Читать книгу Mennonites in the World War - Jonas Smucker Hartzler - Страница 25

The following shows that in Revolutionary times these same classes of people were required to suffer for their faith, and compared with conditions 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 information that diverse persons, whose religious tenets forbid their forming themselves into Military Associations, have been maltreated 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 insulting 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 Community 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 violence might have learned a lesson from their great grandfathers that would have been worthy of their study.