Ardent American Patriot and Lover of Israel
The Titanic’s last hero
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13
I have recently heard about a book that tells of the night the Titanic sank. It is entitled: ‘The Titanic’s Last Hero’, By Moody Adams. It is now out of print and there are people that are looking into getting permission to reprint this book with such an excellent testimony to the power of Christ in a man’s life. As the Titanic sank the Rev. John Harper gave away his life jacket telling people that, “I am going up, not down!” There were witnesses that he walked around near the life boats telling the men to let women and children and unsaved people on the life boats because the unsaved were unprepared to die and be ushered into eternity. He walked around among the throng of people offering them their last chance at salvation.
Through testimony of survivors that were interviewed by the press, Rev. Harper was the one that told the band to play “Nearer My God, To Thee” in an effort to stop people from panic. There was testimony that Rev. Harper preached Christ’s salvation to people on deck and stood praying the “sinners prayer” for anyone that wanted to seek forgiveness from Jesus Christ. Once in the water the Rev. Harper floated in and out of the people asking everyone he met if their souls were right with Christ and if they didn’t make it out alive did they know where they were going to spend their eternity? One man especially drifted past the reverend and he heard him shout towards him….”Is your soul right with Christ?” The man said “no” and asked how that could happen. Reverend Harper explained as the man drifted away. Soon by divine appointment the same man drifted his way past the reverend again and Harper asked the same question. He replied, “No…please tell me how.” The Reverend led this man to the Lord as the last thing he did in this life. He slowly drifted under the waves.
When reporters were asking asking questions of the survivors a man stepped forward to tell them about Reverend John Harper and how he spent his last hours on earth. They asked him how he knew this and the man told the reporter that he was the last man that Harper led to Christ before he disappeared under the waves.
What a great contrast in two men. The Reverend John Harper, a minister of Gospel of Christ gave his life willingly to see others reborn into God’s eternal Kingdom. Rev. Harper was told by a close friend before he left the great liner in Ireland, that he had bad feelings about this voyage. Before the friend got off the ship and urged Reverend Harper to do the same. He even went as far as offering him passage on another luxury liner that would soon be leaving for America. He told the reverend that he would be more than happy to pay for the expenses of the other ship. Reverend Harper refused the kindness of his friend and told him that as a Christian and a minister of the Gospel, he must be about God’s business and that what would or would not befall him would all be in God’s more than capable hands.
The man who contrasted Reverend Harper was a important representative of the Titanic’s White Star Line. This was a man by the name of Mr. Ismay. It has been said that he was an arrogant man that usually got what he wanted. He wanted fame and money. When the Titanic’s Captain Smith had received news about icebergs that would be crossing their shipping lane he ordered that the ship be slowed down for safety reasons. Mr. Ismay pulled rank and ordered the liner to proceed at near full speed. Mr. Ismay wanted to make the headlines that his ship beat all time and speed records for the day. He did get his headlines saying that the “unsinkable ship” had indeed sank. The press also learned that Mr. Ismay snuck his way onto a lifeboat thereby taking a seat that could have saved the life of a woman or child, possibly both. He spent the rest of his years living down the fact that he was a coward. Thanks to the man who told Reverend Harper’s story and the man that researched and wrote this book, the heroic story of a man of God was not lost but told to the glory of God.
The Word of God tells us that there is always a remnant of believers. There are always some that will not bow the knee to anyone but God nor kiss (worship) anyone but God. Rev. Harper chose to follow Christ and live after His divine example. While Mr. Ismay chose to bow the knee to the god of self preservation.
I was thinking of the parallel of the Titanic and the United States when I heard this discussed on TV. The USA has boasted about itself as being unstoppable or “unsinkable” as was said of the Titanic (which was proven to be said by a man that worked in engineering on the aboard the ship). Many say that we are the greatest nation, the strongest, the best, the richest, etc. We even stand up and say we are the godliest. We were running full speed ahead and would not slow down over the warnings of danger. The USA has smacked right into the iceberg of sin. And like the iceberg, sin sits there with a little bit showing and over three quarters hidden underneath where no one can readily see it. Our leaders, like Mr. Ismay take the cowards way out and try to hide in a spot of safety not caring for the people who are left to their care. And like Rev. Harper, God has a remnant out and about trying to warns and save as many as they can. These men and women never retire and minister Christ and His salvation until the day they die and go home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Branson, MO. There is a replica of the HMS Titanic built to almost full size. The Captain of the Titanic is played by a Christian actor. As people tour the ship Captain Smith tells the story of the Titanic and the people involved. When you “board” the ship you get a ‘ticket’ in the various classes in the various names that were aboard. At the end of the tour you get to find out the fate of your passenger. He tells the story of Reverend John Harper, the last hero of the Titanic. At the end of the tour he relates his own testimony to his love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We all need to take some time and decide which of these two men we would desire to be like. One that loved people with the love of Christ and died to set men free in example of His Savior. Or- we can live like the other and live for the god of self and not care about anyone but ourselves.
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February 24, 2009 - 5:34 pm
I have reposted Mr. Moody's book resource link. Here it is: http://www.moodynews.com/
After you go to that site, click on the "bookstore" link and scroll down – you will find the book available there.
February 24, 2009 - 5:03 pm
I wrote the book The Titanic's Last Hero. We researched the material back to the time of the accident in Scotland, Ireland and England. I can assure you, it is as thoroughly done as humanly possible. Any materials contradicting the book would be welcomed. The book is not out of print and can be ordered from moodynews.com/ bookstore.
February 24, 2009 - 10:18 am
Good to meet you Moody! I have posted your response and of course, encourage continued research too! This blog post recent comments suggest a further study into the life of Robert (Bob) Bateman also! I am interested to know personally, if his name is found on the Titanic’s passenger manifest. Do we know of this?
February 23, 2009 - 9:15 pm
The problem does not lie with whether or not these men were courageous, but with the fact that a book was written by Moody Adams and published and the information distributed as truthful fact for all to read without making sure that the information was accurate. I'm sure if more research had been done this mistake would not have been made.
February 23, 2009 - 9:49 pm
I am beginning to wonder if both John Harper and Robert Bateman played an integral part in those last moments on the Titanic. There seems to be "legitimate" argument for both men – which still leads to my wanting to emphasize their faithful heroic actions above personal gain. I am sure that either men would shutter to think that people would take their last act of loving testimony and sacrifice and see it displayed as a contentious "It was I and he!" discourse!
February 23, 2009 - 9:49 pm
I am beginning to wonder if both John Harper and Robert Bateman played an integral part in those last moments on the Titanic. There seems to be "legitimate" argument for both men – which still leads to my wanting to emphasize their faithful heroic actions above personal gain. I am sure that either men would shutter to think that people would take their last act of loving testimony and sacrifice and see it displayed as a contentious "It was I not he!" discourse!
February 23, 2009 - 3:21 pm
Thank you "gifthorse", for your response. I have had another email suggestion this same thing – from a distant relative named "Bateman" out of Jacksonville, Florida. He too, questioned the identity of the character that this story focuses on. Here is my position – it really matters little whether it was a John Harper or Robert Bateman who stood courageously in the face of insurmountable odds – but rather, their simple faith in Jesus Christ in the face of physical doom. That man, and all who seek God as he, will be rewarded when we see Jesus Christ face to face!
January 14, 2009 - 6:43 am
This is such a very good story to read hope that the book would be available here in the Philippines so that I could read the whole story. I got all my body hairs standing to some part about the overview of this book. Rev. Harper is just too brave to offer his life in saving others which is a very amazing thing that only few of us would be able to do.