The people's voice., 1959-01-30


believing teachers"
To the Hutterites, who are barred
by religious convictions from par
ticipating in litigation of any kind
unless it is forced upon them it is
not a question of obeying or dis
obeying the edicts of a court of
law. Instead it is an insoluble and
fundamental question of living
their religion as it has been since
the Sixteenth Century or bowling to
a decree which would mean a be-
trayal of basic principles.
In the final analysis, it is less g
simple educational matter affecting
perhaps 100 students in the entire
state than it is depreciation on the
religious freedom of minority
group. 1t is to the Bill of Rights and
it's guarantees of civil liberties that
the Hutterites hope amelioration of
what is viewed as an oppressive state
law will come.
For centuries, religious denomina-
tions have practiced the supervision
of education in accordance with their
Interpretation of the Scriptures,
Kleinsasser pointed out. federation
cannot have deteriorated to the point
where it means no more than acceed-
ing to the wishes of the majority in
matters of faith and morals. he added
1t is not only in the field of educa-
ton that the Hutterites wish to CO.
operate with temporal authority. Be-
cause the members of the Milford
Colony were all born in the United
States, Kleinsasser said, it is not nee
essary that they undergo naturaliza-
tion proceedings to affirm their al
legiance to the United States.
AS American citizens, not Ger
mans or Russians as has been so
often charged, Pastor Kleinsasser
explained that the Hutterites re-
spect and sincerely wish to support
the government. eve believe in the
governmental is ordained by God
and we want to do our share to
support it through taxes so long as
it does not infringe upon our re-
ligious freedom. When it does, we
must resist and accept the conse-
quences,' he said.
This not a unique belief applicable
only in the case of the Hutterites but
IN integral and fundamental philo- |
sophie principal embodied in the bases
If numerous denominations. The pres
,rvation of an theological way of life
'r Giving ones religion" in the face
If adverse environmental pressures
is considered an admirable |
raft in any individual or group. 1t
hould be no less SO in the case of |
he Hutterite Brethren.
Although the sect has been accused
# being apathetic regarding civic
governmental responsibilities,
PASTOR Kleinsasser said one Hutterite
its on the three-man school board
'overning the Milford school. The
ther two members and the school
istrict clerk are residents of RI.
augusta area but not Hutterites.
TENDERS of the sect who have exer-
ised the franchise appear eager to
eveal that they have voted in state
nd national elections.
Although the Hutterite Brethren re-
st assimilation, the sect, in the Au-
usta area, maintains friendly rela-
ons with neighboring farmers and
usiness associates.
The willingness to lend "helping I
and" to an outsider in distress was
illustrated this fall when 7
I Augusta farmer was late in har- {
ssting his crops. Sensing a possible G
saster because of weather, the eld- t
s at the Milford Colony offered the r
rvices Of their three combines TO i
cir neighbor, averting what might Q
I'VE been a serious financial loss.
We have wonderful neighbors," the E
ev. Joseph j. Kleinsasser, Milford e
lstor, said. owe have never had a
ouble." $
While the aim of the sect is to Fl
hieve economic self-sufficiency, col Il
les throughout the state, Kleinsas- 81
r said, patronize businesses and pur-
ase services in the areas in which c,
ey are located. fl
The colonies support themselves ii
rough diversified farming and stock H
ising. In many respects, their opera Sc
ms are characterized by high de- HI
ee of mechanization. but the Gus pl