1810-1815, Christians/Disciples of Christ, Dancing Exercise, Diaries & Journals, Falling Exercise, Laughing Exercise, Other Bodily Exercises & General References, Union Presbyterian Seminary
“[T]he subjects of this work receive no damage or injury whatever, and the most of them are exceedingly happy when they are thus exercised…. One may ask…, can they not be happy in religion and have the jirks?”
1816-1860, American Antiquarian Society, Books, Essays & Treatises, Other Bodily Exercises & General References, Presbyterians
“In those remarkable bodily affections, called the jerks, which appeared in religious meetings some years ago, the nervous irregularity was commonly produced by the sight of other persons thus affected; and if in some instances without the sight, yet by having the imagination strongly impressed by hearing of such things….”
1900-Present, Dancing Exercise, Dreams, Trances & Visions, Falling Exercise, Magazines & Newspapers, Other Bodily Exercises & General References, Presbyterians
“I am sure she will never forget the ‘Holy Roller’ meetings she attended while here…. In their meetings they shout, dance, jerk, roll on the floor, jump wildly, or lie in a trance as if dead. These, they claim, are different ways of showing that the ‘power’ is on them….”