Menonitas

The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after Menno Simons (1496-1561), though his teachings were a relatively minor influence on the group. As one of the historic peace churches, Mennonites are committed to nonviolence, nonviolent resistance/reconciliation, and pacifism.

Located close to one another and very similar in appearance, the colonies built their own schools. Teachers had no formal training and were chosen on their orthodoxy. Farmers taught part-time, reading only the Bible, speaking in German and teaching by rote memory work. Illustrative materials were not allowed, and one instructor schooled all ages, with as many as 75 students per class. Schooling ended at age 13 for boys and 12 for girls.

A Mennonite could lose church membership for breaking specific rules, even for not wearing proper clothes. When members deviated too much from orthodox beliefs, they were simply excommunicated. Home life was always strong and though Mennonites married young, their union was for life. Divorce did not exist. In rare circumstances, a couple ceased living together but such incidents were considered tragedies and neither party remarried. In the early 1920s, it was not unusual for Mennonites to have 10 or more children in the typical home. The father provided for the family as head of the home and conducted family worship. Integrity, morality and rectitude characterized Mennonite homes.

Women were serious homemakers, supporting their husbands in the production of the still famous Mennonite cheese, and every woman did her own baking, sewing and canning. They taught their children the ways of God, which included providing the labor for their own families and also for families with infants. They avoided unnecessary frivolities in their homes, and houses contained minimal furniture, appliances and conveniences. Mennonites also avoided public electricity, radios, televisions and other comforts. The family remained the most important institution and Mennonites discouraged their children from marrying non-Mennonites.