The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-11-20
The Event Believed By Many to Be
Near at Hand.
The extraordinary and Unparalleled
Phenomenon of the Falling
stars, Etc.
IChicago Inter-Ocean.l

vet il Is an event of great significance In re-
fisious circles. OF late years all the organ
lied movements to spread the belief in the
visible and near second coming OF Christ
have been OF sectarian character, but the
late conference was composed OF prominent
clergymen and laymen belonging TO various
orthodox Observation-Disclosures distinguished
for pure lives and good works, and some OIL
them for high learning. Episcopalisns,
Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Con-
gregationalists, and others were pIeseh 1a
This diversity of UNCONVENTIONAL representa-
ton shows the wide range OF the upspring-
ing belief, and what firm hold it is taking
upon the churches
Although the telegraphic reports gave
very irregular account of what was said and
done some of the conclusions arrived at have
been laid before the public. The most ma
terial of these is, that the second coming OF
Christ will be in bodily form, not mere re-
penerative influence, as some have main
tanned; and that the coming will precede,
not follow the millennium. Another point
of argument is that the conversion OF the
whole world to Christianity will not ante
date the appearance of our Savior again, as
many persons have predicted, but that the
Scriptures indicate, on the contrary, that
mankind will grow wickeder and wiokeder
and that this worse condition is one OF the
signs given by Christ himself TO mark the
approach of His coming, as, Tor example,
so shall also the coming OF the Son OF Man
be-" Every reader OF the Bible knows how
desperately wicked we're the days just before
the flood, and this extremity OF slnfulness
seems 10 be gwen as asymbOl of the deprayed
state of the race anterior TO the coming OF
our Lord. While the conference does not
attempt 70 fix any date as that OF the pre-
dicted coming the duty of watchfulness is
strongly inculcated as made peculiarly need
full by the signs of the times. The various
addresses, it is understood will be published
in book FORM for the purpose OF arousing at
tenhon and stimulating inquiry regarding
the momentOus question discussed.
Severa! sects of the Adventists have for
years been making the second coming of
Christ their central doctrine. Some OF these
have reached a very large and widely dis
tributsd membership. At recent revival
meetings they have gained Thousands OF con-
verts. Ii may be interesting to point out, In
brief some OF the positions held by many OF
the adventists. For this purpose we quote
part Of the oath chapter of Matthew, as fol-
lows:
% Immediately after the tribulation fthose
days shall the sun be darkened, aud the moon
shall not give her light and the stars shall fall
from heaven, and the powers OF the heavens
shall be shaken.
80. And then shall appear the sign Of the Son
OF Man in heaven; and then shall the tribes OF
the earth move, anG they shall see the Son of
Man coming in the clouds OF heaven Win
power and great glory.
trumpet, and they shall gather together His
elect nom the four winds, from one end OF
81. Now learn parable from the hg tree;
when his branch is yet tender, and putteth
forth leaves, then We know that summer Is
81. So likewise ye, when we shall see all these
things, know that 1t is near, even at your
doors,
shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.
Ali the signs here noted are taken, not as
fguratiye but as literal and astronomical.
IL is claimed that the tribuiation mentioned
refers to the dispersion and suferings of the
Jews exiled into all nations, and to the per
secution of the followers of Christ. 1t is
further claimed that the liberation OF the
Jews and amelioration OF their condition,
with general recognition of the rights of con-
science began to take practical national
form in the principal countries OF Europe
about the year 1880 and that this enlIghten-
ed policy has been gaining in strength ever
since. In other words, the tribulation spoken
of eliminated and passed its climax at that
period of time. Here, then, was 70 be ex-
pected the occurrence of the first sign. This
occurrence is found in the preternatural
darkening of the sun on May 10, 1850, which
began about o'clock in the morning and
continued through the day. 1t was not due
TO an eclipse, for the moon was nearly at the
atmosphere for the stars were seen. Such
was the darkness that work was suspended
in the iield and shoD; beasts and fowls re-
tired 70 their rest, and houses were
illuminated at dinner time. On the
following night the moon, which had
fulled on the 18th, did not give her
light. Says the Rev. Mr.. Tenny, an eye
witness: Il could not help conceiving at
the time that if every luminous body in the
universe had been shrouded in impenetrable
darkness, or struck out of existence, the
darkness could not have been more com.
plete. A sheet of white paper held within a
few inches of the eyes was equally invisible
with the blacklist velvet" These two events
are claimed TO be the ones which fulfill the
prophecy of Christ.
In reply to the objection that these dark
enings sre not the only ones recorded IN
history, il is said that they were to take
place Immediately after the tribulation;"
properly related in time, and hence are the
only ones predicted.
1t is claimed that the extraordinary and
UNPARALLELED phenomenon OF the falling stars
on the morning of November ID, 1888, full.
fills the third sign specified. OF this occa-
sion Professor Olmstead said that il was "the
greatest display of celestial fireworks that
has ever been seen since the creation of the
world or, at least, within the annals covered
by the pages of history"
In answer to the objection that these were
meteors, not stars, 1t is said that il the great
planets or the fixed stars were to fall TO the
earth, ''as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs
when she is shaken by mighty wind" our
earth would be utterly destroyed, and no one
would be left alive to see the other signs pre-
dicted, and to know that Christ's coming
was near; hence, that il some such occasion
as that noted does not answer to our Savior's
prophecy, it never can be fulfilled.
tIn alanlrr r.f
the powers OF the heavens is the next event
to take place Some are looking for this oc
currence IN the extraordinary position which
the four great planets-Jupiter, Neptune
Saturn, and Uranus-will soon hold in rela
ton TO the earth and TO the sun, with the
likelihood of powerfully disturbing infiu
ences upon our planetary system.
The genera ion" in which all these signs
were 10 be fulfilled is taken to mean a period
of time dating from the darkening Of the sur