Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-02-13
The Jerks.

ease" is prevailing to such an extent IN
Jo Davies county, Illinois, and is produ-
cling such an excitement that committee
has been raised to Investigate the malady
and have made a report.
The "jerks" were introduced during
protracted meeting in the township of
Chelsea, in that county, in the fall Of
1860. The meeting was under the man.
agement of the Rev. Mr.. Will and wife;
the woman having principal direction
The first person attacked was girl of tif-
teen, of good character and family, and
then other young women became affected.
These victims supposed they were thus af-
fected by some other person, and that If
such person would come out and embrace
religion the '.jerks" would cease, and there
were circumstances that went to prove
this.
Others thought the jerks were Gods
manifestations in answer to prayer. Many
Young women were first affected during
the protracted meeting, and then married
women and young men, but no elderly
person.
These cases have continued since the
meeting. Children have, in two cases
been attacked but were relieved by being
kept from the meeting. In almost every
family that has attended upon the meet
ings have the jerks prevailed, but in none
save those who have attended the meet
ings. The jerks commence in some cases
by trembling, in others by hiccougbs, and
in the paroxysms the victims do them
selves bodily injury, and some act as if in
an epileptic fit; some are thrown down,
and one case of insanity has occurred
The report says:
As we have referred particularly to the
protracted meeting which was held last
winter, it may be proper 10 remark that,
the religious enthusiasm or zeal did not
abate but little if any, for long time af-
ter the meeting ceased. It was generally
supposed that as the busy season came on
the religious zeal would somewhat abate,
the meeting be less frequent and the jerk
ings would cease. But that has not proved
to be the fact. Spring, summer and fall
have come and gone, and winter has gone,
and winter has again set in and the atiilc-
ton continues.
Other protracted 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
were less intense.
But few only of those who are affiict,
ed with this jerking mania commenced
during the protracted meeting, but as the
religious zeal continued for weeks and even
months after the protracted meeting closed
during which the preacher in charge seem
ed to exercise an unusual control of the
religious feelings and sentiments of the
neighborhood, thu number of jerks con
tipued to increase: as the former abated
so did the latter.
1t did not in all cases make its first at
tack in or at meeting, but some in ont
place and some in another.
Nearly, if not all of them are in the
: best families in the neighborhood; ma
iori,y of them strictly moral, few are
otherwise.
Many of them are unable to perform
much manual labor, yet have good appe
tite for food and do not lose flesh.
At some of the meetings, when the feel
ings of the people were highly wrough
upon, it is said they felt thrill pass thro
the congregation resembling shock
electricity.
The Committee conclude their report a
follows:
There remains yet one thing more con
, nectcd with this unusual phenomena
which is perhaps of more consequence tha
all the rest. We allude to the plain man
, ifestations in some cases of mental abe'
5 ration of mind. This may be thought b.
some to be delicate subject to mention
: but delicate as it is, we think truth an
Justice require it. In some cases it is S
manifest that we think we cannot be mi:
t taken; and we are Of opinion this vle'
t will hold good when applied to US as
n community.
Lad