In 1844 Lewis C. Gunn wrote to Philadelphia newspapers, saying among other things:
Some of those worshiping in Julianna street [sic] were
not looking for the destruction of the earth, nor for its complete physical
renovation ...; they looked for the introduction of the millennium by the
personal coming of Christ to the earth; they think this will be the
commencement of the promised restitution of all things, to be carried forward until
all thing shall be made new; they think that probation will close to those who
have heard the gospel, but not so with the heathen and all those who not heard
of his fame; they think it will be the beginning of a new dispensation to the
heathen, during which it will be emphatically true that the leaves of the tree
of life will be for the healing of the nations.
These were the published views of Geo. Storrs.
This was quoted by I. Wellcome. But I seriously need the original newspaper article. I can't turn it up in any of the newspaper archives I consult. Some of you use pay archives we cannot afford. Please check those for me. This is important and urgent.
-Rachael
4 comments:
Where does this quote originate from? Is this in Wellcome's history of the Second Advent movement?
Storrs did not arrive at these views until the late 1860s and early 1870s. It would seem out of place for these views to appear this early especially since he wrote several articles arguing that the wicked would not be resurrected in the Bible Examiners of the 1850s.
That is from Wellcome. You are in error to suggest that Storrs did not arrive at these views until the 1860s. His views on the Wicked Dead and his belief that the earth would not burn up but turn to a restored paradise were not mutually exclusive. We present this in detail in volume 1 of S. I. This is from my introductory essay for volume 2.
Russell also acknowledged Stetson and Storrs. We discussed these men and their belief systems at length in volume one, demonstrating clearly that while they had been Adventists, they were not such by the time Russell met them. They did not teach Russell Adventist doctrine but their brand of Literalist/Age-to-Come belief. This is especially true of Storrs who left Adventism much earlier than did Stetson. Julia Neuffer well describes the process whereby Storrs left Millerite Adventism:
"By April, 1843, George Storrs ... concluded that the destruction at the Second Advent would not be complete. He held that there would be some “left of the nations” in the flesh, in continued probation, as subjects of the millennial kingdom of Christ and the saints, and that the destroying and renovating fires would come at the end of the period.
By October, 1844, wrote L.[ewis] C. Gunn of Philadelphia, some in one congregation there had adopted a similar view, and Charles Fitch was at the same time (not long before his death) teaching probation for the heathen after the Advent. Others, added Gunn, like himself believed that at or just before the Advent “many of the Jews will be miraculously converted, and hail His appearing with the exclamation, ‘blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.’” All these, he said, “had changed from their former belief, and differed entirely from Mr. Miller, and the great body of advent believers in this country – but agreeing with the Literalists.”
In 1845 Storrs went further. Disillusioned by the Millerite disappointment, he embraced the full Literalist doctrine. “He has finally gone off into Judaism,” complained Enoch Jacobs, editor of The Day Star (Cincinnati). Thus Storrs was regarded as taking a position outside the ranks of Adventists."
Lewis Carstairs Gunn, whom Neuffer quoted above, wrote to Philadelphia newspapers explaining the situation. Storrs and others who awaited Christ on Julianna Street were, he wrote, not all Adventists:
"Some of those worshiping in Julianna street [sic] were not looking for the destruction of the earth, nor for its complete physical renovation ...; they looked for the introduction of the millennium by the personal coming of Christ to the earth; they think this will be the commencement of the promised restitution of all things, to be carried forward until all thing shall be made new; they think that probation will close to those who have heard the gospel, but not so with the heathen and all those who not heard of his fame; they think it will be the beginning of a new dispensation to the heathen, during which it will be emphatically true that the leaves of the tree of life will be for the healing of the nations. These were the published views of Geo. Storrs.
In these views they differed entirely from the [previously] published views of Geo. Storrs and the great body of Advent believers in this country, but agreeing with the Literalists of England (Millennarians)."
This is, I think, a very clear delineation between Millerite Adventism and the doctrine adopted by Storrs and later by Stetson. If they no longer saw themselves as Adventists at least by Russell’s day and Adventists did not see this doctrine – which Russell adopted wholesale – as any kind of Adventism, why should scholars see Watch Tower faith as Adventism?
Thank you for responding. Perhaps I should have clarified that Storrs changed views of the resurrection of the wicked in the late 1860s to early 1870s was in regards to understanding that the wicked would have an opportunity of salvation after resurrection. This was not a view he had previously.
"14. We believe that Christ will personally return from heaven, at the close of this dispensation, (Acts 1:9-11 3:21 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 2:19 4:16 Philippians 3:20-21 1 Peter 1:7,13 1 John 3:2) That, then, he will restore to life the saints that sleep in the dust of the earth, and change those who are alive; and that both will be made immortal and incorruptible, and be forever with the Lord: (see the foregoing texts and their connection, that then, he will condemn all the wicked dead to he eternal dominion of death; and all the living wicked, who have rejected the gospel, or corrupted the earth, he will condemn to everlasting destruction, and they will be cut off from the earth and rooted out of it, by fearful and overwhelming judgments, fitly symbolized by Gehenna's fire, which consumes and destroys them utterly and forever, so that they shall live no more." Our Present Faith, Bible Examiner, January 15, 1897
When Storrs arrived at his new view that even the wicked would be resurrected and given an opportunity at salvation after death it was statements such as the following which saw him removed from the Herald of Life. After this he started the Examiner again to spread his new views.
"When our views are fully brought out 'our enemies' will find, if our friends do not, that their scheme of a 'mortal resurrection' will find no support from it, and that 'No Life out of Christ' and the 'non-resurrection of the wicked dead' stand as firm and unmovable as ever." (The Promise and Oath of God, Herald of Life and of the Coming Kingdom, March 1, 1871).
"SUCH was the language used by a kind friend, who fears the doctrine of God's promise and oath to Abraham, that "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed," or, "in thy seed shall all nations be blessed," "will upset the non-resurrection doctrine." We answer our friend, and all others who may be troubled with like fears, that we do not partake of their alarm in that respect. In the first place, when we have developed our views, it will be seen there is no cause for such fears: but if there was, we say, Better that the "non-resurrection doctrine" go to the winds than to question the fulfillment of God's promise and oath; for these are "two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie;" and we must not seem to make Him "lie." If that promise and oath has not yet been fulfilled, it must and will be in some future period, no matter what doctrine is "upset" by it. Here is where we stand, and we have not overlooked any objections which we think can or will be urged against it." (Fears that Arise, Herald of Life and of the Coming Kingdom, February 15, 1871).
Storrs mentions his own non-resurrection views when he discusses a time where someone said that Storrs could not move them to a position of the non-resurrection of the wicked dead.
"The time was, twenty years ago, when a good brother said to us, "You will never make us believe in the non-resurrection of the wicked dead." But he now preaches it strong. He now feels about the same in relation to our views of the promise and oath of God to Abraham; but, if this age lasts, he will probably preach them, and rejoice that we did not desist in proclaiming them, as he and others so much desired we should." (The Promise and Oath of God, Herald of Life and of the Coming Kingdom, March 8, 1871).
(Final Part)
This change of views was the catalyst which removed Storrs from the Life and Advent Union.
"REPORT, say they, and we will report it." So some men talk because they have nothing better to talk about. Br. S. Cooper, of Woodstock Valley, Conn., writes us that, "The report is in circulation, among preaching brethren and others, . . . that Br. Storrs has recently renounced his belief in the non-resurrection of the wicked. Now, Br., if this report is false, in toto, please for the brethren and the truth's sake let us know it, that we may meet it with positive denial." (Reports, Herald of Life and of the Coming Kingdom, May 17, 1871).
Storrs responds to this by elaboring on his change by stating, "We refer Br. Cooper, and all others who wish to know what our views at present are, to our Pamphlet, just about to be issued. After reading it carefully, if you say we have modified our views on the Life theme, you say the truth; but if any one says, we have "renounced our belief in the non-resurrection of the wicked," they say what is not true. We may add, here, we have no belief in the resurrection of any man, after he is dead, for the purpose of torment, (limited or otherwise), and to die again. No man, be he who or what he may, will be revived from the dead except as an act of God's live and mercy to him. Does that thought displease anyone who is "made perfect in love?" or, who have become filled with love to God and men, so as to be like Him who prayed on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do?" Blessed be God for such a Mediator. May our spirit be like His. It will be seen that our modified views on the Life theme are not a contradiction, but an "enlargement;" for which, we praise and adore the God of Love..." (Reports, Herald of Life and of the Coming Kingdom, May 17, 1871).
Even the World's Crisis picked up on Storrs changed views when it said, "'We have just received a pamphlet of seventy two pages, entitled 'A Vindication of the Government of God over the Children of men; or the Promise and Oath of God to Abraham.' By George Storrs. In this pamphlet Br. Storrs endeavors to prove that all who have not heard the gospel will be raised from the dead, and have an opportunity to hear about Christ, when they will either receive or reject him. We would say that the arguments presented by Br. S. in favor of his position, do not convince our mind that his new system of salvation for the heathen is correct, and in harmony with the Scriptures. We can see that his new position overthrows his former one, in relation to the resurrection of the wicked dead. He and his associates have urged the point that no one could be raised from the dead except those who had the Spirit of Christ in them; that is, none
but Christians. Of course, he will not claim that the heathen were Christians, in possession of the Spirit of Christ; hence, when he assumes that they will be raised to hear the preaching of the gospel, in the coming age, he strikes a death blow to the doctrine of the non-resurrection of all who are not Christians. Both positions cannot be true, because they contradict each other. If one unconverted man will be raised, why not all?.'" Storrs responded to this by clarifying his changed view by stating, "That we have modified our views on the subject of resurrection -- or, rather the manner of stating the doctrine of the non-resurrection of the wicked dead, we have admitted; but that our present
view, or 'new position overthrows' our 'former one, in relation to the resurrection of the wicked dead,' we do not admit." (The Herald of Life and of the Coming Kingdom, August 9, 1871)
Post a Comment