The Titanic, touted by its builders as unsinkable, struck an iceberg April 15, 1912 on its maiden voyage from England to the United States and went down in less than an hour.

The area where the vessel went down has long been known, but the great depths in that part of the Atlantic have frustrated searchers.

Last summer and effort was made to take television and still pictures of the ship. Mike Harris, a documentary filmmaker from Tampa, Florida said his expedition carried the latest in remote-sensory devices, and what they detected was an object the right length, right width and right height of the Titanic. However, bad weather and dwindling supplies of food and fuel thwarted their plans.

"We are confident that we've found the wreck," said Jack Grimm from Texas who is funding the expedition. "We're now giving some thought to continuing the expedition next summer." A 51-foot manned submarine would be used to reach the wreck. Then, with the use of blowtorch-equipped robots, the crew could cut through the hull of the ship and retrieve mementos from the disaster.

Upon the sinking of the ship, the following tract was written and circulated for several years in many languages. Souls were saved through its message. We reprint it here with a prayer that God will still use the clear, forceful message of the gospel it contains to bring salvation to many precious souls, as the Titanic once again is in the news.

Who is not shocked by the appalling disaster of the sinking of the Titanic in mid-ocean, in which over sixteen hundred persons have perished! A multitude sorrows over it, and we sympathize with the many so unexpectedly and so suddenly bereaved. But, dear reader, is there not a personal voice addressing itself to everyone of us, to you, in this disaster? We believe there is; and therefore address you these few words.

Two calamities had also happened among the Jews, and Jesus appeals to them that their lesson may be learned. He says, "Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:2-5).

This is the lesson the infallible Teacher draws from the sad happenings of His day. Is there none from a happening in our day whose magnitude and horror cast a shadow over whole nations? Where is the heart so hard that it weeps not at the thought of the scenes enacted that dread night on the mighty deep? Who weeps not still with the widows and orphans whose husbands and fathers were swallowed up in their watery grave? What Christian heart has not prayed that out of such a calamity might yet come forth blessing?

The ship was the climax of human genius. Its promoters and builders as they gazed on her majestic form upon the waters could say with one of old, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom, by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" She was "unsinkable." Men therefore could commit themselves to her confidently. They could live aboard her in luxuriousness and pleasure without fear. Little ships might fear—but the Titanic? Her very name told what she was expected to be. She was the newest product of that glorious progress of man which is to end in his saying, I am God; and it was almost a fact in men's minds that she would make that good.

Reader, listen to the wail which is the end of all this. See tossing on the waves the dead bodies of those who trusted in her. She, herself, with all her treasures, has gone down into a grave thousands of fathoms deep, never more to see the light of day. This is what God thinks of what man boasts in. It is a picture of the world and of all who love it and put their trust in man.

The life-boats were the only refuge, and they took on the helpless ones. So Jesus is the only refuge for eternal salvation, for He alone was able to bear our sins, to die for them and rise again. All who are in Him, who, feeling their sinfulness and helplessness have fled to Him for refuge, are safe forevermore. All out of Him, whatever their boast, whatever they trust to, are moving on to the dread calamity of eternal doom. Some trust iin their good character; others in works of charity; others in their priest, in their church and its ordinances—all is in vain, "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" but the name of Jesus. "Come unto ME," He says, "all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

The life-boats of the Titanic were inadequate to save the mass;—not with our God's salvation. His word is, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Reader, friends, neighbors, all of you who are sailing in the ship of this world's pride, pleasures, luxuriousness, revellings, licentiousness, drunkenness, with religiousness perhaps, "except ye repent," your doom is hourly approaching. The Lord Jesus, your best Friend, the One who loves and died for you, has said of those who refuse to repent, "These shall go away into everlasting punishment."

Lying prophets tell you there is no everlasting punishment. Jesus says there is. Choose ye between the two. They tell you that after death there is yet hope. God says, "After death, the judgment." Which will you believe? God says "Now is the day of salvation." Sin-lovers say, "Tomorrow is time enough." Whose testimony will you trust?

Heeding not the warnings, the Titanic came to grief. Mighty men were gathered on her decks. Men of valor, men of great minds and giant wealth. But of what avail was wealth, or intellect, or valor in that dread hour? Helpless as infants they went down and perished. So what will men do in that coming day of far greater import than the Titanic's night, when, summoned before God, they are found "without a wedding garment on"? found without Christ—naked, with the eternal results!

May God by this sad event awaken many that slumber, and turn them from darkness to light, from self to Christ, from eternal doom to eternal glory.

—P.J.L.