New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-18
PRArER And OTHER TESTS.

The usual controversy has arisen over what
j., known as the prayer test. Mr. Moody and
other dcvout men, who looked death in the
face from the decks Of the disabled and sink
ing Spree. have asserted that their lives were
spared because their prayers were heard and
answered. Cynical comments upon what l.
described rs mawkish religious sentiment and
childish crcdulity are at once heard. Critical
Observers. who were not on the ship and con
soouontlv arc not embarrassed in their Opn-
ions by "A shuddcring remembrance Of dangers
escaped, contcmptuously reply that the ship
and her passengers would have been saved II
n { single PRAYER had been offered from the
deck. "Divino Providence had nothing 10 do
with it," they assert for it was the captain :
scamanship, with the help of the sound com
partment that carried the passengers and crew
bacl, into port a man is immodcSt," they
add, land cxaggeratcS his own importance, il
he prcsumcs to think that Almighty Power will
look after him when n ship is sinking"
For such 4 controversy rs this we have no
liking. for the simple reason that there is no
practical method of settling it. Years ago the
religious world was startled by challenge from
an English RationaS, to n direct prayer test,
but that was under conditions which could
readily be reproduced. In the present instance
no test is possible. No arrangements can be
made with the transatlantic lines by which the
machinery Of two ocean steamers shall break
down simultaneously under similar conditions
Of sea and weather, with corresponding damage
TO compartments. Nor would it bc feasible
even if steamship managers and marine under
=,
this religious question. TO recruit n non praying
band of passengers for one of the ships, so that
a scientific test could be made of the compare
tive efficacy of Divine Providence and good
scamanshp backed by compartment c0nStrc-
ton Without n trial Of this nature the con
roverSy remains in the air and cannot be
brought down to the level Of solid earth. The
evangelist and his associates will continue t.
believe that their prayers saved the ship and
the sceptics will 90 on hooking.
But such a catastrophe rs bcfcll the Spree
in mid ocean does offer practical test Of char
actcr and Of tho influence Of religious life
Several hundreds of men and women suddenly
found themselves in position of extreme dan
cer great rent was torn in the hull of the
shin two Of the compartments rapidly filled
with water the lifeboatS were ordered out and
| the RATS were cut loose; and for forty eight
hours every one on the deck seemed to be
| confronted with death The strain of such al
| experience was so tremendous that one pasSen
| ger committed suicide and several moro be
came temporarily insane but by the concur
rent testimony Of all eyewitness the womer
displayed greater fortitudc than the men. They
were calmer, drawer and more hopeful on tn,
| deck Of that sinking ship than the men anC
so they almost always are in the presence o
DEATH How can this superior fortitude be eX
planned if net by religious faith? All tn,
| world knows that women are naturally NOR,
religious than men. No comparative test il
required TO prove that this is true Womer
find it as easy TO ask for deliyerapco from