July 13, 2009 issue
Not a ‘Mennist’
By Daniel Hood New YorkJan Gleysteen’s account of “New Amsterdam and the Mennonites” was an interesting read. But his claim that Jonas Bronck, who gave his name to the Bronx, was a Mennonite is open to serious question.
About five years ago, I investigated this claim, which has been common among local Mennos for many years. I interviewed the executive secretary of the Bronx Historical Society. He was adamant that none of the documents on Bronck firmly establish his “Mennoniteness.”
There is some evidence that Bronck’s wife came from a family that was at least close to Mennonites in Holland. However, according to the Historical Society historian, Bronck was a Dane and a member of a Lutheran church.
Mennos in New York City and elsewhere should honor Bronck’s pacifism and cross-cultural tolerance. As a longtime New Yorker, I would like to see the city officially recognize his “discipleship” as well as his name. But let’s honor him for who he was, not for what we would like him to have been.
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