Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-05-19
C-aln>aQe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talr1aee. ID. D.

gospel for the great multitude who
cross the ocean at this season or who
journey on any waters, whether for
pleasure or business, is today the
theme of the preacher The text is
Acts XVII. Sc. "Then they We're all of
good cheer"
Have you over followed the seaY In
these days of multiplied facilities for
ocean travel. when mammoth liners
equipped like floating palaces, carry
tens ana hundreds of thousands OF
passengers to aud fro across the seas,
with n sense of security added to the
maximum of comfort. we little think
of the discomforts attendant upon the
ocean voyages OF half 4 century ago.
I,ut. though the conditions of sea travel
have SO vastly improved in recent
years that journey across the Atlan-
tic o. VI the Mcditerra mean is no
longer ~. undertaking to be dreaded,
there st. many traditions of the
~ca which time has not materially
changed If yOu have Travelled much
upon the ocean yOu mus. know that
there are supcrstitious sailors who dis
like Ia cArr5 minister's or. rs they call
tDoin. "Sky pilots" in their ships. Ever
~lncr the rpcrCNnt Jonah was the cause
Of Il Mediterranean cyclone, because
he would persist i'll going to TarshtsN
when COD told him t0 40 to Ninevrh,
there have hocn sailors who believe tn"
presence Of minister upon their SHIP
means head winds and storms and dis
AS;vrs and mlSfortuncS. This prejudice
AGAINST carrying minister, like the
prejudice against carrying corpse or
the starting of voyage ON Friday,
has been gradual getting less and
less rs sailors We become better
educated. only a few months ago a
great liner set out from our shores for
thc Holy Land carrying among her
passengers several hundred ministers
Of the gospel. But in olden times the
sailors would look with very diSIu,t-
ful eyes upon any man in clerical Garb
who might cross their gangplank. The
muueringS In the fOrccaStlc were loud
and deep if two or more missionaries
happened - lie enrolled nj the Same
time on The ships passenger list.
Rev. Dr. James McGrcGor .ilcXan-
der. the h0no.ch missionary OF India
told ne that when he and his wife and
five other missionaries in lSuJ st sail
for India the sailors were in almost
open mutuy at the idea of carrying
such Il dangerous cargo Of human
freight, but when they arrived in Cal
cutta. after long four months voy-
age of unprecedented clear weather,
those sailors wcrc so surprised that in
stead Of considering their ministerial
passengers ".I0nahs' they looked upon
them H. fair weather angels. SO
completely had their opinion changed
that they toll their captain, vino knew
of their former forcJohinS that they
wished the missionaries We're going
back with them on their return voyage,
Paul In the storm.
Superstition. however, IS not easily
eradicatol This prejrliyo against
ministerial Passengers las survived
for centuries Yet in the scene of my
text We have an instance Of lis being
overcome Here is I'aul, a landsmau,
Il prisoner and missionary, So win
ming the confidence or the crew that
they heed his warnings and follow his
suggestions. It was, too, in n crisis
when nautical skill WGS needed that
thoy listened to him. There was u
9turiu raging Of Unusual Violence The
dreaded hurricane they called cUrocly-
don was iash!ue the Mediterranean in
20 fury. There was darkness even NJ
Midday; all reckoning los. all hope
given up. Then tie 275 persons ON
hoard turned IA tli, llttle Jewish mis-
sionary Tor guidance and encoura ge-
mcut. They had begun the voyage
against his aGyicc They might he
preildicei against him ms a preacher
and prisoner, but they listened Ia
liza when he addressed thcm. bidding
tIrm he Of good cheer. And hen hC
had thus spoken he took bread and
gave thanns to God in presence of
them all. ana when hc had broken il
lic began ia eat Then were they al
Of good cheer, and they also took soms
meat
Why were the crew ana the pas
sOnGcrS OF this AleXandTiAu corn shil
happy of heart; First, because fate
always bcgctS faith and cOAlldcnc,
confidence. and good cheer good cheer
The belief which Paul felt that There
should be no loss Of any mans life, hu
II the ship was. by his personal e1
simple. inStjlled into the hearts ant
minds OF those by whom he was sur
rounded. We know that cowardice !!
infectious. We know that when
snip is sinking ut sea there is liable
10 be such rush for the boats that
panic may cnsue. Then the captain
knowing well that only by order an,
pquanimity Il there hope for the safet!
If any, will draw his pistol. and, Will
determined mien, declare that he vii
shoot the ilrst man who dlSobeys or
icrs In forcing his way into the life
boats. We know that when a regimen
Is resisting the charge Of an enemy IN
colonel will take his position in Tn
rear Of the line ard shoot dow
any coWardly soldier who would tur
and flee. IF one soldier were alloUe
10 run 10 the rear, the whole regiment
like a herd Of terror stricken cattle
might be stampcded with fear,
cowardice he Infectious, why may nc
hope also be infections? Why Is no