| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 6 |
Page 14 |
All who knew him marveled as they saw how full his days were of varied service. Frequently some one would tell him he was doing the work of three men. He would insist that this was not true. Once he said:
“It is only one man’s work. Most ministers have their ‘free Mondays’ and their evenings for symphony concerts, and all that sort of thing, or sitting down at home. I give up every hour to activity of some sort. I am very busy at the office all day; my people are there with their troubles all the time. In the evening I go out visiting sick people and others. At about 9:30 I return and have an hour with my family before they scatter off. And I think my evenings save me from growing old. I feel younger every year.”
But at last the burden proved too heavy, and the pastor resigned his last charge. In telling the church session of his purpose, he said:
“It has been a dream of mine that I might continue in the work, in the co-pastorate which has brought to me such joy and such delightful fellowship, ending my days at St. Paul’s. None but myself can ever know how dear the people are to me. They have been gathered one by one with thought and love. In many homes I have been in times of suffering or sorrow and with hundreds I have walked in experiences of joy or of pain which have bound them to me in very sacred ties. The church has come to be to me, in a very real sense, like my own family, and I have thought that it would be a joy to spend my last days among the people and be buried among them.
“But the condition of my health in recent months is such that I cannot hope to carry any important part of the work hereafter. It seems wise, therefore, that I should resign my position at an early day.”
Page 14
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