Memorial - Beautiful Star

 

 Beautiful Star, KY 1298 

 

This memorial in King’s Lynn cemetery is a crafted stone replica of the fishing boat in which eight St Monans fishermen perished in a storm on the way home from the East Anglia fishing in November 1875. Five East Fife boats were wrecked and 37 men were lost at that time. 

There are poignant inscriptions on the memorial, but the passing of time has made them difficult to read. The names of the men who were drowned can be made out - the oldest was James Patterson, the skipper, age 49, and the youngest was Robert, his son, who had just turned 18. 

Then these words are written beneath - 

When the shore is won at last, 

Who will count the billows past? 

While we linger on the shore of life, 

A wave wafts us to eternity. 

Life, how short! 

Eternity, how long? 

Isn’t it true that life on earth is short and unpredictable, whereas the eternity which follows is long and sure to come? 

God in His Word, the Bible, tells us how to be ready for eternity when our time comes to die, be it sooner or later. He informs us and He warns us because He loves each of us so very much. 

According to the words of Jesus Christ, there are only two destinations for our souls. He spoke of heaven as a place prepared for all those who believe in Him, a place to be with Him for ever, free from sin and all its misery.1 He spoke of hell as a place prepared for those who reject His offer of salvation, a place of eternal loss and torment.2 

To save us from the punishment that our sins deserve, God gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us on the cross3. The only way to be sure of heaven is to put all your trust in Him. He will forgive all your sins, save you from hell, and give you eternal life – a free gift of His amazing grace.4 

If you haven’t thought much about eternity, or haven’t prepared for it, would it not be wise to do so now, and not leave it too late? 

Remember the words on the memorial? 

While we linger on the shore of life, 

A wave wafts us to eternity. 

You can be sure of heaven by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, accepting Him as your own Saviour. That’s what I and millions of others have done. 

Footnote 

On the 150th anniversary of this tragedy, a new memorial to those who lost their lives is to be erected in St Monans in November 2025. 

Bible verses to read: 

1 John 14 v1-6 

2 Matthew 25 v 41, 46 

3 John 3 v16 

4 Romans 6 v23 

Photograph supplied by the author

Written by Bert Cargill of St Monans, Scotland