The Great Second Advent Movement
By GEO. I. BUTLER
SUCH is the title of a new book of over five hundred pages, just being issued from the Southern Publishing Association of Nashville, Tenn. It was written by Elder J. N. Loughborough, a veteran laborer in this cause, having devoted his life to it since 1852. He is indeed one of the few pioneers left in the work. A previous volume, entitled “Rise and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists,” written about thirteen years ago, and now out of print, was a valuable book, and did much good. “The Great Second Advent Movement” is a much larger book. It is of greater scope, and covers a much more extensive field. It is more general in its treatment, covering the whole development of the proclamation of the Lord’s soon coming for three quarters of a century. This volume is the monumental work of the author’s long, earnest, and devoted life in the Master’s cause. Of all the leading laborers in the third angel’s message, Elder Loughborough has manifested the greatest interest and talent in preserving interesting statistics and reminiscences of its history and progress. He has been particular to collect and lay aside for future use valuable items and facts of deep interest in later years for the instruction of younger people, and those not conversant with the great advent movement. It is a fact well established in history that during the last seventy-five years there has been in progress in various parts of our world the proclamation of the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ the second time. No intelligent person can deny this fact. It has made a great stir in our world. It is a doctrine peculiar to the generation now living on the earth. Regard it as we will, the fact can not be disputed. During all the nineteen centuries of the past, the most pious and devoted people have with deepest interest looked forward into the indefinite future to Christ’s second advent, when his people would receive their reward. But in the age in which we live, well-authenticated history demonstrates beyond all question the fact that the nearness of Christ’s coming has been in process of proclamation in various parts of the earth. And this fact is necessarily a sign of the nearness of the event itself. This new volume is a very interesting and complete history of this movement. There is no man living better prepared to present it to the public than the author. He has been especially and personally conversant with all the facts. He has preserved the records and the interesting features of it. The rise of this great movement was wonderful indeed. It gave abundant evidence of its supernatural origin. It did not originate with any one person alone, or in one country alone. In this interesting volume the author gives about twenty different movements arising independently of one another, and far apart, each proclaiming the coming of the same grand event. In our country it was proclaimed first by William Miller and about three hundred other ministers; in England by Irving, and it is said by about seven hundred others; in Germany by Bengel; and by the famous Joseph Wolff and many others in a large number of countries in Asia, Africa, and the isles of the ocean. The facts presented by the author in this connection are of the most thrilling interest. The progress of the proclamation in this country is more fully treated by the author than in any other; but it is demonstrated beyond all question that the proclamation has been world wide. The evidences of the divine origin of this movement are fully presented in this volume. This publication is most opportune. The eyes of our people are being drawn to the grand old doctrines of the pioneers in this movement. For several years various innovations and theories have been calling attention away from the old platform. One of the pioneers, always true to the genuine work of the message, has written this volume to enable6those who have not had the opportunities he has had, to know for themselves the great facts underlying our faith. The writer can assure the public that they will find this a most interesting and readable book. He and Elder Haskell read together this work, while it was in manuscript, to find, if possible, any inaccuracies of statement. They found very few indeed. As chapter after chapter was finished, they closed each with exclamations of “Grand!” “Most excellent,” “Splendid,” etc. The candid reader will find they were correct in their conclusions. We look for a large sale of this precious volume. While “Rise and Progress of Seventh-day Adventists” was an excellent work, as its name indicates it was more of a denominational book than the present volume, and not so well adapted to the general reader. This covers a much broader ground. It should interest large numbers of those not of our faith. We firmly believe multitudes will yet read it, and by means of it learn of our faith, the basis upon which it is founded, and the important facts connected with its history. We feel most grateful that the Pacific Press, which published the author’s first volume, kindly consented that this book should be issued from our young Southern office. We feel it an honor to be permitted to bring forth such a grand book to the public. A very fine likeness of the author is presented, also likenesses of the old pioneers of the work. It will be issued from the press in a very few weeks. We want thousands of orders to come in at once. All the old members will want this book because it speaks of the “early days” more fully than any preceding volume. It will refresh their spirits and call back their thoughts to the “former days” when they embraced the message. It will revive their strength, and be a great blessing to their souls. All our people will want it at once; for it is a complete history of the great advent movement in the last days; its rise in various parts of the world, the evidences of divine power accompanying it, the marks of the Spirit of God working with it, and the glorious evidences of its triumphant close. Every true Seventh-day Adventist will desire to have in his own possession the most complete history of this advent movement ever written. The young people will especially need it, to give them a clear, connected account of the great message of which they are a part. This book is worthy of being studied in all our denominational schools, that our young people everywhere may know all about the history of this movement. And finally this book should be read by all enquirers after Bible truth. If it is thus read, the wicked misrepresentations and calumnies which the great enemy has induced people to scatter against the work of God connected with the truths relating to the Lord’s soon coming, will be cleared from many minds. Our book agents should sell this book all through the land. We want thousands of orders to come in at once, that the cost of issuing this volume may be made up, and our office relieved so it can go on and print other important works. Price, $1.50. Send in the orders at once.