
C. Austin Miles
Born: January 7, 1868, Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Died: March 10, 1946, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Buried: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Sewell, New Jersey.
Pseudonym: A. A. Payn.
At twelve years old his musical career started when he played for a funeral in a Methodist Church. Not only did he author and compose the music for hymns, he was a publisher and editor of hymnals.
He is the composer and author of “In The Garden“, written in 1912. This song is right behind “The Old Rugged Cross”, as one of the most popular gospel hymns. In 1912 the music publisher Dr. Adam Geible wanted author and composer C. Austin Miles to write something that was “sympathetic in tone, breathing tenderness in every line; one that would bring tenderness in every line; one that would bring hope to the hopeless, rest for the weary, and downy pillows to dying beds.”
A list of his works (from Cyberhymnal):
Lyrics
1. All Alone
2. Answering Thy Call (© 1934)
3. City of Refuge, The (© 1943)
4. Cloud and the Fire, The
5. Decision
6. Dwelling in Beulah Land
7. Go and Tell
8. He Is Mine
9. He’s Able and Willing
10. I Have a Friend (© 1948)
11. I Love to Think of Jesus
12. If Jesus Goes with Me
13. In Thee Do I Live (© 1938)
14. I’m Going There
15. In the Garden
16. Look for Me!
17. Lord, Is It I? (© 1938)
18. Love, Mercy and Grace (© 1938)
19. New Name in Glory, A
20. There I Would Be (© 1938)
21. Wide, Wide as the Ocean
22. Win Them One by One
Music
1. Jesus Set the Music Ringing
2. Somebody’s Praying for You (© 1935)
3. Still Sweeter Every Day
4. To Victory
In The Garden was given to me on a record as a child in the late 1940’s and remains my very favorite song. It has been an inspiration to me especially since my husband died in my arms in 2005. I have mennonite friends who send the youth group to my home to fill my heart and home with the beautiful harmony of In The Garden. Jesus is our hope and He is awaiting our arrival when He call us home. until then, I will tell of His blessings and the love He has for each of us. May God Bless C. Austin Miles for leaving us such spiritual music. My eyes fill with tears each time I hear this song.
In God’s Love,
Mrs. Betty Alcorn
Salem, MO
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Thank you for sharing those fond memories. Lord bless you.
In Him,
Lee
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