The First Report of the General Conference of Christians Expecting the Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

“Article 3. Christ did truly rise from the dead,-he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge the world at the last day.” ¹² FRGC 15.5

Without fixing a time, the Episcopal and Methodist churches here, also, seem expressly and purposely to exclude from their public faith the now common notion of Christ’s “invisible appearing,” as it has been called, to reign spiritually during a millenium of this world, and previous to the resurrection. For, surely, they can mean no less by affirming as they do, distinctly and positively, that, having “ascended into heaven,” he “there sitteth, until he return to judge all men,” or “to judge the world at the last day.” Though at this much later period of time, in the fulfilment of the prophetic signs of the day at hand, our conviction of its special nearness should be deeper than had we lived in their day. Surely, their phraseology is right still, and will continue to harmonize with the doctrine of Christ, John, and others of the holy writers, that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” until as the lightning form heaven this very kingdom shall come. FRGC 15.6

So far as I can yet learn, this flattering and secular doctrine, if it may be so called, is so altogether modern, that there is no denomination of Christians nor individual church which has published it to the world as an article of their creed. Should any individual of the congregation know of one instance to the contrary, they are requested to report accordingly to this Conference before its close. And yet, it is supposed to be a fact, from the most diligent researches, that in case of the several evangelical denominations who have adopted a uniform creed for their whole sect, as in case of the above, they have also condemned or excluded the doctrine of a mere spiritual coming and reigning of Christ himself, before his actually coming, “with power and great glory,” “to judge the world at the last day.” And after all these long standing and yet abiding public professions of disbelief in a millenium of Christ’s invisible reign in this present evil world, the darkness on this subject is now so great, by reason of the false prophet and otherwise, that there are supposed to be multitudes of the watchmen of the denominations making these very professions, who, after all, are so sanguine in the opposite faith, that is, of a millenium in this world, before Christ’s real return with his kingdom, that they seemingly dare not admit to their pulpits this blessed doctrine of their own creeds, that Christ’s second or next coming is at hand, with a kingdom and millenium to be glorious and everlasting, and the sure portion of all them “that love his appearing.” FRGC 16.1

J. Litch followed with an able discourse on the Chronology of Prophecy. FRGC 16.2

The exercises of the evening concluded with reading the Circular Address, by Henry Jones, which will be found in the conclusion of the proceedings. FRGC 16.3

Thursday, Oct. 15, A. M.

Conference opened with religious exercises. FRGC 16.4

A Committee of Foreign Correspondence was chosen, consisting of J. V. Himes, Wm. Miller, H. D. Ward, J. Litch, Henry Jones. FRGC 16.5

And a Committee of Publication, consisting of H. D. Ward, J. V. Himes, Wm. Clark. FRGC 16.6

After which, Henry Jones delivered a studied discourse on the restoration of Israel; showing it to be the restoration of God’s believing Israel to the “New Jerusalem.” FRGC 17.1

Thursday, Oct. 15, P. M.

Opened with prayers and mutual exhortation. The Conference heard from different members very interesting reports of the introduction and progress of the doctrine of the kingdom of heaven at hand in the various places of their abode. Among them were Russell of Springfield, Litch of Eastham, Millard of Fairhaven, Lincoln of Portland, Me., and Reed of Strafford,-Vt. After which, the communion of the Lord’s Supper was administered by Messrs. Russell and Litch to some two hundred or more communicants of different evangelical denominations, many of whom were from remote distances. During and after, this service, interesting remarks were continued by a number of the friends of the cause. And such a time of remembering the Lord’s death till he come, among his scattered and divided people, has hardly taken place since the “falling away first” took place. FRGC 17.2

Thursday Evening, Oct. 15.

J. V. Himes presented the discourses which Wm. Miller had prepared for this Conference, and now had forwarded; one on the Chronology of Prophecy, the other on the Judgment. The latter was read by Bro. H., and listened to with deep interest and profound attention. FRGC 17.3