“It was on this occasion that the writer of this became convinced that the second advent is to be pre-millennial; and the first resurrection, a ‘resurrection out from among the dead.’ At the close of these labors, Mr. M. returned to Low Hampton, for that rest which his overtasked frame now greatly needed.
CHAPTER IX.
LECTURES IN NEW YORK—NEWARK—SARATOGA—NEWBURYPORT—PALMER—THE EAST KINGSTON CAMP-MEETING—BRANDON—BENSON—CHICOPEE—NEW HAVEN, ETC.
“On the 24th of April he commenced a course of lectures in the large hall of the Apollo, 410 Broadway, in the city of New York, as usual to large audiences, closing on the 10th of May.
“On the 7th of May, he visited Newark, N. J., and gave two discourses in the Universalist chapel in that city. In compliance with three very urgent requests from Rev. Joshua Fletcher, pastor, and the unanimous vote of the Baptist church, in Saratoga, N. Y., Mr. M. again visited that place, and lectured from the 14th to the 22d of May. From the 24th to the 28th of May, he gave his seventh course of lectures in Boston; and from the 29th of May to the 3d of June, 1842, he lectured in Newburyport, Mass. At the commencement of his lecture, in the evening of the first day, an egg was thrown into the hall, at him, but fell upon the side of the desk. At the close, stones were thrown through the windows, by a mob outside, who indulged in some characteristic hootings and kindred noises. The congregation dispersed without damage, save the glass of lamps and windows. Under those circumstances, the town authorities closed the hall, and the lectures were adjourned to the chapel in Hale’s Court. They continued till Friday, June 3, a goodly number having received Christ to the joy of their souls.
“From the 4th to the 12th of June, he gave a second course of lectures in the Casco-street church, Portland, Me. They were attended by crowds of anxious hearers, and many Christians were refreshed, while some sinners were converted to God. From the 16th to the 26th of June, he lectured at Three Rivers (in Palmer, Mass.) A member of the Baptist church there afterward wrote, through the Christian Reflector, the organ of that denomination, as follows:—
“‘Dear Brother Graves:—It is with gratitude to God that I am able to turn aside from the joyful scenes around me to inform the friends in Zion what God hath wrought for us. Rev. William Miller, on the 16th of June last, commenced a course of lectures on the second advent of Christ to this world in 1843. The lectures were delivered in our meeting-house, which, however, would hold but a small part of the audience, it being estimated at five thousand; and notwithstanding prepossessions, prejudices, and the slanderous reports circulated about this man of God, the people gave heed to the word spoken, and seemed determined to examine the Scriptures, to see if these things were so; and deep solemnity pervaded the vast assembly. The children of God were soon aroused to a sense of their duty; sinners were seen weeping, and heard to say, “Pray for me!” The number increased, until one hundred in an evening prayer-meeting were seen to arise to be remembered in the prayers of the saints. Soon converts began to tell us what the Lord had done for them. Some deists, some Universalists, and many of the thoughtless, of both the middle-aged and the youthful part of the community, have been brought to submit their hearts to God, and are now waiting for and hasting to the coming of the day of God. As to the character of the work, let me say, I have never seen a more thorough conviction of the total depravity of the heart, and the utter helplessness of the sinner, and that, if saved, it must be by the sovereign grace of God, than has been manifest in all that have given a relation of their experience.’
“On the 29th of June, 1842, Mr. M. commenced a course of lectures on the camp-ground at East Kingston, N. H. This was the first camp-meeting held by believers in the advent near, and was noticed by a writer in the Boston Post as follows:—
“‘The Second Advent camp-meeting, which commenced at East Kingston, N. H., on Tuesday, June 29, and continued from day to day until Tuesday noon, July 5, was attended by an immense concourse of people, variously estimated at from seven to ten thousand....
“‘The meeting was conducted with great regularity and good order from beginning to end. The ladies were seated on one side, and the gentlemen on the other, of the speaker; meals were served uniformly and punctually at the times appointed, and the same punctuality was observed as to the hours appointed for the services.