“A new exercise broke out among us, called the ‘jerks,’ which was overwhelming in its effects upon the bodies and minds of the people.  No matter whether they were saints or sinners, they would be taken under a warm song or sermon, and seized with a convulsive jerking all over, which they could not by any possibility avoid, and the more they resisted, the more they jerked.  If they would not strive against it, and pray in good earnest, the jerking would usually abate.  I have seen more than five hundred persons jerking at one time in my large congregations.  Most usually persons taken with the jerks, to obtain relief, as they said, would rise up and dance.  Some would run, but could not get away.  Some would resist; on such the jerks were very severe.

“To see those proud young gentlemen and young ladies, dressed in their silks, jewelry, and prunella, from top to toe, take the jerks, would often excite my risibilities.  The first jerk or so you would see their fine bonnets, caps, and combs fly, and so sudden would be the jerking of the head that their long, loose hair would crack almost as loud as a wagoner’s whip.

“At one of my appointments, in 1804, there was a very large congregation turned out to hear the ‘Kentucky boy,’ as they called me.  Among the rest there were two very finely dressed, fashionable young ladies, attended by two brothers with loaded horsewhips.  Although the house was large, it was crowded.  The two young ladies, coming in late, took their seats near where I stood, and their two brothers stood in the door.  I was a little unwell, and I had a phial of peppermint in my pocket.  Before I commenced preaching I took out my phial and swallowed a little of the peppermint.  While I was preaching the congregation was melted into tears.  The two young gentlemen moved off to the yard fence, and both the young ladies took the jerks, and they were greatly mortified about it....

“As I dismissed the assembly, a man stepped up to me and warned me to be on my guard, for he had heard the two brothers swear they would horsewhip me when meeting was out for giving their sisters the jerks.  ‘Well,’ said I, ‘I’ll see to that.’

“I went out and said to the young men that I understood they intended to horsewhip me for giving their sisters the jerks.  One replied that he did.  I undertook to expostulate with him on the absurdity of the charge against me, but he swore I need not deny it, for he had seen me take out a phial in which I carried some truck that gave his sisters the jerks.  As quick as thought came into my mind how I would get clear of my whipping, and, jerking out the peppermint phial, said I, ’Yes; if I gave your sisters the jerks I’ll give them to you,’ In a moment I saw he was scared.  I moved toward him, he backed, I advanced, and he wheeled and ran, warning me not to come near him or he would kill me.  It raised the laugh on him, and I escaped my whipping....