| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 7 |
Page 7 |
To every one of the periodicals Dr. Miller gave his best thought. Yet there were three of the publications which were especially dear to him – The Westminster Teacher, as already noted; the Home Department Quarterly; and Forward.
It was his idea that the members of the Home Department should be given a magazine prepared for them especially. He was not pleased with the suggestion made by some houses that – for the sake of economy – this publication should be in large part of a reprint of the Senior Quarterly. His knowledge of the homes of the people, especially the homes of invalids and busy mothers who make up a large proportion of Home Department membership, made him anxious to give them an interpretation of the lesson adapted to their peculiar needs. It was his plan to follow the verse by verse comment on the text with a message for each day on some truth in the lesson. This was done with such marvelous skill that many a reader would feel that the paragraphs were special individual messages, and that the editor somehow must have learned of his circumstances and his needs. This impression was intensified by an introductory letter in each number addressed “To the Home Department Students.” In one of these he said:
“There probably are a great many shut-ins among Home Department pupils – persons who cannot get away from their homes, some who cannot leave their rooms or even their beds. You must not feel that because you are shut in, unable to go out into the big world, therefore you need to be especially lonely or that you cannot take your part in the work of Christ. Some of the most active and efficient Christian workers I know are Christians who cannot go out at all, month after month.
Another quarter he said:
“This Quarterly is used chiefly in homes. Nothing in this world is worthy of more thought, prayer and effort than the home. Sometimes mothers of young children think that their life is one of privation, because they are shut in so closely and miss many of the bright and happy things that so many people enjoy. But the mother’s work is so sacred, and means so much to her children, that she can well afford to miss a good many things outside which would be very pleasant.”
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