New-York tribune., 1912-04-22
ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH.

ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH.
The heroic example Of the men VINO "eh'
down on the Titanic and the wealth "t IN
sniration which they left to the N'''u'
Greater. perhaps. than II they had iVed ou'
tho term Of their natural lives were SET
forth in the memorial sermon preacheu oS
tho Rev. Dr. Ernest NJ. Sures AZ OF,
Thomas's Church. Fifth avenue ana %"
street. Yesterday morning. The Temporal
structure set inside the slowly rislnS Walls
Of the new church building was hHeo u
overlooking, and generous was the response
which came to the rector's appeal lot ma
teriaI aid for the destitute survivors oI 'he
tragedy.
During tho latter part Of the sermon
when Dr.. Srires told Of the last Homeh'S
of several Of the passengers well KNOWN W
many In the congregation personally an"
10 all by name. subdued sobbing couId nc
heard from ell quarters Of the church. Ihe
rector paid tribute by name to HolOneI
John Jacob Astor and Arthur Ryerson VINO
were members OF his parish, and to Major
Archibald Butt, Mr.. ard Mrs. Isidor Straus
and 10 Benjamin Guggenheim with whom
he was personally acquainted.
on Mr. Ryerson's heroic end he dwer
psl ticularly, story which is not yet
known 10 many. Mrs. Ryerson and her
three children. survivors of the disaster,
were in the congregation, and the wife hs-
tened also 70 9 tale Of her own courage and
wonderful eelf-control from the lips of the
preacher
Saving that many people dG.not know OF
the important place >which Mr. Ryerson
held in the councils Of the Church. DR..
stires told of his being for many years
yresrueu1 or Sc I.uke's fIospftula4r eflica 90.
and later a member of the General Board
oi Episcopal Missions in. this city. lie
Couti.ued.
Possessed OF executive ability. and yet OF
A modesty which equalled 1t, foIcetul yet
gentle. conscientious yet kind, he was a
true husband a devoted father, a deter
mined Christian ana a noble man ho4
know how sad his mission was, In return
ing 10 this country TO bury his eldest son,
killed in an automobile accident several
weeks ago. And yet you can see me qulet
smile the gentle determination, with winch
he put the dearest persons Of all. the girls,
the boy even the maid into the hfeboat
and watched them row away to safety.
Speaks Of Mrs. Ryerson.
And wish to speak also Of that wife.
Wher, tho rescued on the Carpathia drew
up resolutions expressing their gratitude 10
the officers of the ship, they began In thc
usual form: Whereas, through the deFo-
ton Of the officers Of the Carpathia' -. ;
The chairman of the meeting asHeu
whether any one had suggestion 10 ma re re
II was that woman, hurrying home 10 lng
funeral OF her son, leaving her husodnc
lying two miles beneath the surface nl the
mid d-Atlantic. who arose and sald that on
such an occasion she would Suggest tidI
the resolutions begin: Where's, IN the
mercy Of God and through the devotion or
the officers OF the Carpathia
Viewing the tragedy as an appeal to the
soul DIR. Stires said that no more sublime
chapter i'm the history of heroism and
chivaIry had ever been written. 1t was
no longer necessary. he declared, to go
back a generation. or two generations, or
q thousand years, for examples Of such
eualitles There had been written, even
within the week. a story as bright and
beautiful as the brightest pa~' in divine
self-sacrince The country was richer for
it. mankind more ennobled and faith in
human nature stronger
OF Colonel Astor Dr Stires said that
I'm the Spanish war he had proved that he
was not afraid of the bullets of the en-
emy. and that in the end he proved that
ne could face death without CULVER
at Is a Glorious Epitaph."
FRIENDS" he said. lit is glorious epi-
taph. lie died like brave man.
Archie" Butt. the rector said. he had
known for twenty years. He described
him as soldier, a Christian and gem
tleman The army. the country and the
Church he had enriched by his splendid
life lie was another Bayard. he said,
without fear and without reproach. 80
Mr.. and Mrs Straus and Mr. Guggenheim,
ne declared. were worthy of the spirit Of
the example of the greatest Jew the
world had ever known
Dr. Stires warned his hearers not 10 be
too hasty in laying the blame for the ac-
cident on a single man or a single corpo-
ration. Many were guilty-nrst of all
the travelling public. he said Why was
It. he asked that people could afford to
spend six months in Europe every year,
but could not afford six hours more on the
voyage for the sake OF safety?
lie reviewed the great disasters OF the
last year and pointed out that little heed
had been paid to their warnings God
warned, taught. rewarded punished His
children. he said. but he could not compel
them. If they wished 10 disregard his
warnings they did so at the peril of their
lives.