THE MENNONITES

The Mennonites now number about three hundred thousand, the most of whom are in America. They derive their name from Menno Simons, who lived from 1495 to 1561, and who labored mostly in Holland and Northern Germany. The prevailing opinion among church historians, especially those of Holland, is that their origin can be traced, to the Waldenses, and that Menno merely organized the concealed and scattered congregations as a denomination. They had to suffer much by being confounded with the fanatical Anabaptists. Little sympathy was felt for them, as their rejection of pedobaptism, also their opposition to the civil oath and military service, separated them so widely from other Protestants. They also suffered very much from internal dissensions, and at present they are divided into a number of factions.HSFM 254.5

About the year 1683 they began to settle in the United States. Toward the close of the eighteenth century several thousand left Germany, and emigrated to Russia, where they obtained from the emperor Paul a charter granting them perpetual freedom from military service. They have since rapidly increased, until they now number about forty thousand in Russia. Their charter has of late been changed, and the young men are now required to serve the government four years in planting timber on the public lands, while their parents incur a heavy expense for their support. Although not required to bear arms, they are subjected to military discipline, laboring under the direction of government officials, and working much harder than the soldiers do. It is doubtful how long they will enjoy even this exemption. For this reason many of this people, also a number of Baptists who are averse to military service, have left Russia and sought the great land of religious freedom. Far in the Western States they found land and homes, and better than all, some have been led to accept the precious truths of the third angel’s message.HSFM 255.1