The Last Convert

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

On the night of April 14, 1912, the R.M.S. Titanic plowed relentlessly through the bone-chilling waters of the North Atlantic on it's maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. She was the largest ship in the world -- 882.5 feet long and 92.5 feet wide -- and probably the fastest. Passengers on her maiden voyage included the cream of society and wealth -- John Jacob Astor (probably the richest man in the world), Isador Strauss (owner of Macy’s), Major Archibald Butt (advisor to presidents),
Bruce Ismay (chairman of the White Star Line), Thomas Andrews (Titanic’s builder), and 2219 others -- from the poorest steerage passengers to the richest first class.

One of the second class passengers on that fateful voyage was the Rev. John Harper, a Scottish clergyman with a solid reputation for converting non-believers to Christ. Accompanying him was his six-year-old daughter, Nana, and her nurse, Miss Leitch. Harper's wife had died a short time before. The minister was on his way to America to preach at the Moody Church in Chicago.

Shortly before midnight, the Titanic struck an iceberg and began sinking by the bow. As soon as he realized the ship was going to founder, Harper escorted his daughter and Miss Leitch to a lifeboat. With them safely away, he began helping the crew to load the rest of women and children into the lifeboats.

As the loading continued, the passengers suddenly realized there were only enough lifeboats for barely half the passengers. As soon as the last boat was lowered, panic set in. Frightened people ran up and down the decks trying to find a way to escape. As the big ship's stern rose higher in the air, passengers lost their footing and slid down the decks like sleds on an icy hill. Then a deep rumbling and cracking sound was heard within the ship. It’s superstructure was unable to take the stress
of standing almost upright in the water and the Titanic began to break in half.

Many of the stranded passengers, including Harper, flung themselves into the 28-degree water of the North Atlantic to avoid being crushed by the shattering iron deck plates and beams. Hypothermia set in quickly so most did not drown as supposed, but died of exposure.

One of the passengers in the sea was a young man who had managed to climb aboard a piece of floating debris. Suddenly he saw a man splashing toward him. "Are you saved?" the man cried out. "No," the cold-shocked youth shot back, thinking that he meant "are you saved from the sea". Then Harper removed his life jacket and tossed it to the young man. "Here, then," he shouted. "You need this more than I do." Then he swam away.

A few minutes later, he was back. "Are you saved," he shouted. "No," the young man replied again. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved," Harper shouted. Then he sank beneath the waves forever.

Of the Titanic’s 2223 passengers, 706 were saved that night -- mainly those in first class. Only six survivors were rescued from the icy waters. One of them was the young man Harper found floating on the debris.

Two weeks later the same young fellow stood before a Christian Endeavor meeting in New York City and told his story about the selfless preacher who had converted him in the middle of the icy North Atlantic, and who had given him a life jacket so he could survive. Fighting back tears, he closed his story by saying, "I am John Harper's last convert."

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Ed Price spent 35 years in print and broadcast journalism. He is author of 15 books. After becoming an ordained minister he settled with his wife on a farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, to study God's word and to write. Ed and Patty are the parents of three girls, have one grandchild, and cater to the every whim of two spoiled cats.
© 2008 Ed Price - All rights reserved. Visit his website, The Loving Heart.

This column is used with permission.