As the jerking phenomenon spread from east Tennessee into the Shenandoah Valley, ministers in the Lexington Presbytery took direct action to curb the unusual bodily convulsions and preserve order and decorum in their congregations. Gathering at the New Providence meetinghouse near Greenville, Virginia, a group of ministers and elders led by George Addison Baxter adopted the following resolution on November 6, 1804.
Presbytery took under consideration the subject of those extraordinary appearances which have of late taken place in our churches & agreed to the following resolutions Viz. 1st. that it be & is hereby enjoined on all the members of this Presbytery to prevent as far as may be in their power, all extraordinary bodily exercises which appear voluntary & ostentatious. 2d. That it be enjoined on the members of this body to recommend to the people either from the pulpit or otherwise as they may deem most proper, not to introduce improper songs or tunes into divine worship.
Source
Lexington Presbytery Minutes, vol. 4: 1800–1810, 151, microfilm, reel P279, Special Collections, William Smith Morton Library, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, Va.
