I was Thomas P.’s happy service of love to attend at the door of a large meeting room in which the Gospel is preached, and. where he had himself, some four years previously, been aroused to the sense of his own need as a sinner. Having subsequently found peace through the precious blood of Christ, it was T. P.’s desire to bring others to the knowledge of the same blessed Saviour; and this not only by his hearty services as doorkeeper on the Lord’s day, but in his calling as a sailor he would earnestly seek the blessing of any yet unsaved mate. A weekly engagement on board a cutter which carried the mail to the French port of St. M. took him from his home in the island of G. every Monday till Friday, when he was joyfully welcomed back by his wife and four little ones.
T. P. was at his usual post the eve of Lord’s Day, Jan. 12, 1879; but as his well-known form stood at the door, how little he and others thought it was for the last time!
Before going to the meeting, he sang in his humble home the hymn beginning,—
“His be the victor’s name;” and another after his return, beginning—
“Glory unto Jesus be.”
This was a special favorite with him: and often might his cheerful voice be heard singing the last verse:
“Ye who love Him cease to mourn,
Patient wait His sure return;
For His saints with Him shall reign,
Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.”
The next Sunday afternoon, many hundreds were following the sailor’s remains to their last earthly resting place, while his happy spirit was with the Lord forever.
Thomas P.’s captain was a godly man, and there were others on board the “Reindeer” who knew and loved the Saviour, indeed they were named in derision, “The sanctified crew.” In the cabin were hung words of Scripture, and the well-known hymn, “Rock of Ages;” and in that little retreat, T. P. and his pious captain used to read the word of God together.
On Monday, Jan. 13, some delay occurred in the usual hour of sailing; and at midnight the vessel was still off the coast of G., while a fog rendered it dangerous to proceed. But it was a good boat, and the passage well known; and spite of warning they ventured onward. Rumors and anxious fears soon succeeded and it was not long before the truth was known that the Reindeer had been wrecked, and the five bodies of the captain and crew picked up on the shore of the neighboring island of J. None lived to tell the tale; but the boat’s clock having stopped at 2 A.M., and the captain’s watch at 5:15, suggested that there was probably this interval ere all hope of safety was at an end. The efforts made to preserve the mail bag and money entrusted to the captain, showed how mindful they had been of their charge, even in such circumstances of danger; while the swelled hands and many bruises told of the vain grasp at a last hope, of the violence with which the bodies had been dashed among the rocks, and how impossible it had been to reach the land. But the Lord was watching over His own, and took them away from the storms of this life to be with Himself at rest forever.
It was a memorable day in the island of G. when those five bodies were brought back for interment, each, one being conveyed to the place where he had been wont to meet with others and hear the word of God. Thomas P. was the last to be buried, being borne to the grave by some of his Christian friends on the afternoon of Lord’s Day, Jan. 19. “His be the victor’s name” was one of the hymns sung at the well-filled meeting room, and “Forever with the Lord,” beside the open grave, where the word of life was also preached in the hearing of many. The Lord grant that His own voice of warning and mercy may yet be heard by those who cannot forget the wreck of the Reindeer.
There were some who had intended to go by that very trip, and who through one circumstance or another were kept back from a watery grave. To such there is indeed a special voice while to each and all the truth applies, that for everything in this world there must be a last time. When that handsome little cutter left her accustomed port on the Monday evening, how little the admiring spectators thought it would be for the last time! And warnings have been multiplied around us even since that sad event, pressing upon the heart the present value of that gracious word, which we would fain sound in the hearing of thousands who are hurrying on to everlasting perdition; “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). And to those who know the Lord, and desire to fulfill any little service to Him, is there not also a seasonable word brought to remembrance “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Eccl. 9:1010Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)). It may be for the last time. Our Lord and Master says, “Behold I come quickly” (Rev. 22:7-127Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. 9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:7‑12)). G.