Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-04-29

Disappointed Adventists.
The Tribune gives mournful &C.
count OF the collapse of the Adventist
folly in Chicago on the night of the
10Th, which day was set by their FL
der Thurman for the second coming
of Christ and the ascension to glory
of those who were ready for his APP
pearing, which possesses a melancholy
interest for those who like to scan the
records of human weakness.
Monday evening the faithful assem-
bled themselves in Svea Hall, in the
third story of room, corner of Wells
and Superior street, North side, about
$50 in all, large number of children
being included, some of them babes
at the breast. A substantial supper
was partaken of, the ceremony OF feet
washing after the example of Christ,
pertinent passages Of scripture read,
remarks made, hymns sung, DC. Ell
der Thurman said he had studied the
prophecies for years and had been
more and more confirmed in the con-
viction that this was the time appoint
ed when the end should come, and
if this night passed he was unable to
see how mortal man could ever find
out the time. We give couple of
extracts from the Tribune, showing
the exstatic expectations cherishedand
the bitter disappointment manifested
when it was found the prophecies had
been misinterpreted:
The thunder storm which came up
early in the evening, and which
brought such dismsy to many who
were secretly perturbed, carried the
assemblage to an ecstatic pitch of
feeling. They eagerly peered through
the windows, and became jubilant as
the storm swept along and the light
nings flashed. Their JOY waxed in
tense and confident as, after the first
overshadowing of the gathering
clouds, a peculiar yellow radiance
was diffused through the air, and lit
up the earth, even while the rain
poured down in sheets. This con-
firmed their faith, inasmuch as it
seemed that night was not to prevail il,
in accordance with the texts:
The Lord my God shall come y = and it
shall come to pass in that day that the light
shall not be clear nor dark, but it shall be one
day, which shall be known to the Lord, not
day nor night; but it shall come to pass that
at evening-tlme it shall be Ight-Zach
xiv, ST.
For as the lightning con7etb out of the east
and shineth even unto the west, so shall also
the coming of the Son of Man be.-Matthew
xiv, 81.
The seemingly literal fulfllment of
these texts, filed the Adventists with
ineffable JOY.
The minute hand touched twelve,
and deep groan ran shrough the as
sembly. The disappointment seemed
to strike into Elder Thurman's heart
far too deep for tears. There was
establishment in his manner az he
rose, and in the same monotonous in
tonation, but with tremulous voice,
said:
Brethren, lean on my arm no longer. Ny
reckoning is all up. l leave you in the hands
of God 1t is as much as can do to struggle
on for myself. will try to do the best can.
If there is any more light to be had, | will
search for it. / bid you farewell.
Then followed pitiful scene. Wo-
men wrung their hands in bitter an,
guish strong men buried their faces
and wept and groaned. The violent
descent from ecstatic JOY to terrible
disappointment bruised and crushed
their spirits. Thurman sat still and
murmuring as if dazed and stupefied
with the greatness of his calamity.
The work of his lifetime had fallen to
nolhingness. The firm footing of his
faith had suddenly slipped from under
him, and the horrors of darkness en-
comprised him. OF different callibre
from his followers, his grief could not
find vent in demonstration of feeling,
and nothing assuaged the bitterness Of
disappointment. Some of them tried
to say kind and comforting things to
him, but he seemed to heed nothing.
Still adhering to the programme as the
fixed thing that yet remained to him.
be rose topronounce the benediction.
Continuing with tremulous voice, he
said:
Oh, Lord, we came, according to Thy word
Hast Thou not said that "In the time appoints
ed the end shall be ?" Oh Holy Parent, hear
the prayers of Thy people. Come, o, Lord
| Jesus, come quickly. All win come to desola
ton. unless Thou return again. We have
taken Thy word, in all the simplicity of little
| children. We have tried to do our duty. O.
Jesus Thou knowest our hearts, that we have
tried TO do Thy will. We can do no more
| We give ourselves into Thy hands, saying
Lord, save, or perish.
He then sat down again in moody
silence, while his followers went on
grooming and weeping. The scenes
attendant upon the break up Of the
meeting battle description. They wept
and fell on one another's necks. Many
of them did not know where to go oil
what to do, as they had relinquished
their lodgings, and given away their
furniture and everything. In the ex
tremity of their distress, their afec
tons still chung to Thurman. The
men all came to him and gave him the
kiss of peace, according to their fash
ion. One of them pressed him tc
come and stay with him. Thurman
said, sadly, Il don't feel like seeing
ANYBODY now; wish I could sink int
my grave" The women gathered