Dear Harpeth Hills Family,

Major Daniel Webster Whittle was from Illinois and served in the Union army during the Civil War. He was wounded at Vicksburg and then later was with Sherman’s army as they marched across Georgia. After the war he settled in Chicago, where he came to know Dwight Moody who influenced him to go into evangelistic work. He became a hymn writer of some renown. We particularly remember two of his songs: “Showers of Blessing” and “I Know Whom I Have Believed,” from 2 Timothy 1:12.

The third stanza of that second song says it well. “I know not what of good or ill may be reserved for me, of weary ways or golden days, before His face I see. But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day.”

Michael Faraday (1791-1867), the famous English scientist, was highly acclaimed by his peers. But we also remember him for his childlike gentle spirit, his absolute devotion to the Lord, his reverence for the written word, and his love for his small Sandemanian Church. “In him the simplicities were always stronger than the sublimities; the child outlived the sage.” As he lay dying, they tried to interview the professor, but it was the little child in him that answered them.

“What are your speculations?” they inquired. “Speculations?” he asked, in wondering surprise. “Speculations! I have none! I am resting on certainties.”

I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day! And, reveling like a little child in those cloudless simplicities, his great soul passed away.*

So, may we all be of such unwavering trust.

Your Shepherds

*Excerpt from “A Handful of Stars” by Frank Boreham, 1922