Jonas Wendell

Elder Jonas Wendell (December 25, 1815 – August 14, 1873) of Edinboro,
Jonas Wendell
Pennsylvania, was a zealous Adventist preacher following in the spirit of
William Miller. Following the "Great Disappointment" Wendell experienced Born December 25, 1815
periods of weak faith, as did many Adventists. He eventually recovered his faith Edinboro,
after renewing his study of Bible chronology (historic and prophetic) and began Pennsylvania
to preach extensively throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, the Virginias, and New Died August 14, 1873
England By the late 1860s he had been studying the chronology of the Bible, and (aged 57)
was encouraged by conclusions showing Christ's return would occur in either Occupation Preacher
1868 or 1873/4. In 1870 Wendell published his views in the booklet entitled The
Present Truth, or Meat in Due Season concluding that the Second Advent was sure to occur in 1873. Unknown to him, attendance
at one of his presentations restored Charles Taze Russell's faith in the Bible as the true word of God, leading to Russell's ministry.

Contents
"A Clergyman in Difficulty"
Obituary
Works
References

"A Clergyman in Difficulty"

In 1871 the Associated Press circulated a story that Wendell had been arrested in Pennsylvania on the charge of "improper
intimacy" with a 16-year-old girl.[1] No evidence of impropriety was ever produced, and Wendell publicly denied not only the
charges, but that he had ever been arrested.[2]

Obituary
The magazine The World's Crisis in the September 10, 1873 issue offered an obituary written by fellow Adventist and personal
friend, George Stetson. A brief summary appears below:

In Memory of Elder Jonas Wendell

"He was born December 25, 1815, and fell asleep August 14 1873. Age fifty seven years, seven months, and fourteen days. ...

"He had settled on 1873 as the year in which "the hope of seeing Jesus and being made like him" should be realized by a waiting
and expectant church, and set forth the reasons for his hope in a little work entitled, "Present truth," or "Meat in Due Season," ...

"... on Wednesday evening, 13 August, by request, in absence of the pastor, he led the prayer and conference meeting, and much
edified all present by his unusual fervency in prayer, exhortation, and singing. "What a friend we have in Jesus" was the last
hymn he ever sung with us. On Thursday the 14th, he went to the Sabbath School picnic in most excellent spirits, and seemed to
be very happy in the Lord. When time for adjournment arrived, he got out his horse to return home, but seeing a lad in trouble
from a fickly horse, he went to his assistance, where he overtaxed his physical strength, and returned to his own buggy quite
exhausted. But he got in and took the lines from his niece, to start home, but immediately loosened his hold, dropped them, and
fell over backward in his seat, dead. He gave but two slight gasps for breath, and all was over...

"On Saturday, 16 August, at 2 P.M. his funeral was numerously attended at our chapel, when all the clergy of our village came to
observe his obsequies, sympathize with his bereaved family, and participate in the services of the occasion... Medical opinion is
divided between apoplexy and heart disease as cause of death.[3]

Works
The Present Truth or Meat in Due Season, 1870[4]

References
1. Utica Daily Observer, May 30, 1871 pg 3
2. New York Tribune, June 6, 1871 pg 5 col 2: "Sir: I have just had my attention called to an article, which appeared
in 'The Tribune' of May 29, headed "A Clergyman in Difficulty." I pronounce the charge therein made false, and
without any foundation in truth. Respectfully yours, J. Wendell. Erie, Penn., June 2, 1871
3. Obituary - The World's Crisis in the September 10, 1873
4. The Present Truth or Meat in Due Season (http://www.pastor-russell.com/misc/ptmds.pdf) by Jonas Wendell

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This page was last edited on 13 March 2019, at 18:45 (UTC).

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