This widely reprinted 1873 report from the New York World suggests that the jerking exercise persisted long after the Great Revival and surfaced occasionally at revival meetings in the Midwest. United Brethren minister Andrew Wimsett, the “noted revivalist” mentioned in the article, was an early advocate of the controversial doctrine of holiness or entire sanctification.
“THE JERKS” AGAIN.
Curious Religious Phenomena in Indiana.
Rockland (Ind.) Letter to the New York World.
There has been a singular phenomenon attending religious revivals in this (Parke) county during the past winter, very similar to what was known to the early settlers of this state and Kentucky as the “jerks” mentioned in “Peter Cartwright’s Autobiography.” The “jerks” was a spasm of involuntary jerking which seized saint and sinner alike at the revivals, first in 1804, and next in 1819. The more the subject resisted, the more violent the spasm became. Cartwright thought the jerks a genuine visitation from God to convert sinners and confirm the righteous; but a manifestation that immediately followed the “jerks” in 1819, to-wit, the “running and jumping” exercise (which I take it was modern shouting), and going into trances, he considered a miserable delusion, and preached against it as such; though from his own account it was as genuine and unavoidable as the “jerks.” He says persons would claim to go into a trance, and remain cold and apparently insensible for hours and days, and in some instances, over a week, taking no food or stimulant during the entire time. Such persons, on their return to consciousness, would declare that they had seen hell and heaven, and had talked with God and the angels. Such has been the precise character of the manifestations in this country this winter. The first was at the Otterbine chapel, seven miles east of this place, at a United Brethren revival, conducted by Rev. Mr. Wimsett, a noted revivalist. The next was at a Quaker revival, or innovation, as the old ones call it, in the north part of the county. The third case was in the west part of the county, at a religious meeting of the Methodists and Quakers jointly. And the last was at Annapolis, seven miles north of here, or near the centre of the county, at a Methodist revival just closed. At this revival, among others who went into a trance was the pastor in charge. On his return to consciousness, he gave in the same experience as did the other subjects at this and the other meetings, that he had seen hell, heaven and some departed relatives. The several subjects of these trances are of such character as to preclude the suspicion that their condition was feigned. Much local speculation has existed as to what it is, and what it means. Will wonders never cease?
Source
“The Jerks Again,” Chicago Evening Post, March 15, 1873, 5.
