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Title: The sailor's Sabbath
or, A word from a friend to seamen
Author: Titus Coan
Release date: August 14, 2026 [eBook #79364]
Language: English
Original publication: Honolulu: Hawaiian Tract Society, 1846
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/79364
Credits: Shawn Carraher (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SAILOR'S SABBATH ***
THE SAILOR’S SABBATH;
OR
A WORD FROM A FRIEND TO SEAMEN.
[Illustration: Boat]
BY REV. TITUS COAN,
MISSIONARY AT HILO, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Honolulu, Oahu:
PUBLISHED BY THE HAWAIIAN TRACT SOCIETY
1846.
THE SAILOR’S SABBATH.
It is a bright feature of the present age, that truth, philanthropy
and love, are extending their influences to all classes of men. Among
the many objects of benevolent interest the seaman is not forgotten.
His temporal and eternal wants have found a place in the hearts of
the good. An earnest desire is enkindled in the souls of Christians,
to promote the happiness of his whole being--physical, civil, social,
intellectual and moral.
This is true of those who ride upon the mountain billow, and brave
the loud tempest of mid-ocean; of those who plow the bosom of inland
seas, or thread the sinuous coast; and also of those who glide along
the more quiet waters of rivers and canals. To this class of men, and
more especially to those connected with the _Whaling service_ and their
friends, the writer would address a few remarks.
Having been, for more than 20 years, conversant with this vigorous
and enterprising portion of our race, he is happy to say that, among
the numerous sons of the deep, there are not a few of enlightened,
elevated, noble and generous minds, as well as many sincere Christians.
Still, it is an undeniable and an affecting fact, that the great mass
of seafaring men, are very far from that high standard of excellence,
both moral and intellectual, which they might attain. Such improvement
and elevation of character as we desire, would carry in it _a double
blessing_; for while it inspired in the sailor self-respect, and
clothed him with respectability--while it augmented his happiness in
time, and prepared him for a bright immortality, it would also convert
him into a friend, a benefactor, and an angel of light to the nations.
Notwithstanding all that oratory and poetry have said and sung of the
generous and splendid qualities of the sailor, still such eulogies must
be received with much abatement. There is more of fiction, flattery
and romance, than of _sober truth_ in them. Jack, after all, has
wandered far from his home and his God. The winds of temptation, like
a pressing tempest, have driven him wide from a heavenward course, and
the currents of passion have carried him far from the haven of peace.
The ocean is covered with _wrecks_--not of _ships_, but of _men_--of
men who have broken the ties of country and of kindred--of _sons_ who
have sundered the strong cords of a mother’s soul--of _brothers_ who
have crushed a tender sister’s heart--of _husbands_ who have wantonly
violated the most sacred conjugal vows--of _citizens_ who have trampled
on the obligations of allegiance, quenched the fires of patriotism, and
plunged into folly and crime. And now, impelled by fear or shame; by
remorse or revenge; by desperation or reckless daring, they have left
their native shores, hoping to bury their crimes and their names in the
vast and profound solitudes of ocean, or forget themselves amidst the
strangeness and the bustle of distant realms. In this catalogue may be
found many a once fair professor of religion, who has violated the most
solemn covenant vows ever witnessed and recorded by High Heaven, and
who is now plunging deeper into sin, and hurrying on to a more fearful
doom than the dark-souled pagan. This picture, of course, applies to a
portion only of seafaring men; but the great mass need reformation on
certain important points connected with morality. Among the many which
might be named, the only one now selected as the subject of this essay,
is, _The violation of the Lord’s Day by Seamen generally; but more
especially by those connected, directly or remotely, with the Whaling
service._
It were easy to show from all history, from observation, and from
innumerable _facts_, that the highest state of civilization,
refinement, enterprise, intelligence and temporal prosperity, can never
exist without the Sabbath. And the _world_ may be challenged to produce
a single instance of a nation, either ancient or modern, which has,
without a Sabbath, maintained a pure and unsullied virtue, a sound and
vigorous morality, and a spiritual and heavenly religion. Among all
nations, and in all time, public and private virtue, and “pure and
undefiled religion,” have flourished or declined as the Sabbath has
been sacredly kept or wantonly desecrated. Whoever, therefore, shall
throw his whole influence on the side of a proper observance of this
sacred day, will be a friend and a benefactor of mankind; and he who
throws his influence into the opposite scale, is a practical enemy to
his race.
We will now proceed to apply these remarks by an appeal to that class
of men who are engaged or interested in a seafaring life, especially to
those connected with the whaling service.
I. Our first inquiry is, _Why do ships so often leave port on the
Lord’s Day?_
It has been said--and probably with truth--that more ships leave port
on the Sabbath than on any other day of the week. Now why is this?
Does it merely _happen_? or is it done through carelessness and want
of consideration? Is it done to pain the hearts of a Sabbath keeping
community, and to insult the “Lord of the Sabbath?” Or do the breezes
of heaven blow more favorably and more wooingly on that hallowed day?
Are seamen in _haste_ to leave parents, brothers, sisters, wives,
children and companions? Do they feel impatient of _one day’s delay_
amidst sanctuaries, and Christian privileges, and the cherished scenes
of a loved land? Or do they esteem it an act of pious and exhilirating
devotion, to spread their white canvas to the winds of heaven, and
to move forth upon the bosom of the _great deep_ amidst the chime
of church going bells, the solemn peals of the organ, and the glad
anthems of the saints? But how often have these slighted melodies been
the _prelude_ to the mariner’s death knell! How often have they but a
little preceded the funeral dirge which the howling winds have swept
over the sailor’s watery grave! And what assurance has the seaman who
thus launches forth upon the stormy sea, to pursue his worldly schemes,
in open disregard of the command, “_Remember the Sabbath day to keep
it holy_,” that he will ever again enter the hallowed precincts of the
sanctuary, or hear any more the voice of the messenger of peace?
Again we ask; and why does the mariner leave a peaceful port on the
Lord’s Day? Does he flatter himself that it will be approved or
overlooked by Him who has commanded us to keep this day holy? “The
winds and the sea obey” the Sabbath’s Lord, and why not _man_ for whom
the Sabbath was made--who was created in the image of the Eternal,
endowed with reason, loaded with favors, and invested with the
prerogatives of immortality? Why should a dependent creature disregard
the will of his protector and benefactor, or offend that “God in whose
hand his breath is?” or provoke that power on whose fiat hangs all
destiny? or rush upon the high helmet of Him “_Who rides and thunders
through the sky_?” It cannot be that seamen are under the influence of
that false and foolish proverb, “The better the _day_ the better the
_deed_!”
One says, that “By _delaying_ we may lose a fair wind.” True--and it
is equally true that you may not. Sometimes you will _lose_ and at
other times you will _gain_ a fair wind by a few day’s delay. Ships
often beat out of port on the Lord’s Day, against a _head wind_, and
sometimes they are _towed_ out by three, four or five boats, in a _dead
calm_, when, had they remained quietly in port, a fair and favoring
breeze would have carried them out on Monday.
Another says, “One day’s delay may make a great difference in our
voyage.” _True_--and this difference may be for the better or it may
be for the worse. One day earlier may greatly expedite a voyage by
securing a good wind and fair weather, or it may lead into a calm, or
drive your ship into a storm which shall shatter her and hurry all on
board into a watery tomb. These are all _contingencies_ with which we
have nothing to do, and on which true philosophy and true faith will
not speculate. All that concerns us is _to do right_, and in doing this
we need fear no evil.
“But,” says one, “We must sail when we are ready. We should be blamed
for lying in port after the ship is ready for sea.” Now this, in most
cases, is a mere subterfuge--especially where whalers go into port for
refreshments. Whale ships lie in port from one to four weeks, according
to the pleasure of the master--the term may be prolonged or shortened
at his discretion--and he may, usually, fix on any day he chooses in
the week for sailing, without fear of being called to account for
stopping _one day too long_. This then, as every one knows, is not the
difficulty.
Among a certain class of men there is a strange and unaccountable
rage for sailing on the Lord’s day. This rage--to say nothing of its
immorality--is often ridiculous. For example. A ship is about ready
to sail on _Friday_; but “Friday is an _unlucky_ day,” and no prudent
mariner--who would nail a _horse shoe_ to his main-mast or in his
cabin, “to keep the _witches_ off”--would think of sailing on that
day; as there are more tales of hurricanes, shipwrecks, and disastrous
voyages, in consequence of leaving port on _Friday_, than of all the
ghosts and witchcraft of New England. And now, as “_the bad day_”
must be passed in port, and as “Sunday is the most fortunate day for
sailing;” and moreover, as “one day will not make much difference in
a long voyage,” Jack is allowed to take things easily, while “the Old
Man” spends Saturday in making calls, bidding farewells, and “doing up
last things,” ready to sail “early Sunday morning.”
Should the tables turn, however, and should any delay or disappointment
in business make it difficult to be ready for sea on the Lord’s Day,
then every nerve is strained to its utmost tension. Jack is at work
early and late--all is hurry and confusion--little things are left
undone--ship-stores, freight, etc., are thrown pell-mell into the hold
and on deck--the sailor or the passenger must take his linen wet from
the tub of his washer-woman, or leave it behind; and sometimes the poor
laundress is “left in the lurch” without her hard-earned wages, and
“_the ship must go to sea_,” as if the salvation of a world depended on
her sailing on this day. This practice is, however, less prevalent than
formerly. Many noble-minded and conscientious ship masters are setting
a better example. May _all_ soon follow it.
II. Our second inquiry is, _Do owners of whale ships know that their
vessels whale on the Lord’s Day?_
It has been said that they do; and not only so, but that they _approve_
of and _expect_ it. And, furthermore, it is affirmed by many, that
they absolutely _require_ it as one of the conditions on which they
give their ships to their commanders. It is also said, that many of
these ship owners are members of evangelical churches in Nantucket, New
Bedford, Fair Haven, New London, Warren, Newport, and other places.
Some owners it is said, say nothing to their captains on the subject,
and if their ships do but return _full_ no inquiries are made how or
on _what days_ the oil was obtained. Now and then a shrewd Yankee
Captain “guesses that his pious owners have no objections to his taking
oil _when he can get it_.” A full ship fills the heart with joy, and
lights up the countenance with an approving and benignant smile; while
a half-filled ship often clouds the brow, excites the spleen, fills
the biliary ducts, and disturbs the joyful and generous action of the
heart. Especially would this be so, had the crew of the half-filled
ship been permitted to rest one day in seven, “according to the
commandment.”
On land, “the man-servant and the maid servant, the ox and the
ass,” may rest on the Sabbath. But other laws prevail on the sea.
Here all the servants of Mammon--animate and inanimate--agents and
instruments--must work whenever the master calls. The head, the heart,
the lungs, the bones, sinews and muscles; together with the ships,
boats, oars, harpoons, lines, lances, spades, caldron, fuel, _every
thing_, must be taxed in the all-absorbing effort to secure a little
filthy lucre on the Lord’s Day. Were our whaling masters and officers
all open and avowed infidels, then this course would be consistent with
their principles. But how shall we reconcile it with the principles
of those who profess to believe the Scriptures, and especially with
professors of religion? No wonder that the scoffer scoffs, and the
keen-eyed sceptic thinks he sees _insincerity_, _inconsistency_, if not
a little spice of _infidelity_ in these professors.
Occasionally a master, an officer or a sailor, hints that he would
be glad to rest on the Sabbath according to the dictates of his
conscience; but this he may not do but at the risk of losing his ship
and being thrown out of employment. When masters and officers are
reasoned with on this subject, most of them will frankly acknowledge
that the practice is wrong, and utterly indefensible on all moral
principles. “But,” say they “our _owners_ are in the fault, _you
should begin with them_, they can stop it if they will.” Very well. We
have begun with the owners, just as we are told to do; but this very
advice of masters and seamen reminds us of a principle of our depraved
natures, viz: a disposition to excuse or to palliate our crimes by
casting the blame on others. When our first parents fell, Adam threw
the sin upon Eve, and she, in her turn, reproached the serpent as the
author of her transgression; but the poor devil had no one on whom to
lay his load. The same principle still holds true after a lapse of near
6,000 years--consequently, when the sailor is charged with deliberate
Sabbath breaking, he throws the blame upon the master and officers, and
they turn it over upon the owners; and the question now arises, on whom
will the _owners_ throw _their_ responsibility?
But perhaps these owners, at least the _religious_ part of them, are
slandered by those in their employ. This, surely, is _possible_, as it
is a part of the legacy of the pious that “their names shall be cast
out as evil.” Moreover, those who are caught in bad business will
often manage to transfer their guilt to others rather than bear it
themselves, or relieve themselves of the load by reformation. Should
any ship owner feel that an evil and groundless report has been raised
against him, he will find it easy to refute it by taking all proper
measures to prevent his ships from whaling, &c. on the Lord’s Day,
and by securing to all in his employ the _privilege_, at least, of
“remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” And may God speed all
those who honestly set their hearts to this good work.
III. Our next inquiry is, _Do professors of religion engage in Sabbath
Whaling?_
It is truly gratifying to know that there are pious ship masters,
both in the whaling and the merchant service, who make it a rule
never to leave port or to do any unnecessary business on the Lord’s
Day. There are a few whale ships whose boats are never lowered to
pursue the leviathans of the deep on the Sabbath. No “_look out_” is
kept “at masthead,” and no man on board is compelled to break the
laws of his maker. These are bright spots upon a dark ocean. They are
cheering stars in the seaman’s lowering firmament. They are heralds and
harbingers of day to the benighted and tempest-driven mariner. To such
masters, and to all who co-operate with them, we would say:
“Launch thy bark, mariner--
Christian, God speed thee--
Let loose the rudder band--
Good angels lead thee.”
But, on the other hand, it is painful to see a class of masters,
officers and seamen who are professors of the religion of the Lord
Jesus, and yet, who do not scruple to violate the sacred laws of
the Sabbath by engaging in one of the most arduous and perilous of
enterprises; and this too with no better excuse than the love of
gain. And, what is more painful still, some of these professedly
pious gentlemen, defend this wicked practice with a tenacious
stubbornness--and sometimes _bitterness_ even--such as is rarely seen
among those who make no pretensions to piety. Some will even go so
far as to say, “It is as much our duty to whale on Sunday as to pray
or read our Bibles.” Such expressions mark an obtuseness of moral
perceptions, or a perverseness of heart not a little shocking to
Christians of tender consciences. Nor will such remarks ever fall from
the lips of one who “sets God always before him,” and who lives each
day in readiness to meet the Son of Man. Should the messenger of death
enter the ship on the Sabbath, what reflecting seaman would not prefer
to meet him with his Bible in his hand, or on his knees, rather than be
overtaken by him while pursuing his mighty prey upon the bosom of the
deep, only to be hurried headlong and quivering before his Judge by the
flukes or the jaws of this mad leviathan? “Blessed is that servant whom
his Lord, when he cometh, shall find _watching_.”
Some professedly pious captains, in order, perhaps, to hush the
upbraidings of conscience, attempt a sort of compromise with their
Maker, by laboring so to reconcile “God and Mammon” as to be able to
serve both. This class will agree to “do no _unnecessary_ work on the
Sabbath,” provided their own interested feelings, and the customs
of worldly men may determine what _is_ and what _is not_ necessary,
without reference to the word of God. Of course, all such will decide
at once, and as by intuition, that _Sabbath whaling is a work of
necessity_. Others go still farther. They will consent to be very
pious and hold religious meetings on the Sabbath, +WHEN THERE ARE NO
WHALES+. Of course they always keep a man at “masthead,” on the “_look
out_” for the oil of joy to the whaleman, while the rest _look up_ for
“an unction from the Holy One,”--or, in other words, one man looks out
for _worldly_, while the rest look up for _heavenly_ good. Now, should
it so happen, that the prayer of this +MAST-HEAD MINISTER+ should be
first granted, by “raising a whale” during Divine service, and should
he, from his lofty pulpit, cry out “+There she blows!+” then what a
thrill of joy electrifies all his hearers! How soon the lesser desire
yields to the greater! How quick and how thrilling the response from
the quarter, “+Where away! Lower the boats! Bear-a-hand boys!+” Now
the scene changes. Devotion does not _cease_, but it is turned into
_another channel_. Prayer, reading, sacred melody, exhortation--all
give place to the _weightier matter_ of pursuing this MOVING SEA GOD!
The _object of devotion_ thus changed, _interest_, _zeal_, _fervor_,
_energy_, are all quickened and strongly developed.
True, most irreligious men ridicule this kind of piety, and heartily
despise its selfishness and inconsistency. Still, this pious Sabbath
whaler, defends his position by saying “Christians must expect to be
persecuted for righteousness’ sake. The wicked are always watching
professors of religion and sporting with their faults.” Very well. If
these religious Sabbath breakers are sure that they are serving God
by whaling on his holy day, then let them take courage in spite of
the scoffs and sneers of the wicked world, for Christ has said to his
disciples, “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”
Lord’s Day whalemen often complain that it is hard to maintain
religion, and especially so, to keep up Divine service at sea. No doubt
it is hard, and perhaps it is _impossible_ to exercise _true religion_
in connection with Sabbath breaking. The two cannot be reconciled. “No
man can serve two masters. _Ye cannot serve God and Mammon._”
A clergyman was once invited to preach on board a whale ship. The hour
for service having arrived, Capt. ---- said to the officer of the deck,
“Mr. ---- call all hands aft.” The crew were soon assembled in the
cabin. An “old salt” remaining behind, the Captain inquired, “Where is
S----?” “Down in the hold, sir--says he won’t come to meeting, sir?”
He was then called again, but to no effect. He had gone down into the
blubber hold, and entrenched himself, like a giant in his castle, or
a lion in his lair. He was reasoned with, but all to no purpose. He
refused to be routed. In his den he sat--and in his den he growled
defiance--“_I won’t come up_.” On this the officer left him and
reported to the captain.
The clergyman now asked liberty to go himself and invite the old man
in the blubber hold. This granted, he proceeded to the hatchway and
kindly invited the iron-hearted tar to come up and attend service. For
a moment the old man was silent, but it was only the silence of a dark
cloud while it gathers strength for a burst and a roar. At length he
raised his stern brow, and with a look of defiance brawled out, “_No! I
won’t go!_” A gentle effort was then made to soften his rigid nerves,
but Jack was not to be taken either by storm or stratagem. Again he
roared out, “_I tell you no! I won’t go there!_” On being asked
the reasons for his prejudice against religious services, he again
thundered out--“I don’t want any of Captain ----’s religion! One Sunday
it is all preach and pray, and the next Sunday it is _work! work! catch
whales! catch whales!_ I tell you I don’t want any _such_ religion.
_No! I won’t go aft to meetin’_, and that’s all about it!” The result
of this interview was reported to the captain, the services proceeded,
and old Jack remained in the blubber room.
IV. Our next inquiry is, _Do Clergymen in sea ports and Seamen’s
Chaplains preach against Sabbath Whaling?_
But why ask this question? Surely the ambassador of Christ will not
fail “to declare the whole counsel of God.” Surely the herald of
Heaven will keep back no part of his message. Surely the watchman on
the ramparts of Zion, will sound the trump of alarm on the approach of
danger. Surely the mariner’s friend will not fail to lift his warning
voice above the roar of the ocean, when he sees whole fleets steering
for a deadly reef, or driving into foaming breakers. Surely he will not
suffer the blood of the lost sailor to be required at his hands. Still,
it is possible, that through inattention to this subject, or through
the unconscious influence of false maxims and customs, some, otherwise
faithful ministers of the Lord Jesus, may have failed to discharge
their whole duty to this class of Sabbath breakers. Probably many good
ministers of the Gospel are not at all aware how extensively--how
nearly _universally_ the Sabbath is desecrated by whalemen.
But, we ask again, do ministers who are called to preach to ship owners
and seafaring men, labor to enlighten and reform them on this subject?
Very many masters, officers and seamen, assert that they never heard a
minister preach against Sabbath whaling until they came to the Sandwich
Islands; and some have even intimated that a clergyman who should be
faithful in reproving for this sin, would not stop long in New Bedford,
Nantucket, &c. Many seamen acknowledge the practice to be wrong, and
express surprise that chaplains and other ministers in sea ports do not
labor to break it up. Some who were members of evangelical churches in
the United States, have declared to the writer, that their pastors,
when questioned as to the morality of Sabbath whaling, have expressed
the opinion that, “_from the peculiarity of the circumstances_, it
might be right for them to pursue this business on the Lord’s Day!”
This amounted to practical advice, and greatly soothed the troubled
consciences of the pious sailors.
Not long since an article appeared in a Seaman’s Journal, purporting
to be an extract from the sermon of a seamen’s chaplain, in which
the sailor is taught that it is his duty to whale on the Sabbath
should his captain command it; and that he need not suffer his
_conscience_ to be troubled about it; that the master of the ship
takes the responsibility, &c. &c. Is this dealing faithfully with
men’s consciences? Does it, like the Bible, press every man with his
_individual_ and _untransferable_ responsibility? Will it lead each man
to feel the eternal, the immutable truth, _that he “must give account
of himself to God_”--that he must stand or fall to a greater than his
earthly master? Does it not look too much like “daubing with untempered
mortar”--like preaching “smooth things”--like seeking to please, or
fearing to displease men--and like “crying peace when there is no
peace?”
But, perhaps, some of these ministers are slandered by seamen.
Transgressors are ever seeking excuses or palliations for their sins,
and they feel ill at ease till they can persuade themselves or others,
that _some at least_ who are called good men, either practice as they
do, or approve of their conduct. Many fearless and faithful ministers,
and many editors of Christian journals, are not aware of the painful
extent to which the sailor is deprived of his Sabbath, nor of the
fearful and wide-spread moral evils which flow from the desecration of
this sacred day by this class of men.
Were their attention once turned to the subject, and a sufficient array
of facts brought before their minds, they would, at once, speak out in
tones which should arouse a community which has too long slumbered over
the immeasurable interests of seamen. The sailor needs a Sabbath. His
whole nature--physical, social, intellectual and moral, needs it; and
every true friend--philanthropist, minister and Christian, will rejoice
to see this boon of Heaven restored to him.
When the pulpit and the press in our sea ports shall become the trumpet
of Jehovah, sounding forth the high sanctions of the Sabbath, and
kindly calling on all the weary and storm-rocked sons of ocean, to
_rest_ from their toils on that holy day, and to worship and adore
Him who made the deep and the dry land, then may we hope that the time
_hastens_ when “the abundance of the sea shall be converted to God.”
Then may we look for the day when the peaceful Sabbath sun, as it
gilds with golden glory the ocean’s horizon, shall be joyfully hailed
by ten-thousands of happy seamen; and when the glad anthem of praise
shall, like an incense cloud, roll upward from the bosom of every ocean
and sea and navigable water of the world.
V. We now ask, _Do Churches discipline their members for whaling, &c.
on the Sabbath?_
By the arrangement of Christ, and by the common consent of Christendom,
ministers of the Gospel and Christian churches, are the public and
practical expounders of the Word of God. It follows, of course, that
the doctrines and practices of the great mass of Christian professors,
will form the standard of morals, and furnish the code of appeal among
men. Consequently, if a mistake be made, an error propagated, or a
vice practised by Christians generally, this mistake, this error, or
this vice, will be viewed as harmless, adopted without scruple, and
practised without compunction by mankind. For illustration of this
statement we need only refer to the former views and practices of
Christians in relation to spirituous liquors, slavery, war, etc.
The world will slumber over any cherished sin so long as ministers of
the Gospel and Christian churches slumber over it. The world will call
darkness light, bitter sweet, and evil good, so long as ministers and
churches do not, in doctrine, discipline, and life, contradict them.
Now the command, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” is just
as clear and just as binding as any other law of the decalogue; and
its violation has called down as severe and terrible retribution on
individuals and on nations as the violation of any other command of
Jehovah. How then can a ship master, an officer or a common seaman,
who no more scruples to whale on the Lord’s Day than to eat his daily
food, be esteemed a member of an evangelical church, and receive a
certificate to that effect from his pastor? If we are to take the
_Bible_, and not the maxims and customs of men, for our rule of faith,
and our standard of morality, we might as well certify that the man who
steals or commits adultery, is in good and regular standing in the
church of Christ, as the professor who thus wilfully, deliberately, and
constantly tramples on the Sabbath. The same God who says, “Thou shalt
not steal,” &c., says also, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”
Traditions, maxims, customs, prejudices, doctrines and speculations of
men, do not change the +IMMUTABLE+ and +IMMACULATE+ laws of Heaven.
Should any church in a Christian land allow its members to engage,
on the Sabbath, in agriculture, manufactures or traffic, as on other
days of the week--or to _fish_ even, on the rivers, lakes and shores
of the country, that church would soon become a taunt and a proverb,
an execration and a derision among men. What then is the difference in
the morality of the thing, and what shields the professor from censure,
when the same worldly, money-seeking passion, is indulged on a _broader
scale_ upon the wide ocean?
The missionary church, just gathered from heathenism, would be looked
upon as a _burlesque_ and a _scandal_ upon the Christian name, were its
members allowed, without rebuke, to sail their canoes, drag their nets,
and ply their fishing tackle on the Lord’s Day. And yet the plea of
necessity, were it to be admitted at all, would be much more plausible
here than in the case of the whalemen. No, every one knows that _it is
not right_ to pursue this business as it is pursued by most whalers,
whether professors or non-professors.
And this evil is not confined, in its influences, to churches in
Christian lands. Its unhappy effects are also felt on heathen shores.
Take, for instance, the Hawaiian Islands. These are visited annually by
200 or 300 whale ships, most of whose masters wish to ship more or less
natives in the service. Consequently, not a few of the church members
are, by the hope of gain, lured to embark in an enterprise where the
law of Jehovah has less practical influence over the mind than the love
of money. This often brings the pastor into painful collision with
ship masters and other interested persons, as, from a sense of duty he
_cannot_, and _dare not_ neglect to teach his flock the sin of engaging
in a business in which they will be _driven_ to desecrate God’s holy
day.
Nor does the evil stop here. Church members who are thus enticed to
violate their solemn vows--by laboring on the Lord’s Day--must be
cut off from our fellowship, while many of their employers from
enlightened and Christian lands, are suffered to remain in regular
standing, and, so far as we can learn, unrebuked in their respective
churches. Ought these things so to be? Is this setting a _good_ or a
_bad_ example before these feeble, infant churches, just emerged from
the ruins of heathenism? Is this encouraging or opposing the efforts
of the benevolent to evangelize and bless the benighted pagan? Is this
pleasing to God, the Judge of all? Is it right or is it wrong? Let the
candid and the upright answer.
Were the whaling business conducted on Christian and liberal
principles, many of the best and most conscientious young men would
be encouraged to ship in the service, thus gaining for themselves an
honest and competent support, while they benefited their employers.
But, as the enterprise is now conducted, sincere Christians, who have
been faithfully instructed, and who duly regard their sacred vows to
Heaven, cannot engage in it with impunity.
VI. Our next inquiry is, Why do _Masters_ and _Officers_ whale on the
Lord’s Day?
One says, “I know it is not right any more than it is right to plant
potatoes on the Sabbath. But then it is _custom_. Every body does it,
and it is of no use for one to stop if others don’t. If all the rest
would give it up _I_ would!”
But you do not mean to say that you must do every thing that others
do; or that you cannot refrain from following _every custom_ around
you. Suppose you lived in a community where it was the _custom_ to lie,
swear, fight, steal and get drunk, would it not do for you to refrain
from such customs till _all_ did so? Scoffing was a custom in the time
of Noah, and God poured a flood of wrath upon the custom. “Filthy
conversation” and “unrighteous deeds” were the custom of the Sodomites,
and God rained a deluge of fiery ruin upon the people. But did Noah and
Lot gain nothing by abjuring the customs of their times? No! no! This
plea of custom is a weak one--it will not do. All that an independent,
self-respecting, God-honoring man will do in such cases is, to
determine whether a practice is _right_, and, if not, to abstain from
it, _custom to the contrary notwithstanding_. There is honor, there is
dignity, there is moral sublimity in this. What glory irradiates the
brows, and what sacred veneration enshrines the memories of the _bold
pioneers_--the _leaders of high resolve_ in the cause of human freedom,
of temperance and of philanthropy. A noble soul, endowed with decision,
independence, manliness, courage and benevolence, will stem the current
of popular opinion and abjure prevailing customs, when that opinion and
those customs are opposed to truth and righteousness. The timid and
the weak may sail before a gentle breeze, float down stream or drift
with the tide; but to stem the strong current, and to struggle in the
teeth of the tempest, require the nerved arm and the strong heart. And
how much more honorable _to lead_ in entering a deadly breach, and
in storming a castled foe, than timidly to follow in the rear of a
victorious army, simply to share in the spoils.
But _custom_ is not the only excuse. The master often says that his
_officers_ would be unwilling to abandon Sabbath whaling, and the
officers, in their turn, think that the _captain_ would not consent to
such an arrangement. Now this is often so: neither master nor officers
are willing to give up the practice. They understand each other, and,
like Ananias and Sapphira, agree together to sin against the Lord. Let
them look to that matter.
Now and then a master may be found who is _truly willing_ to renounce
this business; but his officers oppose. Again, there are officers who
would sincerely rejoice to reform this practice, but the captain will
not consent. This renders the case truly unpleasant; but to the man who
fears God there is but one course to take. Let him say to those who
would compel him to violate his conscience, “Whether it be right in the
sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” Acts,
4: 19.
Sometimes it is objected that the _crew_ would not consent to renounce
Sabbath whaling. They would murmur, mutinize, etc. As every one knows
that the master commands and controls the ship, it is enough simply to
_state_ this excuse without comment.
“But,” says one, “we are a long way from home.” And is that a reason
why you should sin? What if you should never reach home! Would it not
be well to seek a “better country?” You may be near your “_long home_,”
and will Sabbath whaling prepare you for it.
“But,” says another, “our voyages are long at the best, and we wish to
shorten them as much as possible that we may get back to our friends.”
True--but how do you _know_ that Sabbath whaling will hasten your
return. It is with the Lord whether your voyage be a long or a short,
a prosperous or a disastrous one. He is able to return you to your
friends, or to send you “to that bourn whence no traveller returns.”
Will it not be wise to bear in mind this truth, viz: you will shortly
embark on a longer voyage and on a shoreless ocean.
Again, it is said by another, “_We must get a living._” Then it is to
_save life_ that you work on the Lord’s Day. And how much longer will
you live by working _seven_ instead of _six_ days in a week? Did a man
ever starve because he did not work on the Sabbath?
“But,” replies another, “we have _families_ to support--we must not
let them starve. It is our duty to take oil when we can get it.” And
_is your family in a state of starvation_? And do their lives and
health depend on your Sabbath whaling? Then, certainly, your excuse is
plausible. It will never do to let your wives and children suffer and
perish for want of a little extra effort on your part, even though it
be on the Lord’s Day. But how happens it that this excuse is as often
made by the full fed as by the hungry--by the man worth $50,000 as
often as by the man worth only $5? How piously men will sometimes talk
in order to justify a wicked practice, and to make others believe what
they do not believe themselves!
Next comes up another, and with great assurance asks, “Why does God
send whales on the Sabbath if he does not wish us to take them?” This
excuse, if it be any thing short of profanity, is almost too absurd to
call for a serious reply. As well might the Arabian robber ask why God
sends the caravan in the desert, or the ocean pirate inquire why the
Almighty brings the merchant ship within the range of his guns and his
pikes, unless it be to gratify his thirst for plunder.
But there is another and a more formidable obstacle in the way of the
master and officers, and that is, the known or supposed will of the
_owners_ that their ships should whale on the Sabbath. This, to many,
seems an _insuperable difficulty_. “The owners,” say they, “_require
it_.” And is it so? What! require that which the master does not
require of his slave, the manufacturer of his operatives, or any other
employer of his laborers--nay more, what a man does not require of his
horse and his ox! And is it true that the ship owner demands that
which the laws of his country do not require, and that which the laws
of Heaven forbid! Is it possible that he has framed a law which reads
thus--“_Seven_ days shalt thou labor and do all _my_ work; and when
these are ended, thou shalt labor other seven days, and thus on till
the voyage is over, for there is no Sabbath at sea--there is no rest
for the sailor.”
It is a common remark of masters and officers, “If we should refuse
to whale on the Sabbath we should never get another ship. We must
please our owners or we are out of business.” Then it would be better
to be out of business. Yea it would be better to beg your bread from
door to door, than to grow rich by doing wrong. “Ye _cannot serve two
masters_.” If ship owners are so illiberal and oppressive as not to
allow a Sabbath to those in their employ, then it is time that all
good and honest men seek business in which they may act up to the
dictates of their consciences. Masters have been heard to say, “Our
owners are church members, but they would never give their ships to
any who would not whale on Sunday.” For the honor of such men it is to
be hoped that this is a mistake. But, if it be true, it only furnishes
an illustration of the assertions--“The love of money is the root of
all evil.” “He that _maketh haste_ to be rich shall not be innocent;”
and “they that _will be rich_ fall into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and
perdition.”
VII. We next inquire why common seamen whale on the Lord’s day.
This is a question of deep interest, as it must effect the temporal and
eternal well being of many thousands of sailors.
Perhaps most whale men never stop to ask why they do it. It is a
_custom_ and they fall in with it. It is _commanded_ and they do it.
But why the custom and the command? “The Sabbath was made for man”--for
man _generic_, i. e. for _all men_. Why, then, is there no Sabbath
for the sailor? No day which he can call his own? No day on which he
may not be required to perform the most arduous and perilous labors?
No day on which he may rest his weary limbs? No day on which he may
retire with his Bible and his God, and feel the calm consciousness of
relaxation from toil, and the assurance that, during these peaceful
hours, no mortal may control his muscles or his mind?
It is true that many, and perhaps, _most_ sailors, are willing to whale
on the Sabbath. Of course such must bear their own responsibility.
But it is also true, that a goodly number would prefer _not to labor
on that day_.--Hundreds of young men are annually shipped from the
country. Among these are sometimes found, sober, moral and pious men,
who have been taught by religious parents and Christian ministers, to
“remember the Sabbath.” Many of these have shipped without dreaming
that the service required them to disregard their early instructions,
violate the dictates of conscience and trample on a plain command of
Jehovah. But what shall they do?--Shall they claim the privileges which
the great Creator granted in the beginning, equally to all men? This
is denied them! Shall they plead conscience in this matter? This only
exposes them to ridicule or to cursing! One mightier than themselves
has taken their consciences, their bodies and souls into his own
keeping. A mortal has usurped the prerogative of the Eternal, and the
trembling sailor must submit in silence. His obedience, his fear, his
allegiance, and all his moral obligations have been transferred to a
fellow worm. On shore all laborers have a _legal right_ to rest one
day in seven; nor do they find it necessary to _stipulate beforehand_
with their employers to that effect. Common law, common custom, common
consent, common sense, all award them this privilege, and they take it
as Heaven’s boon to all, and without crouching to ask it as a favor
at the hand of man. But at sea all is changed. The ship is a little
absolute despotism, and the sailor must know no duty paramount to
“_ship duty_.” All will acknowledge that the master should command the
ship and govern the crew, and, that the sailor should know his place,
obey all proper orders, and cheerfully and faithfully discharge every
_real duty_ to his master and to the ship. Nor need this interfere with
his freedom of conscience and his duty to his Creator. The laws of God
are _prior_ and _paramount_ to all human rules and regulations; and let
a ship only be governed with an honest regard to this incontrovertible
truth, and no conscientious sailor would find his heart in conflict
with the commands of his superiors whom he truly wishes to respect and
obey. It is clear that some things should be done on the Sabbath,
such, for instance, as the preservation of life, health and happiness,
all of which will imply a proper and necessary care of the ship. Every
wise, liberal and Christian commander, will discriminate between things
really necessary to be done on this day and those which imagination, or
caprice, or custom, or the love of gain, have stamped with the false
name of necessary.
It has been remarked that serious and pious men sometimes ship in the
whaling service. Others, again, become thoughtful at sea. By reading
the Bible, or some other religious book or tract, by listening to
preaching, while in some foreign port, or by some other call or agency
of Providence, the sailor’s attention may be arrested. Perhaps the
sudden death of a shipmate, or the reading of a letter from a pious
mother or sister, has solemnized his mind and softened his heart. He
feels the importance of religion and the need of a preparation to meet
his God. But what can he do? The rules of his ship require of him that
which the voice of his conscience and the laws of Heaven forbid. A
determination “to obey God rather than man,” brings upon him a mingled
tempest of ridicule and wrath. This storm he feels unable to breast. In
his inexperience, in the absence of all human counsel and sympathy, and
amidst the many trials of his situation, his flesh and his heart shrink
from the unequal conflict. He cannot bring his mind to the holy and
high resolve to obey the instructions of Christ, “Fear not them that
kill the body but are not able to kill the soul.” Instead of this, “the
fear of man brings a snare” upon him. For a little while he struggles
with his convictions of duty, and then gives up the conflict. He breaks
the command, sears his conscience and sinks into stupidity. He may hold
on to a perishing hope, or he may go back to the world, and become
“ten-fold more the child of hell than before.” Hence the ruinous remark
which has passed into a proverb among seamen--“There can be no religion
at sea.”
What, then, can the pious sailor do? He should understand that “to fear
God and keep his commandments is the whole duty of man.” He should
meekly, respectfully and manfully claim his birthright to one day in
seven; and if this be denied him, he should, as some have done, calmly
and patiently suffer persecution “for righteousness sake,” and for
conscience sake. He should fear God rather than man, and “in well
doing commit the keeping of his soul to him as a faithful Creator.” He
should cast his burden on that Almighty arm which will one day plead
his cause and redress his wrongs. Better that the flesh be cut with the
lash, or boiled in the caldron, than that the soul be cast into hell,
“Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.”
This may be called “preaching mutiny and encouraging insubordination
among seamen.” Nothing, however, is farther from the heart of the
writer, or from the true interpretation of these remarks. In fact, no
true Sabbath keeping seaman ever did or ever will engage in mutiny.
This conduct may be expected only from those who do not fear God
or regard his Sabbaths. But it will be sufficient to reply to such
an ungenerous insinuation, that _if this be mutiny_, then Daniel,
Shadrach, Paul, Peter, yea, all the prophets and apostles, and even
Christ himself preached and practiced the same doctrine.
VIII. We next ask, Have ship-masters a right to compel their crews to
whale on the Sabbath?
The only legitimate answer to this question is _no_. 1st. Because
the sailor has signed no papers, bonds, instruments, or anything
else whatsoever, in which he promises to whale seven days in a week.
And moreover, as has been remarked, many do not know at the time of
shipping, that such is the practice among whalemen.
2d. Because the civil law does not grant this power to the master. The
laws of most Christian States distinctly recognize the Lord’s day, and
offer protection to all who wish to observe it. Nowhere, in a free and
Christian community, are common laborers compelled by the civil power,
to toil on the Sabbath. Wherever the law speaks on this subject, it
lifts its voice in favor of a day of rest for the weary laborer, and
offers no encouragement to the oppressor who would take this boon from
him.
3d. Because the Almighty never gave this power to the master.
In the beginning God gave the Sabbath to man--_to all men_ of _every
class_. It is Heaven’s rich legacy to all--It is _inalienable_,
and no man can take it from his fellow without entrenching on the
prerogatives of Jehovah. How then, shall the master of a ship have
power to disannul, or to suspend at pleasure, this statute of Heaven,
by refusing those under his command, the enjoyment of that day of
rest, which none but the Eternal King, who first gave the boon, can,
with impunity, take from them?
On many ships, there are individuals who feel that it is not right
to whale on the Lord’s Day, and they never do it but with troubled
consciences and uneasy hearts. Now, will a commander take the dread
responsibility of _forcing_ and _crushing_ such consciences? Will
he consent to pervert the power of his station to intimidate and
drive such men to do that, which they and other conscientious and
disinterested men, believe to be wrong? Such a spirit is _tyranny_--it
robs a man of a birth-right, as clearly inalienable as those of “_life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness_.” It is like driving a man
headlong over a beetling precipice.
It is said that Napoleon, in the height of his power, made this
singularly truthful assertion, “_My dominion ceases where that of
conscience begins._” Would all men in power _act_ on this principle,
bigotry, intolerance, oppression and persecution--social, civil and
religious, would soon cease from the earth.
No independent man would be willing to be _intimidated_, under penalty
of brute-force, to read his Bible, or to pray, or to attend Christian
worship on the Sabbath. Such an exertion of power would be complained
of as a palpable violation of personal right, and as an act of
intolerable tyranny. If then, he would not be driven, by compulsion, to
the discharge of a moral _duty_, why should any one exert the power of
a temporary station, in compelling men to _sin_? Masters little realize
the solemn responsibility they take upon themselves, in thus abusing
the authority with which they are invested. It were enough, for one to
break the Sabbath himself, _personally_, without compelling others to
do it. He would then bear only _his own individual responsibility_.
But the case assumes another and a more fearful aspect, when he
usurps the power to _coerce_ those under him to do the same. It is
sufficiently wicked to laugh and mock at men--impeach their motives,
call them “bigots, hypocrites, lazy dogs &c.,” because they express
scruples as to the morality of Sabbath whaling. What, then, is the
guilt of those who raise the rod of terror, to _drive_ men into this
sin? Nor does it at all relieve the case for the master to tell the
pious, conscience-troubled sailor, “you have nothing to say in this
matter, God will never punish you for doing your duty to the ship--I
will agree to take all the responsibility!” Take a stronger case: A
pious sailor ventures tremblingly into the presence of the master,
_to ask the privilege_ of “resting on the Sabbath day according to
the commandment.” His petition is presented in a meek and respectful
manner, and based upon the dictates of conscience and the instructions
of the Bible. He is met thus: “_Don’t open your head again on that
subject!--you teach the crew insubordination!--I can’t hear a word
about it!--if you will not do your duty, I will make you!--go forward
you * * * !_”
This is no fiction--painful cases like the above have occurred--and
some of a worse type, where a pious and inoffensive seaman has suffered
corporeal punishment for conscience sake. Other cases would occur,
should seamen assert their rights in this matter.
But the master who can take this course with the pious and sincere
sailor, possesses an unenviable character. He is too near of kin to
one who, after having beaten and cursed a part of his crew--calling
them after the name of _Balaam’s beast_, walked rapidly upon the
quarter deck, and while heated with passion, and inflated with the
consciousness of “a little brief authority,” exclaimed, “_I’ll let you
know that I am God Almighty of this little world!_” [the ship.]
Now there is no need of all this--there is no need of making “_ship’s
duties_” to conflict with _moral duties_. Every ship-master would soon
find his reward in keeping the Sabbath; not only in the approbation
of his own conscience, but in the obedience, the social happiness and
the improved morals of his crew. So long as seamen are not allowed a
Sabbath, so long will their general morals be bad, and their many vices
remain unchecked. This is true of every community on earth. Where men
are not taught to reverence the high authority of their maker, they
will have but little true and heart-felt respect for the authority
of man. Consequently, while this is so much the case at sea, owners,
masters, officers, and sailors to say nothing of many others, are
mutual sufferers in this common evil.
It is cheering, however, to know that there are many exceptions to
this dark picture. We trust that there are many masters and officers
who respect the laws of God and the rights of conscience. Such will
not drive those under their authority to sin against their Maker.
They understand that the doctrine of silent, implicit obedience to
all commands, without respect to right or wrong, may do for a machine
or a horse, but it will not do for a moral, accountable agent, as it
would lead to the wicked absurdity, that a pious sailor must turn
pirate should his master command it. Resistance to this dangerous and
unholy doctrine, threw Daniel into the den of lions, Shadrach and his
fellows into the burning furnace, Paul and the apostles into prisons,
martyrs into the flames, and the thirteen American colonies into “the
revolution.”
A few more objections, which have not been noticed in the preceding
pages, will close the subject.
Some say that they should never fill their ships without whaling on
the Sabbath. But how do they know that? Have they ever tried it?
There have been a few examples of Sabbath-keeping whalers, and their
success has been very much like that of others. But the subject
hitherto has been one of theory and vain speculation, rather than of
practical experiment. Let one-half of the whaling fleet practice on the
principle of keeping the Sabbath for ten years, and then look at their
comparative success. The question of pecuniary loss and gain would then
be settled on the impartial ground of facts. Till such trial shall have
been made, the objection is hasty, ex parte and gratuitous.
But should it be proved, which, as God is true, it never can be,
that the whaling business cannot be successfully prosecuted without
violating the commands of Jehovah, you will then have proved that it
should not be prosecuted at all; for no business is justifiable which
requires for its success the breach of any one of God’s laws.
But the question is not to be settled on the principle of pecuniary
loss and gain. Were we to admit this test, we might justify the
distiller, the rum seller, the smuggler, the robber, the slaver, and
the pirate. No! The question is to be tested by higher and holier
principles than the love of dollars and cents. Before we suffer
ourselves to be too much influenced by such mercenary and delusive
motives, it will be well to solve the question proposed by our
Savior--“What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world
and lose his own soul?”
Others say, “By refusing to whale on Sunday, we might lose our best
chances for taking oil. Sometimes we don’t see whales for a whole month
or more, then, all at once, we raise a school on the Sabbath, and, if
we let these go, we may not have another chance for months to come.”
This, to the anxious whaleman, looks like a hard case. He is weary
with waiting. “Hope deferred makes his heart sick.” He has not learned
to “_walk by faith_”--to trust in that _unseen_, that _faithful hand_
which holds all destiny, and which fills or empties our earthly cup of
pleasure. The love of gain, the desire of change, the hope of hastening
his return to his native land, all fill his mind, and he almost
persuades himself that God has sent these whales as a special favor,
and with a grant to spend the Sabbath in capturing them. He cannot now
feel the truth affirmed of God’s Commandments, that “In keeping them
there is great reward.” “No! No!” says the whaleman. “There will be
loss, great loss in it. We shall lose a _whale!_ perhaps a hundred
barrel whale! worth $2,000! That is more than poor men can afford to
lose!” My brother! you would not speak thus did you believe what God
has affirmed, that “Godliness is profitable to all things, having the
promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” You deny
that “In keeping the commandments there is great reward.” This you must
settle with your Maker and Judge.
Another asks, “What shall we do with the whale killed on Saturday?
We cannot try him out before the Sabbath, and if we wait till Monday
we shall lose him. Therefore, if we stop work on Sunday, we must on
Saturday also.” This objection looks plausible, to those not acquainted
with the facts in the case. But from extensive inquiries of masters and
officers in the whaling service, it is believed to be more imaginary
than real. Probably the cases would be rare where a whale, or any part
of a whale, would be lost by suspending the process of “boiling out”
from 12 o’clock on Saturday night till 12 on Sabbath night. At least,
this opinion has been expressed by many candid masters and officers.
But as we are not to test the question by the probabilities of temporal
loss and gain, it must, like all other moral subjects, be referred “To
the Law and the Testimony.” Does the Bible allow the whaler to “look
out for whales,” pursue whales, kill, cut in, and boil out whales on
the Sabbath, as on other days of the week? We all know better.
Another says, “There is no more harm in whaling than in attending to
the sails, and taking a trick at the wheel on the Sabbath.” As this
objection belongs to a class which appear more like quibbles than like
honest difficulties, it will be dismissed with two brief remarks. 1st.
If any sincere inquirer after truth will conscientiously break off from
the greater sin of Sabbath whaling, and do “the weightier matters of
the law,” he will not long be in the dark as to his duty in smaller
things; such as “tything of mint and anise,” etc. First, remove “the
beam” from the eye, and then “the mote” will be more clearly seen.
2d. If any sophist wishes to quibble on this subject, let him quibble
with _himself_.
The foregoing remarks have been written with great plainness and
freedom, but with the utmost candor and good will, and with an earnest
and sincere desire to promote the temporal and eternal welfare of all
concerned. In this light they will be received by every honest lover
of truth. None will be offended at their plainness, but those who are
determined to resist the light “because their deeds are evil.” The
sentiments herein expressed are those which the writer is willing to
meet, and those which every whaleman, and all others concerned, _will
meet at the Judgment Day_.
May the time hasten when the Sabbath sun shall be hailed joyfully by
every seaman--when the Bethel Flag shall wave aloft on every ship, and
when every ocean and sea shall echo the glad anthem of the sailor, as
his song of praise is borne on the breath of Heaven into the ear of Him
“who made the sea and the dry land.”
Transcriber’s Notes
For printer’s errors in punctuation, spelling, etc., only the changes
listed below were made.
_Italics_, +Small Caps+, and +ALL SMALL CAPS+ were converted as so.
On page 3, “wordly” was corrected to “worldly” in “to pursue his
worldly schemes”.
On page 4 “disasterous” was corrected to “disastrous” in “and
disastrous voyages”.
On page 7 “stubborness” was corrected to “stubbornness” in “with a
tenacious stubbornness”.
On page 8 “TEHRE” was corrected to “THERE” in “WHEN THERE ARE NO
WHALES”.
On page 15 an extra ending double quotation mark was removed from this
phrase: “murmur, mutinize,” etc.”
On page 19 “Evey” was corrected to “Every” in “Every wise, liberal”.
On page 19 “christian” was standardized to “Christian” in “Christian
commander”.
On page 21 “beatling” was corrected to “beetling” in “beetling
precipice”.
On page 21 “christian” was standardized to “Christian” in “to attend
Christian worship”.
On page 22 “Dont” was corrected to “Don’t” in “Don’t open your head
again”.
On page 22 “Baalam” was corrected to “Balaam” in “Balaam’s beast”.
On page 24 an extra ending double quotation mark was removed from the
end of the phrase “do with the whale killed on Saturday?”
On page 24 “_hismelf_” was corrected to “_himself_” in “let him quibble
with _himself_”.
