Description: Memorial Window

Date: September 17 1909

Newspaper published in: Barnesville

'The Barnesville News-Gazette', Thursday, September 17, 1909

MEMORIAL WINDOW FOR REV. JOHN MILNER

In view of the fact that several memorial windows are to be placed in the Baptist church, as it is to be remodeled, an effort is being made to secure funds for a window in honor of Rev. John Milner, the founder of the church, and of the Milner family. As there are a great many relatives and friends throughout the country, who are interested in the enterprise, a short sketch of this honored man is printed below. The following sketch is taken from 'A History of Georgia Baptists.'
Rev. John Milner was born October 17, 1775 in Oglethorpe county, Georgia. School advantages in the state at that time, were, of course, very partial, especially as regards the higher branches of learning; but he was endowed with strong native intellect, and with a spirit of dilignt application which made the besT use of the facilities, and acquired quite a respectable English education. In this twenty-first year (Dec 1796) he was married to Miss Eunice Callaway, of Wilkes county, Georgia -- a lady who proved a most effective helper in the Christain training of the eleven children given to them as a heritage of the Lord. He was reared from his earliest years under salutary religious influences; and his wife, shortly after their marriage, became a devout follower of Christ. The effect of these things was seen in his upright life, and conspicuously, in the fact that for a number of years he maintained an altar of family prayers--a duty which many church members find it in their heart to neglect. But he had not yet experienced a saving work of grace--and it was not until 1812 that spiritual awakening came upon him, and the cords that bound him to the world were snapped assunder. In that year he was baptized by Rev. Jesse Mercer into the fellowship of Sardis church, Wilkes county. He served his brethern first as clerk and afterwards as deacon; but there were longing which these positions could not satisfy and fill, and he received license as an exhorter. In these employments time wore away until he reached his fiftieth year, and in 1825, about the date of his removal to Jones county, he was ordained to the ministry by Revs. Malachi Reeves, Benjamin Milner and Iverson L. brooks. His library consisted of the Bible and Dr. Gill's commentary, and with prayer for divine illumination, he devoted himself to the study of these. His supplications were heard on high, and he became a minister in no ordinary degree beloved and useful. His vigor of mind, united to a heart flowing with love to God and man, and in a manner in the pulpit at once easy and pleasant, caused those who heard him once to desire to hear him often; and many who waited on his ministry heard not him only, but God speaking through him. Through sunshine and storm; over solitary rough roads, and many times at late hours of the night, he made his way to his appointments, cheered by the high consciousness that he labored for eternity and that his labor was not in vain in the lord. His first ministerial work was in Jones county, Georgia, and he followed the customs of the times in preaching once a month to 4 different churches. This was not to be his last field, however, nor his most fruitful. He had puchased a tract of land in Pike county, including the present site of Barnesville, and settled his oldest son, Willis, there. In occasional visits to this son he found a few scattered believers, whom he constituted into a church still extant in that town, and now flourshing and efficient, to which he gave the name of his old home church, Sardis. Chosen as its pastor, he removed in 1827, to its vicinity, and served it, as the center of a widening field and a growing influence, until the time of his death, January 31, 1841. A good preacher an excellent disciplinarian, and a faithful pastor who never neglected the widow and the orphan, but ministered to their wants, his life was indeed a pure one. His great aim in the world was, to do his Master's will; and in his last days, which were also his best, his way, down its very close, shone 'as the path of the just' always 'shines, more and more unto the perfect day.' On the Sabbath before his death he preached at Sardis church from Acts XIII: 88, 89 and suffered a slight attack from an affection of the heart, which returned the next evening, and baffling medical skill, terminated his earthly life the ensuing Wednesday. Among his last words were. I shall die, but I am not afraid of death.' 'O my children I have taught you the way, I have kept the faith.'