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CLOSING UP THE RANKS.
21
Province Number of Stundists
Poland (Russian) 4,000
Poltava 10,000
Taurida and Crimea 15,000
Volga Valley 7,000
Volhynia 5,000

It was in the beginning of the seventies, when their numbers were about 100,000, that the Stundist leaders, and notably Balaban, Ratushni, and Ryaboshapka of Kherson, and Lisotski, Zybulski, and Kapustinski of Kief, endeavoured to give some sort of shape, some sort of elementary organisation, to the great movement of opinion now so rapidly increasing around them. Pastor Bonekemper's level sense was here of inestimable advantage to them. He recommended the division of the field into presbyteries, over each of which the brethren were to elect, or otherwise appoint, their own presbyter. If the presbytery were large, the presbyter was to be assisted by a deacon or deacons. He further advised the periodical assembling of the presbyters and deacons in council or synod; the systematic visitation of remote villages where the cause was weak; the establishment of a common fund for the relief of sick and aged brethren, and the partial support of presbyters who should incur loss by travelling about on mission work during seedtime or harvest. It was also suggested that lists should be made, and regularly revised, of the church members. These were the principal recommendations made by Bonekemper and the Stundist leaders to their people. It was unanimously felt that some such steps were absolutely necessary if the movement was to be kept in hand, and prevented from drifting into chaos. But the difficulties to be encountered were enormous, and it was not until after superhuman efforts had been made, chiefly by Ryaboshapka, Ratushni, and Strigoun, that their attempts at organisation took shape, and some rough system was infused into the