The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-08-13
PLENTY OF TIME LEFT.
End Of the World, Predicted Many
Times, Said to Be 8, 900, 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 395 A. d., the bishop went over
his figures once more, and declared that
The 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 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 a Scripture
crazed seer. In 1912 great populations
crowded the Italian shores OF the Medl-
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 ont its wits
by issuing 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
tury.
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 foundations
Herr Steiffel then got such mobbing as
has not yet come even to a fashionable
wedding party in a New York church.
1t would take 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 at
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 OF
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 1884 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 to
please"
AS a rule predictions of a final catas-
trophe in matter are based on individual
readings of the Scriptures. Real scien-
lists first occasionally-and usually by
request-with the possibilities of plane
tary collisions, consuming solar fires
and exhaustion of atmosphere. NJ.
Flammarion weaves awful contingencies
into delightfully."- shivery romances. But
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 their
personal comfort in the premises, all
who have an uncertain faith in the sta
bility of the earth are urged to consider
the view presented not long ago to the
American Association for the Advance
ment of Science. This gives 100000
900 of years before the end. So may we
all have time to eat, drink and be merry,
and yet preserve a proper diligence.