Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-08-11
PLENTY OF TIME LEFT.
End of the World, Predicted Many
Times, Said to Be 5000, ooo,-
600 Years Of.

One of the earliest recorded failures
to bring all creation to an ending crash
was that OF the old bishop of Hippo.
When his scheme of humiliation did not
connect in 1896 A. D., the bishop wentover
his figures once more, and declared that
he had been a century out of the way.
This restored his standing as prophet
and made it sure that he, at least, would
not live for a second disappointment.
His courage in readjusting dates has
come down the ages without his discre-
ton in setting the end far enough ahead
TO dodge the issue, says the New YORK
World.
In the year 1000 all Christendom went
into terror, and many persons died OF
fright because that year had been set
as "the time appointed" by Scripture
crazed seer. In 1912 great populations
crowded the italian shores of the Medi-
terranean waiting for the sea to dry up,
as had been promised by some crank
so that they might walk to Jerus alem for
the general perishing. In 1885 an Italian
priest scared half of Europe out its wits
by issuing a general warning to put on
the last bridal robes. And so the direful
foretellings went on until there came the
plunge of Steiffel in the sixteenth CEN
fury.
Steiffel was mathematician and a
friend of Luther For 20 years, or some
such matter, congregations had listened
to him, believing him to be 'the seventh
angel named in the Apocalypse. When
he fixed upon Monday, October 3, 1888
as the day and eight o'clock in the morn
ing as the hour, for the earth to go out
of business, he was able to set great
crowd of people to moaning and groan-
in. Previously, at his urging, these peo-
pie had separated themselves from most
of their worldly goods. AS the hour
passed and destruction came not, the
lamentations turned to denunciations.
Herr Steiffel then got such mobbing as
has not yet come even to a fashionable
wedding party in New York church.
1t would take a tremendous book to
follow up the later prophets of the
worlds end. There are few decades
which have not contained one or more
dates for the catastrophe. The Adven.
lists have learned caution. They wait
now hopefully, ready for the finish al
ANY old time" Yet in July 1880, Mr.
Henry A. Chittenden, a former New
York dry goods merchant, one of the be-
levers of '42-44, sent out bulletins oil
belief that the very year was then upon
US.
An Indiana farmer-prophet says the
years 1000 is to be that of fate. Rev. A
B. Simpson, noted for his ability to life
church debts, favor 1894 A. D.. Other
choice dates are 1915 and 1871. The pro-
phets have large variety of calculations
IN hand, and their motto is 1--WE try tc
please"
AS rule predictions of final catas.
trophe in matter are based on individua
readings of the Scriptures. Real scien'
lists first occasionally-and usually b.
request-with the possibilities of plane.
tary collisions, consuming solar fret
| and exhaustion of atmosphere. M
| Flammarion weaves awful contingencie:
into delightfully."- shivery romances. Blu
there are always waiting groups of un'
forunates ready to take everything Sc
riously. Even the new North Abingdon
circular writer may catch some of these
Pending other arrangements for theil
personal comfort in the premises, al
who have an uncertain faith in the sta
bility of the earth are urged to conside
the view presented not long ago to tn
American Association for the Advance
ment of Science This gives 100000,
600 of years before the end. So may w
all have time to eat, drink and be merry
| and vet nreserva a nrnnar diligencn