| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 12 |
Page 10 |
Naples, Pompeii, Florence, Venice and Milan were visited in turn. On two Sundays Roman Catholic Churches were sought, as no Protestant Church was to be found. But when Lucerne was reached, the opportunity to attend the service maintained by the Scotch Free Church was welcomed.
Then came a leisurely trip through Germany, by rail and Rhine steamer. Attention was called in a letter to the Evangelist to the many relics and shrines in the cathedrals along the way, with this added comment:
“We need not wish for such reputed relics in our country. Better, infinitely better, is the simple Christian life which is found in thousands of our churches. Far better is it to have the Holy Spirit abiding in our congregations and giving comfort, strength, joy, peace and love, than to have such shrines and treasures as they show us in many of these great churches and cathedrals, and not to have the divine Presence. It is better to have the true Christ with us than to possess any piece of the wood of the ‘true cross,’ even if this were possible.”
Another pleasant company shared the homeward voyage. One and another of these was singled out for warm praise by the traveler who always saw the best in others and rejoiced to be able to tell of it. Of one shipmate he said:
“He was a genius for kindness, and few if any have missed receiving from him some word of cheer and encouragement during the voyage.” Probably that is exactly what the passenger of whom the words were written would have said of Dr. Miller.
But vacation was over, so the letter which told of the voyage concluded:
“With gratitude to God for what we have enjoyed, we turn with eagerness to the work that waits.”
He lost no time in getting to the wok that waited for him. From Naples he had written to his associates in the editorial office:
“I shall be in Philadelphia on August 26.”
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