Mt8celIanD,

THE JERKING EXERCISE IN

 KENTUCKY.
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The history of Presbyterianism in Ken lucky, by the Rev. Mfr. Davidson has many curious chapters, instructive 10 the christ> ian philosopher. In the accounts of the great revivals of 1900, we have mention made of various bodily agitations, which we have not seen elsewhere so graphically described.

 Swoons and convulsive falling have not been withou, precedent. They have been recorded as occurring in the days of Wesley, Whiufeld, Edwards, the Tenants, and Blair, as we'll as at Camburslang and Kylelh, and examples are not infre4uent in the meeting of the Methodists and Cnmber. land Presby,erians, at the present day. But the phenomenon now 10 be described was something far more extraordinary, and al> together without precedent in Christian lands. ], was familiarly called The Jerks, and the first recorded instance of it's occurs renee was at a sacrament in East Tenesee, when several hundred of both sexes were seized with this strange and involuntary contortion. The subject was ins,antane> ously seized with spasmodic convulsions in every muscle, nerve and tendon. His head was jerked or thrown from side to side with such apidity that it was impossible to distinguish his visage, and the most lively fears were awakened lest he should dislocate his neck or dash out his brains+- His body partook of the same impulse and was hurried on by like jerks over every ob- stacle, fallen trunks of trees, or in church over pews and benches, apparently to the most imminent danger of being bruised and mangiei. It was useless to attempt to hold or restrain him, and the paroxysm was permitted gradually to exhaust itself. An additional motive for leaving him to him> self was the supers,icious no.ion that all attempt at restraint was restraining the Spirit of God.

 The first form in which these spasmodic contortions made their appearance vas that of simple jerking of the arms from the elbows downwaTds. The jerk vas very quick and sudden, and followed .: intervals. This was the simplest and most comm on form, but the conpulsive molion was moi confined to the arms, it sxtende in many instances to other parts of the body. When the joint of the neck was affected, the head was thrown backward and forward win a ceierity. frightful to behold, and which wal impossible to be initiated by persons who were not under the sarae siimulas. The bosom hsaved, the countenance was dis, gustingly distorted, and the spectators were alarmed lest the neck should he broken.- When the hair was long, it was shaken with such quickness. backward and forward as to crack and snap like the lash of . whip. Sometimes the muscles of the back were affected, and the patient was thrown down on the ground. when his contortions for some time Tesembled ihoss of live Ash cast ffom it's RauSe clement 01 the iana. The nest graphic dsscripsi0n ss-haSs is