The farm is, of course, a "hands on experience" as shown by the milking cow located across from the barn. Visitors can try their hand at milking the Amish way, without fear of being kicked. Thanks to "Buttercup" (the plastic cow). The farm is abundant in live animals, some in pastures and others in pens. Turkeys, guinea hens and chickens are present along with a complement of horses and cows. As 5:00 arrived, it was announced that a tour of the house was about to begin. Here we met Ed Miller, a commentator with a enthusiasm and interest that projected out into the audience. Repeatedly he would pull the kids into the story through the use of hats and clothing, as he described the day to day live of a typical Old Order Amish family. It was here that we found the answers we had been looking for. The Amish can be traced back to the Reformation of the 16th century Europe. It was here that some scholars broke free from their Catholic religion to form new ideas. One of these groups were called the Anabaptists. Their rejection of infant baptism and their return to the strict adaptation of the Bible made them unpopular with many governments. From here the scholar Menno Simons formed an even more strict following which later carried his name when they became the Mennonites. Yet again in 1693, a Mennonite leader in Switzerland named Jacob Ammann broke away from the Church to form a religious order which adhered to an even more strict interpretation of the Christian belief. Taking their name from his, they became known as the Amish. In the 1770s many religious groups were invited by William Penn to settle in Pennsylvania. They came here because they were promised religious freedom. The Amish were among them. Today the Amish live in 22 states, plus Canada. Currently, approximately 20,000 Amish live within a 35 mile radius of Lancaster. They no longer live in Europe. The Amish do not have church buildings. Their church services are held in their homes. This is why they are called Old Order House Amish. The  families are divided into church districts. These are determined by where they live. Approximately 20 to 30 families belong to each district. There are approximately 125 districts in Lancaster. The bishop and preachers for each district are selected by "lot" This is described in the Bible in the Book of Acts. Each Bishop has two districts, and since the Bishop is required to be present at Sunday service the district only has service every other Sunday, although they do have something called meditations on alternate Sundays. Each family has church at its home once or twice a year. Approximately 150 to 250 people will come. Men and boys sit on one side of the front room and women and girls on the other. Singing and Bible reading is in German. The sermon is delivered in a German dialect that has evolved in America, among themselves. The strange and sometime old fashioned-seeming ways of the Amish are based on interpretations from the Bible and tradition passed down through the ages. We searched out some of these ways and looked for their origin. There are no photographs of people or family members in the house. The Amish feel this goes against the teaching of the Bible, that relate to graven images, not to mention that it could be considered boastful. Most will not co-operate with visitors taking their pictures. The kitchen is usually the largest room and is the center of family living. Most families have 7 to 12 children. A large table is a must, usually one that can be expanded. Many times the kitchen is the only room that is heated, for there is no central heating in their houses. These kitchens are in keeping with the Bishop's approval and may vary greatly from sect to sect. A foot treadle sewing machine is almost always present as the women make most of the clothing. The Amish children attend a one-room school that is owned and operated by the Amish community. They will attend up to the 8th grade, concentrating on the three Rs. They do not obtain any further formal education. There are no professional Amish. They do use the services of professional outside world, in the form of doctors, dentists and banks. The Amish do not believe in war, and as such refuse to serve in the military. In the past they have chosen jail rather then be drafted. They are now exempt from military service. Likewise they believe in a total separation from the state and as such do not accept government assistance. This includes social security. By tradition the farm is willed to the youngest son in a family. It is that child's responsibility to build a small house to the rear of the main house where the retiring parents will be cared for until they die. After much congressional bickering, the Amish are now exempt from paying any Social Security taxes. They do believe in, and pay all other forms of taxation. In general the Amish believe that a separation from the outside world is needed to keep the order solid with its beliefs. Connections to the outside in the form of electric lines, phone lines, gas lines and water lines are not accepted in the home. Propane from storage tanks on the property is used for light and many farms have a windmill to pump the needed water. The ownership of an automobile is universally rejected. Transportation is supplied by horse and buggy. This does not preclude the riding as a passenger in a car, bus or train. They are not permitted to fly. Many of the other traditions are used as a form of announcement of some particular condition that exists. Unmarried men will be clean shaven, while married men will have a beard. No one has a mustache. In the 16th century, buttons were considered jewelry and as such are not used on the women's clothing. Garments are held together with either hooks or straight pins. The heads of all women remain covered with a prayer covering. Black coverings are worn by single women to church in some areas, it also announces their availability for courting. Married women will always ware white prayer coverings. The Amish marry for life. Divorce is not permitted. Young people will make the decision to join the Amish religion by themselves. Today, some young people may wait until they get engaged or when they have reached their mid to late 20s to join the church. They will be baptized when they join the church. When they join the religion, they give up anything that does not conform to the church or they might be subject to the church's discipline called shunning which has its origin in excommunication. If a young person decides not to join the church, he will still be accepted by the community. It is only after he has joined the church and tries to pull away, that discipline is invoked. Courting is a formal process which is watched by the entire community. Young couples will ride in an open sided carriage so all can see their proper conduct. The only exception is the few seconds the carriage passes through one of the many picturesque covered bridges where a kiss might be stolen. These bridges are commonly referred to as "kissing bridges". The Amish do not have their own towns or villages. They are mingled among the rest of the population whom they accept along with their modern conveniences. Perhaps they feel that too many modern conveniences (in their own life) detract from the direct followings of the Bible. They do not force their beliefs on others but simply ask to be allowed to live their lives their own way, peacefully following the word of God as they see it.

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