TIP #235 - THE GREAT REVIVAL OF 1800 I am covering much information on the Baptist churches (and soon others) because so much of the history of our ancestors centered on the church. If we can understand how they lived and worshiped as well as where they lived and how many children they had; we will be able to have a better understanding of our own past. According to Spencer's History of Kentucky Baptists (1885), the great revival of 1800 was "one of the most wonderful events of modern times." He references the fact that a stranger passing by during this revival would see and hear some unusual things - earnest prayers in the groves (they were normally held outside), songs of praise to God.... it swept the country out to the Great West, but it was most deep and powerful in Kentucky. But - it didn't start with the Baptist church! It instead began with the Presbyterians in Logan County where James McGREADY was pastor of Presbyterian churches at Red River, Muddy River and Gasper River - and it went back to 1796. There were no Baptist churches in this area that early except one lonely church at Severns Valley, forty miles south of Louisville. The rest of the state was all Presbyterian. McGREADY's congregations were already stirred by his powerful preaching and there were many conversions. During 1797, the Baptists began two churches at the Head of Muddy River, a few miles from Russellville and at Hazle Creek, near Greenville. The enthusiasm continued to grow and in July of 1798, the Gasper River Church was greatly stirred. James BALCH, who was a Presbyterian minister, came into the area and visited McGREADY'S congregations. After a "calming" time, it broke loose again in July 1799 to such an extent that people fell from their seats and lay helpless on the floor. This was soon called the "falling exercise" which was soon seen among many Presbyterians and Methodists of the day. The fire spread into Tennessee and among other denominations. The Presbyterians and Methodists "communed together" during this time. In June 1800, there was a "sacramental meeting" at McGREADY'S church on Red River. John McGEE, a Methodist minister was preaching. It was reported that many people were seen prostrate on the floor, crying for redemption. It was decided to hold a Camp Meeting the next month near the Gasper River Church. It was reported to have been the first camp meeting known. A huge crowd of people came - no tents or cabins - the people simply slept in their wagons or under blankets. The ministers were James McGREADY, William HODGE and William McGEE - all Presbyterians. Services ran around the clock day after day. A few weeks later, another camp meeting was held at Muddy River - soon spreading over the Green River country, middle and east Tennessee. Soon the Presbyterian Camp meetings became known as the General Camp Meetings because it was joined by the Methodists with the Baptists declining. By the spring of 1801, Barton W. STONE, pastor of Concord and Cane Ridge Presbyterian Churches up in northern KY had heard of this great revival that was sweeping the southern part of the state. He decided to attend one of the meetings and by the time he returned home, he had decided to introduce the teachings and styles among his own congregations. There were 6 meetings held between May and August of that year, each lasting from 4-7 days - at Cabin Creek, Concord, Pleasant Point, Indian Creek and Cane Ridge in Kentucky and Eagle Creek in Adams Co. OH. A description of the services normally sounded like this: "solemn chanting of hymns swelling and falling on the night wind; impassioned exhortations; earnest prayers, sobs, shrieks or shouts, bursting from persons under intense agitation of mind; sudden spasms which seized upon scores and unexpectedly dashed them to the ground ..." " ... the mysterious agency of God - the fervent and sanguine temper of some of the preachers; and lastly, the boiling zeal of the Methodists, who could not refrain from shouting aloud during sermon, and shaking hands all around afterward, in what ... was called "a singing ectasy"..." "The Falling Exrcise was supplemented in turn by the Jerks, Rolling, Running, Dancing and Barking exercises, and finally, by visions and dreams." Spencer noted that within four months of its beginning, the revival had spread over a wide and thinly populated area. It was found in Nashville, TN, and in Logan, Woodford and Carrol Counties in Kentucky. Records are found of meetings near Flemingsburg, KY in April 1800; Indian Creek in Harrison Co in July 1800; and it just kept spreading! THE FALLING EXERCISE: This was found in the early preaching days of WHITFIELD, WESLEY and others. The first recorded event of this during the great revival was under the ministry of M'GREADY & M'Gee in 1799 and it rapidly spread all over Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. "Some fell suddenly, as if struck by lightning, while others were seized with a universal tremor the moment before, and fell shrieking. Piercing shrieks were uttered by many ... intermingled with groans, cries for mercy and exclamations of 'Glory! Glory to God!". There was no complaint of pain, but of great weakness, during and after the paroxysms. Women would fall while walking to and from the meeting-house, engaged in narrating past experiences, or drop from their horses on the road. In this condition the subject would lie fifteen minutes to two or three hours.... eyes rolled wildly. Some were capable of conversing, others were not." THE JERKING EXERCISE: Commonly called the "jerks". Spencer stated that the first experience with this was seen in east Tennessee during a sacrament. Several hundred people were seized, of both sexes, at the same time. In this the subject "was instantaneously seized with spasms or convulsions in every muscle, nerve and tendon. His head was jerked or thrown from side to side, with such rapidity, that it was impossible to distinguish his visage..." "It was useless to attempt to restrain or hold him, and the paroxysm was permitted to gradually exhaust itself." THE ROLLING EXERCISE: It consisted of "falling on the ground or floor, and rolling over like a log, very swiftly. Dust, mud or water formed no barrier to the movement. The subject continued to move in the same direction until the spasm exhausted itself. THE RUNNING EXERCISE: "The excited subject started with his nerves strung up to high tension, and ran with preternatural swiftness till his strength was entirely exhausted. He then fell down and lay till he recovered strength to get up and return to the place of worship or make his way home." THE DANCING EXERCISE: "The dancing was performed by a gentle and not ungraceful motion, to a lively tune, but with little variation of step." THE BARKING EXERCISE: Known as the "barks". "The exercise consisted in the individual taking the position of a dog, moving on all fours, growling, snapping the teeth, and barking, with such exact imitation as to deceive any one whose eyes were not directed to the spot." THE LAUGHING EXERCISE: "In audible expression, it was soft, gentle, and monotonous. It exhibited no indications of excitement, except that of gently enrapturing love." VISIONS AND TRANCES: "The visions were of various characters. Sometimes they exhibited to the entranced spirit, or dreamer, the dreadful doom of the lost, sometimes he was transported to Heaven, where he saw, and talked with, departed friends, and even received messages from them to the living." To be continued with different denominations that arose from the great revival of 1800. (c) Copyright 23 March1999, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved, sgorin@glasgow-ky.com TIP OF THE WEEK! Remember not to open any attachment with Happy.exe as the subject! Col Sandi Gorin 205 Clements,Glasgow, KY 42141 (502) 651-9114 PUBLISHING: http://members.delphi.com/gorin1/index.html SCKY: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/BarrenObits TIPS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Tips KYBIOS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Bios ARCHIVES: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl