Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-06-01
Mennonites Ever Seeking Haven
Where They Can Follow Reli.
Qious Beliefs in Peace.
MEXICO NOW PROMISED LAND
Interest In the Sect Aroused by Their
Exodus From Canada to Mexico.
Taking With Them SIS 100000
in Goods and Cash.

banished because some of them estab-
lished a communistic colony; obeying
the laws of many lands, but refusing
to take part in making or enforcing
them; frowning upon science, buttons,
life insurance and tobacco-such are
various branches of the Mennonites,
whose exodus from Canada to Mexico
adds another chapter in the centuries
old anabasis of this quaint and goodly
people.
while geographers are studying hu-
man migrations on the basis of eco
nomic determinism, here is a consider
able group who defy any such chart
ing, and move about solely upon the
basis of the best opportunity to follow
their religious beliefs" says a bulletin
from the Washington headquarters of
the National Geographic society.
From Holland to Germany, thence
to Moravia, Hungary, Rumania and in
to Russia-so runs the earlier course
of Mennonite wanderings From the
steppes Of Crimea and the treeless
banks of the Molochnaia to Bonhomme
county In South Dakota was not too
long trail for the most home staying
people In the world-so long as they
are not disturbed. They seldom travel
individually. Just before the war
trip to Washington was offered as an
agricultural prize to u young men of
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, one of
the oldest American Mennonite strong
holds, and of the II winners not one
had been outside his own county be-
fore!
Now about 1900 Mennonites are
leaving Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Canada, for Durango. Mexico, and the
productive loss their going will mean
is only slightly indicated by the esti-
mate that they take along with them
some s15,O00,OO0 worth of goods, farm
implements and cash.
Schooling Begins at Three Years.
Compulsory education requirements,
including the teaching of English,
which could easily be adjusted by a
more compromising people, caused the
migration from Canada. In some
branches Of their church every Memo
mite child must begin his schooling
when he is three years old. From
that time until he is six the Bible and
the Mennonite catechism are used for
his instruction. After three years he
takes up the three RS but in the
more orthodox branches of the church
all science, as such. is frowned upon
In farming, however, the Mennonites
are efficient and practical scientists
European countries have profited by
their example, and to them western
Pennsylvania owes much of its pros
perity.
There are various gradations Of pol
icy among the various groups. such as
+ Hutterians, the Amish. the Wislar, the
DefenselesS and other branches. All
hold against taking oaths and to non
resistance, which led to their eXamp-
ton from the draft without any such
stigma as attached to many types of
conscientious ObjectOrs.' Their like
ness to the Quakers led William Penn
to invite them to his colony where they
first established themselves at Ger
/ mantOwn, spreading thence to Lancas-
ter, Berks and Bucks counties in Penn
sylvania, and later into Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois.
Have Quaint Dialect.
an Title Mrs. Fiske disclosed
/ some of the pecdliarities of custom
and dialect of the Pennsylvania Men
nOnites. Their adherence to teaching
German in schools is not so much that
they love that language as because
they fear translation would detract
from the literal import of their found
ers' works. Their detachment from
the world Is shown by their curious
use Of English. A caller at Lancas-
ter home rang the bell many times
without answer. Finally a woman APP
peared at the door to apologize: oh,
did you bell? II didn't make The
women wear poke bonnets, resembling
those Of the Durkers. Men, women
and children avoid colors, Jewels or
any grace Of dress that might betoken
vanity.
Most rigid Of all the groups, how
ever, Is the Bruederhof, or lutheran
Brethren, dating back to Jacob Huter,
a martyr of the Sixteenth century, who
insisted upon a complete communal or.
gsnization of congregations 1t was
this group that had to leave Russia
about the time of our Civil war for
evolving a communism which antici.
| pated that Of the soviet government in
many respects. Today they are settled
along the James river, in South Da.
kota, declining to cast vote or hold
Office or patronize a store. They
forswear dancing play-gong and to-
bacco. They are of German descent
came here directly from southern Rus.
STA, and form law-abiding, prosper
Gus, self-suflicient community.
""There are more than 10000 Memo
! mites in the United States. Their com,
unit... Hro to be found in odd cor
$40 wUrI' where they may fol
'o' 'ng oc theil
lu.t rn