| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 6 |
Page 15 |
When the congregation met to act on his resignation a letter was read, in which he said”
“We have had a good time together as pastor and people these dozen years. Last Sunday as I looked into the faces of the great congregation sitting at the Lord’s Table, I could not help recalling the first communion in the wooden chapel, twelve years ago. The little handful has become a great throng, and instead of the rude little building where we broke bread that morning we sat last Sunday in our beautiful church edifice. A wonderful story lies between these two communions – a story of love, of Christian fellowship, of self denial and service, of earnest Christian work, of prayer, of sacrificial life, of joy and sorrow, of great spiritual blessing.
“I want to say to you, friends, that St. Paul’s is the crowning joy of my life. It has been a most sacred privilege to live with you, to grow up with you in this church, to be your friend, to share your burdens, to help you through hard places. While I may no longer be your pastor, no dissolution of an ecclesiastical relation will break the personal bond that binds you to me in love. I hope to live among you as one of you while God lets me stay in this world. When I can be of any comfort or help to any of you, it will be a joy to me.”
His last official message was sent to the elders of the church at Christmas, 1911. He closed with these words:
“May the Christmas Day mean more to you than any Christmas before has meant. May it be the real coming anew of Christ into your heart, not as a mere sentiment, but as a living power, transforming you more and more into the divine beauty, and imparting to you divine strength, which shall make your life henceforth a richer influence, a great power than ever it has been before. You have a large responsibility in your position; you will meet it with faith and courage.”
Page 15
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