Henry N. Miles

Cumberland Presbyterian Minister

1850 - 1883


REV. H. N. MILES, of the Charlotte Presbytery, died at Lebanon on Friday of last week. Brother Miles, we believe, was a member of the present graduating class in the theological school. This is quite a good class of young men, and we regret very much the loss of one when there are so many places to be filled.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, May 17, 1883, page 4]


REV. H. N. MILES.


W. E. JONES


"Though lost to sight, to memory dear."

MY heart was made to mourn when I read an account of the death of our much beloved brother, H. N. Miles, in the CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN of May 17th. The "strong man of death claimed him as his victim the 11th of May." I believe that brother Miles would have finished his 33rd year the 18th or 22d of the same month in which he died. He was called in the bloom of youth from his work and labor of "love on earth to his rest and reward in heaven." He was the first man that I ever saw set apart to the full work of the "gospel ministry," which took place in September 1878. In the summer of 1881 he came from Lebanon, where he had been in school, preparing himself for his "great life work," and engaged with the writer in protracted meetings. We held nine, in the counties of Montgomery, Stewart, and Houston, in the Charlotte Presbytery, Tenn. The Lord both "owned and blessed our labors." I have thought a thousand times of his "great earnestness in warning sinners to flee from the wrath to come." Brother Miles entered school again in October of the same year (1881), and would have completed a theological course this spring but for his death. With brother Brown, we all regret "very much the loss of brother Miles," as there are so many places of importance in our church to be filled. We can't understand why it is that God takes from us a young man who has toiled long and hard to prepare himself for "eminent usefulness in this life." But we are fallible! Our understanding and sight are finite. God, whose ways are not our ways, and whose thoughts are not our thoughts, but whose ways are past finding out, who sees not as man sees, had for brother Miles a "far better place than could have been given him in this world of much affliction. Hence, he hath said to him, "It is enough, come up higher." Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee a ruler over many things," etc. To the friends and loved ones of brother Miles I would say, "Weep not as those who have no hope. He is not dead, but gone before." The father and mother will meet their son; the brothers and sisters their brother; the wife her husband, and the child (Nutie) his papa, in that sweet by and by, where happy associations are "never broken up, and where Sabbaths never end."

WHEREAS, It has pleased God to take from us Rev. H. N. Miles, a valued member of our society and a faithful friend, therefore be it

Resolved, That we herein recognize and acknowledge the hand of our benevolent Father, and in humility bow to this mysterious dispensation of his inscrutable providence.

2. That we, as members of the Heurethelian Society, hereby tender to the bereaved family and friends of our deceased brother our warmest sympathy and tenderest condolence in this great affliction of both them and us.

J. H. KALLMEYER,
A. B. BUCHANAN,
S. A. SADLER,
A. ALLISON.
         Committee.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, June 21, 1883, page 2]


REV. H. N. MILES.


PROF. R. V. FOSTER.


BROTHER MILES was one of our senior theological students. He died only a week or two before graduation day, and only a few days before his death he was as well apparently, as any member of his class. There were twelve of them--enthusiastic young apostles--about to go forth on their Master's ministry. Now there are only eleven. One Friday morning brother Miles was in the class-room as bright and fresh in his questions and answers as he ever was. The next Friday he was in the spirit land. He had received the first and highest call. He was buried on Saturday in the Lebanon Cemetery in the Church lot. The funeral was a very impressive one. How we all regretted to lose him--not on his account, but the Church's. He would have made a very useful man, but we trust that his death was providential. If it was, it is all right. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father's notice.

I write this notice at the request of brother Miles' class-mates and the theological faculty. I will be brief. Many words could serve us in this hour of our sadness no better than a few. If he whose death we mourn would have been very useful on earth, perhaps he is already far more useful in heaven. We know he is happier.

He was a member of the Charlotte Presbytery. We commend to his brethren, and especially to his young wife and parents, the consolations of the gospel. May God raise up other young ministers to take the places of the many who are passing away.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, June 28, 1883, page 1]


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