MODERN PILGRIMS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 25, 30 January 1930, Page 21

MODERN PILGRIMS

THE MENNONITES

MUCH-HARASSED PEOPLE

Amid the clash and reverberation of conflict in Manchuria the world has almost let slip unnoticed the dramatic incident of the thousands o£ colonists of German descent, chiefly Mennonites, who are demanding the right to leave their Russian homes, says the "Christian Science Monitor" in an editorial. For loing and weary months these colonists have been growing more and more restive under the whip of atheistic propaganda ""Finally, without permission from the Communistic state to depart, nor with any other state ready to receive them, th V descended on Moscow bag and baggage, demanding permission to join the -members of their faith in far-off Canada Imagine the predicament of official Moscow, which wants to retain its grain producers, when suddenly an important an- Kcultural colony breaks up housekeeping.

GREAT EXODUS. To understand the situation from the poiint o£ view of the Mennonites we must remember that their tenets acknowledge no authority outside the Bible a? 4, th, c enlightened conscience of the individual. Originally in 1523. as a small prophetic minority, they revolted from the state church in Zurich. Switzerland. When the Empress o£ Kussia. Catherine, heard ol their persecution, she offered them land aafi freedom to live according to their conscience. About 2000 left Prussia m '1788 and many more in 1824. They settled in Saratov, Samara, and in the Caucasus Ai first they suffered much in the new country, but they had liberty. Then in 1874 their previous exemption from military service was suddenly abrogated. About 15,000 retaliated by leaving for Canada. The Tsar in alarm sent his mimister to effect a compromise; service in the forest was substituted for military 'ihe present unrest, then, is nothing new in the history of the Mennonite group. On the other hand, at the very least it means that the Soviet Government has been less successful with this group than the Tsar. Their grain has been requisitioned; tney have suffered religious persecution and been badgered about until they were ready to risk all-homes, fields even per--sdnal security—and venture forth, once again in a new crusade for freedom.

RECEIVED NO WELCOME. TJnfortunately, at Moscow they found the Canadian Government was loath to welcome them immediately. Then^the Gorman Government hesitated to grant tmnsit vises. Eventually the Soviet Sfiate, tired of waiting, started them on their way to Siberia. At last Germany ha.s agreed to admit 4000. but now will the Sfl>viet Government reverse the course ol thirhe iO p Ulighl'-of the Mennonites has its leisson for all peoples and nations, lney are a brave Tittle band of. courageous figihters for freedom of conscience iheir struggle is a welcome reminder that willingness to sacrifice for ideals is still neces-sary-in Russia and in every country. For lang is the journey, difficult the road to freedom. Liberty, after all, is a thing which must be realised anew every day, and often, when nearly achieved, it is lost because it is taken for granted that the buttle is-won.