Middletown transcript., 1895-09-14
THE HOME COMING.


1 elers: those who travel and see nothing
those who travel and see but are able to tel
/, nothing; those who travel and see and have
the gift of description, the language to por
} tray what they have seen and heard. To
the latter class belongs the Rev. F. Fl
Moore, pastor of Forest Presbyterian
Church of this town. Mr.. Moore returned
last week from two months trip abroad
and filled his pulpit for the first time since
his departure on Sabbath. On Sunday
evening he took for his text the latter part
of the 30th verse of 107 Psalm, $50 he bring
eth them to their desired haven" He refer
red to the pleasure OF. home coming, one of
the chief delights of trip abroad" of the
cordial reception he had met in every di-
rection, but the feature of his discourse
was description of the accident in the
English Channel on August Goth on his
passage from the shores of France to En-
gland. The "Seaford," one of the finest
steamers he had ever seen. left port that
morning with three hundred souls on
board, expecting to make the desired
haven" in the shortest time OH record, less
than three hours for the SO miles. But
tered one of those fogs of which all have
read but few have experienced and all hope
of making record was given up; soon the
only thought was for safety and the speed
was slackened more and more, and the
fog horn was constantly warning off any
other vessels. Soon an answering warning
| was heard coming out of the dense fog that
| hung over the surface of the water Will Q
the blue sky was seen so bright overhead.
The vessels approached each other eau
| tiously but the calculation of distances by
sound is impossible, and soon there was a
crash, culver of the hugh frame of the
majestic steamer, and every soul ON board
knew not but that watery grave awaited
the alarmed passengers of both vessels
Mr.. Moore's description was very graphic
and he held the close attention of every
one of his large audience as he depicted SO
earnestly the cool and manly courage of
the officers, the bravery of the crew, the
self control of the passengers in so trying a.
situation. In thirty minutes from the
time of collision, and in ten minutes from
the transfer of the passengers from the dis
abled steamer to the other vessel, only less |
disabled, the majestic queen of the waters |
disappeared beneath the waves. There |
were many trying scenes as beheld and so |
minutely and Interestingly related by Mr.. |
Moore but every one of the passengers and |
crew escaped. At the request of his fel- |
lowtravelers, Mr.. Moore as they entered |
the English port expressed to the officers |
and crews of the two vessels the heartfelt |
appreciation of the passengers for their
which it was performed in the face of
death. Fortunately Mr.. Moore saved all
his baggage as he "travelslight.'
In closing Mr.. Moore refe rred feelingly
to the consolation of the Christian religion
in the hour of his peril, and which can be
experienced so fully only under similar
circumstances or when the believer comes
down to the great divide between time and
eternity.
On Monday evening the members of Mr..
Moore's congregation and his friends as
sembled at the nance to give him the
cordial welcome which they all feel. 1t
was surprise to the reverend gentleman
and he thoroughly enjoyed the "home
coming" and apparently never tires of
relating some of the many experiences of
his trip and what he saw and heard abroad.
The pastors of the other churches in town
Rev. W. J. Wilkie rector of the Episcopal
Church and Rev. l. L. Wood, pastor
the Methodist Episcopal Church were
among those who extended their
to their fellow laborer in
the vineyard. Refreshments were served
and the reception was complete success.
At the regular weekly prayer meeting on
Wednesday evening. Mr. Moore gave brief
outline of his journey through Russia. He
spoke of the necessity of a passport, the
scrutiny under which every traveller passes. /
and the wonderful police system of this S
vast empire. With population of I13
millions there is standing army of 1 123.- I
900 soldiers and an annual budget of $780, 9
600, 900. He had to give thirty six hours no.
tice of his intention to leave the country,
and no hotel would dare to entertain him ,
for an hour without first seeing his pass +.
port. This is the government of royalty. :
Mr.. Moore noted the religious superstition
of the people and the ignorance of the +.
masses.
But as an American citizen and as a
minister Of the gospel which he was ad- d
vised "to use for all it is WORTH" he was /
most cordially received everywhere and /
most Hospitality entertained. He spoke
Of The American Minister, Hon. G.
R. Breckenridge and the consuls 8
especially of the thoughtful attentions {
resident at the points he visi- I
ted. He was permitted to enter many n
places not open to the general public and d
spent three hours in the royal winter pal f
ace where the splendor surpasses all
description, and at the monastery at Kief
The precious stones being of untold value.
The lecture was most interesting and the e
lecture room was crowded. One incident S
related by him is of significance so far as p
The policy Of the government is concerned. t
A corporation having hundred engines
to be built was first required to submit o
bids to the manufacturers before foreign 6
could beinvited. But sixteen of
The engines could be built in the country, t
but the policy of protection to home indus Fl
tries is notable. and worthy the example Z
IF an administration this side the Atlantic. s.
1t will be remembered that the TRAN a
SCRIPT announced before Mr.. Moore's de- c
parture abroad that he had received b
through Ex-Gov. Cochran and other friends I
! letter of introduction from Ambassador ii
Bayard. This letter was of great use to n
Mr.. Moore and it was great pleasure to
him to bring from Mr.. Bayard two photo
graphs for two of his Middletown friends, G
md the recipients are undoubtedly as q
highly appreciative of the gifts. The en- T
iorsement on one ofthe photographs reads: a.
For my old friend. Hon. J. P. Cochran h
With the steadfast regards of o.
TN n n .