THIS is the heading of an interesting letter, which was current in the daily press some months ago. It appears that a gentleman residing in the island of Cava, Scapa Flow, in that wild desolate part of the world, north of the turbulent Pentland Firth, was on friendly terms with the officers on board the ill-fated Hampshire.
This gentleman writes that he well remembers the Hampshire, moored opposite his home for many weeks, and that on the stormy day of June 5th 1916, a party of her officers came ashore at Cava and called at his house.
Luncheon hour in the navy being at noon, tea was ordered specially early. No sooner had the party sat down to partake of their host’s hospitality than a picket-boat was seen steaming towards the island, and presently an orderly called to say that the presence of his friends was required on board immediately.
Although conversation on naval matters was always strictly taboo, and carefully avoided by officers of the grand fleet, yet it was noticed how genuinely surprised the guests appeared at receiving such a sudden call, and they departed vehemently “strafing” the admiralty and Von Tirpitz for not allowing them at least to finish their tea.
The guests departed, promising to return the next afternoon. Half-an-hour afterward the inhabitants of Cava were astonished to see the Hampshire leave the Fleet, and steam out to sea.
Two short hours passed when the terrible tragedy happened. On that wild tempestuous night the Hampshire struck a German mine and Lord Kitchener and all the guests of but two or three hours previously perished. What a terrible and tragic end! How utterly unexpected!
Does it not vehemently urge upon us all the wisdom of being prepared? This life is not everything. It is short at best. Its glittering prizes have soon to drop from nerveless and tired hands. Monarchs cannot keep the crown upon their heads forever. Millionaires cannot carry their wealth away with them. Power, honor, the glittering prizes of this life, wealth, must all be left behind and often how suddenly.
It was so in the present case. It may be so in yours.
As you read these lines you may be swiftly carried along in a railway train. A few more revolutions of the wheels, and you may be hurled to your death. Who can say? It is evident that people killed in railway accidents never expected their fate, or else they would have taken steps to avoid it. You may be reading the offer of salvation for the last time. You will be wise if without a moment’s delay you accept the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour.
Had I been privileged to be present at that tea party at the Island of Cava, and had I warned those officers of the insecurity of life and the need of immediately bowing to the claims of Christ, if they had not already done so, judging by what is common conduct on every hand, I might have been laughed at for my pains.
What must indeed have passed through those men’s minds, what must have passed through Lord Kitchener’s master mind, when they faced their watery grave, with the cold salt-water as their winding sheet and the ocean bottom as their graveyard, when they faced what even iron wills and indomitable purpose could not alter?
Oh! my reader, if you are inclined to laugh at our warning, we would redouble our appeal. Whether sudden or not, whether you have no more preparation and warning than these officers and men on the Hampshire, or have a long lingering illness, the end must come and then where will you spend ETERNITY? We warn you, that you can never enter heaven unless your sins are forgiven you by God. You can never say you have not been warned.
Oh! the compassion of God. He gave His only begotten Son. Christ has wrought atonement on the cross. Salvation and forgiveness are righteously offered to you. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
Moreover the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ is surely at hand. Things in the world are going from bad to worse. Men are becoming so utterly indifferent that they will not even take the trouble of being active infidels. What others believe is a matter of supreme indifference to such.
What a sad day for this poor world when all the true Christians are taken out of it. What a day when “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth” is removed when there will be no gospel preachers, when heaven’s ambassadors are re-called, “when.... the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door.” (Luke 13:2525When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25)), when “God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie.” (2 Thess. 2:22That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (2 Thessalonians 2:2)).
Men will wake up then, but alas! too late. Be warned in time. We beseech you, do not miss the blessing. Eternal issues are at stake.
THE EDITOR.