Fritz Rötlisberger from Hohgrat

Portrait of Fritz and Rosmarie Röthlisberger of Hohgrat, Langnau i.E.

Fritz and Rosmarie are characteristic Emmental Anabaptists. They live on Hohgrat, which is a farm on a hill above Langnau i.E. They gladly tell about their long life.

Fritz was born into an Anabaptist family in 1946. He tells us about his childhood: "I attended church classes, that is two years of children's teaching and one year of instruction, with the Old Anabaptists in Kehr, Langnau. At Easter 1962, I was baptized and thus also became a member of the Anabaptist congregation in Langnau." He would have liked to become a teacher, but he decided to continue the family farm as the only son.

Fritz was already involved in public life at a young age. Fritz recalls: "When I was 18, I was asked if I would take over the Sunday school in Gohl. I then did that for 35 years. Most of the children came from the Reformed National Church, about 5% from the free churches." Later he also conducted a choir for 25 years. His talent as a leader was also discovered in the congregation. He reports: "In the Kehr congregation, I was on the board of directors in my younger years, then later in the congregational leadership, and finally I was president for 9 years." And after the departure of a preacher, Fritz also began to preach in church services. Fritz was also involved in politics. To this he said: "I joined the SVP at that time because I wanted a party in which there was room for different people. Moreover, it never seemed to me that as a Christian you necessarily had to be in a Christian party. I think it's better if there are people in different parties who represent ethical issues and Christian concerns there, so that this can be brought in everywhere."

Fritz and Rosmarie earned their living with their own farm. Fritz earned a little extra as a letter carrier. As a letter carrier he also came to all the houses in his valley. Again and again it happened that he not only delivered the mail, but was also asked for advice and help. So it could also be that his tour lasted longer than usual. But that didn't bother him, because the well-being of his fellow human beings was always close to his heart.

Fritz has been married to Rosmarie since 1971. She supported him in his work for the good of the society. She likes to tell how she met Fritz in the choir and how they married soon after. She remembers with many short stories how she raised the four children and how she also helped in the yard. Rosmarie is a rather quiet family woman who has dedicated her life to prayer for the spread of the Gospel. Today she is a happy grandmother. She also liked to take time for the grandchildren so that her son and daughter-in-law could do their work. She says: "Once one of the grandchildren came to me and said: 'Gell Grosi, you never work?' Because working on the farm is ‘laboring’ (‘werchen’) and not working. "

Fritz is a living example of reconciliation between the churches. He candidly relates, "Personally, I am still a member of the national church because I want to keep this connection. I wanted to keep this because of my activity in the Sunday school. That seems nice to me. It wasn't like that before. But the church council of Langnau then introduced this." Fritz still sings in the church choir today and experiences how singing and music connect.

Despite all his closeness to the church, Fritz has remained an Anabaptist at heart, which becomes palpable when he tells the story of a special Bible find: "In 1962, we had the roof on the Hohgrat redone. On the ridge beam at the top we discovered a nailed wooden box, but threw it down unopened onto the garbage heap. When Dad cleaned up a few days later and opened the still intact box, an old Bible dated 1784 came out. This one has wooden covers and is plated with brass. Also an old prayer book from the canton of Bern, printed in 1761, lay in it. – Neither father nor grandfather knew anything about these two books. Either these two books were hidden up there during the time of persecution and remained undiscovered or then they should be protected there against theft. ... They are now in family possession; they also include an old book 'The Golden Apples in Silver Bowls' that belonged to my grandfather. These are the writings that Michael Sattler published in the so-called Schleitheim Articles." These books connect Fritz and Rosmarie with their ancestors, because the Bible, prayer, and the principles of the Anabaptists are also meaningful to them.

Fritz and Rosmarie are conciliatory people who to this day are committed to a serene community of the people in Emmental with simple and honest words. They proclaim the peace of God with their lives.

SR 15.4.2021

^{The quotations are mostly from the booklet: Hänni, Hans Rudolf; Langnauer Täufer 2007. Alttäufer. Fritz Röthlisberger, Hohgrat elder and preacher Alttäufergemeinde Emmental (Mennonites). Interview and sermon, Langnau 2007.}