Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-22

10 Illus living would be oa,,-h, a..
He NJ ~ mentioned by ST. Pan ny ~
e would purify the earn ~, .!a'
t a the wicked and ali IN ii, M, ny,
~, pe consumed, and wouid si,.', Oin s
Sn,,i, souls In the place prenared - ~. ~
n una his nngels; thai M ssta ~
mouiu I'VE and reign with Chris, ~
:. 'Yusanu years on tho an~th MA
anA len .n.n me wicked raould 30 raiseJ
Miiier's Mathematics.
A me mathematical caisui,,ions hv
whicn Miller sought TO ESTABLISH ~,
uu.e ne mad fixed Tor the second eomIns
vi attaeked by Biblical scholars ana
hvst Oh learned writer's opposed bIs
W w'o,e scheme OF Interpretation. most
~ shen eontending that the prophecy
m, r,iiapter eight. often quoted By Mr..
in,in as me basis of one OF his calcu-
and that 1t had nothing TO do with ~,
second coming of Christ. ''S
Millers followers soon numbered many
thousands. and Included many noted al.
vines oil different denominations Mr..
MiieI would not set any specific day
on winch Christ would make His an
Pearance. but declared that IL wouid
occur some time in the Jewish wear
lSf5-that is, between March n. on iSsg
ana and the same date In 1874. IL was
generally believed that 1t would occur
early IN the year, and some of Miller's
more enthusiastic followers did fix the
nay. The first day set was February
~ that day being chosen because IL
was iorty.hve years after the taking Of
Rome by the French army. Others put
IL nNe days later, being the anniversary
OF the abolition of the Papal govern
ment and the establishment Of the Ro-
man republic.
Inc new doctrine was assailed with
rldicule by the secular and religious
journals. but spread with amazing
Iaplulty. Great camp meetings were
held In all parts OF the country, and In
1910 n general conference was held in
Boston. In 1912 series of meetings
was held In New York city, and was at
tended by immense crowds. Believers
and preachers multiplied, and during
the summer the excitement became in
tense. No hall could be obtained large
enough 10 hold the multitudes who
Hooked to hear Mr.. Miller and co-labor-
ers, and finally large tent, capable
OF holding ten thousand persons, was
put up, and In 1t meetings were held in
many Eastern cities. The craze spread
to the West, and counted thousands OF
followers, especially In Ohio and In
diana.
Prepared for II in Vain.
AS the date for the second coming
approached thousands of the more en-
thuslastic made preparations for the
ascension by disposing Of their prop
erty and procuring ascension robes.
February 10 and 10 came and passed,
and the world still logged along in its
daily round, much 10 the dsappoint-
ment Of many thousands, but their be-
lief TINT the great day was near at
hand did NOT waver, though the disap-
pointment did drive large number of
them into lunatic aBylums. April IA
was fixed upon, 1t being Penitcost Day.
Or. Miller himself would not definitely
settle on either OF the days named, but
when they passed without any unusual
commotion he confessed himself as be-
ing greatly disappointed. He favored
n day later in the year, and approx
mated about October %. This day
was accepted by all Of the more intelll-
gent Of his followers. and great prep
were made for the moment
GUS event.
Thousands sold their earthly possess
slons for a song, and many others re-
fused TO harvest the crops in their
fields. holding that IL was tempting
Providence 10 store up crops for a sea-
son that would never come. In some
places the local authorities harvested
the abandoned crops at the public ex-
pense. At Philadelphia many persons
went out Into the country on the day
before and encampe1 ready for the
great event. while others gathered on
the housetops and spent the night in
singing and PRAYING
As the number OF those who believed
that the October date was the correct
one was larger than those who ac-
cepted the earlier dates, so the disap-
pointments were greater and the num-
Der of suffering victims much larger.
OF believers became insane
through excitement, many of whom
never recovered their reason. Others
fell away from their faith. and lost
their belief even In the existence OF
God.
Since then many other dates have
been fixed for the earth's destruction
but they have found few believers. Mr.
Miller acknowledged his dsappolnt-
ment, and freely admitted that he must
have made some mistake in his calcu-
ations, but contended to the day Of his
death that the real time for the second
coming OF Christ was near nj hand.
He died in 1919. in the seth year OF his
age. His printed lectures are still read
with interest. and display a knowledge
Of the Scriptures possessed by very
few.