Gilpin observer., 1912-04-25
TITANIC VICTIMS REMEMBERED
At ST. MARY's CHURCH.

In St. Mary's Catholic church last
Sunday at both masses, appropriate
prayers were offered for the repose
of the souls of the victims of the
Titanic wreck, and the pastor, Father
Naughton, spoke feelingly of the
awful disaster and some of the salu-
tory lessons which might be learned
from it. He said in part:
"a few days ago the whole world
was shocked and mortified by the aw-
full news of the Titanic disaster. Our
hearts naturally went out in sympathy
and brotherly affection to all those
who were sufferers from that wreck,
men, women and children who lost
their near and dear ones. According
to reports it seems that nothing had
been left undone which might add
to the comfort and greater enjoy
ment of the ships passengers; moth
ing which might be a greater source
Of profit to the investors of the COM
pany had been overlooked, but as re-
CARDS those devices which concern
the safety of human life in ocean
travel, many things had been neglect
ed. The spirit of the age, wealth at
all costs, gold more important than
human life and in this instance, oh!
at what a fearful cost. The minister
of the Gospel, however, deals with
the spiritual things Of life and there
fore l do not care to pass further
Judgment upon this phase of the
disaster.
"At such times many we'll meaning
people complain against the Provi-
dence of Almighty God and ask the
question, why does God in His Good
ness and Mercy permit such fearful
accidents; accidents which mean the
loss of so many lives in such tragic
manner, and untold suffering espec-
tally to those who are left to mourn"
The true Christian response can only
be, that God always knows best. He
is all merciful, adjust, all-holy, all
wise. and therefore in His Infinite
attributes acts fer the best interests
of mankind. His ways of acting, how
ever, are not our ways. God is an
Infinite creature and a man finite
being. Therefore in power, majesty
and wisdom He is immeasurably sep
arated from and superior to mere
creatures. Consequently even though
in our finite intelligence We cannot
understand His motives in permitting
such terrible calamities, still it is
not our right to complain. Further
all of us no doubt at some time in
our lives experienced heavy trials
and crosses. which seemed to come
as punishment from the hand Of
God, but in the end proved to be
a real blessing in disguise. There
fore, our duty is to accept such trials
of life, in spirit of patient resign
alton to His holy will. Many salutory
lessons moreover, may be gained by
us both for our spiritual and tenn
roral welfare from such accidents Of
life. In this instance. we see how ab-
solutely helpless was this crowning
effort of mans labors, this monarch
of the seas, this gigantic. most
powerful and wonderful steamship,
against the forces Of nature.
''In this age of progress and Won
derful development moreover, we are
apt to forget our innate weakness.
and on account Of our much vaunted
Advancement along material lines,
glory exceedingly in our supposed
greatness. At such times then, when
giant nature rises in her might. we
stand in awe and reverence at her
power, a Gods omnipotence, and
humiliated by our own utter help
lessness. For days past in imagina-
tion's fancy We have been picturing
the terrible scenes OF that awful. but
noble hour. And yet from these same
awful scenes which our imagination
pictures so vividly. many useful les
oOho Sdh VIC fSdi A<SooOho
make us feel proud, lessons that
make us feel humble, lessons Of cour-
age, Of noble unselfish sacrifice; les
sons that cause men to feel proud
Of their sex and lessons, too. that
prove that the influence Of Christian
ity. the same spirit which actuated
the church in lifting women from the
depths Of degradation and placing
her on high PEDESTAL, still lives
and rules in the minds and hearts OF
men.
THE world honors the noble souls
who lost their lives In such a heroic
manner, as many of the Titanic VIC
tins did, and today reverences the
names of many who but a little while