The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

VI. Momentum Slower in New York City

Progress in New York City had been unusually slow. But in the spring of 1842 Himes and Miller hired the large and expensive Apollo Hall, on Broadway, for a series of lectures. But there were so many major attractions in the metropolis that Miller’s name and preaching did not draw the multitudes as in smaller places. Advance was difficult, and adverse press reports created deep prejudice. There seemed to be few friends of the advent cause. Litch says of the prevailing sentiment: PFF4 610.2

“An impression had gone abroad in reference to the Adventists, that they were monsters, or almost anything but civilized beings. So strong was this impression, and so general, that a number of days had passed and scarcely a lady dared to make her appearance in the meetings.” ²³ PFF4 610.3

It was a depressing moment. But those who came told others of the impressive meetings, and the prejudice finally melted away. The audience grew until the hall was filled with attentive hearers. The New York Luminary and the Journal of Commerce gave fair reports, ²⁴ and a permanent interest was established, auguring well for the future. PFF4 610.4

Twenty-one lectures by Miller preceded the three-day General Conference session, May 10-12, which was organized with Dr. A. Doolittle as chairman, and Henry Jones and Joshua Himes as secretaries. The addresses were by Miller, Litch, Aitkins, Jones, and Kenney. They stressed the supremacy of Scripture, the current “running to and fro” in study of the prophecies, no literal restoration of the Jews, Antichrist to be destroyed at the advent, and the need of discerning the signs of the times. The conviction was expressed that the “whole truth” had been declared. And an elaborate statement of the “sentiments” passed appeared in the Signs. They also voted for an association to be formed, which was done on May 18, ²⁵ with Dr. A. Doolittle as chairman, the members paying a monthly sum to defray expenses. And they opened a depository for Adventist publications. PFF4 611.1

That autumn Himes and Miller returned to New York City, preaching in the church where George Storrs ministered, at Catharine and Madison. The interest increased steadily. And this was followed by another series of lectures on the approaching advent by Apollos Hale, held in Enoch Jacobs’ Methodist Protestant Church on Anthony Street. As a result the number of adherents in New York City was materially increased. Just at this point Himes determined to launch an Adventist paper—a daily—for at least a few weeks, to give to the public the principal views of the Millerites in cheap and popular form. So in November, 1842, the aforementioned Midnight Cry was started under the editorial supervision of Nathaniel Southard. It was a unique and highly successful venture. Twenty-four numbers, of ten thousand copies each, were circulated. Then it was changed over into a weekly, increasing steadily in circulation. It continued until after the autumnal Disappointment in 1844, when its name was changed to The Morning Watch. PFF4 611.2