“But especially I mention that _wonderful darkness_ on the 19th of
May inst. [1780]. Then, as in our text, the sun was darkened; such
a darkness as probably was never known before since the
crucifixion of our Lord. People left their work in the house and
in the field. Travelers stopped; schools broke up at eleven
o’clock; people lighted candles at noonday; and the fire shone as
at night. Some people, I have been told, were in dismay, and
thought whether the day of Judgment was not drawing on. A great
part of the following night also was singularly dark. The _moon,
though in the full, gave no light_, as in our text.”—_From a
manuscript sermon by Rev. Elam Potter, delivered May 28, 1780._
By the remarkable obscuration of the moon on the following night, the next
sign, “And the moon shall not give her light,” was fulfilled. Concerning
this it is only necessary to insert a few words:—
“The night succeeding that day (May 19, 1780) was of such pitchy
darkness that, in some instances, horses could not be compelled to
leave the stable when wanted for service. About midnight, the
clouds were dispersed, and the moon and stars appeared with
unimpaired brilliancy.”—“_Stone’s History of Beverly._”
Mr. Tenny, of Exeter, N. H., quoted by Mr. Gage, to the Historical
Society, speaking of the dark day and dark night of May 19, 1780, says:—
“The darkness of the following evening was probably as gross as
has ever been observed since the Almighty first gave birth to
light. I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every
luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable
darkness, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have
been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few
inches of the eye was equally invisible with the blackest velvet.”