In Fergus, Ontario, you can...
Illustration
In Fergus, Ontario, you can visit the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church where you'll find a memorial stone that reads: "In memory of George Clephane, 1832-1852." It's over the grave of a young man who migrated from Scotland to Canada, where sadly, he fell into the habit of drinking and carousing. He was found unconscious along the road one day and taken to a physician's office where he died.
Friends sent a letter to the Clephane home in Melrose, Scotland, telling the family about their loved one's death. His sister, Elizabeth, went to her room, closed the door, sat at her desk, and wrote a poem. Years passed. Elizabeth died.
In 1887, the evangelist Moody was on his way to Edinburgh to open a preaching crusade. His song-leader, Sankey, picked up a newspaper in a train station along the way. He found Elizabeth Clephane's poem on one of the pages, tore it out, and put it in his pocket.
That night, Moody preached on the Good Shepherd. When he finished, he turned to Sankey to sing. Sankey stood and sang "The Ninety and Nine," the words that Elizabeth Clephane had written when she learned of her brother's death. Thus began a great revival in Scotland, inspired by a sister's unquenchable faith in her great Redeemer's love.
Friends sent a letter to the Clephane home in Melrose, Scotland, telling the family about their loved one's death. His sister, Elizabeth, went to her room, closed the door, sat at her desk, and wrote a poem. Years passed. Elizabeth died.
In 1887, the evangelist Moody was on his way to Edinburgh to open a preaching crusade. His song-leader, Sankey, picked up a newspaper in a train station along the way. He found Elizabeth Clephane's poem on one of the pages, tore it out, and put it in his pocket.
That night, Moody preached on the Good Shepherd. When he finished, he turned to Sankey to sing. Sankey stood and sang "The Ninety and Nine," the words that Elizabeth Clephane had written when she learned of her brother's death. Thus began a great revival in Scotland, inspired by a sister's unquenchable faith in her great Redeemer's love.
