VISITS MASSACHUSETTS—INVITATION TO LOWELL—EXTRACT FROM THE
LYNN RECORD—IS INVITED TO BOSTON—CONVERSATION WITH ELDER
HIMES—PUBLICATION OF HIS LECTURES BY MR. MUSSEY—LABORS IN
PORTSMOUTH—INTERVIEW WITH ELDER ROBINSON, ETC.
“In compliance with an invitation from Mr. Seth Mann, of Randolph, Mass.,
dated January 15, 1839, informing him that ‘I, myself, and many of our
Baptist and Pedo-Baptist friends here, wish you to come and preach to
us,’ Mr. Miller visited Massachusetts, and arrived for the first time in
Boston on the evening of April 18. The next day he wrote as follows:—
“‘Boston, April 19, 10 o’clock A. M., 1839.
“‘DEAR SON:—I am now in this place, hearty and well. Start at
half-past twelve for Randolph, where I expect to be next week.
Roads were very bad. Snow-storm night before last in Keene, N.
H.; pleasant yesterday and to-day. I have been running about
this morning; visited India wharf, the new Market, Faneuil
Hall, etc., etc. Busy time in Boston. I have no news as yet.
Will write as often as you will wish to hear. I stopped at the
Pemberton House, No. 9 Howard street.
Yours, etc.
WM. MILLER.’
“He reached Randolph, and commenced his first course of lectures in
Massachusetts on the 21st of April of that year. He closed his lectures
there on the 28th; commenced in Stoughton, Mass., on the 29th, and
continued to the 6th of May; lectured at Braintree, Mass., on the 7th and
8th, and from the 9th to the 13th in East Randolph, Mass. His lectures
in these places were attended by powerful revivals. On the 27th of May
Mr. Mann wrote him from Randolph, saying:—
“‘The Lord, we trust, is doing a gracious work in this place.
There have been twelve or fourteen already converted, and at
the close of the last meeting about twenty arose for prayers.
Our last conference meeting was so crowded that we had to
adjourn to the meeting-house.... There appears to be a great
solemnity on the minds of nearly all in Mr. M’Leish’s society.
A powerful work is going on in East Randolph.’
“In July following, Rev. Charles Peabody transmitted to Mr. M. the
unanimous vote of the church for him to repeat his lectures in Randolph;
but he does not appear to have done so.
“Previous to Mr. Miller’s visit to Massachusetts, Elder T. Cole, of
Lowell, had heard of the results attending his labors in Vermont, and
had written for him to visit that city. The dress of Mr. Miller was
very plain and ordinary, much more befitting his profession of a farmer
than of a preacher. Elder Cole, from the reports of his great success,
expected him to appear like some distinguished doctor of divinity. When
Mr. M. came to Randolph, Elder C. obtained a promise of his services in
Lowell, to commence on the 14th of May, and was requested to meet him
at the cars. He had heard that Mr. Miller wore a camlet cloak and white
hat, but expected to see a fashionably-dressed gentleman. On the arrival
of the cars, he went to the depot to meet him. He watched closely the
appearance of all the passengers as they left the cars, but saw no one
who corresponded with his expectations of Mr. M. Soon he saw an old man,
shaking with the palsy, with a white hat and camlet cloak, alight from
the cars. Fearing that this one might prove to be the man, and, if so,
regretting that he had invited him to lecture in _his_ church, he stepped
up to him, and whispered in his ear:—
“‘Is your name Miller?’
“Mr. M. nodded assent.
“‘Well,’ said he, ‘follow me.’
“He led the way, walking on ahead, and Mr. M. keeping as near as he
could, till he reached his house. He was much chagrined that he had
written for a man of Mr. M.’s appearance, who, he concluded, could know
nothing respecting the Bible, but would confine his discourse to visions
and fancies of his own.
“After tea, he told Mr. M. he supposed it was about time to attend
church; and again led the way, Mr. Miller bringing up the rear. He showed
Mr. M. into the desk, but took a seat himself among the congregation.
Mr. M. read a hymn; after it was sung, he prayed, and read another hymn,
which was also sung. He felt unpleasant at being left in the pulpit
alone, but took for his text: ‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.’ This
he sustained and illustrated by apposite quotations of Scripture, proving
a second personal and glorious appearing of Christ. Elder C. listened
for about fifteen minutes, when, seeing that he presented nothing but
the word of God, and that he opened the Scriptures in a manner that did
honor to the occasion, like a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, he
walked up into the pulpit, and took his seat. Mr. M. lectured there from
the 14th to the 22d of May, and again from the 29th to the 4th of June.
A glorious revival followed, and elder C. embraced his views in full,
continuing for six years a devoted advocate of them. On the 25th of July,
elder C. wrote Mr. M. that, since the lectures, he ‘had baptized about
forty, sixty in all having joined the church; and there are yet some who
are seeking the Lord.’ Mr. Miller says of his visit:—
“‘At Lowell I also became acquainted with my Bro. J. Litch, who
had previously embraced my views, and who has since so aided
their extension by his faithful lectures and writings, and
energetic and consistent course.’
“From the 24th to the 28th of May, Mr. M. lectured in Groton, Mass., and
from the 3d to the 9th of June, in Lynn, Mass. In connection with his
visit to this place, he made the following entry in his memorandum-book:
‘Thus ends my tour into Massachusetts, making eight hundred lectures from
October 1, 1834, to June 9, 1839—four years, six months, nine days.’ The
editor of the _Lynn Record_ gave the following notice of Mr. Miller, and
his visit to that place:—
“‘MILLER AND THE PROPHECIES.
“‘We took a prejudice against this good man when he first
came among us, on account of what we supposed a glaring error
in interpreting the Scripture prophecies so that the world
would come to an end in 1843. We are still inclined to believe
this an error or miscalculation. At the same time we have
overcome our prejudice against him by attending his lectures,
and learning more of the excellent character of the man, and
of the great good he has done and is doing. Mr. Miller is a
plain farmer, and pretends to nothing except that he has made
the Scripture prophecies an intense study for many years,
understands some of them differently from most other people,
and wishes, for the good of others, to spread his views before
the public. No one can hear him five minutes without being
convinced of his sincerity, and instructed by his reasoning and
information. All acknowledge his lectures to be replete with
useful and interesting matter. His knowledge of Scripture is
very extensive and minute; that of the prophecies, especially,
surprisingly familiar. His application of the prophecies to the
great events which have taken place in the natural and moral
world is such, generally, as to produce conviction of their
truth, and gain the ready assent of his hearers. We have reason
to believe that the preaching or lecturing of Mr. Miller,
has been productive of great and extensive good. Revivals
have followed in his train. He has been heard with attention,
wherever he has been....
“‘There is nothing very peculiar in the manner or appearance of
Mr. Miller. Both are at least equal to the style and appearance
of ministers in general. His gestures are easy and expressive,
and his personal appearance every way decorous. His Scripture
explanations and illustrations are strikingly simple, natural,
and forcible; and the great eagerness of the people to hear him
has been manifested wherever he has preached.’
“On his way home he lectured at the following places:—Commencing on
the 16th of June at Westford, Vt.; the 23d, at Cambridge, Vt., and on
the 30th at Colchester, Vt. As a result of his labors in Colchester,
twenty-three were added to the Baptist church between that time and the
2d of December following.
“The letters addressed to him and his son at this period show that a
report was in circulation that he was dead; and, that as soon as that was
successfully contradicted, another was current that, on re-examining his
calculations, he had discovered a mistake of one hundred years. Both of
these rumors were several times subsequently revived, and had to be as
often contradicted.
“On the 15th of September, in compliance with ‘the wish of many in
Rutland, Vt.,’ who were ‘very anxious to hear’ his ‘course of lectures,’
he visited that place, and lectured each day, to the 22d, when he
returned to his family, and made arrangements for a second visit to
Massachusetts.
“He commenced his labors at Groton, Mass., on the 13th of October,
and lectured ten days. In reference to these lectures and others in
neighboring towns, Rev. Silas Hawley, Congregational minister, wrote from
Groton, on the 10th of April, 1840, as follows:—
“‘Mr. Miller has lectured in this and adjoining towns with
marked success. His lectures have been succeeded by precious
revivals of religion in all those places. A class of minds
are reached by him not within the influence of other men.
His lectures are well adapted, so far as I have learned, for
shaking the supremacy of the various forms of error that are
rife in the community.’
“Closing his lectures in Groton, Mr. M. gave a third course of lectures
in Lowell, continuing from the 23d of October to the 1st of November.
These, like the previous lectures in that place, were attended with
precious fruits.
“From the 2d to the 10th of November, he lectured in Haverhill, Mass.,
where he made the acquaintance of Elder Henry Plummer, pastor of the
Christian church, who embraced his views, and was a steadfast friend till
Mr. Miller’s decease.
“On the 11th of November, Mr. M. commenced a course of lectures in
Exeter, N. H., which continued till the 19th. On the 12th, a conference
of the Christian Connection was in session there, and they called on Mr.
Miller in a body. He was a stranger to nearly all of them; and few of
them regarded his views with anything more than mere curiosity. Several
of them questioned him respecting his faith; but they were speedily
silenced by the quotation of appropriate texts of Scripture.
“It was on this occasion that he became acquainted with Elder Joshua V.
Himes, then pastor of the Chardon-street church, Boston. Elder H. had
written to Mr. M., on the 19th of October, inviting him to give a course
of lectures in his chapel. He now renewed his invitation, and got the
promise of a course of lectures in December. Before commencing there, Mr.
Miller gave a second course of lectures in Stoughton, Mass., from the
24th to the 29th of November, and one in Canton, Mass., from the 1st to
the 6th of December. In this last place, he writes to his son, that he
‘lectured three times on the last day, to a house jammed full.’ Pressing
invitations for further labors in the surrounding region had to be
disregarded, in order to fulfill his engagement in the metropolis of New
England.
“He arrived in Boston on the 7th of December, and from the 8th to the
16th lectured in the Chardon-street chapel,—his first course of lectures
in that city.
“On the 12th of December, Mr. Miller writes from Boston to his son:—‘I am
now in this place lecturing, twice a day, to large audiences. Many, very
many, go away unable to gain admittance. Many, I am informed, are under
serious convictions. I hope God will work in this city.’
“At this time he stopped at the house of Elder Himes, who had much
conversation with him respecting his views, his plans for the future,
and his responsibilities. Elder H. became impressed with the correctness
of Mr. M.’s views respecting the nearness and nature of Christ’s coming;
but was not fully satisfied respecting the time. He was, however,
sufficiently convinced that Mr. Miller was communicating important
truths, to feel a great interest in their promulgation.
“‘When Mr. Miller had closed his lectures,’ says Elder H., ‘I found
myself in a new position. I could not believe or preach as I had done.
Light on this subject was blazing on my conscience day and night. A
long conversation with Mr. Miller then took place, on our duties and
responsibilities. I said to Bro. Miller, “Do you really believe this
doctrine?”
“‘He replied, “Certainly, I do, or I would not preach it.”
“‘What are you doing to spread or diffuse it through the world?’
“‘I have done, and am still doing, all I can.’
“‘Well, the whole thing is kept in a corner yet. There is but little
knowledge on the subject, after all you have done. If Christ is to come
in a few years, as you believe, no time should be lost in giving the
church and world warning, in thunder-tones, to arouse them to prepare.’
“‘I know it, I know it, Bro. Himes,’ said he; ‘but what can an old farmer
do? I was never used to public speaking; I stand quite alone; and, though
I have labored much, and seen many converted to God and the truth, yet
_no one_, as yet, seems to enter into the _object_ and _spirit of my
mission_, so as to render me much aid. They like to have me preach, and
build up their churches; and there it ends with most of the ministers, as
yet. I have been looking for help—I want help.’
“‘It was at this time that I laid myself, family, society, reputation,
all, upon the altar of God, to help him, to the extent of my power, to
the end. I then inquired of him what parts of the country he had visited,
and whether he had visited any of our principal cities.
“‘He informed me of his labors,’ as given in the foregoing pages.
“‘But why,’ I said, ‘have you not been into the large cities?’
“‘He replied that his rule was to visit those places where invited, and
that he had not been invited into any of the large cities.
“‘Well,’ said I, ‘will you go with me where doors are opened?’
“‘Yes, I am ready to go anywhere, and labor to the extent of my ability
to the end.’
“‘I then told him he might prepare for the campaign; for doors should be
opened in every city in the Union, and the warning should go to the ends
of the earth! Here I began to “help” Father Miller.’
“With this epoch commenced an entire new era in the spread of the
doctrine of the advent. B. B. Mussey, Esq., a distinguished Boston
publisher, undertook the publication of a revised edition, of five
thousand copies, of Mr. Miller’s Lectures, on condition that Mr. Miller
would secure the copyright. Mr. M. did so, which subjected himself to
some blame, where the reason for the act was not known. Mr. M. gave to
Mr. Mussey the entire profits of the edition for two hundred copies of
the work, which Mr. Mussey gave him.
“On the 17th of December, Mr. M. lectured in Westford, where he was
refused the use of the Congregational church—the first place of worship
that was ever closed against him. From the 19th to the 26th of December,
he lectured in Littleton, Mass. The result of these lectures is indicated
by a letter of Rev. Oliver Ayer (Baptist), who writes, in January:—‘I
baptized twelve at our last communion. I shall, probably, baptize from
fifteen to twenty next time. There have been from thirty-five to forty
hopeful conversions. There is also quite a work in Westford, ten or
twelve conversions, and twenty or thirty inquirers. The work is still
going on.’
“On the 28th he returned to Boston, and repeated his course of lectures
in Mr. Himes’ chapel, closing on the 5th of January, 1840. The day
following, by request of the Baptist church under the care of the Rev.
Mr. Parker, he visited Cambridgeport, and lectured there each day till
the 13th of January. From the 14th to the 20th, he gave a second course
of lectures to Elder Plummer’s society, in Haverhill, Mass.
“On the 21st of January, 1840, he visited Portsmouth, N. H., and
commenced his first course of lectures in that city. The following
article, in reference to them, from the pen of Elder David Millard,
pastor of the Christian Society there, appeared in the columns of the
_Christian Herald_ a few weeks subsequently:—
“‘On the 21st of January, Bro. William Miller came into town,
and commenced, in our chapel, his course of lectures on the
Second Coming of Christ. During the nine days that he remained,
crowds flocked to hear him. Before he concluded his lectures,
a large number of anxious souls came forward for prayers. Our
meetings continued every day and evening for a length of time
after he left. Such an intense state of feeling as now pervaded
our congregation we never witnessed before in any place. Not
unfrequently from sixty to eighty would come forward for
prayers on an evening. Such an awful spirit of solemnity seemed
to settle down on the place that hard must be that sinner’s
heart that could withstand it. Yet, during the whole, not an
appearance of confusion occurred; all was order and solemnity.
Generally, as soon as souls found deliverance, they were ready
to proclaim it, and exhort their friends, in the most moving
language, to come to the fountain of life. Our meetings thus
continued, on evenings, for six weeks; indeed, they have thus
continued, with very little intermission, up to the present.
“‘Probably about one hundred and fifty souls have been
converted in our meetings; but a part of these were from
other congregations, and have returned to their former
meetings. Among the converts are a considerable number from
the Universalist congregation; these still remain with us.
From our meetings this blessed work soon spread into every
congregation in town favorable to revivals. In several of them
it is at present spreading with power. For weeks together, the
ringing of bells for daily meetings rendered our town like a
continual Sabbath. Indeed, such a season of revival was never
witnessed before in Portsmouth by the oldest inhabitant.
It would be difficult, at present, to ascertain the exact
number of conversions in town; it is variously estimated at
from five hundred to seven hundred. We have received into
fellowship eighty-one; nine of these were received on previous
profession. We have baptized sixty-seven, and the others
stand as candidates for baptism. Never, while we linger on
the shores of mortality, do we expect to enjoy more of Heaven
than we have in some of our late meetings, and on baptizing
occasions. At the waterside, thousands would gather to witness
this solemn institution in Zion, and many would return from the
place weeping. Our brethren at the old chapel have had some
additions, we believe some over twenty.’
“The Rev. Mr. Peabody, of Portsmouth, in a sermon published soon after,
spoke of the revival which commenced there in connection with Mr.
Miller’s labors, as follows:—
“‘If I am rightly informed, the present season of religious
excitement has been, to a great degree, free from what, I
confess, has always made me dread such times, I mean those
excesses and extravagances which wound religion in the house
of its friends, and cause its enemies to blaspheme. I most
cheerfully express my opinion that there will be, in the fruits
of the present excitement, far less to regret, and much more
for the friends of God to rejoice in—much more to be recorded
in the book of eternal life—than in any similar series of
religious exercises which I have ever had the opportunity of
watching.’
“At the time of these lectures, Eld. D. I. Robinson was stationed in
Portsmouth, as the pastor of the Methodist church, and attended a part of
the course. He writes:—
“‘I heard him all I could the first week, and thought I could
stop his wheels and confound him; but, as the revival had
commenced in the vast congregation assembled to hear, I would
not do it publicly, lest evil should follow. I therefore
visited him at his room, with a formidable list of objections.
To my surprise, scarcely any of them were new to him, and he
could answer them as fast as I could present them. And then he
presented objections and questions which confounded _me_ and
the commentaries on which I had relied. I went home used up,
convicted, humbled, and resolved to examine the question.’
“The result was, that Eld. R. became fully convinced of the nearness of
the advent, and has since been a faithful preacher of the kingdom at
hand. Eld. Thomas F. Barry, also, at this time embraced Mr. Miller’s
views, and continued an able and consistent advocate of the same till his
death, at Oswego, N. Y., July 17, 1846.
“On the 30th and 31st of January, Mr. M. again lectured in Exeter, N. H.,
and from the 2d to the 6th of February in Deerfield, N. H., after which
he returned to Boston.