Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-19
TIE NENNoNIrE nELIeIoN.

CENsrs bulletin 1871 contains the
statistics oil Is religious denominations
including the twelve branches Of the
Mennonite family.
The Mennonites have never been
fully numbered before. A few branch
es have made reports for dsuomina-
tional purposes, but anything like com
plcte statistics has not appeared until
the census OF 1890. Though this re-
ligious family Ia quito a religious one
In the United States both In wealth
and numbe.s, yet little ia known out
side IL own fold Of Its history, customs
aud doctrine.
There are ~ branches orseois known
as Menuonltcs, bet differing In some
particulars. The ps-unt sectis usually
called Tn. Mennonite Church. IL has
IN the United .sta,cy 249 organizations
and 1900 Communicates, 10000 Of
whom are In PennsylvaniN. The
value Of IL church property Ia given Mt
$3.50 II isreprcsented in II States,
and organized Into Il conferences.
This church traces It's origin through
Memo Simons, to the Waldcnsiaus Of
the Twelfth century. Memo, the
man who gave a name TO this sect, was
born at Frleslnnd, Holland, In 1902.
He became a priest Of the Roman
Catholic Church, but In 1888 he
changed his faith and at first Identified
himself with tho WaldensIans. Soon
after he began to organize churches
opposed to infant baptism aud holding
tho principle Of non.resistance. The
inst colony OF this sect settled In Amer
lea In 1883 at a place now called Ger
mantown In Pennsylvania. AZ pres
ent Holland, Germany, Switzerland
aud Russia are represented In the
Mennonite Church In this couutry.
In 1882 a confession OF faith was
adopted by the sect In Holland. II
contains eighteen articles, and IL ac-
cepted by all Meunonites In the United
States. In addition to articles declar-
lug the doctrines usually held respect
Ing God, the creation, the fall Of man,
the redemption, the Scriptures,
repentance, baptism, aud tho Lord's
supper, tho confession enJoin-
the practise Of washing the
Ssints' feet, the marriage only
Of members OF the same faith, the non.
resistance OF violence, counsellng flight
rather than the sword, the use Of the
IAN or accommodation, and the
stunning Of expelled persons; 1t also
forbids the taking Of oaths.
The ordinance OF baptism Is admins.
tered to candidates on their knees by n
bishop or minister, who takes water
with both hands from weasel and
pouIs II upon the head Of the candidate,
rrciting the usual formula. Applicants
who request II arc baptized in the
water, kneelIng therein while the
minister pours the element on their
heads. The Lords supper Is observed
twice year, usually In the Spring
and fall. After communion comes the
ceremony Of feet washing.
Ministers are chosen from the con.
gregstIon to be served. The selection
Is made by vote. II the choice loo
unanimous. the announcement Is made
by the bishop, and the candidate after
examination Is ordained.
Among some OF the Amlsh and Rus
Sian congregations the choice Ia made
by majority vote. When n plurality
Of candidates are nominated, n day IL
appointed TO choose by lot one from
among them. Tho deacons take ia
many books a. there are nominations,
one IL placed slip Of paper on
which ha. been written; "rhe lot il
cast into the lap, but ths whole dlspos-
Ing thereof is Of the Lord" Each
candidate draws n book, but he who
draws that containing the slip Is con-
sidefed chosen and Il ordained.
Deaoons aro also chosen la this man.
ner.
Difficulties between brethren ar,
settled by arbitration. A member
who refuses to settle In this way Is ex
PEELED. Members eau not accept any
public office except something connect.
ed with school management.
There are eleven other Mennonit,
sects differing from each other, ant
from tho parent sect only In matters Of
ritual or church discipline. Tn,
Auiish stands first Of these with nine
ty-seven organizations and. 1900
members; the General Conference
Monnonites next, with forty.fivo or
CARNATIONS and 5000 members; third,
the Old Amish Mennonite Church
with twenty-five organizations ant
1000 members. The eight remaining
sects aggregate about 1000 members, 81
that tho total OF Mennonltes In th'
United States amounts TO near $50 or.
CARNATIONS and about a., 900 members
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