The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-06-19

ity. Memo died in 1861, and about
this time there was large emigra-
ton of his flock, who had taken the
\ name of 'MennOnites' TO East Prus-
sia, in the region of Dantzig, Marien-
burg, and Elbing. Their Dutch neat
ness and Dutch industry soon made
these dcsolate and swampy regions
to flourish like a garden. In 1880
and 1872, the Mennonites We're threat
cned with expatriation, on account of
/ their refusal to serve in the army but
the storm passed by, and in l740
King Frederick III. gave them new
privileges, which resulted in a new
immigration from Holland Still
many arbitrary measures We're taken
] from time to time, and in 1889 they
We're forbidden to purchase landed
property. Catherine the Second al
ready in 1856 invited the Mennonites
to Russia, along with other German
colonies, and in 1899, 223 families ar
rived in Russia, and between 1898
and 1896 there was an immigration of
lis more families. These all settled
on and near the island of Khortitz on
the lower Dnieper below TekaterinOs-
1 lay. The conditions on which they
came to Russia were: Protection
from all attacks, freedom of worship,
Gift of lands to the amount of 1870
acres for each family, exemption from
all taxes and imports for 10 years,
money for their journey and money
and wood with which to establish
themselves, freedom of trade and
manufactures, the administration of
oaths in their own way, and excmp-
tion forever from military service
These privileges were confirmed by
the Emperor Paul and cxtendcdto all
Mcnnonites who should come there
after. In spite, therefore, of the re-
peal and mitigation of the severe laws
against them in Prussia, there was a
continued and large immigration of
Mennonites int Russia up to the
wear 1871. These colonists settled
near their brethren in the Govern
ment of Taurid, I'M the crcgion between
the rivers MolOtchna, Dnieper, and
Tokmak, not far from the town of
Berdiansk
From that time the MennOnitcs
have gone on increasing and prosper
| ing until they now number about 49,,
( 600 souls. They have been always
protected and favored by the Govern
ment, so that they have almost en-
tirely governed themselves, and have
preserved their German character
and institutions intact. This they in
great part owe to the character and
efforts of Johann Cornics, who, up to
his death in 1S4S, exercised very
powerful influence over them, though
he held no Office and no rank. Titles
and orders We're, on several occasions
offered to him by the Imperial Gov
crnment, which highly appreciated
his services, but they were always re-
fused His advice was several times
asked by the Minister of Domains
and the Governor-General of New
Russia rarely took an impOrtantm meas
ure without first consulting Cornies
These Mennonitcs settled in 4 waste
steppe, where the land was rich
enough, but suffered much from want
of water They began to irrigate and
have raised agriculture to higher
point than anywhere else in Russia.
They had no wood, and they began
to plant trees The introduction of
tree culture on the steppes is entirely
owing to them. They have not only
large orchards of excellent fruit trees,
but large and productive woods of
forest trees, and also extensive plan
tations of Mulberry trees, by means
of which they produce a considerable
quantity of silk. As they are not
avcrsc to improvements, their methods
and implements are all good, and they
use machinery largely in their agri-
culture. They are also large raisers
of stock-hOrses, cattle and sheep.
Though the Mennonites were origin
ally agriculturists, they have cndeav-
ored to supply their own wants in
manufactured articles, and, in 1854,
they had in activity $50 mills and
factories, including cloth-mills, water
and grist-mills, dycins and printing
works, breweries, distillcries, silk
spinneries, brick and tile works, pot
teries, &c, and among their villages
there were men exercising nearly
every known trade.
That the Mcnnonites are thrifty, III
dustrious, and economical, their pros
perity is sufficient proof They are,
beside this, very clean, and orderly |
Ca lady could go into every peasants /
stable), and quiet, contented, honest,
moral, and deeply religious There ,
is no drunkenness or gambling among
them. Crime is exceedingly rare.
The latest statistics can find are da-
ted 1871, and those show that for 81
years there were only 6S crimes in
the Mennonite colonies on the Mo
lotchna, including about $4,000 peo-
pie. OF these crimes, Al sprang from
the sexual relation, and nine were
thefts; all the rest were minor often
ses, such as disObedience to the au-
thorities. Beside all this, the Menno-
mites are educated Every child
knows how to read and write, and in
every village there is a school. The
Bible and other religi Gus books are,
of course, to be found in every house.
These Mennonites were visited by
Haxthausen in 1913, and by Peiz-
holdt in 1855, and both travellers bear
testimony to the worth and the pros
perity of the colonists. Peizholdt
says: 1T is my firm conviction that
Russia possesses no more industrious
or more useful citizens than the Men
nonites." Up to this time the Men,
nonitcs have always been loyal sub
jects to Russia. They have never
been remiss in their taxes, and during
the Crimean war sent large voluntary
gifts of grain and proyender to the
besieged army 1t is only because
the privileges granted to them are in
fringed, and they will be compelled
to enter the army against their con-