STATEMENT OF THE POLICY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH TOURIST BUREAU IN OUR RELATIONS WITH THE AMISH
We recognize that the Amish way of life is based on the literal application of the Word of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ to their everyday life, with the result that many of their customs and beliefs have a religious significance not immediately apparent to those not of the Amish faith.
It is our purpose to give to those beliefs and customs of the Amish, which are matters of religion, the same respect and reverence which we give to symbols of other religions.
Exodus 20:4 states: “Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth.”
The Amish believe that the taking of photographs violates this commandment if the face of the individual photographed is recognizable as that individual. We agree not to violate that rule without the permission of the person photographed.
* * * * * * * *
This Official Guide-Book of the Pennsylvania Dutch Tourist Bureau has been prepared solely for the purpose of making the tourist’s visit to Lancaster County the interesting and enjoyable experience it should be.
Situated but a few hours drive from many of the great cities of the eastern United States, the Pennsylvania Dutch Country offers more to the tourist than perhaps any other area of our country. Honeycombed with fine hard-topped roads, Lancaster County is the happy hunting ground for the visitor, who wishes to concern himself with the quaint and the historic. It is the ideal spot for quiet leisurely travel through the most picturesque and well-tended farm land to be found anywhere.
Inasmuch as the Plain People of Lancaster County are of great interest to the tourist considerable space in the Guide-Book has been devoted to them. Certainly, these fine agrarians, with their quaint customs and their somber dress, will command much of the visitors’ attention but they are by no means the only reason for spending much time in this section of Pennsylvania. You are urged to make a careful study of this Guide-Book, so that you will be fully aware of all that the Pennsylvania Dutch Country has to offer.
* * * * * * * *