Samuel S. Snow
Encyclopedia
Samuel Sheffield Snow was a skeptic turned Millerite preacher who calculated that the return of Christ
was to take place on October 22, 1844. His teaching sparked what became known as the "Seventh-month movement," which led to the Great Disappointment
when Jesus did not return as expected.
, an avowedly atheistic newspaper. He was converted
to Christianity in 1839, as a result of reading a copy of William Miller
's lectures that his brother had bought.
After his conversion, he joined a Congregational Church
in 1840. In 1842, at a Millerite camp meeting
(see also: Seventh-day Adventist camp meetings) in East Kingston, New Hampshire
, he devoted himself to preaching the Millerite message full-time.
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
was to take place on October 22, 1844. His teaching sparked what became known as the "Seventh-month movement," which led to the Great Disappointment
Great Disappointment
The Great Disappointment was a major event in the history of the Millerite movement, a 19th-century American Christian sect that formed out of the Second Great Awakening. Based on his interpretations of the prophecies in the book of Daniel The Great Disappointment was a major event in the history...
when Jesus did not return as expected.
Millerism
Until the age of 35, Snow had been "a settled unbeliever in the Bible." He had even worked as an agent for the Boston InvestigatorBoston Investigator
The Boston Investigator was the first American newspaper dedicated to the philosophy of freethought. The newspaper was started in 1831 by Abner Kneeland, and published by John Q. Adams....
, an avowedly atheistic newspaper. He was converted
Conversion to Christianity
Conversion to Christianity is the religious conversion of a previously non-Christian person to some form of Christianity. It has been called the foundational experience of Christian life...
to Christianity in 1839, as a result of reading a copy of William Miller
William Miller (preacher)
William Miller was an American Baptist preacher who is credited with beginning the mid-nineteenth century North American religious movement now known as Adventism. Among his direct spiritual heirs are several major religious denominations, including Seventh-day Adventists and Advent Christians...
's lectures that his brother had bought.
After his conversion, he joined a Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
in 1840. In 1842, at a Millerite camp meeting
Camp meeting
The camp meeting is a form of Protestant Christian religious service originating in Britain and once common in some parts of the United States, wherein people would travel from a large area to a particular site to camp out, listen to itinerant preachers, and pray...
(see also: Seventh-day Adventist camp meetings) in East Kingston, New Hampshire
East Kingston, New Hampshire
East Kingston is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,357 at the 2010 census.-History:East Kingston was once a part of Kingston called Kingston East Parish, but was granted a separate charter in 1738 by Massachusetts Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher,...
, he devoted himself to preaching the Millerite message full-time.