The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-02-28

er of the we'll known and greatly be-
loved founder of Ruggles Camp
grounds, the Rev. H. C. Northcott,
appointed to this circuit which in
cluded Mason, Bracken, Fleming and
Lewis.
In 1901 Bishop Asbury appointed
to the same circuit Benjamin or
Thomas Lakin.
So important was the work in this
locality regarded that in 1889 Asbury
and Whatcoat visited here in person,
Bishop Asbury had been appointed
Superintendent of America by John
Wesley in ITO.
He was the second Methodist
Bishop in America, Rev. Thomas Coke
being the first and Whatcoat the
third.
Bishop Asbury had spent winter
in Kent county, Delaware, during the
stirring times of the Revolution and
here as a child young Degman, had
met him and heard him preach in his
mothers home and in the homes OF
Judge White and other neighbors, so
when he met him in Mason county in
1889 1t was almost like meeting with
relative.
Asbury and Whatcoat had both par
ticipated in the organization of the
Methodist Episcopal Church at Balti-
more in 1884.
In 1900 and 1901 a most peculiar
wave Of religious ferver swept over
America especially Kentucky and
parts of Ohio, involving chiefly the
members of the Methodist and Pres
byterian churches.
The Rev. Benjamin Worthcott re-
ported that on several occasions, dur
ing the years immeditely preceding
the nationwide revival, his congresa-
tons in Fleming and Mason counties
had experienced some very strange
manifestations.
1t was, no doubt, due to his sin
cere and arduous labors, and Of some
other inspired workers that this wave
of of enthusiasm occurred.
The unusual phase Of this special
awakening was its accompaniment of
strange physical exercises, popularity
called "The jerks" as those affected
seemed to lose all control Of their
muscles.
These extravagant disorders were
first noticed at Concord, Bourbon
county, and in Fleming county. They
appeared on Cabin Creek in the
Great Camp Meeting" held there by
by "McNemar's congregation" In May
1901.
Rev. Richard McNamer, a member
of Washington Presbytery, was
Presbyterian minister whose home
was at or near the spot upon the
Lewis and Mason turnpike between
Rectoryille and Plumville since
known as the stephen Vantine
place." This was upon the Indian
road which ran from what Is now
Springdale to what is now Orange
burg and beyond to Central Kentucky.
McNemar's home was about a mile
south Of Kenton's Spring and the
lovely little valley between the two
points was an ideal spot for camp
meeting as was suggested to Rev. Nc
Nemar by that eccentric travelling
evangelist, Lorenzo Dow, who has
been called the Originator of Camp
meetings in America"
McNamer issued the call and in
May 1901 people flocked in by hun
dreds and even by thousands filling
the entire valley.
Rev. J. B. Finely, the Father of
Methodism in Ohio" was present and
described the scene as follows:
THE scene was awful beyond de-
scription, the ranges of tents the
fires rejecting light amidst the
branches Of the towering trees-hun-
dreds moving to and fro-praying,
singing and shouting, all heard from
different parts Of the ground-llke the
sound Of many rushing waters, was
enough to swallow up all the powers
Of contemplation, Such as tried to
leave the place to escape conviction,
we're frequently struck down upon the
way or were compelled to return.
Upon the third night, such numbers
fell. that to prevent their being trod-
den under foot, they were collected