The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-08-25
The AIennonltes.

The MennonItes.
aThe Mennonite reservation east of the Red
/ liver and about 2j miles southwest of Winni-
leg, is now as well populated as any district
. If the province of Manitoba and the most re
ent immigration has been directed to a rescr-
alton of seventeen townships adjoining the
rontier and extending west OF Red river 10
'embina mountain. The settlement ON the
eservatOn first mentioned called Kat river,
onsists of $50 families, and on the second
eservation, called Dutfern, $50 families have
,een planted. In addition, 33 families have
een settled near Scratching river, and the re-
ent arrival of 35 families will go TO Dufierin.
Estimating five to a family the Mennonite
ettlemcnts of Manitoba contain Il population
If 1865, which will doubtless increase steadily
nut by no means with the volume OF the past
The emigrating class of Lutheran Quakers,
.noyn as Mennontcs, are neither the rich nor
,oor. but are an intermediate body, who are,
however, by no means destitute, Mr. Hespeler
. .stmatcs that the sum brought into the pro
| ince by the Mennonite immigration is $500
100. and recent arrival Of 80 families have not
oss than $4,000.
There are Mennonite settlements in The
Western states, but the land system there en-
orced does not admit of special reservations,
Has liiuS DttH
rrcater inducements for this class of settlers
| Iere the community can organize itself fully
according to its traditions, including the rural
'ilage of the dorf-or dorp, as we believe the
word is AngliciZed-a custom which has great
merit socially and industrially and VIII wal
ant some fulness of detail.
A group of tamiies-usually IL III number
take their hOmcsteads separately, Dut pro
ced to throw them together, selecting tlle most
desirable situation for village or dorf, through
which q street two chains wide is laid, and the
| )lat divided into halfacre lots, with assign
nent for church. school, or other public use.
tract most suitable for tillage is then selected
II block, which is inclosed, and within
which each head of family cultlvateS that
portion of his allotment-tOr there IS no com
|nunism-tIiat he find convenient. a hay
meadow, held also in severalty, is chosen, and
' The remainder Of the consolidated homesteads
is used as range for cattle and other animals,
(which are invariably attended by a herdsman,
who is paid bv the dorf The village lots and
)ther Subdivisions are distributed 10y lot.
The houses-only found in the dorf-are
comfortable, heated by central brick ovens,
warming three or four rooms, The same roof
usually extends over separate lodgings tor cat
File, although in this respect there is a growing
endency TO have different tencments. Each
Family has yoke of oxen two COWS and in
1lefnte poultry. The pig is not wanting; and
There are 500 sheep and $50 horses on the Rat
|river reservation.
The municipal government is a simple de.
|mocrucy The heads Of families annually sc.
|lect MAYOR or Reeve, who is the chief eXecu-
Tive officer, constantly comforting with his con
|stituents Over the whole community Is a
president or Elder, elected for five years, and
|who, associated with the Mayors OF the doris,
form court for Il final adjustment OF all dis
|putes and the enactment of all necessary ordln-
|ances. The President may act in all matters
|reating to IA separate village III concurrence
with the Mayor thereof
The church organization is quite distinct
from the civil administration. The people
|elect a clergyman in each dort and bishop to
!preside over the whole community for periods
|of five years. They receive no stipends The
teachers of the schools, one held in each VII
|lage, are chosen by the people, but are PAID Il
moderate compensation.
| Marriages are free--no allotment as former
|ly among the Moravians-and usually con
|tracted early, the parties often remaining with
1.-The most prosperous OF the parents for IL year
Tor two
An admirable system of mutual insurance
against fire prevails under Il board OF directors
elected by the whole community. The insured
are not restricted in amount, but contribute
pro rata ia case Of any loss
4 The mayor of "a Cori, with two assistants,
IcOnstitute an orphan court for the distribution
|0f estates. and the custody Of the funds OF or
|phans, for which the property of every villager
lis liable. dcducting from the said orphan fund
whatever contributions for the few destitute
orphans may be found necessary WirRtpeg
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