The Conference in Retrospect / 275

The twentieth-century divisions of most importance in Ohio took place between 1923 and 1927 when more progressive elements formed independent bodies which later affiliated with the General Conference Mennonites.' The tension in this division was due, as noted, to a difference regarding the direction the church should take in promoting education; in the emphases of its publications; in policies regarding missions and their relation to relief work; and in the control which conferences, leaders, and boards should have over the lives and habits of members. The church was moving more and more into the mainstream of American society; and its sense of mission called for an exposure to contemporary culture as the isolation of the past was modified. What to accept and reject in modern methods was not an easy problem to solve. Especially was this difficult when the leadership feared that the church was in danger of succumbing to the liberal theological trends in twentieth-century Protestantism.

Repeatedly in Mennonite history it has appeared to leaders that new developments, valuable and desirable in themselves, carry with them the means of greater change than had been anticipated and much that is unwelcome.- This has produced great caution and heightened the tensions leading to division. There is reason to believe that in the 1920's this situation existed.

In addition to the above major divisions there have been numerous congregational dissensions. Perhaps there is no congregation that has completely avoided internal tensions in its history. In all the major settlements the historian finds records of schismatic movements or tendencies of varying degrees.

Questions of baptism in streams, erection of meetinghouses, change in language, introduction of Sunday school, the holding of "protracted" meetings, the launching of missions, the sponsoring of youth activities, innovations in attire, kinds of music for worship, interfaith cooperation, degree of congregational independence these seem to have been the external reasons for much of the tension and disagreement through the conference's history. It should be noted that doctrinal differences have been on the whole quite a minor item in the divisions. Different opinions on methods of work and the application of principles have mainly caused the cleavage between conservative and innovator.

Divisions occur in both strict and less strict congregations. In the perspective of years the impression is gained that the issue