The followers of William Miller of Massachusetts (1782–1849), who in 1831 began to teach that the end of all things would come in 1843. They now call themselves Adventists.
1846. St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians not to believe the Millerites of their time; therefore the Scriptures alone are the sole rule of faith and practice.—Orestes Brownson, ‘Works,’ vi. 221. (N.E.D.) (Italics in the original.)
1846. How much less deluded [is he] than one of those Millerites who, arraying himself in what he calls his “ascension robes,” climbs up a tree in order that he may have a fair flight to heaven!—Mr. Crittenden of Kentucky, U.S. Senate, Feb. 16: Cong. Globe, p. 364.
1857.
| Till then let Cumming blaze away, | |
| And Miller’s saints blow up the globe; | |
| But when you see that blessed day, | |
| Then order your ascension robe! | |
Holmes, ‘The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table,’ ch. i. |
*** The tale about the ascension robes has been denied.
