About the year 1840, a Mr. William Miller appeared in eastern Maine to apprise its inhabitants of the early coming of Jesus. He asserted that the first judgment would come in 1843. The enunciation of this theory in 1840, produced much excitement which grew in intensity as the fateful year of 1843 approached, when it reached its culmination.

The more indigent victims of this belief, reasoned that if all things earthly are to terminate in 1843, all Ale need to do is to provide ourselves with supplies for the intervening two years. When, in 1843, the great lay was believed to be near, this class, having been oduced to absolute want, quartered themselves upon heir more independent friends for subsistence. Thus large numbers of men, women and children were brought together under a single roof where the most grotesque religious performances were indulged in. If, at the midnight hour, a mere child expressed a desire to be haptized, the whole company promptly appeared at the water's side to participate in the ceremony. It was not uncommon for a zealous member of the sect to be baptized several times. On such occasions, many of them disported themselves in the water in a manner not fully in accord with the solemnity which is expected at such times.

Some of the more thoughtful and more confident, spent their leisure in making ascension robes to be used on the occasion of their "going up." One of its devotees, a Mr. _____ became a citizen of the town early in the thirties, wrested a farm from the forest, and provided for himself and family a good home.

By industry, economy, and good judgment, he had taken rank with our most independent and esteemed citizens, and had been called to fill the most important town offices from time to time. But strange as it may seem, he found himself struggling in the current of Millerism and his home became the headquarters of its devotees where everything from cellar to attic, and in ell, shed and barn, was held in common. When the collapse came it brought with it the consciousness of a terrible mistake, a loss of self-respect, and of courage and of hope.

He soon became the victim of inherited consumptive tendencies, and passed from earth in a different manner from tha which he expected a few brief years earlier. The disastrous results to the one victim that have been narrated were experienced by others. Several who had been enjoying a comfortable independence, were reduced to poverty by the same process. The tendency of this delusion to pauperism led to the adoption of legal measures by the municipal authorities, to rid the town of irresponsible leaders, from other towns.

The Rev. Leonard Hutchins, pastor of the Free Baptist church and society, gave a semi-centennial address before that organization in 1875, in which he alluded to the disastrous effects of Millerism. After speaking of a period of universal prosperity, he says, "It was interrupted by a season of severe trial. Many members abandoned the church and its ordinances, to enter the ranks of a sect which professed to believe that the second coming of Christ was an event to be looked for in the near future. Indeed the exact date for this great event had been determined in the councils of heaven and recorded in the books of prophecy.

"Some of the devotees of Millerism assumed the position of open enmity to the church and to the religion to which they had solemnly pledged fidelity. This condition of affairs resulted in great distraction to the church for several years. By the exercise of wisdom and forbearance by the church, the greater portion of those who had violated their church obligations, returned to it, while the more stubborn persisted in their recreancy to their church obligations, and were at length excommunicated."