Plain Women: Gender and Ritual in the Old Order River Brethren (Pennsylvania-German History and Culture Series)(Pennsylvania Germans Society Vol. XXXIV (2000).

205 Pages·2001·0.47 MB·English

by  Margaret C. Reynolds

❖
P l a i n Wo m e n
❖
PENNSYLVANIAGERMANHISTORYANDCULTURESERIES,
Number 1
Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society,
Volume 34, 2000
Editor
Simon J. Bronner,
The Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg
Editorial Board
C. Richard Beam, Millersville University
Donald F. Durnbaugh, Juniata College
Aaron S. Fogleman, University of South Alabama
Mark Häberlein, University of Freiburg, Germany
Donald B. Kraybill, Messiah College
Kenneth McLaughlin, University of Waterloo, Canada
A. Gregg Roeber, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
John D. Roth, Goshen College
Hans Schneider, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
Denise A. Seachrist, Kent State University, Trumbull
Richard E. Wentz, Arizona State University
Marianne S. Wokeck,
Indiana University—Purdue University, Indianapolis
Don Yoder, University of Pennsylvania
❖
P l a i n W o m e n
Gender and Ritual in the Old Order River Brethren
❖
Margaret C. Reynolds
edited with a foreword
by
Simon J. Bronner
The Pennsylvania State University Press
University Park, Pennsylvania
Disclaimer:
Some images in the original version of this book are not
available for inclusion in the eBook.
LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA
Reynolds, Margaret C., d. 1999.
Plain women : gender and ritual in the Old Order River Brethren / by Margaret C.
Reynolds ; edited, with a foreword, by Simon J. Bronner.
p. cm.—(Pennsylvania-German history and culture series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-271-02138-1 (alk. paper)
1. Anabaptist women—United States—History. 2. Old Order River
Brethren—History. I. Bronner, Simon J. II. Title. III. Series.
BX4933.U6 R49 2001
289.7'3—dc21
2001021461
Copyright © 2001 The Pennsylvania German Society
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Published by The Pennsylvania State University Press,
University Park, PA 16802-1003
It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State University Press to use acid-free paper
for the first printing of all clothbound books. Publications on uncoated stock sat-
isfy the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information
Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48–1992.
C O N T E N T S
List of Figures vii
Foreword by Simon J. Bronner ix
Introduction 1
1 “Be Ye Separate”
The History, Religion, and Society of the
Old Order River Brethren 17
2 Coverings for the Body
The Symbolism of Plain Women’s Dress 61
3 From Commune to Commerce
Kitchen Traditions and Enterprise 97
4 Women’s Devotion and the Breadmaking Ritual 141
References 171
List of Informants 181
Index 185

L I S T O F F I G U R E S
1 The River Brethren family tree 22
2 “The Separation of the River-Brethren” broadside 32
3 Sketches of Old Order River Brethren dress 65
4 River Brethren man and wife at roadside vegetable stand 66
5 Married River Brethren woman 80
6 River Brethren mother and daughter in their kitchen 102
7 Unmarried River Brethren woman at farmers’ market 110
8 Utensils for breadmaking: pans, rolling pins, sticks, and forks 144
9 Threshing floor set up 146

F O R E W O R D
Simon J. Bronner
The words “plain women” may elicit, for some, mental pictures of unat-
tractive (or simply ordinary and toilworn) people. In our modern, indus-
trialized society, the phrase commonly carries a negative connotation. But
within segments of the society following the “old order” traditions of
Anabaptism and Pietism, the words ring with compliment, describing fol-
lowers of faith and community who live by gloried values of humility. A
“plain woman” is likely to avow obedience to God and her husband as a
cherished principle. She may well be a member of a group quite aware of
its difference from the dominant society. That is not to say that matters of
beauty do not count or that the self is totally sacrificed. So what exactly
drives the group to take this less-traveled path, and how do its members—
especially women—negotiate the gulf between their plain world and mass
society?
Most of us will grope for an answer. We may look to the Amish, but in
fact, we know far more about Amish men than Amish women. We should
realize that a number of groups follow the plain path, and among them,
the members of the Old Order River Brethren raise additional questions:
their selective use of modern technology seems incongruous beside their
extra-plain dress. Until now, the River Brethren experience has been
obscured or neglected in historical and sociological annals. With this book,
however, Margaret “Peggy” Reynolds has done a great service in illuminat-
ing their society and traditions through field observation of everyday life
and rituals, interviews, and available historical documents.
Plain Women represents the first analytical field study of the Old Order
River Brethren, a significant “plain” group born in the United States. (It is
also one of the few available studies of Anabaptist women.) Despite their
meager numbers, the River Brethren community has lasted over two hun-
dred years. The River Brethren are worth knowing; their experiences may
help all of us—plain or not—reflect on how communities of faith are formed