Teachings on the Second Coming

In Hartford and vicinity, she met with several persons who believed in the 'Second Advent' doctrines; or, the immediate personal appearance of Jesus Christ. At first she thought she had never heard of 'Second Advent.' But when it was explained to her, she recollected having once attended Mr. Miller's meeting in New York, where she saw a great many enigmatical pictures hanging on the wall, which she could not understand, and which, being out of the reach of her understanding, failed to interest her. In this section of country, she attended two camp-meetings of the believers in these doctrines-the 'second advent' excitement being then at its greatest height. The last meeting was at Windsor Lock. The people, as a matter of course, eagerly inquired of her concerning her belief, as it regarded their most important tenet. She told them it had not been revealed to her; perhaps, if she could read, she might see it differently. Sometimes, to their eager inquiry, 'Oh, don't you believe the Lord is coming?' she answered, 'I believe the Lord is as near as he can be, and not be it.' With these evasive and non-exciting answers, she kept their minds calm as it respected her unbelief, till she could have an opportunity to hear their views fairly stated, in order to judge more understandingly of this matter, and see if, in her estimation, there was any good ground for expecting an event which was, in the minds of so many, as it were, shaking the very foundations of the universe. She was invited to join them in their religious exercises, and accepted the invitation-praying, and talking in her own peculiar style, and attracting many about her by her singing.

In Hartford and the surrounding area, she met several people who believed in the 'Second Advent' doctrines. They believed that Jesus Christ would soon appear in person. At first, she thought she had never heard of the 'Second Advent.' But when it was explained to her, she remembered attending Mr. Miller's meeting in New York. There she had seen many puzzling pictures hanging on the wall. She could not understand them, and because they were beyond her understanding, they did not interest her. In this part of the country, she attended two camp meetings held by believers in these doctrines. Excitement about the 'second advent' was then at its height. The last meeting was at Windsor Lock. Naturally, the people eagerly asked what she believed about their most important teaching. She told them it had not been revealed to her. Perhaps, if she could read, she might see it differently. Sometimes they eagerly asked, 'Oh, don't you believe the Lord is coming?' She answered, 'I believe the Lord is as near as he can be, and not be it.' These evasive, unprovocative answers kept them calm about her lack of belief. She wanted a chance to hear their views fairly stated so she could judge the matter with better understanding. Then she could decide whether there was any good reason to expect this event. In the minds of so many people, the event seemed to be shaking the very foundations of the universe. She was invited to join their religious exercises and accepted. She prayed and spoke in her own distinctive style, and her singing attracted many people around her.

When she had convinced the people that she was a lover of God and his cause, and had gained a good standing with them, so that she could get a hearing among them, she had become quite sure in her own mind that they were laboring under a delusion, and she commenced to use her influence to calm the fears of the people, and pour oil upon the troubled waters. In one part of the grounds, she found a knot of people greatly excited: she mounted a stump and called out, 'Hear! hear!' When the people had gathered around her, as they were in a state to listen to any thing new, she addressed them as 'children,' and asked them why they made such a 'To-do;-are you not commanded to "watch and pray?" You are neither watching nor praying.' And she bade them, with the tones of a kind mother, retire to their tents, and there watch and pray, without noise or tumult, for the Lord would not come to such a scene of confusion; 'the Lord came still and quiet.' She assured them, 'the Lord might come, move all through the camp, and go away again, and they never know it,' in the state they then were.

She convinced the people that she loved God and his cause. She gained their respect, so they would listen to her. By then, she had become quite sure that they were mistaken. She began using her influence to calm their fears and ease the unrest. In one part of the grounds, she found a small group of people who were very excited. She climbed onto a stump and called out, 'Listen! Listen!' The people gathered around her, ready to listen to anything new. She addressed them as 'children' and asked why they were making such a 'fuss. Aren't you commanded to "watch and pray?" You are neither watching nor praying.' In the voice of a kind mother, she told them to return to their tents. There, they should watch and pray without noise or commotion. The Lord would not come to such a scene of confusion. 'The Lord came still and quiet.' She assured them that, in their current state, 'the Lord might come, move all through the camp, and go away again, and they would never know it.'

They seemed glad to seize upon any reason for being less agitated and distressed, and many of them suppressed their noisy terror, and retired to their tents to 'watch and pray;' begging others to do the same, and listen to the advice of the good sister. She felt she had done some good, and then went to listen further to the preachers. They appeared to her to be doing their utmost to agitate and excite the people, who were already too much excited; and when she had listened till her feelings would let her listen silently no longer, she arose and addressed the preachers. The following are specimens of her speech:-

They seemed glad to find any reason to feel less agitated and distressed. Many quieted their cries of terror and returned to their tents to 'watch and pray.' They begged others to do the same and listen to the good sister's advice. She felt she had done some good, then went to listen to the preachers again. They seemed to her to be doing all they could to stir up the people, who were already too excited. She listened until her feelings would no longer let her remain silent. Then she stood up and addressed the preachers. The following are examples of what she said:

'Here you are talking about being "changed in the twinkling of an eye." If the Lord should come, he'd change you to nothing! for there is nothing to you.

'Here you are talking about being "changed in the twinkling of an eye." If the Lord came, he'd change you into nothing! Because there is nothing to you.

'You seem to be expecting to go to some parlor away up somewhere, and when the wicked have been burnt, you are coming back to walk in triumph over their ashes-this is to be your New Jerusalem!! Now, I can't see any thing so very nice in that, coming back to such a muss as that will be, a world covered with the ashes of the wicked! Besides, if the Lord comes and burns-as you say he will-I am not going away; I am going to stay here and stand the fire, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! And Jesus will walk with me through the fire, and keep me from harm. Nothing belonging to God can burn, any more than God himself; such shall have no need to go away to escape the fire! No, I shall remain. Do you tell me that God's children can't stand fire?' And her manner and tone spoke louder than words, saying, 'It is absurd to think so!'

'You seem to expect to go to some parlor far up somewhere. Then, when the wicked have been burned, you will come back and walk triumphantly over their ashes. That is to be your New Jerusalem!! Now, I can't see anything so nice about coming back to such a mess, a world covered with the ashes of the wicked! Besides, if the Lord comes and burns everything, as you say he will, I am not going away. I am going to stay here and stand the fire, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! And Jesus will walk with me through the fire and keep me from harm. Nothing belonging to God can burn, any more than God himself can. Those who belong to God will not need to go away to escape the fire! No, I shall remain. Are you telling me that God's children can't stand fire?' And her manner and tone spoke louder than words, saying, 'It is absurd to think so!'

The ministers were taken quite aback at so unexpected an opposer, and one of them, in the kindest possible manner, commenced a discussion with her, by asking her questions, and quoting scripture to her; concluding, finally, that although she had learned nothing of the great doctrine which was so exclusively occupying their minds at the time, she had learned much that man had never taught her.

The ministers were surprised to meet such an unexpected opponent. One of them began a discussion with her as kindly as possible, asking her questions and quoting scripture to her. He finally concluded that she had learned nothing of the great doctrine that occupied their minds so completely at the time. But she had learned much that no man had ever taught her.

At this meeting, she received the address of different persons, residing in various places, with an invitation to visit them. She promised to go soon to Cabotville, and started, shaping her course for that place. She arrived at Springfield one evening at six o'clock, and immediately began to search for a lodging for the night. She walked from six till past nine, and was then on the road from Springfield to Cabotville, before she found any one sufficiently hospitable to give her a night's shelter under their roof. Then a man gave her twenty-five cents, and bade her go to a tavern and stay all night. She did so, returning in the morning to thank him, assuring him she had put his money to its legitimate use. She found a number of the friends she had seen at Windsor when she reached the manufacturing town of Cabotville, (which has lately taken the name of Chicopee,) and with them she spent a pleasant week or more; after which, she left them to visit the Shaker village in Enfield. She now began to think of finding a resting place, at least, for a season; for she had performed quite a long journey, considering she had walked most of the way; and she had a mind to look in upon the Shakers, and see how things were there, and whether there was any opening there for her. But on her way back to Springfield, she called at a house and asked for a piece of bread; her request was granted, and she was kindly invited to tarry all night, as it was getting late, and she would not be able to stay at every house in that vicinity, which invitation she cheerfully accepted. When the man of the house came in, he recollected having seen her at the camp-meeting, and repeated some conversations, by which she recognized him again. He soon proposed having a meeting that evening, went out and notified his friends and neighbors, who came together, and she once more held forth to them in her peculiar style. Through the agency of this meeting, she became acquainted with several people residing in Springfield, to whose houses she was cordially invited, and with whom she spent some pleasant time.

At this meeting, several people from different places gave her their addresses and invited her to visit. She promised to visit Cabotville soon and set out for that place. She arrived in Springfield one evening at six o'clock and immediately began looking for a place to stay. She walked until after nine and was on the road from Springfield to Cabotville before anyone offered her shelter for the night. A man then gave her twenty-five cents and told her to stay at a tavern. She did so and returned in the morning to thank him. She assured him that she had used his money as he intended. When she reached the manufacturing town of Cabotville, she found several friends she had seen at Windsor. Cabotville has recently been renamed Chicopee. She spent a pleasant week or more with her friends, then left to visit the Shaker village in Enfield. She had begun to think about finding a place to rest, at least for a while. She had traveled quite a long way, especially considering that she had walked most of it. She wanted to visit the Shakers to see how things were there and whether there was a place for her. On her way back to Springfield, she stopped at a house and asked for a piece of bread. She was given the bread and kindly invited to stay the night. It was getting late, and she would not be able to stay at every house in the area. She gladly accepted the invitation. When the man of the house came in, he remembered seeing her at the camp meeting. He repeated parts of their conversations, and she recognized him too. He soon suggested holding a meeting that evening. He went out and told his friends and neighbors, who gathered together. Once again, she spoke to them in her distinctive style. Through this meeting, she met several people who lived in Springfield. They warmly invited her to their homes, and she spent some pleasant time with them.

One of these friends, writing of her arrival there, speaks as follows. After saying that she and her people belonged to that class of persons who believed in the second advent doctrines; and that this class, believing also in freedom of speech and action, often found at their meetings many singular people, who did not agree with them in their principal doctrine; and that, being thus prepared to hear new and strange things, 'They listened eagerly to Sojourner, and drank in all she said;'-and also, that she 'soon became a favorite among them; that when she arose to speak in their assemblies, her commanding figure and dignified manner hushed every trifler into silence, and her singular and sometimes uncouth modes of expression never provoked a laugh, but often were the whole audience melted into tears by her touching stories.' She also adds, 'Many were the lessons of wisdom and faith I have delighted to learn from her.' . . . . 'She continued a great favorite in our meetings, both on account of her remarkable gift in prayer, and still more remarkable talent for singing, . . . and the aptness and point of her remarks, frequently illustrated by figures the most original and expressive.

One of these friends wrote about Sojourner’s arrival. She explained that she and her people believed in the doctrine of the second advent. They also believed in freedom of speech and action. As a result, many unusual people came to their meetings, even though they did not share their central belief. They were therefore prepared to hear new and strange things. 'They listened eagerly to Sojourner and drank in everything she said.' The friend also wrote that Sojourner 'soon became a favorite among them. When she stood to speak at their meetings, her commanding figure and dignified manner silenced every person inclined to joke. Her unusual and sometimes rough expressions never caused laughter. Instead, her moving stories often brought the whole audience to tears.' She added, 'I have delighted in learning many lessons of wisdom and faith from her.' . . . . 'She remained a great favorite at our meetings, both because of her remarkable gift for prayer and her even more remarkable talent for singing, . . . and because her remarks were fitting and to the point, often illustrated by the most original and expressive figures of speech.'

'As we were walking the other day, she said she had often thought what a beautiful world this would be, when we should see every thing right side up. Now, we see every thing topsy-turvy, and all is confusion.' For a person who knows nothing of this fact in the science of optics, this seemed quite a remarkable idea.

'As we were walking the other day, she said she had often thought about how beautiful the world would be. It would be beautiful when we could see everything right side up. Now we see everything upside down, and all is confusion.' This seemed like a remarkable idea for someone who knew nothing about this fact of optics.

'We also loved her for her sincere and ardent piety, her unwavering faith in God, and her contempt of what the world calls fashion, and what we call folly.

'We also loved her for her sincere and passionate devotion and her unwavering faith in God. We loved her for her scorn of what the world calls fashion and what we call foolishness.

'She was in search of a quiet place, where a way-worn traveller might rest. She had heard of Fruitlands, and was inclined to go there; but the friends she found here thought it best for her to visit Northampton. She passed her time, while with us, working wherever her work was needed, and talking where work was not needed.

'She was looking for a quiet place where a weary traveler could rest. She had heard of Fruitlands and wanted to go there. But the friends she found here thought it best for her to visit Northampton. While she was with us, she worked wherever she was needed and talked where no work was needed.

'She would not receive money for her work, saying she worked for the Lord; and if her wants were supplied, she received it as from the Lord.

'She would not accept money for her work, saying she worked for the Lord. If her needs were met, she accepted what she received as coming from the Lord.

'She remained with us till far into winter, when we introduced her at the Northampton Association.' . . . . 'She wrote to me from thence, that she had found the quiet resting place she had so long desired. And she has remained there ever since.'

'She stayed with us until well into winter, when we introduced her at the Northampton Association.' . . . . 'She wrote to me from there that she had found the quiet resting place she had wanted for so long. She has stayed there ever since.'