During the six months following their first organized Shaker worship meeting at Turtle Creek, Ohio, on May 23, 1805, Benjamin Seth Youngs, John Meacham, and Issachar Bates, steadily expanded their missionary labors in the trans-Appalachian west. They were soon joined by the former Presbyterian minister and Shaker convert Richard McNemar. The Shakers concentrated their evangelizing activities among Scots-Irish Presbyterians and Dutch Reformed Calvinists living in several disparate settlements, including Beaver Creek, near Dayton, Ohio; Shelby County, Kentucky; and Harrodsburg and Shawnee Run in Mercer County, Kentucky. Youngs’s journal entries for this period continue to provide vivid descriptions of the jerks and other bodily exercises. Yet they also reveal the bitter conflicts these somatic phenomena ignited among communities of New Light revivalers. Youngs reported a wide range of tense encounters with individuals and families who resisted the Shakers’ “testimony against the flesh” (celibacy) and unorthodox practices of confession, kneeling in prayer, and dancing. Presbyterian ministers, most notably John Thompson of Springfield (now Springdale), Ohio, excoriated the sectarian interlopers in their weekly sermons. Some settlers took matters into their own hands. On several occasions, Youngs (who typically identified himself as “B.” in the journal that follow) and his colleagues suffered verbal and physical abuse. By the end of 1805, however, dozens of individuals and families in Ohio and Kentucky had “opened their minds,” confessed their sins in private to Youngs and his missionary colleagues, and embraced the Shaker faith. The following year, these “young believers,” as they came to be called, would formalize their commitment to Shakerism by gathering in communal villages at Turtle Creek and Beulah (Beaver Creek) in Ohio and Shawnee Run in Kentucky. Conjectural readings, textual defects, and contextual notes appear in square brackets.
May. 5–30 [Friday, May 30, 1805]. After breakfast we returned to William Stuarts [at Beaver Creek (now Kettering), Ohio] & in the afternoon went with him & stepdaughter Jane 1 mile to John Buchanan’s where there was a Society meeting of about 30 persons. Capt. John Patterson interceded with John B. who opened a door for us to speak, which we did for about 2 hours, & the letter was also read. In most of the people the word had no place, notwithstanding they all were civil that were in the house, & a few of them were very tender. After meeting B. returned to William Stuarts, & Issachar tarried at Buchanans. In the evening John Patterson Jr. & another young man who had been violently exercised with the Jerks staid there. These both were attentive, perticularly the latter who has some faith. A woman at the meeting by the name of Wilson was exercised in Shaking, leaping, & clasping hands, & appear’d greatly to rejoice, & felt bitterly opposed!
At about 11 oclock went to bed with John P. Jr. 2 [miles]….
June. 2–3 [Tuesday, June 3, 1805]. Soon after breakfast we went to Richards [in Turtlecreek Township, Ohio] where according to the appointment of yesterday, at about 2 oclock P.M. the believers met to the number of about 35, as Richard had inform’d then of his going to Kentucky on the morrow. He read to them the writings which have been transmitted to him from Kentucky on church government. Part of them were concluded upon by the Presbytery of Springfield about a year ago, & sent to him by J. Thompson about a week after we first came to this country, & the rest according to request was written by Richard.
While this was reading a riotous mob came in arm’d with propper clubs & staves of hickory, the leader of whom was Rob Cain & William Shaw. Their intention was plainly discover’d. Cain placed himself on the middle of the floor & though he was peacibly desired to remove he would not, but evidently appear’d to have violence in view. We Sung an hymn in which time Chloe was taken with the Jerks & from that to dancing, also Ann W. After some speaking Issachar sung two songs, & we nearly all laboured, & then kneeled, & soon after spake again to the people. The mob brought many wicked accusations particularly against Richard. They accused him of beating & abusing his old Mother, which was a report current in the country for years. It so happened (though unknown to the mob) that his mother was then at the outside of the house. Richard call to his Mother, who came in like one from the dead. He asked her Mother, did I ever lay hands on you or beat you? She answer’d to the confusion of their faces, No, my Son, you never did. One circumstance took place after another so that all the designs of the wicked were again blasted this day.
Another extraordinary circumstance took place. John Thompson preached at L. Montforts to which meeting Easter D. was minded to go in company with her brother. She turned her beast towards Monforts & said she had no other guide, but should go the way the beast went feeling confident that the Lord would direct. She let the reins loose, & the beast turned towards Richards. She then turned the beast back again, & let the reins of the bridle loose again. The beast turned & went towards Richards the 2d time & also the third time!
After meeting Issachar & B. returned to Malcoms. John tarries at Richards, & in the evening B. wrote a Copy of the letter from the Church, for Richard to take with him to Kentucky.
Believers appear evidently to gain strength from time to time. 4 [miles].
Meeting at R. McNemars. John Thompson preaches at L. Montforts.
June 4–5 [Thursday, June 5]. At about 7 in the morning William Davis son to E. of 15 opened his mind. After breakfast Easter opened her mind the second time with more Satisfactory plainness & freedom than ever, having for a long time been waiting for company, &c.
At about 10 B. went 1½ mile to Ben Howards, who at about 2 oclock P.M. opened his mind. From thence he went 1 mile to John Wallaces, who were not at home, & from thence ½ mile to S. Serring’s who were likewise not at home, & from thence 1 mile to Joseph Stouts, who still remain comfortable, & strong in faith. Staid here about an hour, & then return’d 1 mile to a School-house at the Station, where was a Society meeting, held previously by the Monfort family’s & some other opposers. B. stopt in here a little after sun-set. Their spirits felt much oppos’d. After staying about an hour & the meeting was about breaking up, he desired liberty to speak which was granted, though with reluctance. Some of them were so full of prejudice that they only watched for evil. Some of these found 2 words in the discourse, which they retorted at “Old Blood; & foundation” i.e. many are vainly looking back to the old blood that was shed 1800 years ago to cleanse them from all sin while they are yet a living in them, whereas living his very life, now in the present tense, is what is truly implied in the words “to be washed in his blood” &c. And, that those who have received of the outpourings of God’s spirit, are the first ones who are called to separate themselves from the world, & the course of it, in order that a foundation might be laid for Sinners to gather to. For what consistancy is there in saying to a sinner, sinner forsake your sins, &, come out from among the wicked, when we are yet living in our sins & join’d to the world? In time of their meeting H. Montfort lay sprawling on the floor in a sort of Jerking exercise, & speaking against being sav’d from sin by the law &c. (meaning us). Several were under the exercise of Jerking which were bitterly opposed, perticularly when B. began to speak & while speaking to some (Peggy S. & Dasha) were taken with them, & had not had that for a long time before. Some also who had faith had them. John Davis who yesterday was married to B. Sering, was last night taken with that in bed. After his engagements to her he was convicted of the works of the flesh, but on account of his promise, after many [intreauges] & intreatys he consented to marry, but previously said he testified he would have nothing to do with the flesh, but after they were married, they tried faithfully 2 hours before they could get him to bed, & then it was with his cloaths on, & soon after he took the Jerks!! Henry M. who had been for a long time under great conviction respecting the testimony, has on Monday before last, imediately after John T.’s Sermon at L. Montforts, thrown it all off & turned bitter. Several were at this meeting much satisfied & gather’d. Before B. began to speak they took John D. away to Jonathan D. contrary to his mind.
After meeting B. went home with Jonathan & Susannah Davis. About 12 or 14 of the believers were at this meeting & about the same number of oposers, & as many said & did nothing. At 11 went to bed. 4 [miles]….
June. 1–9 [Monday, June 9]. Early in the morning Malcom took the letter to the Post Office. B. & Issachar returned to Malcoms. At about noon We all met at D. Hills with chief of the believers, & about 150 Spectators. We first met in the house & spake to the people for near two hours. John spake first, Issachar next & then B., who also read some extracts from Doctor Lardners works, which were Heathen testimonies against the primitive Xtns, it being a complete resemblance to the speech & writings of Blasphemers in the present day.
After singing an hymn we went out & had an intermission of about an hour. At about 3 oclock we met together on a level spot of low ground in the edge of the woods, & the spectators closely surrounded us, some on their feet, some on the fence, some on the rising ground at a little distance off, & some on trees. We again all spake to the people, & so also did John Miller with some degree of tenderness, for so rough a man. After this we sung an hymn & kneeled together on the ground. After this Issachar sung 3 songs & most all the brethren laboured & perhaps nearly half of the sisters. It was a strange sight. We appeared like fools indeed, & were so as it was in the open air. Some mocked & railed; some Laughed, & others were very solemn. After this we again spake to the people, & by [illeg.] dismissed the assembly. Nevertheless many tarried on the ground here & there till near sun-set, hearing, conversing and opposing. At about Sun Sit we came to Malcoms, where in the evening a number of brethren met together, Sang an hymn, & kneeled. Issachar Sung 3 labouring songs, & a good degree of power was among them, particularly Anna W. who was exercised by a Sort of jerking back & forth here & there & everywhere, & also had for a few seconds twice or 3 times a gift of swift & regular turning. This is now the 2d time that we have Seen the gift of turning since we came to this country, & we had never heard of any such exercises in these parts before. Chloe also was much exercised in Jerking, in a manner different from what we had before seen perhaps for half an hour or more. She would continue to dart back & forth, straight across the room, like an Indian arrow, sometimes with incredible swiftness, & every time against the wall without receiving any hurt. Selah McNemar was also exercised in Jerking, both today & this evening. I Observe that were the testimony comes the Exercises that in some have been lost for a number of months, appeard to be renew’d both in the believer & in the opposer, in many instances. Chloe McD. had last Summer, fall & winter been most violently exercised in Jerking & Dancing, last 4–5 in the evening was exercised at Richards in barking. It both appeared & struck the sence of some present, that it was evidently Bow, Bow, i.e. “Every knee shall bow” &c. She continued in this exercise, & chased Selah (who at this time felt much opposed) out of doors, & round the field in the night time!
Calvin Morrell & his son Ross tarried at Malcoms, Calvin under peculiar buffetings &c., & B. went to Richards in company with S. Rollins, & Edy Dennis. At 12 or 1 went to bed. 5 [miles]….
June. 4–12 [Thursday, June 12]. Early in the morning we went half a mile to John Wallaces, where S. Sering came & freed his mind in relation to buffetings &c. John W. & Sarah also freed their minds. Afternoon we went 1 mile to B. Howards who also freed their minds [but] were last night over[taken] &c. &c. Here we staid about 2 hours, & returned to Jonathan Davis’s where we staid about an hour, & went from thence to James Bedells, where in the evening were met together by their own appointment about 30 brethren & Sisters, & about half as many Spectators, some opposed & some tender. We all spake some to the brethren, perticularly John. After this we sung an hymn, kneeled together, & then labour’d in the works of God. Issachar sung about 3 Songs before much power appeared, in the last of which Easter D. broke through in great confidence of rejoising giving glory to God for Salvation. Soon after her brother William also was exercised in dancing & continued in it 2 or 3 hours. After Issachar had sung 3 or 4 songs, Lydia Hill sung one song & the power appeared still increasing. Soon after Cornelius Campbell some to propper World’s songs, & not long after him Susan Kimball sung 3 or 4 more of the same stamp, & last of all Jane McNemar sung one in a more solemn Style. The scene through most, if not all of the singing, if we should judge from the sound, truly appear’d like the carnal Dances of the World, & could not but appear as such to all, except such as were Judges of the Spirit & power which attended it, or such as would but open their eyes to see that the carnal lover felt against it, for these were both very evident. Some who went in to the labours voluntarily by faith, received the power of God in outward opperations after they went forth. Some were involuntarily led into Dancing, & others were irresistibly Jerked into it, & these exercises would all be taken under the Singing, & continue after the Singing was over, for two or three hours. The exercises of Jerking, Bowing, walking, running, Dancing, &c. & there was one instance of one that was exercised in Dancing who also evidently began to sing a song, but after singing 10 or 12 notes stopt; but continued Dancing. It was P. Kimball.<
After the meeting was dismissed, which was about 12 oclock, a number who went towards the South after they had got about an hundred rods from the house, on a byway in the woods began their exercises anew, or rather had them increased in a wonderful manner, In Walking, Running, Jerking, leaping, Shouting, praising, falling down, Bowing, & Barking, testimonies & prophecies, turning, Running round, &c. &c. Those who were thus exercised in the woods were David Corey, Polly Kimball, & Chloe Mc Donald, & the manner was nearly as follows. Chloe was exercised in walking & Jerking as she went, round, before, behind & between a couple of wild horses that were there with opposers on them. And in a few minutes, would be in another place walking, Jerking, & bowing as she went, & every once in a while would be Jerked down to the ground, on her knees, with her head continually Jerking, as it were into the ground, & every Jerk accompanied with a propper bark like that of a Dog, except the first word of the Barking was [illeg.], & distinctly “Bow.” Thus, “Bow, wow, wow.” And after it had continued in this manner for some time The following words came out “Bow, wow, Unto me every knee shall bow, & every tongue shall confess their Sins to God; & bring their deed to the light.”
The exercises of Polly were some of them as follows. While rejoicing in the Spirit she pulled her shoes from off her feet & carelessly throw’d them by, crying “Moses was commanded to pull his shoes from off his feet because the place whereon he stood was holy ground, & round in a circle of (it might be) 30 feet circumference, in a sort of Dance, crying “This is holy ground. The Lord has made it holy with the presence! Glory to his holy name for Salvation.” And after dancing for some time in this manner she run swiftly to another place with the shout, & fell on the ground [crying] “he turneth it upside down.” Then up again & cryed, “The Lord-Jesus stretches forth his hands all day to disobedient & gainsaying people” having her hands & arms stretched out & her body flying around like a top. And soon after this again she runs leaping, dancing, & Shouting, & cryed saying Glory to God that I have lived to see this light. Shout all ye trees of the woods! Salvation is running down our streets like a river & Righteousness like an overflowing fountain! & the world knows it not! &c. &c. &c.
The exercises of David were walking, Jerking, Dancing, Shouting, leaping, & running. About 10 or 12 persons were present [beside] those who were exercised. The whole appearance of things was truly solemn, it being Moonlight, & in the woods, as well as in these ends of the earth. To see such visible manifestations of the latter day of glory was verily striking to the inmost soul!
After being about in hour & an half or 2 hours in the woods, they made out to return to the house, where they were again exercis’d for 1½ or 2 hours and Easter being now again with them. They were 4 in number, & their exercises the same as in the woods, or nearly except that they were now more generally exercised in turning round &c.
While these were thus exercised in the house Edy Dennis a respectable young woman from N. Jersey of 22 years opend her mind to B. out doors at about 2 oclock. Her Parents & friends are much opposed, though her father has a measure [of] concern about these things.
Between 3 & 4 oclock we went to Bed, & lay till about Sunrise, John having retired to Malcoms & Issachar to Samuel Kimballs. 2 [miles]….
5–20 [Friday, June 20]. At about 3 oclock in the afternoon we all went to James Bedells, but was near night before the brethren were all gathered though they had propper notice. Just so uneaqual are the people of this country in all their ways, when a meeting is appointed to begin at noon they frequently begin to come at 8 or 9 oclock A.M. & continue coming till 3 or 5 P.M.
We began meeting about 5 oclock firstly by John speaking, perticularly concerning the bands that many evidently appear to be bound with. Some to their farms, Some to their husbands & wives Some to their children, Some to the friendship & vain things of this world, &c. Secondly by Singing an hymn. And thirdly by Singing & labouring in the works of God, & kneeling together.
The exercises at this meeting were much as usial, except that a peculiar feeling of distress and anguish for a wicked & gainsaying world, appeard to attend some perticularly John [Hutchy] Ann Worley, Easter D. Selah McNemar & others. The first had a gift of howling like a dog, & the Second spake & cryed to gainsayers &c. for half or ¾ of an hour.
At this meeting it was singularly worthy of notice that members were irresistably Jerked into the Dance, perticularly Poly K. William & Easter D. & others. In the evening a few met at Richards, among whom were Calvin, Rhoda, & Ross Morrell. The latter labourd in the evening meeting, though not without some help. The 2 former still stand out, though it is fully according to their faith, & this serves rather to bring loss. After the meeting at about 12 oclock B. & Ross returnd to Malcoms, where also was John. 6 [miles].
Meeting at James Beedells. The weather very hot, So that many were as wet as water….
August. 3.27 [Wednesday, August 27, 1805; Shelby County, Kentucky]. In the morning about 8 one Michael Shaw a Methodist son in law to J. B. opened his mind having for about 3 months been looking for the body of Xt. In the evening about 20 people assembled to whom I spoke about ¾ of an hour with freedom & it was a time of power. Some were under exercises, some shaking, Jerking, & some dancing, & were very happy….
September. 1.9.1 [Monday, September 9, 1805]. Between 3 & 4 in the P.M. about 300 people assembled (according to appointment) at S. Banta’s barn [in Mercer County, Kentucky] to whom I spake near 3 hours. They were principly Presbyterians, Babtists &c., together with four of their preachers. The people were very civil, & attended to what was said, but their feelings in general appeared closed up, howbeit numbers saw and believed the truth or [would], & felt under serious impressions. In the evening about 20 persons met together at Henry Banta’s to whom I spake about an hour. 8 of these had opened their minds & the remainder were under much concern. A number got under exercise of Jerking, singing, dancing &c., perticularly Anna Bruner who had what is called singing in the breast. The first was a solemn song, & then She danced for some time. After this she partly Swoon’d away, & was put in a chair. She then again sung a solemn song, & after it a perfect labouring song in a manner as is now sung in the N. house at N. Lebanon & was very happy strengthening those that remained &c.
After these things & singing a few hymns, Henry B. also gave a feeling exhortation. Some of his words were that the Lord had answered the requests which they had been asking of him for 4 years (i.e. that he would open a way for them out of all sin, & send by whom he would send,) & yet now all was not right. We are such a great people that we must tell the Lord that we are afraid of going to man & that this is not right. He must work some other way. And here we are at work with a man as hard as we can. Depend upon it my brethren. As long as we remain in ourselves we are trusting a man, & so long we Shall never be sav’d from ourselves, & where God & Xt is we cannot come &c. &c.
At about 1 at night we returned to S. Banta’s in company with him & family….
October. 1.6 [Monday, October 6, 1805]. At noon the believers met at Malcoms [in Turtlecreek Township, Ohio]. John & Richard Spoke to the people, & after singing a few hymns & laboring, we had an intermission of about an hour. In the afternoon John & B. Spake to the people, a few hymns & labouring Songs were Sung & the people dismissed. The number of believers at this meeting was perhaps the most that had yet been together at a time in these parts, amounting to about 35 brethren or more [and] as many Sisters. The Spectators were about 20 in number (having not come so numerous since the Stand was burnt) & behaved very civil, & some of them under serious impressions.
After labouring, a number were exercised in dancing, & Jerking & turning perticularly, Chloe McD., Abigail Woodruff & Easter D. In the evening the brethren met at James Beedles….
November, 4.6 [Thursday, November 6, 1805]. In the forenoon we went to Frances Montforts [in Shelby County, Kentucky] who is much opposed to the testimony, but his wife Charity (a sensible Dutch woman) has a measure of faith, having had light before the common professors for many years & stood as a sort of ensign, meeting with much opposition. About 4 P.M. we returned to John Banta’s, where in the evening Sally M., daughter to the above came & opened her mind. One thing she kept back & this in a few minutes became such a torment that she was constrained to open it. As soon as this was done she was taken with a moderate Jerking, & from this to singing & dancing for about half an hour out of doors. In this exercise she fell down & lay but strait on her back for about half an hour, part of the time singing a solemn labouring song, & part of the time in Speaking, Jerking, clapping hands, &c. As the evening air was cool they brought her in & lay her on the bed, where she continued in the same exercises for some time, & then arose & was Suddenly taken on the floor, & again exercised in dancing, &c. Polly, wife of John B., also opened her mind to John about the same time….
November. 6.8 [Saturday, November 8]. In the forenoon we went 3 miles N.W. to Michael Shaw’s, who on account of his faith has lately [been] cast out of the Methodist Society. His wife Betsy has also lately opened her mind to him, & both appear stedfast to go on.
When we came in the house we found Michael in bed with sore eyes, so distressing that he had not rested for a long time, but he soon got up & recovered more & more so that before night he went along with us to John Banta’s, being perfectly blind, & Such sore eyes are very common in this country, some even so distressing that their eyes run out of their heads.
In the evening a few in number met to whom B. & John spoke about an hour. After this we spent 2 or 3 hours in singing, during which time several were remarkably exercised, perticularly Sally Montfort, who was for spells of 15 or 20 minutes each, exercised with propper dancing, & some of it after singing. While thus dancing She frequently fell down & lay Straight on her back by spells, from half an hour, to an hour each; in which time She would sing solemn Songs, more distinct, & slow than those while dancing, & very Solemn, & part of the time while laying thus, She would speak thus “O the glory, it is the way, it is the way. O the views of heaven!” & some of the time she would clap her hands, & also play the tune with her hands on her breast, & Sometimes on the floor. Her exercises continued near or quite 4 hours, & were enough (if possible) to convict a nation. Polly Banta Johns wife was also exercised in dancing, & several with the Jerks, more or less, perticularly John Banta, Michael S., Betsy S. Anna B. &c. Peter M. of Miami present. The meeting lasted till about 12. 6 [miles].
November, 7.9 [Sunday, November 9]. Early in the morning it rained, & Anna more perticularly opened her mind to B. The rain prevented us from going away which appeared providentially, for as it stopt & we were for Starting, Charity M. came about 10 A.M. with the Jerks & in trouble & opened her mind to B. She said She received the Jerks to be a compelling power from God. About 11 we went 1¼ miles to Henry B.’s & from thence returned to Johns, where immediately Rachel more perticularly opened her mind to B. & also Polly to John.
At about 1 P.M. we Set out to return for Danvill, & rode 21 miles S.E. to Butlers, 4 miles S. of Frankfort. 24 [miles]….
November. 3.12 [Wednesday, November 12; Mercer County, Kentucky]. In the morning we found our horses much abused. Johns had both his Ears cut off, but the right more than the left. The main & tail was all cut off, & the flesh of the tail cut & gashed with a knife & also 2 long gashes cut in the off side of the neck.
The right Ear of B.’s was cut off. The tail & mane close very basely, & the tail cut & gashed in a very cruel manner. S. B. took the stone off the bed & laid it aside. His barn doors & gates were also found open & some of the cattle in upon the corn, &c. &c.
In the evening those who profess faith & a few who are frindly met at Samuels, about 10 in all, to whom B. & John spoke a little while, though not with much freedom, except John spoke with a measure of freedom. After this we kneeled together by Johns request, & then sung several hymns. Henry got very comfortable, & his sister Anna was exercised in Jerking, Singing & dancing….
December. 5.5 [Friday, December 5]. Early in the morning we Set out & rode 16 miles to Deerfield, still having bad roads most of the way, & also some rain. From Deerfield, 7 miles Still N.W. to Malcom Worleys [in Turtlecreek Township, Ohio] where we came about 2 P.M. having been gone 8 weeks & 2 days, & have had the most remarkable comfortable weather near all the time. Last Satterday a letter was received from N. Lebanon that stated that Issachar arrived there on October 17, which from September 26 (inclusive) is but 22 days. The brethren here state that on 2.10.21. William Green & Diana Campbell went off together & the same night went into the flesh, as they had done before. It appear’d they were both constrained to confess this before they went away. Parcels, a Methodist at Salem, also a lately left his family & went off with Polly Davis a young woman who had been very forward in the revival, & had had a measure of faith but was not obedient to it.
Last 1.11.3. John Thompson preached at the Stand at Turtlecreek meeting house & Elder David together with near or quite all the believers attended. He was very dead & lifeless, though he tried very hard to raise something.
Richard also preached, when some of the people were gone, from let us play the man for our people, &c.
Last 4.4 Chyle & Derley two preachers from Cumberland (Stones associates doubtless) preached at Old Beedles (at Bedells Station) where Elder David & a number of the believers attended again. They spoke solid truth & a number of the believers were under much power & operation. Their speaking with power, & operation. Their speaking with power, appear’d evidently owing to the believers, so long as they did not fight against the testimony. But in the evening the case was altered. They held something at Lawrence Montforts & Derley openly testified & preached against the Shaking Quakers from “Let them alone they be blind leaders” & they had not the least power or life in speaking. Richard & Jane Malcom & Peggy were there & a few more of the believers. After they had done McNemar spoke with a strong testimony against the flesh &c., & great glorying took place in consequence of it in face of the flesh, & great confusion continued for a long time. One speaking in this part of the house & another in that, & opposition & death increased in the two preachers, but the believers continue to increase in strength notwithstanding all their preaching & opposition. These preachers are going from place to place through the Miami country preaching opposition against the testimony with all their might.
Since 4.10.23 till 1.12.1, 9 have opened their mind (viz.) John Houston of Beulah to Daniel, the widow King, Garret & Isaac VanNess, Jane McClure the same also has had real convictions respecting the flesh before we came, Anna Boyd, & Sally Baker to Elder David, & Amos Vallentine to David, & Rebecca Hathaway of 15 to Solomon, of her own request. Susan Miller took a new start opened [her] mind [to] D. M. Also Sally Hutcheson to Solomon. Jane McClure & Anna Boyd, were the same day they opened their minds Jerked into the labours, also Sally Hutcheson.
Last Sabbath the believers met at Richards New house for the first time, & the visable power or opperations were great & extraordinary & spectators a considerable number. 23 [miles].
Cloudy with some rain but warm….
December. 5.12 [Friday, December 12]. All day a spirit of wickedness was very sensibly felt to be working. The feeling increased from morning till night perticularly in B. who told it to Issachar, &c. In the evening, the Believers met at James Bedells. About candle light B. spoke to the people after an hymn was sung, for about 15 minutes. I appear’d on our first coming together as if we should not be together more it may be half an hour, for the spirit of bloodshed was sensibly felt in the very air. This feeling was universal so that even some of the brethren went home lest something cruel should befall their families. But soon after we had been together a little while, the power of God fell upon the people, more & more to such a degree that the place was truly awful, & all fears were vanished, & the power of darkness fled. Heaps were throwd upon heaps by the power of God. 3, 4, & 5 one on the top of another. Exercises were various & numerous, Jerking in a manner calculated like a great wheel or roller, swiftly going in all directions of the house, & in all manner of forms calculated to make confusion. This was very general, very powerful & solemn. D. M. had a gift of war against the spirit of evil, & spoke a few words in unknown tongues. Rachal D. had also the same manner of a gift and spoke a few sentences in unknown tongues. This is the first time we have heard or seen this gift. Sarah Wallace had also the same gifts, except speaking in tongues. Numbers had gifts of songs, perticularly Polly Kimball, who first sung a solemn song, which turned into a perfect labouring song, after which the people laboured with great comfort. Her lips did not move, & she leaned backwards on some who held her. Numbers had gifts of falling & dancing, & many remarkable & solemn expressions came out of the mouths of many. It was truly awful to see the power & it was more great & extraordinary than any we had yet seen in this land. The meeting continued till near midnight. Every word which was spoken in a gift appeard to touch their hearts & bring on exercises, to such a degree that it was difficult to get out a full sentence, & be understood. After meeting the exercises of joy & dancing and many solemn expressions respecting the present display of Salvation & glory, took place in the woods which lasted about an hour, by a number on their way home. Some by reason of exercises had to return to the house. 2 [miles].
D. M., B. & Issachar & Solomon went to meeting. Cloudy most of the day but comfortable….
December, 2.16 [Tuesday, December 16]. In the forenoon B. & Issachar went 3 miles to Elijah Davis’s, & from thence to John Wallaces, & from thence Returned to Elijahs, when in the evening several familys of the believers met who understood that we were there. The number was 14 in all. We labord 4 or 5 songs & from thence, exercises began which lasted full 4 hours. Numbers were exercised in a sort of Jerking, singing, dancing, turning in abundance, running round, & almost all manner of signs with the most solemn expressions. The singing of P. Kimball was solemn and singular. While singing the tune which has been sung much in this country since the revival, to the words “Children of the heavenly being.” The sounds were He, he, he; He, he he, he, He, he he, he, Ho! &c. & after singing in this manner a long time she cryed out in extacy of joy My Jesus Christ has learn’t me to sing so, yea, yea, yea. These dumb devils. He himself, yea Jesus Christ, has learn’t me to sing without words! Yea, yea, yea.
She had many exercises while running in circles, having Cast her shoes off, sometimes backwards and sometimes forward.
Lydia Davis mentioned a dream of Widow Corey, before we came to this country, of seeing 3 men in old fashion dress who told her all things. She asked who formerly inhabited this country. The answer by them was “The Samaritans.” Lydias Interpretation to her was, “that these 3 men truly found the people of this county worshiping they knew not what.” When we first spoke at Turtle Creek meeting she verily thought that we were the very men she had seen in a dream, yet she stands out oppos’d. 4 [miles].
Source
Benjamin Seth Youngs, Journal, 1805, 127–128, 131–132, 133–135, 137–139, 140–141, 150, 202, 204–205, 223, 245–246, 248–249, 252–253, 272–275, 282–284, 286–288, ASC 859, Edward Deming Andrews Memorial Shaker Collection, 1747–1982, The Winterthur Library, Winterthur, Del.
