First issue of Der Bote in Jan. 1924

Der Bote, until 1926 Der Mennonitische Immigrantenbote, was a weekly publication founded, edited, and originally published by D. H. Epp at Rosthern, Saskatchewan. The first issue appeared on 16 January 1924. From its beginning it served the immigrants coming to Canada from Russia after World War I, giving them a medium of contact, informing them about their new country, and providing them with spiritual and cultural nourishment in their mother tongue, the German language. The cultural level and content of the paper was always commendable. In 1947 it and the Christlicher Bundesbote were merged and it thus became an organ of the General Conference Mennonite Church. D. H. Epp remained the editor and Cornelius Krahn became the assistant editor. Although the merged paper was published by the General Conference Publication Board, the place of publication remained the same. The size was originally 9 ½ x 12 ½ inches but was enlarged after three years to 25 x 19 inches. In 1950 the number of pages was increased to 12 and the circulation was 4,500, of which 1,000 went to Europe and South America, whither many free copies were sent by the publishers to serve the refugees and new immigrants.

In January 2000 Der Bote changed to 8 1/2 x 11 inch biweekly. Because of declining subscriptions it was scheduled to end publication in June 2008.

©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

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