| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 13 |
Page 5 |
Another Philadelphia daily said, editorially:
“This day marks Dr. Millers’ attainment of the allotted three score years and ten after a life that has had few, if any, idle hours… His is a record of service of which any man might well be honestly proud.”
The anniversary was observed at St. Paul Church by a Sunday evening congregation of more than fifteen hundred people. In responding to addresses made by Dr. Lee, the associate pastor of the church, the Hon. John Wanamaker, Judge Willson, President of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, Dr. Miller said:
“I cannot trust myself to say anything tonight. It must be some other man you are talking about. You don’t mean me – you must mean my congregation – not me. It is not what I have done; it is what you have done. The letters and the telegrams, so filled with love, have gladdened my heart beyond all description. I thank God that I have had a share in leading you in your lives. It has been a great privilege. My one purpose is to fill the years so full of humble, loving service that every birthday shall mark a year of complete consecration to the Master. I feel as Louis Kossuth said: ‘I would like my life to resemble the dew, which falls so noiselessly through the night, and just as silently passes away, soon as the rays of the morning’s sun beams upon the earth. Unnoticed by men’s eyes, save for an occasional iridescent sparkle here and there upon some blade of grass, it is drawn upward and passes away – but all that it has touched is freshened and beautiful by its silent yet potent presence.’”
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