Joseph Badger, a leading advocate of the non-denominational Christian Connection, witnessed the jerks during a pair of preaching tours of the Ohio Valley in 1825 and 1826. Originally published in the Gospel Luminary (1828), Badger’s lively description of how “the power” came upon a group of young women ranks among the most detailed nineteenth-century descriptions of the jerking exercise. Internal evidence from Badger’s “Account,” cross-referenced with the narrative of his travels through Ohio and Kentucky in his Memoirs, suggests that the November 1826 jerking incident took place at George Alkire’s Christian church in Williamsport, Ohio. For more information on Badger’s visits to Ohio, see E. G. Holland, Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger (New York: C. S. Francis and Co., 1854), 264–278 (click here).
(FROM THE GOSPEL LUMINARY.)
The Jirks have been commented upon by several writers, whom I have examined, but none of them are satisfactory to me. Neither do I think the case has been satisfactorily explained to the public. Nor am I, from my small acquaintance and experience with the subject, capable of doing it justice; however, I will state a few simple facts which I saw and heard; and I am sure, I was candid and deliberate in my judgment, and correct in my notes which were taken at the time.
In my first visit to Ohio, and Kentucky, in 1825, I saw some specimens of what was called the Jirks, and heard many accounts from different persons, of what they had seen, in the time of the great revival in the west, of those uncommon excises; and also conversed with several persons who had experienced them, but my inquiry was not satisfactory. It merely served to envelope the subject in greater mystery, and excited in me a strong desire to witness and examine a case of the kind for myself. During my second visit, in November, 1826, I was favoured with an opportunity of witnessing those singular exercises, of exercising my judgment, and of testing my spirit of discernment. I called at a little village which I had visited the year before. There was, at this time, a gracious revival of religion progressing under the labours of Elder —— converts were multiplied, meetings were held day and night; and indeed little else was done, for several days, in the place.
My appointment had been given out a month or more, before my arrival. When I reached the hotel where I was to preach in the evening, I saw the multitude flocking together, with anxiety beaming in their countenances. My aged and venerable host tore me from my horse, exclaiming, “God in his mighty power is among us;” while his lady, standing in the door, exclaimed with uplifted hands and eyes, “glory to God in the highest.” How changed was my condition; but one hour before I was crossing the lonely plain, and penetrating the deep wilderness, with a soul wrapped in solitude; now I was ushered into a comfortable parlour, and thronged and pressed with zealous believers in the Son of God. When it was time to commence meeting, all parts of the house upon the lower floors were filled to overflowing, together with about eight preachers beside myself. My discourse was long, but the hearers sat with great patience, sometimes expressing their approbation by their amens, and, at others, by their smiles and tears.
Soon after the meeting commenced, I saw several young ladies, well dressed, and of good appearance, who began to be uncommonly exercised; which exercises they endeavoured to suppress. It appeared to mortify and embarrass them very much, when they had “the power” as it was called. During the sermon, their shoulders would be seized with violent and sudden convulsions, the neck, also, would be affected with spasms, which threw back the head in a frightful manner. It would sometimes seize one hand or arm, but the neck or shoulders were the first subjects of its operations. When I had concluded my sermon, the congregation commenced an animating song of praise, which greatly increased those extraordinary exercises. The whole system of several young ladies became so convulsed, that they were incapable of sitting upon their seats. The songs of praise were now heard from all parts of the assembly. I shall here leave several cases of a similar kind, and confine myself to one individual case, which is a fair sample of several others.
The young lady of which I shall now speak, was of fair countenance, good health, excellent moral character, and of tolerable understanding. She appeared to be about twenty years of age, and had lately become a subject of hopeful conversion. She was among the first who was attacked with these singular exercises. At first, as 1 have already observed, she had only occasional spasms during the sermon; but during the time of singing and prayer, for the space of half an hour, her whole frame was in the most violent agitation and distress. While in this state of apparent distress, every heart appeared to be moved with fear or pity; for it seemed that she could not live, without finding relief, for one hour. But after thirty or forty minutes her exercise became organized, and the agony or convulsion settled into one regular motion. She now stood erect upon her feet, a female holding each hand, standing at a proper distance on either side, both facing her. Her motion was now that of bowing down, forward and backward, in a quiet succession, Which baffled all skill to imitate. Her head came regularly within about four inches of the floor before and behind. At every motion her long flowing hair would lash the floor, both before and behind, with as much violence as I could have struck with my hands. This exercise lasted about one hour, towards the close of which it became a little more mild, and her countenance assumed an agreeable appearance. She appeared happy, and attempted to speak, but could not be understood. The velocity of this motion was almost incredible. Her hair struck the floor in that regular exercise for the space of about an hour, as often as seventy-five times a minute. This statement, no doubt, will appear greatly exaggerated to persons unacquainted with such exercises. How her body could endure the fatigue, her blood pursue its regular motion, and her brains retain the proper order, are questions too mighty for me to answer.
When she had become calm, though she could not yet speak, she was taken into another room. I suppose she was absent about half an hour; while I was engaged in observing the exercises of others, she returned, and took her seat near me and commenced singing. She appeared quite cheerful and happy, and her countenance was so much altered that I did not know her. In the course of conversation, I enquired for the person who had been so much exercised, and had felt the room; when, to my great astonishment, I was informed that she was the person herself. Her countenance was serein and natural, only a little more pale than usual. I then conversed with her freely, with relation to her views, feelings, and exercises. She observed that she did not feel the least inconvenience in consequence of her exercise—that she had them frequently—that she never felt sore the next day, nor in any case her natural strength debilitated.
I then put to her the following questions, and received the following answers: Ques. Are those exercises desirable? Ans. They are not, nothing is more degrading to my natural feelings. Ques. What produces these operations; do you feel them in private devotion? Ans. They are produced by preaching, praying, and singing, or any thing which produces an unusual exercise in religion, whether in public or private; and when I am the most spiritual I am the most subject to them, though I have never had them to the same degree in private. Ques. Then you think they greatly depend on a good, lively meeting? Ans. They do; and so do all religious excitements.
The spirit of these exercises was all through the neighbourhood, and it was considered impious to question their divinity. Some young females had something of them for two or three weeks together. Some females, who were quite small, not more than eight or ten years of age, where their older sisters had them, and whose parents were also believers in them, had something of the Jirks, (as I was informed) for a month together. One young lady, who was in the business of school-teaching, informed me, that when she conversed or prayed with her scholars, read her Bible, or engaged in secret devotion, she never failed to be affected with spasms in the neck and shoulders, all the preceding summer; and that, in consequence of this, she neglected those duties for weeks together.
Our meeting, from the time my discourse ended, which was about 9 o’clock in the evening, was a confused place. All the assembly were in motion, some praying, some singing, some weeping, some rejoicing, and others engaged in private conversation. Usually a male, or female would arise and give a pathetic exhortation. Wherever we turned our eyes we could see the effect of spasms. About two o’clock in the morning I retired for repose, and left many to continue the meeting. Soon after retiring to rest, in consequence of long fatigue, I soon sunk into sleep.
Those people have but little order as a Church. I believe they are a very pious people. The great separating day, which is at hand, will blow away the chaff, and gather all the tine wheat into the garner of God.
Yours respectfully,
J. BADGER.
Source
Joseph Badger, “Account of the Strange Exercise called the Jirks,” in Elisha North, Outlines of the Science of Life; which Treats Physiologically of Both Body and Mind (New York: Collins and Co., 1829), 105–109.
