New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-11
1.-THE JERKS" IN ILLINOIS.

Csrespopdenoe a The ~ T. Inbune -.
AVoc., H., March ., I6j&
Having noticed short article In your paper % Feb.
90 on the Jerks in this place, and thinking perhaps
Il would BE- Interesting 10 Of your readers ccn-
cluded to write you short account Of the phencmssen.
1t made its first appearance in this nsghborhoed q
protracted meeting held by the Mctbods,s q isd'an
Grove, about Nov. and continued To ncreass srsa-
ally Though not causing much excitement, anti Chrst-
mas when there was similar meeting commrsesd
here by the same Ministers at which broke oct With
redoublsd violence, and continued to lncfesse eAtl
there were ~ many ~ hundred persons scsIsd v,th
it in this vicinity The persons attacked are geserey
rather under medium capacity, from ten 20 tvesty
yesrs Of age, there being but few cases above the
latter age. II is impossible 10 give you partscnlH
description Of the manner Il Affects different pes-cns,
ss they are differently affected ~ there ere aess.
ent temperanebts, dispositions, muscles, &e- WbA
some are oay affected in the bead and mock, csassg
them 10 shake the head with amazing rapidly snd
violence others are only affected 10 muscles o. tbe
egs causing them 10 jump and dance IN The most NO
muscles ct the time, causing thsm 20 maize Me
most luaicrous and horrible oohiorrons Of WITCH the
human body 10 capable.
The scene IN the church was often suprsmsiy lodi
crous. Just imagine forty fy persons gong thrssrh
al the postuTes, ts-tings beDdngr sirk.afs,
kekipgs and other violent inctons Of vssh NE
human frame IL capable, togetber with cocss,onAl
barking and other unusual sounds, ssd you VII have
a faint idea u the scene exhibited here night atsr
DiSE: 49, .,.,.u.,o, A., MAD. a. .,o..,..,.
many imagined IL 10 be the direct operation Of he
Spirit Of God; others thought Il more animal exci:s-
uisnt; others sscribed Il 10 ths infassce u sn-nJ
narnetbm. From az careful obserystisn a. ] Am sbls
10 make, have come 10 the latter opinion j en-
certain IL Is affection over which the VII hes co.
tir. control from the fact that, person soeetsd
wishes " perform any particular act tsuch, sofs-
rtsrce, a. taking Q drink Of wstsr msf'su 20,
how Violently he may be jerking" AZ econ - the
vii directed 70 that object the musclss ere ooscsnt
a. H. tie arm becomes steady the drink IL taken, when
be "jeIkings' are instantly begun again. ADsfhsr
TACT show-t 10 still more obviously under The e!s;soi
Of the will. Some persons Of rather strotg VIII oeng
affected, resolved tina. they would quit u. see
perseverng effort Zoe few days were sess 70 81 me
entire command Of the muscles again, and ns.e No.
since been affected, though some OF them s1 - .
requires considerable s6ort Of the viil 70 pssss.
whea in the company OF those VINO As
These with other IessonsI coud name, po0Ss"y'
lead me 10 attribute il 70 tneemeTic muuense.
lam also Of opipa thst II 10 sympstaetcsiy osetA
o,on. =. .bs nbec,s are m.rs violently s6ectsd vhen
raj Of them are together At church, rnoei ny
other place, There iestances veil ssthentcessd,
where number IL the pups have been se.1>o vEue
Al school, In such manner o. 70 rave no oeuot eut
that Il vas directly comm unicsed isom oes 70
r1,bey No along was the oonsc tion Of the teacher
az, ri. va, m. case that be dismissed the scboei
xi,hout ceremony ana directed them b separsts -
oneLIv IA marble; and quick o. they separsted
lie sps,us b. gan ~ sbste, ana In abort tune they
Lar .nue of them ard have not since returned
The pbsn. mebon s gradually dying swsy, snd, ]
think, viii shortly be among the things that were.
have ust heard q the Of Of the fr.t per~oos
seized at lboian Grove who Is in rather dangerous
situation. She has spels which che loses iss power
of motion en1rey, and q unable 10 utter ~ofo or
move g muscle, tx ept 10 breathe, Tor tvensy'io9f
heuIs al time. D. L hs