The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

II. Significance of Local Conferences, Covering 1842-1844

The following points are likewise based upon the full data covering the more than a hundred local conferences. These are similarly presented so as to afford a panoramic view of the entire series for analysis and comparison. Inasmuch as these conferences practically cover the remainder of the Millerite movement, this summary is in reality a portrayal of the larger course of the movement. PFF4 557.2

1. Approximately 120 local conferences were held between January, 1842, and October, 1844, thus beginning about two thirds of the way through the series of General Conferences. PFF4 557.3

2. The local conferences were distributed over three years of time-about forty were held in 1842, twenty convened in 1843, while fifty-eight were scheduled in 1844, up to October. PFF4 557.4

3. They were spread over twelve States and Canada—ten in Maine, fifteen in New Hampshire, twenty-one in Vermont, four in Connecticut, one in Rhode Island, twenty-three in Massachusetts, twenty-five in New York State, five in Pennsylvania, five in Ohio, one in Indiana, and one in Michigan, with seven in Canada. PFF4 557.5

4. They were held in various types of meeting places. Where the place is indicated in the record, twenty-nine were in churches, fifteen in halls, fourteen in tabernacles, three in tents, one in a grove, and one rural conference was even held in a large barn. PFF4 558.1

5. Aside from the smaller meetings, the larger local conferences were variously described as large, crowded, filled, thronged, mighty gatherings, multitudes. There is record, where abulated, of one with one thousand, one with fifteen hundred, three with two thousand, one with four thousand, two with five thousand, and one with seven thousand. Both the portable big tent pavilion and the permanent Boston Tabernacle, seating about four thousand each, were used for local conferences. PFF4 558.2

6. The number of ministerial speakers attending the various gatherings ranged from but one speaker each, in twenty-five of the small conferences, to two speakers in nineteen conferences, three each in twelve more, four in eleven others, five peakers at six conferences, six each at six others, seven lecturers in six, nine at one conference, ten at another, and as many as fifteen speakers in still another of major local conferences. PFF4 558.3

7. These local conferences were primarily evangelistic and revivalistic in nature-only four organizing with a chairman and secretary, and only seven sending out addresses, local statements of faith, or resolutions. And these simply reiterated or reinforced the authoritative statements of the General Conferences. PFF4 558.4

8. The communion service was frequently held in these gatherings, with participants numbering two hundred, five hundred, and eight hundred. One ordination is recorded at a conference in 1843, and baptisms are noted as well. PFF4 558.5

9. These local conferences were frequently combined with camp meetings in 1843 and 1844, and in the latter year were often superseded by them. PFF4 558.6

10. During the conferences, extending from 1840 to 1844, the transition from friendliness to hostility on the part of the clergy and the churches generally, became increasingly acute. At first the believers in the advent were advised to remain in their respective churches, and witness. But by 1842 note is taken, in the conferences, that opposition was developing, conflict with the clergy increasing, and egg—and stone-throwing beginning to be experienced. By 1843 counsel began to be given to withdraw from the churches when oppressed, and to separate where necessary. And by 1844 the call rang out clearly in sermon, periodical, and conference that “Babylon is fallen.” The summons was given not only to separate from the world, but to come out from those churches that continued to oppose and reject the advent truth. A great separatist movement resulted, with fifty thousand to one hundred thousand responding. Such is the general summarizing story of the Millerite conferences. PFF4 558.7

Now we are prepared to survey the various General Conferences, the men who led out in them, the addresses and group statements, and the influences that sprang from them. PFF4 559.1