Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-12-13
THE AMIsH PEOPLE.
Peculiarities of a Singular Com
munity in Illinois.
A Sect Organized Nearly Two
Hundred Years Ago.

n describes a peculiar religion, sect at
4 Foun'a'n Creek, in Iroquois county,
n ILL.,, known rs the Amish pronounced
q Ommish) people.
4 The history Of this denomination goes
q back to 1893. when it branched off
4 from the M-nnoai.es. 1t takes its
s. name from Jacob Amman. the founder.
q The first APPEARANCE OF the real Amish
81 in this country wa; in Monroe county,
O., about 1917. There are now con-
: gregations scattered over Ohio New
York, Indiana and Illinois, with a few
Il in Iowa and Kansas.
Tbs Amish settlement. is we'll knit
81 community, word by itself. 1t is
s. easy to sec that the church is its centre.
81 The church represents society, rccrea-
z ton; thcr1 youth plans the future aud
3fmaternity displays her treasures; the
= church is n court-housc where quarrels
81 and differences are adjusted, for the
81 Amish never go to law; aud where
~ character is weighed, and woe to any
III man or woman found wanting!
~ The extreme penalty OF excommunica-
S. lion is used among them only for the
~ grnvest faults. They ease sinner
G down gradually, through stages of
T admonition, suspcndng his right 10 the
sacrament, etc
81 1t is an unwritrn law that they must
| trade together, IN. never make any
III money oil each o!hcr. In one case
II good member of tbs community bought
fultiva:ors for his brethren, aud ac-
~ fnmulatcd to himself MS middleman's
'ssssProiit, 90 cents on each machine. The
church tried him Tor this fault, and sus-
pended him from communion for a
II ear. Had h. rc,si.tcd in the sinful
ess}6f making 50 cents profit Off them
hey would next have deprived him Of
= he brothcriy kiss. There is no d &C per
|3f epth save expulsion.
3s3 The church ha, 10 rules and disci-
line, and keeps no records. The only
luc to the names of members is list
'fssa Shic, hangs on the Kitchen wall Of
antilles who furnish the dinner during
y.a-.
4s This Fountain C;cci; settlement grad
zally gathcr+l into the community
AE 'hich they now form. Their church is
SI2 ind-!ooking structure with the
iichcn at the front. A narrow hall
,HS vidcs the Kitchen from the assembly
bonn. Two doors lead into meeting,
@&snd the women must 90 in and sit
|p5s3 own on one side and the men on the
&35 her.
FISH There is no chance here for courting q.
PIN might hand L?d;a hymn book
! ross the partition, IN. he: arm; would
obaby be uplcd bi her mother
bungc& baby. TIC whole new crop
}mcs to Ami'h meeting Y.u see
b:es of ali sizes. Their voices may
!'St3 heard a-whoop in the kitchen and
Aeir gurg.ing cmbellishcs the prayer
All the women are in plain, dark
''A E!sf WINS, with kcrchcfs or ribbons tied
onnd their necks IN 4, invariably, a
y uarc Of black ba,cge folded three
rnercd and tel across their heads
der their chins. Some old mothc-s,
Iced, wear back silk Dutch caps.
lt these must be advanced beyond the
3 |stomary hcaddtcss. while. on the
her hand, little girls OF thirteen and
l.tccn may be seen ju't aspiring to
womanly badge.
All faces are set seriously towards
frship. Bnby-ca:r;ers are at liberty
5sf PISS in and out or TO and from the
I've us their restless loads dictate. Yet
congregation is u quiet one Some
;a r chcs are set lcngthwisc in the aisle
558 the wtmcn's side. And nuns faces
Ire never more devout than the cour-
lances of g;r.s sitting thus in row,
a king Use of their hymn books and
tralto voices. One of them uncop-
3ously swings herself like pendul nm
lie she sings.
The men have peculiar look of hay
arrived ct mature age without cxpc-
ice. Perhaps their beard less checks
them this meek air. The singing
one without any instrum entail accom-
timcnt
Nothing could be p'a'ncr than the in
or of an Amish chapel. The pulpit
long bulwark of wood, on which
( great book lies without cushion
implanted seats have been secured
ido each door hangs small tin box
brass paddock, evidently for vol
3 &ary contributions.
10 staine glass, no picture, no sym