Orthodox Mennonites (Canada)
Encyclopedia
The Orthodox Mennonites consist of two separate but related groups of Old Order Mennonites located in Southwestern Ontario
, Canada
. The original unified group, named Elam Martins, was a division from the David Martin Mennonites
in Waterloo Region, Canada
in 1957.
The Elam Martins, named after their bishop Elam S. Martin (who as a minister was excommunicated from the David Martin Mennonites
in 1956), became the Orthodox Mennonite Church in 1962, but divided in 1974, primarily over the enforced wearing of beards. The beard wearing group, which included Bishop Elam S. Martin, moved to Howick, Ontario
en masse in 1979. They are today nicknamed "Gorries", but are more correctly referred to as Orthodox Mennonite Church, Huron County, Ontario
. The other group remained in the Waterloo Region and are referred to as Orthodox Mennonite Church, Waterloo County, Ontario
.
The Orthodox Mennonites live very simply, with no electricity or telephones on their farms. They shun automobiles and computerized technologies, and use work horses instead of tractors in the fields.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The original unified group, named Elam Martins, was a division from the David Martin Mennonites
David Martin Mennonites
David Martin Mennonites are Old Order Mennonites in Wellington County, Ontario and Waterloo Region, Canada. They were a division in 1917, concerning issues of discipline, from the Old Order Mennonite Church in Ontario . They do not cooperate with other Old Order groups...
in Waterloo Region, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1957.
The Elam Martins, named after their bishop Elam S. Martin (who as a minister was excommunicated from the David Martin Mennonites
David Martin Mennonites
David Martin Mennonites are Old Order Mennonites in Wellington County, Ontario and Waterloo Region, Canada. They were a division in 1917, concerning issues of discipline, from the Old Order Mennonite Church in Ontario . They do not cooperate with other Old Order groups...
in 1956), became the Orthodox Mennonite Church in 1962, but divided in 1974, primarily over the enforced wearing of beards. The beard wearing group, which included Bishop Elam S. Martin, moved to Howick, Ontario
Howick, Ontario
The Township of Howick is a municipality in Huron County, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the northeast corner of Huron County near the Bruce County border, east of Wingham....
en masse in 1979. They are today nicknamed "Gorries", but are more correctly referred to as Orthodox Mennonite Church, Huron County, Ontario
Huron County, Ontario
Huron County is a census division and county of the province of Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southeast shore of its namesake, Lake Huron, in the southwest part of the province...
. The other group remained in the Waterloo Region and are referred to as Orthodox Mennonite Church, Waterloo County, Ontario
Waterloo County, Ontario
Waterloo County, created in 1853 and dissolved in 1973, was the forerunner of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. It consisted of five townships: Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot, Waterloo, and North Dumfries...
.
The Orthodox Mennonites live very simply, with no electricity or telephones on their farms. They shun automobiles and computerized technologies, and use work horses instead of tractors in the fields.