Wichita eagle., 1889-11-10
END OF THE WORLD.

END OF THE WORLD.
The "Millerites," of Virginia, Located 1t
in October.
The "Millerites' have been at it again. In
deed there has scarcely been year since man
adv anced far enough to hope for or dread the
future that they have not in some part OF the
world been at it. Their first general sensa-
ton in the United States was in 1913, when
large congregation gathered on a bill in
southern Indiana to ascend together; and
their second in 1874, the plea having been
made that minute error had misled them
year. In the west there remained scattered
few, who finally concluded that the last day
and great judgment was to come in 1857.
"Millerite," by the way, must be carefully
distinguished from Second Adventist, though
many confound them. The Second Advent
Christianity and do not pretend to set the
date Of the second coming" though they
maintain that it is nearer than is generally
believed. A "Millerite' may be defined as
Second Adventist who has become fanatical
enough to believe that he knows the day, and
thsy are 80 named from Rev. William Miller,
who scared many thousands of people be-
tween 1885 and 1880 In 1S40 he was directing
the publication of the Signs of the Times,
and a little later Of the Advent Herald, Mid
night Cry and Millennial Harbinger. 1t is
impossible to convey to the present genera
ton of readers any fair conception Of the
awful reality with which he clothed bis ad-
dresses. A reporter of the period who at
tended his noted Second Advent camp meet
ing at East Kingston, New Hampshire, says:
Suspended from the front of the rude
pulpit were two broad sheets Of canvas, upon
one Of which was the figure of man with
head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly
Of brass, legs Of iron and feet of clay-the
dream Of Nebuchadnezzar. On the other
were depicted the wonders Of the Apocalyp-
tic vision: the beast, the dragon and the
scarlet woman, Oriental SMILES translated
into staring Yankee realities and exhibited
like the beasts Of travelling menagerie."
And this queer chart has been initiated or
parodied by all succeeding bands Of MILLER
ties" The latest form of it appeared in
Michigan two or three years ago. But the
men who organized the late ascension camp
meeting" in Virginia appear to have outdone
all their predecessors in grotesque folly. The
very name Of the place is suggestive, for they
met at Screamersviile, Va, to Ego up" on
some day between Oct. 5 and %. Dickens
sould not have invented better name. Here
is part of their address:
The forty fifth anniversary Of the going out Of
the church to meet the Lord in October, 1874, will
be observed by the Adventists Of Virginia from
Oct s to Oct % Qnclusive), 1889. This meeting
is called because the evidences from the prophetic
word warrant US in expecting our Lords return
at this time. The meeting win be held in Scream
ersville, Va, where the Virginia mission tent is
now pitched and will remain All our brethren
who are looking for the Lord and desire to meet
Nth Us are invited.
Any one wishing to help this meeting with
money (and 1t is needed, can correspond with A.
have grand meeting and believe 1t to be our last
before Jesus comes. Lord Jesus! help us to be
ready, Is our prayer.
A A CANADAY, HIRAM L. CRAWFORD,
WYATT A. CLARK, e. T. PENDLkToS,
R. G. Brown.
Like Father Miller they were disappointed,
but unlike him they did not rise grandly to
the occasion On the 18th Of March. 1874, he
closed his labors, stating that he had given
$500 lectures on the subject since 1882
little later he announced that failure to
allow for the error of the Roman calendar
had misled him, but his belief remained I'M
shaken that October would fetch it. "Breth-
rem" he said and wrote, ''the Lord will GER
tainiy leave the mercy seat on the 18th and
appear visibly on the ed" Once more the
SPEEDY Adventists" gave up secular bust
ness, but in the next issue Of The Advent
Herald the editor had to admit that the
promise of his valedictory in the preceding
one had failed And poor old Father Miller,
now shaking with palsy, but with his mag
nifcent voice strong as ever, cried aloud
in public places:
II am fixed-another and a near time is
set-and here mean to stand until God gives
me moro light, and that is today, today and
today until he comes"
People who have not made special study
OF the subject would be surprised to learn
how many 'last day" movements there have
been in the United States and Canada In
1885 John Nickerson, of Corinna, Me-, set
April 30 as the fnality and gained over 100
converts. They spent many weeks in most
fantastic methods Of driving out PRIDE"
''crucifying the flesh" and purifying them
selves generally. Some women crawled the
whole length Of the village through the mud
and slush. One man had himself buried to
the neck in the earth. Many paid old debts
which time had outlawed, and a country
editor, whose humor rose superior to the
terror OF the impending day, announced that
an 'old hake in - had paid up nine
years delinquent subscription, and the most
hardened agnostic cannot doubt his CONVEX
sion" It Is worth noting that there was at
the same time another excitement in progress
there, its promoters insisting that 1859 was
the year. and that furious debates took place
between the two.
Lucy-How do you like your French mas
ter,s acconti
Mary-lr's a pronounced success --S.-z--r