Norwich bulletin., 1920-11-29
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
PROPHET MILLER AND THE
 MILLENNIUM.

Few men have attained wider name or more rapid and remarkable note in the American religious world than the Rev. William Miller, the prophet of Low Hampton" as he was called, who founded the sect called by his name, Millerites, and also known as the Second Adventists."
 Prophet Miller in 1S43 stirred the country to such a pitch of religious excitement as it had never before nor since seen. In the community in which he lived, Low Hampton, N. Y, he was highly esteemed by everybody as a benevolent and intelligent man. For many years he had been most as slduous student of history and the Scriptures, in the study of which he became impressed with the conviction that the fifth monarchy predicted by Daniel was about to be consummated Miller gave as his views that Jesus Christ would appear a second time in | lS43 in the clouds of Heaven. It be- came known that he entertained these views, and he was importuned by many to write out his opinions and afterward to go before the public with them. This for a long time he refused to do, but eventually began a series Of articles in the Vermont Telegraph, | and later he set forth his. views in a
 pamphlet, and subsequently, in obedi- l ence to conscientious convictions of duty, he commented as a public lec-
 turer on prophecy.
 Miller soon drew about him con-
 siderable following, which included
 many men generally considered intel
 lectual, which still further added
 strength to his doctrines. Many
 churches of the Second Adventists
 were formed and they held their first
 general conference in October of 1s4C
 in Boston.
 It was not long before the number
 Of believers reached scores of thou
 sands, all of whom expected that the
 second Advent would take place ir
 l843, but at what particular time ir
 that year was uncertain. The first
 date set was February 15, but wheI the day passed and nothing un0sua
 transpired, a later date was announc. ed. and so on during the entire year.
 It is noted that in some sections ot the New England states the farmer.
 refused to reap their harvest of corr ana potatoes, saying it was tempting Providence to store up grain for sea. son that would never arrive.
 That irregularities of one kind anC ; another attended a religious move
 ment of this character is not to bt
 wondered at, but it is doubtless tru, ! that many of the incidents that wer, l g ponents of the Millerites. The mos
 notable incident was that which oc cured in Philadelphia. Here a com d pany of about one hundred and lift, 4 persons responded to the pretendet ' vision of one Gorgas, and on Oetobe 21 went out on the the Darby. stree " road and encamped in a field unde
 two large tents to await the coming o
 Christ. The following morning, thei , faith in the "vision" having failed, al ] but about dozen returned to the city
 and a few days later they all picket
 up their tents and silently stole bacl | home.
 T In other sections of the country tn U faithful made every preparation fo ', what they supposed to be the ap preaching millennium. They refuse
 to Jay in stock of any kind, either fo
 personal use or for the household, feel
 ing that anything in that direction e would be useless.
 5, Even after the year 1s43 had passe l, and there was no evidence of a Sec d ond Advent, the faithful explaine n the discrepancy of dates to the fac ) that chronologists differed three e
 four years in the dates of this world q history.
 if In reviewing the circumstances M T Miller wrote: Were I to live my If rr' over again, with the same evidene D that 1 then had, to be honest wit T God and man, I should have to do a IF l have done. I confess my error, an n acknowledge my disappointment, yt T T l still believe that the day of the LOT V, IS near, even to the door,"
 It was not surprising that a man (