Presbyterian elder David Purviance penned one of the classic descriptions of the famed Cane Ridge sacrament. Equally significant is his assessment of the jerks. Later in the Great Revival, he explained, “the bodily exercise…seemed to change its manner of operation.” The falling and swooning observed at the Cane Ridge meetinghouse during the summer of 1801 “became not so common, and the jerks succeeded.” Click here for the full text of The Biography of Elder David Purviance (1848)
The great meeting at Caneridge commenced on Friday before the third Lord’s day of August, 1801. From the commencement the roads were literally crowded with wagons, carriages, horsemen, and people on foot; all pressing to the appointed place; till by the Sabbath day, the grove that was then open near Caneridge meeting-house, was filled with wagons, tents, and people. It was supposed that there were between twenty and thirty thousand people there. Elder Stone in his journal remarks “A particular description of this meeting would fill a large volume, and then the half would not be told,” Stone’s Biography pa. 38. For the sake of the present and future generations, I will attemt a faint discription.—
From the very commencement, an uncommon solemnity appeared to rest on the countenances of the people. not unfrequently several preachers would be speaking within the bounds of the encampment withont any interruption to each other. Wagons, stumps, and logs were used for stands. The preaching and exhortations, were interesting and impressive. Salvation free to all mankind, was proclaimed, and the willingness of Jesus, to save all that would come, was urged universally by the speakers. “The word of God was quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword;” many sinners were cut to the heart, and fell prostrate under an awful guilt and condemnation for sin. This was not confined to any one class. The moral, genteel and well raised: the giddy and profane, the wicked, the drunkard, and the infidel, the poor and also the rich, as well as the proud and vain, with all their gaudy attire, were brought down by the spirit of the ALMIGHTY, and they appeared to have forgotten every thing in this world in view of their souls eternal salvation.
I recollect having seen a small girl, not more than ten or eleven years of age, held up by a friend that stood in a wagon, while she invited sinners to the Savior All who heard her, seemed to be astonished at her eloquence and judgment manifested in inviting sinners to God, It appeared, that from the mouths of children, “God had ordained strength.” “He took the weak things of the world, to confound the mighty;” and by this means, the most stubborn sinners were brought to bow to the Savior. At this meeting, and in this revival, there was a most solemn and interesting spirit of prayer manifested. In the crowds, tents, and wagons, you could hear fervent prayer. I have gone from the camp-ground into the woods, and it was difficult to get away from prayer; for more than a half mile, I could see people on their knees before God in humble prayer.
This was not a sectarian meeting, although it was held at a Presbyterian meeting house. Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians were simultaneously engaged. Perfect friendship, unanimity, and brotherly kindness prevailed. They had come together, to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and “Zion was terrible as an army with banners.” The meeting lasted six days–the last sermon that was delivered on the occasion, was by a Methodist preacher, by the name of Samuel Hitt. It is known only to God, how many were converted at this meeting. There were no means, by which, even to ascertain how many professed religion. The object of the meeting was not to build up any sect or party; but to bring sinners to the Savior. When the meeting was over, the people returned to their homes and friends.—
There were many there from Ohio, and some from Tennessee, and the excitement spread with the people, and the young converts joined the churches of their choice; and the good work of reformation went on with irresistible force, and appeared like carrying every thing before it. Many were fully persuaded that the glorious millennial day had commenced, and that the world would soon become the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. But alas! That enemy of God and man, sectarianism, raised its hydra head, and “made war upon the saints of the most High God and overcame them,” and the fair prospects of Zion were in some degree blasted. A cruel jealousy began to show itself among the leaders—some concluded that the spoils were not equally divided; others, that their craft was in danger. This engendered a disposition to draw off from each other, and the mighty army became weak by division, which always has a bad effect. If the preachers had continued in the spirit of the reformation, and all let fall their sectarian names, and united in one tremendous phalanx against sin and all unrighteousness, it is my humble opinion, that before this time, infidelity would have been driven from the world. Notwithstanding the pride and selfishness of little minded men, raised a barrier in the way of the work, and in some degree, obstructed it; yet, where the people continued humble and devoted to God, the good cause advanced, and sinners were converted to the Christian religion. But the bodily exercise (as it was called) seemed to change its manner of operation. The falling exercise became not so common, and the jerks succeeded.—
These (if possible) were harder to account for than the former, and it is impossible for me, fully, to describe them. The first I saw affected with them, were very pious, exemplary persons. Their heads would jerk back suddenly, frequently causing them to give a yelp, or make some other involuntary noise. After this, nearly all classes became subject to them. The intelligent and the ignorant; the strong, athletic man, and weak, effeminate persons were handled alike by them.—
Sometimes the head would fly every way so quickly, that their features could not be recognized. I have seen their heads fly back and forward so quickly, that the hair of females would be made to crack like a carriage whip, but not very loud. A stranger looking on, would have supposed that they would be killed instantly. Some wicked persons have taken them, while ridiculing, them, and have been powerfully operated upon, by them; others have taken them while trying to mimic them, and had them in good earnest. One thing that appeared almost (if not entirely) miraculous was, that among the hundreds that I have seen have them, I never knew or heard of one, being hurt or injured by them, more than this, they have told me that when they strove against them, and made great exertions to keep from them, they sometimes, felt sore afterwards; otherwise, they never felt any subsequent inconvenience from them.
Source
Levi Purviance, The Biography of Elder David Purviance, with His Memoirs: Containing His Views on Baptism, the Divinity of Christ, and the Atonement (Dayton, Ohio: B. F. & G. W. Ells, 1848), 300–302.
