The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

The Call to Them that Had Been Bidden

The first call to the supper, being to those who had been bidden, must go to the churches. Now, as a matter of fact, the proclamation of the near coming of Christ, from the year 1833 to the spring of 1844, was made in the churches, and to quite a large extent was seconded by the ministers of those churches. William Miller’s first publication of his views on the near coming of Christ was in a Baptist paper of Brandon, Vt. The labors of himself and his associates up to April, 1844, were largely in church buildings or halls secured by the churches of the day. GSAM 135.2

Elder Himes thus speaks of the labors of Elder Miller down to the spring of 1844: “He labored among all parties and sects, without interfering with their organizations or discipline, believing that the members of the different communions could retain their standing, and at the same time prepare for the advent of their King.” GSAM 135.3

Elder Himes, in speaking of his own and Elder Miller’s united labors, further states: “Most of the ministers and churches that opened their doors to us and our brethren who were proclaiming the advent doctrine, co-operated with us until the last year”—the year 1844. GSAM 135.4