Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Bush Meeting

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

1. The Bush Meeting Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Shortly after the American Revolution revivalism struck the American frontier & kindled a new, totally American institution, the camp meeting. Born on the Southern frontier, the camp meeting soon invaded the Pa. Dutch Country where it was known as the bush meeting. Bush, to the Pa. Dutch, is wooded land. A small grove was cleared, a preaching stand or bush arbor was erected, & rows of benches were placed around it. Since participants camped in the surrounding woods the bush meeting provided both a religious inspiration & social gathering.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 40° 31.086′ N, 75° 46.983′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. Marker is on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, home of the Kutztown Folk Festival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Wentz Street, Kutztown PA 19530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Thanksgiving & Harvest Home (here, next to this marker); Cider (here, next to this marker); The Plain Dutch

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(a few steps from this marker); New Year's Day Lore (a few steps from this marker); The Candlemaker (a few steps from this marker); Funeral Feasts (a few steps from this marker); Dutch Folksong Tradition (a few steps from this marker); Dew of Heaven (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kutztown.

Regarding The Bush Meeting. Excerpt from "Today... and Yesterday" by The Morning Call

Also see . . .
1. Camp Meeting. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 9, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The Glorious Camp Meetings of the Nineteenth Century. Unknown website PDF (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

3. The Pennsylvania German Society. Website homepage (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

4. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania website entry (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

5. Kutztown Folk Festival. Website homepage (Submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

The Bush Meeting Marker and Other Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

2. The Bush Meeting Marker and Other Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 159 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.