HOME OF MR. MILLER—TOUR INTO WESTERN NEW YORK—HIS PERSONAL
APPEARANCE—ADDRESS TO ALL DENOMINATIONS—VISIT TO WASHINGTON,
ETC.
“In the interval between Mr. Miller’s return from Boston to his home at
Low Hampton and the recommencement of his public labors, he was visited
by his dearly beloved friend, the late Elder Nathaniel Southard, who
wrote as follows of
“‘THE HOME OF WILLIAM MILLER.
“‘It was Saturday forenoon when we passed over the rough road,
and stopped at a one-storied house, where a post-office is
kept. It is the residence of William S., oldest son of Bro.
Miller, P. M., at the office, which, for distinction, is
called Low Hampton. He was not at home; but one of his little
daughters told us the residence of her grandfather was in sight
on the hill. Without waiting for her to point it out, I easily
recognized it—from previous description—among the good-looking
farm-houses in sight. It was not the largest or handsomest. The
back part of it only, which is painted red, could be seen. It
is two stories high. The northern front and ends are painted
white. On the way we passed the small, plain meeting-house of
the Baptist church to which Bro. M. belongs.
“‘At the gate of his hospitable mansion we met a young man in a
wagon, with crutches by his side, whose round, open countenance
showed him to be a son of William Miller. He gave us a cordial
invitation to enter. Three visitors were already in the house,
to whom myself, wife and child, being added, made a number
which we feared would be burdensome. We soon found ourselves
perfectly at home, though we had never before seen one of the
family but its venerable head.
“‘The next day other visitors arrived, one of whom was a lady
from Iowa, and three from Vergennes. The day was very stormy.
We went to the place of worship, and found a congregation
consisting of fewer persons than we left at the house. The
preacher, Bro. Increase Jones, gave a plain, practical sermon
on the text, “The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore
sober, and watch unto prayer.” In the afternoon we opened
the Scriptures, and tried to pursue the apostolic method in
speaking of Jesus and the resurrection.
“‘On our way from the meeting, after referring to the number of
guests, we asked Robbins if they usually had as much company.
“‘Pretty nigh,’ said he; ‘I wish I had kept count of the
number of visitors for the last six months.’
“‘Did they come in such numbers when Bro. Miller was sick?’ we
inquired.
“‘It seemed to make but little difference,’ he replied.
“‘We just then passed by the open carriage gate into the
spacious inclosure at the west end of the house.
“‘It seemed to be the hardest task,’ he proceeded, ‘to make
friends understand that it was not friendly to visit a sick man
in such numbers. I have had to stand here and keep people out
of the house, and sometimes there were six asking admission at
once.’
“‘As it was, I have no doubt company added weeks to his
sickness, and dollars to the doctor’s bill. I afterward learned
that the expenses of his sickness were one hundred dollars.
“‘Let us try to get a glimpse at his wealth and resources.
Twelve years ago he was the owner of about two hundred acres
of land, less than half of which was capable of cultivation,
yielding a liberal return to hard labor. No one, who knows
with what energy, diligence, and firmness, Bro. Miller has
prosecuted the labors he seems to have been raised up to
perform, will need to be told that he is a man of industrious,
temperate, frugal habits. Such a man in such a place, with
a help meet for him, could not be poor and thriftless.
Twenty-five years ago he built his house. Other buildings were
erected as they became necessary, but none within the last
dozen years, except a bee-house, and small, plain shed, or
boiling-house, where food is prepared for his hogs.
“‘He showed me his home farm, consisting of ninety-six acres,
lying wholly on the south side of the road. There is some
common wall upon it; but the moss-grown, weather-beaten stones
unanimously contradict the foolish and malicious lies which
have been told about its recent origin. He also owns a rough
tract of fifty acres, north of the road, and twenty acres of
interval a little distance to the east. When he let out his
farm to his son, he sold him $500 worth of stock, and has since
sold seventy acres of land to his son-in-law. What he has thus
realized, and $100 yearly for the use of his farm, have enabled
him to meet the expenses of traveling, printing, and giving
away books, company, sickness, &c.
“‘He has brought up eight children, two others having died in
early life. His whole family, like Job’s, originally consisted
of seven sons and three daughters. Four of them are now in the
house with him, and two sons are at the West. As a specimen of
the fertility of his farm, he showed us a potato weighing two
pounds and seven ounces.
“‘While contemplating this lovely family, and their plain but
comfortable dwelling-place, equally free from the marks of
wasteful neglect or extravagant expenditure, I saw, as never I
saw before, the folly and malignity of those falsehoods which
have been so industriously told about them. Look at them.
“‘A diligent student of the Bible tells us he finds prophetic
periods reaching down to the resurrection and the second coming
of Christ.
“‘Nonsense!’ cries one, who must stand at the Judgment seat of
Christ; ‘Mr. Miller is a man of property, and he holds on to
it.’
“‘But won’t you please to look in the Bible, and see the
evidence that these periods are just running out?’
“‘Humbug!’ says another, who must give an account for the
manner in which he treats that message from Heaven; ‘Mr. Miller
is building a solid brick wall round his farm.’
“‘But will you not consider and discern the signs of the times,
which show that the kingdom of Heaven is nigh, even at the
doors?’
“‘It is all a money-making scheme,’ says a third, who must soon
give up his stewardship; ‘Mr. Miller is putting up some large
buildings in New Haven, and he has a barrel of jewels in his
house, which have been given him where he has preached.’
“‘The amazing stupidity of these fictions almost hides from
view the malice which invented them. But when we look at his
wife and daughter, to whom a husband and father’s reputation is
as the apple of the eye, we begin to feel them as a personal
injury, though they are nothing, in this view, in comparison
with the public mischief they occasion.
“‘Bro. Miller’s faith remains unwavering. He said he should be
happy if he felt as sure of Heaven as he did that he had the
truth on the prophecies of Daniel.
“‘His eyesight is improved since his sickness, so that he now
uses spectacles which he had laid aside as being too young
several years ago. He reads the small Polyglot Bible with the
greatest ease. He is a diligent reader of Second Advent papers.
After he has received one he seldom lays it aside till he
has become acquainted with all its contents. The rest of his
reading is nearly confined to the Scriptures. He is able to
write freely, and it requires no small share of his time to
attend to the numerous letters he receives.
“‘He starts early next week (Providence permitting) on his way
to Rochester, Lockport, and Buffalo, N. Y. It will be necessary
for one of his sons to accompany him, as he is not strong
enough to travel alone.
“‘We were interested in seeing his old family Bible, which cost
$18.50, and his quarto copy of Cruden’s Concordance, which was
originally purchased, in 1798, for $8. These two books were
almost the only ones he looked at while preparing his lectures.
A clergyman once called at his house in his absence, and, being
disappointed in not seeing him, wished the privilege of looking
at his library. His daughter conducted the visitor into the
north-east room, where he has sat so many hours at his ancient
desk. Those two books, and no others, lay upon the table.
“That is his library,” said she. The clergyman was amazed. Her
remark was strictly true, as far as theological writings were
concerned. He never had a commentary in his house, and did not
remember reading any work upon the prophecies, except Newton
and Faber, about thirty years ago.
“‘When we spoke to him about the stories in relation to his
property in New Haven, he pleasantly remarked that those who
believed them could easily satisfy themselves; for he had sold
to Bro. McDonald, of Williamsburg, near New York city, all
his property, real or personal, out of Low Hampton, for five
dollars, and the purchaser had offered to give half of it to
any one who would find any.
“‘Monday afternoon we reluctantly took leave of this peaceful
spot, which had been our pleasant home for two days, rejoicing
that calumny could there find no truthful basis on which to
found its reckless and cruel assertions.
“‘N. SOUTHARD.
“‘_Carleton, Vt., October 23, 1843._’
“In company with his wife and son George, Mr. Miller started for
Rochester, N. Y., on the 9th of November. On his passage down the canal
from Whitehall, by request of the passengers on the boat, he spoke to an
attentive audience from Titus 2:13.
“From the 12th to the 19th of November, he gave his first course of
lectures in the city of Rochester, speaking to full houses on the
afternoon and evening of each day. The ground had been previously
prepared for him by a course of lectures in June, delivered by Mr. Himes
and others, in connection with the ‘great tent.’
“Mr. Himes had commenced a paper there called the _Glad Tidings_, and
published thirteen numbers of it, which were extensively circulated; and
the late Elder Thomas F. Barry, a devoted brother, had remained in that
field during the summer. By those instrumentalities quite an interest had
been created, and the labors of Mr. Miller there were abundantly blessed.
“Receiving a pressing invitation from Rev. Elon Galusha, pastor of the
Baptist church, and sixty-eight others, in Lockport, N. Y., to visit that
place, he lectured there from the 21st to 30th of November. The salvation
of some souls and a general expression of interest in the subject of his
discourses, were the result of his labors.
“From the 2d to the 10th of December he lectured in Buffalo, N. Y., in
the theater, to a house full of attentive hearers. Writing from that
place, on the 4th, he says: ‘Yesterday I saw the tears of some in the
congregation, who, I am informed, were old, hardened infidels.’
“In compliance with an invitation from Rev. A. Claghorn, pastor of the
Baptist church, and twenty-three others, he next lectured in Lewiston,
N. Y., from the 11th to the 17th of December. There were many hearers
present from Canada, as well as from the American side of the line, who
gave him a respectful hearing. Writing respecting this place, Mr. M.
says:—
“‘I was here, as at Rochester and Lockport, challenged to a
public debate by a Universalist. I will not contend with them.
It would be an admission that they _might_ be right, which I
cannot for a moment believe. Michael would not contend with the
devil. Why? Because he would not admit he could be right. Was
he afraid of the devil? No. But he said, “The Lord rebuke thee,
Satan!” And so say I to his ministers.’
“Being invited to visit Penfield, N. Y., by Rev. David Bernard and the
unanimous vote of his church, he lectured in the Baptist meeting-house
there, from the 20th to the 27th of December. Some souls professed
conversion, and the pastor and a number of his people avowed their faith
in the near coming of Christ.
“Mr. Miller returned to Rochester on the 29th of December, continued
there a few days, gave five discourses, and on the 3d of January, 1844,
he left for home by the way of Troy. After reaching Low Hampton, he
wrote:—
“‘On Saturday, January 6, I arrived home, having been absent
about eight weeks, and given eighty-five lectures. I have
seen a number of infidels converted to God; and more than one
hundred have obtained a hope where I have been.’
“On the 28th of January he again visited Boston, and gave a course of
lectures in the Howard-street Tabernacle. This was his ninth visit to
Boston, and his seventh regular course of lectures there. On no previous
occasion had such crowds been present to hear as were then assembled
in that capacious building. On the Sabbath (January 28), all day and
evening, the seats and aisles were filled with as many as could find a
place to sit or stand. Many of the young with the middle-aged, and even
men with gray hairs, stood and listened to the story of the coming One,
with the evidences of his near approach. Had the Tabernacle been twice
its size, it would hardly have held the multitude who sought admittance.
The interest continued during his entire course of lectures, which closed
on the 4th of February.
“On the 5th of February, in company with Mr. Himes, he left for New York
city; but the weather was inclement, the boat was delayed in the Sound
all the next day by ice, and the passage was uncommonly tedious. Mr.
Fowler, the phrenologist, being one of the passengers, to while away
the time, gave, by request, a lecture on his science. After the lecture
he was blindfolded, and in that state examined quite a number of heads.
At the request of the company, Mr. Miller’s head was examined. All were
eager to hear the opinion of the lecturer. Among other things he said:—
“‘This man has large benevolence. His object is to do his
fellow-beings good. He has great firmness—is a modest man,
open, frank, no hypocrite, good at figures, a man of great
mental power, might make a noise in the world, has no personal
enemies; if he has enemies, it is not because they know him,
but on account of his opinions.’
“At the close of the examination his blindfold was removed, and he was
introduced to Mr. Miller, to the no small amusement of the company.
“They arrived in New York on the evening of the 6th of February, 1844,
and found a conference assembled in Franklin Hall. Mr. Miller gave two
discourses there on the 7th; when, finding the place too small, they
adjourned to the Broadway Tabernacle, where he lectured in the afternoon
and evening of the 8th and 9th of February, to crowded assemblies. It
was estimated that not less than five thousand persons were present. The
audiences were solemn and attentive.
“On the 10th of February they went to Philadelphia, and on the 11th Mr.
M. commenced a course of lectures in the saloon of the Chinese Museum,
closing on the 18th. That immense hall was filled to overflowing.
“While laboring here, a friend gave the following description of Mr.
Miller’s personal appearance:—
“‘There is a kindness of soul, simplicity, and power,
peculiarly original, combined in his manner; and he is affable
and attentive to all, without any affectation of superiority.
He is of about medium stature, a little corpulent, and,
in temperament, a mixture of sanguine and nervous. His
intellectual developments are unusually full, and we see in
his head great benevolence and firmness, united with a lack of
self-esteem. He is wanting in marvelousness, and is naturally
skeptical. His countenance is full and round, while there is a
peculiar expression in his blue eye, of shrewdness and love.
Although about sixty-two years of age, his hair is not gray,
but of a light, glossy auburn; his voice is full and distinct,
and his pronunciation somewhat northern-antique. In his social
relations, he is gentle and affectionate, and insures the
esteem of all with whom he mingles. In giving this charcoal
sketch to the public, I have merely sought to correct numerous
misstatements, and gratify the honest desire of many distant
believers with a faint outline of the character and appearance
of the man.’
“While drawing crowded houses of intelligent and attentive hearers,
his name was seldom mentioned in the religious press, except by way of
ridicule or denunciation; and many churches, particularly those of his
own denomination, were taking disciplinary steps with those who had
embraced his views. This called forth from him the following
“‘ADDRESS TO BELIEVERS IN CHRIST OF ALL DENOMINATIONS.
“‘DEAR BRETHREN: We would ask, in the name of our dear Master,
Jesus Christ, by all that is holy, by the fellowship of the
saints, and the love of the truth, why you cast us off as
if we were heretics? What have we believed, that we have
not been commanded to believe by the word of God, which you
yourselves allow is the rule and only rule of our faith and
practice? What have we done that should call down such virulent
denunciations against us from pulpit and press, and give you
just cause to exclude us (Adventists) from your churches and
fellowship? In the name of all that is dear, all that is holy
and good, we call upon some of you to come out and tell us
wherein our great sin lies. Have we denied the faith once
delivered to the saints? Tell us, we pray you, or, wherein is
our fault? If there is an honest man among you, of which we
cannot doubt, we shall expect to see your reasons publicly and
honestly avowed; and if we are guilty of heresy or crime, let
the Christian community know it, that we may be shunned by all
who know and love the truth.
“‘Is it heterodox to believe that Jesus Christ will come
again to this earth, to receive his saints to himself, and
to reward all men as their work shall be? If so, then our
fathers, and our ministers, our creeds, and our Bibles, have
taught us heresy; and from our infancy we have misunderstood
our teachers, and misapplied our Bible. Do tell us what mean a
class of texts like these? John 14:3: “And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself;
that where I am there ye may be also.” Acts 1:11: “Which also
said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall
so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” 1
Pet. 1:7 and 13: “That the trial of our faith, being much more
precious than of gold that perisheth, though it may be tried
with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory,
at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Wherefore, gird up the loins
of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that
is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Rev. 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall
see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of
the earth shall wail because of him.”
“‘Does our crime consist in looking for him and loving his
appearing? This, too, we charge upon our fathers and teachers;
we have heard, ever since we had consciousness, as our duty
explained and enforced, to watch and look, to love and be
prepared for his return, that when he comes we may enter into
the marriage supper of the Lamb. We also have Christ and the
apostles for our example in so doing. Witness Matt. 24:44;
25:13; Mark 13:34-37; Phil. 3:20, 21; 2 Tim. 4:8; Titus 2:13; 2
Pet. 3:12; Rev. 14:15.
“‘Or are we to be severed from our brethren because we believe
the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments to be the true
prophecies of God; or because that we think we can understand
them, and see in the history of our world their fulfillment?
Are we to be cut off from our connection with your churches
because we believe as your ministers have told us we ought to
for ages past? Acts 24:14: “But this I confess unto you, that
after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of
my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law
and in the prophets.” 26:22: “Having therefore obtained help
of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and
great, saying none other things than those which the prophets
and Moses did say should come. King Agrippa, believest thou
the prophets?” 1 Tim. 4:14: “That thou keep this commandment
without spot, unrebukable, until the appearance of our Lord
Jesus Christ.” Rev. 1:4: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they
that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things
which are written therein; for the time is at hand.”
“‘Again, let me inquire: Are we treated as heretics because we
believe Christ will come this year? Are we not all commanded
to watch? Mark 13:37: “And what I say unto you, I say unto
all, Watch.” And I would ask, Is it not our duty to watch this
year? If so, will you tell us how a man can watch, and not
expect the object for which he watches? If this is the crime,
we plead guilty to the charge, and throw ourselves upon the
word of God, and the example of our fathers, to justify us in
so doing. Eccl. 8:5, 6: “Whoso keepeth the commandments shall
feel no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerneth both
time and judgment; because to every purpose there is time and
judgment.” Dan. 12:6, 7: “And one said to the man clothed in
linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall
it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed
in linen which was upon the waters of the river, when he held
up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by
him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times
and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the
power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”
1 Pet. 1:9, 13: “Receiving the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have
inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace
that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of
time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when
it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory
that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto
themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which
are now reported unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from
Heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore,
gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end
for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation
of Jesus Christ.”
“‘Now, if we are wrong, pray show us wherein consists our
wrong. Show us from the word of God that we are in error; we
have had ridicule enough; that can never convince us that we
are in the wrong; the word of God alone can change our views.
Our conclusions have been formed deliberately and prayerfully,
as we have seen the evidence in the Scriptures; and all
reasoning against our views has only served to confirm us in
them.
“‘Or, are you ready to say that our crime consists in examining
the Bible for ourselves? We have inquired “Watchman, what of
the night?” We have besought and entreated them to give us
any signs of the coming morning, and have waited patiently
for an answer; but have waited in vain; have been turned off
with some German or French philosophy, or had the book closed
in our face, and been insulted for our deep anxiety. We have,
therefore, been obliged to study for ourselves; and if we
are to be cut off for honestly believing in the exactness of
prophetic time, then Scott and Wesley, and the Newtons, and
Mede, Gill, and others, should all be excommunicated for the
like offense. We, therefore, once more call upon you to show us
our errors; and until this is done, we must continue to believe
the Lord will come in this Jewish year.
“‘WM. MILLER.’
“On the 17th of February, Messrs. Miller, Himes, and Elder Josiah Litch,
left Philadelphia for Washington city, which they reached on the 20th.
On the evening of that day they held their first meeting in the Baptist
house, near the Navy-yard. It became so thronged that, on the 26th, they
removed to the Apollo Hall, near the President’s mansion, where they
continued till the 2d of March.
“During these lectures, on the 28th of February, the ‘Peacemaker,’ on
board of the ‘Princeton,’ exploded, killing Colonel Gardiner and Mr.
Upshur, the United States Secretary of State, and wounding others. That
event added interest and solemnity to the lectures, and caused them to be
more fully attended. There were present at the lectures a goodly number
of persons belonging to both houses of Congress.
“Writing from Washington on the day of that explosion, but before the
occurrence, Mr. Miller said:—
“‘They throng us constantly for papers, books, and tracts,
which Bro. Himes is scattering gratuitously by thousands,
containing information on this subject. They send in from this
vicinity and from “old Virginia” for papers and lecturers; but
the one-hundredth part of their requests can never be complied
with. Never have I been listened to with so deep a feeling, and
with such intense interest, for hours.’
“Mr. Miller gave nineteen lectures in this place, and Messrs. Himes and
Litch fifteen.
“Calls for them to extend their tour further south came up from
Charleston, S. C., Savannah, Geo., Mobile, Ala., and from many other
of the larger places in the Southern States. Some of these were very
importunate, but previous arrangements prevented a compliance with those
requests.
“They returned north, held meetings in Baltimore from the 3d to the 8th
of March, and, on the 9th, returned to Philadelphia. There Mr. Miller
gave two more discourses on the 10th; on the 11th he lectured in Newark,
N. J., in the Free Presbyterian meeting-house; on the 12th he gave one
discourse in New York; on the 13th he spoke in Brooklyn and Williamsburg,
N. Y., and on the 14th he returned to Low Hampton.
“He seems to have kept no minute of his subsequent labors, but closes his
note-book, at the termination of this tour, with these words: ‘Now I have
given, since 1832, _three thousand two hundred lectures_.’