The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-26
Migration of
Menn0nites
100000 Plan to Move From
Canada to Mexico

Ell Paso. Texas, Nov. 20.-One of
the largest migrations of Christian
people of modern history is that OF
about 100000 Mennonites, $4,000
families, 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 a rev home,
claiming unjust treatment in Can
ada 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 representatives con-
ferred with President Alvaro OBJ
regon and officials Of the Mexican
immigration service. the leaders al
most decided to settle in Mexico.
Then editorials from va 10 S
sources. save Mexican, declared the
Mennonites were making a mis-
take" that religious freedom which
they have sought could not be
guaranteed them under the MeXi-
can constitution. Another trip was
made to Mexico and state and nat
ional governments assured the Men
nonites that they could worship
God as they pleased, that they
could hold all the tenets of their
religion and could enter that coun-
try 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
Mennonites, in defending their be-
lief, declared that they suffered less
in the early days at the hands of
the Indians than did others who
waged warfare against the savages.
The Mennonites still refuse to
enter any war.
Another peculiar custom of these
people is the washing Of feet. They
say that the example Of Christ to
his disciples in washing their feet
stands on same spiritual level as His
acts Of distributing food and drink
to the hungry and thirsty. To the
Mennonites the story related by st.
Luke is comparable to the ones 9TH
er Christians regard, including the
Sacrament and communion.
Community property is another
L. Df o1
though it is not general. The men,
bers of the sect cooperate in build
ing roads, school houses and
churches.
The removal of the Mennonites
to America came about when Will
liam Penn had been granted land
for his Quaker followers. He was
told Of Mennonites who had fled
from Germany to Holland and his
Quakers came to their aid. The
Quakers are credited with helping
them financially and in colonizing
parts of Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Ne
braska and South Dakota. Later,
colonies were esta blished in Sas-
katchewan and other parts of Can
ada. During the past year few
of the sect have settled in Florida
For years there were IA inde-
pendent bodies of Mennonites, but
years ago the sect was reunited.
The Mennonites Will settle in
Chihuahua and Durango, principal
ly in the former state. Options have
been taken on land in both states
and improvements are being made
on one large tract, the Bustillos
hacienda, or ranch, near Bustillos
and Chihuahua City. The colonists
have paid $4,000 pesos to hold this
tract, the money being on deposit to
the credit of the Zuloaga family,
heirs TO the large land owner, Car
los Zuloaga. The purchase price is
100000 pesos.