Glimpses of Christian History Presents Pastwords #29: A Visit to the Millerite Tabernacle by Maxwell Pierson Gaddis ©2007

GADDIS, MAXWELL PIERSON. Foot-Prints of an Itinerant. Cincinnati: Printed at the Methodist Book Concern, for the Author. R.P. Thompson, Printer. 1855. Rowe G90. First Edition.

Gaddis (b 1811) a Methodist itinerant preacher in Ohio, includes many accounts of camp-meetings & revivals as well as chapters on "Shouting in Church," and a short chapter describing his visit to the Millerite Tabernacle in Cincinnati on Oct. 22, 1844, where a gathering of 2,500 robed followers met for over 24 hours, waiting for the coming of Christ.

"CHAPTER LV. A VISIT TO THE MILLERITE TABERNACLE

he storm of Millerism and come-outism, which swept over the Churches at that time, with all its anti-religious developments, may be easily traced to their true cause--a desire to be wise above what is written; to improve on Divine revelation. As one has remarked, we only want a faith strong enough to believe up to what is revealed, and also strong enough to confide all beyond into the hands of the Judge of all the earth, who will most assuredly do what is right. Cincinnati was headquarters for this deluded people. They first constructed a "big tent," of canvas, one hundred feet in diameter, that would seat over two thousand persons. It was a movable affair, like the tents of the Israelites. It was taken to Springfield and Dayton, Ohio, and to Lawrenceburg, Indiana. When their numbers increased, they also erected a brick tabernacle on the corner of Seventh and John streets, in Cincinnati. It would seat comfortably about twenty-five hundred persons. Here they continued to preach and worship till the period fixed for the "end of time."

Rev. William Miller, the founder of this sect, stated in his fourteenth proposition, in the "Midnight Cry," February 24, 1843:

"I believe the time can be known by all who desire to understand and be ready at his coming. I am fully convinced that between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844, according to the Jewish mode of computation of time, Christ will come and bring all his saints with him, and that he will reward every man according to his work."

They all finally united upon the 22d day of October, 1844, and made their arrangements accordingly. In the last issue of the “Midnight Cry,” on the 19th of October, three days before the appointed time for the destruction of this mundane system, may be found the following last warning:

"Reader, this is the last morning; and now, at the eleventh hour, we ask you, ARE YOU AWAKE? 'Tis too late to talk of redeeming misspent moments. Be wise to-day! 'Tis madness to defer now, on the borders of eternity. Fly to the arms of Jesus!"

In addition to this they issued several thousand copies of the "Midnight Cry," with this imposing heading in large letters:

"Behold, the Bridegroom cometh! Go ye out to meet him!"

In this document there was a summing-up of the principal arguments, and a specification of the time for the world’s destruction. As I had had considerable trouble with some of them in my congregation, I concluded to go down to Cincinnati and witness for myself the finale of this wide-spreading delusion. I arrived there in good time, but was told that the house was so full I could not get in. They spent the night in "watching for their Lord;" but he did not appear. The next morning I was informed they were still "robed," and at the tabernacle, wondering why he "delayed his coming." I met Judge Johnston, and we agreed to go down in company at nine o'clock. On our arrival there we found the house still about two-thirds full. Some were standing, and others walking about, distributing a paper headed the "Last Warning." At times they would sing a beautiful hymn. About twelve o'clock they became exceedingly restless and some started to leave. Then an old veteran, called Deacon Smith, arose and remarked, with a strong voice, "Brethren and sisters, we have now arrived at the Red Sea. I exhort you, one and all, to stand still and see the salvation of God!" Then, pulling out his watch to note the time, he said, "My faith is unwavering; the time is not up yet by more than one hour." This speech was followed by many hearty responses, and one or two Millerite songs. A Mr. H. next arose and said, "If Christ does not come this day I will believe this Bible false!" clapping his hands violently on the word of God before him. A sister then spoke incoherently for a considerable time, clearly evincing that her mind had lost its proper balance. When she was done speaking, another lady with whom I was well acquainted, arose to “show us her opinion,” and wound up some very foolish and common-place remarks by saying, "that she knew this was the time for Christ's second coming, for when she got up on yesterday morning she saw red streaks in the sky toward the east." This was one of the ablest arguments (?) offered on that occasion. About one o'clock, Rev. Deacon W. arose and spoke substantially as follows: "I never did fix upon the precise time myself, and I always told my brethren they would get into trouble if they did; but they would not listen to me, but followed other leaders. My faith is this: I believe that at this period the 'sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven,' "but how much longer after the appearance of the "sign of the Son of man," before the Son of man would actually appear, he could not inform them; but said, "Brethren, as this is a Jewish reckoning, made for the land of Palestine, there must be some allowance made for 'latitude and longitude' when time is reckoned; but I tell you I believe the most important thing after all is, to be ready; and now I want you all to pray that your old friend J. W. may not be like some 'balloon ascensions' that I have witnessed in this city, which, after going up for a time, fall suddenly to the earth again; but when I do begin to ascend I hope I may keep on till I enter the portals of paradise." This address was followed by hearty responses from the Adventists and laughter among the spectators.

I might give other more amusing, yet not less instructing parts of this religious farce. They were most fearfully deluded by their leaders. Many of them I know were sincere. Never, in all the history of the Church, was a people found waiting with more earnest expectation than those that looked for him on the “tenth day of the month,” burning their lamps constantly, which gave a brilliant light till that day which brought them into the middle watch of the Jewish year, and alas, alas! in midnight darkness relative to the time of the second advent. Many of these men and women turned infidels. Rev. E. Jacobs joined the Shakers, but was so corrupt that they soon expelled him; and Rev. William Miller has since deceased, but his “works do follow him.” Deluded man! Before his death he published a card, in which he says:

"The causes which required God's chastening hand upon us were, in my humble opinion, pride, fanaticism, and sectarianism. PRIDE worked in many ways. We ascribed our conquest in argument over our opponents to ourselves. We were seeking the honors and applause of men more than of God. We were some of us seeking to be leaders instead of being servants--boasting too much of our doings.

"Fanaticism.--I know our enemies accused us of this before we were guilty, but this did not excuse us for running into it. A thousand expressions were used without thought or reflection, and I thought sometimes very irreverently.

"Sectarianism.--We have adopted the very things we condemned in others, crying Babylon! Babylon! Babylon! against all but Adventists."

I close this chapter by asking all of my readers to adhere to the instructions given in Matthew as to "times and seasons."

GADDIS' OWN LAST TESTIMONY

I entered the work at a point which brought me into close fellowship with Revs. Quinn, Lakin, Collins, Jones, Page, Christie, Ferree, and Raper. These venerable men of God "taught my inexperienced hand to war and my fingers to fight." I am especially indebted for much of my success in winning souls to Christ to the instructions of the venerable John Collins and the late Rev. William B. Christie, who were both men of deep experience and great practical skill. I regret that I did not profit more by their lessons of experience and brilliant example. Upward of fifty of Zion's watchmen have "died at their post" in the Ohio and Cincinnati conferences since I commenced the work of the ministry. I was intimately acquainted with nearly all of them, and some of them I loved most tenderly. "Our fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?" It seems but as yesterday since I girded myself for battle. How fleeting and transient is human life!

We are passing away.
Time knows not the weight of sleep or weariness,
And nights deep darkness has no chain to bind
His rushing pinion.

Eternity! O, eternity! how it sounds in my ears! Brothers and companions, let us "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." "Let us contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints," holding fast the form of sound words, and then God will go forth with our armies as in other years. The direct and downright preaching of Jesus, in these days of critical and carping hearers, requires far more boldness, self-denial, and consistency of decision than is generally suspected. these is a lamentable aversion, in all ranks and classes, to the undecorated propositions of the Bible. The embassy of Divine mercy must be philosophized and rhetoricated, or we reject it. Plainness of speech is meanness of speech. We call for figures and flowers of oratory; we are luxurious in our tastes and exorbitant in our demand; spiritual life and spiritual death, the vast themes of eternity, and the engrossing subjects of revelation, are powerless to move us, unless tricked out and garnished with the pride of learning and the glory of the schools. We go to church or chapel as we would to a lecture-room or a theater--for intellectual instruction or intellectual entertainment; and our approbation of the performer is in exact proportion to the skill which he exhibits or the talent he displays. The fact is, we take the bread of life and the water of life, not because we hunger and thirst, but in compliance with the pressure of a fashionable duty; and the preacher under whom we 'sit' with the greatest composure."

"He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come!"

I respond with humility, that I have constantly endeavored to preach the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust, with great plainness of speech, confidently believing that it would prove effectual in the awakening and conversion of my fellow-men. I now thank Jesus Christ, who counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, that the successive fields of labor assigned to me were never barren. I sowed the good seed of the kingdom, believing that I should reap soon. I was not disappointed. I have witnessed many extraordinary revivals of religion, especially in the Scioto and Miami Valleys.

It is now more than two years since I have been able to preach. This is a sore deprivation to one whose heart is still in the work. Yet I do not repine; I am still a very happy man. I could never see my way clear at any former period to quit the battle-field. In my retirement this reflection affords me much consolation, that while continued by the conference on the "list of effectives" I was a "man of one work." "By the grace of God I am what I am." When the dark days of prostration came upon me and wearisome "nights were appointed unto me,"

O'er all those cloudy scenes and dark
There ever was within my call,
An arm outstretched to guard my fall,
And guide my fragile bark;
A light, a sign of power divine,
Which made the darkest night with radiance shine."

"Thou, Lord, hast known my soul in adversities. I had fainted unless I had believed, to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. My heart trusted in thee and I am helped."

Ever changeless, God's blessed word hath firmly stood.

I have not been without friends in time of need in by-gone days. I do not fear that they will forsake me while living, or forget me when dead.

To live in hearts we leave behind us Is not to die.

In conclusion, I need only say to my numerous friends and a generous public, that he entire proceeds arising from the sale of this work will be faithfully applied to procure the means of an independent subsistence for my affectionate wife and three children, whose happiness and welfare are as dear to me as life itself.

I now send forth the Foot-Prints of an Itinerant with the ardent hope that they may travel more extensively and prove a greater blessing to the Church and more highly beneficial to the world at large than the itinerant labors of the unworthy author. May Heaven's best blessing ever accompany the perusal of the Foot-Prints!

Foot-prints which, perhaps, another
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Maxwell P. Gaddis
West End, Dayton, Ohio, August 3, 1855.