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The Mennonites were an early Protestant sect which developed among Swiss Anabaptists. The Mennonites were moderate Anabaptists. They were initially referred to as the Swiss Bretheren, but were renamed the Mennanites after an earlier leader--Menno Simons (1496?-1561). A Zurrich group seceded from the state church (1523-25). One of the principal issues was infant baptism. The Mennites were nonresistants (pacifists) and refused to take oaths because of a Biblical interpretation. The Mennites took the Bible as the soul authority in matters of faith and accepted only two sacraments (batism and the Lord's Supper). Mennites spread to Germany and were an important part of the Volksdeutsche that migrated to Russia. The offer by Tsarina Chatherine the Great was especially attractive to the Mennonites because they were allowed to live as communities under their own laws and were exempted from military service. Other Mennites established communities in France and the Netherlands. Dutch Menninites issued the Dordrecht Confession (1632). The Mennonites settled areas of eastern Pennsylvania. The first Pennsylvania colony was at Germantown (1683). The Amish are one of the Mennite groups in Pennsylvania. Other colonies were established in Ohio and other mid-Western states. Mennonite familes also established colonies in western Canada. As Russian policies changed toward the Folksdeutsche in the 19th century, many moved to Canada. Large numbers were killed with Stalin during World War II exiled the Folksdeutsche from their Volga farms to Siberia (1941). A small group of Canadian Mennonites established two Mexican colonies during the 1920s.
The Mennonites were an early Protestant sect which developed among Swiss Anabaptists. The Mennonites were moderate Anabaptists. They were initially referred to as the Swiss Bretheren, but were renamed the Mennanites after an earlier leader--Menno Simons (1496?-1561). A Zurrich group seceded from the state church (1523-25). One of the principal issues was infant baptism. The Mennites were nonresistants (pacifists) and refused to take oaths because of a Biblical interpretation. The Mennites took the Bible as the sole authority in matters of faith and accepted only two sacraments (batism and the Lord's Supper).
Mennites spread to Germany and were an important part of the Volksdeutsche that migrated to Russia.
The offer by Tsarina Chatherine the Great was especially attractive to the Mennonites because they were allowed to live as communities under their own laws and were exempted from military service. As Russian policies changed toward the Folksdeutsche in the 19th century, many moved to Canada. Large numbers were killed with Stalin during World War II deported the Volksdeutsche from their Volga farms to Siberia (1941).
Other Mennites established communities in France and the Netherlands.
Dutch Menninites issued the Dordrecht Confession (1632).
The Mennonites settled areas of eastern Pennsylvania. The first Pennsylvania colony was at Germantown (1683). The Amish are one of the Mennite groups in Pennsylvania. The Amish are a religious group who live in settlements in 22 states and Ontario, Canada. The oldest group
of Old Order Amish, about 16-18,000 people live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Amish stress
humility, family and community, and separation from the world. Other Mennite colonies were established in Ohio and other mid-Western states.
The Mennoites emerged from Germany during the Protestant Revolution. Seeking a tolerant location where they could practice their religion and separtist life-style, the Mennoites migrated to Canada (Manitoba) and the United States (Pennsylvamia). It was a small group of these North American Mennonites that reached Belize in 1959. There they became a poorly understood and rather conspicuous part of the Belizian population. The Mennonites in Brelize continue to remain apart, perpetuating their culture and reigion. About 3,000 Mennonites came to Belize and settled along the River Hondo. Here they found a location offering religious toleration persecution and away from the hustle and bustle of modern society. The British colonial government agreed to a special arrangement which exempted the Mennoite Community from military service as well as certain forms of taxation. They were the key components that eventually drove the Mennoites from Europe. The Government also guranteed complete freedom religious feedom and the right to farm within a closed community. The Mennonites today have their own local government and maintain their own separate schools, banks, and businesses. The first Belizian Mennonites purchased large uninhabited tracts of land and created settlements at Corozal, Orange Walk, and Cayo districts.
Mennonite familes also established colonies in western Canada (Manitoba). As Russian policies changed toward the Folksdeutsche in the 19th century, many moved to Canada. Large numbers who remained in Russia were killed when Stalin during World War II exiled the Folksdeutsche from their Volga farms to Siberia (1941).
A small group of Canadian Mennonites established two >Mexican colonies during the 1920s. A small minority group is the Mennonites in
Chihuahua. The Mexicam Mennonites date from the 1920s an came from Canada. Canadian Mennonites between 1922-26 moved to Mexico. About 6,000 Mennonites came from Old Colony. Another 500 came from Sommerfelder. They moved to the San Antonio valley, about 500 km south of El Paso, Texas. A second Meican Mennonite community was founded in In 1924 further south than the first settlement.
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