The Bismarck tribune., 1921-11-18
$4,000 FAMILIES. \ |: | :
OF MENN0NlTES
OFF FOR MEXICO |
Dissatisfied With Canada, Claim.
ing Unjust Treatment, They
Decide To Pull Out
HAD MANY INVITATIONS

El Paso. Texas, Nov. 1S-One of
the largest migrations of Christian
people of modern history is that OF
about 100000 Mennonites, $4,000 fam.
lilies, from Canada to Mexico, which
will begin in December. Their trek
is expected to last two years.
The MennOnites for the past year
have been looking for new home;
claiming unjust treatment in Canada
during the World War. Eight nations
have invited them. Land 'sharps,"
boomers" and others have tried to
influence them. After dozen trips
to Mexico. during which representa-
tives conferred with President Alvaro
Obregon and officials OF the Mexican
immigration service, the leaders, al
most decided to settle in Mexico
Then editorials from various sources,
save Mexican, declared the Memo.
mites were making mistake" that
the religious freedom which they
have sought could not be guaranteed
them under the Mexican constitution.
Another trip was made to Mexico and
state and national governments assur.
ed the Mennonites that they could
worship God as they pleased that they
could hold all the tenets OF their re-
ligion and could enter that country
and make their permanent home.
Canadian Mennonites hold the same
belief as early members of the sect
who settled in the United States
that of non.resistance. The Menno-
mites, in defending their belief, de-.
clared that they suffered less in the
early days at the hands of the lndi-
ans than did others who waged war
fare against the savages
The Mennonites still refuse to en-.
ter any war.
Another peculiar custom Of these
people is the washing of feet. They
say that the command of Christ TO
the woman to wash His feet stands
on the same spiritual level as His
acts of distributing food and drink to
the hungry and thirsty. To the Men
nonites the story related by St. Luke
is comparable to the ones other Chris
tains regard, including, the Sacra'
ment and communion.
Community property is another De,
lief Of some Mennonites, although 1t
| is not general. The members OF the
sect cooperate in building roads,
school houses and churches.
The removal of the Mennonites to
America came about when William
Penn had been granted land for MS
! Quaker followers. He, was told OF
lMennonites who had fed from Ger
many to Holland and his Quakers
came to their aid. The Qnakers are
credited with helping them financially
and in colonizing parts OF Ohio, IN
diana. Kansas, Nebraska and South
Dakota. Later, colonies were estab-
|lished in Saskatchewan and other
parts OF Canada. During the past
year a few Of the sect have settled in
Florida.
For wears there were IA independ'
ent bodies Of Mennonttes, but years
aeo. the sect was reunited.
| +. The Mennonites will settle in chi
ihuahua and Durango, principally IN
! the former state. Options have been
taken on land in both states anu I'M
provements are being made on one
large tract, the Bustillos hacienda, or
ranch, near Bustillos and chihuahua
ICity. The colOnists haYe, paid 25,W
pesos to hold this tract, the money ne
ihg on deposit to the credit of the
Zuloaga family, heirs of the large lana
lowner. Carlos Zuloaga. The purchase
nrice ia 100000 pesos.