CHAPTER VI.

A number of men and women were sitting on the promenade deck forward engaged in an earnest discussion.  Just as Chester Lawrence came up and paused to listen, for it seemed to be a public, free-for-all affair, he noticed that Elder Malby was talking, directing his remarks to a young man in the group.

“What is your objective point?” the Elder asked.  “What do you live and work for?  What is your philosophy of life by which you are guided and from which you draw courage, hope, and strength?”

“Oh, I take the world as it comes to me day by day, trusting to luck, or to the Lord, perhaps I had better say, for the future,” replied the young fellow.

“What would you think of a captain of a vessel not knowing nor caring to know from what port he sailed or what port was his destination?  Who did not know the object of the voyage, knew nothing of how to meet the storms, the fog, the darkness of the sea?”

“Well, I’m not the captain of a ship.”

“Yes, you are.  You are the captain of your own soul, at least; and you may not know how many more souls are depending upon you for guidance in this voyage of life which we are all taking.”

“That’s right—­true,” agreed a number of by-standers.

“Say, mister,” suggested one, “tell us what you think of the propositions.  You seem able to, all right.”

“Well,” responded the elder, “I don’t want to preach a sermon that will bore you; but if the ladies and gentlemen here are interested I shall be pleased to give my views.”

“Sure—­go on,” came from others.

One or two found seats, as if they would rather sit through the ordeal, others following their example.  “Yes; it’s more comfortable,” agreed Elder Malby, as they drew their chairs in a circle.  Two people left, but two others came and took their places.

“I hope we are all Christians,” began the speaker, “at least so far that we believe the Scriptures; otherwise my arguments will not appeal to you.”

A number acknowledged themselves to be Christians.

“Then I may begin by saying that the purpose of this life-voyage of ours is that we might obtain the life eternal.  ‘This is life eternal’ that we might know God and His Son Jesus Christ who was sent to us.  If we know the Son we know the Father, for we are told that the Father has revealed Himself through the Son.  This Son we know as Jesus Christ who was born into the world as we were.  He had a body of flesh.  He was like us, His brethren; yet this Being, the Scriptures tell us, was in the ’form of God;’ that He was the ‘image of the invisible God;’ that He was ’in the express image of His Father’s person.’  When Jesus lived on the earth, one of His disciples asked Him, ‘Show us the Father.’  ’He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father,’ was the reply.  ’I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me.’”