HOAX IN WASHINGTON

The great rush there was at this time, to hear Mr. Miller lecture on the prophecies, is well illustrated by the following, from the Washington correspondence of the Boston “Mercantile Journal“:MWM 177.1

“Washington, January 22nd, 1843.MWM 177.2

“MR. SLEEPER: - I wrote you yesterday, among other news, that Mr. Miller, the end-of-the-world man, was here. It was announced yesterday, by hand-bills, stuck up all over the city, that he would preach to-day [Sunday] at 3 o’clock, P.M., from the steps of the Patent Office; and, immediately after dinner, crowds were observed wending their way in that direction. The commissioner of the public buildings, or some other officer, had had erected a barricade about halfway up the steps, for the purpose of keeping off the crowd; and when I went to the place of meeting, the space between Seventh and Ninth streets, in front of the Patent Office, was nearly filled with people, their numbers variously estimated from five to ten thousand, of all sexes, ages, and colors. I should think there were over five thousand.MWM 177.3

“The space above the barricades was guarded by police officers, who had permitted some few persons, principally members of Congress, to pass over, which filled some of the unfavored ones with no little indignation, and the democratic spirit of the people began to work.MWM 177.4

“A number of abortive attempts were made to pass the barrier, but, except to the privileged few, unsuccessfully. One person, however, more determined than the rest, showed fight, and was rather roughly handled by the officers, when the crowd, taking his part, and presuming he was abused, made a rush to the barrier, to break it down, but for the moment unsuccessfully. The crowd became, however, more calm, until a gentleman, whom I understood to be a clergyman, stepped forward, and said that he had been requested to inform the people before him ’that there was no certain information that Mr. Miller was in the city;’ upon which a shout arose, unlike anything I have heard since the shouts on Bunker Hill, in September, 1840, intermingled with cries of ‘Hoax!’ Humbug!’ etc. The crowd, however, became still enough in a few minutes for the clergyman to continue his remarks, which were as follows: ‘As I said before, Mr. Miller is, probably, not in the city; but, as it is a pity that such a concourse should be entirely disappointed of receiving benefit on such a day, I think it would be well for you to call on a distinguished gentleman, Mr. Briggs, a member of Congress from Massachusetts, to give you a temperance address. He is now on the platform.’ Cries of ‘Briggs!’ ‘Briggs!’ ensued; but Mr. Briggs had no notion of being called out in this unceremonious manner, and, though urgently solicited by his friends, declined. The crowd, perceiving that there was to be no ‘fun’ made for them, determined to make some for themselves; and again rushing against the barricade, this time successfully, succeeded in obtaining a footing on the platform, and drove the privileged ones, ladies and all, through the Patent Office, - the door of which was kicked open, - into the basement, and from thence into the street; and then, as far as I know, quietly dispersed.MWM 177.5

“The hoax was undoubtedly got up by some printer’s devil, or other mischievous boys, who had the handbills printed and distributed. A great many people from the neighboring parts of the district were arriving during the day, and a number of vehicles and horsemen were on the ground. In fine, it was not a bad hoax - pretty well got up; but if it had been on any other day than Sunday, it would have been better.”MWM 178.1

From the 21st to the 29th of January, 1843, Mr. Miller lectured in Bennington, Vt. He then went to Philadelphia, Pa., and lectured in the large hall of the Chinese Museum, which was crowded to excess, from the 3rd to the 10th of February. On the evening of the 7th, a gentleman arose and confessed that he had been an infidel, but could now praise God for what he had done for his soul. Many others followed, bearing testimony to God’s pardoning mercy.MWM 178.2

The interest attending the lectures continued to increase from the first till the evening before their close. On that evening the house was filled to overflowing at an early hour.MWM 179.1

When the lecture commenced, the crowd and confusion were so great as to render it almost impossible to hear the speaker; and it was thought best, after notifying the people what was to be done, and giving an opportunity for all who wished so to do to go out, to close the doors, and thus secure silence. This was done, and the speaker proceeded to his subject. For about half an hour there was profound silence, and deep interest was evinced by the immense audience, with the exception of a few unruly boys. This would have undoubtedly continued, had it not been for the circumstance of a lady’s fainting, and it becoming necessary to open the doors for her to go out. When the door was opened, there was a rush of persons who stood outside for admittance. As soon as this was done, and a few had come into the room, an unruly boy raised the cry of “Fire,” which threw the whole assembly into confusion, some crying one thing, and some another. There did not appear to be any disposition on the part of the multitude to disturb the meeting; but all came from the rush and cry. The disorder arose more from the excited fears of the people than from any other cause. Order was again restored, and the speaker proceeded for a few moments, when another rush was made, and the excitement became so great within as to render it expedient to dismiss the meeting.MWM 179.2

The police of the city were willing to do what they could, but there was nothing for them to do; for they could not govern the excited nerves of the audience.MWM 179.3

On Friday morning the multitude were again assembled at an early hour for service, and Mr. Miller proceeded to answer numerous questions which had been proposed. A most profound attention was manifested until the meeting was about half through, when a man arose and wished to propose some questions, which interrupted the order of the meeting.MWM 179.4

The owners became alarmed for the safety of the hall, and ordered the meetings to be closed after the afternoon service. Although this fact was unknown except by a few persons, yet the room was literally packed with a mass of living beings, who listened with breathless silence to Mr. Miller’s last lecture.MWM 179.5

There had been no intimation given throughout of what had transpired to close the meetings, until he came to bid them farewell. There were then bitter tears and strong sighs. The announcement of the fact came unexpectedly. The appeal was melting beyond expression. Probably more than a thousand persons arose to testify their faith in the truth of the Advent near, and three or four hundred of the unconverted arose to request an interest in his prayers. Mr. Miller closed the services by a most feeling and appropriate prayer and the benediction. No blame was attached to the owners of the Museum for their course.MWM 180.1

About this time it was announced, by a correspondent of Bennett’s N. Y. Herald, that Mr. Miller had fixed on the 3rd of April for the Advent. This being industriously circulated, led Prof. Moses Stuart to say of “the men of April 3rd, 1843,” “I would respectfully suggest, that in some way or other they have, in all probability, made a small mistake as to the exact day of the month when the grand catastrophe takes place, - the 1st of April being evidently much more appropriate to their arrangements than any other day in the year.” - Hints, 2nd ed., p.173. The New York Observer of February 11, 1843, in commenting on this suggestion of Prof. Stuart, thought it sufficient “to quiet every feeling of alarm!” As remarks like these, and other equally foolish stories which are referred to in the following letter, met the eye of Mr. Miller, he thus denied them through the columns of the “Signs of the Times“:MWM 180.2

“DEAR BROTHER HIMES: - At the request of numerous friends, I herein transmit to them, through you, a brief statement of facts, relative to the many stories with which the public are humbugged, concerning the principles I advocate, and the management of my worldly concerns.MWM 180.3

“My principles, in brief, are, that Jesus Christ will come again to this earth, cleanse, purify, and take possession of the same, with all his saints, some time between March 21,MWM 180.4

1843, and March 21, 1844. I have never, for the space of more than twenty-three years, had any other time preached or published by me; I have never fixed on any month, day, or hour, during that period; I have never found any mistake in reckoning, summing up, or miscalculation; I have made no provision for any other time; I am perfectly satisfied that the Bible is true, and is the Word of God, and I am confident that I rely wholly on the blessed Book for my faith in this matter. I am not a prophet. I am not sent to prophesy, but to read, believe, and publish what God has inspired the ancient prophets to administer to us, in the prophecies of the Old and New Testament. These have been, and now are my principles, and I hope I shall never be ashamed of them.MWM 181.1

“As to worldly cares, I have had but very few for twelve years past. I have a wife and eight children; I have great reason to believe they all are the children of God, and believers in the same doctrine with myself. I own a small farm in Low Hampton, N. Y.; my family support themselves upon it, and I believe they are esteemed frugal, temperate and industrious. They use hospitality without grudging, and never turn a pilgrim from the house, nor the needy from the door. I bless God my family are benevolent and kind to all men who need their sympathy or aid; I have no cares to manage, except my own individual wants; I have no funds or debts due me of any amount; ‘I owe no man any thing;” and I have expended more than two thousand dollars of my property in twelve years, besides what God has given me through the dear friends, in this cause.MWM 181.2

“Yours respectfully, WILLIAM MILLER. “Philadelphia, Feb. 4th, 1844.”MWM 181.3

The almost unparalleled abuse to which Mr. Miller was subject, through most of the secular and some of the religious papers, during this period, called forth the following manly rebuke from the “Sandy Hill Herald,” a paper published in Mr. Miller’s own county:MWM 181.4

“FATHER MILLER.MWM 181.5

“While we are not prepared to subscribe to the doctrine promulgated by this gentleman, we have been surprised at the means made use of by its opponents to put it down. Certainly all who have ever heard him lecture, or have read his works, must acknowledge that he is a sound reasoner, and, as such, is entitled to fair arguments from those who differ with him. Yet his opponents do not see fit to exert their reasoning powers, but content themselves by denouncing the old gentleman as a ‘fanatic,’ a ‘liar,’ ‘deluded old fool,’ ‘speculator,’ etc., etc. Mr. Miller is now, and has been for many years, a resident of this county, and as a citizen, a man, and a Christian, stands high in the estimation of all who know him; and we have been pained to hear the gray-headed, trembling old man denounced as a ‘speculating knave.’MWM 181.6

“Speculating, forsooth! Why need he speculate? He has enough of the good things of this world to last him through the few days which at longest may be his on earth, without travelling from city to city, from town to village, laboring night and day like a galley-slave, to add to a store which is already abundant. Who, that has witnessed his earnestness in the pulpit, and listened to the uncultivated eloquence of nature, which falls in such rich profusion from his lips, dare say that he is an impostor? We answer, without fear of contradiction from any candid mind, None! We are not prepared to say how far the old man may be from correct, but one thing, we doubt not that he is sincere; and we do hope that some one of his many opponents will take the pains to investigate the subject, and, if it be in their power, drive the old man from his position. It is certainly a subject worthy of investigation, and one fraught with momentous consequences; and no matter who the individual is that promulgates the doctrine, if he offers good reasons and sound arguments, drawn from the word of God and from history, we say he is entitled to his position until, by the same means, he is driven from it. Mr. Miller certainly goes to the fountain of knowledge, revelation and history, for proof, and should not be answered with low, vulgar and blasphemous witticisms.MWM 182.1

“We like the following remarks, copied from an exchange, in relation to this subject:MWM 182.2

“‘MILLERISM. - This is the term by which the opinions of those who oppose the idea of a millennium, and maintain that the end of the world will take place in 1843, are distinguished; and they are thus denominated because Mr. Miller first propagated it.MWM 182.3

“‘We certainly are not a convert to the theory; but we feel bound in duty to lift our voice in reproof of, and enter our protest against, the infidel scurrility and blasphemous witticisms with which some of our exchanges abound, and from which religious periodicals are not wholly exempt.MWM 183.1

“‘If Mr. Miller is in error, it is possible to prove him so, but not by vulgar and blasphemous witticisms and ribaldry; these are not arguments. And to treat a subject of such overwhelming majesty, and fearful consequences - a subject which has been made the theme of prophecy in both Testaments; the truth of which, occur when it will, God has sealed by his own unequivocal averments - we repeat it, to make puns and display vulgar wit upon this subject, is not merely to sport with the feelings of its propagators and advocates, but is to make a jest of the day of judgment, to scoff at the Deity himself, and contemn the terrors of his judgment bar.’”MWM 183.2

The “Pittsburg (Pa.) Gazette” also said:MWM 183.3

“We do not concur with Mr. Miller in his interpretations of the prophecies; but we can see neither reason nor Christianity in the unmerited reproach which is heaped upon him for propagating an honest opinion. And that he is honest we have no doubt. True, we think him in error, but believe he is honestly so. And suppose he does err in his views of prophecy, does that make him either a knave or a fool? Have not some of the greatest or best men who have lived since the days of the apostles erred in the same way? And who will say that all these, including Whitby, Bishop Newton, and others of equal celebrity, were monomaniacs, and driven by a pitiable or culpable frenzy to the adoption of their opinions? The truth is, as we apprehend, that many of those who are so indecorous and vituperative in their denunciations of Miller, are in fearful trepidation, lest the day being so near at hand, ‘should overtake them unawares,’ and hence, like cowardly boys in the dark, they make a great noise by way of keeping up their courage, and to frighten away the bugbears.”MWM 183.4

The editor of the “Countryman,” in giving the Synopsis of Mr. Miller’s views, added:MWM 184.1

“The abstract of Miller’s views, which we give on our fourth page, so far as we give it in this paper, is and has been, according to what we have been able to ascertain, the professed belief of orthodox Christians, from the day of Christ’s ascension into heaven until the present hour. Therefore they are not merely Mr. Miller’s views, but the acknowledged views of the Christian church, the received Bible doctrine; and if Bible doctrine, then are they the truth.MWM 184.2

“One of the apostles, who shared as largely in the confidence and personal instruction of his Master as any, concludes a reference to this subject in these words: ‘Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.’ 2 Peter 3:14. If the things here referred to have not taken place, - and who will say they have? - they, of course, are yet to transpire. If so, is not the caution of the apostle as important in this our day, as it was when he uttered it? And if it was an event to be looked for and hoped for then, should it be an object of less solicitude now? Every intelligent, free moral agent upon earth, whether aware of it or not, has an interest in this issue. He may absorb his mind in other matters, he may drown reflection in the whirl of business or pleasure, he may wrap his soul in projects of wealth or ambition, and fill his aspiring eye with the anticipated glories of some dazzling height, but his interest still cleaves to the immortality of his nature, and, sooner or later, he must discover that it is the most important interest ever presented to his consideration, or that is attached to his being or his destiny. Is it not, then, the height of wisdom to give heed to these things, and examine them with all that diligence and dispassionate attention their importance merits?”MWM 184.3