Litchfield enquirer., 1857-07-30

vate-both in the church and out of it. Va r'ous opinions were expressed concerning it. some ascrlbing it to the devil, others to an op- poSite source {; some striving against it, others Gour'lng It as the power of God unto salvation. |: !n nahy cases its consequences were disastrous,
 preacher. who, in early life, was danc- lng-master, joined the conference. and when the jerks were at their height. was stationed on this circuit. He declared it was of the devil, and that he would preach it ont of inc Methodist Church. He commenced tbe work with great zeal and high expectations bnt before he had got once round, he took the jerks himself, CT rather they took him. When the fit began he would say, "Ah, yes Ol no p At every jerk he used his hands and arms, as if he was playing the violin One morning, being attacked as he was going to his appointment, he let go the brdle and the horse ran off till he was stopped by a gate. The rider, having dismounted in order to steady himself, laid hold of the palings of the fence, which, unfortunately gave way the lady of the house, coming to the door to see what was the matter, heightened his modification. At tempting to hide himself by running into the orchard, his strange movement as he ran fd- ding along, and the tail of his long gowu fly ing in the wind, attracted the attention of the hounds, the whole pack of which pursued him with hideous yells. Being afraid of dogs, he turned and went into the house by the back door, and, running up stairs, jumped into bed, where he lay till the fit was over. His proud heart would not submit, and the disease-as he termed it-growing worse and worse he gave up the circuit, and withdrew into retire. ment, where his sun went down under cloud. Poor man loved him.
 Usually the subjects of this strange affection were happy when they had it, and happy when it passed off, and it did them no harm. The wise ones of the day, such as William M'Ken- dree and Thomas Wilkinson, said little about it, but preached, exhorted and prayed as if it was not in the country.
 At the close of the year I attended camp meeting at Carters station, where about ten thousand people assembled. Here a contro- ans and Methedists, the former saying, among other bitter things that the latter were hypo- critics, and could refrain from shouting if they would. They the aristocracy, we the poor. On Monday morning preached, preceded by the venerable Vanpelt, who left the congrega. tion calmly and silently weeping. I arose
  thing, and undertook to account for the jerks. The preachers looked frightened, and the au- dience astonished. l viewed it as a judgment of God. Taking compendous view of the nations, I showed that God was just, as we'll as merciful, and his judgments though long de- layed, sure to come. adverted to the wick edness of the people, enlargiug on their intoer- ance and bigotry, charging that middle Ten nessee had gone as far as any part of the Uni ted States in those particulars. glanced at the rise of Methodism and the prosecutions it had endured, and quoted the taunting language of its enemies, " Ye are hypocrites, and can cease shouting if you will" After pause, I exclaimed at the top of my voice; "Do you leave off jerking if you will" It was estima. ted that instantly more than five hundred per sons commenced jumping, shouting, and jerk ing There was no more preaching that day. From Me Autobiography of Rec. Jacob Young.