The Van Buren press., 1875-05-18
THE MILLENNIUM FAILURE.
A Scene of Poignant Grief Among the
Chicago Adventlsts.
fChicago Tribune.l


While the pastor, Thurman, was speak.
ing, sobs and groans went up continually
from the assc,nhlaye. Many of the wo-
men were weeping bitterly. Most of the
little ones, wearied with the protracted
vigil, were asleep, lying on the shawls
and wrappings that had been placed in
the corner. The men looked wlstful and
sad, but it was not yet twelve, and some
hope still lay in the narrow circuit that
the minute hand Of the clock had yet to
traverse, A tall, gray haired man began
to speak in tones Of encouragement, and
expressing the love aud veneratoa which
they all cherished for Brorher Thurman
Thurman, who, in his desolation, still
k pit on by sheer inertia in the groove in
which he had moved along, announced
mechanically" And when they had sung
a hymn" thus indicating the time when
it was necessary to sing, in order to imi'
tate the last supper ofChrist. The hymn,
" Long we've been waiting for Christ to
come, was then sung in dolorous
way. The clock still lacked minute or
two of twelve, and it was watched as
criminal might watch tue approach Of his
hour of execution.
THE MINUTE HAND TOUCHED TWELVE,
and deep groan ran through the assem-
lily. The disappointment seemed to
strike into Thurman's heart far too deep
for tears. There was sclf-abasement in
his manner rs he arose, and in the same
monotonous intonation, but with trem.
ulous voice, said:
Brethren, lean on my arm no longer
My reckoning is all up, 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. Ii there is any
more light to be had, will search for it,
bid you farewell.
Then followed pitifu scene. Women
wrung their hands In bitter anguish ;
strong men buried their faces and wept
and groaned. The violent descent from
ecstatic joy to terrible disappointment
bruised and crushed their spirits. Thur
man sat still murmnring as IL dazcd and
stupefed with the greatness Of his ca
lamity The work OF his lifetime had
fallen to nothngness. The firm footing
Of his faith had suddenly slipped from
under him, and the horrors of darkness
cncompassed him. OF different caliber
from his followers, his grief could not
find vent in demonstration Of feeling, and
nothing assuaged the bitterness Of disap
pointmcnt Some of them tried to say
kind and comforting things to him, but
he seemed to heed nothing Still adhcr
ing to the programme as the fixed thing
that yet remained to him, he rose to
pronounce
THE BENBDICTIoN.
Continuing with a tremuous voice, he
said Oh Lord, we came according to
Thy word Hast Thou not said that "n
the time appointed the end shall bcy" 0
Holy Parent, hear the prayers of Thy
people. Come, o Lord Jesus, come
quickly. All will come to desolaton un.
less 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 81.
lence, while his followers went on groan.
ing and weeping, The Tribune repre-
sentative approached him, and, after
making some expression Of the respect
which Elder Thurman's conduct had ex
cited in him, asked the elder concerning z
his FUTURE PLANS
81 have none," said he; "my course
is run. "
Repor;er-Won't you continue the
publication of your paper2
Thurman (slowly and mournfully J.
There is nothing to publish it for; my
work is done. do not know what
shall do. where ] shall 90 1t was the
harmony of those dates that convinced
me that Jesus was the Christ, and now
do not know what to believe.