C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946
“He looked a little like a southern colonel with his white mustache and a small flower in his lapel. His extraordinary sense of humor and dry wit, could be very caustic if he thought the occasion demanded it – a truly brilliant man.” This is a description of C. Austin Miles, the man who wrote the song, “In the Garden.” Its popularity is enormous and prolonged. It is even popular abroad, as well as in the United States. More than a million recordings and printed copies of it have been sold. It is virtually impossible to pick up a standard hymnal and find it omitted. However…. It is not in our hymnal.
Miles attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1892, he abandoned his career as a pharmacist and wrote his first Gospel song, which was published by the Hall-Mack Company. He later became editor and manager of the music publishing company and served them for 37 years.
He said of himself, “It is as a writer of gospel songs I am proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my master, whom I serve willingly although not as efficiently as is my desire.”
Miles’ hobby was photography, and he had managed to build his own darkroom for developing film. He discovered one day that he could read his Bible in the special “red lighting” of the darkroom. He often read passages of scriptures as he waited for the developing process to finish. Since he was a musician and songwriter, he found himself reading for the express purpose of getting ideas for Christian songs.
One day in March 1912, Miles, while developing film and waiting for the process to complete, picked up his Bible. It had fallen open to John, Chapter 20. He found in that chapter the story of Mary’s coming to the garden to visit the tomb of Jesus. Mr. Miles wrote of his remarkable experience – almost like a trance – that produced this hymn:
“I seemed to be standing at the entrance to a garden, looking down a gently winding path shaded by olive branches. A woman in white walked slowly into the shadows. I knew it was Mary. As she came to the tomb, she bent over to look in, and leaning her head upon her arm. She wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing beside her; so did I. I knew it was Him… I awakened from my vision at that moment, profoundly moved, inspiration vibrant within me. I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music.”
Since that memorable time, “In The Garden” has become one of the most beloved of all gospel songs, at once tender and confident, sublimely full of eternal promise.
Some of the artists that recorded this song were: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Anne Murray, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, and many others.
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