“The effect of such a declaration, from such a source, can be better imagined than described.
“Rev. Seth Ewer, in a letter of the 2d of March following, wrote:—
“‘For about four weeks we continued meetings, day and evening.... We find new cases of conviction daily, and frequent hopeful conversions. Our house of worship is thronged every evening. Last Sabbath evening the question was put, whether they wished to continue the services; and hundreds arose in the affirmative.... Between fifty and sixty profess to have obtained a hope.’
“From the 12th of February, 1842, to the 17th, he lectured in Benson, Vt. At the close of this meeting he took a violent cold, which prevented him from speaking for a few days. He commenced a course of lectures at Nashua, N. H., on the 24th of February; but, after speaking a few times to crowded houses, the state of his lungs and the want of a suitable place to speak in compelled him to relinquish his labors there on the third day.
“From the 6th to the 9th of March, 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.