In our own day the attitude of the Russian govern- ment towards the IMennonites has decidedly changed, and a harsh and unfriendly spirit been manifested in regard to them. The sharp-sighted among them fore- saw an invasion of their liberties from the tone of the Russian newspapers and the attitude of Russian offi- cials. On June 4, 1871, the expected blow came. An edict, addressed to all the colonists in the empire — Ger- man Lutherans and Roman Catholics, as well as Men- nonites, Bulgarians, and others, to all of whom, as to t^e Mennonites, grants of lands and special privileges had been given — set the limit of ten j'ears as the terminal period of exemption from military service, with the pro- viso that, us to furnishing recruits, the laws ruling col- onists should remain in force only till the publication of a general law on military duty. Such a law might be promulgated at any day, and the Mennonites, with oth- ers, be obliged to furnish -recruits, in spite of their re- ligious convictions against bearing arms. By the gen- eral law of Russia emigration is not permitted; bur, for the benefit of the aggrieved colonists, ten years were given them in which to take themselves out of Russia, if unwilling to come under the full intent of Russian laiv. After that time no emigration is to be permitted. IVIean- while some of the IMennonites had been busy making inquiries to guide them in the selection of new homes. Cornelius Jonsen, a' leading Mennonite, acting as Ger- man consul at Berdiansk, had written tetters to mem- bers of the sect in this country and Canada, asking in- formation as to the advantage of America for settlement by their people. Very full and encouraging replies were received from John Funk, at Elkhart, Indiana, and from others in Canada, Pennsylvania, and the West. Jonseii had these letters printed, and distributed them, togeth- er with little pamphlets, tcUing of the attractions of America. So enthusiastic did the people become over the hope of freer and happier homes in the New World, that in a short time $20,000 was raised to aid a deputa- tion to America, to visit its finest sections, and to return to Russia with a report of the result of their spying out of the land. The delegates sent were twelve in number, and left Russia for this country at various times from February to JMay, 1873, and the result is manifest in the large arrival of this people, who have purchased lands on the Western prairies, and in some of our South-
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ern states. The probability is that all the ilennoiiites of Kussia will settle in the United States.
Tliose ilennonites who, after their emigration to Kus- sia, settled in the Crimea, and there lived on land bought by themselves, and not included in the grants of eitlier Catharine or Alexander, are likewise emigrating to this country. An advance guard of some thirty families, who were al)le to sell their* estates at once, quitted the Uussian territory and arrived here Aug. 15 (1873). They are essentially (ierman, still speaking the language of the land they wore obliged to leave nearly a century ago, and are from tlie villages of Friedenstcin ("Stone of Peace") and Bruderfeld (" Brother's Tield"), in the Crimea, in the neighborhood of the Black Sea. They marry only within tlieir own Church. A correspondent of the Xew York Tribune writes from St. Petersburg, under date of April 19 (1873), concerning this people: " That the Mennonites arc thrifty, industrious, and eco- nomical, their jjrosperity is sufficient proof. They are, besides this, very clean, neat, and orderly (a lady could go into every peasant's stable), and quiet, contented, honest, moral, and deeply religious. There is no drunk- enness or gambling among them. Crime is exceedingly rare. The latest statistics I can lind arc dated 1841 , and those show that for 37 years there were only 88 crimes in the Mennonite colonies on the Molotchna, including about 12,000 people. Of these crimes, 41 sprang from the sexual relation, and 9 were thefts; all the rest were minor oifences, such as disobedience to the authorities. Besides all this, the Mennonites are educated. Every child knows how to read and write; in every village there is a school. The Bible and other religious books are, of course, to be found in every house. The IVIen- nonites were visited by Ilaxthausen in 1843. and by Petzholdt in 1855, and both travellers bear testimony to the worth and the prosperity of the colonists. Petz- holdt says: 'It is my firm conviction that Kussia pos- sesses no more useful or more industrious citizens than the Mennonites.' Up to this time the Jlennonites have always been loyal sulyects to Kussia, They have never been remiss in their taxes; and during the Crimean War .sent large voluntary gifts of grain and provender to the besieged army. It is only because the privileges grant- ed to tlicm are infringed, and they will be compelled to enter the army against their conscience, that they now wish to emigrate from Kussia."
The Mennonites in the United States. — These new- comers are not by any means the lirst ^lennonites in the United States. They came as early as 1G83. Hold- ing much in common with the Friends, the Mennonites received an invitation from William Penn to settle in the new province of Pennsylvania. IMaiiy accepted the kind offer of the Quaker leader, and in little more than half a century the sect had migrated to ttie number of .about 500 fatnilies. In 1708 a school and meeting-house were erected by tliem in Germantown, Pa. In the fol- lowing year another colony was established in what is now known as Lancaster Comity, Pa. Other emigra- tions followed in 1711, 1717, 1727, and 1733 successive- ly. In 1735 thtre were nearly if not quite 500 families settled in Lancaster County. Afterwards their fam- ilies settled also in various parts of Jlaryland, Ohio, Indiana, New York, and Canada; and they are now found in nearly every part of tlic Union and of Canada, though they are most numerously jjresented in Penii- sylvania, Oliio, ^Maryland, and Virginia. It is dillicidt to arrive at their whole number, .as tliey keep no afces- sible records for that purpose, believing jiublic displays of this nature to be only one of tlie vanities of denomi- nations, and of no good service, as the (Jreat Head of the Cliurch well sees and knows how many are his. They probably number, however, as nearly as can be ascertained, about .'JSO ministers and 40,000 members. Thcj' have a publishing- house af Elkhart, Indiana. Their bishops, ministers, and deacons meet semi-annu- ally in district conferences for the purpose of learning the state of the Church, and deliberating upou sug-