COPY: Of the Letter from the Lords

S T A T E S,

Written to the CANTON OF BERN.

In intercession for the oppressed Anabaptists or

MENNONITES

The 15th of March, Year 1710.

Noble Lords, etc.

The Mennonites living under the jurisdiction of our State have appeared before us with sadness, demonstrating how they had received knowledge, through letters and certain reports, that their fellow believers in Switzerland, and especially in your honorable Canton, are being oppressed with very severe persecution on account of the practice of their religion. So much so that, at present, a large number of persons, both men and women, are locked up in various houses of detention; and, aside from lesser punishments, they are being threatened with banishment to the galleys, and even with death. They have therefore requested our intercession for their brethren, who are of the same sentiment as them in the matter of religion, for the easing of their oppression and for the preservation of a safe stay in their dwellings, along with the practice of their worship.

We have considered the Mennonites for many years and have found through experience that they are good and faithful inhabitants of the land, who lead a quiet and simple life, concerning themselves only with their own domestic affairs and nothing further. This is why we could not or would not refuse our insistence to your Lordships on behalf of such good inhabitants for their fellow believers. We hold, with you, the Christian Reformed religion to be the best and true religion, and we wish that the Mennonites, both here and with you, could be brought to the same. But we believe that no other means should be used for this than those of reason and persuasion, and that the means of coercion should never and ought never to be used in matters of conscience, over which God alone has retained the power. To Him, every human being will, in due time, have to give an account of their sentiments, as well as of their deeds and omissions.

And since your Lordships, alongside us and other Potentates who profess the Christian Reformed religion, have so often complained and expressed grievances—with great and very well-founded reasons—regarding the persecution of our fellow believers in lands where an intolerable hierarchy has gained the upper hand, it does not seem to us at all appropriate to strike out on that same path of persecution against those who differ from us in some points, but who nonetheless accept God’s word as the rule of their teaching and life. It is far more advisable to show Christian tolerance toward them, so that the enemies of the Reformed Church may not obtain material to justify their harsh and cruel persecution against our own fellow believers by using examples of similar persecution practiced by a Reformed government against those who differ from it in sentiment.

It seems hard to us that anyone should wish to punish a person for their sentiment in the matter of religion, to which they believe their eternal salvation is attached, with exile, imprisonment, the galleys, or even death. We believe that everyone should be left free in their sentiment therein, provided that those who belong to a different faith than the publicly established religion in a land or republic do nothing that could tend toward the disadvantage of such a land or republic. In that respect, it appears to us that less is to be feared from the Mennonites than from any other group, since they are obedient and submissive to their government in all matters that are not, in their view, contrary to God’s word, and they generally conduct themselves quietly and peacefully.

For although, as we are informed, three things are laid to their charge by your Lordships—firstly, that they would not recognize the state of the government as being from and with God, and that it cannot exist with Christianity; secondly, that they refuse to declare proper loyalty and truth by oaths; and thirdly, that they refuse to help protect the fatherland in case of need—the first does not seem to correspond with the confession of their faith, of which the 13th Article is appended here. From this, it appears that they have an entirely different and better opinion of the High Government. And as far as the oath is concerned, since they are of the opinion that it is forbidden in God’s word, their declaration on their manly truth original: "Manne Waarheyt" - a term Mennonites used for a simple affirmation has the same strength and effect as an oath does for others. Thus it follows that this sentiment can bring no harm to the common good regarding the oath.

We also trust that the third point is stretched too far, since they do not absolutely refuse to help protect the fatherland, but rather believe that the use of weapons for revenge or retaliation is impermissible for them, and they deem that paying taxes and whatever is imposed upon them is sufficient, through which a State is also helped and protected. We therefore request in a friendly manner that your Lordships will take a more favorable reflection upon the circumstances of the aforementioned Mennonites, and not only release the prisoners and cause all further punishments to cease, but also allow them to live in peace as good inhabitants under your favorable protection. We judge that your Lordships will do no disservice, but rather a service, to your own state—to which we wish all that is good—and that the rule ought to have a place here: not to do unto others what we would not want done unto us. Furthermore, it will be very pleasing to us when we may learn that our intercession has brought the hoped-for relief to these distressed people, and we will acknowledge the same in all occurring opportunities.