The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

II. Characteristics of Miller’s Public Address

Miller’s preaching was unique. ⁷ For one thing, his conspicuous mastery of the Bible was much greater than that of the average clergyman. He was everywhere recognized as preeminently a man of the Book, and commonly spoke with an open Bible in his hand. He continually quoted the Bible, exalted the Bible, and employed its imagery. And his draft upon history was likewise remarkable, for he had an unusual grasp of its great outlines and major events. He had the appearance and the speaking style of the trained minister, and compared favorably with his prominent compeers. Contemporary evidence attests that the well read and the scholarly were the most impressed of all his auditors-teachers, lawyers, preachers, civic leaders, and physicians. He was vivid in his diction and was a master of the crowd. There was an intimate conversational quality about his delivery that won and held the interest. And to his logic, balance, and heart appeal was added rhythm, as he frequently employed the rhythmic movement of verse. PFF4 684.1

There was often an impressive touch of picturesque and homely beauty in his speech. People remembered his fervent words, and his influence upon his audience was profound. Men sat “chained to their seats,” as it were, as he expounded, pleaded, and warned. Often his audiences listened to his solemn climaxes with the “stillness of death.” These climactic exhortations were unusually powerful. And always his emphasis on the last days was used to lead men to repent and believe and prepare for that great day. But behind it all was the impact of Miller’s irreproachable character. PFF4 685.1

Miller usually made a clear announcement of his text and often of his plan and purpose of presentation. The arrangement was usually simple, with a telling summary when he had finished the outline of his argument. He made effective use of his voice, which was full, distinct, and flexible, and seemed always equal to the demands of large city audiences. His intense earnestness, and his absolute personal confidence in the things that he presented, together with his fearlessness and winsomeness in their declaration, made him a power in the desk. He was an unusual revivalist, and distinctively interdenominational in his emphasis. In fact, some of the greatest revivals that various Eastern cities had ever experienced took place under Miller’s preaching. Membership in the various communions was greatly augmented as a direct result. From any angle, Miller’s influence upon men was profound, and a really remarkable movement resulted. PFF4 685.2

Estimates of his followers run from a conservative minimum of fifty thousand up to a million. A common estimate by the Millerites was “50,000 to 100,000.” These were the loyal core. The Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society later gave 150,000 to 200,000 members, while McMaster’s subsequent American history cites a top figure of one million adherents. ⁸ A similar estimate, of a million, appeared in the Hartford Universalist of August 27, 1842.” ⁹ Miller, however, simply speaks of fifty thousand full-fledged “believers” gathered into “Advent congregations,” ¹⁰ though multiplied tens of thousands more consented to his teachings. As to the number of clergymen supporting the movement, the American Antiquarian Society again gives the figure of eight hundred ministers consenting, while Miller himself says two hundred ministers actually identified themselves integrally with the movement, along with some five hundred public lecturers. ¹¹ Later, Lorenzo D. Fleming, assistant editor of the Midnight Cry, in March, 1844, reported, “Something like fifteen hundred or two thousand lecturers are in the field proclaiming ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” ¹² PFF4 686.1

Miller was tremendously popular as a speaker. Hundreds of earnest appeals are in the file of letters preserved by Miller, urging him to come to their various communities or churches to preach at least once, and usually asking for a series. His personal notation of date of receipt is placed methodically on each. These approaches came from both preachers and laymen. Sometimes it was the pastor, speaking for his church, upon vote, and frequently bearing long lists of signatures. Other appeals were from groups of clergymen in a given community, asking for a joint meeting in some central church. And these requests were spread, geographically, all over New England, New York State, and Canada, and out to the West and way down South. They came from every Protestant group, and seemingly in endless procession. There were offers of use of the courthouse or the largest church-with seventy-seven appeals on record in 1839 alone. ¹³ Miller’s utter physical inability to accept even half of the invitations tendered, brought expressions of deep disappointment. PFF4 686.2

Preachers wrote constantly asking for explanations and help on the prophecies, or to express their confidence and pledge their support and prayers for his mission. The persistency displayed by some in attempting to have Miller come to their section is unique, with letter after letter over the period of a year or two. For example, the students at Andover desired to hear him, and the pastor pressed the invitation again and again. There were letters from devoted friends and from bitter foes, and even some cowardly anonymous missives. But always they were answered courteously and filed methodically. How one man compassed it all without secretarial help is difficult to conceive. PFF4 687.1