# Der Zionspilger: a Swiss Mennonite paper with readers abroad Publication began in 1882 · Overview Der Zionspilger began in 1882, with editorial work at Langnau in the Emmental. The Swiss Society for Anabaptist History places its beginning among developments in the Altevangelische Taufgesinnten congregations, and the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies independently catalogues the publication from that year. This evidence supplies the date that cannot be read securely from the photographed timeline. A contemporary view of its reach appears in H. G. Mannhardt’s 1888 yearbook of Mennonite congregations. The entry for Switzerland describes the Emmental congregation’s paper as appearing twice monthly and lists 2,100 subscribers: 1,700 in Switzerland, 300 in America, and the remaining 100 in France, Germany, and Russia. It also notes that many Swiss subscribers belonged to the state church. The paper’s readership therefore extended beyond both the local congregation and Mennonite membership. Later issues were published weekly, and the archival catalogue records publication at Evilard after Langnau. Der Zionspilger was succeeded by Perspektive with issue 18, dated 6 May 1990. The contemporary yearbook’s twice-monthly schedule and the later catalogue’s weekly description belong to different stages of the serial’s history; neither requires erasing the other. - [Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies: Der Zionspilger catalogue and succession to Perspektive](https://cmbs.mennonitebrethren.ca/publications/zionspilger-der/) - [Swiss Society for Anabaptist History: chronology of Bernese Anabaptist history, 1882 entry](https://www.mennonitica.ch/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/daten_gesch_t%C3%A4ufer_be.pdf) - [H. G. Mannhardt, Jahrbuch der Altevangelischen Taufgesinnten oder Mennoniten-Gemeinden (1888), page 38, preserved by Bethel College](https://mla.bethelks.edu/gmsources/books/1888%2C%20Mannhardt%2C%20Jahrbuch%20der%20Altevangelischen%20Taufgesinnten%20oder%20Mennoniten%20Gemeinden/Better%20Copy/Mannhardt%201888.pdf) - [Supplied timeline, IMG_9379: Der Zionspilger begins; year is not securely legible](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/blob/main/sources/church-history/photos/IMG_9379.jpg) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/events/der-zionspilger-1882/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Der+Zionspilger%3A+a+Swiss+Mennonite+paper+with+readers+abroad&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0ADer+Zionspilger%3A+a+Swiss+Mennonite+paper+with+readers+abroad%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fevents%2Fder-zionspilger-1882%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+der-zionspilger-1882%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+Publication+began+in+1882%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)