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History of the Jerks: Bodily Exercises and the Great Revival (1803–1967)
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Letter from John King to Ashbel Green (May 4, 1802)

Letter from John King to Ashbel Green (May 4, 1802)

1802-1804, Correspondence, Falling Exercise, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Presbyterians

“I was lately informed by a neighbour of mine, just returned from the Miami country, where Mr. McNamaar is now settled (he lately moved from Kentucke) that at such meetings there, they who fall down are strongly convulsed, and so violently agitated, that it will require two or three to hold one of them….”

Letter from Gideon Blackburn to William W. Woodward (August 3, 1803)

Letter from Gideon Blackburn to William W. Woodward (August 3, 1803)

1802-1804, Correspondence, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Other Bodily Exercises & General References, Presbyterians

“On the first Sabbath, the day after my arrival, soon after I began to speak the [cries] agonies and distress of the convicted drew my attention. Their bodies had all the appearance of convulsions….”

Letter from Robert G. Wilson to William W. Woodward (October 24, 1803)

Letter from Robert G. Wilson to William W. Woodward (October 24, 1803)

1802-1804, Correspondence, Falling Exercise, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Presbyterians, Robert G. Wilson

“Two days ago I beheld for the first time…a subject of the very singular bodily exercise common among us…. He wept sore for a long time, & was frequently wrought for a short space as men are in a convulsion fit….”

Excerpts from the Missionary Journal of James H. Dickey (August 24–October 16, 1809)

Excerpts from the Missionary Journal of James H. Dickey (August 24–October 16, 1809)

1805-1809, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Presbyterians

“Preached to a mixed multitude of Seceders, Presbyterians, Baptists, & Methodists. One took the jirks, another old lady shouted. People in general were serious….”

Excerpt from a Letter from Thomas Cleland to Ashbel Green (August 23, 1812)

Excerpt from a Letter from Thomas Cleland to Ashbel Green (August 23, 1812)

1810-1815, Correspondence, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Other Bodily Exercises & General References, Presbyterians

“One young woman had what I would call the whirling exercise…. It far exceeded anything of the kind I ever saw. I was told that she had had the jirks nearly 3 years…. Afterwards I remonstrated with some of them and cautioned them.”

Letter from George Addison Baxter to Archibald Alexander (April 25, 1833)

Letter from George Addison Baxter to Archibald Alexander (April 25, 1833)

1816-1860, Correspondence, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Other Bodily Exercises & General References, Presbyterians, Uncategorized

“[T]he bodily exercise, and the disorders to which it gave rise were of unspeakable injury to the church in that day….”

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