The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-16
UNDER TifE BIN.
A Mennonite Recovering civu Damages for
Church Recommendation.

TOLEDO. o., March l0.-A novel case In
law is before the courts Of an adjoining county.
Jonn Lcichty. an communicated Mennonite.
socks to recover civil damages for injuries 10
his domestic peace. inflicted by an ccciesiastical
council. composed Of John Holdeman Bishop
Of the Mennonite Church OF the United states
and Canada and five lay brethren Of the Men
monte persuasion.
The Mennonitcs Of the United States are
one OF the ofIshoots Of the Anabapts,s. who
nourshcd aud fought in Europe in the six
teenth century; but. unlike their progcniors
in the faith. they are non-rcsstans in the mat
ter of bearing arms. H. who engages in war.
accepts civil oflce. serves on Juries. votes at
elections, or contaminatcs himself by any like
participation IN worldly affairs. inrurs the dis
pleasure Of the Church. and. unless he reforms.
the eternal wrath Of Heaven and the pains Of
hell forever.
Bishop Holdcman. in his " History OF the
Church OF God" supplemental TO the book OF
doctrine promulgated in 1889 by Simons Mem
non, and entitled the "Fundamenthuch Won dem
rschten Christiinhcn Glauh"n' elements Of ne
True Christian Faith denies the right oi the
Government to demand Of the Mennonites legal
oaths or aiiirmaiions; denounrts secret socie.
ties as abOmlnniions: forhIds the taking OF
usury and the insurance of life or property:
maintains marriage TO be n sacrament which
minister's may not perform, eAcept wneh ,ti,s tne
divorce. except for adultery. and commands
temperance. sobrlety. and brotherly love: vest
ing all authority in the Church. from whose de-
TO anioraS % this is rlsid spd austsre discipline.
ishment" or "separaiion" OF offending mem
bers when warning and remonstrance from
the Church guardians prove Of no avail, TINS
severest order. The poor unfortunate Is cut
Of from all the rights ana privileges OF the
him. in eating and drinking. in buying and sell
ing. in walk and conversatlon-in short. he Is
TO be Regarded as u sin-leper and an outlaw.
until such time as h. l. moved to repentance
and seeks forgiveness Tor his heresy and trans
gross ion Of divine law.
article that John Lei'hty claims to have sus-
tained his damages which he fixes at $4,000
in the civil action referred to.
Leichty's offence was intcmperance The
d-acons laborcd with him. but in vain. and the
Bishop was sent for. who. fee,,ng TINT church
disposed to make fearful eNamplr. This was
in May. 1875. and soon thereafter John was put
L@ichty states that he was happy husband
and parent. residing in peace on his little farm
with his WIFE Mary and his four children whsn
the ruthless Bishop and his intormanis came
down upon him Ike n wolf on the fold. pro-
nouncingthe anathcmaand casting him from thr
pale Of tho church, under the terrible ban ~
avoidance. Then th"y sought ,ont ms WIG
Mary. and instructed her to avoid him n she
would ap, stence, ne penalties nnd pains
Of eternal Woe. She might remain in the house
with i'm ~ nurse and hOu-"keeper and pru-
dent sister in law but she was nevnr to share
| his bed or board unless She would wilnly
bring down upon herself the curse Of insulted
heaven.
Fort . years Leirhty bore this sort Of thing,
his even effort in prOpitiatjng his wife nulllhed
at every step 10y the vigiant church zoalots. AT
| last he rrsoried to civil law. The cils, has
been beior" the court tor some days. bishop
| Holdemnn appearing for the defence. He lg-
norcd the legal aspect of the case, ealing
| cop Gus cNtrncts from the Bible and the Fun
| damcnthu u'h' TO sustain the action OF ne rcrle,
| siastical court. He denied the lurlsdi'tio Of
! the court in the matter claiming that II was
| purely "A cise for church discipline.
| Al the close of the Bishops argument the
! Jury awarded the plaintin damages 10 the
| amount of 25OO. when the d"irndanis applied
! for "A nrw trial, which was granted. They have
! now employed legal counsel. This is Is said a.
| IL, the first known instance where a refractory
! member has sought redress before the evil
courts and the Menuontcs are very severe in
| their dcnunciations Of his course.