Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-02-14
The Jerks,

It seems this remarkable religions disease
is prevailing to such an extent in 10 Davies
county, Illinois, and is producing such excite
ment that committee have been raised 10 in
vestigate the maIady and have made report.
The Jerks" were introduced during pro
tr4lcted meeting in the township Of Cbeslea. in
that county. in the fall of 1860. The meeting
wa< under the management Of the Rev. Mr..
Will and wife; the woman having principal di
rrction The first person attacked was girl
of Fifteen of god chIracter and family, and
then other young women became affected
These victims supposed they were thus affect
ed by some other person, and that if such per-
son would come out and embrace religion the
Jerks would cease, and there were circulnstur-
ces that went to prove this.
Others thought the jerks were Cots mani
fesia.ions in answer TO prayer. Many young
won n were first affected during the proracied
meeting, and then married women and young
mon but no elderly person.
these cas- : have continued since the meeting.
Children bavr, in two cases been attacked but
re relieved by being kept from the meeting.
In mos every family that has attended upon
the meetings have the jerks prevailed, but in
none save those who have attended the meet
imgS The Jerks commence, in some cases, by
trembling, in others by hiccups, and in the par
nxysns the victims DO themselves bodily iuju-
~ and some act as if in an epcptic Gi; some
arc thrown down, and one case Of insanity bus
occurred. The repor. says:
As we have referred particularly to tie pro
iracted meeting which wus held last winter. it
may be proper to remark that tho religious
enthusiasm or zeal did no. abate but little if
any. for a long lime after the meeting ceased.
1t was generally supposed that as the busy
season came nn the religions zeal would SOME
what abItr the meeting DC less frequent and
tie icrkingS would cease. But that las not
proved to be the fact. Spring and summer
and ra'l have come and gone, aud winter las
again set IN and the affiicti,n continues.
Other protraclcd meetings have been held
by the same preacher, in which there has
been no appearance OF jerks, but in these
meetings the interest and excitement weTe less
iutens,
Bui Il few only nf those who arc afflicted with
/ this Jerking mania commenced during the pro
tracl,d meeting. hu, as the religious zeal con
tinucd for week and even months after the pro-
tractrd meeting c, 4. during which the
preacher in charge seemed to exercise an uuu-
sual control of the religious feelings and scnti-
mcnts Of the nrighborhood. the number Of jerks
cpntn rcd TO increase; us the former abated so
did the Latter
1t did not in all cases m ike its FIRST attack in
or ut IL getting, but ,on,c in one place and some
in another.
Nearly, il not all Of them are in tho best tam-
lies in the ncighborhouI; majority Of them
strictly moral. u few are otherwise.
/ Many OF tIem are unable 10 prrlnrm much
manual labor, yet have good appetite for lo"d
and do not 'Sc 0esh.
/ NJ some of the meetings, VIII u the feelings
of the people were highly wrought upon. it IS
said Il cy felt thrill pass through the congrc-
CATION resembling u shock o; electricity
| The Committee conclude their report as fol-
( lows:
"The,o rcma 'ns yet ono thing more connect
c,l with this unusual phenomena, which is
perhaps Of more consequence than all ihe
4 rest. We Sllude to the pla II manifestations
/ in some cases OF mental alteration Of mind
This may be thought by some to be deli
cate subject to mention but delicate aS il To-
we think truth and justice require it, In some
cases it is so manifest that we think we can
not be mistaken; and we are Of opinion this
view will hold good when applied 70 us as a
com nunity."