Frightful Effects of Millerism: Another Murder in New Haven

From the New Haven Palladium, Dec. 24, 1855

Our city has become the scene of another atrocious crime, the effect, it would seem, of professed religious belief. A Mrs. Rhoda Wakeman, a woman some 70 years of age, residing in Beaver Street, near Dixwell, is the seer, prophetess, or leader of a small band of believers in Millerism, or something similar, and the meetings of the members of that faith were held in her dwelling. Yesterday, as usual, the faithful met, and among the number was Mr. Justus Matthews, a workman in the pistol factory at Whitneyville. The meeting was kept up nearly all night, and, about 9 o'clock in the morning, Mr. Matthews was found by his son, in the front room of the house, dead, with his throat cut from ear to ear. Near the body was a small rope, with which the hands had been evidently bound, as the wrists bore the mark of the cord.
The story told is that the deceased, although a partial believer in the doctrines held by Mrs. Wakeman, did not come up to the standard inculcated by her and the others, and therefore he was a stumbling block to the others which they were justified in putting out of the way. How this may be, we do not know, but it is evident his death was not caused by his own hand. Deceased was between 30 and 40 years of age. A jury of inquest was summoned, but they have delayed their verdict until after the post-mortem examination, which will be had this afternoon. The following persons have been arrested on suspicion of being implicated in the murder, either as principles or accessories: Israel Wooden, Almeron Sanford and wife, Samuel Sly, Josiah Jackson, Abigail Sables, Thankful S. Hersey.

The Bolivar Bulletin Dec. 13, 1872

The Herald of Life (Adventist) finds evidence in scripture that the epizootic is "but another omen of the coming day, and another effort of God to call attention to it".

Freaks of Nature. Memphis Daily Appeal. April 16, 1876

Osh Kosh (Wis.) special (April 5) to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat 
The excitement in this city to-day was terrible, many supposing that the day of judgment had arrived, as had been predicted by the Adventists. At a few minutes after two o'clock, a peculiar cloud with very dark edges and growing gradually lighter towards the center, was noticed approaching swiftly from the northwest. Rain appeared to fall from it as it neared the city, but before passing over it gradually dissolved. At the outskirts of the city thousands of oysters on the half-shell were gathered up and were greedily devoured by the poorer classes. A number of the bivalves were secured for scientific purposes, and savants are endeavoring to explain the mystery.
Private telegrams state that an almost similar freak occurred at noon at Kalamazoo, Michigan. There, however, the oysters were partially covered with fish chowder, which, after being tested was found palatable. Scientists are half-crazed at these unaccountable caprices of nature.

The Milan Exchange April 22, 1880

There are now in Chicago 213 churches, besides twenty mission chapels, and eleven Adventist and Spiritualist societies. Of the 213 churches the Catholics have the largest number, thirty-four.  The Baptists are next with twenty-four. Then come the Evangelical Lutherans at twenty-four, the Methodists with nineteen, the Presbyterians with eighteen, and the Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and Hebrews, each with ten.

The Terry Island Adventists will hold a convention in the Spring and figure it out again. --Public Ledger, February 19, 1874

The Milan Exchange July 31, 1879

A Novel Wedding Ceremony
An Adventist Minister Steps From the Pulpit and Marries Himself to a Lady of His Congregation

A very singular marriage took place at the Advent Chapel, Worcester, Mass. Saturday evening. The affair has created considerable comment and not a little feeling among the Adventists, and thus reported in the Gazette: "The parties married were Mr. Henry J. Munson of Modoc, Mo., and Miss Mattie A. Eaton of this city. Of the groom very little is known except that he advertised himself as an evangelist from Kansas. The bride is a very estimable young lady, a native of Shrewsbury, where her mother still resides. She has been living for some time in the family of Dr. C.B. Robbins, and has been a regular attendant at Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. She is an earnest Christian, and has won the love and respect of all those who have been acquainted with her.
Mr. Munson went to E.G. Higgins, who had the charge of the Advent chapel last week, and represented himself as an Advent preacher, and asked of the chapel for a meeting on Saturday evening.  He stated in reply to questions as to the object of the meeting, that he intended to be married, but declined to give the lady's name. He told Mr. Higgins that that Elder Bachelor of New Bedford, who was to preach on Sunday, would perform the ceremony. Mr. Higgins reluctantly gave his consent supposing there would only be a small gathering.
On Sunday morning Mr. Munson advertised a meeting, stating that he would preach a sermon on three parts, but did not mention anything about a marriage ceremony.  When the hour of the meeting arrived, about fifty persons were present. Mr. Munson went into the pulpit and preached a sermon the first two divisions being "Repentance" and "Holiness" or "Sanctification." He then opened the Bible at Matthew xxv., and proceeded to read the parable of the ten virgins. At the sixth verse-- "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet him"--he stepped down from the pulpit and the lady stepped forward from one of the front pews, and taking the Bible, continued to read from the seventh to the tenth verses, inclusive, Mr. Munson then took the lady's right hand, and then said, "And I now before God and these witnesses, do take this woman whom I hold by the right hand to be my lawful wedded wife, to love and cherish her as my own body until Christ shall come to claim with us all the saints that are his own bride or death shall part us."
The woman said "And I now take this man to be my lawful wedded husband to love, reverence and obey him until the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God or till death shall us sever."
They then bowed down and the man offered prayer. After the prayer Mr Munson returned to his desk and closed his discourse by urging the importance of being ready for the coming of the Lord. The services closed in good order.
After the close, Mr. Munson says that a few persons, variously stated at from four to ten, made some objections in the matter in which the marriage had been performed and some became quite denunciatory. Others considered it as a very simple and sublime ceremony.  The marriage license was taken out on Saturday from the city clerk's office, and this morning it was returned. The blank space for nae of the officiating clergyman or justice is not filled, so that the return has no authority attached to it. Under the circumstances it would appear to have been very appropriate to both parties to have their signature to the instrument.
The parties have been stopping at No. 79 Portland Street, and on Sunday attended the services at the Advent chapel, where they were cordially treated. Mr. Munson says he asked Elder Bachelor to marry him; but he declined to go to the chapel Saturday evening on account of his age and infirmities He, however, claims that the elder sanctions the proceedings. Mr. Higgins takes the blame upon himself for allowing the services to be held, and desires to exonerate others connected with the church. He will not allow the chapel to be used again except by parties to whose standing in Christian work there can be no doubt. Mr. Munson has with him recommendations from various parties in Missouri, giving him high endorsement. They call him 'Dr. Munson' and certify to his practicing medicine for ten years. The strangely-wedded pair have gone to visit the bride's mother in Shrewsbury.

Fayetteville Observer July 1, 1869

The 10th of July is the date fixed by the Adventists for the destruction of the world. Paper falling due on that day will therefore be payable on the 9th.