Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 10/Is the end near?

IS THE END NEAR?

It is with no ordinary feeling that I reflect upon the fact, that there are now upon the earth, say, one thousand million of inhabitants, and that all this vast multitude are bound to the bar of their Creator! Let the man, if one can be found upon the foot stool, who feels himself to be great, think, whether, in this assemblage, he would be considered of much consequence; and then ask, if his significance will not dwindle into insignificance when all generations are brought together?

But let the reflecting mind once peruse the accounts of distress and afflictions, which are going the rounds; and can he, will he doubt, that the end is near?

A riot lately occurred in New York, another in Hartford, Ct. and another in Philadelphia. It appears that disaffections arise between the white and black population, and in some instances serious injuries have been sustained.

An alarming tornado lately passed over the towns of New Brunswick and Piscataway, with which many houses were literally swept away, and several lives lost.

Another awful eruption of Mount Vesuvius has taken place, attended with earthquake, and the emitting of lava to the height of twelve or fifteen thousand feet. The grand crater was said to be two thousand feet across, from which ascended a column of fire and heated rocks. This is the second eruption which has occurred this year.

A tornado lately passed over Williamsport, Pa. one at Little Falls, N. Y. and another in Warren county, N. J. on the same day that the fatal one passed over New Brunswick. Several shocks of an earthquake have lately been felt in Maryland. No particular damage has been experienced.

Besides the destruction of a large district of country in Chili, of late, with the loss of many lives, it is said, that the island of Juan Fernandes is sunk. If this is the fact, one would be sensibly reminded of the saying in the prophet, "Behold he taketh up the isles as a very little thing."

The cholera has again began its ravages in the South. The waters of the Mississippi Valley are troubled, and many who rise in the morning in health, close their eyes on time before the setting of the sun.

A destructive plague has broken out in Egypt, and hundreds and thousands are falling victims to its alarming progress. T[h]e following extract is the last intelligence received:

"THE PLAGUE IN EGYPT.—We have accounts from Alexandria to the 28th of March, at which time the plague was still raging in that city with unabated violence. The deaths were on an average 200 daily. Several European and many Greek houses were infected. Most of the foreign vessels in the harbor had the pestilence on board—several had been obliged to re-land their cargoes after losing part of their crew. The disorder had been very fatal to the crews of an Egyptian ship of the line and a frigate, which were in the roads. The disorder at Cairo was still more destructive than at Alexandria. There it was thought not to have yet reached its height, and yet the deaths were from 300 to 400 daily. But it was at Fua, a town containing about 25,000 to 30,000 inhabitants, & situate on the banks of the Nile, directly opposite to the canal of Mahmedie, that the visitation of this dreadful scourge had been most fatal. It is stated that in that place, out of 19,000 persons attacked, scarcely 500 survived! So that by the sweeping extermination of the great bulk of the population, and the flight of the remnant, the town was wholly depopulated. It is added that all the villages on both banks of the Nile suffer severely, & that the disease gradually reaches those parts of Egypt which had hitherto been spared. All the Foreign Consuls had left Cairo and Alexandria. A report prevailed at Leghorn that Mehemet Ali was again ill, and had been given over by his physicians. It has been said he had fallen a victim to the pestilence, but the report did not rest upon any authority."

Our political horizon is also agitated. Trouble seems to be brooding over our fair and happy land: Brother seems to be arrayed against brother in politics—strife follows strife, and threat succeeds threat—all seem to be waiting for the voice of the Lord: "To war!" when with a tumultuous rushing men and elements will combine to wind up the last scene of wo!" The New Governments to the South West are in commotion: one ambitious chief strives for the mastery over his fellow, and war, desolating war, follows as a consequence.

Nor is the New World alone in trouble—Europe's fair shores are drenched with blood, to gratify the pride and malice of princes. With wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and calamities, afflictions and distress, the sea and the waves roaring, and men's hearts failing them for fear, who can doubt but the end is nigh? And where, within a short space, will be this boasting generation, with their pride, popularity, wealth, grandeur and millions? Consumed by the wrath of the Most High, if they repent not! C.