| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 8 |
Page 8 |
“When he began to realize his projects for the improvement of the young people’s literature and the lesson helps, he called me into innumerable conferences, and consulted me at every step. The effect, however, was to make apparent to me that he had not only editorial experience but some thing that may be called editorial instinct or even genius. He had nothing whatever to learn from me that could frame or modify his own decisions. I came to feel that in offering hearty cooperation, warm sympathy and earnest support to his projects, I was doing the best the circumstances of our official relations made possible. And I cherish the assurance that in that way I became something of a comfort to him. In all our relations I had never a discomfort or question, except only the abiding knowledge that he was overworked. This he never once acknowledged, and only in repeated efforts to relieve him was there any lack of cooperation on his part.
“Forward may stand as a monument of Dr. Miller’s editorial genius; for what it is and for what it has compelled its rivals to become. It was his conception, and to his constant supervision and planning its wonderful success and influence are due. But even it does not measure his editorial capacity. He was capable of giving this country a great religious newspaper, like The British Weekly, and he cherished such a hope. Very often I have talked the matter over with him. Offers came to him from the outside looking toward such a project. Even within the Board of Publication the matter was discussed, but denominational restrictions made such an undertaking impracticable. The need of such a periodical remains, but I doubt if anyone can be found whose personality and gifts would bring to it the assured welcome that would have come with Dr. Miller at its head.
“Now that he is dead, more appealing even than the measure of the work he accomplished is the memory of the spirit in which he worked. One’s own ideal of faithful service tends to assume a likeness to his person, and so becomes his best memorial.”
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