New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-05
LESSONS OF THE DISASTER.

SERMON BY TIE REV. Dr. HATFIELD OK THE RE-
LArloN OF PROVIDENCE To GREAT CALAMITIEs.
The services ut the Washington Square
Methodist Episcopal Church. Yesterday morning. were
greatly disturbed by the constant fusilade OF 0edoe
and Gre-crackers which maintained outside the
church by Arabs whose patriotism exceeded their
piety The Rev. DE- W. F. Hatfield the pastor preached
on the Seawanhaka disaster, taking az his text Psalm
lvii. l "In the shadow OF Thy wings will make my
refuge, until these calamities be overpast.'
We are living he said at a time when calamites the
most fearful and beartrendng becoming more and
more frequent when all the elements arrayed in
hostility to man FIRE and wafer steam and electricity
gases ard orpadoc carrying death AID destruction
throughout the land and there come 70 us Oh all TIE
winds Of the walls OF the bereaved and the
Of the sufcrng occasioned by these visible and nyis
bic agencies.
Them to the wishes the WITNESSES OF peope. II We
travel faster than certain rate OF spced on land or
water; If vessels tructeG OF such materials
that breath OF Lame lancs Them In moment; II no
suitable provisions made against calamite, then
need not be surprised TO learn Of teir occurrence.
they stand out before so plainly that he who runs
may read II natural law /, broken by man or beast lg-
npIaut or cuitured-no matter by wGOm-therr IL n
penalty. and somebody or something must suffer; aud
ana all the deaths that occasoned by cnlnmiiies.
We may not be able 10 explain The causes that led to
But large proportion OF AL the disasters that have
occurred may DC attributed either to human care
lessuess. Techessness design or cupidity.
Alter speaking at length upon the protection and gov
erument Of God as opposed TO any thing as luck
or chance the preacher referred directly the great
steamboat disas OF last week Will not attempt, he
said describe that Suffice it TO say that in-
dOmabe fOrtitude, narrowing ea desperate struggle,
faith and despair, beauty and talent childhood and age,
peace and wrihing agony swift death, slow ex
haustioD. marvellous escapes, her0ism unsurpassed.
sefsacriee and seitshness eXreme-a these and more
how much more none can tei-in less Than one brief
hour made up the history OF day never 10 We forgotten
by those who board the Inflated seawanlaka.
| am impressed, first, with the fact OF mans ut
ter help essness in Of imminent danger There
strong men on board that stcamcr-mcn OF
grea physical power Yet they rembed with fear, and
persisted before help could reach tncD. Tue bray
swimmers were taken out OF the wafer as weak as
Infants. lam impressed, second, with the fact that
man ignorant Of future events. With all his boosted
wisdom he knows not what Will occur the next hour III
the history Of his life Of the wOld Had any OF
those passengers been able to reveal the secrets OF the
future, had sailed mat Summer afternoon the
lost seawanhaka learn third. that III time Of ex-
IRENE peril what is most needed Is camness and pres
of mind. More persons perish and the disaster Is
peril lose Their c0mposnre, ana whth ths is hrown
away there is httle hope for The endangered
ectcd his thoughts may prove 10 be the devcrer Of
hundreds. He who shouts the alarm Of fire may be the
great art of being composed ut all times and never
mach in time of danger. Your life and the lives of
when opportunity to escape from danger
is presented, and the danger seems not MI
miDent, IL Is sometimes neglected to ones peril.
in, Mont M WINS island somc ayaiied themseyes Of
them and escaped unharmed. Others waited for what
they deemed better chance, at Randnlfs Island, and
III waiting were either lost or severely injured
This event is shrOuded In mystery. None tell the
cause OF H. Life TOO Is mystery. and so Is rs end,
real We mus wait the uufOdings of the hereafter.
Then the thngs that perplex us here will ali DE made
plain One other IN ng learntbat all the heroes ala
belong 10 past age There were heroes among the
physicians and nurses there was great courage mani
tested by many OF the passengers, women as wei as
men, and by The officers and crew OF the boat But
greatest of all and most worthy OF mention. was Cap
tam CHARLES smith. There hc stood ia the plohouse,
enveiOped smoke and flame, his bserei hands the
wheel, giving orders 10 his men calling 10 tho pAssen-
gers TO be calm. But when he reached the marsh hle
hands lost strength his work was done, and
amid the tears spectators ana the gratitude OF sur
yiYors they bore MN away to the hospital. HIS was
one of the heroic deeds Of our age, aid VIII 20
down in history along with that of brave John May
lard.
Tho preacher closed with earnest exhcrtat.On to
his hearers 1--we to be ready for whatever might
happen and say with The Psalmst - In tie shadOw
Of lay wings Will make my refuge, until these caiam
ties be overpas:."