Chapter 6—Advent Experience
With carefulness and trembling we approached the time [
The year
1843, Jewish time, was believed to reach from March 21, 1843, to
March 21, 1844. Those who received the Advent faith looked for the
coming of Christ during that year.
] when our Saviour was expected
to appear. With solemn earnestness we sought, as a people, to purify
our lives that we might be ready to meet Him at His coming. Notwith-
standing the opposition of ministers and churches, Beethoven Hall,
in the city of Portland, was nightly crowded; especially was there a
large congregation on Sundays. Elder Stockman was a man of deep
piety. He was in feeble health; yet when he stood before the people he
seemed to be lifted above physical infirmity, and his face was lighted
with the consciousness that he was teaching the sacred truth of God.
There was a solemn, searching power in his words that struck
home to many hearts. He sometimes expressed a fervent desire to live
until he should welcome the Saviour coming in the clouds of heaven.
Under his ministration the Spirit of God convicted many sinners and
brought them into the fold of Christ. Meetings were still held at private
houses in different parts of the city with the best results. Believers were
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encouraged to work for their friends and relatives, and conversions
were multiplying day by day.
All classes flocked to the meetings at Beethoven Hall. Rich and
poor, high and low, ministers and laymen, were all, from various
causes, anxious to hear for themselves the doctrine of the second
advent. Many came, who, finding no room to stand, went away disap-
pointed. The order of the meetings was simple. A short and pointed
discourse was usually given, then liberty was granted for general ex-
hortation. There was, as a rule, the most perfect stillness possible
for so large a crowd. The Lord held the spirit of opposition in check
while His servants explained the reasons of their faith. Sometimes the
instrument was feeble, but the Spirit of God gave weight and power to
His truth. The presence of the holy angels was felt in the assembly,
and numbers were daily added to the little band of believers.
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