PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARLY EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT.
THE MENNONITES.
The Mennonites in Saskatchewan have attracted a good deal of atten-
tion of late years by their resistance to the school law. There has been a
large movement to Mexico from the settlement in the western part of the
Province. It is not our purpose to detail these recent events, but we
think many of our readers will be glad of some general information about
these worthy and industrious people, who, if we leave out certain peculiar
views which seem out of harmony with the workings of modern civilization
as practiced in the British Empire, are certainly among our most worthy,
industrious and clean-living citizens. The first congregation was formed
in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1525 by one Conrad Grebel, but the name Men-
nonite arises from one Menno Simons, who became the leader of the sect
in Holland. The Mennonite "Confession of Faith" was adopted in Holland
in 1632 and comprised eighteen articles. The Mennonites are now divided
into sects, but broadly speaking their tenets may be said to rest upon the
foundation that the basis of modern government and society is opposed to
the teachings of Jesus and is therefore unchristian. This leads them to
stand aloof from state or civic affairs, to condemn all war and to refuse
to bear arms; also to consider the taking of oaths as wrong; and in all
these matters they claim to have the direct authority of our Lord. They
would appear to be literalists in their interpretation of the Scriptures.
The "vanities of the world" are eschewed, and "correct discipline and
rectitude are considered more important than learning and the elaboration
of doctrinal points." Learning to them, without being exactly anathema
is not considered necessary to good living or salvation, and here we get
probably the kernel of their opposition to our Saskatchewan school law.
The ''learning'' of our schools is to them more or less a ''vain thing,'' and
when it is sought to compel them by law to erect schools, pay for teachers,
and lose the services of their children on the farms while these children
are being instructed in things which to them are unnecessary and destruc-
tive of true religion as they understand it. When this is sought to be
imposed upon them they resist. In Manitoba, the Mennonites settled
under a special guarantee from the Canadian Government that they should
not be called upon to bear arms, and should retain freedom in religious
and educational matters. It is contended that these exceptions do not
apply to the Province of Saskatchewan, but it is at least open to doubt
whether in granting those privileges in Manitoba the Canadian Govern-
ment was not, by implication, inviting all Mennonites to come to Canada
and any part of it under the same terms as their Manitoba compatriots.
Bibliography follows:
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