Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-03-08

CITY ON LONG
TREK TOSOUTH
Second Special Train, Garry
ing People to Promised
/, Land, Here Friday.

some 20 nnOnlt from ManltO-
ba, the third trainload of approx
matelX 10000 people Of thai religion
in Canada, all Of whom are expected
to desert hat country for Mexico,
passed through Grand Forks late
Tuesday afternoon, marking the early
stages of.what is expected to be one
of the largest organized migrations of
any people in history.
Fleeing from Canada, where their
ancestors settled as early as 1885,
these people seek in Mexico the priv
ilege Of following their own religious
beliefs without interference, a privil-
eye they claim to be unable longer to
enjoy in Canada.
Abraham Wolf, who was born just
north of the Canadian border 45 years
ACC and who for years has operated
a FARM and later a drug and general
store there, headed the special train
load passing through here Tuesday.
Children Fined.
Mr.. Wolf said thai for years tho
Mennonites were allowed to nave their
w schools and disregard the, COM
pulsory attendance of the Canadian
schools. During the war. he yaii, e.
forts were made by the g~overnnlcn,
TO force their children to follow tn /;
Canadian teachings, and penalties
were provided for all who disobeSei.
He said that fines were imposed for
as much as SO for each child who
failed to attend, the practice being
followed quite vigorously until it was
learned that the M~ennonites were ar
ranging to leave the country.
The Mennonites follow the teachings
of Memo SimCns, who founded the
sect in Holland in the early part OF
thn I GIL. oonf1vH- aud uyhnSo hook Is
the basis of their conduct. This relig-
ion does not permit of the taking OF
human life even in war, and the adj
herence to such belief has caused
these people to move from one coun-
try to another to avoid laws hat may
conflict with their preferred methods
of living.
Their Own Schools.
1t is mainly through forming settle.
ments by themselves, where they have
their own churches and schools, that
! the Mennonites strive to continue theil
strict following of these beliefs. Mr.
Wolf said that compulsory school laws
have caused his people to move from
Holland to Germany, from Germany
to Russia, later from Russia to the
United States and Canada, and nov
from Canada to Mexico, where they
have been promised absolute freedom
in following their course. He sale
they have schools of their own which
children attend until they are abou
IA years Of age and where they lear1
all thai is considered necessary TO
them to know to enjoy life as they see
it. The leaders, he explained, fear tina
If their children attend the public
schools they would ultimately com
to disregard the belief that war il
wrong.
Several months ago a delegation o
Mennonites visited Mexico n severe
South American countries. 1t wa
only in Mexico that they were promis
ed the freedom they desired. AS a re
suit of conferences with Mexican of
ficials, including President Alvaro OBJ
RECON. an option was taken for a trac
in the states Of Chihuahua IL Du
range, at 1925 per acre.
Bishop Goes Later.
The first trainload left Manitoba b.
way Of a more eastern route a weel
ago last Monday, arriving in Mexico
yesterday. The second special train
carrying $50 people, passed through
Grand Forks last Thursday night, AM
a fourth train is expected to pas
through here next Saturday, Mr.. Wo
said.
These people are members of tn
Rhineland Church, which is headed b,
Bishop John Friesen of Winkler, Mar
The bishop is at present negotiating
deal, which is expected to be close
March 20, for the sale Of a number o
more farms in the district just nort]
of the border, where these people hav
been residing. While Bishop Friesel
is not expected to go to Mexico unit
next fall a number Of other familie
intend to leave when their places hav
been sold. Mr.. Wolf expects tina
many thousand Canadian Mennonite
will be in Mexico by next fall an
winter, and thai all Of the 10000 no,
in Canada will leave as DON as thei
affairs can be arranged. +.
Ell Paso, Texas, March 7.-Ninet,
thousand Mennonites from Russi;
may join their fellow worshipper
from Canada, who have started TO
their promised lands in Bustillos. Chi
huahua. George Hieberth of Lon
Beach, Cal, announced here toda
that he was representing Russia
Mennonites who also wanted to locat
in Mexico and had made arrange
ments to purchase land for them i
Chihuahua
IN NJ D~4s&s@