+

9+ JOSHUA V. HIMES WAS BORN A LEADER

Joshua V. Himes was born in wickford, Rhode Island to Stuckeley Himes and Elizabeth Vaughn
on 19 May 1805. He was one of the people who involved in the Second Advent or Millerite
movement of the 1840s and figured prominently in two denominations that emerged out of that
movement this paper will elaborate Joshua V. Himes different roles and positions he performed
during Mirarite movement and formation of denominations out of the movement, which shows
that he was born a leader.
A. Minister
At the age of 18, Himes joined the Christian Connexion Church in New Bedford where he was
licensed as an exhorter, he could preach and pastor a church, but was not an ordained minister.
Over the next few years he pastored several districts in Massachusetts, before becoming pastor of
the First Christian Church in 1830. Some of his successes which displayed his leadership skills
are as follows he revived a church that was near to death. Another great success was when he left
First Christian Church he started new gathering at Lyceum Hall on Hanover Street two years
later they moved to Chardon Street Chapel which was dedicated 6 November 1838. Upon
resigning his postion on 29 November 1842 he had already managed to have a total gathering of
410.1
B. Reformer
Himes become advocate and organizer of for a wide range of reform causes including
temperance, women rights, peace and at the forefront, abolition of slavery
C. Principle promoter
After meeting with William Miller Joshua V. Himes become Miller’s publicist and booking
agent, arranging for him to lecture in large cities of the east like Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington, D.C. He became the movement’s chief promoter, utilizing the latest
developments in communications technology and marketing to orchestrate.
D. Manager
There was diverging Adventism from 1844 to 1845, after the great disappointment of 1844,
Miller sidelined from public ministry because of poor health. Himes was the most influential
Adventist leader in charting a path forward. He achieved a measure of success in his efforts to
unite the movement though other voices led in other directions resulting in lasting divisions that
eventually took form in a variety of Adventism denominations.
E. Financier
Himes financed the Adventism movement through raising funds, his publishing business and
personal donations for example on 12 September 1894, he wrote to Ellen White a letter and

1
Wikipedia.org
enclosed $5 as a gift, followed up by a donation of another $40 for Seventh-day Adventist
mission work.
F. Publisher
Himes launched the signs of the times, published twice monthly beginning 20 March 1840. He
edited the paper without salary and took responsibility for raising subscriptions. In additional to
that he recruited agents to sell the paper on commission and by the end of 1840 it had 1500
subscribers. Many published articles by Himes also followed.
G. Organizer
Himes initiated his most important contribution as the movement organizer, he organized series
of general conference. He opened the first general conference held in Boston from 14-15 October
1840. Approximately 15 more general conferences took place in rapid succession in 1840 and
1842, in additional to a much larger number of local conferences. To maximize the impact of
camp meetings, Millerite leaders endorsed construction of a great tent that could accommodate
3,000 to 5000 people. Himes took charge of the project and raised funds for it. A month later the
Great Tent was ready for use. Purported to be the largest the nation had ever seen, the tent
became an attraction in itself, and with overflow crowds drawn to the meetings as it estimated
capacity was expanded to 6,000. In 1843 he initiated building of 3000-seet Boston tabernacle to
accommodate Millerite congregations, due to overcrowding at Himes’ Chardon Street Chapel.
Conclusion
Joshua V. Himes, was born a leader for being a reformer, became the principle promoter,
manager, publisher, organizer and financier of the second Advent or Millerite movement of the
1840s and figured prominently in two denominations that emerged out of that movement.2

2
Douglas Morgan, Himes, Joshua Vaughan (1805-1895), encyclopedia. Adventist .org, 13 September 202
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Morgan Douglas, Himes, Joshua Vaughan (1805-1895), encyclopedia. Adventist .org, 13
September 2020.
Wikipedia.org