The Portland daily press., 1885-04-29
MiIlerite Excitement.
A "Prophet' Who Is malkiug MANY Cen.
verts in PenObscot Connty.

Correspondence of the Boston Record Of Tuesday.)
During the last two OF three months there ha1
been revival Of the Millerite excitement In Corin-
na Newport, OrriDgton and other towns. A pro-
phet. named John Nickerson. has been lahorinR
here, and has made many converts to his eccentric
theories. Nickerson and his disciples make the
vision related in the seventh chapter Of Daniel the
basis of their belief. They declare that all the
things which Daniel saw in'his dream hare come to
pass except that described in the thirteenth verse;
the looming of the Son Of Man." He. they col.
emnly aver. is due tomorrow, and they are making
preparations accordingly.
went to one Of their meetings last night. Il waa
a weird scene. There were we're about 100 people
in a small room lighted by two kerosene lamps. On
the wall where all could 1t was large chart, on
which the allegory of Daniel was illustrated and
explained with realistic pictures and mathematical
demonstrations. The dragons, horned beasts and
impossible monsters, frolickiug this great map
in red yellow and green coloTs looked partly fero-
cious and partly fantastic in the dim light There
were the lien with eagles wings, and the bear
munching his ribs, and the other monstrosities
prancing In bright paint before the Ancien OF Days
with his throne OF flame and chariot Of fire.. It
spectacle well calculated to appeal to credu-
ity and superstition, and the application OF these
pictures to the tragic events In the career of the
world. by the prophet who was speaking was in
geniOus; but his addition, subtraction multiplica-
tion aud division, by which he made the world end
on the 29th OF April, 1885, was tedious, and not
very lucid.
Some OF the leading disciples, as well as the pro-
phet: took part in the meeting. and one or two
brethren, who agree in the substance Of the doc
trine, but differ slightly from the chief priest in
their arithmetic also lifted up their voices These
men are called by the others "opposers,s They
argue that the Judgment day should be postnonsd
till 1889. debate was kept up for an hour be-
tween the two sects, with seriousness and good
OF it. at any rate, they are 80 firmly convinced
that their solution of the problem is correct that
day The farners w5o have hsen dra an ~ 49,, -
craze, did not get out any wood last winter, and
have done no plowi9g this spring. Some Of them
be any more available than the stock, after next
wednesday. they do not say The female members
OF the congregation have been busy at making as
censicn.roDes, for several days.
One and the same kind Of a robe viii be put on
by all the men, women and children tomorrow
ton CLOTH which looks something like priests sur
plice, something like butchers frock, and most
it is gathered at the neck with a tape. The only
decoration Is a narrow white sash, which will b
loosely gathered about the waist.
The believers will not sleep tonight but will pasg
the hours in fasting and Contemplation At their
homes. Tomorrow morning at A O'Clock viii al
sembe at their tabernacle. put on their white robes
and sashes, and in unbroken and solemn silencs
q wait the Ancient of DAYS. $1,000
them. WV "
~ may" said he, "and 1t NAV sat. Thasnd nav
come before sunrise, or in the evening or Al noon
We cannot tell the hour, bus it will surely come al
some time tomorrow"
Ihe proceedings on the programme for touiRht
and tomorrow morning are no stranger than others
whicn nave Deen OF frequent occurrence here and
at other places during the winter When Elder
Niekerson has felt called upon to baptize convert
ne mas cut mole through the ice In some pond or
frigid water. ~ ~ NV
-, rs remarkable, but true, that all OF the bap-
M Ilz are slve, and have had their asceusion gowns
made. IL has not been an Unusual Spectacle 10 see
~ !no usSples kneel and pray on the street corners
loud ln iouu voices, SOM times they have gathered
gT.oups OF people around them in the open air.
Ihelr lavorlte mode Of seltdiscipline has been 70
craW through the streets their knees in the mud
anu siush. One woman crept half q mile In This
way singing and groaning alternately SLrangest
oA all one OF the believers declared last week that
nothing would mortfy his pride but to sink him in
sne ground like a fence post with nothing but his
mead out. he induced two Of his brethren 70 dig
circular hole Ia the ground and he jumped in and
orsied while they shoVeed the dirt around him up
70 ms neck. He remained in this position several
hourH.