N.C. Christian Advocate
North Carolina does not grow bishops, but she entertains them. There were three within her borders last Sunday at the Woman’s Council in Raleigh and they all took dinner with Hon. Josephus Daniels. It goes without saying that they got an excellent sample of Tar Heel hospitality.
Reverting to the statement that North Carolina does not grow bishops, it is interesting to note that only two native born Tar Heels have been elected bishops, namely Pierce and Fitzgerald, and two have been elected president of the United States—Polk and Johnson—unless you count Andrew Jackson, and all these moved away from the place of their birth comparatively early in life.
The foregoing, like the rambling and unnecessary remarks of a man who introduces the appointed speaker for an occasion, leads to the following interesting story that appeared in last Monday morning’s News and Observer. Here is the story:
“Certain bishops went to Raleigh to attend the Woman’s Missionary Council, and there fell into the hands of a newspaper man,” exclaimed Bishop E.A. Boaz of Shanghai, China, as he greeted Edwin D. Mouzon of Nashville, Tenn., at the Sir Walter hotel yesterday.
“They are always found in good company,” replied Bishop Mouzon as he shook hands with his colleague.
“I am in North Carolina so much, and my wife is now living with son, who is a member of the faculty at Duke University, so that I am beginning to feel very much like a North Carolinian,” declared Bishop James Cannon Jr. of Richmond, Va., who was in Raleigh for his second successive Sunday.
“Bishop Cannon is our bishop-at-large,” explained Bishop Mouzon.
Bishop Boaz was just in from the Far East, Bishop Cannon was recently in Mexico, while Bishop Mouzon took in much territory in leading the campaign for unification of the two branches of Methodism. They had much of interest to talk about.
Follows Sun Around World
Bishop Hiram Abiff Boaz, needless to say he is a Mason, who is in Raleigh to speak before the Woman’s Missionary Council, has followed the sun around the world in his career as a Methodist preacher. Born in Kentucky and educated in Texas, he has spent most of his life in the Lone Star State, but since his election as bishop has been in the Far East.
Less than a month ago Bishop Boaz was returning to America after having been for four years in charge of the interests of the Southern Methodist church in China, Japan, Korea and Siberia.
He was aboard the United States steamship Roosevelt, which won fame by its rescue of the crew of the Antinoe. Captain Fried had been welcomed abroad by royalty and was soon to be welcomed home with all the honors that could be given royalty, but it was not of welcomes that the sea captain was thinking.
Two of his seamen had gone down beneath waves in the effort to rescue the Antinoe crew. They were two of eight volunteers, and their loss was the captain’s chief concern. When Captain Fried learned Bishop Boaz was a preacher, he called him to the bridge of the shop and made him acquainted with the officers.
“Will you conduct a memorial service for our dead?” asked Captain Fried. Of course, Bishop Boaz, who has preached his way around the world was glad to offer his services. After a couple of days out in the broad Atlantic, there came an assembly call. Quickly the crew gathered as did the passengers. There in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean Bishop Boaz conducted the most unique of his services as a Methodist minister.
Bishop Boaz had never known the two brave seamen who gave their lives in an effort to save others, but he had learned something of their spirit from the ship’s surgeon. He paid his tribute and then the flowers that had been placed in the assembly room were scattered in the path of the ship near the spot where the two men had gone down.
Story of Heroic Rescue
Seven weeks ago yesterday the Roosevelt received a radio distress call. Quickly it turned out of its course and ran a hundred miles in a hundred-mile wind to find the Antione in momentary danger of going down. It was nearly dark, but Captain Fried called for volunteers for a lifeboat. Eight men were selected and a lifeboat was launched.
Hardly had the boat gotten clear of the mother ship before it was swamped, and the eight men with life belts on were floundering in the water. Life lines were thrown out. It was caught by one of the crew and handed to a companion. Another line was thrown, and he caught that and passed it on. The third time there came a lifeline and the third time he passed it on.
By that time, he was far out from the mother ship, but the lifeboat was still floating. He caught it and attempted to steer it toward the distressed ship. It was picked up by a terrific gust of wind, and the boat was torn from his hands. The last seen of the seaman, the ship’s doctor told Bishop Boaz, he was waving a farewell. Then there was darkness for him and the waves closed over him.
The ship’s doctor said that the other seaman was last seen as he swam behind the ship. He was gone and though they searched through the night, there was no trace.
Ropes were finally thrown across to the distressed ship and after six lifeboats were lost, the gale quieted down enough so that one was gotten across. Twelve members of the crew were brought over. Then seven, and then six, and the Roosevelt was ready to sail.
“There was heroism of the noblest sort, but not nobler than the spirit of the missionaries that go into a foreign land to give their lives to Christian work. The eight volunteers were heroic, but they expected to come back. Only two of them went down. When a missionary gives his life to Christian work in a foreign land, he forsakes all and gives his life that he may receive it back again, nobler, purer and holier.”
From the N.C. Christian Advocate as reprinted on page 6 of the Smithfield Herald, April 13, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1926-04-13/ed-1/seq-6/
No comments:
Post a Comment