The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-28
A Sad SceRe-The Chicago Adventtsts
ut Midnight Bitter DisappOint-

xnent.
From he Chicago Trlbune.I
While the pastor, Thurman, was speaking,
sebs aud groans went up continually from
the assemEiagc. Many Of the women were
weeping bitterly. Most of the little ones,
wearied with the pTotracted vigil, were
asleep, lsing on the ShawlS and Wrapplpgs
that had been placed in the corner. The
men locked wistfus and sad; but it was not
vet 70, and some hope still lay in the mar
row circuit that the. minute hand OF the
clock had yet to traverse. A tall, gray
haired man began to speak in tone
of announcement, and expressing the
! love and veneration which they all cherished
I.for Brother Thurman. Thurman, who, In
his desolatiou, still kept on by sheer inertia
in the groove in which he had moved along,
annourced mechanically, "And when they
had sung a hymn." thus indicating the time
when it was Necessary to sing, IN ORDER 10
initiate the last supper OF Christ. Inc hymn
+" Long we've been waiting for Christ 10
come" was then sung in dolorouS way.
I The clock still lacked minute or two OF
II. and it was watched is criminal might
watch the approach of the hour OF his exc.
cutiOp.
THE MINUTE-HAND TOUCHED TWELVE
and deep groau ran through the assembly.
The disappointment seemed to strike into
Thnrman's heart far too deep for tears.
There was ESTABLISHMENT in his manner As
he rose, and ia the same monOtonous lnlona-
ton. but With tremulouS voice, said:
"Brethren, lean on my arm no longer. NV
reckoning is all up. leave you in the hands
Of God. 1t is as much as / can do 10 struS.
Gle on for MYSELF. l will try to do the best
can. If there is any more light to be had,
| will search for it. l bid you farewell
Then followed ptiful scene. Women
wrung their bands in bitter anguish; strong
men buried their faces and wept anu
groaned. The violent descent from ecstatic
10y to terrible disappointment bruised ana
crushed their spirits. Thurman sat still and
murmuriDg as if dazed and Supplied with
tue greatness of bis calamity. The work Of
his lifetime had fallen to nothingncSs. The
firm footing Of bis faith had suddenly slip.
ped from under him, and the horrors OF
darkness encompasSed him. or different
calbre from his followers, his grief could
not find vent in demonstration OF feeling,
and nothing assuugcd the bitterness OF dis
appointment. Some Of them tried to say
kind and comforting things to him, but he
seemed to Iced nothing. Still adheriny to
| the programme as the fixed thing that yet
/
THE BESEDCTIoS.
Continuing in Il trembling voice, he said
! o Lord we came according 10 Thy Word.
| Hast Thou not said that :" in the time APP
pointed the end shall Ue?" . Holy Parent,
hear the prayers of Thy people. Come, .
Lord Jesus, come quickly. All will come to
Ccsolaton unleSS Thou return again. We
have taken Thy Word in all the simplicity OF
| little children. We have tried to do our
duty. . 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 1 perish"
lie then sat down again in moody silence
while his followers went on grooming and
weeping. The Tribune representative az
preached him, and after making some express
sions of the respect which Elder Thurman s
conduct had excited in him, asked the Elder
concerning
HIS FUTURE PLANS.
81 have none," said he; "my course is
run"
Reporter: Won't you continue the publ
cation of your paper?
Thurman slowly aad mournfully) :"There
is nothing to publish it for; my work is
done. l do not know what shall do, where
shall 20. 1t was the harmony Of those
dates that convinced me that Jesus was
the Christ, and now do not know what to
| believe"
T., Irrrc or SoIrn nv Nor TrS TpOS