The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-14
MISCELLANY.
THE "JERKS."

ing some interesting articles on Pi-
oneer Life in Ohio. In the last one
which treats of camp-meetlngs,
and kindred matters-we fihd the
following account of the "Jerks,"
peculiar religious Exercise" which
was indulged in by the Newlights of
the early times:
The Jerks" which, so far as is
known, was confined TO that people
(Newlights). It's prevalence con-
tinued a few years only, and then
ceased, and 1 believe is not now seen
anywhere, though the Newligs still
maintain their Organization as dis
tinctive church.
l am able to give a correct des-
criptIon of the jirks from having
witnessed the phenomena many hun
dreds Of times. My parents, and
most of my relations, and our neigh
bors, were Newlights, which afford
ed me the opportunity of seeing the
exercise more or less during the
years Of my childhood and youth.
The inception of the attacks was for
the most part sudden and violent.
1t came ON both sexes; though be-
1ieve women were more frequently
its subjects than men. 1t was re-
garded as peculiar religious exer-
else, though instances were not want
ing where the irreligious, and even
profane persons were its subjects
1t was denominated "The Power of
God"
A careful description of the phe-
nomena attending the beginning,
course and decline of the attacks,
will convey general idea, though
one would require to witness meet
ing of the kind to fully comprehend
it. The attacks cBme on usually af-
ter the meeting got under progress,
and as the people began to feel the
inspiration of their spiritual songs,
somewhat as the Methodists do at
their revival meetings. One of the
phenomena attending it was the vi
lent swapping of the head forward.
Firm this the whole body became
spasmodically affected. Sometimes
the subject was thrown forwards and
backwards, the head describing the
segment of a half circle, coming
nearly in contact with the floor in
both directions. At other times the
person influenced would spring aloft
in the air in a succession of leaps OF
several minutes duration, shouting
with every breath, "glory!" "glory!"
'glory!" or some other expression of
extacy in the most thrilling voice.
In other instances the attacks as
sumed a milder form, and were char
acterized by perhaps gentle tap
ping of the heels, one or both, on
the floor, with an occasional snap or
jerk of the head, with subdued
CALCULATIONS of "glory!" ''power!"
and the like. Others were thrown
upon the floor in an unconscious
state, ,and apparently entirely breath
less. From two or three to dozen
or more at the same meeting, were
often simultaneously affected, and
thrown about in so violent manner
as to make it seem marvellous how
they could escape with sound limbs
and skulls. A stranger to the scene
would have conceived it impossible
that the matter could have ended
otherwise than with several broken
limbs and fractured skulls. / can
remember how I used to cry, when a
child, because | thought my mother
would be killed, for she was one of
the jerkers; but L never knew or
heard tell of any one being hurt, or
even complaining of being sore or
stiffened from the violence of the ex-
eacise. The saying that women's
hair sometimes cracked like a whip,
when jerking, was literally true
So violent and rapid was the head
thrown backwards and forwards,
sometimes, that it was hard to con-
ceive how the joints of the neck held
together. / have seen companies of
half a dozen, or more, of both sex
es, on horseback, when about to
leave religious meeting where
there had been a great ''outpouring
of the spirit" become attacked with
the Jerks, when their horses became
frightened, and ran away at firi-
Gus rate, scattering by the way hats,
bonnets, and, shawls, promiscuously,
while the riders hrd lost all control
of their steeds; but never knew of
any one being thrown, or hurt in
any manner.
Everywhere there are indications that
decrease in the wages of the working
classes is inevitable. 1t is hard to cut
down mans income at a time like the
present, but it is clear that the shrinkage
of values and the fall of gold must bring
down wages, however much we may re-
gret that result. The organs of capital
are, of course, pleased with this pros
pect, forgetting that high wages mean
the prosperity of trade, and that men
who with high wages can purchase