We Rest on Thee

The story of Edith Cherry and five martyred missionaries.

Edith Cherry

This afternoon, as I prepared a message from Isaiah 43 that I’ll deliver tomorrow at Liberty Southern Church, my mother texted and asked me about Edith Cherry.

Edith Gilling Cherry (b. 1872- d.1897) was a member of the Cherry family from whom my mother descends. Her story is quite remarkable.

Edith was stricken with polio in her infancy. She walked with crutches until her death at age 25. As a teenager, Edith wrote some beautiful poetry and songs.

Her writings would eventually fill two volumes of songs. The first, The Master’s Touch, included a preface by F.B. Meyer. The second, The Master’s Treasures, included a preface by Bishop H.C.G. Moule.

One of Edith Cherry's favorite poems for me is Morning. She wrote it one day, on Sunday afternoon, January 31, 1892, immediately after she heard a telegram read at the worship service in Plymouth that the venerable Charles Haddon Spurgeon had died in Menton, France, while on vacation.

Edith never married because of her physical co…