The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-05-31

IL ioLu JIG udlit we nave, Is DIS 1OllOWS'
they maintain that practical piety is the
essence Of religion, and that the surest
mark of the true church is the sancity OF
its members. They ask universal tolera-
tion in religious matters and debar none
from their societies who own the Scrip
lures for the word of God and lead pious
lives. They deny that infants are proper
subjects of baptism, and claim that minis
tiers of the Gospel, who are chosen from
among their own number, should receive
no salary. They object to the terms person
and trinity as inconsistent with the Scrip
lures, and are utterly averse to oaths, war
and capital punishment The ancient
Mennonites excluded all from their society
who did not adhere strictly to the most
rigorous rules of simplicity and gravity.
In some parts of this country they still
wear their clothes cut after certain style,
but this habit is departed from by the more
considerate societies. They refuse to COM
mune with those who administer baptism
to children. They observe the ordinance
of feet-washing, and forbid their members
to marry, except to those who have been
united to the church.
Their method of baptism in PENNSYLVANIA
is by pouring. The candidate kneels and
the minister holds his hands over him, into
which the deacon pours water, after which
follow the imposition of hands and prayer.
In other localities they generally sprinkle.
Another body of rigid Mennonites are
called Omish or Amish, after Jacob Amen,
Mennonite preacher of Switzerland in
the 18th century. Another division of
their church took place in 1911, a number
seeding from the main body which they
considered rs having fallen from the origi-
nal faith. This secession founded the Re-
formed Mennonite society; it is this branch
of the church that built the college in
Wadsworth."
l visited the College and was very kindly
received and shown over the building by
the English Professor: 1t is furnished very
plainly all through, even the apartments
of the Professors. They own few acres
of land which is cultivated by the students
One room having rows of plain wooden
pews, is used for worship alternately with
a church about half mile from the COL
lege. The lawn in front is prettily enough
laid out, and the Tamarac trees are very
beautiful in their pale green dress. Prof.
- led US to a window of the chapel,
10 - T
have watched with much interest,"" and he
pointed with smile of real pleasure on
his face to a bird nest in the topmost
branches of one of tho pale trees-he said
" the nest was building only two days."
and now there are
" -Four blush eggs all in the moss
Soft lined home on the (Tamarac) bought
The view from the roof is most lovely
enc, though not very extended. Truly this
is fair and pleasant land, thought as
gazed Oh the wide fields, gardens and Or
chards surrounding the farm houses, soon
to be embedded in their breezy vines"
With sigh of regret l at last came down |
again to terra firma, and wendell my way
homeward through the "merrie, merrie |
sunshine" with the firm intention to learn
more Of these strange people; bearing with
me kind invitation to stay with them
some days if it suited my convenience.
would like to tell you of the fine public |
school building they have here, but time
fails me, and perhaps your patience will
fail you if l go on much longer. We have
had at last some bonnie warm days and |
the apple trees are blossoming under their
smiles; but they do not send forth odors
so sweet as those left behind me in
Maryland, my Maryland"
Yours, very truly,