Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/354

* MENNONITES. 320 MENNONITES. The first settlement of ilciinonites in the United States was made in 1U83, when immi- grants, induced by William Pcnn's offer of reli- gious liberty, settled in Pennsylvania and built a church in tiermantown. on a spot still occupied by a Mcnuonite meeting house. Another con- .siderable immigration has taken place from Southern Russia since 1871, the immigrants establishing colonies in the United States (ilin- nesota, Dakota, and Kansas), Canada, and Bra- zil. So far as it is possible to ascertain, the ilennonites have in the I'nited States 55,554: communicants, with 1112 ministers and 073 churches. They are divided among twelve branches, which differ on jK)ints of doctrine, ritual, and discipline, or in historical origin. I. The oldest and largest of these branches is TtiE Men'Xomte CnuKcii, the mcmbei-s of which are represented in seventeen States, but most largely in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Their 288 churches, with 418 ministers and 22,743 com- municants, are for the most part affiliated with some of the twelve district organizations, but a few of them arc inde])eiulent. A publishing house is established at Elkhart, Ind., where a semi-monthl.v newspaper in English, the Herald of Truth, a weekly journal in German, the Men- ■nonitiseh-e RiDidsehau, Sunda.v-.school and chil- dren's periodicals, Mennonite historical and doc- trinal works, and other books, are published. II. The BRirEnKRiioEF Mexxoxite Cihrch traces its origin to Jacob Huter. who was burnt at the stake at Innsbruck. Tyrol, in 1530. It was at one time represented by 24 communities in Jloravia, whence they were driven to Hun- gary. They removed to Rumania in 1707. and "two years afterwards to Russia, and finally, in 1874,' to the United States, where they settled in South Dakota. They live under the com- munal system. Their language is Oerman, and their books, preserved in manuscript, including their histor,v {Gemeinde-deschirlitshiieh) . are in that tongue. Their 5 congregations have 352 conuiiuiiicant members and are served by 9 ministers. III. The Ami.su Mexxoxite CirrRcll originat- ed in the division already mentioned, which took place in Switzerland in 1020. and represents the Oberland Meiinonites. or followers of .lacob Amen, of the Bernese Alps, after whom it is named. It is serond in importance among Mennonite bod- ies in the United States, and has 205 ministers, 124 churches, and I.*?. 220 conimunicanls. being most largel.v represented in Illinois, Pennsyl- vania, and Ohio. A settlement of Amish Men- nonites was formed in 1824 in Wilmot Township. Ontario, where land was bought for the purpose by Christian Nafziger. of Munich. Five congre- gations have grown >ip from it. to which 329 faniilies are attached. IV. The Old Ami.sii Mexxoxite CiirRCir is the result of a separation from the Aniisli body which took place about 1805 r)ver questions con- cerning forms of worship and inetlio<ls of Chureli work, the separatists |)rotesting against certain steps which they regarded as innovations, and insisting upon a strict adherence to the ancient forms and practices. They have 24.38 members, with 75 ministers and 25 churches, and are strongest In Indiana and Ohio. V. nie .VposTOLir Mexxoxite Ciinicii is a brancli derived from the .mish. which came to the United States by imnii<;rntion from Europe about 1840. The discipline is less strict than in the other Amish branches. Two churches are mentioned, both in Ohio, with 2 ministers and 209 members. . The Reformed Mennoxite Church orig- inated in 1812, under the leadership of John Herr, who protested against la.xity in the Men- nonite Church, and insisted upon the preserva- tion of purit.v in teaching and the maintenance of e.xact discipline. Its adherents are strict in the observance of the old ways and in their dis- cipline, and do not as a rule hold fellowship with other denominations. They have 1080 mem- bers, about half of them being in Penn.sylvania, with 43 ministers and 34 churches. VII. The Gexek.vi. Coxferekce Menno.n'ite Chirch has adopted modern views and practices to a larger extent than most of the other branches. It originated as a result of proceed- ings which were instituted in 1848 in Pennsyl- vania against a minister, John Oberholtzer, who was charged with attempting to introduce new teachings and practices. Oberholtzer and his svmpathizers withdrew and formed a body called the New Mennonites. Tliis body united with churches whose members had come irom Germany and settled in Illinois and Iowa, and a General Conference was formed, with three districts — eastern, central, and western. A new constitu- tion, described as being evangelical in tone, was adopted in 1898. The number of niend)er3 is 10.395. with 128 ministers and 70 churches. VIII. The Chi-rch of (Jon ix Ciiki.st was founded in 1859, under the leading of John Haldeman, who believed himself inspired with the spirit of prophecy. It inculcates a strict adherence to the teachings of the founders of the ilennonite Church. The estimate of its num- bers gives it 18 ministers, 18 churches, .ind 449 members. IX. The Old, or Wisler. Mexxoxites repre- sent a separation from the Jlennonite Church in Indiana which took place about 1S70 by those who op])ose(l the introduction of Sunday schools, evening meetings, and other new features. The first General Conference was held in 1898. They number 003 member.s, with 17 ministers and 16 churches. X. Die Buxdes Conferexz der ilExxoNlTBlT BRCDFJf(iEMEixDE originated in Russia about 1840. and was brought to the United States by immigrant adherents between 1873 and 1870. It practices baptism bv immersion, and attaches special iniporlancc to evidences of conversion. It is one of the most active of the Meiuionite bodies in missionarv enterprise, and has mis- sionaries in China. Africa, and India. Its 16 churches have 2950 members and are served by 41 ministers. XI. The Defexseless Mennonites are like- wise distinguished bv the stress they lay upon the necessity of conversion and regeneration, and represent a separation from the . ilsh. which was led by Henry Kgli. They have 1120 mem- bers In 11 churches, with 20 ministers. XII. The CiifRni o» the Mexxoxite Breth- REX IX Christ is the most recent in organiza- tion of the Mennonite bodies, having Ijeen formed about 1880. The Hrethren are open conununion- ists. and ailminister baptism in any of the usual fonns. They have 59 elnirches, 70 ministers, and 3103 members, in eight States of the Union, and churches in Canada.