Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
LESSONS DRAWN
FROM DISASTER

Many pastors Of the city at the ser
vices in the various churches yester- |
day drew lessons to be learned from |
the wreck OF the Titanic. Appropriate
music was also q feature of the ser
vices.
Rev. Marion Humphreys of Gen. !
trial Presbyterian church took the de- |
struction of the Titanic as an object |
lesson and chose as his theme. Life
Disasters Viewed in the Dimnss Of
Time and in the Light Of Eternity"
and his text was taken from jeremiah,
4s:23-"They have heard evil tidings:
They are faint at heart: There is sor-
row on the sea. II cannot be quiet"
He said in part
There is a tendency. perhaps a de-
sire, to forget too soon great human
disasters. Never will the survivors,
nor ever will those in the homes Of the
lost forget the awful calamity result
ing from the sinking OF the great
White Star liner. the Titanic. But the
world will forget 1t all too soon. Dis
asters are not az all infrequent. Men
forget the last one and take little pre-
cautions against the future. This or
der should be changed. Will men and
corporations and governments con-
tinue to forget and neglect? While
the Titanic disaster is the most terri
bic Of modern or of even ancient ma
rine history. yet there has been great
er and more terrible loss Of life in 9TH
or disasters, and along with many less
er ones all have been passed into his
tory with too little consideration.
Flood, storm, volcanic eruption, fire.
earthquake and sinking ship have all
wrought their havoc. Have you no
ticed that II is only IN the human
realm chat we note calamity, disaster
and destruction In Gods realm
none. IN His great universe there are
nebulae and stars, moons and sstell-
ties, planets. comets and myr1ads OF
worlds and all in harmony. There are
no runaway stars. No rebeIlious plan
cts there Where SIN rs there is confu-
sion. Destruction where sin Is finished.
But what lesson do We learn from
the grert Titanic? The incidents OF
the maid, i trip, the construction of
the liner, its size OF four city blocks in
length, its luxurious apartments, the
gaiety, wealth and intelligence OF her
passengers. has all been well told IN
the daily press. II was on the Sab
bath, and the day was far spent The
tooth OF q mightier. tore asunder thai
boosted 1eviathAn' Of the deep and al
of mans art and skill seemed folly anC
his mightiest marine was as a tor
ship striking a floating chip. We clear
ly see in this that man L. not lord II
every domain he enters, and alone h'
IS never complete master of all he Il
permitted TO use.
Man cannot supplant God with in
punity. The eternal good Of man hin
self is at stake. and God will see TO Il
Better a whole nation destroyed in
day II all future nations may be pure
and closer 10 God. This was done
Better a pestilence burn itself out /
the sin of a thousand lives If only a
future can know to be free from 4
Such has been the case. But God ha
better way. Better than destruction
is publication.
One week ago had that great con
pany of Titanic passengers realize
that Sabbath day as their last da
would It have made any difference !
their conceptions Of life. Just as unsat
and as unwise for me to stumble alon
today with blinded, grovelling or eve
an imperfect conception Of life. "
ought TO learn the lesson of herois
from the lives of those who face
death last Sabbath night. II is n
surpassed In its courage. bravery, te
derness, calmness and in its loyal {
yotion. The veteran of war and Il
student of history may charge that q
vein of ancient courage and brave
is lacking in modern blood. But VIII
OF the men yonder. faithful at tbs
post Titanic men calm. careful, kiI
saving life when they knew they mt
be lost This is the God in men. IN
save others, themselves they can q
save. Women OF heroism of such 81
rificial tyne that II can not be descr
ed Ready and willing TO die when L
is offered. This must be the Christ
women. He that would save his 1
shall lose # and he that would lo
his life for my sake the same sh
save Il. II we should think the
things all through We would find Co
way for man very soon. Disastt
olght 10 weld our hearts close toge
er and We ought 20 get so close to
divine ideal for man. that IL wol
matter little how or when We step
this earthly plane. The only disast
that should elicit eternal fear is I
disaster OF sin. The human day mi
end. human bodies must perish.
this is only good when they perish 1