| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 5 |
Page 7 |
On June 22, 1870, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Louise E. King of Argyle, New York, whom he had met in May, 1868, while attending the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in Argyle. From the day of his marriage Mrs. Miller was his inspiration and his helper in all his work. He was never weary of telling of his great debt to her. In his letters to young married people, he frequently told of what she was to him, and said that he could wish them no greater happiness than a home such as she was making for him. The secret of Mrs. Miller’s helpfulness was not only her beautiful character, but her recognition of the fact that her husband belonged to those who listened to his preaching, who received him in their home, who read the publications he edited, or who were inspired by his books. That he might be free to serve them she saw to it that he was relieved of all home cares which she could take upon herself. In these efforts she was most successful.
At Bethany Mr. Miller gathered about him such an earnest and increasing band of workers that the church speedily outgrew the modest quarters in which he found it, and a larger building became necessary. In the problem incident to its construction, as in the spiritual problems of the field, he leaned heavily on a devoted session of which John Wanamaker was a member. The large Sunday school, of which Mr. Wanamaker was then – and is still – superintendent, called for much of the young pastor’s time and though. His relations with the young people were cordial and intimate, and he was able to persuade many of them to accept Christ.
When he became pastor at Bethany the membership was seventy five. When he resigned in 1878 this was the largest Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, having about twelve hundred members.
The regard in which he was held there is indicated by the fact those fifteen years after he resigned the pastorate the session pleaded with him to return as one of the associate pastors of the church.
Page 7