MENNONITES. denomination of evan gelical Protestant Christians which arose in Switzerland in the sixteenth century. The be ginning of the sect was in a eongregation formed in Zurich in 1525 by Conrad Grebe] and his associates, Manz and Blaurock. Stress was laid upon discipline rather than dogma; abstinence from the vanities of the world was imposed; and (the State being regarded as the principle of refusing to participate in civic duties, to hear arms, and to take oaths was up held. The movement begun at Zurich extended through Switzerland and into Southern Germany and Austria. The attitude of its adherents toward the State exposed them to persecuttun, which continued in Switzerland through the whole of the sixteenth century, and provoked emigrations into Moravia and Holland. The Anabaptists (q.v.) were active in Westphalia at the same time, and, professing some of the same views with Grebel's followers, gave occa sion for the introduction of heresies and trou bles. After the Anabaptist disaster at Minister, Menno Simons (q.v.) became a leader among the followers of Grebe], and placed their move ment upon a sounder footing. Allying himself with the more sober-minded elements of the Ana baptists after 1536, he organized congregations in Northern Germany and Iloilo nd, and by virtue of his piety, discretion, and ability, made such an impression upon the body that. although he was not its founder, his name became identi fied with it. The Mennonite Confession of Faith, in eighteen articles, was adopted in Holland in 1632. It embodies the usual evangelical doc trines cont.erning, (hod, the fall of man, the au thority of the Scriptures, repentance, and bap tism, and contains articles relating to discipline and conduct. Grace is presented as designed for all. The view taken of the Lord's Supper accords with that of Zwingli. In the United States the sacrament is observed twice a year, usually in the spring and fall, the communicants having been previously examined concerning their spir itual condition. The rite of foot-washing (q.v.) is observed in connection with it. Baptism, which is only upon confession of faith, is ad ministered by pouring. After baptism the kiss of peace is given by the minister, or by a repre sentative sister, if the convert is a woman. Cor
rect discipline and rectitude are considered more important elements in the Christian life than learning and the elaboration of doetrinal pointS. Divorce is condemned, except for adultery. The bearing of arms and taking of oaths are regarded as wrong. and the holding of offices under the State is not encouraged. The Church polity is congregational, with a ministry of bishops, priests or elders, and deacons.
The Mennonite Church has been divided in both Holland and Switzerland. The different branches in Holland were reunited in 1801. A division took place in Switzerland in 1620 be tween the Upland and Lowland Mennonites when Jacob Amen„ of the Bernese Alps, held that ex commimieation of one party dissolved the mar riage tie, and prescribed the use of buttons and the trimming of the beard. Traces of this sepa ration are found in the United States and Cana da in the Amish congregations.
The first settlement of Mennonites in the United States was made in 1683, when immi grants, induced by William Penn's offer of reli gious liberty. settled in Pennsylvania and built a church in Germantown. on a spot. still occupied by a AlennoMte meeting house. Another con siderable immigration has taken place from Southern llussia since 1S71, the immigrants establishing colonies in the United States (Min nesota. Dakota, and Kansas), Canada. and Bra zil. So far as it is possible to aseertain, the ...Mennonites have in the United States 55.554 communicants, with 1112 ministers and 673 churches. They arc divided among twelve brandies, which differ On points of doctrine, ritual, and discipline, or in historical origin.
I. The oldest and largest of these branches is THE MENNONITE CIIURCII, the 11101111i0T, of which arc represented in seventeen States, but most largely in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Their 288 churches. with 11S ministers and 22,743 com municants. are for the most part affiliated with some of the twelve district organizations, but a few of them are independent. A publishing house is established at Elkhart, Ind., where a semi-monthly newspaper in English, the Herald of Truth, a weekly journal in German, the .11111 nonitiscke Rum/sr/mu, Sunday-sehool and chil dren's periodicals, :Mennonite historical and doc trinal works, and other books. are published.