1802-1804, American Antiquarian Society, Autobiographies & Biographies, Methodists
“I made a pause, then exclaimed, at the top of my voice, ‘Do you leave off jerking, if you can.’ It was thought more than five hundred commenced jumping, shouting, and jerking. There was no more preaching that day….”
1802-1804, Presbyterians, University of Michigan
You have requested me to give you an account of those extraordinary exercises called the Jirks; with which request I now comply.
1802-1804, American Antiquarian Society, Anonymous/Unknown, Barking Exercise, Dancing Exercise, Magazines & Newspapers, Other/Unknown
“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….”