The American patriot., 1855-03-07
origin OF Ca,np-rrectings.

VI OdNlHRsNACCNAA1SSSs
Camp meetings originated among the Pres
byteriaps Of Kentucky The first camp meet
ing was held near Goosberry river, in July 1900.
Fhe ministers present were Mcssrs. McGready,
VIM. McGrec and Mr. Hoge.A The author,
whose language quote says Scamp meet
ings being once introduced, the plan spread like
Wild-tire The laborer quilted his task, the
youth forgot his pastimes, 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 neighborhoods
were emptied, bold hunters and sober matrons,
young men and maidcns and little children
focked to the common centre of attraction;
every difficulty was encountered, every risk
/ {yeNtured, to be present at the camp meeting"
gfIn, connection with these, camp meetings 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 fall
ing exercise There were also the jerking
exercise the rolling the running, the dane
ing and tho barking exercises besides Wis
ions and frances At Cabin Greek camp
meeting, May %, 1901, so many fell on the
third night, that to prevent their being trodden
on they were laid out on one side of the meet
ing floor, like so many corpscs. At Broone
Greek 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 affected by
these strange influences. III
The first instance of the Jerking exercise
was ut sacrament in East Tennessee Per-
sons would be .jcrked in all directions, and
over whatever object happened to be in the
way. They were alwys left to themselves, be-
cause. 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 sad had their heads jerked so swiftly that
the hair snapped like the crack of whip 1t
is said that none were injured except those who
rebelled against the operation of the Spirit and
refused to comply with the injunctions it came
to enforce. Some who went to the meetings
with whips in their hands to fog others, had
their whips jerked out Of their hands.
In the rolling exercise, they doubled up
and rolled over and over, and it made no differ
cnce 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 exhausted.
In the dancing exercise writer Of that
time says they had the privilege Of exhibiting,
by bold faith, what others were moved to by
a blind impulse. In other instances, Mr.
Thompson, minister, commenced dancing
after meeting, and danced an hour and a half
and said he, This is the Holy COST A girl
danced for an hour in an empty pew, and
others danced in so violent manner that they
could not be held by strong men. i.
The writer, whom quote says One might
be tempted to think that the climax had already
been reached, but there was piece Of extra
vagance to complete the degradation of human
| rl,cS f,ou, t1x o1
the Jerks though of later origin. This cxer-
else consisted of the individual taking the
position of dog, moving about on all fours
growing, swapping his teeth. and barking with
such cxactness of imitation as to deceive any
one whose eyes were not directed to the
spot.
All classes became effected by this degrading
mania, and the only method of securing relief
was to engage in the voluntary dance. It was
supposed to be inflicted as a chastisement for
remissness in duty. Such as resisted the i'm
pulse and declined the dancing continued to
be tormented for months; and even years.
From being regarded as marks of guilt, the
barks 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, intersperscd with
pious CALCULATIONS and quotations Of scripture
We are not at liberty to doubt the truth of the
assertion that then the effect at least one ofthe
effects was to overawe the wicked and excite
the minds Of the impious."
In the midst of these disorders these preach
crs who labored to direct the minds of the
people to true marks of grace were denounced
as deistical, and thus their influence was great
ly 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. Sometimes dozen would be
praying at q time for they said the Lord could
hear if they all spoke at once. The preachers
were often interrupted with singing nthe midst
of their sermons. Whoops cries, hysterical
laughter and the repetition of the words Of
the preacher, even louder than he uttered them,
constituted combination of annoyances to
which the waves of the sea, hawangued by the
Athenian orator, must have been a trifle
!, 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 credited that in 1903 the females, four.
teen 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
) embraced"
CoMICAL-A gentleman, by the name OF
Man, residing near a private madhouse, met
: one of it's poor inha bitants, who had broken
from his keeper. The maniac suddenly stop.
ped, and resting upon large stick, exclaimed
"Who arc you, sir?"
II