Mennonites in the World War/II

by Jacob Riis

MENNONITES AND OTHER WARS

Growth of Militarism in Europe

The barbarous practices of war had been in vogue in Europe as far back as one can trace, re gardless of the advancement made along the lines of education and science. As a country excelled in one thing, its rival must excel in some other as a means of protection. Fear and jealousy were gen eral. More and more military laws were being passed and it was becoming almost impossible for nonresistants to get exemption. Practically all the countries had some form of military training. In course of time Germany surpassed all the others in this. The Mennonites of that country accepted the uniform and drill under protest, but in course of time protests grew less and these things were not considered so objectionable from the standpoint of nonresistance. The glitter of the uniform, the glare of the gun, and the thrill of the music helped to qui et the conscience, so that as the years rolled by many young men were glad when they were old enough to begin the course of training.

Effect of Military Training

Having once taken the training there was little use to plead conscientious objections, and as a rule the Mennonites accepted some form of quartermaster service or Red Cross work. With the attractions held up before them in song and sermon, the glory of the empire and the duty of loyalty were made to stand out very prominently. With these conditions, and the idea of divine right of kings, it is easy to see how the doctrine of nonresistance became a sec ondary matter, especially when accompanied with the idea that if war was not right the responsibility rested with the officials who were responsible for the war and compelled the individual to serve. However, in some parts of the German empire the C. O.'s received more consideration.

Russia Rescinding her Promise

The privileges accorded to the Mennonites who went from Germany to Russia caused many of the Russians to become jealous. Complaints were brought to tdie government regarding such discrim ination, and in time it withdrew these privileges, one of which, as will be remembered, was exemp tion from military service. At once the Mennonites began to look for new homes. They sent commit tees to different parts of the world to find favorable countries and conditions. This resulted in a large number going to America. The Czar regretted losing so many of his most prosperous subjects, and on hearing that many more were going to leave, he sent one of his best diplomats among them with a promise of certain exemptions. After some negotiations the following was granted : "The Mennonites who shall be called out for military service shall be assigned to duty only at other places than at the front, as in hospitals, in military works and similar establishments, and shall be exempt from bearing arms. This provision shall not include such Mennonites as shall unite with the Church after the new military law shall have come into force, or such as shall come into the Russian Empire from any foreign country. "

Many of the Mennonites accepted this and remained in the country, and in case of war they were allowed to take forestry instead of service at the front. They planted trees and cut out under brush and dead timber. They were under the directions of a man who had military training but who at that time was a civilian. This did not prove very satisfactory. It gave no protection to those who became members of the Ghurch after the law went into effect. Parents saw that their sons were destined to accept combatant service or suffer per secution at the hands of (government. Also, that if they remained their posterity would soon lose the principle of nonresistance entirely. This brought on the -second wave of emigration to America.

European Trend and Nonresistance

With such strong counter^currents against them, not only in Russia but in Holland, Germany, Switz erland and France, the Mennonites of Europe either emigrated or largely lost their nonresistance. Tak ing any kind of service a few decades ago meant noncombatant service for their children and com batant service for their grandchildren. It meant compromise on a Gospel principle, and while that may be a seeming advantage for the time being, it invariably means disadvantage in time to come. True nonresistance is not a matter of taste, ease, or trial, but of obedience to the teachings of Christ and His apostles on this subject.

Nonresistance Affects Actions

Nonresistance is inseparably connected with fair dealing because the party knows that he can not defend himself, and he must be careful so that there will be no occasion to resist. That was William Penn's way of dealing with the Indians, and the very small amount of blood that was shed in the early settlements of Pennsylvania compared with marauding and murders committed in other colonies tells its own story. Incidents could be given where the nonresistant attitude of a few faithful people saved whole settlements from these ravages.

Ancient and Modern Councils of Defense

The following shows that in Revolutionary times these same classes of people were required to suffer for their faith, and compared with condi tions in some localities during the great World War it is an evidence that the improvement has been comparatively small regardless of our boasted growth in civilization :

"AT A MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF INSPECTION AND OBSERVATION OF THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER, at Lancaster, Penna., on the 29th day of May, 1775, Edwin Shippen, Esq., Chairman.

"The Committee having received informataion that diverse persons, whose religious tenets forbid their forming themselves into Military Associations, have been mal-treated and threatened by some violent and ill-disposed people in the County of Lancaster, notwithstanding their willingness to contribute cheerfully to the common cause otherwise than by taking up arms.

"The Committee, duly considering the same, do most heartily recommend to the good inhabitants of the County, that they use every possible means to discourage and prevent such licentious proceedings and assiduously cultivate that harmony and union so absolutely necessary in the present crisis in public affairs. At the same time they consider it to be their indispensable duty to intimate to the public their entire disapprobation of any abusive, opprobrious or insult ing expressions that may be made use of by any person whatsoever against such of the respectable inhabitants who may think proper to associate for the defense and support of their inestimable rights and privileges.

"The Committee will find means to bring such impudent persons to a proper sense of their misconduct. Yet they ardently wish and hope that no further violence, threats or animosities may appear, but that every member of the Com munity will readily use his utmost endeavors to promote peace, good order and unanimity among the inhabitants of this respectable county."

LANCASTER. Printed by Francis Bailey, King Street,

The above is a verbatim copy of the English part of a handbill which is now on exhibition in East Wing of Independence Hall, Philadelphia. The German translation is printed on the same handbill.

Some of the Councils of Defense serving during the late war and winking at mobs and mob vio lence might have learned a lesson from their great grandfathers that would have been worthy of their study.

Mennonites and Tories

At the time of the Revolution there was a class of people living in the various colonies Which sympathized with the British, called "Tories." They naturally opposed the war. Others, among them Amish and Mennonites, were also opposed to it, but were not at all in symlpathy with the actions of the Tories. Many of the colonists >could not under stand how any one could be opposed to what they were doing and not be in sympathy with the enemy. The Tories felt sure that these nonresistants were helping the colonists, and that their opposition to the war was simply a means of hiding their true position. This meant persecution from both sides, as is shown in the report of the Committee of Inspection and Observation, just given.

Some Trials

The following from Hartzler and Kauffman's "Mennonite Church History" shows some of the trials which came upon this people:

"During the war many of the able-bodied Amish brethren of Berks County (Pa.), were drafted into service. Refusing to serve, they were imprisoned at Reading. bo many were thrown into prison that the women were com pelled to work in the -fields to support their families. Ac cording to tradition those who were imprisoned for refusing to do military service were sentenced to be shot, and the day was set for their execution. A meeting was held in the Reading prison to administer the Lord's supper to the con demned brethren. But the execution was never carried into effect. Through the leading of a kind Providence, friends in terfered (particularly Henry Hertzel, Pastor of the Re formed Church) who appealed to the authorities in behalf of those who had fled from Europe to escape mitiary service and who could not be expected to do what their conscience forbade them to do in their former country. The appeal was heard and the peace-loving prisoners were set free."^[1]

Exemptions: Letter of Thanks

As early as 1775 the Pennsylvania Assembly passed a law exempting the Mennonites and Qua kers from military service under certain circum stances. The Mennonites wrote a letter of thanks to the Assembly and had a number of the bishops to sign it. The following are extracts from it:

"To the Honorable Assembly, In the first place we acknowledge us indebted to the most high God, who created heaven and earth, the only good Being for all His great goodness and manifold mercies and love through our Savior Jesus Christ."

"Further, we find ourselves indebted to be thankful to our late worthy Assembly for their giving so good an advice in these troublesome times to all ranks of people in Penn sylvania, particularly in allowing those who, by the doctrine of our Savior Jesus Christ are persuaded in their conscience to love their enemies and not to resist evil to enjoy the liberty of their conscience.

The advice to those who do not find freedom of conscience to take up arms, that hey ought to be helpful to those who are in need and distressed circumstances, we receive with cheerfulness towards all men of what station they may be it being our principle to feed the hungry and give the thirsty drink; we have dedicated ourselves to serve all men in everything that we can be helpful to the preservation of men's lives, but we find no freedom in giving or doing, or assisting in any thing by

which men's lives are destroyed or hurt. We beg the patience of all those who believe we err in this point."

Records are still extant, giving the names with their respective amounts paid in money fines to be freed from military service on the above basis.

The war spirit ran high. Mob violence was not uncommon even in communities where the practices of the Church should have been well known. Government protests did little good as the parties who carried them on did them in the name of loyalty, not realizing that they were encouraging an archy instead of good citizenship.

Fines, War taxes, Oath of Allegiance

There were some Mennonites who objected to paying fines, war taxes, and practically all of them objected to taking the new oath of allegiance. They objected to the last one, not because they were disloyal but because they objected to the oath under any circumstances. Finally an agreement was reached between them and government which was fairly satisfactory to both, but many people could not (or at least would not) understand why any concession should be made because of What to them seemed like a mere whim.

Finances and Mennonites

While government was in need of good meats for the army, many of these prosperous farmers had fat cattle and were offered very high prices for them but were not willing to accept continental money because it had depreciated so much and no one knew how soon it might be absolutely worthless. Not any one of these things was responsible for the feelings against the Mennonites, but all of them together. Mobs took away horses and cattle with seemingly no intent of ever returning them, and in many cases never did. Another condition which meant loss and suffering was, that some of the bat tles were fought in Mennonite communities. Smith's "The Mennonites of America" says, "The little stone church at Germantown which had been built just a few years before occupied the very center of the battle-field in the battle of Germantown. The winter quarters at Valley Forge, made famous be cause of the intense hardships endured by the Amer ican troops, was in a Mennonite community. Some Mennonites were compelled to do hauling for the army during that time. The adage that trials nev er come single handed seemed to be verified a- mong the Mennonites in Southeastern Pennsylvania, but as is always the case, those who bore them in the right way and with the right spirit were made the better for them. They drove the victims closer to Him who bears our griefs and carries our sor rows, and who promised, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. "

Emigration to Canada

A large majority of the Mennonites and Amish in the colonies were in sympathy with the ends sought by this country in the war, but not with the means used to attain them. However, there were those who questioned; First, the right to take away British territory even if England did the wrong thing in oppressing the colonists; and, Second, the advantages of any other form of government over that of a kingdom. Many of those who held to the latter idea and had prospered under King George decided that they would not forsake him at. that time, even if they could not figtfit for him; hence they moved to Canada, where they might still live under his reign.

Lesser Wars of America

The war of 1812, sometimes called the Second War for Independence, the war of 1848, known as the Mexican War, and the war of 1898, known as the Spanish-American War, were all fought by volunteers so that there were no serious trials for those who could not take part in them.

The Civil War

For many years the slavery question in some form was discussed in every congress, and many people believed that the matter would some time lead to war. That time came When Abraham Lin coln was elected president of the United States, in the fall of 1860. He took the oath of office on the fourth of March, following, but before that time seven of the southern states had called conventions and seceded from the union. Others followed after that date. April 12, 1861, Fort Sumpter was taken and the war begun.

Pre-War Military Laws

Before the Civil War, in some of the southern states, especially in Virginia, the military laws reg istered all able-bodied young men as belonging to the militia and required them to drill at certain times of the year or pay a fine for each absence. This seemed very easy and the Mennonites paid their fines without complaint ; but when the Con federate government called for all the militia to come to the front and take up arms, it included Mennonites as well as others. A few went, but a far greater number went into hiding in the moun tains and forests, and some remained at home and decided to simply await the results. Some of those who remained on the farm were taken into the ranks under protest, and it was understood between them that none of them would do any fighting. Al though they were soon in battle, they remained true to their pledge. The officers in command threat ened them with court-martial and death, but the threat was never carried out.

Christian Good

Among those who passed through some of these trials was Christian Good, later a faithful minister of the Gospel and bishop in the Mennonite Church, but now gone to his reward. He had promised his widowed mother that he would never fire a gun at any one. In the first battle he was discovered and reported to the higher officer and charged with disobedience to orders. He was sent back with a court-martial and death threat hanging over him if the act was repeated. Battles followed in rapid succession but he would not shoot. Others seeing his courage also withheld fire. He was again brought before the officers with the charge of not firing his gun when commanded to do so. He told the officers that his gun would never be fired at his fellowmen, even if his position cost him his own life; that his widowed mother expected him to be true to his promise. He was later exempted on the payment of five hundred dollars. Quite a number of others had similar experiences. The Church paid these exemptions, but Brother Good worked two years on the farm to pay his part back.

The Second Call for Men

In the spring of 1862 the call came for every able-bodied man betwen the ages of eighteen and forty-five to take up arms. Again a number went into hiding. Some seventy of them, Mennonites and Dunkards, made an effort to escape to the northern states, but were captured and finally landed in the dreaded Libby Prison. Two of them escaped and reported the matter to the home Church. That was a time of prayer and supplication. Through some of the officers of the Confederate government who knew something about the Mennonites and their religious principles, a law was passed which gave them exemption. L. J. Heatwole says, "This bill provided that all people professing the peace doctrine as a part of their religion. .. .residing within the Confederate States would be exempt from military duty on conditions that each male member of such religious body who was subject to bear arms, should pay into the treasury the sum of five hundred dollars." This was paid, "and all the brethren liberated from their confinement." In 1864 the word came that the Confederate government had repealed her exemption laws, and that all able-bodied men between the ages of seventeen and sixty should at once report for service. Many went into hiding again and some made their way to the northern states.

The Shenandoah Valley; Sheridan's Raid

In none of the other Southern States did so many Mennonites live as in Virginia, and by far the greater number of them lived in the Shenandoah Valley. The soil is fertile and many of the farmers were quite prosperous. Both armies looked toward this valley for part of their supplies and in order that the South could not get any more from here the Federals decided to destroy all the food in sight in the valley. Another quotation from Bro. Heatwole express it very graphically: Then to cap the climax, there came the never-to-be-forgotten Sheridan's Raid.... From the evening of October 6th, to the morning of the 8th nearly all the barns and mills. .. .were set on fire in that part of Rockingham county where the Mennonites were located."

Lincoln's Call for Men

The next day after the fall of Fort Sumpter, President Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand men to serve three months. Many of the people in the North expected that the war would be over in a month or two. Instead of that it lasted four years. So long as he simply called for volunteers the nonresistant people kept quiet and there was no trouble ; but drafts were frequently made, calling for a certain number of men from each state. These were apportioned out to counties and townships.

For a certain amount of money a Whole township could be bought off. T his was frequently done, and in this the Mennonites did their full share. Substitutes could often be gotten. Some men paid a thousand dollars to have some one else to take their place. People who had conscientious scruples against war and could satisfy the recruiting officer that they were members in good standing in a non-resistant organization and lived as well as believed the doctrine could be exempt by the payment of a fine of from two to six hundred dollars each, but that only freed them until the next draft when they were liable to be drafted again.

Testing the Draftee

One illustration will show some of the methods used by the examining boards in testing the sincerity of those who claimed a right to exemption: A young man came to such an office with a view of proving his rights to such exemption. When he came up to the desk and stated wlhat he wanted he was told that the officer who had that part to look after was out, but that he would be back soon, and pointing to a desk his informant said, "When you see a man come in and sit down at that desk yonder, then go and tell him what you want." The young man sat down on a long seat provided for those who were compelled to wait. Soon another man came in and went up to a desk, but was told that he too should be seated. He sat down near the young man and the following conversation took place :

Young man. "Well, are you here about the draft too?"

Farmer. "Yes, and I can hardly go on account of conditions at home, but I suppose when they get a person's name on the list there is no such thing as getting excused. He simply must go."

Y. M. "I m expecting to get off."

F. "You are? Please tell me how you are going to do it. Possibly I can get off the same way."

Y. M. "I am conscientious."

F._ "What do you mean by that? Who ever heard of sudh a thing?"

Y. M. "Well, I believe it is wrong to fight. All war is wrong."

F. "Well, how peculiar. Then, too, I have crops out and no one to take care of them."

Y. M. "Can't you get off on that?"

F. No, I tried, but it seems to do no good. Then what makes it harder for me to go, I have a neighbor who is very angry with me about a line fence, and I wanted to reason with him about it, but he began to curse me and call me all kinds of names. I was sorry and angry at the same time. What would you do if a man would talk that way to you? He is just as mean as he can be."

Y. M. (Much interested, and forgetting himself) "Ha, I d slap him too quick."

The farmer lifted his coat and said, "Young man, you see that star? Your conscientiousness is not very deep. Come with me; you can fight, all right. The young man had to go.

Then, as in the late war, there were "slackers" who tried to hide under the cloak of religion, but many, like this man, were caught at it and made to do military service. The imposters usually do not gain what they hope to, but they surely make the road harder for the genuine.

The Poor Draftee's Fine

After the young men had met the examining board and proven to them that they were sincere there was still another problem for them to face. Many of them were poor and could not pay the fine. But the Church stood together, and in all such cases furnished the necessary amount for their brethren. They sought to follow the teachings of Holy Writ, "Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it."

Contrasted Effects of Exemption

These trials brought the Church very close to gether. Old and young were knit together as one man. The young appreciated the help of the older and the older appreciated the attitude of the young. Trials from without can not greatly harm if there is the right spirit within. In some communities there was much ill feeling because of these exemptions. There were those who did not want to go to war, and who even believed that war was wrong, but they were not members of any Church which held nonresistance as a tenet of their creed. They felt that it was unjust to grant such privileges to some and not to others. Mobs were not an uncommon thing, and in a few localities there was some blood shed. Nonresistance costs ; sometimes the price is exorbitant, but, "There is no man that hath left houses. .. .for my sake and the Gospel's but shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses. .. .with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

A (hort and fincere DECLARATION,

To our Honorable AflemMy, and afl others in high or low Station of Admi*

niftratioJh and to all Friends and Inhabitants of this Country> to whofc

Sight this may come, be they ENGLISH or GERMANS.

the firft Place we acknowledge us indebted to the mod high Goo, who created Heaven and Earth, the only good Being, to thank him for all his great Goodneft and manifold Mercies and Love through our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, who is coma to five the Souls of Men, having all Power in Heaven and on Earth.

further we find ourfelves indebted to be thankfull to oar late worthy Affembly, for- their giving (b good an Advice In thefe troublefome Times to all Ranks of People in P&mfil- vanuty particularly in allowing thofe, who, by the Doftrine of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST , are pcnuaded in their Conferences to love their Enemies, and not to refift EvUr to enjoy the Liberty of their Confcience, for which, as alfo for all the good Things we enjoyed un der their Care, we heartily thank that worthy Body-of Affembly, and all high and low in Of fice, who have advifed to fuch a peaceful! Meafure, hoping and confiding that they, and all others enrrufted with Power in this hitherto blcffed Province, may be moved by the fame Spirit of.Grace, which animated the firft Founder of this Province, our late worthy Proprietor Wdliam Pain, to grant Liberty of Confcience to all ks Inhabitants, that they may in the great and memorable Day of Judgment be put on the right Hand of the juu Judge, who judgeth without Refpect of Perfon, andJTear>of him thcfe blefled Words. Come, ye blcfled of my Father > -inherit the Kingdom prebg/rc d for you, jV. f-i^at ye have done mnto one of the lea/1 of tbefe my ^rt/^r. /L ye have done unto mi, among which Number (i.e. the teajl of Ckrift's Brethren) we by m? Grace hope to be ranked; and every Lenity and Favour (hewn to fuch tender confcienced, although weak Followers of tlus our blofled Saviour, will not be forgotten by him in that great Day.

XThe Aavrcr-ro rhofc who do not ft__*. *rcedom of Cg^^K.c_u>HBdsp;wp-$irriK, that rf><?T ought to be helpfull .to rhofe who are Tn SJeed and dilrreffed Lircumftances, we receive wiin Chearfulnefs towards all Men of what Station they may be it being our Principle to feed the Hungry and give the Thirfty Drink; we have dedicated ounelves to ferve all Men, in every Thing that can be helpful to th JPrefcrvation of Men's Lives, but we find no Free dom in giving, or doing, or afltiHng i*: Ay Thing by which Men's Lives are deftroycdoc tun. - We beg the I aticnce of all tbofe who believe we err in this Point.

We are always ready, according to CHRIST's Command to refer, to pay the Tribure> that we may .offend no Man, and fo we are willing to pay Taxes, S3 1 to rtnJer unto Caefar ibofe Tbingttbat are Cnefar s, and to GoJ (Me 7T>ings that are God s, although we thinkour- fefves very weak to give GOD his due Honour, he being a Spirit and iofc, and we only Duft and A/hes.

We are alfo willing to be (ubjcft to the higher Powers, and to give in the manner Paid l- rcQs US ; for be tearetb the Su>orJ not in vain, for IK is tie Minijier of God> a Revenger f tyecyfe ffratb upon him that tloetb Evil.

This Tcftimony we lay down before oar worthy Aflembly, and all other Pcrfbns in Go vernment, letting them know, that we are thankfullasabove-mentioned, and that wearenot at Liberty in Confcience to take up Arms to conquer our Enemies, but rather to prayf* GOD, who has Power in Heaven and on Earth, for US and THEM.

We alfo crave the Patience of all the Inhabitants of this Country, - what they think n> lee clearer in the Doftrine of the blefled JESUS CHRIST, we will leave to them and GOD, finding ourfelves very poor; for Faith is to proceed out of the Word of GOD, which b life and Spirit, and a Power of GOD, ao4.our Confciencc is to be iojftniftcdby the fame* therefore we beg for Patience.

Our fmall Gift, which we have given, we. gave n rhoft who have Power over us, that we may not offend them, as CHRIST taught us by the Tribute Penny.

We heartily pray that GOD would govern all Hearts of our Rulers, be they high or kjr, CO meditate thofe good Things which will pertain to OUR and. THEIR Happiaels.*

77r afavt Dnlaraux, firntJ hj a Number of EUeri mil Tiectxn tftht Sottttr if Mamalh* out ftmt-tf At German Bnfti/!,. frefmui 1, tbt IkiurM Hfuf, ,f Jtjjanklj m ttt -}lh Daj of A fimOtr. I ; 7( . < if

1. See page 38.