7/30/2019 Two Relatively Minor 19th-Century Controversies

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Two Relatively Minor 19th-

Century Controversies

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The Anti-Masonry Controversy (1826-1840)

the secrecy of Masonic meetings and ritualsseemed to many Baptists to violate thefreedom that they believed was Gods

intention for those that feared Himas earlyas 1798 the Charleston Assoc. (SC) raisedconcerns about Baptists joining the orderbecause of the vow of secrecy, but matter was

left to judgment of individualShaftsburyAssoc. of VT took similar position

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Anti-Masonry (cont.)

1820sFreemasonry issue attracted specialattention because of an expos by WilliamMorgan of NY, a former MasonMorgandisappeared in 1826 and a body was recovered in

a riverrumors began to spread that Morganhad been murdered in an act of Masonicrevengethe Whig political party played this upas evidence of un-Christian and un-Americanactivities in American life (possible attempt to

get votes of church people)there was even anAnti-Masonic partyevangelists like CharlesFinney wrote vs. Masons

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Anti-Masonry (cont.)

some associations became divided overquestion of Baptists being Masonssomeagreed to exclude Masons from fellowshipin some churches involvement in a Masonic

lodge meant exclusion from churchmembership

issue died down after 1840many churchesand associations refused to interfere with

members who desired to belong to secretsocietiesdifferences of opinion lingeredissue flared up again in SBC in 1990s

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The Millerite Controversy

William Miller (1792-1849) was born in MA,grew up in NY, moved to VT in 1803he wasconverted to Christ from Deism in 1816hethen began a systematic study of the Bible

1818Miller concluded that Christ wouldreturn to earth in 1843, basing this on Daniel8:14 and 9:24, along with Archbishop

Usshers dates that were in the margins of hisKJV

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Millerites (cont.)

1831Millers 1st public presentation of hisideasin 1833 he was licensed to preach by aBaptist congregation in Low Hampton, NY

1834-39Miller gave many public lectures,gaining access to pulpits of several Baptistchurches in NY, New England, and PAheattracted followers from several Protestant

denominationswhen 1843 date did not work out, Miller

revised it to 1844

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Millerites (cont.)

Great Disappointment after revisedprophecy failedmany disillusionedsomereturned to their churches and weredisciplined, some gave up on religion, sometried to salvage the movement (AdventChristian Church and Seventh-dayAdventists)

estimates of Millers following range from30,000 to 100,000

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Millerites (cont.)

Henry Vedder inA Short History of the Baptists(1907) measured the effect of the Milleritemovement on Baptists: Eventually thousands ofBaptists, and some entire churches, were drawn

into this current, which bore them farther andfarther away from their faith, and resulted in theestablishment of the Second Advent body. Even

when there was no formal separation from ourfellowship, many churches and individuals

received irreparable harm from Millersvagaries, and growth was greatly retarded in theregions where his influence was most extensive.