The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-04-26
THE CHRISTIANS FAITH.


moro sublime heroism' and greater
devotion to duty than were exmoi'eu
NV passengers and crew OF the III
foted Titanic during the last heetins
moments which proceeded us maj
n,nnge to the bottom of the ocean,
strong men bravely yielded up tnelr
lives and courted death in the waves
that the weaker members, the wo-
men and children, might be saved
II was as fine an example OF mans
humanity TO man, of mans sell eenl-
Al ard self abnegation as history al
lords 1t Is the one ray OF SUNSHINE
that illumines one OF the darkest
.r.oe,lies ia the annals of time. IL
renews our faith in the mate good
ness of mankind.
There is still more of chiyalry ana
of knightly Difference to woman IN
this old world than some OF us were
willing to admit These men, pas
sengcrs and crew, who went Wiling
" /, death in a watery grave that
others might live stood the suprem-
est test, They will forever rank
with the hero saviours whose deeds
brighten and illumine the pages OF
time
Can one imagine more sublime
scene than that which Immediately
preceding the fatal plunge of the Le-
yiattan? Every life boat had been
filled. no human power could save the
thousand and more who calmly stood
upon the decks on the sinking steam
or. They were resigned to their
fate. It was a mixed company, a cos
mopolitan assembly. 1t was made up
of men in all the walks of life, ev-
cry cline was represented. Some
were devout Christians, others doubt
less had been scoffers. Some had
lust emerged from game OF cards
despite the fact that the catastrophe
came on the sacred Sabbath. Many
there were who had not heard a pray
or since as children they were taught
at the mothers knee, the most sa.
cred of a.. the affairs, the childish
supplication:
"Now lay me down to sleep;
pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep"
But in those dark hours they seem
TO have caught glimpse Of the life
beyond the watery graves soon to
claim their mortal COILS" instinct
lively they placed their trust In the
God nf all With child like faith
they resigned themselves to the arms
pf the Savior On the still, cold,
starIit night there foated out the
Christians plea.
"Nearer my God to Thee, nearer tc
Thee,
Fen though it be a cross that rails
eth me,
Still all my songs snail De,
Nearer my God to Thee"
These men, whatever the lives o
some Of them might have been, how
ever far they may have wandered
from the narrow path, however indif
ferent they man have been to tn
still small voice" Of God CALM
them to His kingdom, now acknow
edge the truth of the Divine Rule
OF the Universe. They forgot all q
the boasts of man. They realize
how puny and frail were his workc l
the presence of the furies OF nature
Darkness was over them, their lei
the briny deep. forever beyond tn
hope of human aid, they raised til
glad acclaim, the Christians hope:
Still all my songs shall be,
Nearer my God to Thee"
A, last they heard the admonitit
.f the sou; Confidence in their on
powers gave place to a reliance upt
the Infinite One Their previous CO
ndence was HOW an appeal for divil
mercy. AS the water slowly ere
around them and the vessel only
brief while before confidently reli
upon as beyond the powers OF t
deep, settled for the final plunt
saint and sinner alike uttered the +
vent cry:
There let the way appear,
Steps unto Heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee"
And just as the ship took that Fl
plunge to rise no more and the S
uttered it's last agonizing cry as
prepared to leave the corrupt
face tic maker, survivors heard:
stOut of my stony grief,