File Folder 8 - Martin, J. B. [Jesse B.] not annotated

yes spellchecked, yes proofed, yes numbered not compared, not Archon BOX 35 FOLDER 8 Jesse B. Martin Jesse B. Martin (1897-1974; J. B. Martin) was a bishop in the Ontario Mennonite Conference, living at Waterloo Ontario near Kitchener. During the time of this folder’s materials he was Moderator of the (MC) Mennonite General Conference. Some of this folder’s correspondence concerns peace matters, as Martin was active also with the (MC) Mennonite PPC [Peace Problems Committee]. {} J. B. Martin to Bender, February 4, 1958 [jjq handwritten on stationery of Ontario Mennonite Bible School, Kitchener Ontario jxx]: for an Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, needed a letter re discussing Mennonite World Conference; on bottom a note probably in Bender handwriting, to J. B. Martin, indicating that in “response to your letter of Febr 4th” writer had “written the following official invitation to the Winnipeg [end of page, none other extant here]. {} Bender to J. B. Martin, April 5, 1958 [jjq zq jxx]: some time ago Bender had written to Martin, Rempel, Swalm, Epp, Toews, and the “Amish Conference Secretary” [likely Western Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference] about “a meeting of the World Conference Committee; had gotten no response but presumed recipients had arranged “for official representatives on the proposed committee”; was calling a meeting of the committee for April 20 at Kitchener Ontario; about informing a GCMC pastor whose name Bender did not have; asked Martin to attend to informing him. P.S. would see Martin at Peace Problems Committee meeting at Lancaster next Tuesday; mention C. J. Rempel [likely Cornelius J. Rempel], Henry Epp. {} Bender to J. B. Martin and C. J. Rempel, April 29, 1958 [Jesse B. Martin, likely Cornelius J. Rempel]: reference to having met at Kitchener on April 19 [Rempel and Martin both had addresses in that area]; thanks; understood that Martin and Rempel would assemble certain persons and find an auditorium for Mennonite World Conference; more about work of the committee to prepare for that event. {} Bender to J. B. Martin, May 6, 1958: re plan to ordain Ross Bender; re need at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church and idea that Ross could serve there temporarily and part-time; mention Orland Gingerich. {} J. B. Martin to Bender, September 29, 1958 [handwritten note]: agreed with appointment of Hershberger [Guy F. Hershberger, G. F. Hershberger, Guy Hershberger] “as part time executive secretary” [likely of PPC {Peace Problems Committee of (MC) Mennonite General Conference}; note––in 1965 the PPC and what had been the Hershberger-led Committee on Industrial Relations, renamed in 1951 as the Committee on Economic and Social Relations, would merge, to form the Committee on Peace and Social Concerns with Hershberger its Executive Secretary]; had “hoped for a younger person”...; further comment. {} Bender to Jesse. B. Martin, October 13, 1960: enclosing letter from Dan Friesen [Daniel Friesen ?], “chairman of the Mennonite Brethren Conference”, and Bender reply [no information about its content]; apology for not reporting on its subject to Martin, who might wish to write to Friesen about “travel plans”. {} TW0 ENTRIES J. B. Martin to Bender, October 14, 1960 [handwritten on stationery of Mennonite General Conference]: Paul Erb had reminded Martin about “the moderator” needing “to appoint persons to bring a recommendation to Mennonite World Conference”; wanted clarification from Bender. • • • REPLY, Bender to J. B. Martin, October 20, 1960: explained (something re having the “General Council” to recommend about appointing delegates to Mennonite World Conference. {} Bender to J. B. Martin, November 4, 1960: understood why Martin had not been at the PPC {Peace Problems Committee of (MC) Mennonite General Conference} meeting; important questions deferred until next meeting, February 24-25, 1961, in Chicago. {} FIVE ENTRIES Dorothy Swartzentruber to Bender, no date [but stamped as if received December 19, 1960]: writer had thought that maybe someone such as David Shank who was already in Europe might “represent our conference at the Menno Meeting” [sic], and J. B. [likely J. B. Martin, Jesse B. Martin] suggested passing the idea on to Bender; was enclosing the “letter from de Zeeuw” [likely R. de Zeeuw]. • • • CONTIGUOUS, J. B. Martin to R. de Zeeuw, December 14, 1960: [Martin writing as Moderator of (MC) Mennonite General Conference to de Zeeuw as secretary of Algemene Doopsgezinde in Amsterdam {i.e, the Dutch Mennonite General Conference}]; sorry his Conference could not send “representatives... to attend your commemoration services in January”; this letter was official statement of best wishes. • • • CONTIGUOUS, Bender to J. B. Martin, December 19, 1960: thanks for copy of letter to de Zeeuw; idea of Dorothy Swartzentruber to have David Shank [David A. Shank] be our representative was a good one. • • • CONTIGUOUS, J. B. Martin to Bender, January 7, 1961 [handwritten on stationery of Mennonite General Conference]: enclosing letter from Dave Shank [likely David A. Shank]; thought Bender should “propose what such a delegate should do”. // Hoped Brother Lies would still be open to a pastorate in Ontario [?? Vernon Lies ??]; Bender had never written about Kermit Derstine as part-time pastor. • • • REPLY, Bender to J. B. Martin, January 10, 1961: had Shank’s letter to Martin; two paragraphs on what Shank as the representative should do. {} Letter to John F. Kennedy, August 3, 1961 [letter to the president of the United States signed by Jesse B. Martin, Moderator, and Paul Erb, Secretary, of The Mennonite General Conference [MC]: thanks for religious liberty, etc.; concern about cold war tensions, advice that the president remember divine sovereignty; quite a list of specifics, from using negotiations rather than force to, e.g., keeping “channels of communication open”.... {} Bender to J. B. Martin, April 26, 1962: re finances, at least partly re a “Martinsburg meeting”; agreed, an excellent meeting.