Smyrna times., 1867-10-30
MIS- CELLAN US.
" MILLERlTES.'

MOT6 Cnau twenty years ago CDe MlllerlCoS
fixed the time when they believed the wicked
reign in person upon this earth over all the
good. Some even went so far as to fix the
exact day and hour of His appearance some
erected tents upon the open plains, and pre-
pared robes which they deemed fitting to be
worn upon such an occasion. But the appoint
ed time passed. mistake had been made in
the calcuatlOnS-and another time, a few years
later, was announced. This, again, having
passed without any thing unusual tranSpiring
1867 was fixed as the year of the Second Ad-
vent of Christ Some looked for the event in
April, and then again in September. A great
deal of ridcule mas been cast upon this sect,
who are now generally known by the name of
Second Adventists." But the truth is, that,
while some Of them have fanatically fixed the
day and hour, most of them, without fixing the
date, merely expect the personal coming of
Christ soon. And, however mistaken they
may be in this and in other points of their
creed, it is certainly unclirlstlan and unwlse to
GurteSque their religious faith, or that of any
who are sincere. Rldicule will embitter the
feelings, but seldom convince of error.
In many sections Of the country the Adven-
tist have been holding camp meetings this
fall. We recently chanced to be in a place
where the session was continued nearly fort
night, and the tent was often crowded, num-
bers Of the towns people attending the meet
| lngs out of mere curiosity. For the same
reason we dropped in one evening about nine
o'clOck. There happened to be but a small at
tendance that night, and the tent was not half
tiled. There was no disorder apparent, unless
the lazy lOunglng Of some village youths on
the back seats could be called such. When
we entered the speaker was concluding dis
course, the design Of which was to prove that
the wicked would eventually be utterly destroy
! ed. On the conclusion of this sermon, another
Adventist briefly gave his reasons for believing
that the earth would be the place Of reward to
the good-and that the devil would be destroy
ed as well as other wicked beings. He stated
that he believed every word OF the Bible, but
that he understood it asst read-that the word
Immortality" occurred only five times in the
Bible, and in no instance did he consider that
it referred to the soul as immortal IN itself
that God had implanted in man a strong de
sire for life and dread of death; and that
eternal life was to be the reward of the good
and eternal death the punishment of the bad
He ended his remarks by an earnest appeal t
sinners to seek eternal life.
Thus much we individually learned of the
Adventists' creed in the course of halt an hour
4 They preach, however, many other peculia
points OF belief. and, we are told, are not al
ways so quiet and reasonable in their ways anC
words as in this particular instance. They
have attracted considerable attention in man!
localities, and not unfrequently strangely crazet
men follow in their path. While the camp
meeting was holding its session in the plac
above referred to, there appeared at one OF tn
village churches, on Sunday, a mlld-lOOklni
man, whose long, flowing hair attracted uni
versal attention. He sat quietly Throughout
the service, but at the Sabbath school, whicl
followed, he begged permission of the Super
| intpndpnt TO address the school. He said l
D had " revelation of love to those children
that he was Christ, and had been crucifed
Q and that the Advent people were dangerOu
/, and wrong. 1t was with some difficulty that h
! was prevented from carrying out his design
: and he assured the Superintendent that the 81
e would rest upon his own head. The next da
y he called at several private houses to warn tn
;: people of dangerous doctrines, and to declar
J, himself to be Christ -Harper's Weely.
THE BLOOM OF AoE.-A good woman neve
grows old. Years may pass over her head, bu
o if virtue and beneyolence dwell in her hear
=, she is as cheerful as when the spring time c
e life opened to her view. When we look upo
= good woman we never think of her age
c, She looks as charming as when the rose {
!, youth bloomed upon her cheek. That rose ha
lie not faded yet-it will never fade In he
family she is the light and delight. In he
neighborhood she is the friend and benefactol
he in the church, the devout and exemplar
to Christian. Oh, who does not respect and loV
of the woman who has passed her days in acts G
q kindness and mercy-whO has been the frien
id of God and man-whose whole life has been
IN scene of kindness and Ove-a devotion to trut
n and religion. We repeat, such a woman ca
nd never grow old. She will always be fresh an
re buoyant in spirits and active in humble deco
II of mercy and benevoence