PENNSYLVANIA: Exodus?

• Share

The God-fearing Mennonites of Pennsylvania decided that it was God's country no longer: they would migrate to South America.

Ever since they left Germany two and a half centuries ago, the Mennonites have farmed the rich land of Lancaster County, Pa. They are simple folk, and simplicity is the heart of their religion. They do not believe in war or violence. The strictest Mennonites do not believe in self-decoration; buttons are taboo, and so are pictures. They do not believe in getting mixed up with their nonbelieving neighbors.

They had begun to murmur when the State took away their plain little red schoolhouses, gave them public schools. But they did not move away, like their Amish cousins, who went to Maryland. They muttered louder when draft officials sent their pacifist young men to camps for conscientious objectors. But when AAA sent its agents in and told them how much wheat they could grow on their fertile acres, the Mennonites decided they had stood enough. They held a meeting, agreed to emigrate to the free frontier soil of Paraguay.

The Mennonite fathers sent 26-year-old David Newswanger to Washington to arrange for passports. When he heard that passports meant photographs, he earnestly explained to the State Department that Mennonites are not allowed to have their pictures taken. Wouldn't fingerprints be just as good? The State Department answered sternly: No.

Last week the church fathers prepared to call another meeting to consider their dilemma.