To the East
We have been writing about how and
when the Amish and Mennonites came to America and the unique challenges they
faced. At the same time that these
Anabaptists were coming to America, others were moving eastward. While not connected as closely to the history
of the Amish, these people are a part of our Anabaptist community both
historically and in […]
Colonies of Wealth
We began the journey east into Russia as Dutch
and German Mennonites settled in the Ukraine under the invitation of the
Russian government. Here they were
granted large parcels of land, and colonies developed. These were not communal colonies like the
Huttterites; rather, each family was given a parcel of land that was their
own. Most of the people lived […]
Lost Privileges
Recently we have looked at the
Russian Mennonites and their settlements in Russia. Also we looked at how a small group (Kleine Gemeinde) broke away from the
main group over concerns about morality, involvement with the government, and
the rapid generation of wealth. This
group was also the first to leave Russia for the New World. The emigration of […]
The Anabaptist World of 1800
Sometimes in the study of history, it becomes necessary to
step back and look at the bigger picture. Our view is often very narrow, and we
lose sight of the forest because we are looking at a few trees. Over the past
months we have traced the movement of the Anabaptist people as they moved west
to the New […]
Another Test of Faith
Last month we stepped back and took a wide look at the
nature and shape of the Anabaptist world of 1800. We learned that about 500 Amish had moved
from their European homes to Pennsylvania. In the New World, they settled in Lancaster and Berks Counties, where
they were free to own their lands and worship in peace. […]
Moving West
When the Amish and Mennonites move and start another settlement in the modern world, it often is because we have “filled” the previous settlement and there is no more land available for young families. The same is true historically, but there is an additional factor that often pushed our people into other areas; that is […]
Printing the Martyr’s Mirror
As the Amish and Mennonites settled into the new world, they
faced many hardships. What made those
early years so difficult for many settlers was the long distance from family,
the clearing of land by hand, and making their way in a
world that was so different
from their past experiences. As they
settled and their families and farms grew, they […]
Hutterites
Suffering and
martyrdom were a factor in the development of Anabaptism in the early years of
the movement. Many people suffered, and
some died for their faith. One such
person was a fiery preacher named Hans Hut. Hut was a bookbinder, and book salesman who traveled extensively preaching
the Anabaptist doctrine. He baptized
many converts and was successful in promoting adult […]