Evening star., 1941-08-16
The Week in Religion
Mennontes From Pennsylvania Plan
New Migration to Paraguay
BY Religious News Service.

A mass migration of Mennonites
from the Lancaster area Of Penn
sylvania to Paraguay, South Amer
lea, is being contemplated by leaders
of the sect. it was revealed this week.
The Mennonites are seeking free
frontier land In the South American
country in an effort to find place
where they can practice their beliefs
unhaInpered.
The migration project was made
known shortly after the Amish and
Mennonite sects of Pennsylvania got
into trouble with local draft boards
following the refusal of sect mem
bers to 60 to civilian camps assigned
to conscientious objectors.
The situation resulted in con-
ference between leaders OF the sects,
Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey. deputy
director of selective service, him.
self former Mennonite. and State
officials. AS result of this confer
ence, Hershey recommended that
II C. O.'s from the Amish and
Mennonite Sects be relieved from
civilian work camp orders and be
permitted to remain at home be-
cause of the agricultural nature of
their employment, which is closely
linked with their religion.
Gen. Hershey's recommendation
was rejected this week, however, by
the Board of Appeals, Area No. 4,
at Harrisburg, and new orders will
be issued commanding the c. O.'s
to report for civilian camp duty.
The Selective Service Act is the
latest United States law to veX the
Mennonites, who are opposed to
violence in any form. They are also
opposed to Federal crop restriction
and to State consolidated public
schools. They have frequently Pc
titioned the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture to allow one-room schoolhouses
and exemptions for children after
completion of the low grades" The
Amish and Mennonite sects do not
believe in continuation of education
beyond grade schools. contending
that 1t is too worldly" and against
their beliefs.
Mennonite Migrations.
The Mennonites are considered
among the best farmers OF Pennsyl-
vania. Just how seriously they take
their farming may be seen from the
fact that, at the end of 1899, a group
of pioneer Amish families of Penn
sylvania migrated to Southern
Maryland because the cost of fertile
land was getting too high.
In 1888, Mennonite families from
Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois. Indiana and
Ohio treked to the fertile valleys of
Upper Pennsylvania to find new
homes. The growing shortage of
good farm land in the Middle West,
plus the drought, were given as rea-
sons for the move.
Mennonites, in fact. are famous
for their migrations. If the Penn
sylvania group carries out its plan
to go to Paraguay it will be the third
Mennonite migration to that coun-
try since 1927.
The first settlement in Paraguay
was made by conservative Men
MONTE group from Manitoba. Can
ada, who were dissatisfied with the
restrictions placed upon them by the
Canadian schools laws Some 2,00C
| persons migrated to their new home
in Southern Paraguay in 1927.
In 1890 the second Mennonite set
| tlement in Paraguay was made by
Mennonite refugees from Russia
About 1000 persons settled in this
| colony. A third colony was estab-
lished in 1887 as a result of split
among the Russian colony over al
| legged dissatisfaction with the colony
| management.
The Mennonites of Paraguay have
been granted unusual privileges due
to the desire of the government to
secure good agricultural settlers
The sect has been granted prac-
tically complete government and
the privilege to develop their life and
faith unhindered by outside inter-
ference.
Growth of Religion.
A growing consciousness OF re-
hgion among Americans was re-
ported by the Rev. Gerald Grove
land Walsh, S. j., of Fordham Uni