This was a busy and interesting day. It began with a visit to an Amish dairy farm where we were met by Jake who took us on a tour of the milking sheds and then to the room where church services are held where he told us about the Amish way of life and was happy to answer any question we had . He was then joined by Tom who continued the story. We had a chance to shop for the beautiful handmade Amish quilts and other home made articles. I bought a quilted microwave potato cooker and a quilted cover for my I Pad. Even though the Amish would not use a microwave or I Pad they know what will sell.
The Amish
Arriving in Lancaster County in
the 1720s, the oldest and largest Amish community in the country is the Amish
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The story of the Pennsylvania Amish community dates back to the 16th century Reformation in Europe, when the Anabaptist movement spurred the creation of three "plain" communities: the Amish, Mennonites and Brethren. Although these spiritual groups have similarities, the Amish are the most conservative, emphasizing humility, family, community and separation from the non-Amish world, which includes a reluctance to adopt modern conveniences such as electricity.
Members of this conservative Christian faith came to Pennsylvania in the early 18th century to escape persecution in Europe for their Anabaptist beliefs. The Pennsylvania Amish community in Lancaster County is the oldest and largest Amish community in the United States, numbering about 30,000. The population has more than doubled in size in the past 20 years.
Pennsylvania Amish History
The Amish have their roots in the Mennonite community. Both were part of the early Anabaptist movement in Europe, which took place at the time of the Reformation. The Anabaptists believed that only adults who had confessed their faith should be baptized, and that they should remain separate from the larger society. Many early Anabaptists were put to death as heretics by both Catholics and Protestants, and many others fled to the mountains of Switzerland and southern Germany. Here began the Amish tradition of farming and holding worship services in homes rather than churches.
In 1536, a young Catholic priest from Holland named Menno Simons joined the Anabaptist movement. His writings and leadership united many of the Anabaptist groups, who were nicknamed "Mennonites." In 1693, a Swiss bishop named Jacob Amman broke from the Mennonite church. His followers were called the "Amish." Although the two groups have split several times, the Amish and Mennonite churches still share the same beliefs concerning baptism, non-resistance, and basic Bible doctrines. The Amish and Mennonites both settled in Pennsylvania as part of William Penn's "holy experiment" of religious tolerance. The first sizable group of Amish arrived in Lancaster County in the 1720s or 1730s.
There are actually three families, or Anabaptist-related groups, found in Lancaster County: the Amish, Mennonites and Brethren. All three groups share the Anabaptist belief that calls for making a conscious choice to accept God. (Accordingly, only adults are baptised.) The three groups also share the same basic values concerning the all-encompassing authority of the Bible, a philosophy of brotherhood and non-resistance and the importance of family and community.
The groups differ primarily in matters of dress, language, forms of worship and the extent to which they allow modern technology and the forces of the "outside world" to impact their lives. Most Brethren and Mennonites dress much like their "English" neighbours. Other Mennonites, Brethren and Amish Mennonites wear distinctive Amish clothing but may make use of "worldly" conveniences, such as cars, electricity and telephones. On the other hand, Old Order Mennonite and Old Order Amish groups are more restrictive in their views of modern technology, with the Old Order Amish being the most conservative of Lancaster County's "plain" groups.
Pennsylvania Amish Beliefs
There is no single governing body for the entire Old Order
Amish population; rather, each church district decides for itself what it will
and will not accept. However, all districts base their regulations on a literal
interpretation of the Bible and an unwritten set of rules called
the Ordnung. And the population as a whole stresses humility, family,
community and separation from the modern world.
Humility is the hallmark of Amish beliefs. Mild and modest
personalities are esteemed. Patience, waiting and yielding to others are marks
of maturity. Obedience, conformity to goals and community activities are
encouraged. To preserve the Amish identity and maintain spiritual harmony, members
are encouraged to surrender their personal aspirations for the sake of
community purity. These ideals are maintained by keeping all work, play,
worship, commerce and friendship within the Amish orbit.
The Pennsylvania Amish believe that community harmony is
threatened by secular values such as individualism and pride, which permeate
the modern world. Thus, the Amish of Pennsylvania curb interaction with
outsiders and insulate themselves from modern technology and mass media. They
also prohibit habits that feed individualism and greed, as displayed through
their plain dress style and
prohibition of personal photographs.
Personal Bible study and devotions are discouraged because individual
interpretations may challenge traditional doctrine. Buggies are a dark gray
color so they can blend into their surroundings rather than stand out.
Although the Pennsylvania Amish resist cultural influences,
they are willing to strike compromises with the modern world, tapping its
benefits while still preserving the Amish identity. They are willing to
use modern technology to live, work and communicate - as
long as they do not disrupt family and community stability.
We then continued on to the town of Intercourse and toured a typical Amish house and school. We then had the opportunity to browse Kitchen Kettle Village where the markets were in full swing. A mix of Amish and 'English' shops and shopkeepers made this an interesting experience.
Intercourse Pennsylvania
Intercourse (population: 1,274 as of 2010 census) is an unincorporated
village and census-designated
place in Leacock Township, Lancaster
County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, 10 miles (16 km) east of
Lancaster on Pennsylvania
Route 340. Intercourse is a popular site for tourists because of its location in "Amish country"
and its sexually suggestive name. The movie Witness was
filmed in Intercourse as well as other parts of the surrounding area, and For Richer or
Poorer was set there, though not filmed in Intercourse. Because
of the town's unusual name, the sign posts for the town are frequently targeted by thieves.
Many people consider Intercourse the heart of the Amish
Country. Intercourse is a hub where many Amish and local folks do their
business. It is also one of the top tourism destinations for many visitors to
the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
Formerly known as “Cross Keys”, this village was founded in
1754. The name was changed to Intercourse in 1814. There are several
explanations concerning the origin of the name of Intercourse, but none can
really be substantiated. The first centers around an old race track which
existed just east of town along the Old Philadelphia Pike. The entrance to the
race course was known as “Entercourse”. Some suggest that “Entercourse”
gradually evolved into “Intercourse”.
Beautiful
Amish farms surround the village, which is located along the Old Philadelphia
Pike (Route 340) in Eastern
Lancaster County. Intercourse is just east of Bird-in-Hand and north of Paradise, and is close to many Lancaster
County attractions and things to do here. The village stands as a clear
reminder of our traditional American heritage where people lived by a simpler
way of life.
How Intercourse Got Its Name
Another theory concerns two major roads that crossed here:
the Old King’s Highway, which ran from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (now called
the Old Philadelphia Pike), and the road fromWilmington, Delaware to Erie,
Pennsylvania. The intersection of these two roads was thought to be the basis
for the town of “Cross Keys” or, eventually, “Intercourse”.
A final idea comes from the “old English” language which was
is use in the early 1800’s. It refers to the “fellowship” or social interaction
and friendship which was so much a part of an agricultural village and culture
at that time. These roots mark the community of faith to this day, and the many
evidences of it are experienced by those who care to dig a bit more deeply
while visiting this area.
How Intercourse Got Its Name
Another theory concerns two major roads that crossed here:
the Old King’s Highway, which ran from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (now called
the Old Philadelphia Pike), and the road from Wilmington, Delaware to Erie,
Pennsylvania. The intersection of these two roads was thought to be the basis
for the town of “Cross Keys” or, eventually, “Intercourse”.
A final idea comes from the “old English” language which was
is use in the early 1800’s. It refers to the “fellowship” or social interaction
and friendship which was so much a part of an agricultural village and culture
at that time. These roots mark the community of faith to this day, and the many
evidences of it are experienced by those who care to dig a bit more deeply
while visiting this area.
It was then time to continue on to Washington DC. We checked into our hotel, the Park Hyatt Washington, grabbed a quick bite to eat and then left on an Illumination Tour of the city that included landmarks such as the White House and the World War 11 memorial.
No comments:
Post a Comment