ADVENT
88
ADVOCATE
teenth centuries noticed the ruins of a castle, and sup- posed it the same as that mentioned by Jerome (Zual- lart, iv, 30); but tbe judicious Nau (Voyage Nouveau de la Terre-Sainte, p. 349) perceived that this castle belonged to the time of the Crusades. Not far from this spot was a khan, called the " Samaritan's khan" (le Khan du Samaritain), in the belief that it was the "inn" to which the Samaritan brought the wounded traveller. The travellers of the present century men- tion the spot and neighborhood nearly in the same terms as those of older date ; and describe the ruins as those of " a convent and a khan" (Hardy, 193). The}' all represent the road as still infested by robbers, from whom some of them (as Sir F. Henniker) have not escaped without danger. The place thus indicated is about eight miles from Jerusalem, and four from Jeri- cho. Dr. Robinson probably means the same by the ruined Khan Hudhrur (or another a little south of it) on the way between Jerusalem and Jericho (Researches, ii, 122) ; and Schwarz speaks of seeing " a very high, rocky hill composed entirely of pyrites, called by the Arabs Tell Adum, six English miles E.N.E. of Jerusa- lem" (Palest, p. 95), apparently the ruined locality, Kidat ed-Dem, observed by Schultz (Ritter, Erdk. xv, 493) about half way on the descent to Jericho (Van de Velde, Memoir, p. 282, and Map). — Kitto, s. v.
Advent (Lat. adventus, sc. Redemptoris), signifies the coming of our Saviour. The name is applied to the season (four weeks in the Roman, Lutheran, and English Churches, six weeks in the Greek Church) preceding Christmas. The origin of this festival as a Church ordinance is not clear. The first notice of it as such is found in the synod of Lcrida (A.D. 524), at which marriages were interdicted from the begin- ning of Advent until Christmas. Cresarius of Aries (A.D. 542) has two sermons on Advent, fully imply- ing its ecclesiastical celebration at that time. The four Sundays of Advent, as observed in the Romish Church and the Church of England, were probably in- troduced into the calendar by Gregory the Great. It was common from an early period to speak of the com- ing of Christ as fourfold: his "first coming in the flesh," his coming at the hour of death to receive his faithful followers (according to the expressions used by St. John), his coming at the fall of Jerusalem (Matt, xxiv, 30), and at the day of judgment. Ac- cording to this fourfold view of the Advent, the "gos- pels" were chosen for the four Sundays, as was settled in the Western Church by the Homilarium of Charle- magne. The festival of Advent is intended to accord in spirit with the object celebrated. As mankind were once called upon to prepare themselves for the person- al coming of Christ, so, according to the idea that the ecclesiastical year should represent the life of the founder of the Church, Christians are exhorted during this festival to look for a spiritual advent of Christ. The time of the year, when the shortening days are hastening toward the solstice — which almost coincides with the festival of the Nativity — is thought to har- monize with the strain of sentiment proper during Ad- vent. In opposition, possibly, to heathen festivals, observed by ancient Romans and Germans, whicli took place at the same season, the Roman Church ordained that the four weeks of Advent should be kept as a time of penitence, according to the words of Christ, " Re- pent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." During these weeks, therefore, public amusements, marriage festivities, and dancing are prohibited, fasts are ap- pointed, and sombre garments used in religious cere- monies. The Protestant Church in Germany abstains from public recreations and celebrations of marriage during Advent, but fasting is not enjoined. The Church of England and Protestant Episcopal Church observe Advent, but do not prescribe fasts. Advent begins on the first Sunday after November 2G, i. e. the Sunday nearest St. Andrew's Day. In the sixth cen- tury, the Eastern and Western Churches (following
the Nestorians) made Advent the beginning of the Church year instead of Easter. (See Bingham, Orig. Eccl. bk. xxi, ch. ii, § 4 ; Procter, On Common Prayer, p. 268.) See Christmas.
On the general subject of the appropriateness of the time of Christ's advent, see the treatises, in Latin, of Austrin (Lond. 1835); Bock (Regiom. 1756, 1761); Faber (Kil. 1770, Jen. 1772) ; Hagen (Clausth. 1741) ; Quandt (Regiom. 1724) ; Ravins (Fcft. 1673) ; Unger (Neap. 1779) ; Walch (Jen. 1738) ; Meyer (Kil. 1G95) ; Scharbau (in his Obs. Sacr. ii, 395 sq.). On the st;.te of the world at the time, Heilmann (Bint. 1755) ; Knapp (Hal. 1757). On the closing of the temple of Janus -ut his birth, Masson (Rotterd. 1700) ; and in German, Ge- dicke (in bis Verm. Schrift, Berl. 1801, p. 188-200). See Nativity.
ADVENT, SECOND. See Millennium.
Adventists, the name of a recent sect of Millenr.- rians, which owes its origin to William Miller, from whom they are frequently called Millerites. About 1833 Miller began to teach that the "Second Advent" of the Lord would occur in 1843. He soon found dis- ciples ; among whom was Joseph V. Himes, a member of the "Disciples of Christ" (q. v.), who had a great deal of energy and proselyting spirit. He commenced a journal called The Signs of the Times, and, later, the A dcent Herald, to disseminate the doctrines of the sect. Multitudes of people, chief!}' of the ignorant, became believers ; and, at the time appointed, it is said that thousands were out all night, waiting, in anxiety, for " the coming of the Lord," according to the prediction of the leaders of the sect. They were disappointed, of course, but many still gave credit to new predic- tions, fixing the time at new periods. As these suc- cessive times arrived, the predictions still failed, and many of the believers fell off. There is still in exist- ence, however, a sect bearing the name Adventists, who look for the "coming of the Lord," but who do not fix dates as definitely as Messrs. Miller and Himes used to do. A large camp-meeting of Adventists has for many years been annually held at Wilbraham.