Pure Literature for the Million. Clear Bold Type, many with New Illustrations. Attractive Covers. Neither "goody-goody" nor "blood and murder," but interesting and instructive and definitely Evangelistic.

he sudden destruction on her maiden voyage of the greatest ship that was ever launched, furnished with every luxury that heart could wish, provided with every safeguard and every appliance that human ingenuity could devise, having among her passengers some of the richest people in the world, the utter destruction by a single blow from the hand of nature of this empress of the sea, whose very name, 'Titanic,' seemed to bid defiance to all powers in heaven or on earth, may surely be regarded as an impressive rebuke to the pride of science and the parade of wealth which are so characteristic of the present age."

In maritime annals no disaster has been so appalling as the wreck of the white Star liner the "Titanic," which happened 270 miles east of the Newfoundland coast on the evening of 14th April, 1912. The mammoth steamer was proceeding on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York with 2340 souls on board. The vessel, we are told, had the most skilful and experienced officers and crew in the British service.

The voyage had been so far successful, the weather being fine and the sea calm. About 10.30 on the Sunday night, as the ship was proceeding at the rate of about twenty-five miles an hour, the signal was sounded from the crow's nest, "Titanic" struck the iceberg. the shock was not sufficient to cause anxiety to any one. The engines were stopped, the vessel was examined, and it was found that the plates on the starboard were broken, and the compartments on that side of the ship were flooded.

Captain Smith gave orders to the wireless telegraphist to send out a signal for help. "All passengers on deck with lifebelts on," was sounded aloud. Mr. Beesely in his narrative says: "We all walked up slowly with the lifebelts tied on over our clothing, but even then we presumed that this was merely a wise precaution the captain was taking, and that we should retire in a short time and go to bed."

Mr. Bride, the wireless telegraphist, states that on receiving instructions from Captain Smith to send the call for help, "We all made light of the disaster, and it was some time before we learned its seriousness." The lifeboats and collapsible boats were lowered, and the women and children placed in them. The "Titanic" rolled helplessly in the sea until 2.20 on Monday morning, when the icy waters reached her boilers and she sank.

As the ill-fated vessel went down bow foremost to the bottom of the ocean, "There fell on our ears," said a survivor, "the most appalling noise that human being ever heard, the cries of hundreds of our fellow-beings struggling in the icy water crying for help, with a cry that we knew could not be answered."

At four o'clock on Monday morning the "Carpathia" arrived and rescued 705 persons from a watery grave. Four members of the "Titanic's" crew who had manned the life-boats were frozen to death, with their fingers still clutching the oars they had been pulling. Many thrilling instances of heroism and bravery are recorded. Just before the "Titanic" sank the band assembled on the deck and played "Nearer, my God, to Thee." Colonel Gracie, of the American Army, speaking of his rescue on a raft tells that they "prayed through all the weary night, and there never was a moment when our prayers did not rise above the waves. Men who seemed long ago to have forgotten how to address their Creator, recalled the prayers of their childhood, and murmured them over and over again."

The wreck of the "Titanic" teaches the importance of being ready to meet God. Little did those on board the vessel apprehend how near they were to eternity. They had no idea of the terrible danger to which they were exposed. "Nobody wanted to go into the boats. Every one was saying, 'what's the use?'" was the testimony of one of the rescued. If called into eternity as you read these lines, where would you spend it? Face the question fairly and find out your real condition. Saved or unsaved? Converted or unconverted? Which?

The "Titanic" disaster shows the importance of escaping from sin's penalty in God's way. When some entered the life-boats to get away from the doomed vessel a passenger exclaimed, "The ship cannot sink; you'll get your death of cold out there amid the ice." And no wonder the narrator adds, "In these circumstances some of the boats went away with few passengers." Numbers of the passengers on board the "Titanic" seemed to have had faith in the unsinkability of the vessel and refused to enter the life-boats! We hope the reader is not trusting to his "good works," prayers, or sacramental observances to obtain God's pardoning mercy. No one can enter heaven on the ground of what he has done, felt, or experienced, for sinners are justified by faith in the Redeemer's blood, apart from works (Rom 5.1). God justifies ungodly sinners who believe on the Saviour. "To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom 4.4,5). "Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2.9).

God is at this very moment stretching out His hand to deliver you. Will you leave the sinking ship and allow Him to save you from unending woe? There were not sufficient life-boats or rafts for the passengers and crew of the "Titanic," and many perished on this account. The Lord Jesus is able and willing to save. He came from the heights of glory to the cross of Calvary for the express purpose of delivering us from the penalty and power of sin, and at this very moment He is waiting to deliver you from the abyss of woe. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16.31). He paid the ransom with His precious blood that He might redeem you and me from hell, and wrath, and woe. Why not then believe on Him and obtain forgiveness (Eph. 1. 7), eternal life (John 5.24), and justification (Acts 13.38,39)? "Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6.2). LOOK AND LIVE.