Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-29
Seventh.Day Adventists.

Un level grassy plat under the shadow Of
the great mill of Mr.. J. A. Patterson at
Waynesboro', and with the South river on one
side. the canal supplying the water-power of
the mill on another, and the prolongatiOn of
Main street of the town on another, is pitched
a large circular white tent with a center and
eve poles. Adjoining is a wall tent of mill
tary style. The first has its side-curtains and
around the center-pole set of splendid lamps.
On one side speakers desk and the ground
space occupied with plank seats which will
accommodate two hundred or more persons.
This tent is the movable tabernacle or sane
tuary of the Seventh-Day Adventists, reli-
gious sect. The small tent is the private
apartment of the officiating Elders.
After the failure of the predictions of Miller
that 1904 was to witness the second coming
of the Savior and the breaking up and scatter
ing of the adherents of the so-called Prophet,
a remnant of the host clinging to the belief
of the near approach of Christ. though they
could settle on no date which will fix the ex-
act time of his presence again on earth, is the
sect known as the Seventh Day Adventists.
Saturday is recognized as the sabbath day,
and hence the title "Seventh-Day Adven-
lists"
The governments of the churches are con-
ferences, and state lines adopted as boundaries
of them. The general conference organization
goes up from the states. The form of govern
ment is simple. being a President and Execu-
tive committee, which, commencing with
single congregation, goes up to the highest or
ganzation. The sustentation fund of the
church is based upon the tithing system and
conducted directed by Paul In LIST Corin-
thians Is chapter I'd verse. The amount OF the
fund thus raised in 1882 was eighty -four thou
sand dollars. The tenth of the tithables and
of funds derived from their institutions goes up
to its general conference. The elders and Off
GERS through the ramifications of the govern
ment are settled with upon the valuation of
services rendered and not by annual salary.
The Virginia conference which as yet only
extends to Frederick, Shenandoah, Page Fair
fax, Rockingham, and Clarke counties, was
formed about two years since by Elder ]. o.
Corliss of Michigan who is now in Australia
planting the church in that far-of country.
The Tabernacle set up on the banks of the
South river at Waynesboro is in charge of
Elders B. F. Purdham of Page and r. D. Hot
tel of Shenandoah county. They have their
services every night and have made some con-
verts TO their faith. The tent was pitcned
there about TIN ee weeks past. 1t will remain
one week longer when it will be removed and
form part of the grand encampment of the
church which takes place at Marksville, Page
county, in August. Previous to its present
location at Waynesbora', it was placed at Port
Republic. in Rockingham county.
The lecture last Sabbath night was by Elder
Hotel, and his subject was the Seven Seals
spoken of in Revelations. He had lengthy
Interpretation of each, commencing with the
earliest years of the church under the new
dispensation in the application, and coming
down to the present time. which is embraced
in the sixth seal. With the opening of the
seventh seal comes the cleansing of the sane
tuary by Christ. and then will come the end.
Elder Hotel announced that the lectures
during the evenings of the first part of this
week would treat of the United States in
Prophecy,