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On Our Way to On Our Way to Topsham!Topsham!

On Our Way to On Our Way to Topsham!Topsham!

Lesson 45Lesson 45

““Helped by God’s Messenger”Helped by God’s Messenger”Lesson 45Lesson 45

““Helped by God’s Messenger”Helped by God’s Messenger”

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The Androscoggin River starts in New The Androscoggin River starts in New Hampshire, as it makes way to the Atlantic Hampshire, as it makes way to the Atlantic

Ocean, and flows through Topsham near the Ocean, and flows through Topsham near the end of its journey.end of its journey.

The Androscoggin River starts in New The Androscoggin River starts in New Hampshire, as it makes way to the Atlantic Hampshire, as it makes way to the Atlantic

Ocean, and flows through Topsham near the Ocean, and flows through Topsham near the end of its journey.end of its journey.

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The The AndroscoggAndroscogg

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The The AndroscoggAndroscogg

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Another viewAnother view

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PattiPatti

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If you lived in Topsham during the early 1800s, you might have lived

along the Androscoggin. Men who cut wood often sent the wood to the

sawmill or to the pulp mill by way of a river, or they sold their logs to men

who hauled them to the ocean wharf by way of the river, to be loaded and

shipped away to other lands.

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Sometime logs would get stuck on a sand bar, and drivers would have to free them up.Sometime logs would get stuck on a sand bar, and drivers would have to free them up.

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James White worked in the woods of Topsham, cutting timber for 50 cents a

day.

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If you were to work all day, from sunup to sunset, and earn only 50 cents, then you might understand the significance

of the following fines in Topsham in 1824:

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1. Sliding down hill in winter on sleds or 1. Sliding down hill in winter on sleds or boards in any of the public streets was boards in any of the public streets was

prohibited, with a penalty of twenty-five cents prohibited, with a penalty of twenty-five cents for each offense.for each offense.

2. Playing with or knocking a ball in the 2. Playing with or knocking a ball in the streets within 3/4 mile from the toll bridge streets within 3/4 mile from the toll bridge was prohibited, with a fine of twenty-five was prohibited, with a fine of twenty-five

cents.cents.

3. Smoking a pipe or cigar on the streets was 3. Smoking a pipe or cigar on the streets was prohibited, with a fine of twenty-five cents for prohibited, with a fine of twenty-five cents for

each offense.each offense.

4. Carrying fire through the streets was 4. Carrying fire through the streets was strictly prohibited, with a penalty of one strictly prohibited, with a penalty of one dollar, unless properly secured in some dollar, unless properly secured in some

metallic case or pan.metallic case or pan.

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Chicago Fire, October 8-10, 1871Chicago Fire, October 8-10, 1871 US P

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In 1857, the Paris correspondent of the In 1857, the Paris correspondent of the New York Times reported a non-fatal New York Times reported a non-fatal accident to two “elegantly dressed” accident to two “elegantly dressed”

young women whose clothes caught fire young women whose clothes caught fire in the street. It was believed that in the street. It was believed that a a

lighted cigar had rolled under the dresslighted cigar had rolled under the dress of one as she sat at a cafe, but “the of one as she sat at a cafe, but “the

balloon-like form of her skirts and the balloon-like form of her skirts and the confined air” delayed conflagration until confined air” delayed conflagration until

she began to walk outside, when her she began to walk outside, when her skirts abruptly ignited. Her friend, skirts abruptly ignited. Her friend,

rushing to her aid, also caught fire. rushing to her aid, also caught fire. Passers-by helped them, and neither was Passers-by helped them, and neither was

seriously hurt.seriously hurt.How were these fashionable ladies How were these fashionable ladies

dressed?dressed?

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In 1846 the town upped the fines for In 1846 the town upped the fines for some violations, stating any person some violations, stating any person

sliding in the streets in the town within sliding in the streets in the town within 3/4 mile from the Androscoggin toll 3/4 mile from the Androscoggin toll

bridge upon a sled, board, or any other bridge upon a sled, board, or any other vehicle or thing, and anyone who vehicle or thing, and anyone who

should skate in the streets, or knock, should skate in the streets, or knock, throw, or play at ball in the streets or throw, or play at ball in the streets or be an accessory thereto, were subject be an accessory thereto, were subject to a fine not more than five dollars for to a fine not more than five dollars for

every offense.every offense.

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Topsham was first established in the Topsham was first established in the 1700s and the settlers lived far apart. 1700s and the settlers lived far apart. Days, even weeks, went by without a Days, even weeks, went by without a

family seeing any of its neighbors. There family seeing any of its neighbors. There were few, if any, roads, except for Indian were few, if any, roads, except for Indian

trails, and the people settled upon or trails, and the people settled upon or near a stream which might serve as a near a stream which might serve as a highway. The early settlers were often highway. The early settlers were often poor and suffered for the necessities of poor and suffered for the necessities of

life. They had to work hard for their living life. They had to work hard for their living and dressed in the plainest manner. Later and dressed in the plainest manner. Later

the rich came with their fashionable the rich came with their fashionable apparel and hoops in their dresses.apparel and hoops in their dresses.

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The early settlers exhibited a melancholy The early settlers exhibited a melancholy spirit. Almost the only topic of spirit. Almost the only topic of

conversation was their trouble with the conversation was their trouble with the Indians. The only news that reached them Indians. The only news that reached them was of the cruel murders by the Indians of was of the cruel murders by the Indians of their friends or else the wonderful escapes their friends or else the wonderful escapes of their friends from the Indians. The only of their friends from the Indians. The only

time they were free from fear of the time they were free from fear of the Indians was during the winter, when the Indians was during the winter, when the Indians retreated to the interior of the Indians retreated to the interior of the state. In summer they cultivated their state. In summer they cultivated their fields, but it was with a gun in hand.fields, but it was with a gun in hand.

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James and Ellen White spent considerable time in Topsham:

Spring, 1845--Made a visit to Topsham and assembled at the house of Brother Stockbridge HowlandNovember 1846--Attended a meeting at Topsham, Joseph Bates was presentApril 7, 1847--Wrote Brother Bates from TopshamApril 21, 1847--Wrote letter to Brother Eli Curtis in New York City from TopshamOctober 1847--Brother & Sister Howland offered the Whites part of their dwelling place. (James White chopped cordwood in the woods, working from early morning till dark to earn about 50 cents a day. While at Topsham the Whites received a letter inviting them to attend a conference in Connecticut. Vision was given Ellen White during this time period in Topsham (EW p. 32)January 31, 1849--Ellen wrote to fellow believers from TopshamMarch 24, 1849--Had meeting with fellow believers at TopshamSeptember 6, 1859--Ellen told their children to send them a letter at TopshamSeptember 20, 1859--Ellen wrote and said they had received the letters on this dateSeptember 24, 1859--Ellen wrote a letter from TopshamDecember 8, 1863--Son Henry died in Topsham (1T p. 103)November 9, 1867--Wrote Edson and Willie from Topsham

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While in Topsham in 1847, Ellen White was given a vision in which she saw the

holy city in heaven and the temple. In the temple she saw the altar of incense, the candlestick, and the table of shewbread.

The veil was lifted, and she saw the ark in the most holy place and the ten commandments, with the fourth

commandment shining brighter than the other nine.

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But it was the vision she had at Topsham on March 24, 1849, that we will focus on now. In this vision, she saw a covering

that God was drawing over his people to protect them in the time of trouble.

“Satan knew this, and he was at work in mighty power to keep the minds of as

many people as he possibly could wavering and unsettled on the truth. I

saw that the mysterious knocking in New York and other places was the power of Satan, and that such things would be more and more common, clothed in a

religious garb so as to lull the deceived to greater security and to draw the minds of God's people, if possible, to those things .

. .” (Early Writings, p. 43).

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To what “mysterious knocking in To what “mysterious knocking in New York” is Ellen White New York” is Ellen White

referring?referring?

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Modern Spiritualism Begins

in America!

Modern Spiritualism Begins

in America!

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What is spiritualism?It is a belief system or religion that spirits of the dead have the ability to communicate

with the living. Spiritualism developed during the 1840s to the 1920s, especially in English-

language countries. The corresponding movement in Europe and

Latin America is known as spiritism.

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When was a vision was given to Ellen White about the “mysterious knocking?”

March 24, 1849

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“Many endeavor to account for spiritual manifestations by attributing

them wholly to fraud and sleight of hand on the part of the medium. But

while it is true that the results of trickery have often been palmed off

as genuine manifestations, there have been, also, marked exhibitions

of supernatural power.

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“The mysterious rapping with which modern spiritualism began was not the result of human trickery or cunning, but was the direct work of evil angels, who

thus introduced one of the most successful of soul-destroying delusions.

Many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is a merely human

imposture; when brought face to face with manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will be

deceived, and will be led to accept them as the great power of God.”

(The Great Controversy, p. 553)

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Much controversy has surrounded the Fox sisters because in 1888 Margaret and Katie denounced spiritualism as a

“an absolute falsehood.” Margaret, however, later recanted her

denunciation, and this has resulted in a controversy about whether or not she and her sisters perpetrated a hoax.

Ellen White, however, has told us that the mysterious rappings were “the direct work of evil angels” (Great

Controversy, p. 553).

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Remember, “many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is a

merely human imposture; when brought face to face with manifestations which

they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will be deceived, and will be led to

accept them as the great power of God.” (Great Controversy, p. 553)

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When did spiritualism begin?

“Ye shall not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4)

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“Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.

And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit

at Endor.” (1 Samuel 28:7)

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“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through

the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with

the LORD thy God.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-13)

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In 1849, one year after the Fox sisters first reported rappings, Ellen White was given a vision while in Topsham, Maine. In this

vision, she was shown “that the mysterious knocking in New York and

other places was the power of Satan, and that such things would be more and more common, clothed in a religious garb so as to lull the deceived to greater security and

to draw the minds of God’s people, if possible, to those things and cause them to doubt the teachings and power of the

Holy Ghost” (Early Writings, p. 43).

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“I saw that the mysterious signs and wonders and false reformations would increase and spread. The reformations

that were shown me were not reformations from error to truth.” (Early

Writings, p. 45)

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Margaret, Kate, and Leah Fox

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Fox home in Hydesville, New York, where mysterious rappings began in

1848

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I saw that Satan was working through agents in a number of ways. He was at work

through ministers who have rejected the truth and are given over to strong delusions to believe a lie that they might be damned. .

. . I saw that Satan was at work in these ways to distract, deceive, and draw away

God’s people, just now in this sealing time. I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling,

and their feet sliding, because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God [see slide 24] could not be

drawn over them while they were thus trembling. (Early Writings, p. 44)