Mennonites in Early Modern Poland and Prussia

Epilogue

Epilogue T he changing religious climate and new political realities in a number of European states in early nineteenth-century Europe posed challenges of accommodation for many Mennonites. In some instances ,thepeaceposition,whichhadbeenmaintainedsincethesixteenth century, was now modified by Mennonite ministers and other leaders to permit young men to serve in the military forces. At the same time, many Mennonites living in the Vistula Delta and further up the river were reluctant to accept this doctrinal adaptation but were also uneasy about leaving a society where they had become well established. For decades, Mennonites debated the validity and importance of the traditional rejection of service in the military. The question became sharply focused when Prussian authorities insisted that no further land acquisitionswouldbepermittedbythosewho refused military service. At the same time, large families created strong pressure for more land, and a number of Mennonites decided to seek homes in New Russia, an area recently captured from the Turks. Soon new colonies emerged in areas north of the Black Sea and elsewhere. In early modern times, the Polish Commonwealth was one of a few regions in Europe that offered a large measure of religious and economic freedom. For two and a half centuries, the Polish crown as well as numerous civic and religious powers allowed Mennonites to shape their own world. Then, in the latter part of the eighteenth century when Poland was N epilogue M 193 divided among Austria, Prussia, and Russia, new factors began to impinge upon the traditional Mennonite way of life. Forces of militarism, acculturation , political centralization, and a perception that the Prussian government was led by devout and God-fearing persons created challenges for Mennonite belief and practice. In earlier times, Polish authorities had respected Mennonite beliefs and permitted them to be exempt from military service. The new Prussian order, however, challenged traditional Mennonite values and at the same time insisted that it did so in a manner fully compatible with Christian belief. A New Frontier Just a few years before the dismemberment of Poland, Tsarina Catherine of Russia had issued an invitation for new settlers to come to her realm. Her proclamation of 1763 offered free land and generous support to those who chose to accept this opportunity.1 Leaders of the Mennonite communities in what was now called West Prussia sent emissaries to check out settlement possibilities. Reports were positive, and by 1789 a substantial number of emigrants from Prussia had settled near the Black Sea in the vicinity of Khortitsa. Mennonite emigration to “New Russia,” today’s Ukraine, was under way. Meanwhile,theunexpectedexodusfromPrussiacausedconcernamong local officials. Although some government authorities spoke disparagingly of those who were leaving, others advocated policies that would prevent this loss of productive members of society. In numerous instances, local officials who were concerned about economic consequences used a variety of obstructionist tactics to prevent farmers, artisans, businesspersons, and laborers from leaving. Local officials warned the Berlin government that many parts of East and West Prussia needed more, not fewer, settlers and suggested that the central government devise policies that would encourage the inhabitants to forget about emigration. Uncertainty and confusion were perhaps not unusual in view of the dramatic changes that had occurred in the latter decades of the century. Relatively tolerant and relaxed policies of Polish authorities had given way to a more centralized administration. Creation of a stronger military force was a high priority of the new Prussian government. Furthermore, Mennonite leaders who journeyed to Berlin quickly discovered that rea- 194 N mennonites in early modern poland and prussia M sons of state took precedence over their beliefs.2 One of the emissaries, Heinrich Donner of Orlofferfelde warned that lack of a positive Prussian government response might well convince Mennonites to accept the invitation to move to Russia,3 yet when the administrative centers of East and West Prussia, Königsberg, and Marienwerder respectively, evidently did not successfully implement policies that met demands of the central government in Berlin, the frustration in the capital was clearly evident in a blunt reprimand sent from Berlin to the West Prussian government on 6 March 1788: “We cannot understand how the West Prussian government could come to a position where it is offering these Mennonites hope of freedom to emigrate. In our opinion, if they are granted permission , there will soon be a large group of others desiring to emigrate. This could be very detrimental to the population.”4 Clearly, Berlin...