Lewis James Heatwole

“ It is known that during the Revolutionary War Mennonites were located in considerable bodies in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Membership was confined largely to the class who were married and settled in life. Though the customs of their home life were in all respects contrary to the tactics of military training, single young men of Mennonite parentage found it difficult to keep out of the army. Early settlers, both old and young men, were given much to hunting, and of course were habitual gun carriers, and hence they were much accustomed to camp-life in the woods. ”

“ Though the action of government authorities counseled the people against mob violence, so unpopular became the Mennonites in different sections of the country that numbers of them moved to the wilderness sections of Canada with their families, rather than to longer bear the taunts and jibes of unfriendly and hostile neighbors. ”

“ We are always ready according to Christ's Command to Peter, to pay the tribute, that we may offend no Man, and we are ready to pay Taxes and to render unto Caesar the Things that are Caesar's, and to God those Things that are God's, although we think ourselves very weak to give to God His due Honor, He being a Spirit and. Life, and we only Dust and Ashes. ”

“ The Advice to those who do not find Freedom of Conscience to take up arms, that they ought to be helpful to those who are in Need and distressed Circumstances, we receive with cheerfulness to all Men of that Station they may be it being our Principle to feed the Hungry and give the Thirsty Drink we dedicated ourselves to serve all Men in every Thing that 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 on this Point. ”

“ As many as 5,000 took up land in the fertile Niagara peninsula and other sections farther west in what is now Ontario. Among the latter were numbers of Mennonites who left comfortable homes in Pennsylvania and set their faces to the wilderness to go through the experiences of pioneer life over again. ”

“ We are also willing to be subject to the Higher Powers, and to give in the manner Paul directs us for he beareth the Sword not in vain, for he is the Minister of 'God, a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doeth Evil. ”

“ In Ontario alone it is said that nearly 3,000,000 acres of land was so turned over to new settlers. With such inducements there were many Mennonite families from Pennsylvania and elsewhere who left the bounds of the United States to begin homemaking anew in the rich timberlands of Upper Canada. ”