry G. Lefever to Bender, March 10, 1962 [Chicago street address]: introduced self as student at University of Chicago Divinity School, working for an MA degree; was interested in Anabaptist ethics; elaborated; wished to come to Goshen and work in Mennonite Historical Library and while there to meet Bender to discuss Anabaptist research; understood G. H. Williams was writing a new volume on Radical Reformation [see Reflections on the Radical Reformation, by George Huntston Williams (Boston, Massachusetts, 1962-1963], and that J. T. McNeill was much enthused about it; cc Nelson Springer.

{19} Telegram, Bender to C. K. Lehman, May 16, 1960 [Lehman at EMC--Eastern Mennonite College; later EMU, Eastern Mennonite University]: asking him to conduct chapel service on Friday.

{20} TWO entries

Postcard, Chester K. Lehman to Bender, September 16, 1950 [indicated only as from “Chester” but from Harrisonburg Virginia and surely Chester Lehman, C. K. Lehman]: wanted Bender to confirm he could give the Conrad Grebel Lectures January 30-February 3, 1961; or if necessary, later....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Chester K. Lehman, September 20, 1960: could so confirm, but much preferred not to begin until February 1.

{21} Bender to James O. Lehman, April 21, 1959 [Lehman at Eastern Mennonite College; EMC; later EMU, Eastern Mennonite University]: belated thanks for Lehman letter of February 27, about an article [--see “David A. Schneck's notes on the History of the Sonnenberg (Ohio) Swiss Mennonite Congregation,” by John S. Umble, in Mennonite Quarterly Review, 29:276-299 October, 1955]; Bender would take the matter up with Professor Umble, who was 80.// Thanks re some other matters having to do with John Horsch History contest and with something Lehman had sent to Mennonite Historical Library.

{22} TWO entries

John A. Lehman to Bender, May 18, 1962 [from Blough Mennonite Church near Holsopple Pennsylvania]: wanting Bender to give his Conrad Grebel Lectures at Johnstown Bible Conference November 22-25, 1962.

• • • REPLY, Bender to John A. Lehman, May 21, 1962: Yes; gave titles of particular lectures; (NOTE: Bender died on September 21, 1962).

{23} Memorandum, Bender to John Lehman, May 23, 1958 [John E. Lehman]: instructing Lehman to send papers immediately to Reinhart H. Vogt and his wife Ruth Vogt of Winnipeg, so that they could cross the border into USA to attend Summer Session.

{24} Memorandum, Bender to John Lehman, October 21, 1958 [John E. Lehman]: Eldon King and William Nofziger were not eligible for Ministers’ discounts [likely for attending the seminary]; Bender explained why.

{25} John E. Lehman to Bender, March 24, 1959 [John Lehman]: International Student Committee had acted re two students: “Miss Lichdi” to accept if she passed an English test; Watson Soong not accepted as he was “established in a Seminary program in Philadelphia”....

{26} TWO entries

John E. Lehman to Bender, April 14, 1959 [John Lehman]: about financial aid for Claude Beachy to attend Summer Session.

• • • REPLY, Bender to John Lehman, April 28, 195? [strikeover; probably 1959] [John E. Lehman]: recommended giving remainder of Schowalter Fund to Beachy....

{27} TWO entries

Paul J. Lehman to Lewis E. Strite, March 7, 1959 [addressed only to Strite, but a 3.3-page, single-spaced, (dim) spirit-duplicated letter marked “Copy”; no letterhead, no return address]: It is about a German [apparently German-language] broadcast beginning from Luxembourg, apparently with a person “Brother Janzen” in charge there; mention Samuel Gerber; Mennonite Broadcasts Incorporated; posed two policy approaches at work, one of which he labeled “Mennonite” and the other “Catholic” [apparently not referring to doctrine or to institutional connection, but to some inherent quality of the approach]; wrote clearly that he thought his apple cart, which had been Mennonite in that sense, had been upset; raised questions of whether Mennonite Broadcasts had sought counsel of church leaders at its beginnings; reference to the position of “John Howard” in this [likely meaning John Howard Yoder, John H. Yoder].

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Paul J. Lehman to Lieber Brüder [Dear Brethren], April [no day], 1959 [stationery of Mennonite Broadcasts, Inc., Harrisonburg Virginia, “The Radio Division of Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]; letter itself in German; this Lehman signed as “Leiter der europäische Sendungen” (Head of European broadcasts)]: Sending more information about the new Mennonite radio program, which will broadcast from Luxemburg [sic]; reference to a provisional committee of Daniel Wenger, Peter Dyck, Samuel Gerber, and Paul Lehmann [sic] which had met with J. D. Graber present [Joseph D. Graber, “Joe” Graber]; provisional effort was beginning with H. H. Janzen as speaker and Samuel Gerber as announcer, cooperating... (more description, detail); a meeting of the Bible School Committee [Bienenberg Mennonite Bible School--later, (English name) Theological Seminary Bienenberg; (German Name) Ausbildungs- und Tagungszentrum Bienenberg; (French Name) Centre de formation et de rencontre Bienenberg] had originally been planned for March 23, to deal with the Radio matters, but had been deferred in order to make decisions from firmer experience; Samuel Gerber then asked that the Radio work be put on the agenda of the next meeting....

{28} Paul Lehman to “Brother Lewis” [surely, Lewis Strite], May 26, 1959: thanks for letter of the 18th [not extant here]; this day Lehman had been at Bienenberg all day; Bible School Committee [Bienenberg Mennonite Bible School--later, (English name) Theological Seminary Bienenberg; (German Name) Ausbildungs- und Tagungszentrum Bienenberg; (French Name) Centre de formation et de rencontre Bienenberg] had met, and also the Worte des Lebens [Word of Life] executive committee; list of decisions; mention roles of Samuel Gerber, Brother Janzen [H. H. Janzen], “Lehman”, Peter Dyck, a PAX man named George Fast, Daniel Wenger, and a trainee Werner Dobbler; MBI [likely Mennonite Broadcasts, Incorporated] office and studio to be at Bienenberg; “The German program is coming along nicely...”// At recent Mennonite Missionary Conference, Lehman had long talks with David Shank [likely David A. Shank]; warm conversations, gave some content, reference to some David Shank letter to MBI; more this and that; mention Eugene K. Souder [Eugene Souder]; mention “Luciano”....

{29} FIVE entries

Georg Leibbrandt to Bender, January 19, 1959 [from Bonn Germany; in German]: reminding Bender that back in July 1956 Bender had told the writer he would send $100; apparently Bender had forgotten, so this reminder; this along with the devaluation of money since 1933 has been a loss for me; greeting from his wife.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Georg Leibbrandt to Bender, February 6, 1961: reminder of his January 19, 1959 letter, never answered; shortly before Friend Professor Unruh died [likely Benjamin Unruh, Benjamin H. Unruh] he had asked Leibbrandt whether the money had been received...; reminder of what writer had done for Mennonites since 1941; seemed to suggest that in light of money devaluation, he should get 5% interest for time since 1933.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Georg Leibbrandt, March 16, 1961: Correll [likely Ernst Correll] had handled this matter originally, and now Bender had written to him; would reply.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Georg Leibbrandt, May 31, 1961: had not answered your February 6 letter, but had done some research; Bender himself had not had anything to do with this matter, and Ernst Correll who did, was in poor health...; Bender now gave a history of sorts, of happenings in 1954 and in 1938; history involved the Mennonite Publishing House and in 1938 its business manager C. B. Shoemaker [Charles B. Shoemaker] had sent Leibbrandt a letter enclosing a New York check for $100; possibly you forgot, possibly it got lost...; etc.; cc Correll.

• • • ATTACHED, copy of a document headed “STATEMENT”, original signed by Bender and Ernst Correll, “on settlement in 1938 of Georg Leibbrandt’s refund of his One Hundred Dollar deposit in advance of a prospected publication in ‘Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History’”; the document indicates that in October-November 1938 Liebbrandt had withdrawn his interest in the matter and Mennonite Publishing House was returning his $100; original to Georg Leibbrandt, copy to Prof. B. Unruh at Karlsruhe [Benjamin H. Unruh, Benjamin Unruh].

{30} TWO entries

Richard H. Lewis to Bender, March 20, 1959 [penned from Ann Arbor Michigan]: wanted help on sources for a paper he was writing about Anabaptists from 1525-1560, which included the Menno Simons period; paper was for Albert Hyma and Raymond Albright; especially interested in trends in the Netherlands....

• • • REPLY, Bender to Richard H. Lewis, April 21, 1959: to help, needed to know your facility in German and Dutch, plus some of what you have access to at the University of Michigan; mentioned works by C. Henry Smith and by John Horsch....

{31} TWO entries

Bender to Kurt Lichdi, February 23, 1959 [to Heilbronn Germany: reference to letter [not extant here] saying Lichdi’s daughter [apparently Roswitha Lichdi “Rose Lichdi”] was thinking of coming to Goshen next year....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Kurt Lichdi, March 13, 1959: sending the necessary forms for the daughter to matriculate here; tuition cost; could not say anything definitive about a stipend.

{32} SEVEN entries

Doreen F. Harms (for Peter Dyck) to Kurt Lichdi, March 25, 1959 [stationery of MCC Frankfurt]: Bender had written that before your daughter Roswitha [Roswitha Lichdi “Rose Lichdi”] could be accepted at Goshen she needed a test of her English; discussion of next steps for her travel, etc.; cc Bender.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Kurt Lichdi, March 26, 1959: German secretary absent so Bender wrote in English; about papers and certification your daughter will need; she could travel on same boat with other exchange students; board, room, tuition costs for a year, $1100, bit a stipend would cover $300 of that....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Kurt Lichdi to Bender [no date; stamped as if received March 30]: thanks for Bender message of February 23; if you will send the necessary papers as soon as you can; time to book passage.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Kurt Lichdi to Bender, April 2, 1959: thanks for yours of March 26; Roswitha Lichdi [“Rose Lichdi”] had gone to MCC Frankfurt and taken her English test; other papers certifying her education; at Frankfurt had arranged her trip...; she would be 21 in June, and was very happy about coming to America.

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Doreen Harms, April 17, 1959 [to MCC Frankfurt]: thanks for the splendid way she had handled the case of Roswitha Lichdi [“Rose Lichdi”].

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to Kurt Lichdi, April 17, 1959: thanks for yours of April 2; page of details about practical matters of Roswitha’s coming....

• • • ATTACHED, document, 5/8 double-spaced page, “AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ROSWITHA LICHDI”; tells that her father was in the army 1939-1947, became prisoner of war in England; in 1944 the family was “evacuated to Liebenstein Castle”, arrived home in 1947; then her schooling beginning in 1948, graduating as a kindergarten teacher; etc....

{33} TWO entries

Kurt Lichdi to Bender, January 8, 1960: wanted Bender to write and tell how “Rose” [Roswitha Lichdi] was doing at Goshen; gave some of his own impressions....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Memorandum, Bender to Committee on Vacation Fine Exemptions, March 15, 1960: writing as a “fatherly adviser to Miss Roswitha Lichdi” upon her parents’ request, regarding her petition against being fined; Bender in full sympathy with the fine system, but it had provision for exceptions which Bender favored invoking in Rose Lichdi’s case.

{34} Myrtle & Gordon to Bender and Elizabeth, July 24, 1962 [pencil markings indicate Myrtle Kolb (? Myrtle Kolb Lichti ?) and Gordon Lichti; Elizabeth Bender, Elizabeth Horsch Bender; penned on small paper]: [clearly, written by Myrtle]; a personal letter, apparently by a Kolb relative; much reference to reunion of Class of 1937; etc.

{35} FOUR entries

re Robert Lee--Marcus Lind to Paul Mininger, June 30, 1958 [stationery of Pacific Coast Mennonite Conference, Lind as Moderator]: Lind had bishop oversight of Mennonite church in Portland Oregon; it was struggling to find a pastor; Robert Lee, a Chinese convert years ago at the mission, was under consideration; he was quite taken with the ideas of the Concern group and of John W. Miller; Lind had conflicting reports about whether these folks had departed from orthodoxy; please give your evaluation of these groups.// Two short paragraphs of personal appreciation etc. for Bender.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Marcus Lind, July 16, 1958 [Lind address rural route Salem Oregon]: “Concern” was different individuals, not an organized group; they vary, making for varying reports; some good may come of them, possibly some harm; “I am not hopeful of too much good”; questioned the approach to mission work underway at Evanston [Reba Place; John W. Miller]; Bender wrote well of Robert Lee but thought he should first take his final year of seminary.....

• • • CONTIGUOUS, Marcus Lind to Bender, November 22, 1959: about “Mission Congregation in Portland”, under Claude Hostetler as pastor and superintendent the last nine years, he still filling the pulpit awaiting a successor; again mention of Robert Lee, in his home congregation; saw pluses and minuses for him; wanted someone “conservative, but not extreme; by all means not an agitator”; wanted Bender’s help finding someone.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Marcus Lind, November 26, 1958: had nobody immediately in mind, would try to report later; had just suggested someone to “Brother Erb” for Lebanon; understood Robert Lee was intending to go to Japan in mission work; might you want him temporarily for a year?

{36} Bender to “Prof. Dr. Lochmann”, December 6, 1960 [to Jan Hus Theological Faculty, Praha Czechoslovakia; in German]: you may remember me from participating in the Puidoux III Conference in Bievres near Paris; Bender hoped also to be at the Christian Peace Assembly in Prague June 13, 1961; but now, interested in another matter;...we are working on an Anabaptist bibliography; wanted information on a book by Dr. Franktisek Hruby, ...[not available here in America?], that should have an article on the Moravian Anabaptists; the book’s title was Novè prospevky k dejinàm moravský novokrtencu (Praha, 1929); several questions about it, beginning with whether this was the book and wanting page numbers of the article.

{37} Bender to G. H. Lohrenz, September 12, 1959 [to Prof. Lohrenz at Canadian Mennonite Bible College; likely Gerhard H. Lohrenz, Gerhard Lohrenz]: had seen announcement that one could order F. C. Peters’ [likely Frank C. Peters] thesis from you; wished to do so--price? If you are publishing, wished a list of your publications.

{38} TWO entries

C. Warren Long to Bender, January 2, 1959 [stationery of Willow Springs Mennonite Church, Tiskilwa Illinois, Charles Warren Long as pastor]: inviting Bender to be speaker at Easter service March 29.

• • • REPLY, Bender to C. Warren Long, January 5, 1959: would gladly accept, but already engaged in Ontario.

{39} TWO entries

A. Lehman Longenecker to Bender, May 13, 1960 [stationery of Pinto Mennonite Church, Pinto Maryland, Longenecker the pastor]: asking Bender to be Thanksgiving Day speaker in 1961, on Mennonite history.

• • • REPLY penciled at bottom--instruction to reply that he could not.

{40} Theodor Lörtscher to Bender [no date; stamped as received February 19, 1959] [from Bern Canton, Switzerland; in German]: had gotten Bender’s address from “Sam Gerber Liestal” [Samuel Gerber]; difficult German, but was writing about evangelization work in Russia [USSR, Soviet Union], mentioning Ukraine and Poland, and apparently about getting Bibles into Russia; attached, a tract-like sheet.

{41} Carl H. Lundquist to Bender, August 17, 1959 [stationery of President’s Office, Bethel College and Seminary, Saint Paul Minnesota]: his institution was in a building program, including for theological education, and writer knew that Goshen had undertaken the same; suggested sending any material that might be helpful.

{42} TWO entries

Freimut Lüttig to Bender, March 8, 1959 [from Bamberg Germany; short note penned in English]: asking for list of churches who were members of Mennonite World Conference.

• • • REPLY, Bender to Freimut Lüttig, April 18, 1959: a list of 14 church bodies in western Europe and North America.

X-Y miscellaneous

This is a "miscellaneous" file. Rather than strictly by date, "miscellaneous" files have entries alphabetized by correspondent, then by date for a given correspondent. Also-- NOTE: this annotator’s German is not strong; so the descriptions of German-language materials may be incomplete and not fully accurate.

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