Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1855-01-04
Peculiarities of Religious Excitements

We hear now and then OF the strange er-
fects which were produced upon persons and
whole communities, in olden times, BY re-
ligious excitement, and the peculiar pheno-
mena which marked periods ofrelgious fer
vor among a simple people. In a recent lee
ture before the Mercantile Library ASSo-
citation Of Boston, Rev. VIM. II. Milbun
gave a general description of the early
preachers Of the West, particularly of Ken
lucky, and made selection Of few char
acterS TO illustrate the prevailing traits OF
the whole. No part of the country has wit
messed such schisms in the churches, and
such Eild and tanatical delusions in connec-
tion with religious teaching, as the States
Kentucky and Tennessee. The statements
made by Rev. Mr.. Nlilburn, were doubtless
correct so far as they vent but the selection
of a few individuals as an index Of the gen
era character Of the Western preachers of
that time, gives a very incorrect idea OF the
actual facts:
S'me years since, during temporary
residence Of few months in the State OF
Kentucky, | Glanced TO have an opportunity
Of examining a historical work, which is
there acknowled as the best authority, and
in which noticed many Of the incidents de-
scribed in the lecture by Mr.. NJ, and in
which also are found many interesting state
mcnts with regard to that carly time, which
90 TO indicate that there was vast amount
Of inperiec,ion connected with many Of
those wi ose characters were delineated, un-
der the heading Of Saddle Bags" Some Of
the incidents of that day and region are
scarcely credible OH account OF the strange
perversion Of the human intellect which
they show. Tie churches were torn and
wasted for years by intestine teuds, and, in
consequence OF the dis<en>ions then existing
among the churches, infdelity prevailed
throughout that whole region. The writer
to whom have referred, says that 'rcar}y
half of the ministers of that period were at
one time and another subject to church CEN
sure for various faults"
Camp meetings originated among gthe Pres
byterians of Kentucky. The first camp
meeting was held near Coos scberry river in
July, 1900. The ministers present were
Messrs. McGready, VIM. McGee, and a
Mr.. Hoge. The author, whose language
quote, says: Camp meetings being once
introduced, the plan spread like wild,tir
The laborer quilted his task, the youth for
got his pastmes, tie p!ow was lett in the
iurrow, age snatched his cru,ch, the deer cn-
joyed respite upon the mountains, business
OF all kinds was suspended, dwelling houses
we're deserted, whole neighborhoodS were
cmptied, bold hunters and sober matrons.
young men and maidens and little children
ilocked to the common centre Of attraction:
every difficulty was encountered, every risk
ventured to be present at the camp meet
ing.
In connection with these camp meetings
great variety of strange exercises grew
up. Children, ten or twelve years OF age
were prominent actors. Under pnroxysms
Of feeling, persons fell down, and this was
called 1.-THE falling exercise" There were
also 1.-The jerking exercise" the rolling
the running" the dancing" and the bar
king exercises besides ''visions" and
"tranccs.' At Cabin Creek 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. At Boone
Creek Sacrament two hundred fell; at Pleas
ant Point three hundred, and at Cane Ridge
5000, August s, 1901. 1t is said that
children, eight months old, were affected bv
these strange influences.
The first instance Of the 'jerkiug exer,
else was at sacrament in Eas. Tennes
see. Persons would be erked in all drec,
tons, and over whatever object happened tc
be in the way. They were always LETT tc
themselves, because the people said that tc
oppose them would be TO resist the inluen.
ces of the Spirit OF God. Sometimes those
who had long hair, it is said had their head,
jrrkrd 50 swiftly rlat he hair snapped like
the crack Of whip. It is said none were
injured except those who rebelled agan>
the operation OF the Spirit and refused t,
comply with the njunctions it carna to en-
force. Some who wentto the meetings witt
whips in their hands to fog others, had theil
whips icrked om of their hands.
In the "rol!ing exercise" they doubled
up and rolled over and over; and II made II,
| difference whether there was mud or filtl
of any kind in the way. In the running
exercise" they would run over every obsta
Gle and keep running till quite exhausted.
In The "dancing exercise" a writer o
g that time says they had the privilege OF ex