Christians are sometimes charged by men of the world with selfishness, that their Christianity is something they benefit by, and their whole interest is centered on securing their own blessing. The following story, though unrecorded by the Press and unknown by the public, repudiates this calumny, and offers an example of bravery unexcelled even in the present great War.
Traveling from London one evening this summer, we had as companions two soldiers and a sailor. The former had many stories to tell of the noble spirit animating the men of the King’s Forces, but turning to the sailor we asked: “Have you been in any, engagements yet?” He answered: “We were in two fights in the North Sea, and the last one I will never forget. We had sunk two German destroyers, and came out very well with little damage, but during the engagement we were struck by some shells, and one of my companions was knocked over by the force of the explosion. As he sank he thought he was lost, but on rising to the surface he saw at a distance another seaman clinging to a spar, so he swam over and clutched the spar also, when it gave an ominous crack. The other man looked across, and said: ‘Mate, this spar won’t hold us both, it is breaking now.’ ‘So I see,’ replied the new arrival. Time was precious, and the first had the priority of claim, but turning to his mate, he asked: ‘Are you ready to meet God?’ ‘I am not,’ was the reply. ‘Through the work of Christ on the cross I am,’ answered the first. ‘There is a chance that you may be saved if I leave you, so good-bye, meet me in heaven,’ and lifting his hands off the spar, he sunk in the deep waters of the North Sea. The sailor was picked up some time after, and related to his wondering mates how he had been saved by the self-sacrifice of the Christian lad who died for him.”
W. M.