Sketches of the Christian life and public labors of William Miller : $b Gathered from his memoir by the late Sylvester Bliss, and from other sources
John Stuart Mill · en
“On the 10th of January, 1843, Mr. M. began a course of lectures in the
Presbyterian church in Utica, N. Y., where an interest was elicited
which extended to surrounding places. Invitations were received from
many of the neighboring towns, which could not be complied with. The
meetings closed on the 17th, when forty or fifty were inquiring what they
should do to be saved. A good work had been commenced, which continued
for several weeks. The _Methodist Reformer_, published in that city,
announced that ‘many thoughtless sinners and cold professors were stirred
up to duty by them;’ and the _Baptist Register_ said, ‘Mr. Miller’s
appeals were often very pungent, and made a very deep impression on the
audience, and many came forward for prayer.’
“From the 21st to the 29th of January, 1843, Mr. Miller lectured in
Bennington, Vt. He then went to Philadelphia, Pa., and lectured in the
large hall of the Chinese Museum, which was crowded to excess, from the
3d to the 10th of February. On the evening of the 7th, a gentleman arose
and confessed that he had been an infidel, but could now praise God for
what he had done for his soul. Many others followed, bearing testimony to
God’s pardoning mercy.
“The interest attending the lectures continued to increase from the first
till the evening before their close. On that evening the house was filled
to overflowing at an early hour. When the lecture commenced, the crowd
and confusion were so great as to render it almost impossible to hear
the speaker; and it was thought best, after notifying the people what
was to be done, and giving an opportunity for all who wished so to do to
go out, to close the doors, and thus secure silence. This was done, and
the speaker proceeded to his subject. For about half an hour there was
profound silence, and deep interest was evinced by the immense audience,
with the exception of a few unruly boys. This would have undoubtedly
continued had it not been for the circumstance of a lady’s fainting, and
it becoming necessary to open the doors for her to go out. When the door
was opened, there was a rush of persons who stood outside for admittance.
As soon as this was done, and a few had come into the room, an unruly boy
raised the cry of ‘fire,’ which threw the whole assembly into confusion,
some crying one thing, and some another. There did not appear to be any
disposition on the part of the multitude to disturb the meeting; but all
came from the rush and cry. The disorder arose more from the excited
fears of the people than from any other cause. Order was again restored,
and the speaker proceeded for a few moments, when another rush was made,
and the excitement became so great within as to render it expedient to
dismiss the meeting.
“The police of the city were willing to do what they could, but there was
nothing for them to do; for they could not govern the excited nerves of
the audience.