Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1876 — Disappointed Adventists. [ARTICLE]

Disappointed Adventists.

We have hitherto hinted that there were in this city a group of Adventists whose religious creed is singular. They believe in “laying on of hands,” and in gifts ot healing. They employ no physicians, but they believe in thaumaturgy. They seek to receive the “ gifts” with which Christianity in action first endowed its zealous apostles. They believe that what powers and gifts God bestowed upon His early apostles He will bestow upon His later disciples. They believe in the beautiful rites which the Lord instituted before His crucifixion—notably in that act by which Jesus forever incarnated that central truth of his kingdom; “He that is greatest among you, let him be your servant.” Hence they practice as a rite that gracious act of humility, washing one another’s feet, which John, in the sacred biography, describes. But the most peculiar characteristic of his Biblical interpretation is seen when the Adventist comes to prophecy. The mysterious words of Daniel and the allegorical beasts and elders of the Revelator shine with significance to the Adventist. We have had these prophecies move or less accurately translated from the language of allegory and ecstacy to that of arithmetic; we have had ascension days fixed and certain. The second coming of the Lord as the thief in the night has often been confidently anticipated. A company of Lewiston Adventists a year since, under the lead of Elder Thurman, a devoted disciple, fixed on a definite day for the end of the wosid; but as the world did not see fit to end at that time, he felt called upon to make a more careful inspection of his figures and his principles of interpretation. Having done this, Elder Thurman discovered that he had made a mistake of one year in his reckoning. Fortunately, that year was in our favor, and in accordance with his investigations he guardedly informed his flock that the night for the second coming of the Savior would in all probability prove to be the night of April 7,1876. Accordingly, quietly and unostentatiously, the devout flock on Friday made ready for the sacred event. Wakefield Hall, a little nook in Central Block, was made ready for the occasion. There is galleryroom for a few spectators. The faithful occupied the main floor. The visitor to. the hall was courteously shown a seat in the gallery—-only this caveat was entered, that no one should enter who came to make sport. There were about thirty persons present—all with a devout and becoming behavior. The ceremony was solemn and impressive. One of their number states that more would have been present but for bad traveling. None were admitted to the hall after 7:80 o’clock. A table covered with snowy- white linen was spread in the hall, on which the tokens of the eucharist were spread. The bread was unleavened and seven days old. The table was surrounded by settees. Elder Thurman presided And conducted the service. Scripture was read; a hymn was sung, and the Elder gave directions to the flock. The settees were first turned back to the table. The sisters occupied one bench, the brethren another, sitting back to them on the opposite side of the table. Following the example of Jesus, the Elder removed his coat and girt himself with a linen towel. He then poured water into a basin and washed the feet of one of the disciples. Then the disciples washed one another’s feet—the sisters performing the rite one for another. Then the Passover supper was eaten Ah Interesting social service followed the supper, which ended at ten o’clock. Each person related his experience, his hope and his faith, as any Christian might. It was now well along in the evening, and no sign appeared to confirm the Elder’s prediction. Yet the good Advent people waited on the Lord, waited to see Him coming in the clouds of heaven. The clock in the neighboring bell-tower strikes one short of midnight. Elder Thurman’s faith wavers. At 11:30the lights areextinguished and the faithful ones go home. As ever, true to the almanac, old Sol broke over the world this morning. And the time is not yet! Elder Thurman, on being consulted on Saturday, confessed that the failure of several appointed dates for the final catastrophe has somewhat weakened his confidence in his arithmetic; but of this be is positive, that the second coming of the Lord will oecoron Passover Day. The Elder has a carefully-prepared chronology of the world, and has felt that if this last appointment was not a success, he should leave the date with the Lord altogether. He is constrained to see that he is in error, and he frankly confesses that he cannot set any further time for the- above-named catastrophe. He takes his figures from Daniel. The world, he says, was created, in bis view, 6,000 years ago, about this time of yoar. —Lewiston (Me.) Journal. A sure cure for Lolls or carbuncles; Boil one pouhd of shot in one quart of milk; drink a gobletful three times a day. Exchange.