Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-16
IN lIEMORIAM
THE L4TEs JOHN E. MILLER, THE
NOTED SUND1sT SCHOOL YORKER.
Memorial Services at jackson Street NJ. f
Church Yesterday-ElOquent EulOgy of
the deceased by Rev. DIR. Marshall-A
Review of his Earthly LabOrs-Bio-
graphical Sketch.

the deceased by Rev. DIR. Marshall-A
Review of his Earthly LabOrs-BiO-
graphical Sketch.
The memorial services in honor of the
late John E. Miller, whose death took
place in this city on the 25th of last month
after very brief illness, were held in the
jackson street NJ. E. church yesterday af-
ternoon. Nearly every seat in the body of
the church was filled and among the audi
ence were number of leading mer bers of
the;Y. Nj. c. A., such as Noyes, Ford, Gil
bert, Espey, Haskell and others. Upon
the pulpit platform was seated DIR. Mar
shall, the pastor of the church; Rev. 5. u.
Smith, presiding elder of the district;
D. R. Noyes, Jr., and c. N. Woodward.
The services were opened with singing
the hymn sweep not for our brother Dead"
after which the Rev. MIR. Smith offered an
eloquent and touching prayer asking
special blessing upon the widow and the
orphan children of the deceased, and then
read portion of scripture.
Dr.. Marshall then stated that at the time
of his death Mr.. Miller was superintendent
Of the Jackson street church Sunday school
and Il was appropriate that something be
said Of his work in that direction, and in
troduced Mr.. C. n. Woodward, the present
superintendent.
Mr. woODwARD's REMARKS.
have been asked to speak of Bro. Mil
Ier's work in connection with Sunday
schools and among the youth of our church.
He was peculiarly fitted for Sunday
school work. Having a warm-hearted af-
fectionate nature, he naturally loved God
supremacy and consequently all Gods
creatures, but especially children. Any
work for tie Master had his sympathy and
support; but he saw opportunities for use
fitness in the Sunday school that was more
congenial to his tastes perhaps than other
work, SO his principal efforts were directed
In this channel. He was engaged with his
brother, Lewis Miller, of Akron, Ohio, in
conducting the now famous Akron Sunday
school. Then we find him superintendent
of the Sunday school at Evanston, Ills,
which ne conducted with marked ability.
The Evanston echvo. has :;1cli blessed vi III
many distinguished men as superintend-
ents, but none have ever been more posi-
lively acceptable than Bro. Miller.
Removing to st. Paul in 1878, and con-
Meeting himself with our church, we with
one accord at once looked to him as our
future superintendent. His reputation as
an eminent Sunday school worker had pre-
ceded him here, so on the 1st of January,
1879, he was unanimously chosen superin-
tendent of the Sunday school of this
church, and has held the position ever
since with the exception of one year when
he desired ayear's rest from the active du-
ties of the position, but even then he was
the virtual superintendent, as no steps of
any Importance was undertaken without
his advice and counsel
We always felt that with him at the
head everything would be safely carried
through.
As leader he was eminently prac-
tical and progressive. He thoroughly
believed in using every proper
means to impress the truth upon the minds
of those under his charge. Having been
2 successful teacher in secular schools in
his early life, and publisher of juvenile
books and magazines for many years, his
experience thus gained was used with
good effect.
His progressive and practical mind was
shown by the now celebrated Akron plan
of arranging Sunday school rooms, Of
which he with his brother Lewis M Her,
were the originators.
His whole soul seemed to be conferred
in his work for the Master, whether of the
Sunday school, church, Or any other
branch.
do not think ever met him that some
remark was not made by him showing his
interest in Sunday schools.
The first time met him was in his Office
on business and after our business was con-
cluded we happened to be going in the
same direction and our conversation nat
urally turned upon his removal to st. Paul,
and he very soon turned to the subject of
Sunday school work. And so it was at all
times. His Sunday school was very near
his heart.
He was an approachable man. No per-
son was ever turned away from John E.
Miller because his coat was ragged or his
pockets were empty. On the contrary,
these marks of misfortune were a sure
passport to his sympathy. He was always
careful to notice the more plainly dressed
persons in the school or church. We shall
never forget the warm-hearted, cordial
greeting we always received from him.
His religion was to him an every day mat
ter. It entered into and guided all his &C
lions. He made all his Sunday school work
apply to the practical duties of life. He had
no high strung theories to PROFOUND, no
visionary OR impracticable ideas or plans
to try. Every thing he proposed had in
it the elements of success. Some few plans
he suggested were changed after a short
trial for no reason we could see at the
time, but he could see further than we
could and never hesitated to change his
plans if he found thenf impractical.
He never attempted to enforce any
scheme of his own Or of any one else. He
would make suggestions and recommen-
dations and leave the matter there. We
relied upon him as wise counsellor and
loving elder brother.
He was very jealous of
the sanctity of Gods services
and was very careful that lessons in vene-
ration for Gods words and services should
be impressed upon all our minds.
/ cannot do more at this time than mere