| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 12 |
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Three years later, in the summer of 1895, Dr. and Mrs. Miller took their only real vacation trip together – six weeks in Europe. The outward bound voyage gave Dr. Miller an unusual opportunity to greet a number whom he had known by name and through correspondence, but had never met. In a letter to the Evangelist he spoke of the presence of “several passengers whom everybody has wanted to meet, and whose influence has been simulative of god fellowship and a cheerful, kindly spirit.” It did not occur to him that he was one of the most sought for passengers in a company that included a number of famous men, or that his words about others aptly describe himself.
A pleasant Sunday was spent in London. As usual, he was found in church, morning, afternoon and evening:
“For myself, I chose three preachers whom I wished to hear and sat through the full service in each place. In the morning, I visited the City Temple and listened with real interest and profit to Dr. Joseph Parker. The great building, which is said to seat 2,799 people, was filled from pulpit to door. The prayer was reverent, inclusive, tender, and full of sympathy. Although it was brief, yet nobody was left out. Dr. Parker announced no text, but spoke in general on charity in judging others. The sermon was full of excellent thoughts and suggestions. In the afternoon, I went to Westminster Abbey to hear Canon Gore. There is not much comfort in attending services in the Abbey, as it is almost impossible to hear unless one gets a seat well to the front; there is so much confusion caused by people coming and going. Today the throng was great, many of our countrymen attending. In the evening, I went to hear the Rev. F.B. Meyer. He is a preacher of rare power, Scriptural and spiritual. Few other men in the world are reaching out so widely in beneficent influence as Dr. Meyer. His little books and tracts have gone wherever the English language is read, and have carried everywhere a holy program of divine love and grace. He is a prodigious worker, never resting, yet never seeming weary.”
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