c come
from? It comes from God, through the faith of Jesus of Nazareth.

It is the ideal of self-sacrifice. It is the rule that "the strong
ought to bear the infirmities of those that are weak." It is the divine
revelation which is summed up in the words: "Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

It needs a tragic catastrophe like the wreck of the Titanic to bring out
the absolute contradiction between this ideal and all the counsels of
materialism and selfish expediency.

I do not say that the germ of this ideal may not be found in other
religions. I do not say that they are against it. I do not ask any man
to accept my theology (which grows shorter and simpler as I grow older),
unless his heart leads him to it. But this I say: The ideal that the
strength of the strong is given them to protect and save the weak,
the ideal which animates the rule of "Women and children first," is in
essential harmony with the spirit of Christ.

If what He said about our Father in Heaven is true, this ideal is
supremely reasonable. Otherwise it is hard to find arguments for it. The
tragedy of facts sets the question clearly before us. Think about it. Is
this ideal to survive and prevail in our civilization or not?

Without it, no doubt, we may have riches and power and dominion. But
what a world to live in!

Only through the belief that the strong are bound to protect and save
the weak because God wills it so, can we hope to keep self-sacrifice,
and love, and heroism, and all the things that make us glad to live and
not afraid to die.

HENRY VAN DYKE.

PRINCETON, N. J., April 18, 1912.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I FIRST NEWS OF THE GREATEST MARINE DISASTER IN HISTORY

"The Titanic in collision, but everybody safe"--Another triumph set
down to wireless telegraphy--The world goes to sleep peacefully--The sad
awakening

CHAPTER II THE MOST SUMPTUOUS PALACE AFLOAT

Dimensions of the Titanic--Capacity--Provisions for the comfort
and entertainment of passengers--Mechanical equipment--The army of
attendants required

CHAPTER III THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE TITANIC

Preparations for the voyage--Scenes of gayety--The boat sails--Incidents
of the voyage--A collision narrowly averted--The boat on fire--Warned of
icebergs

CHAPTER IV SOME OF THE NOTABLE PASSENGERS

Sketches of prominent men and women on board, including Major Archibald
Butt, John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, Isidor St