Waterlanders

Waterlanders (or Waterlandians), a sect of Anabaptists (q.v.) in Holland, so called to distinguish them from the Flemingians, or Flandrians, and also because they consisted, at first, of the inhabitants of a district in the north of Holland called Waterland. The Flemingians were more rigid in their views and practice than the Waterlandians. Both are governed by presbyters and deacons, and each congregation is independent of all foreign jurisdiction. The Waterlanders are also called Johannites, from John de Ries, who was of great service to them in many respects, and who was one of the composers of their Confession of Faith in 1580. The Waterlanders of Amsterdam afterwards joined with the Galenists (q.v.). SEE MENNONITES.