It was an ordinary day. Reading a story in the "Amish Country News" titled "John Reist-The Forgotten Man in Amish History", which was written by Clinton Martin. Story told of a man known as Jacob Amman who was credited as the founder of the Amish church. His name is known to be the reason why the Amish were named as they were. As important as Jacob Amman is to the Amish, John Reist is just as important. Amman is well known, while little is known of John (also known as Hans) Reist. The date of birth, birth place or even to whom Mr. Reist was born is not known, but it is known that Mr. Reist knew Mr. Amman. It is assumed that Mr. Reist was from the Sumiswald region of Emmental in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland which was very active in Anabaptist activity. Being that Mr. Reist knew Mr. Amman, it means they both lived in the same region during the 1600s. At the time they were both bishops in the Swiss Brethren Church which today is known as Amish, Mennonite and Brethren. Though they knew each other, they both had different ideas as to how they should live their lives within their Swiss Brethren faith. Mr. Amman interpreted his faith as being more strict as to manners of dress and shunning while Mr. Reist believed a more relaxed view of the same topics. Their disagreements grew so far apart that they finally arranged a meeting in 1693 to discuss and try to reconcile their differences. The problem was that Mr. Reist and Mr. Amman were so far apart on their views that no mater how much talking they might do, their differences were too far apart for any agreement. Actually, Mr. Reist didn't show up for the meeting and submitted his views in writing telling Mr. Amman how much he disagreed with his ideas. One item that Mr. Amman preached was the wearing of "hooks and eyes,," This had to do with the fasteners on Amish clothing. Well, Mr. Reist even differed with him on this when he said they should wear clothes fastened with buttons. Eventually they disagreed on so many topics that they both excommunicated each other from their respective church which led to two totally different movements. This eventually led to today's Amish and Mennonite Church congregations. Now, that was more than 300 years ago and today both faiths, Amish and Mennonite, remain distinct and separate, but all remain friends with both groups living amongst one another peaceably. Thus, this is the reason why Mr. John Reist is now known as the Forgotten Man in Amish History.
The second part of my story today tells about the language known to those living in Lancaster County as Pennsylvania Dutch. It is spoken mostly by Plain people or those who might be Amish or Mennonite. Also known as "Deitsch", you may find it is also spoken by a very small minority of the "English" population, or those people just as you and I. At times, when I visit Central Market in downtown Lancaster, I hear Amish stand holders talking Pennsylvania Dutch to each other, but they will speak to me in English. Neat to hear them talk in "Deitsch", but I'm glad I don't have to respond to them in that language. If there happens to be a local Amish or Mennonite event, you may find them talking in Pennsylvania Dutch at that affair. You may even find a sticker nearby at the event that reads "Pennsylvania Dutch Spoken Here" (Mir schwetze Pennsylfaanish Deitsch). I feel I'm in another country when I visit an Amish event and can't understand what they are saying. I realize it is me, and not them, since I could learn Pennsylvania Dutch just as they have taken the time to learn both English and Dutch. But, I can usually understand enough to get by. I can just imagine a tourist to Lancaster going to an Amish event and finding out they are all speaking in Pennsylvania Dutch. We in Lancaster who are "English" residents are so glad we can offer another experience to visitors to our beautiful Lancaster County. If you ever get a chance to visit my home town, please drive throughout the verdant farmland and see what I get to see every day. Stop and talk to an Amish resident and ask them to speak to you in Pennsylvania Dutch. You will get to experience an entirely different world. Then you may better understand my story today. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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