The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

V. Four Smaller Conferences in Four States

The next four General Conferences, numbered 7 to 10, were held in Dover, New Hampshire (December 14-16, 1841), Pomfret, Connecticut (January 18-20, 1842), Sandy Hill, New York, near Albany (February 1-4), and Colchester, Vermont (February 8-10). These were smaller gatherings, and all four were held in churches, largely Baptist, though one was Presbyterian. Miller, Himes, Litch, and Robinson were the chief speakers. The attendance at Dover (the seventh) was heavy, and the prophecies were diligently studied. The Little Horn was held to be the Papacy, its special 1260-year period having ended in 1798. All were called upon to give the Midnight Cry. ¹⁹ Belief that the second coming of our Lord was near, without specifying the year, was deemed sufficient. Miller was the chairman. PFF4 609.1

At the Pomfret (eighth) Conference, under the chairmanship of William Thayer, Himes and Litch were the principal speakers. The fallacy of the temporal millennium was studied, and the various prophecies-especially the 2300 years. It was considered a decided success. ²⁰ PFF4 609.2

The Sandy Hill (ninth) Conference, held in the Presbyterian church and the courthouse, likewise registered a large attendance, resulting in part from the previous Low Hampton Conference. And numerous calls for other conferences were registered. The impression was deep rooted that the widespread giving of the Midnight Cry is in itself a sure precursor of the coming Bridegroom. In the courthouse many declared themselves to be converts, including a prominent lawyer, H. B. Northrop. He had come to hear the evidence, expecting to be able to overthrow it with ease, but instead had been persuaded of its truth. ²¹ After this, local conferences for the public were held with increasing frequency, not only all over New England and the Middle States, but in the adjacent Canadian provinces as well. These also registered a gratifyingly large attendance. PFF4 609.3

The Colchester (tenth) session, under the chairmanship of Deacon T. Galusha, was similarly “well attended.” Numerous ministers were present to consider the evidence. The significance of the Midnight Cry, ringing out over the land, was again stressed. Strong emphasis was also placed on the 2300 years, as reaching to 1843-1844. This was stressed in a letter to the conference by James Sabine, rector of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Bethel, Vermont. The editor of the Signs remarked at this point, “Second Advent Conferences have within the last year become numerous and important.” ²² Actually, there was a grand total of 132 in two years. Thus we are brought to the important New York Conference, and its preparatory meetings. PFF4 610.1