Benjamin Hershey

Benjamin Hershey was a Lancaster County Mennonite leader (minister) in November of 1775. He authored a “Short and Sincere Declaration” which was signed by members of the community and sent to the Pennsylvania Assembly. It stated that they sought to ‘be helpful to those who are in Need and distressed Circumstances.’ It went on to say that it was ‘our Principle to feed the hungry and give the Thirsty Drink’ and that they could not go beyond this (in helping the war effort) because ‘we find no freedom in giving, or doing, or assisting in any Thing by which Men’s Lives are destroyed or hurt.’

An analysis of this declaration and the circumstances around it can be found in chapter 10 of Land, Piety, Peoplehood by Richard MacMaster (Herald Press, 1985).

Submitted by Lisa Weaver