History of the Amish (Part 6)

By Magda Adriana

March 1, 2024

History of the Amish Series

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9

 

Peaceful Neutrality

In the previous issue, we discovered that the Amish lost many members to other churches that preached evangelical revivalism but remained who they were: a close-knit community with an emphasis on a faith that was shown by a Christian lifestyle rather than a personal conversion experience.

Towards the end of the 18^th century, the Amish and other peace churches were again tested on their non-resistant convictions. In the eyes of the Tories (the Americans who remained loyal to the British crown) and the rebels, members of peace churches were a threat because they did not side with either of them. These fighting and arguing parties often felt that whoever was not with them was against them.

As an alternative to going to war, many governments offered peace churches the opportunity to hold a collection to “assist the Common Cause” instead of taking up arms.  Many churches agreed on this compromise, but a few people refused because the specific purpose of the collection was not revealed.

As a result of the Amish refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the new government, they lost the right to vote. Even though this right was eventually given back to them, most current-day Amish still do not vote.

Matthew 5:37 states, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Because of this, the Amish felt that they had to hold the pledges they once made to the British government when moving into English (British) colonies even though they saw the absurdness of the high tax the British government was collecting.

Some young people were attracted to the rebel’s side because of their aim for freedom and independence. A few even decided to join the fighting troops, which must have been devastating to their parents and grandparents, who had fled Europe to avoid military service. As a result, these individuals left – or simply never joined – the Amish church.

Precarious Position Around 1800

As the Amish completed the first century as a distinct people group, their existence was little surer than in 1693. In North America, the Amish barely maintained their numbers after more than a half-century of settlement. The challenges of establishing new homes, responding to revivalist overtures, Patriotic war, and the new wealth and freedom of mobility that had resulted from immigration had each taken a toll.

Genealogical studies show that none of the Amish immigrant families were able to retain all of their children in the church. In fact, less than 40 percent of the first generation continued in the Amish tradition. Although some 500 Amish adults and children had arrived in Pennsylvania before the Revolution, by 1800, there were likely fewer than a thousand Amish in the new United States, even though many had large families.

Several decades earlier, an Amish immigrant had written to European friends advising them to come to America because “in this country is a very good living.” Many Amish had survived and prospered in colonial Pennsylvania, even though this had carried its own temptations. At times, living in America had meant becoming American, with all its revivalistic and patriotic ‘trappings.’ Still, the Amish had persisted, and after 1800, they would welcome a new wave of European immigrants eager to join that “good living” in America.

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