The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-03-21

Biblical scholars throughout the en-
tire country. He did not begin to
preach or lecture until 1888, but once
having begun his public ministry he
preached almost daily for years, Wis
iting almost every section of the
United States.
His belief substantially was that the
fifth monarchy predicted in the
seventh chapter of Daniel was about
to be consummated; that Jesus thirst /
would appear a second time in 1S43,
in the clouds of Heaven; that He |
would then raise the righteous dead, |
and that the righteous living would |
be caught up to Him, as mentioned
by st. Paul; that He would purify the
earth with fire, causing the wicked
and all their works to be consumed,
and would shut up their souls in the
place prepared for the devil and his
angels; that the saints would live and
reign with Christ for thousand
years on the earth, and that then the
wicked should be raised and judged.
| MILLER'S MATHEMATICS.
| The mathematical calculations by
which Miller sought to establish the
date he had fixed for the second COM
ing were attacked by Biblical schol-
ars, and a host of learned writer's Op-
lposed his whole scheme of interpreta-
ton, most of them contending that
the prophecy in chapter eight, often
lquoted by Mr.. Miller as the basis of
one of his calculations, had long since
been fulfilled, and that it had nothing
to do with the second coming of
Christ.
Miller's followers soon numbered
many thousands, and included several
-
, tions. Mr.. Miller would not set any
,, specific day as the one on which
Christ would make His appearance,
; but declared that it would occur some
time in the Jewish year 1S43-that is,
between March q of 1S43, and the
same date, in 1914. 1t was generally
believed that it would occur early in
the year, and some of Miller's more
: enthusiastic followers did fix the day.
The first day set was February 10th,
D that day being chosen because it was
: forty-five years after the taking OF
> Rome by the French army. Others
, lput it five days later, being the anni-
versary of the abolition of the Papa]
government and the establishment OF
the Roman republic.
Il The new doctrine was assailed will
Il ridicule by the secular and religious
Il rapidity. Great camp meetings were
: held in all parts of the country, and
e in 1910 a general conference was helt
s in Boston. In 1912 a series of meet
ings was held in New York City, ant
was attended by immense crowds
Believers and preachers multiplied
e and during the summer the excite
u ment became intense. No hall coult
e be obtained large enough to hold th'
u multitudes who focked to hear MI
IL Miller and his colaborers, and finally
e large tent, capable of holding tel
e thousand persons, was put up, and il
$ it meetings were held in many East
Is ern cities. The craze spread to tn
e West, and counted thousands Of fol
't lowers, especially in Ohio and Indi
Ii ana.
PREPARED FOR IT IN VAIN.
AS the date for the second comin
. approached thousands of the more en-
-, thusiastic made preparations for th
- ascension by disposing of their proI
n erty and procuring ascension robes
- February 10th and 18th came an
. passed, and the world still Joyce
y along in it's daily round, much to tn
~ disappointment of many thousands
= but their belief that the great da
was near at hand did not wavel
e though the disappointment did driv
large number of them into unati
:. asylums. April 18th was fixed upor
o it being Pentacost day. DR.. Mile
~ himself would not definitely settle o.
lH 17 either Of the days named, but whel
- - they passed without any unusua
e commotion he confessed. himself a
le being greatly disappointed. He ia
8 vored day later in the year, an
&c approximated about Occober 22ni
- This day was accepted by all of tn
% more intelligent of his followers. an
y great preparations were made for tn
;" momentous event.
Thousands sold their earthly posses
n =, sions for song, and many others re
- % fused to harvest the crops in thei
: - fields, holding that it was temptin
: Providence to store up crops for
- season that would never come.
= some places the local authorities hal
~ vested the abandoned crops at tn
public expense. At Philadelphia man
persons went out into the country O.
- - the day before and encamped read
- for the great event, while others gatf
~ cred on the hOuSetopS and spent tn
:, night in singing and praying.
:. AS the number of those who be
70 lieved that the October date was tn
= correct one was larger than those VIII
+, accepted the earlier dates, so the dis
appointments were greater and tn
=. number of suffering victims mucl
= larger. Hundreds of believers be
'm m came insane through the excitement
\ many of whom never recovered thei
~ reason. Others fell away from tn
u faith, and lost their belief even in tn
=, existence of God.
a Since then many other dates hav
- been fixed for the earth's destruction
y but they have found few believers
= Mr.. Miller acknowledged his disaI
C pointment, and freely admitted tina
, he must have made some mistake il
y, his calculations, but contended to tn
r day of his death that the real tim
=. for the second coming of Christ wa
&c near at hand. He died in 1949, in til
% Seth year of his age. His printed lee
- lures are still read with interest, AM
- display knowledge of the Scripture
:, possessed by very few.