Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1897-06-03
South Dakota Menncnites.

Yankton correspondence Minheapo-
lis Journal: Because of certain re.
ligious tenets not in accordance with
the laws of the state, trouble is brew
ing for the Mennonite colonies located
here. There are two large settlements
of these people in this vicinity, thrift
years they have been in this country
it is said that they have violated the
laws undisturbed.
/ These violations are due largely to
Ignorance, not from any desire or
intention to get into conflict with the
authorities Among the laws broken
is that regulating marriage. The
Mennonites have not only failed to
obey the law regarding license. it is
said, but haye solemnized marriage
between couples too closely related to
each other.
This strange people have history
interesting from the origin to the
present day. They came to this coun-
try to escape the persecution which
they suffered in Europe. They rec
ognize no law but that of the Deity:
they will not go to law, not do they
observe the sanitary laws OF the state.
In contagious diseases they recognize
the hand of the Almighty, and take
no measures to prevent its spread or
save it's victims. If they recover it is
because God so willed it, and if they
die it is for the same reason. They
live in communities separate from
other settlers, and take no part in
politics or elections. Their business
is transacted through central offices,
who have the selling of products and
the custody OF the funds OF the So
ciety. They know little of the state
government aud care less. They at
tend strictly to their own business,
manufacture the -cloth from which
their clothing is made, and dress ex-
actly alike. They have no teachers
but ministers. Every man is an eX-
horter, but certain ones are assigned
to Sunday services, which last ali day
with the exception of the time spens
for meals. Anybody is welcome to at
tend these services. and they seem
j pleased to have visitors. They treat
their company with the utmost hos
pitality and courtesy. They believe
, principally in the old testament, and
they think every injunction in it
should be obeyed. They have a bibli-
: cal reason and phrase to quote for
: eYery act they do. They will not take
. oath under any circumstances. The
, most peculiar part Of their religion
, are generally we'll built, we'll proper
toned and have rather pleasant faces
. They never shave from youth UP, and
) their hair is kept about six inches
. long. Those who claim to. have wit
4 messed the operation declare that when
q the hair is cut it is done so by placing
n a milk crock oyer the head and trim
o ming around it. This, of course, only
!. applies to the men. The boys wear
: jean cloth from the time they can
/ walk, with soft felt hats in summer
+ and heavy worsted caps in winter
@ The girls wear dark colored calico OF
q gingham dresses, with a handkerchief
6 tied over their heads for bonnets. All
! ages of each sex dress exactly alike
j. and receive their clothing from the
a society supply-house. They wear nc
e iewelry nor ornaments except small
: rings in their ears. and these gener
e ally by the men.
Y Among the traits OF these people is
a their honesty. They are probably the
# most honest people in America. The
!, societies of Mennonites located in Bon
q Homme and Yankton counties man
ufacture many small articles which
i. the children sometimes peddle from
i house to house. If sometimes happens
q that an article is held for more than
Is the stipulated price (which is general
IS ly very low. and when greater price
II is exacted it is Invariably returned tt
d the purchaser, and the seller, who has
e sought to clear side profit for him
self, that he may indulge in some
n worldly luxury, is severely reprimand
4 ed and relieved of further mercantile
W pursuits. They will not quarrel ol
Is fight; nor will they try to regain prop
n erty stolen from them nor to punisl
st the thief. They do not believe in goins
e, to court for any reason, but settle al
their ditf1celties In the church.
st These Mennonites have Industrious
T. Ily and SUCCESSFULLY cultivated larg'
Y tracts OF land, and have given much q
{. tkeir attention to milling and grab
m culture, and are fast growing wealthy