The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-11-15

| believers sat with their families, waiting for the
water to come up and float them off Many arch
es we're contrived with breathing holes in the top,
in which men might live, with the waters around
them until the danger had passed away. The time
fixed for the nund alton proved very dry season,
and the water proof contrivances were ruined by
a contiued drought And notwithstanding the
failure of this prediction, we find that Stofierus
did not lose his faith; for he then set the final
destruction of the world for the year 1886, and
died prophesying it.
Meanwhile, Martin Stifelius predicted the end
of the world to take place in 1884, giving the day
and the hour. He was in his pulpit, preaching on
the subject, when the time arrived, and his audi
ence was waiting the consummation OF all things,
when violent storm arose, and for a short time
he and his people were full in the belief that all
was over. The storm passed away-the sky was
serene-the day was delightful-and the preacher
was dragged from his desk and almost beaten to
death.
William Hackett, in 1890, predicted the destruc-
ton of England, and had not few followers
He claimed himself to be monarch of all Europe,
and his followers proclaimed him. He was hang
ed for sediton-an argument which is not now
used against error.
Walter Costello, in 1868, toretold the restora-
ton of Charles II, and the destruction of London
The first part of his prophecy being fulfilled, gave
him some credit as prophet The second part
it Is hardly necessary to say, is as yet unaccom-
plshed Thomas Venner, who hourished about
the same time, declared that earthly kings were
impostors; aud attempting with a crowd of his
followers to take actual possession Of the earth in
the name of the Lord, they were opposed by the
soldiery. They fought like tigers, believing
themselves invunerable, but were overpowered
bv numbers, and Venner, with twelve others, was
hanged.
There were several such prophets in France, in
the 18th century; but one of the most remark
able Of the seers OF that era, was John Mason, a
minister of Water Stratford, near Buckingham,
England Mason believed himself Elias, and
announced that Christ was shortly to appear on
earth and fix his throne at Stratford. An immense
concourse met at the time appointed, and with
fiddles and other musical instrumen with dane
ing and other tumultuous signs of rejoicing,
awaited the coronation. Poor Mason died in
1897, a full believer in the delusion that he had
frequent conversations with the Saviour, and that
his divine mission was confirmed
Winston, the mathematician was believer in
the immediate approach of the millennium, and
lived to see the failure of two predictions. Lord
Napier, the inventor of the logarithms, also pro-
phesied the end of the world; and outved Its
term as he had set it. Dr. Lloyd, Bishop of
Worcester, at ninety years of age, went to Queen
Anne, and prophesied that at the end of four years
the King of France would turn protestant, there
would be war of religion, and the papacy would
be destroyed
To come down to later time-176l-two
learned men arrived at Cologne, who conversed
with the Jesuis of that city in Latin, Greek,
Hebrew, and Chaldaic. They gave out that they
came from Damascus and were seven hundred
years old; and prophesied that Constantinople
would be destroyed in 1863, that the whole world
would be shaken by an earthquake in ITO, that
the sum- moon and stars would fall in l77l that the
world would be burnt in l772, and the general
judgment take place in IT'S.
In the year 1852, hermit frightened the inhab.
tants of Trieste into the belief that the destruc-
ton of that city was Immediately TO take place;
and so general was the faith in which his predic
ton was received, that the city was absolutely
deserted to escape the destruction. But the day
passed over without any calamity TO any one en-
cept the unlucky prophet for when his disciples
returned to resume their business, they found the
predictor of destruction had realized it in his own
person. He was hanged by the proper authorities.
Towards the close of the seventeenth century,
the whole court of France was thrown into terror,
and people who had never prayed before began
then, in the belief that the immediate destruction
of the world was at hand.
As the event did not verify their fears, and the
world continued to stand they made up for tenn
porary self denial by plunging anew into the
worst excesses. The reaction made them infinite
ly greater sinners than the were before.
We have quoted these facts-few, indeed,
among very many which might be adduced-to
remind the reader that this is "no thing under
the sun'' We are inclined to think that, with
the failure of this last-as fail it must for peoples
expectations can not be kept up forever-delusions
of this particular description will cease, and men
will no longer strive to be wise above what is writ
ten. Whether the end of the world occurs sooner
or later is of little individual consequence to any
one Of us; for death must happen at some time,
and is as likely to occur soon as late; and death
is an end of the world so far as he or she Is con-
cerned. We do not think OF preparing for that by
waiting in idleness-nor should any think to pre-
pare for the end of all things in any other way
than by continuance Of the performance of our
duties to our Maker, to our fellows and to our
selves.
Since we wrote the preceding, the following
eloquent passage from Mosheim, relative to the
state of the Christian world in the tenth century
"a period previous to those in which the instan.
ces we have quoted above occurred-has fallen un-
dor our