Fifty years and over of Akron and Summit County : embellished by nearly six hundred engravings--portraits of pioneer settlers, prominent citizens, business, official and professional--ancient and modern views, etc.; nine-tenth's of a century of solid local history--pioneer incidents, interesting events--industrial, commercial, financial and educational progress, biographies, etc., Part 75

Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Ohio > Summit County > Akron > Fifty years and over of Akron and Summit County : embellished by nearly six hundred engravings--portraits of pioneer settlers, prominent citizens, business, official and professional--ancient and modern views, etc.; nine-tenth's of a century of solid local history--pioneer incidents, interesting events--industrial, commercial, financial and educational progress, biographies, etc. > Part 75

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After the discovery of this perplexing blunder, and the due correction of the "Time Tables," the Advent trains were again started, under a far greater head of steam than before, and at a largely increased rate of speed. The local lights of the faithful, both ministers and laymen, became extremely active, not only zealously laboring "in season and out of season," Bible in hand, with their

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unbelieving neighbors, on the streets, in their places of business, and at their several abodes; not only holding enthusiastic nightly meetings in their places of worship, and at private residences, but calling the people together, en masse, in grove and camp meet- ings, by extensive advertising, both by attractive posters and in public prints. As a sample, the following advertisement is copied from the SUMMIT BEACON of August 9, 1843 :

SECOND ADVENT CAMP MEETING, IN SPRINGFIELD, NEAR AKRON, AUGUST 17.

There will be a Second Advent Camp Meeting (if time shall continue), to begin on Thursday, the 17th day of August next, in Springfield, Summit County, Ohio, about six miles southeast of Akron, on the Canton road, at the same place occupied last year by a camp meeting. All who love the appear- ing of our Lord, are earnestly requested to attend, prepared with teuts, to remain throughout the meeting. Boarding will be provided on the ground for those who cannot bring their own provisions. The following named ministers, among others, are expected to attend and preach: Brethren Fitch, Sawin, Needham, Poe, Baker, McCue, Sheldon and Pickands. Come up, brethren and sisters, to the feast-let nothing hinder you. Remember the time is short.

This call was signed by parties living in Springfield, Moga- dore, Canton, Middlebury, Cuyahoga Falls and Akron, several of whom are still living.

Of this meeting, Hiram Bowen, Esq., in the BEACON of August 23, 1843, editorially said :

. The Millerites are holding a camp meeting in Springfield, six miles east of this village. Great numbers of people are in attendance-it was esti- mated that from three to five thousand persons were on the ground on Sun- day last. We cannot learn that they are making many new converts to their doctrines, most of the people attending through mere curiosity.

Meantime the unbeliever and scoffer were constantly poking fun at their " terribly in earnest" and zealous neighbors, in vari- ous ways, and especially in business advertisements, Wilcox, Huse & Co., of Middlebury, manufacturers of chairs, heading their advertisement, "If Time Continues," and Harry Pardee, in the same line of business, giving a counter blast under the head of "Time Continues !"

The BEACON, of December 20, 1843, contains this item:

Father Miller lately visited Rochester, New York, where he devoted one whole week to dealing ont exhortations and admonitions in relation to the awful destruction which awaits this sinful world, on the 22nd day of March, next, according to the improved reckoning, which 22nd day of March, Gentile time, is equivalent to the 23rd day of April, Jewish time. During the whole time of his sojourn there, he was listened to by congregations, daily and nightly, ranging between one and two thousand. He departed thence to enlighten the good people of Lockport, and other cities, in relation to the near approach of the consummation of all things.

The 22nd day of March, as well as the 23rd day of April, 1844, came and went, like other similar days since the dawn of time, and great was the grief and disappointment among the true and earnest believers, while equally great was the joy of the unbeliev- ing but fearful multitude, that the predicted day of doom had safely passed. At a meeting held in the Tabernacle, in Boston, on the 4th day of June, 1844, Father Miller acknowledged that he had made a great mistake about the end of the world. The time had

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THE CRAZE RAPIDLY AND RABIDLY INCREASES.

gone by and he must confess that he knew nothing about it. Yet notwithstanding the failure of both his definite and proximate prophecies, Father Miller still held to the belief that the end would come soon, and in a modified way, continued his labors, while his local adherents, in Akron and elsewhere, not only continued their labors, but were constantly promulgating new dogmas and . adding new features to their modes of public worship and their private teachings and practices.

FATHER MILLER IN AKRON.

On the 13th day of August, 1844, Father Miller visited Akron and addressed large crowds of people, assembled in and about the Tabernacle, both in the afternoon and evening. His discourses, delivered in a plain and unostentatious manner, were mainly devoted to the elucidation of the prophecies on which his calcula- tions had been based, and which, though there had been some slight error in his interpretations and computations, he still believed to be substantially correct, and that the end was near at hand, closing with an earnest exhortation to those still outside the fold, to fly from impending wrath by an immediate preparation, and a continuous watching and praying for the coming of the Lord. Though this demonstration made no very great impression upon the large audiences in attendance, the greater portion being present from mere curiosity, it had the effect of very greatly stim- ulating his adherents, and augmenting their zeal, in the propaga- tion of their doctrines, resulting to some extent, in an increase of their proselytes and members.

The Second Advent organs (of which there were many), also took on new ardor and began to promulgate new data for the final "Wreck of Matter and Crash of Worlds;" Brother Storrs, of New York, editor of the Midnight Cry and the Bible Examiner, as well as one of the most powerful preachers of the dogma, say- ing, in a sermon published in the Examiner, early in October, 1844, that the world would positively come to an end the 22nd or 23rd of that month, or be postponed fifty years; a speaker in the Tabernacle, here, about the same time, assuring his hearers, that they would "never see another cold Winter."

Baptism by immersion, if not at first considered an essential element of the Second Advent creed, at length came to be so regarded, and about this time many of the old believers, and all of the new converts, were duly submerged beneath the rather chilly waters of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal. A local paper (the Cascade Roarer), of October 8, 1844, said: "Five persons were baptized into the Millerite faith on Sunday last and several more on Mon- day. The cause seems to be prospering in these diggings." The next issue of the same paper (October 15, 1844), says: "The Adventists are doing a splashing business in the immersion line, having submerged some thirty or forty in the canal on Sabbath last, and among the rest some six or eight children, from six to ten years of age;" and in its issue of October 22, remarks: "Our Second Advent friends have fixed upon this day as the very last- or to-morrow as the extreme fag-end of time, and many of them have acted accordingly, by stopping all kinds of business, settling up their affairs, paying off their debts (strange infatuation !) giv- ing away their provisions and effects, warning their neighbors to

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prepare for the awful day, and in sundry and various other ways making themselves as supremely ridiculous as possible." In its issue of October 24, the same paper says: "The Adventists of this place have given us fifteen days longer, on account of one hour which was not taken into the calculation of Brothers Miller, Storrs & Co.," the same issue announcing the miraculous cure of a young lady in the family of one of the faithful, who had not left her bed for four years, through the exercise of faith, and who immediately commenced attending the meetings at the Tabernacle, in appar- ently good health; also, that during family worship in another family, there occurred an instantaneous restoration to conscious- ness and health, of a child lying in its mother's arms, apparently insensible from an acute attack of chill-fever.

Early in November, 1844, Brother Storrs, in his Midnight Cry makes a statement in which he says: "I confess that I have been led into error, and have thereby led others astray, in advising Advent believers to leave business entirely and attend meetings only; though I have usually qualified that advice by excepting business absolutely necessary for present necessity."

In commenting upon this, his neighbor, the New York True Sun, pertinently said: "What compensation is the confession to hundreds who have been ruined in property and in mind by the delusive prophecies of Brother Storrs and his associates? Confes- sion will not restore the dead who have perished from exposure, nor re-illumine with the spark of reason the darkened intellect; nor clothe the naked and feed the hungry; nor relieve one jot or tittle of the misery, wretchedness and despair which Millerism has. inflicted upon its victims." And apropos of the evils resulting from the Second Advent delusion, the following, from an Akron paper, of November 12, 1844, will be strongly confirmatory of the- Sun's remarks:

"MORE MILLERISM AND MADNESS .- Last week Mr. Ira Viets, of Cuyahoga Falls, having become a dupe to the Second Advent doctrine that all earthly passions are sinful, and that the com- mand: 'If thy member offends thee, cut it off,' should be taken literally, most barbarously mutilated himself with a plane-bit and mallet. He is now upon the town, under the doctor's care, await- ing the Second Advent, or the end of time, which it is thought. may soon take place for him, as it is somewhat doubtful whether he will escape the consequences of his rash act, even with his life;" the same paper in its issue of July 1, 1845, saying that Mr. Viets. was then confined in the county jail, "a perfect lunatic from the delusive and inconsistent dogma of Millerism." And the writer will here add, that there were several others in this immediate vicinity-notably women -- whose minds were permanently unbal- anced, and their domestic relations seriously disturbed, and in some instances entirely broken up, by the delusion.

THE HOLY KISS-FEET-WASHING, ETC .-- The Augusta (Maine). Age, in March, 1845, said of the Second Adventists of that vicinity: "The 'Receivers,' as they style themselves, of the Millerite fallacies,. have discovered a new theory, which is that the day of grace has. been passed, and that we are all now in Eternity, and that the awful horrors of a general Judgment are soon to be manifested to. all eyes. Some of them take special pains to humble themselves, and for this purpose wash and kiss each other's feet, creep upon

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THE GREAT APOSTLE GIVES IT UP.

the floor, etc., their conduct, in some instances, being revolting in the extreme." The day of grace and Eternity theory, did not obtain here, to any extent, but the kissing, feet-washing and roll- ing upon the floor -- stricken down by the 'power of the holy spirit'-tom-foolery was adopted by a portion of the local faithful, though it is but simple justice to say, right here, that the more intelligent and well-balanced among the believers drew the line on these practices, and that only the more infatuated, and the dis- honest among them, participated in the well authenticated disgust- ing powwows of this character that were for several months . indulged in. At all events, certain peculiar services were held almost nightly, at which none but the most faithful of the faithful were admitted, though there was sufficient leakage, from one and another, to fully demonstrate the revolting nature of those secret orgies.

FATHER MILLER GIVES IT UP.

Early in October, 1845, Father Miller published an address to his deluded followers, frankly acknowledging his great error, in predicting the end of the world, closing as follows: "For my indiscretions and errors, I ask pardon, and all who have spoken evil of me without cause, I freely forgive. My labors are princi- pally ended.

Yet, notwithstanding the Great Apostle of Millerism-Father Miller himself-frankly. renounced, and wholly repudiated, the doctrines which he had originated, and so long advocated, the local "small fry" Adventists of the country still keep pegging away, and though not pretending to designate any particular day, or even month, or year, for the final "wind up," continued to promulgate new dogmas, and fulminate new prophecies, through which to render themselves still more ridiculous, and to still further disgust the public mind, as will be seen in what follows.

The "Simon-pures" of this vicinity-united in what they denominated "The Advent Band," the very holiest of the holy, of that extremely holy people. Among the very earliest of the con- verts to the Second Advent faith was a Mrs. Green, a thoroughly honest and sincerely pious lady, the wife of Col. Lyman Green, for many years one of Akron's best known hotel keepers. Mrs. Green, like many other honest and earnest christian women, became entirely infatuated with the delusion, readily accepting, and conscientiously entering into, all the dogmas that were froni time to time proclaimed, and who, of course, became a devoted member of the "charmed circle" -- the Advent Band. Like many of the other "ungodly" husbands, whose wives were thus dis- tracted from their domestic and wifely duties, Col. Green tried every possible argument, and made use of every possible mode of persuasion, both with Mrs. G. and her pastor, to restore her to her family and her domestic duties, but in vain.

The Colonel then thought he would try what virtue there was in the law for the redress of his grievances. Accordingly criminal proceedings were instituted against her pastor, charging him with assault and battery upon the person of Mrs. Green, in saluting her with the holy kiss, washing her feet, etc., in the exercise of his brotherly devotions and his pastorly functions. The suit was brought before the late Gen. Philo Chamberlin, then mayor of

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Akron, December 13, 1845, Gen. Lucius V. Bierce acting as attor- ney for the State, the accused officiating in his own defense. The witnesses were all, necessarily, members of the "Band," who, disavowing all allegiance to human laws, refused to be sworn, but finally consented to affirm, under the pains and penalties of per- jury, to "Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Though the general fact was admitted that feet-washing and the holy kiss were part and parcel of their devotions, the testimony was so obscure, under the skilful management of the . defendant, as to the actual contact of himself and Mrs. Green, in those peculiar modes of worship, and his plea so convincing to His Honor, that he was triumphantly acquitted.

THE TABERNACLE BLOWN UP .- Ten days later, December 23, 1845, at about 8 o'clock in the evening, a loud report shook the very foundations of the town, which was at first supposed to be the explosion of one of the Austin Powder Company's mills, located on what is now known as Fountain Park-a sound that was quite common to the people of Akron and vicinity, about those days. It was soon discovered, however, that it was no powder mill explo- sion, but the explosion of a keg of powder that some ungodly hand had placed in or under the Second Advent Tabernacle, on South High street, by which the front end, including the pulpit, had been entirely blown out, and the balance of the structure, irre- trievably wrecked.

In the Cascade Roarer, the writer, in speaking of this affair, said: "No matter how supremely ridiculous the conduct of any individuals, or of any sect, may be, such acts of dire depravity should by no means be countenanced. It is fostering a spirit of mobocracy which may yet require a mighty and bloody struggle to overpower. If we have laws, let us regard them; if they are not sufficient to punish and protect, let us enact such as are. We hope the perpetrators of this foul deed will not go unwhipped of justice. The act cannot be of the slightest benefit to the community. The persecuted fanatic always prospers; and this last act will only cause these monomaniacs to increase their zeal and redouble their diligence."

ATTEMPT TO HEAL A BROKEN LEG BY PRAYER .- As was antici- pated, the persecutions above recorded served only to "enthuse" the deluded Adventists, whose proceedings were, if possible, more disgusting and more reprehensible than before. In our own town, a miracle was sought to be performed as follows: A middle-aged lady, the wife of a former highly respected builder, and the mother of one of our present most active and useful business inen, and in every way a most estimable woman, was a faithful attend- ant upon all the meetings of the band. She was a very heavy woman, and early in the month of January, 1846, on leaving the private residence where a meeting had been held, late in the even- ing, she either slipped or made a misstep and fell, very badly breaking one of her legs. She was carried back into the house, where, notwithstanding a physician was called by an unbelieving neighbor, it was sought by the faithful to re-unite the broken bones through the efficacy of prayer, the grand master of ceremo- nies, meantime, peremptorily commanding the suffering woman to "rise up and walk." But though the prayers were vehement and confident, and though the command to "rise up and walk"

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"SPIRITUAL" MARRIAGES.

was authoritatively and unctuously repeated, the broken bone would not heal, and the crippled and suffering woman was, after an hour or more of enforced torture, finally handed over to the ungodly and mortal "saw-bones" who had been called, for a reduction of the fracture and relief from pain.

SPIRITUAL MARRIAGES-TRIAL FOR 'ADULTERY. - Among the many peculiar tenets of faith embraced and practiced by a portion of this peculiar people, was that of spiritual marriages, and about the middle of February, 1846, a couple who had thus gravitated together as "Spiritual Affinities," were arraigned before Justice Henry Converse, and tried under "carnal" law, on the charge of adultery. The pastor, though refusing to take the judicial oatlı, 011 the ground that it would be an acknowledgment of the obliga- tion of human laws, affirmed, under the pains and penalties of per- jury, that the defendants came to his house February 17; informed him that they were a brother and sister in the true faith, and had been brought together by the spirit of God, in the bonds of spiritual matrimony; that the man had abandoned " his wife according to the flesh," at Auburn, N. Y., about four months before, and that the woman had deserted a carnal husband about the same time, at Hamburg, Erie county, N. Y., preparatory to their present spiritual union; that they had journeyed together from Hamburg to Toronto, Canada, back again to the state of New York, and thence to Cleveland, and finally to Akron, and that upon this open avowal he had, in the fellowship of the Spirit, taken them into his house, where they had slept together until their arrest under the charge on which they were being tried; that such an association was strictly in accordance with the doctrines and principles of the sect, but that actual sexual intercourse was not tolerated under any circumstances. Mr. John Kidder, also testified that the connec- tion between the defendants comported with the doctrines of the Second Advent people, and explained the propriety of "Spiritually sleeping together," by the trying test to which it would put the piety of those embracing and practicing the doctrine. Mr. Charles Clapp, and Mr. William J. Hart, being called as witnesses, refused to "bow down to the Beast," either by swearing or affirming, and were fined for contempt of court, the latter being committed to jail for want of the wherewithal to pay his fine.

The defendants, claiming no justification except the direction of the Spirit, and the warrant of Scripture, the carnal justice of the peace, not seeing the evidence of either, and not acknowledging any higher authority in such matters than the statutes and juris- prudence of this wicked world, bound then over to the Court of Common Pleas of Summit county, in the sum of $200 each, to answer to the charge of adultery, in default of which they were committed to jail. The "persecuted" couple, who were confined in different parts of the jail, boasted, that like the walls of Jericho, the walls of the jail would come tumbling down, in answer to the prayers of the faithful, but the walls aforesaid did not tumble, and the deluded and lecherous twain were compelled to abide their time, and suffer the penalties of outraged public sentiment and violated law.

The principal headquarters of the local saints at this time, was at the house of a Mr. Southwick, on South Summit street, near where the new freight depot of the N. Y., P. & O. R. R. now stands, where

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

inost of the meetings were held, and where, not only the spiritually separated wives and husbands found refuge, but where the same class of persecuted saints from abroad, were also harbored and pro- vided for-eight devoted women, who had, by direction of the Spirit, separated from carnal husbands, arriving there in a single week, during the month of March, in 1846, there being at one time no less than fifteen in the neighborhood, from abroad, in search of " Spiritual Affinities" among the other sex. It was from this house that one of our most respected Methodist citizens-long an honored resident of Akron, often led to her neglected children, the wife and mother, who, solely through the Millerite delusion, was a life-long care to the family, and, until her recent death, a confirmed monomaniac. It was here, also, that the wife of Col. Lyman Green was harbored, and encouraged in her disregard of her wifely and motherly duties, and failing, through the law as above detailed, to get from the leader of the delusion proper redress, the Colonel at length became so exasperated, that, meeting Mr. Southwick near the corner of Howard and Market streets, on the 13th day of March, 1846, he proceeded to mete out justice on his own hook, by most thoroughly pelting him with addled eggs.

This act, though fully recognizing the great aggravation which inspired it, was, like the blowing up of the Tabernacle, severely con- demned by the public press and the better portion of our citizens. In speaking of the outrageous operations and practices of these people at this time, the BEACON, of March 18, 1846, editorially said :

The little knot of demented fanatics in our midst, who have so long dis- graced themselves, and even putting human nature to the blush by their foolish and witless proceedings, seem to be drawing their affairs to a crisis. Kissing and feet-washing has given place, as all supposed it would, to the more intimate communion; and under the guise of spiritual marriage, husbands and wives are very unceremoniously exchanged. A few nights ago eight strolling females, who had left respectable families and friends. accompanied by one male biped, made their advent into our devoted town, in the character and capacity of angels. They were cordially welcomed by the " Saints" of this village, and thereupon their usual feet-washing, kissing, and other strictly spiritual performances were entered into with great gusto, and all for the glory of God. A well-known citizen of our town, who has long been demented in regard to these things, and whose fall many deeply deplore, leaving home and wife and children, has gone forth, pedestrian- wise, under the protection of one of these vestal visitors, on an angelic mis- sion, in obedience to the divine injunction, taking neither script nor staff, nor money in his purse, nor two coats, nor even a change of shirts.

IMPORTANT CONFESSION-FINAL COLLAPSE .- The Cascade Roarer, of March 24, 1846, contains the following:

Mr. Pickands, formerly the principal promulgator of Millerism in North- ern Ohio, confessed, on Sabbath last, before that portion of the church that dissented when feet-washing, etc., was introduced, that Millerism was a humbug and a delusion from the foundation ; that he had been deluded and that all who had embraced the doctrine were deluded, and that those who continued to hold it were deranged.

Mr. Pickands not only renounced Second Adventism, and all the other "isms" connected therewith, but abjured every other form of religious belief; thenceforth devoting himself to worldly pursuits; at first adopting the legal profession, reading law, and being admitted to practice, but soon abandoning that calling to. take charge of a paper devoted to the wool growing interests, pub- lished in Cleveland by the late S. N. Goodale, formerly of Akron,.

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THE END OF THE DELUSION.

and for several years afterwards officiating as collector and com- piler of statistics for the Cleveland Board of trade; but during the later years of his life residing with his sons, Henry and James, then and now highly respectable and enterprising business men at Cleveland and Marquette, Mich., at which latter place Mr. Pickands died some ten or twelve years ago.

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Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905 Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department
Number of Pages: 1228