Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-17
CONCERN FOR ONE LIFE.
Admirable Heroism Where Life Is
in Danger and the Value of
Soul in Gods Sight.


word In the Bible about the lost estate
Of fallen man. We believe the record
of the fall. The evidences of it are
manifold and exceedingly manifest But
although we accept the doctrine of to-
tai depravity, and would not on any
account white down any of the BIZ
ble's severe arrangements made against
the sinful sons of Adam, yet every once
In while We are compelled to admire
the nobility that shines forth in hui
man nature, says Alexander Williams,
In New York Observer The doctrine
Of total depravity does not imply that
there is nothing commendable in man.
KIND. Christ looked on a young man
once and loved him. even though the
young man was not in the right way.
Surely Christ would not have been
thus moved towards the young man
had there not been in him something
worthy of affection.
A few days ago diver went down
INTO the depths of a large reservoir at
Boonton, in the sister state of New Jer-
sey, bent on an important duty, when,
sad to say the suction at the mouth
OF huge pipe drew him in and kept
him there until ne became exhausted
and so persisted. In vain other brave
men have sought to rescue him. One
who went down had his hand. crushed
In the attempt to rescue his fellow la
borer, was determined to go down to
rescue my pard," but was of course
prevented from making the useless at
tempt
For hours the unfortunate victim be-
low the water hoped against hope
Again and again the frantic pulls upon
the signal ropes told the workers above
that he still lived. BY and By these
became feebler and less frequent: then
they ceased altogether. for the man
was beyond the best of human help.
AS the news of the unfortunate div
er's predicament spread in the neigh
borhood, 1t was received with a sense
OF horror. Thousands of persons from
Tar and near came to watch the efforts
put forth to rescue him. The intensest
| anxiety was manifested. The tragic
Incident was recorded in the suburban
and metropolitan press. Every detail
of the casualty and every particular OF
the work OF rescue was given.
In thousands of homes the mans aw-
ful fate was the subject of anxious and
sympathetic converse. The chances of
his ever being brought back to land
alive were eagerly discussed. The life
Of fellow man and brother was a..
stake. and countless hearts were dis
turbed and distressed. as the evident
hopelessness of the case became appar-
emit. Rescue apparatus was promptly
rushed from New York; all that could
be done was done, but all ended in bit
ter disappointment and forced yesigna-
ton to the inevitable But the interest
manifested during the proceedings did
credit to all who longed and hoped. and
In many instances prayed. that the div
er might be saved
Men in the common avocations Of life
may essay TO get the better of one an
other. but every now and again one
mans peril becomes the anxious CON
Germ of the many All eyes. all
thoughts. all hearts will center on one
life, one victim, one sufferer. We re-
loice that il is so. We soon forget II
Is true. Seven hundred brave Russians
may go down with n sinking man-of-
war, and the disaster be forgotten very
shortly thereafter The human mind
cannot too long stand the strain OF
dwelling upon the worlds dark and
dreadful happenings, yet while lives
are being quenched by thousands every
day, the iutensest interest Is aroused
by one mans misfortune, by the peril
Of one life.
Since our great Creator has made us
with this wonderful fellow feeling we
may be assured that He too is deeply
interested i'm the welfare of the men
whom He has made. Not a hair of our
head goes unnumbered; we know that
not sparrow's flight escapes His at
tention. and we are assured that we are
OF more value than many sparrows.
Our God cannot be Indifferent TO the
pains and perils of men. He must sure
ly witness with pleasure every noble
effort on the part of man to save the
life of his fellow. All that Is good and
noble and true is of God. and from
God. and He must approve the mani
festation of brotherly love and noble
fellow feeling among the human race
And If one mortal life, that must soon
sr or later come to an end, is worth so
much interest and effort as in the case
we have instanced, of how much more
earnest effort is the salvation of an
immortal soul worthy. God expects us
to be interested in and concerned for
lmperilled lives and imperilled souls.
The heartfelt interest of man in man
Is sight TO encourage us all and to
gladden. the inhabitants of the skies.
It is a sight which God approves.
GEMS OF THOUGHT.