Courtship and Engagement

Eberhard Arnold called on the von Hollander family on the morning of Good 
Friday, March 29, 1907. Decked out in a black suit and top hat, he
formally 
introduced himself to the parents of the woman of his choice. They were 
quite impressed. Still, they did not like the idea of an immediate 
engagement; they would, however, give their agreement to the relationship 
if Eberhard’s parents consented to an engagement. All the same, Emmy’s 
mother accepted a bouquet of white roses. The engagement was not to be 
announced until Eberhard could provide proof of his ability to support a 
wife. The prospective son-in-law was tactfully left alone with their 
daughter for a short time. He told Emmy again of his conviction that God 
had led them together and added, “I fell in love with you the very first 
moment I saw you.” Pale with excitement, she replied, “It was just the
same 
for me.” They exchanged their first kiss. Then – together – they read
Psalm 
34: “I will praise the Lord continually…Those who look to him will be 
radiant with joy…” In prayer, they gave their lives into God’s hands, “to 
serve and to witness for him.” Then the family came back in. Emmy’s
brother 
and sisters accepted their future brother-in-law at once. The couple spent

the following day and a half partly alone with each other and partly with 
the rest of the family. On Saturday Eberhard left by train for Breslau. By

Easter morning his fiancée already had his first letter in her hands. At 
the top was written: “Always Phil. 4:4! Eph. 1:14! My Emmy…”