Page 223 - The Diary of A. H. W. Behrens

106
1909
Where I would stay, the congregation also wanted to stay
and I should not leave them. I promised to stay if they would not split but would remain one congregation. Everybody promised this. And that is what happened. From 1909 to
1928 nobody left and we all stayed together until in 1928 we voluntarily joined Harms again. A separation occurred and the congregation became independent. Superintendent Behrens and his advisor tried in vain to sway the congregation. Meyer stayed in Bethanie for three years and stayed in father’s house without work and I discontinued all my “negative” work and lived fully for my congregation and school.
Then it was demanded that I should leave my house, they refused to rent it and threatened with legal action. I had to leave my house and had to pay ₤ 8.10 court fees. Rönnebeck moved in. It was a big happening when men and women and children carried all my belongings from the house to a school where I lived in very cramped conditions for a whole year. I needed a house and during an assembly it was decided that
I should build on my farm Waaikraal at my own costs, the congregation wanted to make and burn the bricks and do all handyman jobs free of charge. I had to take care of the food and buy everything and that is what happened. In 1910 I moved in and lived there with my family until the end of 1926 and served the congregation from there, had a bedroom in the office that was built