“In the month of May, 1780, there was a very terrific dark day in New England, when ‘all faces seemed to gather blackness,’ and the people were filled with fear. There was great distress in the village where Edward Lee lived: ‘men’s hearts failing them for fear’ that the judgment day was at hand, and the neighbors all flocked around the holy man; for his lamp was trimmed, and shining brighter than ever, amidst the unnatural darkness. Happy and joyful in God, he pointed them to their only refuge from the wrath to come; and spent the gloomy hours in earnest prayer for the distressed multitude.” - Tract No. 379, of Am. Tract Society - Life of Edward Lee. See also Pres. Dwight in Historical Collections; Gage’s History of Rowley, Mass.; Sears’ Guide to Knowledge; Stone’s History of Beverly.BSA 9.2

Mr. Tenney, of Exeter, N.H., quoted by Mr. Gage to the Historical Society, says:BSA 9.3

“The darkness of the following evening was probably as gross as has ever been observed since the Almighty first gave birth to light. I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable darkness, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes, was equally invisible with the blackest velvet.”BSA 9.4

2. “And the stars shall fall from heaven.” Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:25; Luke 21:25; Revelation 6:13.BSA 9.5

Prof. Olmstead of Yale College, a distinguished meteorologist, speaking of the falling stars says:BSA 10.1

“The extent of the shower of 1833, was such as to cover no inconsiderable part of the earth’s surface, from the middle of the Atlantic on to the East, to the Pacific on the West; and from the Northern coast of South America, to undefined regions among the British Possessions on the North.BSA 10.2

“In nearly all places the meteors began to attract notice by their unusual frequency as early as eleven o’clock, and increased in numbers and splendor until about four o’clock, from which time they gradually declined, but were visible until lost in the light of day. The meteors did not fly at random over all parts of the sky, but appeared to emanate from a point in the constellation Leo, near a star called Gamma Leonie, in the bend of the sickle.”BSA 10.3

Henry Dana Ward, of New York, as published in the Journal of Commerce, says:-BSA 10.4

“And how did they fall? Were I to hunt through nature for a simile, I could not find one so apt to illustrate the appearance of the Heavens, as that which St. John uses: ‘Even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.’ “BSA 10.5

Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [margin “he”] is near, even at the doors. Matthew 24:32, 33.BSA 10.6

3. Perils of the last days. 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 4:3, 4; Matthew 24:12, 13, 38, 39. Scoffers. - 2 Peter 3:3-7. Cry of peace and safety. - 1 Thessalonians 5:3. Evil servants. - Matthew 24:48-51; Luke 12:45.BSA 10.7

4. Spiritualism the work of Satan. - Revelation 16:13-15; 13:13, 14; 18:2; Matthew 26:23, 24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 1 Timothy 4:1; Isaiah 8:19, 21.BSA 11.1

RESURRECTION

THE SANCTUARY