Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

HOW THEY WASH FEET

A Peculiar People Who Keep Saturday as Sunday. MMM 519.2

Revere a Prophetess, and Believe the
End of the World is nigh.

Next week one of the most peculiar religious sects in the country, the Seventh Day Adventists, begin a world’s conference in this city. And while they are at it they mean to stay a matter of three weeks before they finish their business. MMM 519.3

The Seventh Day Adventists sprang into existence in 1843 and 1844, when the famous William Miller, after long and deep study of the prophecies in the Bible, startled the country with the positive prediction that the world was to come to an end in 1844. Miller preached his theories with all the vigor and enthusiasm of a fanatic and soon gathered about him a devout and faithful band of followers. So thoroughly did these believe in his prophecies that they sold all their possessions, gave the money to the poor, and prepared their shining white robes in which they expected to ascend to heaven when the final moment came. The Millerites; as they were called, on several occasions stayed up all night on the house-tops with ears attuned to hear the last trump of the Angel Gabriel. But 1844 came and went and the old earth continued to swing about the sun in the same old path and to turn on its axis with daily regularity. So that when the last hours of Dec. 31, 1844, had passed away the faith of the Millerites was rudely shaken. A part of the sect returned to their former religious allegiances, and a part studied the prophecies more diligently than ever. These latter soon found out what they conceived to be Miller’s mistake. The year 1844 marked not the end of the world, but the beginning of an indefinite “period of probation” at the end of which the saints, viz, the Adventists, were to wing their way to heaven and the wicked were to die and be destroyed utterly. This portion of the Millerite sect founded the Adventist church. Early in its history, however, a dispute arose as to which was the true Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday. On this rock the Adventists split into the Second Advent church and the Seventh Day Adventists. The latter observe with Puritan rigor a Sabbath commencing at sundown Friday night and ending at sundown Saturday night. They believe that Sunday as a holy day was established by the Catholic church, that it is not sanctioned by the Bible; and that its observance constitutes what St. John calls in Revelation “The mark of the beast,” which dooms those who wear it to eternal oblivion. MMM 519.4

Accordingly, the Seventh Day Adventists founded a sect of their own and started out to convert the world in the brief “probation period” that was left them. They grew and prospered. A headquarters was established at Battle Creek, Mich., the population of which pretty little city [at this point and for the next several lines, the original was torn and folded before microfilming. Later the original was destroyed] one third Adventists. Missionar [portion obliterated] all over the world [portion obliterated] who are in the faith “conscien [portion obliterated] a tenth of all they earn to the [portion obliterated] the church has plenty of [portion obliterated] going, it has [portion obliterated] establishments at Battle Cr [portion obliterated] land, Cal., which pour out [portion obliterated] literature constantly: it ha [portion obliterated] made at Battle Creek for th [portion obliterated] which every true believer [portion obliterated] cents: it has [portion obliterated] sanitarium which cures the sick—for a [portion obliterated] education—and disseminates knowledge of the laws of health; it has a college in which the young Adventists are trained up in the faith and educated for missionaries; and it has a thousand and one minor enterprises which fill its coffers and speed the work of evangelization. Michigan has the most Seventh Day Adventists within its borders and Minnesota comes second. Minneapolis is now the sect’s headquarters in the Northwest and the annual world’s conference is this year to be held here. MMM 520.1

The Scandinavian nations have received particular attention from the church. Missionaries have been sent to Norway and Sweden as well as to Minnesota, and many converts in the middle and lower classes have been made. But France, England, Switzerland and other European countries have not been neglected, and missionaries have been maintained everywhere by this energetic church. It is an Adventist tenet[?] that every nation will have a chance to “see the light” and accept the truth before destruction and oblivion come and the world is snuffed out of existence. MMM 521.1

The Seventh Day Adventists have some peculiar ideas and as a result some peculiar men in their ranks. Elder James White, who died a few years ago, was for a long time at their head. He was a strong, hard-headed man whose word was law among his people. His widow, Mrs. Ellen G. White, now here at the conference, is the only prophetess the church ever had and she is revered accordingly. She is a homely, plain woman who preaches in the pulpit with all the fire and severity of a man. Of late years she has not had many “visions” but in the old days she had them frequently going into a trance-like condition. Her utterances were received as coming from God himself and were revered and obeyed accordingly. Another peculiar custom of the Seventh Day Adventists is that they hold to the old biblical custom of washing one another’s feet like the Dunkards. At stated seasons the ceremony takes place in the church with all the solemnity of a communion, the brethren and the sisters performing the service for each other with prayer. In their religious revivals they strongly resemble the Methodists. MMM 521.2

A preliminary biblical institute has been held this week with some 175 delegates present, and the conference proper beings next Wednesday. Some 200 regular delegates will be here, and enough who are not delegates to raise the number of S. D. Adventists in the city to 900 or 1,000. The meetings will be held at the church, corner of 4th ave. S and Lake St. Among the prominent elders here are S. N. Haskell, of England, J. G. Madison [sic] of Denmark, L. R. Conradi of Germany, W. Farnsworth of Des Moines, Iowa; R. A. Underwood of Messopatamia [sic]; E.J. Waggoner, editor Signs of the Times. Oakland, Cal.; and Uriah Smith, editor of the Review and Herald, the church organ. Battle Creek, Mich. Today is the Sabbath to the delegates and no business is being transacted. Mrs. White spoke this afternoon and tomorrow Elder Uriah Smith talks on “Foreordination.” MMM 522.1

n.a., “The Adventists” Minneapolis Journal, (10/17/1888), p. 2.