George Storrs

George Storrs (1796-1879)

Born in New Hampshire, George Storrs was converted and joined the Congregational Church at the age of 19. He felt called to preach, and joined the Methodist ministry in 1825 through the influence of a godly Methodist minister. He preached much about slavery, even being arrested in 1835 while praying for the slaves during an antislavery society meeting. He was set free after a trial.

In 1837 he studied what the Bible had to say about the state of the dead after reading a tract on the subject. His conclusions led him to leave the Methodist church. In 1842 he published six sermons he had given on the topic. The same year he heard the Advent message, and began preaching the soon coming of Christ, distributing copies of his “Six Sermons” as he preached.
Charles Fitch wrote him January 25, 1844: “As you have long been fighting the Lord’s battles alone, on the subject of the state of the dead, and of the final doom of the wicked, I write this to say, that I am at last, after much thought and prayer, and a full conviction of duty to God, prepared to take my stand by your side.”

Storrs published a paper called “The Bible Examiner” from 1843 until he died in 1879. He did not accept the sanctuary message which explained the disappointment, nor the seventh-day Sabbath truth, but continued to believe the Bible teaching about the state of the dead.

For more information from the Adventist Pioneer Library see https://www.aplib.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LWFV1N4.pdf