Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1893 — Recent “Ends of the World." [ARTICLE]

Recent “Ends of the World."

A dozen times in tbe present century has the “end of the world!’ scare bit—revived, and tbe interest still felt in tbnsubject may be conjectured from tbe excitement caused a few months age by tbe announcement that a telescopic comet, was about to cross tbe orbit or the earth. There are many persons now living wins remember “when the stars fell” To the early '3os and tbe excitement caused by that then unexplained phenomenon. Afc that time it was believed to be the beginning of the end. Tbe southern negroes were greatly alarmed and believed! that the judgment day had really come*, while their fright was shared in no ‘""t 1 ! degree by the whites. Wm. Miller, founder of the “MiUerites,” went so far as tm fix the date for the end of tbe world fas October, 1812, and when his prophecy wan not fulfilled, corrected bis making 1847, 1848 and 1857 the proper dates. Many persons prepared for tbrir ascension on some one of these dates*, and having made ready, were disappointed an the failure. But above <ll, tbe fact that a popular expectation is still entertained in spite of all previous failures,is proved by the presence in this country es a large and increasing denomination of Christian people, whose fundamental article of belief is that the end of the world is near at hand and that their special business to be ready for that event. —[GlobeDemocrat.