Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-02
EVENING STAR,
From the Missouri Republican, December PSI


Origin Of Camp Meetings 2eligious Ex.
travagances at them in Tennesseee-rhe
Falling Exercise The Jerking Exercise
The Barking Exercise, &c.-Extravagancss
Of the Females.
We hear now and then of the strange
effects which were produced upon per-
sons and whole communities in oideu
times by religious excitement, and the
peculiar phenomena which marked pc
RODS of religious fervor among simple
people. In q recent lecture before the
Mercantile Library Association of Boston,
Rev. VIM. Ii. Mllburn gave a general de-
scription of the early preachers of the
West, particularly Of Kentucky, and
made selection Of q few characters to
illustrate the prevailing traits Of the
whole. No part of the country has wit
messed such schisms in the churches, ard
such wild and fanatical deIusions in con
nection with religious teaching, as the
states of Kentucky and Tennessee. The
statements made by Rev. Mr.. MiIburn
were doubtless correct, so far as they
went but the selection of few ind-
viduals as an index of the general char
acter of the western preachers of that
time, gives very incorrect idea Of the
actual facts:
Some years since, during temporary
residence of few months in the state G:
Kentucky, / chanced to have an oppcr-
tunity of examining a historical work
which is their acknowledged as the best
authority, and in which | noticed many
of the incidents described in the lecture
by Mr.. NJ, and in which also are found
many interesting statements with regard
to that early time, which go to Indicate
| that there was vast amount of iEnper-
fiction connected with many of those
| whose characters were delineated under
the heading of "Saddle Bags" Some
of the incidents of that day and region
arc scarcely credible On account of the
strange preversion of the human intellect
which they show. The churches wer.
torn and wasted for years by intestine
feuds, and, in consequence of the dissen-
sions then existing among the churches,
infidelity prevailed throughout that whole
region. The writer to whom have re-
ferred says that "nearly half of the min
listers of that period were at one time and
| another subject to church censure for
various faults.
Camp meetings originated among the
Presbyterians of Kentucky. The frs:
| camp meeting was held near Gooseberry
river, in July. 1900. The ministers
| present were Messrs. McGready, Viii.
liam McGee, and Mr.. Hoge The
author, whose language l quote, says
Camp meetings being once intro.
duced, the plan spread like wild fire.
The laborer quilted his task. the youth
forgot his pastimeS, the plough was lef.
in the furrow, age snatched his crutch.
the deer enjoyed respite upon the noun.
tains, business of all kinds was suspen.
ded, dwelling houses were deserted
whole neighborhoods were emptied, bold
hunters and sober matrons, young men
and maidsns and little children tlocked
to the common centre of attraction
every difficulty was encountered, every
risk ventured to be present at the camp
meeting"
In connection with these camp meet
ings a great variety of strange exercises
grew up. Children, ten or twelve years
of age, were prominent actors. Under
paroxysms of feeling, persons fell down
and this was called "the falling exer
cise." There were also "the jerking ex
ercise," the rolling" the tanning,
the 4" dancing" and the barking exer
cises - besides ''viSions" and q frances.
At Cabin Greek camp meeting, May %
1901, so many fell on the third night
that, to prevent their being trod on, they
were laid out on one side of the meeting
house floor, like SO many corpses. A
Boone Greek sacrament two hundred
fell; at Pleasant Point three hundred
and at Cane Ridge three thousand, Au
gust e, 1901. 1t is said that children
eight months old, were affected by thes,
strange influences.
The first influence Of the jerking eX
ercise" was at sacrament at East Ten
nessec. Persons would be jerked in al
directions, and over whatever object hap
pened to be in the way. They were al
ways left to themselves, because tn,
people sdlu tudt W oppose lutu Woulu W
to resist the influences of the Spirit o
God. Sometimes those who had long
hair, it is said, that their heads jerked 81
swiftly, that the hair snapped like th'
crack of whip. 1t is said that non,
were injured except those who rebelled
against the operation of the Spirit ant
refused to comply with the injunctions i
came to enforce. Some who went to tn,
meetings with whips in their hands te
fog others, had their whips jerked cut o
their hands.
| In the "rolling exercise" they double,
/ up and rolled over and over; and i
made no difference whether there wa
mud or filth of any kind in the way. Ii
the running exercise" they would rul
over every obstacle and keep running til
quite exhausted.
/ In the "dancing exercise" writer G
that time says they had the privilege G
exhibiting, by bold faith, what other
| were movad tn hv n hind inpulca 7,