on all who heard. I am of the opinion that not less than one hundred
persons who held infidel sentiments are brought to believe the Bible.
Infidelity is dumb in this place, as if frightened, and converts are
many.’
“The following testimony of one who was converted from infidelity
during these lectures, is copied from the Boston Investigator (an
infidel paper) of January, 1845:
“‘_Mr. Editor_: I was a warm supporter of the views of Abner Kneeland,
attended his lectures and _protracted dances_, disbelieved in Divine
revelation and a future existence, and fully accorded with Mr.
Kneeland’s views of religion. Having read every work of note that I
could obtain, and having heard many lectures opposed to God and the
Bible, I considered myself prepared to overthrow the Christian faith,
and feared no argument that could be brought from the Bible. With these
feelings, I attended a full course of Mr. Miller’s lectures. He gave
his rules of interpretation, and pledged himself to prove his position.
I approved of his rules,--to which I refer you,--and the result was,
he established the fact that the Bible is what it purports to be--the
word of God--to my mind, beyond a doubt; and I have taken it as the man
of my counsel. I notice your doubts of the truth of the statement in
relation to hundreds of infidels being converted under the preaching
of Mr. Miller. This may possibly be owing to your never having given
Mr. Miller a candid and thorough hearing. He is a man mighty in the
Scriptures, and has done terrible execution in the ranks of the “King’s
enemies,” with the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. I am
personally acquainted with nearly one hundred who held to similar views
with Abner Kneeland, who were converted under the preaching of Mr.
Miller; and we did not yield the point without a struggle, nor without
due consideration. Each and every prop and refuge of infidelity and
unbelief was taken away from us, and our sandy foundation was swept
by the truth of the Almighty as chaff is driven by the wind. Yet we
parted with them much as a man parts with a _diseased tooth_. We tried
to cure and keep it there, and when made to know that the _root_ and
foundation was rotten, it was painful to part with; but we rejoice and
felt better after the separation; for there is balm in Gilead--there is
a Physician there.’
“From the 24th to the 28th of May, Mr. Miller 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 he 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 prejudices 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 many
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 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, 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. Miller 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. Miller 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 tests of Scripture.
“He arrived in Boston on the 7th of December, and from the 8th to the
16th lectured in 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.’
“On the 19th of November, he commenced a course of lectures in New
Haven, Ct., in the M. E. Church, Rev. Mr. Law, pastor. On Sunday, the
20th, although the house was large, it was crowded; and in the evening
many were unable to gain admittance. He continued there till the 26th,
the interest continuing during the entire course. _The Fountain_, a
temperance paper published in that city, gave the following account of
the meeting:
“‘Mr. William Miller, the celebrated writer and lecturer on the second
advent of our Saviour, and the speedy destruction of the world, has
recently visited our city, and delivered a course of lectures to an
immense concourse of eager listeners in the First Methodist Church.
It is estimated that not less than three thousand persons were in
attendance at the church, on each evening, for a week; and if the
almost breathless silence which reigned throughout the immense throng
for two or three hours at a time is any evidence of interest in the
subject of the lectures, it cannot be said that our community are
devoid of feeling on this momentous question.
“‘Mr. Miller was accompanied and assisted by Elder J. V. Himes, who
is by no means an inefficient coadjutor in this great and important
work. We did not attend the whole course, the last three lectures being
all we had an opportunity of hearing. We are utterly disappointed. So
many extravagant things had been said of the “fanatics” in the public
prints, and such distorted statements published in reference to their
articles of faith, that we were prepared to witness disgusting and
perhaps blasphemous exhibitions of Millerism, as the doctrine of the
second advent is called.
“‘In justice to Mr. Miller we are constrained to say, that he is one
of the most interesting lecturers we have any recollection of ever
having heard. We have not the least doubt that he is fully convinced
of the truth of the doctrine he labors so diligently to inculcate,
and he certainly evinces great candor and fairness in his manner of
proving his points. And he proves them, too, to the satisfaction of
every hearer;--that is, allowing his premises to be correct, there is
no getting away from his conclusions.
“‘There was quite a number of believers in attendance from other
places, and a happier company we have never seen. We have no means of
ascertaining the precise effect of these meetings on this community,
but we know that many minds have been induced to contemplate the
Scripture prophecies in a new light, and not a few are studying the
Bible with unwonted interest. For our own part, this new view of the
world’s destiny is so completely at variance with previous habits of
thought and anticipation, that we are not prepared to give it entire
credence, though we should not dare hazard an attempt to disprove it.
“‘The best part of the story is, that a powerful revival has followed
the labors of Messrs. Miller and company. We learn that over fifty
persons presented themselves for prayers at the altar of the Methodist
church on Sunday evening. On Monday evening the number was about
eighty.’”
“From the 6th to the 9th of March [1842], Mr. Miller lectured in
Medford, Mass. While here, a friend took him to a phrenologist in
Boston, with whom he was himself acquainted, but who had no suspicion
whose head he was about to examine. The phrenologist commenced by
saying that the person under examination had a large, well-developed,
and well-balanced head. While examining the moral and intellectual
organs, he said to Mr. Miller’s friend:
“‘I tell you what it is, Mr. Miller could not easily make a convert of
_this man_ to his hair-brained theory. He has too much good sense.’
“Thus he proceeded, making comparisons between the head he was
examining and the head of Mr. Miller, as he fancied it would be.
“‘Oh, how I should like to examine Mr. Miller’s head!’ said he; ‘I
would give it one squeezing.’
“The phrenologist, knowing that the gentleman was a particular friend
of Mr. Miller, spared no pains in going out of the way to make remarks
upon him. Putting his hand on the organ of marvelousness, he said:
‘There! I’ll bet you anything that old Miller has got a bump on his
head there as big as my fist;’ at the same time doubling up his fist as
an illustration.
“The others present laughed at the perfection of the joke, and he
heartily joined them, supposing they were laughing at his witticisms on
Mr. Miller.
“He pronounced the head of the gentleman under examination the reverse,
in every particular, of what he declared Mr. Miller’s must be. When
through, he made out his chart, and politely asked Mr. Miller his name.
“Mr. Miller said it was of no consequence about putting his name upon
the chart; but the phrenologist insisted.
“‘Very well,’ said Mr. M.; ‘you may call it Miller, if you choose.’
“‘_Miller, Miller_,’ said he; ‘what is your first name?’
“‘They call me William Miller.’
“‘What! the gentleman who is lecturing on the prophecies?’
“‘Yes, sir, the same.’
“At this the phrenologist settled back in his chair, the personation
of astonishment and dismay, and spoke not a word while the company
remained. His feelings may be more easily imagined than described.”
Concerning his personal appearance and private character, we must do
the reader the service of giving him the following portrait, drawn by a
delicate pencil:
“I have just had the privilege of meeting with this humble servant of
God, at the fireside of a friend, and I can truly say that my earnest
expectations were more than realized in the interview. 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 also wanting in marvelousness, and is NATURALLY skeptical. His
countenance is full and round, and much like the engraving we have
seen, while there is a peculiar depth of expression in his blue eye,
of shrewdness and love. Although about sixty-two years of age, his
hair is not grey, but of a light glossy auburn, his voice is full
and distinct, and his pronounciation 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 whom God has chosen
to give the ‘Midnight Cry’ to a sleeping world.”--_Midnight Cry_.
Here we must leave William Miller for the present, to be introduced
again in a brief sketch of the rise and progress of Adventism.
MY PUBLIC LABORS.
On returning from the great camp-meeting in Eastern Maine, where I
heard with deepest interest such men as Miller, Himes, and Preble,
I found myself happy in the faith that Christ would come about the
year 1843. I had given up all to teach the doctrine to others, and
to prepare myself to do this was the great object before me. I
had purchased the chart illustrating the prophecies of Daniel and
John, used by lecturers at that time, and had a good assortment of
publications upon the manner, object, and time of the second advent.
And with this chart hung before me, and these books and the Bible in my
hands, I spent several weeks in close study, which gave me a clearer
view of the subject.
In October, 1842, an Advent camp-meeting was held in Exeter, Me., which
I attended. The meeting was large, tents numerous, preaching clear and
powerful, and the singing of Second-Advent melodies possessed a power
such as I had never before witnessed in sacred songs. My Second-Advent
experience was greatly deepened at this meeting, and at its close I
felt that I must immediately go out into the great harvest-field, and
do what I could in sounding the warning. I therefore prepared three
lectures, one to remove such objections as the time of the advent not
to be known, and the temporal millennium, one on the signs of the
times, and one on the prophecy of Daniel.
I had neither horse, saddle, bridle, nor money, yet felt that I must
go. I had used my past winter’s earnings in necessary clothing, in
attending Second-Advent meetings, and in the purchase of books and the
chart. But my father offered me the use of a horse for the winter, and
Elder Polley gave me a saddle with both pads torn off, and several
pieces of an old bridle. I gladly accepted these, and cheerfully placed
the saddle on a beech log and nailed on the pads, fastened the pieces
of the bridle together with malleable nails, folded my chart, with a
few pamphlets on the subject of the advent, over my breast, snugly
buttoned up in my coat, and left my father’s house on horseback.
I gave from three to six lectures in four different towns around
Palmyra. Speaking, with the blessing of God, gave me freedom and
confidence, and as the subject opened to me by study, reflection, and
in speaking, I found it necessary to divide subjects, so that I added
one discourse, at least, to the little series, at each place. I had a
good hearing at all these places, but saw no special results.
A school-mate of mine had engaged to teach school in the town of
Burnham; but by accident had lost an eye, and was told by his
physician that he should rest at least one week before teaching. He
urged me to teach for him one week. I consented, and on the first day
of school gave an appointment for evening lectures. The school-house
was crowded. I gave seven lectures, which were listened to with
interest and deep feeling.
At this place I began to feel the burden of the work, the condition of
the people, and love for precious souls, as I had not before. Previous
to this time I had taken great delight in dwelling upon the evidences
of the Advent hope and faith. But now I realized that there was a
solemn power in these evidences, to convict the people, such as I did
not expect to realize. At the close of my last lecture, sixty arose
for prayers. I felt deeply the condition of the people. But what could
I do for them? I had not anticipated that I should ever have upon
my hands sixty repenting sinners, and was wholly unprepared to lead
them any farther. My little pond of thought, in the course of seven
lectures, had run out, and I dared not undertake to preach a practical
discourse for fear it would prove a failure, and injure the well-begun
work. In this state of things it occurred to me to send for my brother,
who had been in the ministry five years before me, and was favorable
to the Advent doctrine. He came and labored six weeks, baptized, and
organized a large church, for which they paid him sixty dollars. I
paid, at the close of my week’s teaching and lecturing, one dollar for
horse-keeping, and left for the Kennebec. My brother afterward told me
that every one he baptized dated their experience from my lectures.
At one of the places near my native town, where I had given lectures, I
met a gentleman who seemed very much interested in the soon-coming of
the Lord, who gave me an urgent invitation to visit Brunswick, Me. He
stated that there had been no preaching on the subject in that part of
the State, and that the Freewill Baptists, who were very numerous on
the west side of the Kennebec river, from Augusta to Brunswick, would
willingly give me a hearing. From that moment I felt inclined to make
my course toward Brunswick. So, in January, 1843, I left on horseback,
thinly clad, and without money, to go more than a hundred miles among
strangers.
Night came on as I drew near Augusta, the capital of the State, and I
inquired at a humble cottage for entertainment, stating that I was a
penniless preacher, and wished to find rest with some Christian, who
would willingly care for me and my tired horse without charge. “I am a
member of the Christian church of this place,” said he, “please stop
with me.” I gladly accepted the cordial invitation.
During the evening my friend stated that Elder Pearl, a Christian
minister, was to preach on the next Sunday, and invited me to stop and
give evening lectures in the school-house, and spend the Sunday with
my old friend and acquaintance, Elder Pearl. I did so, and had a good
hearing, and was kindly received by Elder Pearl, who loved the doctrine
of Christ’s soon coming. I was also invited to speak in the school
district east of that, near the Kennebec river. The house was filled,
and many stood outside at the open windows. A Universalist opposed the
doctrine I was presenting to the people, and finding he could prevail
nothing, brought a Mr. W., the editor of the Augusta _Age_, a noted
Universalist, to oppose me, and, at the close of my lecture, introduced
him to the people, and invited them to stop and hear what he had to
say. I was too hoarse to reply, and stated that I had no further
claims on the congregation. A dozen voices cried, “Clear the way, and
let us pass out.” Only about twenty-five, and those of the baser sort,
remained to hear Mr. W. They were, of course, ready to receive what the
speaker chose to say, who, being grieved and angry with the youthful
lecturer for leaving, and with the people for following me, was in a
state of mind to excite in them a mob spirit.
The reader may think me rash in depriving the editor of the _Age_ of
a hearing. But I was an inexperienced youth, and feared a battle,
and took this course to avoid it. But a battle came the next evening
of a different kind. Mr. W.’s hearers decided before leaving the
school-house to get all to join them who would, and on the next evening
break up the meeting.
As I was about to go to the house the next evening, several of my
friends came to me and stated that a mob of at least three hundred was
around the school-house. They warned me, as I regarded my life, to
remain away from the meeting. I went before the Lord with the matter,
then told my friends that I should go to the school-house, trusting in
God to defend me. And as I drew near the house I heard the shouting
of the mob, and was again warned by the friends who accompanied me to
take their advice, and go no further lest I lose my life. I then stated
to them that I believed the Lord would in some way defend me, and
pressed forward. My friends had resolved that if I went to the place of
meeting they would go with me, and stand by me to the last. We found
the school-house filled with women, all the windows taken out, and the
house surrounded by men enough to fill three such houses. I pressed
through the crowd and made my way to the desk. The greatest fear
prevailed within the house, while unearthly yells seemed to be the
delight of the mob without. The Universalist, who had taken the trouble
to get Mr. W. to the place to oppose me, stood close to the desk, and,
as I entered it, said to me:
“This, sir, is the result of your conduct last evening, in refusing to
hear the gentleman I brought here to reply to you. Your meetings will
be broken up.”
I replied, “Very well, sir, if it is the will of God, let it be so.”
I then called the meeting to order, and prayed, standing upon my
feet. This I did for two reasons. First, want of room to kneel, and,
second, it was safer for me to stand with my eyes open and watch this
infuriated Universalist, who seemed to have all he could do to keep
from striking me.
While praying, a snow-ball whistled by my head and struck on the
ceiling behind me. I read my text from Peter, relative to the burning
day of God, and commenced commenting upon it, but could be heard by
only a few near me, in consequence of the shouting of the mob. Many
snow-balls were thrown at me through the open windows, but none hit me.
I raised my voice above the noise of the mob, but while turning for my
proof-texts they seemed to gain advantage over me. And there was too
much excitement and fear for my proofs to tell on any mind.