Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-04-01
Story Of the "Ninety and Nine. I"

what surprising power may be exerted
in the world by even so trihing a thing
as a hymn tune. The other day, just
before his departure for California
Mr.. Sankey talked for an hour or more
about the Ninety and Nine, and
could have gone on, no doubt, for
hours longer without exbausting the
memories and anecdotes connected
with this most remarkable revival song
The Ninety and Nine is already Of
man age. for it came into the world
in the fall of 1873. few months after
Mr.. Moody ard Mr.. Sankey began
their first revival alcampaigni in England.
For three months the evangelists had
been laboring in Scotland, and were
Just leaving Glasgow for Edinburgh
when a triaing incident occurred which
resulted in the birth of this famous
hymn.
As the evangelsts were waiting for
their trainat the Glasgow station, Mr..
Sankey purchased a copy of the Chris
tiqn Age and Light, penny religious
newspaper which he had never heard
of. but thought he would glance over
on the Journey. This newspaper he
laid carelessly on the seat Of the rail-
way carriage, paying no further heed
to it till they were some distance on
the way, when want of occupation
made him take it up and begin turning
its pages. Mr.. Moody meantime was
busy in his corner of the carriage with
his correspondence
As Mr.. Sankey read he came upon
some little verses tucked away at the
bottom of a column, and published
anonymously. 1t is doubtful if he
would have noticed the verses at all
had not the first two lines caught his
eye, but they had strength in them,
and so he read on
There were ninety aud nine that safely
lay
In the shelter Of the fold.
So it began, and Mr.. Sankey fol-
lowed down the lines, while the ex-
press for Edinburgh rushed on at sixty
miles an hour
"Hurrahr cried Mr.. Sankey, bring
ing his hand down on his knee in
characteristic enthusiasm, I've found
the hymn I've been looking for for
years.
yes ." said Mr.. Moody, what is
it,"
Its about a sheep
A sheep ?"
Yes, sheep that was lost on the
mountains and carried home by the
shepherd" "
HIN, b'm," said Mr.. Moody, not
paving much attention; read it.
Mr. Sankey did read it, and he put
feeling into his words, for the beauty
Of the verses impressed him. but when
he looked up he saw that Mr. Moody
had heard nothing Of the reading,
being lost in his letters.
"All right said Mr. sankey to him,
self, "he'll hear that hymn later on,
and cutting out the verses from the
paper he put them away carefully for
future use.
4 few days after this the eyangelists
held a revival meeting in Edinburgh
at the Free Assembly Hall Mr..
Moody spoke most eloquently on the
Good Shepherd, and then followed an
address by DR.. Horatius Bonar, the
author Of Il Heard the Voice Of Jesus
Say Come Unto Ne and Rest. As
Dr.. Bonar finished there came over
the meeting that stiffness which indi-
Gates deep spiritual feeling. Bending
down from his pulpit toward Mr.. San
key, who sat at his right by the little
melodeon, Mr.. Moody said
"Mr. Sankey, have you anything to
sing on this subject as a solo ?"
Mr.. Sankey hesitated He could
think of nothing directly on the sub
ject except the Twenty-third Psalm,
which had already been sung three
times that day by the congregation.
They must have something else Like
fash it came to him, Sing the song
YOU found on the train. But his Sec
ond thought was, How can l sing a
hymn without tune Meanwhile
the audience was waiting in silence.
"Sing the hymn you found on the
train, came the thought again, this
time imperatiyely. Mr.. SaDkey opened
his little scrapbook Of solos, and found
the newspaper slip, laid it before him
on the rack Of the melodeon, and then
struck a full chord and began to sing.
What notes he sang he did not know,
nor what chords he played be took
no heed of harmony nor Of the laws OF
musical progression. Somehow be got