![Excerpt from the Journal of Noah Fidler (May 30, 1805)](https://blog.richmond.edu/jerkshistory/files/2017/08/Fidler1805-1080.jpg)
Excerpt from the Journal of Noah Fidler (May 30, 1805)
“Several took an exteordinry exercis of shaking there heaad and working there arms. How wonderful is the work of the Lord.”
“Several took an exteordinry exercis of shaking there heaad and working there arms. How wonderful is the work of the Lord.”
“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….”
“I suppose there are but few individuals in the United States, who have not at least heard of the unparalleled blaze of enthusiastic religion which burst forth in the western country about the year 1800…. It was under these circumstances that some found themselves unable by voluntary efforts to suppress the contraction of their muscles….”
“Brother Dougharty writes they serve God all manner of ways, jerking, dancing, etc.; yet the work goes on….”
You have requested me to give you an account of those extraordinary exercises called the Jirks; with which request I now comply.
“The jerking convert…is seized with violent fits of jerking, which generally brings him to the ground, where he lies as if labouring under a slight convulsive fit; and when the spasm seems to abate, the person immediately begins shouting and praising God for effecting his conversion….”