The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22
Rcckport. Ind. Nov. 20.
HOW MENNONITES VOTED.
Peculiar Religious Sects Whose Mem
bers Make Good Citizens.

Peculiar Religious sects Whose Mem
bers Make Good Citizens.
This county is noted for its peculiar peo-
pie A stranger visiting Harrison and
Union townships the first time is struck by
the quaint appearance of many of the peo-
pie he meets. Here live the Mennonites
and Dunkards both speaking Pennsylvania
Dutch. In their dress they would be no.
ticed anywhere, the men wearing broad
brimmed hats, the women a white cap and
a bonnet similar to that worn by the
Quakers. OF the two mentioned the Men
nonites are the most numerous. Some OF
their religious ceremonies are quite curious
Your correspondent recently witnessed their
celebration of the Lords supper. At an
early hour the people began TO come TO
the place of worship, many from dis
tarce. BY o'clock the meeting was fairly
under way. The house. large structure,
holding at least 600 people, was full in ev-
cry part The brethren and sisters did not
sit together, the former occupying the left
half of the house, the latter the right.
There were no cushioned benches, and the
sisters were dressed plainly but neatly.
each with a white cap, called by them the
prayer covering" These people believe in
the pTdcuce OF honesty, DIS wen the
theory as was manifested by the large
number of outer garments hanging on
hooks and nails in the ante-rooms, with no
one to watch them. The sacrament was
administered to at least 300 persons. The
minister, followed by deacon carrying
bread, passed through the congregation
and distributed small piece to each COM
municant. This was preceded by a few
brief remarks warning members who had
any i'll feeling enmity against neigh
Dor not to take part. While the bread was
distributed, the minister repeated passages
from the Scripture in loud voice,
frequently admonishing his flock to
keep in the paths of righteousness.
Wine was next distributed. One cup which
was replenished as it became empty, was
used by all. Each communicate took the
cup from the minister's hand, the brethren
being served before the sisters. The last
ceremony was that of feet washing, each
sex performing this duty for its own. This,
the Mennonites believe, is a true sign of
humility, teaching that Christ not only
washed the feet of the APOSTLES, but that
he commanded his followers to do the
same. The ceremony lasted over an hour
and close attention was paid. Hymns were
sung during all these -exercises.-The large
number of small children present was
noticeable, it being considered better that
the mothers should bring them than stay
away themselves.
These people, wherever they are settled
played an important part in the late cam
paign. Long before the election many
prominent members announced their in
tention to go to the polls to vote. They
had generally refrained from voting, but
al. .l,x xx,f.l
publican party ever since it's organization,
and could not be persuaded that the panic
of the past few years was caused by the
existing gold standard. On the contrary,
they believed 1t to be due to the tampering
with the tariff by the Democratic Congress
and that in order that the country may
again enjoy prosperity it would be neces-
sary to again place the Republican party
at the head of the government They had
always had the name of being honest and
believed that the silver dollar under free
and unlimited coinage would be a dishonest
| dollar and they could not bring themselves
| down to vote for such a policy. Both
| parties labored hard on election day to get
the vote of these people, but they invaria-
| bly, voted the Republican ticket. In some
cases it took considerable urging, however,
| to get them out. One prominent member
| in Harrison township who had not voted
| since the war, being strongly urged TO go 10
the polls. finally yielded. saying, 81 will
| go provided you will never ask me to vote
again. Another member did not wish TO
vote unless the presiding elder advised him
| to do so. In the afternoon of election day
| he drove to the elders home and being told
that if he felt it his duty to vote he should
] by all means do so, he went to the polls
and cast his ballot.
They are people whose origin is found
in the revolutionists of Holland about 1850
and are called Mennonites because of their
advocating the doctrines of Memo Simon.
| Having heard of the great fertility of the
| American soil a number came over in 1855
settling mostly in Pennsylvania, near Ger
| mantown. Later they began to look for
other locations and this county was chosen
as one. They call themselves "Defenseless
| Christians and their views i'm this respect
coincide with those of the Quakers. Many
| are rich and their trade is highly valued by
the merchants who deal with them. They
are prompt in their business dealings and
it rarely happens that an account against
a Mennonite is placed in the hands of a
collector. d.
Goshen Ind, Nov 20.
|