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  • Ronald L. Numbers - The Disappointed: Millerism and Millenarianism in The Nineteenth Century

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    The first edition (now out of print) grew out of a conference held in Vermont, May-June 1984; the second includes minor changes and one important new document. The subject is the thinking and influence of William Miller whose prediction of the second coming of Christ and the end of the world "about the year 1843" fostered several new religious movements, including Seventh-day Adventists.

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    Ronald L. Numbers - The Disappointed: Millerism and Millenarianism in the Nineteenth Century

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    The first edition (now out of print) grew out of a conference held in Vermont, May-June 1984; the second includes minor changes and one important new document. The subject is the thinking and influence of William Miller whose prediction of the second coming of Christ and the end of the world "about the year 1843" fostered several new religious movements, including Seventh-day Adventists.

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    Public Domain
    Als PDF herunterladen oder online auf Scribd lesen
    Markieren Sie unangemessene Inhalte
    377 Ansichten139 Seiten

    Ronald L. Numbers - The Disappointed: Millerism and Millenarianism in The Nineteenth Century

    Hochgeladen von

    Anonymous yptUymCbi
    The first edition (now out of print) grew out of a conference held in Vermont, May-June 1984; the second includes minor changes and one important new document. The subject is the thinking and influence of William Miller whose prediction of the second coming of Christ and the end of the world "about the year 1843" fostered several new religious movements, including Seventh-day Adventists.

    Copyright:

    Public Domain
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    von 139
    The Disappointed Millerism and Millenarianism in the Nineteenth Century EDITED BY RONALD L, NUMBERS JONATHAN Me BUTLER The DISAPPOINTED —_ Millerism and Millenarianism in the Nineteenth Century EDITED BY Ronald L. Numbers and Jonathan M. Butler Copyigh ©1990 he Unvny ofTrmase Pe / Keone [Aliph remrve: Mantra the Uned Stat Amercs ‘Sond Eon renpiece iia and Ly Mier Cortef ames Ni Inde rant an ck covers Cals hand Apion as 184 prope art A posers flleler vr athe hart asl om he Univer of Tense rn Pl en $100 oping ad aning ‘The Unversity of Teese Pos 25 Comsiates Balan, Kroll, 1N, 39605, Atm: Mile Feat ‘The poperin hisbok mathe minim oun fhe Ane Nona Saad er Prmanenc of Pape for Prod bay Mate ° ‘The binding mative en chown or stength and uy brary of Congres Cason in Publaton Dats ‘The Dnpptntad: Miler and Minas in ent ety / ‘Shin by Ronald Nurs an oathar Mater wth atone scetebylames Na 2aded Indes itopaphi ferenc ain "SEN 04906.793(pk k.pped {Milt movement ned Sate—itary 2. Miler ovement Cre tins. ‘¢Advent—Get Binnie 190 cy 5 aidemnson—Unto Ste Hitory of ocine— 19 cet. 6 Mileisor—Creat rain Hater of dcrne 198 oy. Nantes mall 1 Bae Jotun M Vern Carner FROM His Friends CONTENTS Jonathon Me Basler ad Ronald L- Numbers 1. Millerites: A Shadow Portrait David 1. Rowe 2, William Miller: Disappointed Prophet 17 Wayne Re Judd 3. Joshua V. Himes and the Cause of Adventism 36 David T. Arthur 4. The Millerite Adventists in Great Britain, 1840-1850 59 Lowie Billington 5., The Millerite Use of Prophecy: A Case Study of a “Striking Fulfilment” 78 Erie Anderton 6, Millerism and Madness: A Study of “Religious insanity" in Nineteenth-Century America 93 Ronald L. Numbers and Janet. Numbers 7. Millerism and Evangelical Culture 119 Ruth Alden Doan 8. The Abolitionist-Millerite Connection 139 Ronald D. Greybill Contents 9. “The Wind Sweeping Over the Country”: John Humphrey Noyes and the Rise of Millerism 153 Michoe!Barkun 10, Had Prophecy Failed? Contrasting Perspectives of the Millerites and Shakers) 173 Lawrence Foster 1, The Making of a New Order: Millerism and ‘the Origins of Seventh-day Adventism 189 Jonathan M. Butler Append: The Disspoinmene Remembeed 209 “he Recto of Lathe Bote Hiram Edson, (oe Henry. Bear Append : The Dapoinment Experienced 337 “The Til of fer | Doron moe 4s Illustrations Portis of Wiliam and Lucy Miler yrowrismnce Report ofthe 840 General Confrence onthe Sezond Cong ‘Wiliam Mie reaching im Newark 7 The Gent Ten 7 The True Midnight Cry 8 ‘The mance of Mile’ fit polished statement Mie’ ese pamphlet onthe Second Coming 34 Miers mininel eee 35, Miles Text Book” 26 The Midighe ry 38 Aske of Wiliam Miler 32 Miler’ 1849 poem 32 Pontaitof Joshua V. Hines 40 Himes pronbeticchare 44-43 ‘The Advent Herald and Sign of the Times Reporter “Lise Day Toker!” 60 The Voie of Elia 62 Israton ofthe prophees of Daniel 4: 1-32 NewYork Tribune, March 21843 52-8) [Ani-Men bonds from tag 93 De. Willan C.Browale’'s xrmon Join Dowling’ Reply 0 Miler Milest inal x44 “he Advent Message to the Dangers of Zion Ane Milete engraving fa ma in sale Miers chapel 140 The nero of Miler’ chapel Semul Rhodes prophetic at to uss 9 Preface to the Second Edition Sten deeb this eallecon of sys sigan "the coming of ap he study of Mileies "The Despont the explained. "etblhe that Nera bes unr stood not in terms of erent pathology, deviance, or depvaon—socal, eo. omic pycholopal, or rigaurbut a repenene of the regio oulook of "nec cenury Ameria" As edo, we oul ot age more wth his assent ‘Our oreedng goal in ssembing hie volume was to eae the Merits rom hor caleget and malice and place them Sqarly within th ute of abel Anes (a Peet ‘Wehve been rtf! that most viewers, Advent and non-Advenst aie have ‘oncirrl with Alanee and Sen. Adventist, ong embarate bythe ampoorig of ‘he pial forebears prased The Disappointed or cing billet roche ft Sel ger of American fe As Benjamin McArae noted in Spec (February 1988) teeny had endowed he Adve radon "with espera par of the gs atom of American room monement” Aer decade of bing acd 2 Shoe beewen lence and apologetis, Adem htorians seerbed eget fo joa the Imtonoprapieatmainream, ‘Now Advent historians of American religion wicomed The Diapponed for providing ruttorty inodaction othe Miles movement and for documenting, {Bil | Leonard odin Church History Jute 98h “a Miles was nt Simply the lanacfinge of Ameian milena speadaton.” For some eangehcals, The Disepoined eed a more persona menage As Taney P Weber poned out in the nang tis Bale (November 198s book nt ony plished the image of Miller but pssesed he pote of charging the way twentecentry Ame ‘anges view temseies and heh” Raber than dsancing thems om Dies Seaabe af ts embsrsting soe, he argued, contemporary evangelicals ‘ould acknowledge thenaces to be te holo so the Miles poping the eon dion me Hae the et wcngd exept fr co ecg minor typographical erre We hee, hweve aden important ew docs mene a rcetlydcvered newapaper account he il nearly 1845 of 4 Maipe Mile, Isat Damon, ceed of vapraney apd darting the ese. This tral ‘eco io particle inter besa itodaced len Harmon ater White) the Public and showed fer erupt up Inthe pos Dispoinemen fanaa ah ter ‘sounced. reminds shat in downplaying the derancy of Miles, we should not ‘vrook what Esc Anderson has called ite scandalous aspects For proving this ‘camer and for other etoial srancr, oe are patel to Fedetick G. Hoy, ‘evs pres of story and pola sence a La Seta Univer REN and 1 MB. Acknowledgments “This volume grew out of + conference on "Miles and he Millenia Mind in 9th: Cenary Are,” held the Cot In in Kilington, Vermont, May 30 ne 1984 in honorot Vern Came. That event, orpniedby Wayoe Jud and Ronald [amber wat spotored bythe felowing fed of Wen Stan Auddember Harold Campoet ‘Bashar Caner Duaype Chistes ere and Opal Dick and Fle Dee ‘Wayne and Audrey Jd Ron Maddox Stanley and Seranne Mls Ron and Jane Numbers, ‘Addons ancl suppor came fom Bruce Anderson, Joe and Paine Carnet, Vig ‘Carer, Docothes Cheek, George Chen Bl nd Daren HenminJobn ad Mausne ‘Henderson, Ae Holey Exe Tas, and Vern and Landa Usher To al we te eeply eatetl “The Asoction of Adventist Forums though th good graces of i former presen and caren decor of special projec, Glenn E Ce, cosponsored the cole fe, We reeapecially indeed Richard Osborn AAP teste for vee our Snancal afi. Planning forthe conference bepan in. 1980, at which time Edn S. Gaus, Jonathan Bute snd the lat Eat Sanden ommend seve pin sss ‘ageing both opi and posible partcpane Before hs wtacly desta Ere ‘onttutel eusasal tothe deg of the coeene, i abrence 1984 at ply “The quliy ofthe cnference—and of his book—was gray enhance by the comments snd sopgeiont ofthe following invited pariipant: Catherine L Albanese, Weigh Sate University oy Beason, Georgetown University (lena Cos, West Heron, Conntccot umes West Davison, New Haven, Coneciat David A. Dean, Berke Chiron Calle ous Flr, Ovid Michigan Evi S. Gustad, University of Caloris, Riverside Clarence C: Goes, Wesley Thesloial Seminary Nathan O. Hoch, Unversity of Note Dae “ee Hil, Cambridge, Massachusrs xe Acknowledgments Gacy Land, Andcews Univescy I tsurence Moors, Corel Unteity [ines H. Moochead, Peinecton Theological Seminary Remi 8. Schoen toms Linds University otert David Thomae, Cagia Fl Ohio “Tmthy Weber, Dener Contra Baptist Seminary “Thea ssn ofthe sonfrce was el in Willa Miles chapel aden 10 hishome- Rose Lauebach, secretary ofthe New York Conference of Seventh ‘ty Avert nly ange or the sof iste: balding, where on Gayl tel os nthe singing of Mile hymns. James R. Nix, of Lame Linda Universiy Tibeat, guided wo Miles gave ad © Acenson Rock, where Miler reportedly [arated the Second Coming Nx sla areanged fora play of Mili camens and ‘Sane Ta the preparation ofthis volume we have benefied much from the adie of Catherine L Albanese a Seehen tl, condot ofthe Religion m North Areva ‘cesar lndiana Unneay Pree We so wish acknowledpe the ecretarlassiance ‘rode by Carlyn Hacker and Jae Bixby ofthe Deparment ofthe History of adic, University of Wisconsin Maison RLM. ys. Introduction JONATHAN M. BUTLER AND RONALD L. NUMBERS William Miller, 2 ninctenth-century farmer and Baptist layman from Low Hampton, New York, has been called “the most famous millenarian in Amer: ican history." On th bass ofthe biblical prophecy found in Daniel 8:14— "Uno two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" calculated that Christ would return to earth “about the yea? 1843," 2,300 yeas after Artaxereesof Persia sued 2 decree to rebuild Jer Salem: By the carly 18305 he was ctcucriding amalltown New England with an ilusteated series of lectures, and within a decade he was preaching inthe ‘major cites of the Northeast and leading the most popular millnavian move tment America has sen. Following series of ald propheciesin 843 andr844, hich culminated in the Great Disappointment of October 22, 1844, the movement collapsed, splintering ito thece main factions. The largest bo, which included Miler andother prominent leaders admitted their incortec chronology but continued to expect the imminent end of the word; they later took the mame Advent Christians. A mich mallee group, sometimes elle the “spritualizers,” in ‘Snted thatthe Second Advent had actualy gecurred—in a spiritual sense—o (October 23, butwithina shor timemany ofthese x-Milerites had joined other ‘eligious movements such ar the Shakers A tie faction, the furareSevent-day ‘Adventists rationalized that Christ had entered the "most holy place” of 2 “heavealysancruary”™on October a3 and that he wouldsoon eeturnto the cath, "Add to the above sketch of Miler and is aftermath the obligatory references to ascension robes, insanity, and suicide, and You approximate a Summary of popular and even scholarly knowledge ofthe movement. Much of the credit (or blame) for perpetuating the negative image of Miles as rel ows fanatics goes to Clara Eadicot Sears whose fascinating but uncial ‘lection of reminiscence, Daye of Delusion: A Strange Bi of History (2924), tilted readers with storie of white gowns and broken minds? ‘Such accounts prompted Francs D. Nichol, a Seventh-day Adventist minis ter to sue a laboriously researched but partisan reply on the occasion ofthe Ihundredth aniversary of the Great Disappointment. In The Midnight Cry: A Defense ofthe Character and Conduct of Willam Miler and the Millevizs, Who Mistkenly Believed tat the Second Coming of Chit Would Take Place in the Year 1844, Nichol self-consciously eschewed the detached sive of the historian for the special pleading of a defense attorney, His great concern with ‘refuting allegations of ssension robes and insanity apparently stemmed from = Ineoducion fear that some readers might conclude that al livers inthe Second Advent— including. those living in the twentieth century—were "at least milly ‘eranged.” Despite Nicho’s overly apologetcal stance his argument swayed ‘many profesional historians, including Whitney. Cros, whose cassie, The ‘Burmed-over District (1950), canonized Nicha'sfindings* ‘Another selimade Adventist historian and hagiographer, LeRoy Edwin room, conveyed large though astigmatic vision of the milenarian tradition in his monumental foursolume survey of The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers (Gosa) the last volume of which devoted nearly 2 thousand pages to the Milerte movement andthe theological context in which arose Although he provided» weft eatalog of millennial dogmatics down through the centuries, fis determination to connect a priine apostolic faith to dhe ise of Seventh-day ‘Adventiam by way ofa single, unbroken chain hampered his historical judg “ihe sheer bul of Nicho's and Froom's evidence ended to obscure ales defensive historical tradition within the Adventist commanty. As eaey 351874 Isaac. Wellcome, an Advent Chistian, had included a relauvely dispassionate account ofthe Milesites in his History ofthe Second Advent Message and ‘Masson, Doctrine and People, and in 1930 4 young Seventh-day Adventist Ihstoran, EveretN. Dick, had writen bis Ph.D. disereation athe University of ‘Wirconsin on "The Adventist Crisis of 1843-1844," the frst such study by 2 tained historian. However, beease of Dicks candor in treating the Millesies, Nichol and Froom exercised their ecclesiastical authority over him 38 2 new ineructor ata small Adventist college in Nebraska and suppressed publication ‘of is manuscript” Altnough Dick went on to become a prolif and respected historian ofthe American frontier, his dissertation remained unpublished, and ‘Seventh-day Adventists framed the offisal version oftheir pastas if his work did ot exist, Signcany, nether Nichol nor Froom deigned to mention Dick's thesis in thetr extensive bibliographies ‘Only lately has the study of Millers achieved its historiographical “ascension” from the more earthbound denominational histories of the apole- tists. This isparicolaly surprising view ofthe efflorescence of scholarship on ‘American millenaranism inthe 1970s, which transformed our undertandingol millerrane mech a studies i the 1930s had recast the image ofthe Puritans. ‘As a consequence, historians, comparave religions, soual scents, and literary rites came to find in milenaians less 2 marginal impulse toward cecenttictyand pathology than a sustained and pervasive drive toward cural fevialization and reform Infact, the millennial myth in American life hat proven so reilent snd malleable that some scholars have moved it fom the periphery tothe center ofthe nation’s selfunderstanding* Yet these advances in ‘Sur appreciation of American rilleasianisi have ony rarely been ested nthe historia laboratory of Mili leaving thi mass movement of national and international proportions les familar vo most students of milenarianis than the cargo cults of Melanesia. “The modest awakening of scholarly interest in Millersminrecene yearshas teaulted in part rom the workol Advent Christians and Seventh-day Adventists ‘who have gone on for advanced taining i history and mined the Millere experience for research topics. The most influential ofthese studies, Davi T. “Arthur's"*Come outof Babylon’ A Seudy of Milt Separatism and Denomi- ‘ational, 1840-1865" (1970), produced several istactve articles on Milleriam. Beyond the Adventr circle, David L: Rowe in 1974 completed docoral dissertation atthe University of Virginia, subsequently published 3s ‘Thunder and Trumpets: Millrtes ond Dissenting Religion n Upstate New York, 800-1850 (1985), which showed how Milertes drew on contemporary tevivlism,millenilsm, and pietism to create a mass movement; and Ruth ‘Alden Doan, ina disetation on "The Miler Heresy, Millenalism and Amer- ican Culture (r984) fr he first tine systematically explored the consequences ‘of Millerism for American evangelicals." The Milletes have also received ‘sympathetic reatment in such recent studies of American eligious and cut History a8 Ernest R Sandecn's The Roots of Fundamentalism: Brith and “American Millearianis, 1800-1930 (1970), J. F.C. Haison's The Second ‘Coming: Popular Milenariansm, 1780-1850 (1979), R Lautence Moore's Religious Outsidee and the Making of American (x98), and Michacl Bat u's Crucible of the Millennium: The Burned-over District in the 1840s (986): “The 2984 conference on “Millrism and the Millenarian Mind in ag¢h- Century Areva,” fom which this volume resulted, formally marked a new ddzcction in Miler stadies, because for the fist time it Brough together both ‘Adventiee and non-Advensat scholars intrested in citicaly evaluating the Millie experience and is place in American history. Although this modest volume of essays cannot bring to beat on Miles all che methodological {questions ofcartent mllearian studies, anymore thant ean provide compre Iensive narrative ofthe movement, i informs both enterpeses, ‘The initial wave of contemporary scholarship on millenarianism tended to stress the disinberted or dsenfranchced stats of millnarians oo emphasize the pathologic or deviant arpecs of the millenarian mind.” Although both viewpoints have been ether refuted or greatly refined by later millenarian Scholars they remain relevant to Millet studies, where they have enjoyed a long and perssent history. Ascari as 1927, the sociologist Reuben F. Harknes characterized Miller: ites as "poor and oppressed” and inked their revival to the Panic of 1837. In 1974 Emest R. Sandecn suggested (but later ejected) the notion that the Millsites and other millenarans were only relatively deprived; though often prosperous and socially respected, they felt anxious and insecure ina rapidly ‘hanging world." In Chapter 1 of hisvolume, David L. Rowe employs careful ‘emographic analysis of Millerites in upstate New York, along with New England, the area of greatest strength, to show that they were neither materially ‘ot politically deprived, Although earlier revolutionary apocaypass of Briain wit Inrodction and Europe had scemed scandalous because oftheir social margiality, Rowe indicates the degree 19 which the Millets dered sociologically feom thie ‘Weological ancestors. "The sue of psychopathology dates backto the 8408, when Millerites and their rites argued heatedly over the relationship bewen the Advent message land insanity. Sears and Nichol continued the debate i the twentieth century, ‘with Seas emphasizing Milrte deviance and Nichl insisting dae Milles had not eased single case of insanity" In Chapter 6 Ronald L. Number, 3 ‘medical historian, and Janet 5. Number, a clinical prycholgit, relegate the ‘question of eausation secondary status. Although thee dete examination ‘of nineteent-century asjlum records indicate that the Milerite excitement Sometimes attracted the mentally unstable and on rare occasions caused the ‘emotionally vulnerable wo crack under the stain, they rere attention tothe ‘weston of why 80 many contemporaries Believed that Milerism caused ine Ifthe study of Milrism includes the dispossessed or disturbed on the ‘margins of society, it does not confine itself there. For, as Rowe argues in ‘Chapter 1, most Milleites were indistingushable from their neighbors. Tit ‘movement comprised across section of Yankee rocey from a geogeaphical and Cultural zoe that flowed from New England across upstate New York and on past the Western Reserve of Obio to Michigan" They were neither as odd and heretical as their enemies accused them of being. nor as distinctive athe Milrces themselves claimed to be. As Ruth Alden Doan shows in Chaper 7,0 the “Miller heresy," they shared the contemporary cultural ethos more than they spurned in he discussion ofthe Millete relationship tothe broader evangelical culture, she indicates the degre 1 which the Adventists sought to ‘conserve an orthodoxy that evangelical were squandering Ths, for historians, the tidy of the erly Republic renders the categories of “marginality” and “mainstream” a arbitrary and inadequate asthe colonial American experience does those of “set” and “chute.” The antebellum American longing for millennial happiness proliferated numerous erusader to reform society and encouraged experiments aimed at perfecting this world, ora least a small parof i. The remarkable continuities between the Millerites and contemporary reformers farther blur the distinction thaconce prevailed inmillearian studies between pesimisi catastrophic and ‘quiet premillenialss and optimist, progresve, and reformist port millennaists.* For why was i that so many Millete leaders eame from the ‘asks ofthe abolitionists andthe temperance and health formers? Andi thei ‘spousal of Adventism meant an abandonment of refotmn, which t sometimes ‘i, to what extent did Milertes and socal reformers continue to share a ‘common ideology and sociology In shor, what does study of Milleriam reveal about the reform sir ofthe era? These and other questions ae informed by Ronald Graybil’s ease study of the aboliionist-Millete connection (Chapter 8) and by Louis Bilingtoa’s discussion of Milerit reform activites in Great Britain (Chapee 4). Iavoduction ae Ifa study of Milerism casts light on the spice of reform, ie illuminates several ofthe new rigous movements as well Various forms of reciprocity developed between the Millets and thtce groups explored in this volume: the ‘Oneida peetectionss, the Shakers, and the Seventrday Adventists, cach of ‘whom realized a distinctive version of the American millenia eam. Compet- ingmovernens commoaly used the Millriterar afl, butin Chapter 9 Michael Barkun uncovers the fact thatthe leader of the Oneida community, John “Humphrey Noyes, found them tobe not only a challenge tis eschatological system but a threat to his personal ident as 2 peophetfounder, Milleite- Shaker relations however, proved cordial. In Chapter r0 Lawrence Foster ids that 2 numberof former Millets overcame the disappointment of 1844 by joining the Shaker fold and drawing, a leat for a time, upon the Shaker theological and socal resources. One of the smallest and obscurest of Mileite Scions found sil another solution os dslsionment in forming Seventh-day Advent. In his discsson ofthis metamorphose, Jonathan M. Butler in ‘Chapter 1 reveals how one ephemeral millenarian cuse produced a durable and Successfel sect. In hei invent psychosocial study of failed prophecies Leon Festinger, Henry W. Riecken, and Staley Schachter aged thatthe "disconirmation of October 23 brought about the collapse of Milersm,”" Bally sharing llhope and destroying faith” However, Adventisn’saferfe among both the Shakers And the Seventh-day Adventists calls hi interpretation into question, As the Anthropologist Kenelm Bureidge has argued, alehough the promised Parousia ‘never materialize for millenarians, they often form a meaningful millenaran ature that avoids sense of failed prophecy" Foster's exay explores the deep motional and intelectual dynamics tht underpin millenaian movements and rive them to succeed despite te specie dscontirmation of prophecy, while Butlers Sevenchay Adventist “succes story” ge beneath the cognitive Hu face tothe socal and cultural aspects of Adventsn’'s survival In this cae the milleavans moved fom charisma to order, sprit to srcture—but in doing so ‘heir millenarianism was transformed into something else and therefore did ot succeed as milenarianiam. In Chapters Eric Anderson offer further evidence of the malleabiliy ofthe millenarian mind in is examination ofthe fst Miller ‘experimentin prophetic ime sting: the prediction that Turkey would fal and probation forthe wicked would end on August r2, 1840. The apparent discon Frmation not ony failed ro discourage the faithful bu established a pater for dealing with ftur disappointment in nonflsifable way. ‘Although biographical studies offer an excelent means of exploring the Millrte experience and the psychology of dealing with disappointment, ew such works exit In fact the only usefl biography of William Miler sylvester Bls's Memoirs of Willam Miler, Generally Known as a Lecturer om the Prophecies, and the Second Coming of Chris, a ifeandlerers account thet appeared over a century ago.” To help il ths void, we have included in an ppendix tre autobiographical recollections ofthe Milt disappointment by' Luther Bouelle, a Millerte lecturer from Massachusets who became 3 ~ Introduction leader of the Advent Christians; by Hiram Edson, a New York farmer who joined the sbatarian group of ex-Milerites; and by Henry B. Bear, an obscure Millste from Pennsylvania who joined the Shakers." Ts addition, two extys in this volame adopt a biographical approach: ‘Wayne K Jud’ sketch of Mile asa “dsappointed prophet" (Chapter 3) and David Arthur's porraitof Joshua V. Himes (Chapter 3), whose skill as an ‘organizer and publisher rescued Miler from abscrity. Using he considerable {alens as a propagandist, Himes launched what Nathan O. Hatch has called “anunprecedentedmediablit,” circulating milion of copes f books, pamph lets, periodicals, and tacts. “The irony of Millers,” notes Hatch,“ that it sete ver lates communication techniques to champion a message of cosmic imervention utterly opposed to ealtural trends ofthe nineteenth century.” ‘After the Great Disappointment Himes Briefly consid his erustde in Great Brian, where, Lous Blingion points out in Chapter 4, he hoped success abroad would rekindle interest ack home inthe United States “The significance of Mileiem tranacende the mers historia: its mille arian vision elects ecuring ques that es athe very heart ofthe human txperience. “To dream a dream and make i come er; to realize the shape of ‘what ean be seen only inthe mins eye to fel compelled to bring about the Scemingly impossble—these ate the prerogatives of man,” writes Burridge. “Whether as foal, aud, sine, respectable bourgeois, farmer or ty00n, the ‘ofthe mullenium belongs only to man Irs why be man, why, wen the ine ‘comes, he has to make'a new man.” Inthe early American Republic, the emerged a8 4 provocative and important expression of this "new ‘The possiblities for exploring the Mileriteexpetience have increased smanyfold in recent yeats—largely through the efforts of one person, Vern (Carer, in whose honor the conference on "Miler and the Milenacian Mind in zth-Century America” wat orginalybeld and to whom this bok is now dedicated. As student at Union College in Nebratka inthe early 1900, Carnet Came under the influence of Erere Dick an, lke him, became enamored of Milleste and eaely Adventist hstory. Later Carer stadied church history at ‘Andrews University and the University of Calfornia a Riverside, where he met Edwin S. Gaustad, While serving aan instructor in church history at Loma Linda Univesity in the early 19705, he organized path-breaking series of lectures onthe historical roo of Adventism, which was subsequently edited by GGaustad and published under the tte The Rie of Advent: Religion ahd Society in Mid-Nineteonth Century America (3974). Although thi volume contains numberof otableemay it lating vale will almost cestinly devive from the monumental r10-page bidiography of Milleite and post Milerite sources compiled by Carer in collaboration wit Sakae Kubo and Curt Rice” Carer also put all farare Milt historians in his debe by editing for Xerox Universy Microfilms a comprehensive collection of sources on "Willan Mile ler the Miletes, and Eaely Adventist” (977). Ierodction = ‘Carmer’s indefatigable energy and organizational dive playeda central ole {in both the profesionaliation and poptlaization of Advent bistory inthe 19705. He founded Advontis Heritage’ A Magazine of Adventist History, now {nfs second decade of publication, helped to organize Studies in Advontit “History, the fit volume of which has rcently appeared, and inaugurated series of eprint of Millet and early Adventist document. Behind the scenes, hae repeatedly provided crucial encouragement and support for students of Millet and Adverts history, and in 1973 he asited Ray Allen Billington in ceting a festschrif in honor of Evert Dick" In 1975 Carer lft academic life to pursue other carer, ist in specialty adverising es president of Davis and Stanton Advertsing in Dallas, Texas ater in the feed and eatle business in southern California and Hawai. During these years he and hs wife Barbara, worked through the Carner Foundation o foster 2 numberof scholarly activities, including a international conference in 198 ‘on "Christianity and Science: 2000 Years of Conflict and Compromise” The reset volume, offered as token of appreciation by his frends i or way of Saying “Thank you, Vern Carner. You made a difference” 1. EanstR Sandeen, The Roos of Fdamentlion: rth and American Mille arn, rBoo~2930 (Cheap Unive of Gacag Pres 2979p 3 "Clara Endo Sears Daye of Delon: A Srange Bit of History (Boson Houghton Mia, 2924) Seas ws ot theft howto daw tenon alleged Mile fanatic tee Joan B McMae, A History of he Pope tbe Und ‘Sater § vol (New York By Appleton s88y-s913), > 134-4 Sears nlaence can ‘ett in rch work at Ded M. Lam, Soil Ferment Vrmont, 4791-1850 (Rew Yorks Columba Unircniy Pres 1939) pp. yeas: ad Ale Fok Tye, endonsFormnt Phaser of American Sa Histor fom te Colon Prod tt (uta of the Cl War (New York Harper Row, ty fs pubis n #944) PP Francis D. Nichol The Midnight Cre A Defoe of Wiliam Miler and the ales bingo. Review Held bn Nc 1948 4 [Neol summaviza! bs case guns Nlerte evuniey and powering ‘Growth ofthe Miles Lagend®" Church Hatoy 195% 17 896-91). °F Whitney B Crom, The Burned Over Dre thecal end nical History of Eats Regn Wester New Yor, 1800-1850 thie, N2 Corn ‘ainerny Pee 39s pp 287-325,ep 308 Willam Warren Set Reltom fr he Delmon of rene Care ego New Yok Cha Se Ss, "ysah sor, acknowledge that Nica had “convincingly shown tat mary of th 2255 Acces coed yh Mister ad tes Cla Sd Ercediantcil eloned la Brown's ponengey, The hile ad {he Boston Prey" New England Quarterly, 1943 16 993-64, which oncloded that ‘Ninguestonaiy many ofthe roporsreparing Miles mee highly accurate” (tal Se abo a ¥. Brow, aces he Seed Cong T¥e Nileatsn ‘Fea in Amer,” Misti! Vally Historical Reto, 95% 39 441-458. at Inerodction (Washiagon, $. LeRoy Ein room, The Prophetic Faith of Or Fathers vos id: Raney and Herald abby Asoaten 940-30) 6, uae € Wee, Hutory ofthe Second Adon Meioge and Mision, Doctrine «and eope armouty Mane © Welkome, 1874; ErretN. Dck, “The Adres Gis of rtaserteg” (aD. Guseraton Gveuy of Waconain, x93). Foran ‘pdste samenary Of Dies ty, ee Everett N, Dick, "The Nile Movement, in meri a Harrye Gay Lan Grand Rap Mh 6 p35 7 Eee Dick Scned tae ees wth Jonathan Butler in the cous of several "Force fre ofthe erature, se Leonard Sweet, “Mili in ‘Amica: Reem Suchen” Tesolin S979 or 330-43 tsa il Schwa, ‘Mihekadofthe Begin: Milesran Stabe 96521078" ReigouStuaes Rev, rata en Bei Athan, Come oto Bayt: A Say of Miles Separation and Destminsuonlsy go)" GD eer Ueto Roses sgroh, Died Artur *Milsimy* in The Re of Advent Religion and Soy Mls tn onary et Ee Nw or aed Ro to7dapptueri7s bevdT Ahr, “Afr beret Dsagpotment To Albany a AEST? Acad Hoag ani asra, to, $8 oe rp wai of Diller, ce Cordon Thsnan “The Secon Crhng ihe Third New England Toe Miletc imple ioMcipa,so-4o" Ph.D. Seretion Michan SateUaieriy, spent N- Cordon Thome The Kee Movement a Chios" Oho Misery 970 SiSje-toy and aber W Olbon, "Southern Bape Reactions to Miles (Th, ‘Sister Southwenem baptist Thelopea Seminary, 1973) Forse pation ‘tide fotang onthe waye'n whch Advent Chea an Seventy Advent [Serpe the lene experince, sce David Arold Dean, “Echoes of the Midight {Gabe Miler Heaps inthe Apologetic of the Advent Chea Denominations Stlovtoso” (THD. detain, Wem Thclopel Seminary, 976s. Geracd Dimaeog, Reon of i Sehr Atot Mag nd Maen (ad Raps Mich Willa B Eerdmans 977)oaxed on «Doro Tesla dsetaton {stated othe Fee Unvesty of Arran ngemar Linden, Te Lt Too Histon Cenercldy of Some parton Chapters te Making ond Devclopent ofthe Seventh-day Adventist Church (aura Man Fer ang 978208 Cy oe ewe Mungo and Morng in Account of the Advent Ruskin and he Founding ofthe Advent Crit Benomtation, 1321840 Chacon, NC entre Bock 198) To Dandi. Rowe, Ther and Trompet: Miers and DisentingRelion ix Upstate New Yokoo Chico, Cat Slats res 1983 Rath Alen Doan, “Rrebir Here, Micon and Ameria Care Pe dieraton Diver atti Cn arpa 9h) Rowe sn psd aed 12 Gimenaone “Elon Glue andthe Mileste Movemene Founda: & Bopat cra of inary and Theology, 198, 1 asxaser “Comet and Elias: The ‘ici Ne sd te pope Adenths Hetage, We 976 So {dA New Peapecveon te Burted-Over Dat Tie Milnes a Uptate New Crch Horm 47 4ot-aao Fora sy of seen ave oes at ‘ew on of Miler Ripon | Bean, "The nfoeer of lam Mier ne Fon of Ameren sian” (Th.dirtaton, Boon tiniest. 943) andor Mier aoa ee HaghB, Damon, "The ete Adress a Ot Mena Se epee Bean, toro". dean, Ueto ann, 1h Sanden, Root of Fundamontom. pp 42s J. FC. Hatin, The Sacond Comin’ Popiar itor, r780-r8f0 Sew Bronaick Ns Rages Uses Introduction si sity Pres, 979) pp. 192-208 R Laurence Moore, Rlous Outsiders and th Mating of American (ew ‘Yok Oxted Univers Pest, 1986), pp. ryt 361 Michel heen Crate of the iow: The Burned Over Distt the sya (Sracere, N'¥s Shai Univers Peto See suo Netbua Hatch," Milennaem and Poplar ion mer Rei he Eager rer Ihacon, Ga Merer Univer Pras 18g pp arses Gary Stns, nape ofthe Miler Aen Utate!tencn Gueney oho, ys 19-6) and Donal War, “Religious Enthonaum in Vermont 71847" (PRD. desertion, University of Nowe Dame 1980), which indadss Sscsion othe ete exctemene ‘a Forint soioconomicinerprttion sxe PeterWordey, The Tra et Sha Sound (Londo: Macibbon apd Kea 937) Vito Lantern, The el [Pons of he Oprreed A Shady of Modern Messase Cat, wns, Lia Srp (New SonkAled K Koop, sens Ene Hobsbawny Pranic Rebel Sadie Arche Foro Soi Men he han ath Cetin New Sk: WW. Not, 965; egal pebished in 1959; abd Chvistoner Hil, Aichi in Seventeen Sony tain aca: Oxi Ustrny Fc 97S Norma Cy Pari ‘ofthe Mimi London, Seer 8 Warbur, 195% fora mach ced socopycho ess Reda. Hassan, Soil Org of he Mile Movant (PD. den ‘ny Univer of Cneag, 2907) Emer Sander, "Nena, "in The Rise of ntiom pp aog-teh eo. 16-417; Ernest R Sanden, "The Lie Teadiion ad ‘Sefoumol Modis Miloariansen” Anmul Review of he Socal SencerofRelon, ‘9to, 4 tas-tbr ep tay. Whey Re Cross in The Bumed-Over Dui Stychde, see connected the ee of Miles with econom depresson, 2 ew eh dott byRicnsrd Carwarine, Trane Adante Ream Popa Engel in Sraain and America, 1790-1865 {Wetpo, Coan. Greenwood Pes 1978) PP *574 sears Day of Delusion, pass Nichol, Midnight Cry, 67 Foc an cay study fii Mc ion Sn “eh ats Cope Stayin Mavs Pychology. = Amen Jorma of Pca, tay 912 Soya. 15, Inher sud of “The Miler Heresy". 27, Rh Alen Das sha ha 82 reno too 65 correspondents 0 Saf he Ties and The Advent Herd [reds New England aad New York, with 3.7 erent cong rm th Middle A ste south of New Yor, ras perenfom he Midwet apd 1.6 pect fom the South, New York camed se highs sumberf corespondeats wih 51; Vetont was second wih Yor 6, Forrecencholarhip hat calenge thee stereotype, ames Wet Davidson, elo of eal Teng ich Cntary Nt apn ves Yl Unvvrsty Pres, 78) Nathan O- Hatch, The Saced Cae of Liberty Replion “Though ld the Mallimsarem Revoltoary New Ean (New Havens ale Unt ‘eras Pres, 978 James F. Moorhead, Amen Apocalype: Yoke Protestants ‘the Cn War 860-2869 (New Havens Yale Univer Pes 1978; Timothy. ‘Weber, Lng the Shadow ofthe Scond Comang® American Promina Usys-saas New Yor Oxlord Univesity res raai and Sephen Stent The Works of Jonathan ihardn vo se Apoctype Wings New Haven YaieUivesty ren 19771,Onthe dominatt poate of the etch contr ee aes Moothesd*Reoncen Progress and Apocalypse: A Reatssmen of Milentlum ia Ainnican Religious Thouphe,sBo0-s883," Journal of American History, 1984, 70 5°27 Yeon Feige, HeneyW, Ricken, ad Ste Schack, Whe Prophecy Fl ‘A Salad Peep Sady of Madr Group that Pedcted the Destruction of the World New Yorks Harper 8 Rows, 2964 Se publahed a #956) pp. 12-35, 2 oe Imroduction 1. Sectlo Bejan Wilbon Magic ond he Milenio: Sociological Study of Religious fanomens of bot Among Trl and ThidWorlProples (New York: Harper fe Row, gly. Seo-som, wh argos that all mileanan tovesents fal and that Ea they na make ere” eve to thse aught up in them for 3 tne "8 Keren Barsdge, New Hesoon, New Farts'A Say of Milman Actes (New Yorks Schock Book, 1969) pp. 0476 Sve Bier MemorsofWiltam Nir, Goel Known ae Lecter onthe Prophecies the Send Comin of Chat tn. J.V Himes, 19) Harold A, [tate providers content ath of Mile’ en The Trumpeter of Door, ‘Ameria Heritage, Apt 145-17, 95~100.On Hie, se David T. Arti, “shan V. Himes andthe Cau of Adve, 39-1845" (MA thes Univers of Chiesa, 196 So Bears recalleton was discovered by Lawrence Forte Ef; Naha ©- Hach, “Spending the Milne Message” unpublished paper pe sgh tnt or hain and he lean Nand a try “Rm” Kiligton, Vermont, Jane #984 To Hunn New Heaven, New Ear 25, Vein Esker Sare boy and Cure, “Biographical Essay in Ris of Abi 37 “ay Ale ign, wih the ae and itumains Espn The story of te ona Geeermood Pres 1973) “s, The coneeoceprosodngs were published under the ile God and Nate tora Eseye om he Encounter bengen Christianty an Since, od. David © Lindberg and Ronald. Nombers Beiiey an Lae Ange: Unies of Caria Bros 1980. cof Vern Carer, Feoples of he Plans et Dehcated to Este Dick Wenpoe, The DISAPPOINTED ONE Millerites A Shadow Portrait DAVID L. ROWE, ‘Wo wens Tis MILLERITES? No question about the movements difcult co answer, despitethe fat that definitions of Milli ave always been ead a Ihand. To scoffers, contemporary and moder, the Millets were naive fo0s, dupes, or crooks, while wo hapiographers they were pilgrins conveying divine “Truth, martyrsin the eauseof advancing Chess kingdom. Neither seo cliches can sai the objective cbserver If Milerites generally were strange or insane, ‘hen how do we explain the fact chat thousands of people from Maine 10 “Michigan atached themselves 1 the movement? Dida signicant number of “Americans take leave of thei senses atthe same time? Or perhaps they tly ‘were messenger of divine truth, but such a contention isnt susceptible 0 he Kind of scentife verifcation social sientets require. One would think that 2 collective biography of Millerites would help u better define the nate and suracer of the movement. Strangely enough, once we begin focusing our ‘tcl faculties on Milersm,seekingits tue deni ying somewhere between "aveté and stnthood its image burs, unt itis obvious that Weare viewing not the movements reality but ony the shadow it ass onthe cultural and religions life of early nineteenth-century America For reasons that wll son become cea, we will never be able say who the Millets collectively were. But we cam trace the movements shadow by rant, feeble, disobedient, dul dry, stammering, col, ifless, prow impatient, 4nd unworthy He called himself'a"worm,” an “old dey sgh,” and 2 poor feeble creature” Such conventional prophetic rhetoric relleted gensine sell.

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