Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-05-13
Second AdventistS Disap-
pointed.

AOSHi a. NAoS NiAJ' "a PNNeAbS AhoO
before midnight Christ would ap-
pear in person. AS various indi.
Viduals have at different times de-
luded numbers of followers with
their Interpretation of prophecies,
and have endeavored to stake the
truth Of all Scripture on their per-
sonal calculations of the time of
Christ's appearance, this, like the
great Miller delusion, is full of in
structiOn and warning.
Elder Thurman, the leader
with about $50 of his followers,
men, women and children, assem-
bled in an upper room, on Monday
afternoon. The hall was i'll the
third story, and was large, we'll
lighted apartment. Long tables
were arranged so as to enclose a
square, aud on these substantial
supper was spread At the head
of the hall, to the east, was sort
of rustic canopy, arranged with
evergreens and other sorts of foil.
age, which was there when they
secured the hal. Beneath this
and raised upon dais so as to ell.
evate him above the rest, sat Ell
der Thurman. The sexes were di.
vided, the men sitting to the left
and the women to the tight of Ell
der Thurman. In the square in
closed by the tables were the ba-
sins, ewers, and towels used 10 the
ceremony OF washing, which
was one Of the first ceremonies
reformed, and in which Elder
Thurman proceeded TO follow the
example of the Saviour in wash
ing the disciples feet and wiping
them with the towel with which
he was girded. In like manner
the others proceeded 10 wash one
another'S feet, going along in rota-
ton, each taking the person sit
ting next, the women keeping to
themselves. There were sume
nine or ten basins, SO that a num-
Der were washing atthe same time,
and the ceremony was not pro-
tracted. After some other pro.
csedings they partook of a hearty
meal. A thunderstorm occIr-
ing in the mean time, they seemed
TO regard it rs the precursor of the
oming of the Lord. But the even.
ing paesed on and depression be-
gan to verge upon them all, and
especially upon their leader, who,
according to the report in the
Tribune, said, near midnight:
Il confess that | begin to teel
sad, and my heart sinks within
me. have no time fixed at
which l expect to see the Lord eX-
cept midnight. But l did expect
that He would appear at Jerusa-
lem when it was four o'clock in the
afternoon here, and then | expect
ed the sign of the Son of Man. l
will not despair to the rising sun,
but how l can extend the prophet
ic dates longer than midnight, l
cannot see. 1t has been my study
for thirty-two years, and, again
and again, and yet again, have |
examined all the prophecies to see
whether there could be any mis-
take, but l could find none"
While he Was speaking, sobs and
groans went up continually from
the assemblago. Many of the wo.
men were weeping bitterly. Most
of the little ones, wearIed with the
protracted vigil, were asleep, ly-
ing on the shawls and wrappings
that had been placed in the cor
ner. The men looked wistful and
sad, but it was not yet II, and
some hope still remained. When
the minute hand touched twelve,
Thurman said, with a tremulous
voice:
Brethren, lean on my arm no
longer. My reckoning is all Up.
leave you 10 the hands of God.
1t is as much as eau do to strug-
gle on for myself. will try to do
the bes: | can. If tn re is any
more light to be had, l will search
for it. | bid you farewell"
Then followed a pitiful scene.
Women wrung their hands in Bit
ter anguish; strong men buried
their faces and wept and groaned
The violent descent from ecstatic
to terrible disappointment, bruised
and crushed their spirits. Thur
man sat still, and murmuring, as
if dazed and stupefed with the
greatness OF bis calamity.
And yet, after these repeated
exposures of the ignorance of those