Sketches of the Christian life and public labors of William Miller : $b Gathered from his memoir by the late Sylvester Bliss, and from other sources — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Sketches of the Christian life and public labors of William Miller : $b Gathered from his memoir by the late Sylvester Bliss, and from other sources
John Stuart Mill · en
“On this spot, in 1815, Mr. Miller erected a convenient farm-house,
similar to those built throughout the interior of New England at that
epoch. It was of wood, two stories high, with an ell projecting in the
rear. The front and ends were painted white, with green blinds, and the
back side was red. It fronts to the north. A small yard, inclosed by
a picket fence, and ornamented by lilacs, raspberry and rose-bushes,
separates it from the public road leading to Fairhaven, which is one of
the interesting objects in the foreground of the extended view to the
east, as seen from the window of the ‘east room,’ so full of tender and
holy recollections to all visitors.
“To the west of the house, a few rods distant, is a beautiful grove,
where, in later times, he often prayed and wept. This spot was selected
by the political party to which Mr. Miller belonged, for the place of
a public celebration of the national independence, on its anniversary,
July 4, 1816. Mr. Miller was selected as the marshal of the day; but, not
fancying a party celebration, he used his influence so that all persons,
irrespective of party, were invited to partake of its festivities. In
those days of party excitement this was considered a wonderful stretch of
charity.
“Mr. Miller’s grandfather Phelps was in the practice of preaching at the
house of Mr. M.’s father, when he made his occasional visits. There was
no church at the time in that section of the town. Through his labors Mr.
Miller’s mother was converted; and a little church was there organized,
as a branch of the Baptist church in Orwell, Vt.
“In 1812, Elisha Miller, an uncle of the subject of this memoir, was
settled over the church in Low Hampton, and a small meeting-house was
afterward erected. On Mr. Miller’s removal to Low Hampton, he became
a constant attendant, except in the absence of the preacher, at that
place of worship, and contributed liberally to its support. His relation
to the pastor, and the proximity of his house, caused it to become the
head-quarters of the denomination on extra as well as on ordinary
occasions. There the preachers from a distance found food and shelter;
and, though fond of bantering them on their faith, and making their
opinions a subject of mirth with his infidel friends, they always found a
home beneath his roof.