At the Home of William Miller by R. J. Bryant

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 9, 1915

At the Home of William Miller

By R. J. Bryant

R. J. BRYANT

ELDER C. J. RIDER and I are holding a tent effort in Rutland, Vt., and Sunday, August 8, I had the privilege of preaching to a large number of the relatives of Elder William Miller. The meeting was held in the church built by Elder Miller himself, at Low Hampton, N. Y. Between the church and the cemetery is the old home built in the year 1815 by the father of the advent movement. At the head of the stairway stand two life-size oil paintings of William Miller and his wife. It was in this house that the Lord opened the wonderful book of Daniel to his faithful servant, and from here gave to the world the message which we love so dearly. The home is now occupied by C. H. Phelps and family. Mr. Phelps is a great-great-grandson of Mr. Miller.

On a former visit to this home I was invited to return when it could be arranged to have the church opened once more and invite the people to come to a meeting. So I accepted the invitation. Mr. Phelps had advertised the meeting well, and it was a pleasant surprise to find the church filled to the doors. A granddaughter of Elder Miller presided at the organ, and in the congregation sat a grandson and a number of the great-great-grandchildren, many of whom are grown to manhood and womanhood.

As I stood before these dear people, the Spirit of the Lord came down in great power and gave a message that seemed to stir the hearts of all who were present. As the prophecies were outlined, and the place occupied by Mr. Miller in the great work of God was shown, tears began to flow very freely, and hearts to respond to the deep working

of the Holy Spirit. After the meeting a large number of the relatives told us that they had never heard these prophecies explained before, and that they themselves had not understood the work of their progenitor. I was asked to hold meetings in Fair Haven, Vt., in the near future, which I hope to be able to do. This is a beautiful little city two miles from the Miller home, and where most of the people live who attended the meeting.

In the accompanying picture the relatives of Elder Miller are on the steps of the church, the small children sitting in front being the fifth generation.

As we stood by the grave of this forerunner of the greatest message the world ever heard, I remembered the words of another servant of the Lord, recorded in “Early Writings:” “But angels watch the precious dust of this servant of God, and he will come forth at the sound of the last trump.”

I was invited to dinner with the family at the old homestead, and given the place at the table occupied so long by Elder Miller. As I moved about the house, especially in the east room, Mr. Miller’s study, and where he died, I felt that the place was almost sacred. Then I was led out to the woods, the place of secret prayer. The church, the grave, the house, the woods, and the everlasting hills and beautiful dales, seemed to speak to us of how the message began quietly and in simplicity, but was to grow until the whole earth should be filled with the knowledge of God.

An interesting feature of the meeting was the number of automobiles seen on the lawn of the church. Dr. C. F. Ball and Brother Walter Hall came from Rutland, with their automobiles filled with members of the church in that place. Others came on the electric cars. Members of the Miller family came in their automobiles from other directions. Thus I was able to make a practical illustration of the signs of the coming of Christ, which made a great impression on the minds of those who were present.

I earnestly hope and pray that the Lord will give us the privilege of bringing the whole truth to these dear people. What a grand thing it will be for the servant of the Lord to come forth from his dusty bed to meet a large number of his children who were called to the kingdom in the last hours of earth’s history. It seems that no greater blessing could come to him than this.