The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-08-22
JOHN Y. MILLS.
A Tribute to the Man and His Work

While many of our exchanges have
referred editorlally to the defeat OF
Mr.. John II. Mills as Superintendent
of the Babtist Orphanage at Thomas
vile, the Messenger has been silent.
We are not informed as to the causes
Of his defeat for reelection, and it is a
matter that concerns the great Baptist
family in the State and not the secular
press. If there has been manifest
wrong, injustice, action based upon
slanderous reports, etc, the press, or
that part which is enlightened and
stands for right and by the "bottom
dog in the fight" might speak out
But We have heard nothing to warrant
tn is belief
For causes satisfactory to majority
of the trustees Mr.. Mills has been su-
perceded. That he has done efficient
work at Thomasville We had often
heard. That he is man of superior
intellectual parts we know. This
writer has been on something like in
innate terms with Mr.. Mills since
1850 or 1851. He came to Oxford
in one Of those years to be a teacher
in the Baptist Female College, the
late Rev. DR.. Waite, President. After
that he was the President He rem
dered excellent service to his people
in that office. His services as the
first Superintendent and actual foun-
der of the Oxford Orphan Asylum are
read and known of all men. We
had frequent opportunities of know
ing much of his management. We
bear willing testimony to its ettl-
cheney, its success. He built up an
institution of conspicuous merit, and
that has proved an inCalCulaole bless
ing to some thousand or two helpless
children, motherless and fatherless.
We know that the children loved Mr..
Mills. Children never love bad, harsh
men. Instinctively they recognize
their friends-those who symyathize
and understand and respond with affec
ton to their smiles and appeals. Or
phanage plead with Mr. Mills "trum-
pet tongued." We could write good
deal of him if it was necessary to do
so. We think we know him. Least
wise very long friendship has given
US time and opportunity to understand
the man. He is not moulded after the
pattern of other men. He has an orig
inal intellect, we'll disciplined and
vigorous, and he has opinions of
his own. He has done a noble work
for North Caolina, and all over the
State there are hundreds of men and
women taught and disciplined by him
who will rise up and call him blessed.
The Oxford Ledger, published where
Mr.. Mills spent quite a quarter OF a
century of his life, or more even, has a
long and kindly appreclatve editorial
concerning his defeat. What is said
in the following extract is certainly
true and richly deserved:
"He is certainly a man of big brain,
big heart, and by his faithful work a
man of great usefulness. He under
took the establishment of the Oxford
Orphan Asylum without money and
without encouragement at the outset.
He started with two or three unfort-
unate orphan children as confident of
success as if he had been authorized to
draw at liberty on the Treasury of the
United States. He evidently had faith
in higher service.
"After many difficulties and trials.
which would have caused an ordinary
man to give up the " work, he toiled on
with industrious hands, having faith no
doubt from above, for he is a great
believer in prayer as we'll as the open
ing of the hearts of the people towards
the orphans. His success is well
known to the people in every hamlet
in our grand old State. Under his
able management the Oxford Orphan
Asylum soon became one of the
grandest institutions for good in the
State