The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-11

1t is of course difficult reverentIy to an
proach all parts of the religious creeds of those
who differ from us; but We owe it to "Sweet
Charity not to burlesque or caricature the re-
ligious opinions of good men and women, albeit
the natural man in almost any of our creeds
might find abundant opportunity for the exer-
else of the diaboical genius for trayesty. We
have hitherto limited that there we're in this
city a group of Adventists whose religious
creed is singular. They believe in s'layipg on
of hands," and in gifts of healing. They en-
ploy no physicians, but they believe in thaum-
aturgy. They seek to revive the "gifts'' with
which Christianity in action first endowed its
jealous apostles They believe that what pow
ers and gifts God bestowed on His early apos-
ties, He will bestow upon his later disciples.
They believe in the beautiful rites which the
Lord instituted before his crucifxion-notably
in that act bv which Jesus forever incarnated
that central truth of his kingdom-"He that is
greatest among you, let him be your servant"
Hence they practice as a rite that gracious act
of humility which John in the sacred biocra-
ply thus describes:
"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given
all things into his hands, and that he was come
from God and went to God, riseih from supper,
and lad aside his garments; and took towel,
and girded himself. After that he poureth
water into basin and began to wash the dis.
clples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel
wherewith be was girded::
So after he had
washed their feet, ard had taken his garments
and was set down again, he said unto them,
know We not what have done unto you? Ye
call me Master and God, and We say well: for
so am. If /, then, yo0r Lord and Master,
have washed your feet; We also ought to wash
one another's eet For have given you an
example, that ye should do as l have done to
you"
1t is in obedience to this command that the
Adventists at Wakefeld's Hall in this city
practice the rite of washing of feet.
But thu most peculiar characteristic of his
biblical Interpretation is seen when the Ad-
ventist comes to prophecy. The mysterious
words of Daniel and the;allegorical beasts and
elders OF the Revelator shine with significance
to the Adventist. We have had these propbe
cies more or less accurately translated from the
language OF allegory and ecstasy to that of
arithmetic; we have had ascension DAYS fixed
and certain The second coming OF the Lord
as the thief in the night has often been conf
IDENTIFY anticipated.
since, under the lead of Elder Thurman, a de-
voted disciple. fixed on a definite day for the
end of the world, but as the world did not see
fit to end at that time, he felt called upon tc
make more careful ms pectlon of his figures
and his principles of Interpretation. Having
done this. Elder Thurman discovered that he
had made mistake of one year in his reckon
ing Fortunately, that year was in our favor.
and in accordance with his Investigations he
guardedy informed his flock that the night for
the second coming of. the Savior would in all
probability prove to be the night of April 7tb,
| 1876.
Accordingly, quietly and unostentatiously,
the devout flock on Friday made ready for the
sacred event. Wakefield Hall, a little nook in
Central Block, was made ready for the occa.
sion. There is gallery-room for a few specta-
tors. The faithful occupied the main floor.
The visitor to the hall was cautiously shown