IT is with deep regret that we record the death of Mrs. Janet Miller of Wick Congregation, which occurred rather unexpectedly, in the 8th day of December, 1944. Mrs. Miller was born 64 years ago in Wick and was the eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Sinclair. Her mother was well known in the Church as a lively witness on the side of Christ and his truth in her day.
Mrs. Miller, very evidently followed the Saviour for many years of her life in a gracious and consistent manner according to the doctrine of His glorious Gospel, and was not ashamed to own Him in whatsoever company she found herself. She was possessed of a bright and happy disposition, and, intermingled with this, a faculty for speaking a word in season relating to the salvation of the soul, to young and old, high and low, alike. She disclosed at times, that she was keenly sensible of the “plague” of her own heart and of her need of “the precious blood of Christ” and of the power of divine grace, to deal with her sinfulness. The Gospel remedy was her only hope.
She was active and most useful. After being trained as a nurse, she ultimately became Matron of the Bignold Hospital, Wick, where her services were highly valued by the medical profession and the public. And even after retiral at the end of the last war, on account of her marriage, she frequently called at homes in the town where there was
sickness and sorrow. The local press has recorded, “Mrs. Miller won a special place in the hearts of the community where she was born. Her passing will be keenly felt in the town.”
The Apostle Paul in writing to the Philippians refers to, “Those women which laboured with me in the gospel.” They were neither elders nor preachers, as modern Churchmen would have women to be; yet they found Scriptural ways and means of supporting the cause of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so it was with Mrs. Miller. The South African Mission of our Church has lost a genuine friend in Mrs. Miller, who, as a labour of love, supervised the Clothing Fund for the Mission in a most efficient manner, for years.
About three years ago, she passed through a serious illness from which she made a good recovery, but her general health was greatly impaired. It became obvious that the Word of God was now becoming increasingly sweet to her and some of the psalms in particular were as green pasture to her soul, especially the last four or five verses of the 16th psalm, e.g.:—
“Because my soul in grave to dwell
shall not be left by thee;
Nor wilt thou give thine Holy One
corruption to see.
Thou wilt me shew the path of life:
of joys there is full store
Before thy face; at thy right hand
are pleasures evermore.” v. 10, 11.
She valued God’s House more than ever, the nearer she came to the end of the earthly journey; and determination to attend public worship even when heart and flesh fainted and failed, was revealed by her presence at the weekly meeting in the Church, a day before she died. “The tabernacles of thy grace, how pleasant Lord they be!” (Ps. 84, v. 1).
The Church of Christ in the Song of Solomon, ch. 6, v. 2 speaks thus of Christ, “My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.” Yes, to gather lilies! And we humbly believe that the Beloved has gathered Mrs. Miller, along with others, from the garden of the Church in the world, home to the Father’s house of many mansions; yet leaving more spiritual desolation with us and cause for mourning on our own account.
husband, as well as to the sisters and brothers, in their sorrow. May they find grace and comfort in Naomi’s God and be enabled to say, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1, 16).