The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-16
"a SAILORS REQUEST.
A Humble Seaman WHO Perishei In the
Maine Wreck Left n Priceless Legacy.


Maine Wreck Left n Priceless Legacy.
New York Times: Carlton Jencks was
an ordinary seaman on boord the bat
t!eship Maine when she, went down In
the waters OF Havana harbor. His
body was recovered and was buried
with those OF his shipmates who per-
ished with him. or the hapless go mer
whose lives were ended so traslcally on
that fatal night We know very little.
Naturally, what little wo do know re-
bounds TO the honor OF the dead, But,
according TO the testimony of the chap
lain of the ship, Carlton Jencks has
unwittineiy left bequest to his fellows
which should not be overlooked. The
chaplain. who is Roman Catholic
priest, says that Carlton Jencks was
member OF the association known as the
Society of Christian Endeavor. That
organization. we understand, is made
up OF members of churches and con5re-
cations 'worshippinS and believing in
the manner popularity known as Calvin
istic. Perhaps, so fax as creeds represent
men. two Christians could not be fur
Their apart than Carlton Jencks. the
sailor man. and Mr.. Chadwick, the Ro-
man Catholic chaplain OF his ship. Yet
the Boston organization, OF which
Ienclis was a member, has received
from the chaplain n tender and loving
letter concerning the sailor. and In this
cpistle Mr.. Chadwick takes occasion TO
saw OF Jencks: "He was one OF our best
men. and, although not OF my beliefwa
one of my greatest comforts" 1t ap-
pears that the sailor was Jealous and
active Christian, and that he manfuIly
seconded the chaplain'S efforts to pro-
mote thGireligious Welfare OF the crew.
lie wasr"a jealous promoter" of the
evening services on the ship. and It was
not long attcr one of these vespers that
the houc of death struck for the DOOM
ed crew. among whom the sailor Chris
t!an EndedVorer was numbered
".And IN the wreck OF noble lives
Something immortal stu survives"
says Lonafellow, and the part OF
Jencks' lie that survives him would
never have been widely known II It's
thread had not been cut short as 1t was
by the tragedy OF the Maine. It is the
duty of every Christian man to live as n
faithful exponent of the religion which
he Processes. Preacher and laynan, be-
lever and unhelievcr, alike recognize
this simple truth. This was apparently
all that Sailor Iencks did. and doubtless
he would have been very muchraston-
ished ifhe could have been told this was
IN him such virtue that after his death
no oh nj nj IN oh otI hIr
one worthy of all imitation. A Protest
ant sailor, thrown into the society OF
rough men. whose general bearing and
conversation were not specially condu-
Give to the growth OF the Christian
Eraces. might have let the Roman
Catholic chaplain so his ways with
out having his own conscience prlclsed
for Sinking duty. Sailor Jencks does
not appear to have been that kind of
Christian. He pitched In" and helped
get his messmates together when the
chaplain was on hand to give them re-
ligious instruction. And the men-they
might have chaffed and jecred him, Ibut
tho chaplain says: Our men admired
him for his attention to religious du-
ties" The power of consistent Chris
tian example does count for something.
after NIL. The testimony of the good
chaplain. allen though he is to the faith
of the Christian Endeavorer, is eloquent
with this truth.
The lesson Of this sailors humble and
obscure career. so suddenly illuminated
bT the flames OF n tragedy, Is sufficient
ly obvious. Whatsoever thy hand find
eth 10 do. do It with thy might" As
this was the harmony OF Jencks' life It
Is fortunate that there has survived one
who knew him and who testlfes of him
for the benefit of tlmorous and doubt
Ing souls who are tolerably well assur-
cd of their duty. but are not exactly
ready to do It. TO wavering humanity
everywhere the lesson Of such life is
bequest Of immeasurablo value.