Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-02-24
Origin of Camp-Meetings.

eo~AA ONAeAkS sse~~S~"s0~'
Camp meetings originated among the Presbyte-
terians of Kentucky. The first camp meeting was
held near Goosberry river, in July 1900. The
ministers present were Messrs. McGready, VIM.
MCGEE and Mr.. Hoge. The author, whose Ian
guage quote, says: Camp meetings being once
introduced, the plan spread like wild-ire. The la
borer quilted mis- task, the youth forgot his pas
times the plough was left in the furrow, age
snatched his crutch, the deer enjoyed respite upon
the mountains business of all kinds was suspended
dwelling houses were deserted, whole neighbor-
hoods were emptied bold hunters and sober ma
irons, young men and maidens and little children
hocked 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 meetings 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 exercise There were
also, the jerking exercise, the rolling, the run
ming, the dancing and the barking exercises,
besides visions and frances At Cabin Creek
camp meeting May %, 1901, so many fell on the
third night that to prevent their being trodden on
they were laid out one side of the meeting floor,
like SO many corpses. At Broone Creek sacrament
two hundred fell; at Pleasant Point three hundred,
and at Cane Ridge three thousand, August 6, 1901.
1t is said that children, eight months old, were af
fected by these strange influences.
The first instance of the Jerking exercise was
at sacrament in East Tennessee. Persons would
be erked in all directions, and over whatever object
happened to be in the way. They were always
left to themselves, because the people said that to
oppose them would be to resist the influences of the
Spirit OF God. Sometimes those who had long
hair it is said had their heads erked so swiftly that
the hair snapped like the crack of whip 1t is
said that none were injured except those who re-
belled against the operation of the Spirit and re-
fused to comply with the injunctons it came to en-
force. Some who went to the meetings with whips
in their hands to fog Others had their whips erked
out of their hands.
In the rolling exercise they doubled up and
rolled over and orer, and it made no difference
whether there was mud or filth of any kind in the
way. In the running exercise they would run
over any obstacle and keep running till quite ex-
hausted.
In the dancing exercise a writer of that time
says they had the privilege Of exhibiting by bold
faith, what others were moved to by blind inl-
pulse. In other instances, a Mr.. Thompson
minister, commenced dancing after meeting, and
danced an hour and half; and said he, This is
the Holy Ghost! A girl danced for an hour in an
empty pew and others danced in so violent man.
ner that they could not be held by strong men,
The writer, whom quote says: One might be
tempted to think that the climax had already been
reached, but there was piece of extravaganza to
complete the degradation Of human nature The
banks frequently accompanied the Jerks, though
of later origin This exercise consisted of the in
divdual taking the position of dog, moving about
on all fours, growing, swapping his teeth, and bark
ing with such exactness Of imitation as to deceive
any one whose eyes were not directed to the spot.
All classes became affected by this degrading
mania, and the only method of securing relief was
to engage in the voluntary dance. 1t was supposed
to be inflicted as chastisement for remissness in
duty. Such as resisted the impulse and declined
the dancing continued to be tormented for months,
and even years. From being regarded as marks Of
guilt, the banks at last came to be regarded as
tokens of divine favor and badges of special honor
Ridiculous as it may seem to us at this distance
of time to hear such extraordinary sounds as bow,
WOW, WOW, interspersed with pious CALCULATIONS and
quotations of scripture, We are not at liberty to
doubt the truth Of the assertion that then the effect
Or at least one of the effects was to overawe the
wicked and excite the minds of the impious"
In the midst of these disorders, these preachers
who labored to direct the minds of the people to
true marks of grace were denounced as deistcal,
and thus their influence was greatly diminished.
Some of the results were, the people would be
singing half dozen hymns at the same time very
loud, with violent motions of the body. Some
times dozen would be praying at time, for they
said the Lord could hear even if they all spoke at
once. The preachers were often interrupted with
singing in the midst of their sermons. Whoops,
cries. hysterical laughter and the repetition of the
words Of the preacher, louder than he uttered
them, constituted a combination of annoyances to
which the waves of the sea, harrangued by the
Athenian orator, must have been a trihe
There are cases enough to show what state of
things existed in Kentucky in the beginning of this
century Our author asks, "Will it be easily ere
dited that in 1903 the females, fourteen to forty
years of age, got into the habit of hugging and
embracing every one in their vicinity, and that the
men, especially the preachers, came in for good
share Of their embraces!"
MOZART AND THE PopE.-In the year ITO,
when Mozart was in his fourteenth year, he
travelled with his father to Rome. It was then
that liberal and amiable Ganganelli filled the
pontifcial chair, who, having heard much of
the extraordinary youth whose fame had spread
over most parts of Europe, invited him to the
Quirinal Palace, where he had the honor to
perform privately. This was just before Easter.
In the course of the conversation the perform
ances of the Sistine Chapel we're alluded to,
particularly the celebrated Miserere for two
choirs, the masterpiece of Gregonio Allegri,
which is always sung there in the Holy Week.
The youthful Mozart, with all the naiuete of his
age. requested a copy from the Pope.
Gangenelli kindly replied: g If the music
were mine, would with all my heart crafty
your laudable curiosity; but being the property
of the Church, it is not at my disposal; by an
arrangement, for which am not responsible, it
has been forbidden to be copied under pain Of
This unsuccessful attempt did but strengthen
the wish of the youth. He obtained permission
to attend the only rehearsal which was given of
the music. The attention with which he lis
tened to it was intense. On quitting the chapel
he spoke not single word, but fastened home
and wrote down the notes. At the public per-
he brought his manuscript, which he
kept carefully concealed in his hat, and having
filled up some omissions, and corrected few
errors, in the inner parts, he had the satisfac-
ton to know that he possessed complete copy
Of the treasure thus jealousy guarded. The
next time he played before Gangenelli, he had
the courage to tell His Holiness what he had
and produced the manuscript.
The Pope was all amazement, but replied,
with smile: ssThe prohibition does not extend
to the memory, and I think that you may
escape the pain Of accommodation.