Excerpts from Joseph Thomas’s Life of the Pilgrim (November 10, 1810–May 5, 1811)

During the spring of 1810, Joseph Thomas, the famed “beardless boy” and an aspiring nondenominational itinerant evangelist, set out on an ambitious preaching excursion to “sound the gospel in the Western country.” Over the next twenty months, he traveled seven thousand miles and delivered nearly 500 sermons. Thomas’s meandering itinerary included stops in east Tennessee, the Kentucky Bluegrass region, and southern Ohio, where he met with members of the nascent Christian movement and observed a wide range of bodily exercises, including the jerks. Contextual information appears in square brackets. Click here for the full text of Thomas’s autobiography, The Life of the Pilgrim (1817).

Saturday [November] 10th [1810]. I preached first upon Heb. 3. 2. The christians were much engaged, and the ungodly seemed much affected with the weight of truth. I was so much engaged, while preaching, that I fell on my knees and prayed and beseeched my dear hearers to embrace pure and undefiled religion. At night the exercise of the people exceeded any thing that I had yet seen.

In this part of the country [near Lebanon, Tennessee] many of the people have an exercise called the jirks. When it comes upon the subject he is deprived of his own power, and sometimes of his speech, so long as it continues on him. He is thus taken with an irresistible force, altogether off his feet and dashed to the ground or floor, and from one place to another, sometimes hours together. The spectator is astonished because he is not immediately killed, and still more so, when, after this exercise is off, he finds the subject has received no hurt. In what is called dancing (at meeting) shouting and clapping of hands, there may be deception used, but in this exercise there is none; for it is certainly an irresistible power of some kind. Men and women, religious and irreligious have it….

 

Friday [December] 7th. Five Miles below Lebanon (a town) I addressed the people upon these words: Godliness is profitable unto all things.” The people appeared careless and unaffected.

At night, though very cold, the people came out to hear. Miraculous power was displayed in the agitation of some of their bodies. Here I saw a very corpulent woman under the exercise of what is called the jirks. She was prostrated several times upon the floor and across the benches, till I thought she would be killed; but after meeting she told me she received no hurt….

 

Saturday [February] 9th [1811]. We rode fourteen miles; crossed Kentucky river, and preached to a large congregation [near Harrodsburg, Kentucky], many of them were deeply affected. Some danced, some jirked, some shouted, others sung and prayed. At night we held meeting two miles off. I tried to reach to the people; but before I could go through my subject the noise of shouting and crying for mercy drowned my voice.

Five had fallen to the floor as in a swoon, some of them requested to be prayed for. Eight or ten were under the power of the jirks; several were dancing and many were crying. It was truly solemn and wonderful….

 

Wednesday [February] 13th. I preached at J. Reed’s on Kentucky river [in Mercer County, Kentucky]. I had sweet liberty in speaking, and the people appeared to feel the power of truth. One of brother R’s daughters has lately professed faith in Christ; and there is great joy in the family at present. At night I had meeting with brother Haden, two miles off. I preached. The people generally were under a gracious feeling. Some of them were taken with the jirks, and some with the dancing exercise The solemnity and good feelings of others appeared to leave them.

After meeting I talked with brother Haden about the exercise of the people at meeting, that I felt like opposing it. He talked to me on the subject. He persuaded me not, and gave me some reasons why he thought it was best to refrain.

I told him that if it was of God, the solemnity of the people would not leave them so soon. He soon let me know that that was not an objection. How often have you preached (said he) till you have raised some of the wicked to a violent passion. When this was done, suppose I was to forbid you and tell you, preaching was not of God, or it would not offend people….

 

Saturday [March] 2d. In the same neighbourhood [near Lexington, Kentucky]. I held meeting, and spake upon faith, hope, charity, &c. While I was speaking I felt as though the spirit of the Lord God was upon me. Nearly the whole audience were affected in a very deep and sensible manner. Two young women were brought down, to the floor with a deep sense of their lost and condemned state. Their cry was the cry of the publican—God be merciful to me a sinner. There were many prayers put up to the father of our Lord Jesus for them. After continuing in singing and prayer till near sun down we had to disperse, leaving the mourners under a deep concern for their salvation. At night, at a few miles distance, I preached again to a large and solemn audience. Powerful exercise was among the people. Some jirked, some prayed, some wept and some sang, while others were rejoicing aloud. There is a great appearance in this place, and roundabout, of a glorious revival. Lord carry on thy work till neighbour shall not say to neighhour—know ye the Lord; but may all know, thee from the least unto the greatest….

Tuesday [March] 12th. At night I held a meeting in Lexington. The appearance was truly glorious. This night the power of God was among the people of a truth. One young woman was taken with the jirks, which was rather a strange thing to many people in town; but it had a solemn effect upon the spectators….

 

Saturday [March] 30th. Against 12 o’clock I finished reading Watt’s Glories of Christ, He argues that the soul of Jesus was in a pre-existent state long before his incarnation. He believes that this soul is the first creation of God, and that this soul was rich and highly exalted, and all the angels were commanded to worship him; and that it was this soul which was made poor; for, says he, the Godhead which dwelt in Jesus could not become poor; for that was eternally, essentially and independently rich, and beyond a possibility of being made poor. Yet for our sakes he, the pre existent part of Jesus, became poor, i.e. that high exaltation which he had before the world was, was humbled, or brought low, and made so poor that it inhabited a body of clay. Jesus said the foxes have holes, and the fowls of the air have nests; but the son of man hath no where to lay his head. He was dispossessed of all his former radient glories, and was esteemed the carpenter’s son; yet God hath highly exalted him, &c. Suffice it, in this place, to say, that I conceive this doctrine to be inconsistent and unscriptural. For there are the same arguments to prove the pre-existence of all souls as the pre-existence of the soul of Jesus Christ. The son of God must have been greater than a created soul.

In the afternoon I rode over into the neighbourhood of Concord [in Nicholas County, Kentucky]. I lodged with brother Hall. When I was at prayer in the family two of them took the jirks. They appear to be in the spirit and life of religion, and zealously affected in a good cause.

Sunday [March] 31st. I preached in Concord neighbourhood to a large congregation. I thought I never saw a people more affected under word of God in my life. Here is the first I ever saw of the laughing exercise, so called. A smile oftentimes is the natural effect of approbation. But this laughing exercise may be heard at a great distance. Not being acquainted with this exercise, one would suppose that the subjects of it were making ail the sport and ridicule of the preaching and worship possible. But it is obvious that, like the jirks, it is an involuntary exercise. The most of the subjects of this work at the time, are, I am informed, extremely happy in the love of God. This day when I saw the jirks, dancing, falling down, shouting and the laughing exercise, all going on at once among the people, I thought of the day of Pentecost; for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. And it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God) I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams, and on my servants, and on my hand maidens I will pour out in those days of my spirit, and they shall prophecy.” Though this may appear to some like confusion and disorder, I know that this was a joyful and glorious day to me, “Shout O! daughter of Zion; behold thy king cometh: he is just, and having salvation.”
Having an appointment fourteen miles back in the neighbourhood of Cane Ridge, I left the people shouting and praising God. In going about four miles, a thunder storm threatened me with wind and rain. I stopped in a house till it passed over. I started again and in going four miles farther, another awful cloud met me. The cloud spread its fearful skirts over the whole hemisphere, and seemed to portend sad destruction. The wind whirled and dashed the sportive showers into my face. It appeared that the lightning was without intermission, which illuminated the earth far beyond the transcendency of the sun at noon day. The thunders roared as loud and dismal as though the heavens were rolling together like a scroll. The timber was tall and thick, and the wind lapping the tree tops together, the rain rushing in mighty torrents from the spouting clouds, I was far from the shelter of a house, and almost despaired of my life.

Lord save me or I perish. Though several trees were prostrated to the ground close around me, yet God spared me. When I came to the appointment; none gathered for meeting because of the rain. The family felt themselves much disappointed because of the rain, and thought also that many others were….

 

Tuesday 2d. I tarried at this place [Cane Ridge, Kentucky] till this evening, in order that the; people might have another opportunity to hear the beardless boy (as they called me.) At three o’clock a large number attended. I addressed them on Deut. 32, 2. with almost uncommon liberty. While I was speaking, the power of the highest overshadowed us. I did not hear such bursts of shouts and see such diversity of bodily exercise as I have at other times; but it was a time of weeping, sighing and groaning for redemption. The hearts of the wicked were melted, and the drooping revived. “Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance when it was weary. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth.” This prospect animated me, and caused me to speak beyond my ability. My voice shattered and became weak and Feeble; but not counting my life dear to me, I continued till I became exhausted, and fell, deprived of strength. “This surely was like one of the days of the Son of Man.” I trust that the seed that was sown this day will bring forth some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold. When I was a little restored to my strength, I had to start to my appointment four miles off. There I found a waiting crowd of people. On my way I was troubled with grievous temptations; temptations of a singular nature. When I met the people, my mind was much depressed. I could fix my mind on no particular passage of scripture. My poor heart already felt hard, unaffected and full of unbelief. Lord what is man? A few hours ago I thought I never should feel any more hardness of heart, but always swim in the ecstacy of redeeming love. But now I am at a loss to know what to do, especially I know not what to speak to this people. Lord what shall I do? In the midst of my distress these words came to my recollection; “In that hour it shall be given to you what ye shall speak.” With these works in my mouth I rose to my feet as though I could speak with liberty and boldness. But in a few minutes this preciousness was taken away, and darkness covered my thoughts. And I quickly discovered that I spake to the people with cold unbelief on my heart. I broke abruptly off my subject and began to pray. Others began to pray also, and the spirit of prayer was spread over the congregation, till it appeared that all God’s people had turned prophets. The exercise, so called, (jumping, dancing and the jirks) seized the people, and awful power was displayed before my unbelieving eyes. The mixing voices of happy christians were heard to sound afar off. About two o’clock in the morning the people dispersed. Various were the exercises of my mind during this time but chiefly in unbelief….

 

Thursday [April] 4th. In the morning I started for Concord [in Nicholas County, Kentucky] again. But in coming near to a creek called Kingston, to my surprise I heard it was past fording. After some enquiry I was informed that there was a Bridge eight miles downward, which was more than the distance out of my way to my appointment. I started for the bridge. I crossed it safely, and came through the town which stands close by it called Millersburg. I then had to go ten miles further, to get to the place which I set out for. Half after two o’clock I met the people at the place appointed, looking and waiting for me, I had great comfort and liberty in speaking to them. Great joy seemed to run through all the brethren, while some mourned and lamented because of sin. At night a large congregation met to hear the word of the Lord. I took the command of Jesus for the foundation of my discourse: “and say the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” The power of God was marvelously among the people. One young woman professed a reclamation from herein. She shouted and sweetly sang the redeemer’s praise. She testified that the “son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” A shout of victory was raised in the camp, which was heard afar off. Here the brethren are forward and appear willing to take up their cross. When we meet together, and any one seems sorry for sin, the brethren will take free to them and pray for them. This night many of the brethren sang, and prayed, and exhorted, and appeared as though the spirit of God dictated for them. When we broke up I had one mile to travel to my resting place. There were four others in my company who were full of the love of God, and much engaged in religion. On our way we ceased not to talk and to tell of the wonderful goodness of God. About the time we had entered a lane where the mud was deep and disagreeable, one of the sisters was taken with the jirks, and being on her creature I was dubious she would be jirked off, and be much hurt, and perhaps killed; “but I erred, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.” She was soon jirked from her horse into the mud, and was dashed her full length from place to place, while I stood gazing as one astonished out of measure. By this time two more of the company took the jirks also, and were immediately dashed into the mud. Here we tarried on the ground an hour and three quarters. This was a time of deep reflection with me, thinking what these things meant. Will people who are not wrought upon by power not their own, roll and dash themselves in the mud, and act as though they would kill themselves. I confess I never done so, nor I believe, none will that can avoid it. While I was pondering these things in my heart, God’s love made me like the charriots of Aminidab; I found myself swallowed up in adoration, and giving glory to God. When we came to brother Hall’s, we sang, we prayed, and rejoiced in a Saviour’s love till near morning light. I can truly say that I never experienced such a night of love and joy before….

 

Sunday [April] 7th. In the morning I passed a small town called Flemingsburg [Kentucky]. The Presbyterians and Methodists were to have preaching in the place both at one hour, within hearing of each other. I had to pass on three miles further to my appointment. Lord how long will partyism afflict poor Zion? O Lord ! when will the wolf dwell with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fattling together, and the little child lead them? This reformation will take place in the beasts of the forest when Christ shall be king over all the earth; but when, will the Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and the various denominations, lay aside their distinctions and dwell together in love? Happy are the people whose hearts are prepared for the glorious event that shall take place, “for the watchman shall see, eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” I came to my appointment, and but few people met me. This day I truly found that God was not confined to the large congregation; but is near to all them that call upon him. I preached with sweet liberty, and nearly all the people were deeply affected. Some shouted and others cried, so that I could not go through my discourse. Here I saw the power of God marvellously displayed in the exercise of the jirks. A young woman was taken with this exercise, and was jirked from one side of the house to the other, almost in the twinkling of an eye. It was past the power of man to hold her, for several tried to do it, and could not. Sometimes she would be dashed to the floor on her face, and sometimes the back of her head would strike against the benches, the floor, and the wall. I saw that some of the spectators were afraid that she would be jirked into the fire; and to hinder it, some of them gathered round and stood by the fire-side. But in opposition to all their endeavors, she was jirked with her head and shoulders into the midst of hot, burning coals of fire. I conjectured that certainly she would be burned to death. Observe, her hair was jirked loose from her comb, and though her head fell into the fire, the fire took no impression upon it. She was soon taken out by the same, power that she was thrown in, and so much as the smell of fire was not upon her garments, or upon her hair. Not a mark of fire was seen upon her face. The truth of this circumstance has been disputed by some; but I maintain it as a well known fact. Three hours was this subject under this uncontrolable power. I was sometimes much frightened, thinking every minute that she would be killed with sudden death. But after this power was off her, she declared that she received no hurt, only at the time when they tried to hold her. At night the people came out and we held meeting in the same place. The brethren in this place are zealously engaged, and appear to be much stirred up in their religious exercises….

 

Wednesday [April] 10th. I preached four miles nigher to the Ohio river [near Cabin Creek, Lewis County, Kentucky]. Many were dissolved in tears, while others shouted aloud. Here I saw a person jirked to her knees by a strange power, and could not get from thence for the space of half an hour. Strange to see in what manner some of those people are exercised. At night I held meeting on the South bank of the Ohio River, not far from Limestone, opposite to Manchester. After preaching it was observed that the prejudice of two or three bigots was taken down and carried off by the refreshing shower from the presence of the Lord….

Sunday [April] 14th. A large congregation met according to appointment. There were people of different persuasions here [Clear Creek, Woodford County, Ohio], and all of them appeared to be more or less affected, and were made happy in the love of God saying; “It was good for us to be here.” At night the people returned, and we had a comfortable meeting. The people in these parts are not affected with the bodily exercises of the jirks and dancing, &c. But the religious part appear to be earnestly engaged in their profession, and many of those who do not profess religion are seriously enquiring “what shall we do to be saved?”

Saturday [April] 25th. I went some distance up the creek [Brush Creek, Adams County, Ohio]. The land is fertile and level here. Springs of water are plenty. Farms are opening, and young orchards are growing. The little meadows up and down the branches and creeks are green and beatutiful. I discover that all the land would make excellent meadow. The people appear to be very industrious and frugal. Near the head of the stream I held meeting. The people seemed to be filled with good desires. At night I held meeting at the same place. The people in these parts come five and six miles to night meeting. A large number attended this night, and many of them appeared to feel the power of truth. I believe there are but two who are under the exercise of the jirks in these parts. The people are not so singularly and powerfully exercised as in Kentucky; but they week, and cry, and seem sensible of their lost condition, and the brethren shew their zeal by singing, praying and exhorting each other, one by one….

 

Sunday [May] 5th. A large congregation attended at this place [Deer Creek, Pickaway County, Ohio]. I thought I spake with but little light or liberty; but the people seemed to feel my discourse, and many of them were made exceedingly happy. The people have the jirks at this place. I saw some of the men jirked off their feet, and with great force were prostrated across the benches, and upon the floors. The christian church was established here before any other denomination, and no other has succeeded here since. There is a large society of members here, and one preacher. They appear to be in a prosperous state. The most of them have been baptized and others are exercised about it. I am now about to leave this part of the country and direct my course to Philadelphia and the eastern states. For the satisfaction of my reader, I will lay before him the state of religion in the western country (as correct as I can) that he may, at one view, discover what I have given him in sketches. It is generally known that in the year 1800, and till 1804, there was a more glorious revival of religion in the western country than ever was before experienced in America. After this work had progressed some time in the conversion of deists, atheists and many unbelievers of every description, and of almost every age and color of people; many of the Presbyterian denomination, and several of the preachers in particular, who had long been confined in the narrow limits of the doctrines of men, began to think upon the more extensive love of God to his creatures, as testified in the scriptures. They would attend their meetings, and see awful power displayed in their congregations—young and old praising God in the highest, and some of their own members singing a new song—declaring that they never felt religion before, and scores and hundreds of young and happy converts inviting the people to come to Jesus—Jesus will receive the worst of you; he will cast none off who will believe in his name. Some thought this was enthusiasm—some said it was delusion—however, some well informed, uninterested preachers of that denomination not only felt the same gracious work, but were convinced that this was the Lord’s doings, and was marvellous in their eyes, and who in a short time unanimously began to preach what is called free salvation.

Hundreds of the professors of religion, of the same denomination, immediately embraced the doctrine with every leading principle that is inseparable to it. This gave a general alarm to the presbyteries and synods in different parts of the states. They were fearful that they should lose some of their most eminent clergymen and laymen, unless timely and suitable steps were taken to stop them.

When those preachers, assembled at Cane Ridge, came to the christian plan, as first laid down by “Christ, the great head of the church, and proclaimed it to the thousands then around them, the hundreds and fifties of the children of God, who were groaning for a deliverance shouted for joy, and from that day were made perfectly free from priestly power and from all them that would usurp authority ever them. Here was a covenant made to throw away all confessions of faith, chatechisms, creeds, rules and disciplines made by man, with a determination to have no bishop, presiding elder, head, lawgiver or king, but Jesus Christ and to take his word for their rule and government instead of human systems, traditions and inventions of men.—To have no name but CHRISTIAN. Such a meeting and circumstance as this was never before seen or known in all the Western country, l am told that at this meeting there were about thirteen hundred unanimous in these things, and all partook of the Lord’s supper together!! From this place several preachers went, with the spirit of the Lord God evidently upon them, being anointed to preach good tiding to the meek, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to the opening of the prison to them that were bound, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. In this, way they preached Jesus whithersoever they went, gathering companies in his name upon the word of God alone. I will observe, that during this time the work of God was glorious in Tennessee, and progressed in a similar manner. Several preachers in that part broke off from the presbyterian order and took the word of God for their government. From what has been said the reader will observe that the work of God spread rapidly; conversions were numerous, while some members of almost every denomination left their old systems and joined themselves alone to the word of God. The prophecy was fulfilling, “One shall say I am the Lord’s, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.” Thus the work increased, and spread in a short time through Kentucky, Ohio and various parts of Tennessee. Preachers of the methodist, baptist and presbyterian sects joined them, and all were seen to raise up the standard (the bible) toward Zion. Many young preachers, who were not confined to families, appeared in the work while they travelled from state to state proclaiming peace and liberty to them that were afar off, and to them that were near, while they saw their labours attended with frequent conversions and a daily increase of numbers. From what has been said, the reader should understand that in the space of a few years these people increased into large numbers in different directions throughout the western country. The preachers were not confined to a parish, or to two or three congregations, nor to a four week’s circuit, but as it were, they went out into ail the world, preaching the gospel to every creature. If I may so speak, the tallies and beautiful plains of the Ohio; the rich lands and rugged barrens of Kentucky; the hills, hollows and levels of Cumberland; the marshy grounds of Duck River, and the large bodies of fertile land, overspread with cane, lying towards the Muscle Shoals of Tennessee;—yea, down into the Mississippi territory, and beyond the great river into the Louisiana, their voices were heard to sound from time to time. Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. For their hearts swelled with such love and desire for sinners, that the borders of the white people and the line of the civilized inhabitants could not hold them. Some of them, not counting their lives dear unto them, directed their courses through the wild deserts into the Indian nations. They there laboured with that success which gave them to know that their labour was not in vain in the Lord, though they had to encounter unavoidable difficulty and distress. One of those men was among the Indians for months, and I believe years, teaching them to read the holy scriptures. In which time he had the pleasure of seeing not only a reformation from their heathen traditions to pure and undefiled religion, but an unexpected improvement in English reading among his pupils.
As I have travelled through the greatest number of these places, and have visited the most of the churches, I availed myself of the opportunity of acquainting myself with their doctrine and their order, &c. They have began on the word of the Lord, but it is to be feared that in process of time, they will forsake their first plan and wander off again into the wilderness of human invention. The christians have had a great and marvellous work of God amongst them for several years. It began in a most miraculous manner, and some astonishing instances of the power of God are yet to be seem amongst them, as the reader may know by reading the foregoing part of this work. I am informed that there is not such a general out-pouring of the spirit of God amongst them now as has been; but in many places the Lord is working mightily with them; with signs and wonders following as I have abundantly seen. These people, with joy, may say, “Lord even the devils are subject to us through thy name.” But they need not rejoice at this, but because their names are written in Heaven. They have an exercise, as I have said, amongst them called the JIRKS. It sometimes throws them into the fire, into the mud, upon the floor, upon the benches, against the wall of the house, &c. Some that have seen it have said, and some of my readers may also say, that this is the power and work of the devil, or the same spirit that threw the people in the fire in ancient days, and caused them to foam at the month and cut themselves with stones; but I think the power by which they are wrought upon is as different as the manner in which the subjects are treated. The subjects of such power in ancient days sustained much injury, which proved that they were vexed sore with a spirit of the devil. But the subjects of this work receive no damage or injury whatever, and the most of them are exceedingly happy when they are thus exercised which proves that it is the “Lord’s doing and marvellous our eyes,” One may ask, can we not have religion and be happy without having the jirks? And can they not be happy in religion and have the jirks?
The christians in this country appear to be the most happy of any people that I ever travelled among, and their conduct most consistent with the gospel which they profess. Their preachers are generally hard working men, and with their own hands they provide for their own house. But the preachers who travel and do nothing but preach the gospel, the brethren think they should live of the gospel; and where they are able, they are willing to give them a decent support; that is, food and raiment. They have not run into that extreme which some have where I have travelled, that seeing it is wrong to give the preacher a certain salary they will give him nothing at all; for they are sensible that the preachers can no more live upon the wind than they can themselves.
I will close this description in the words of the prophet, “He (God) will swallow up death (with all other opposition) in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo? this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa. 25, 8, 9.

Source

Joseph Thomas, The Life of the Pilgrim, Joseph Thomas, Containing an Accurate Account of His Trials, Travels, and Gospel Labours (Winchester, Va.: J. Foster, 1817), 124–125, 131, 143–144, 148, 151, 155–164, 182–187.