Charles Fitch
Encyclopedia
Charles Fitch was an American
preacher
in the early 19th century, who rose to prominence for his work with the Millerite
movement.
Charles G. Finney
, and worked with him on the causes of temperance
and abolition
. In 1838, he found some copies of William Miller's
lectures, and accepted them at once. However, when he went to share them with local colleagues, he was rebuffed, and so he backed off.
Three years later, after meeting with Josiah Litch
, he openly accepted the Millerite movement, and became one of its foremost preachers. While the core of the Millerite movement was in New England
, Fitch focused his efforts on Ohio
, Michigan
, and Western New York
.
from their churches. But up to this point, William Miller had advised his followers not to separate from their churches.
Charles Fitch then preached a powerful sermon
based on Revelation 18: "Babylon
the great has fallen... Come out of her, my people!" Up to this point, most Protestants
had identified Babylon in the text as the papacy
of the Roman Catholic Church
. In this sermon, Fitch labeled all the Protestant churches that had not accepted the message of Jesus' Second Coming
as Babylon. He then invited the Millerites to separate from their churches.
This cry was taken up by George Storrs
, who cautioned the Millerites not to organize a new church, for "no church can be organized by man's invention but what it becomes Babylon the moment it is organized." Joseph Marsh, editor of the Voice of Truth, also supported this call to separate. The Millerite leaders themselves withheld from supporting this call, but neither did they do anything to prevent it.
In August 1844, Samuel S. Snow
reinvigorated the Millerite movement by predicting that Jesus would come on October 22, 1844.
Charles Fitch continued to preach and baptize, even into the colder autumn months, and in early October after baptizing three groups of believers in a brisk wind, he contracted a high fever and died on October 14, 1844, just eight days before he expected Jesus to come. He was 39 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
in the early 19th century, who rose to prominence for his work with the Millerite
Millerites
The Millerites were the followers of the teachings of William Miller who, in 1833, first shared publicly his belief in the coming Second Advent of Jesus Christ in roughly the year 1843.-Origins:...
movement.
Early years
During his early years, in the 1830s, he had associated with famous evangelistEvangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
Charles G. Finney
Charles Grandison Finney
Charles Grandison Finney was a leader in the Second Great Awakening. He has been called The Father of Modern Revivalism. Finney was best known as an innovative revivalist, an opponent of Old School Presbyterian theology, an advocate of Christian perfectionism, a pioneer in social reforms in favor...
, and worked with him on the causes of temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
and abolition
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
. In 1838, he found some copies of William Miller's
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...
lectures, and accepted them at once. However, when he went to share them with local colleagues, he was rebuffed, and so he backed off.
Three years later, after meeting with Josiah Litch
Josiah Litch
Dr. Josiah Litch was a Methodist Episcopal preacher in the New England region of the United States, who was best known for his connections with the Millerite movement, and for using Bible prophecy to predict a loss of power for the Ottoman Empire....
, he openly accepted the Millerite movement, and became one of its foremost preachers. While the core of the Millerite movement was in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, Fitch focused his efforts on Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and Western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
.
Come Out of Babylon
Fitch's most notable contribution to Millerism came in the summer of 1843. At the time the public sentiment had begun to turn against the Millerites, and many preachers and believers were faced with expulsionExcommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
from their churches. But up to this point, William Miller had advised his followers not to separate from their churches.
Charles Fitch then preached a powerful sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
based on Revelation 18: "Babylon
Whore of Babylon
The Whore of Babylon or "Babylon the great" is a Christian allegorical figure of evil mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Her full title is given as "Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Abominations of the Earth." -Symbolism:...
the great has fallen... Come out of her, my people!" Up to this point, most Protestants
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
had identified Babylon in the text as the papacy
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. In this sermon, Fitch labeled all the Protestant churches that had not accepted the message of Jesus' Second Coming
Second Coming
In Christian doctrine, the Second Coming of Christ, the Second Advent, or the Parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven, where he sits at the Right Hand of God, to Earth. This prophecy is found in the canonical gospels and in most Christian and Islamic eschatologies...
as Babylon. He then invited the Millerites to separate from their churches.
This cry was taken up by George Storrs
George Storrs
George Storrs was a Christian teacher and writer in the United States.- Biography :George Storrs was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire on December 13, 1796, son to Colonel Constant Storrs and the former Lucinda Howe...
, who cautioned the Millerites not to organize a new church, for "no church can be organized by man's invention but what it becomes Babylon the moment it is organized." Joseph Marsh, editor of the Voice of Truth, also supported this call to separate. The Millerite leaders themselves withheld from supporting this call, but neither did they do anything to prevent it.
Final year
After the first initial disappointment that occurred when Jesus did not come by the spring of 1844, Fitch then traveled east to continue evangelizing.In August 1844, Samuel S. Snow
Samuel S. Snow
Samuel Sheffield Snow was a skeptic turned Millerite preacher who calculated that the return of Christ was to take place on October 22, 1844...
reinvigorated the Millerite movement by predicting that Jesus would come on October 22, 1844.
Charles Fitch continued to preach and baptize, even into the colder autumn months, and in early October after baptizing three groups of believers in a brisk wind, he contracted a high fever and died on October 14, 1844, just eight days before he expected Jesus to come. He was 39 years old.
Writings online
- "Entire Sanctification Illustrated in the Life of Payson" by Charles Fitch (an article originally published in "The Oberlin Evangelist" of June 17, 1840)