[561] but as soon as he could speak he said: “General, let us go down to my stateroom.” As we started he added: “Come, my son, come with us.” As soon as he had entered his stateroom he knelt down by his berth and prayed, saying: “O Lord, when Thy disciples were on the sea and in trouble, Thou didst save them. Are we not Thy disciples? Please smooth the waves so that we shall not be drowned, and please send us a ship.” His son and myself followed Mr. Moody in prayer, also asking for God's mercy and blessing. Then Moody arose, sat on a high stool, and began to read the Ninety-first psalm. He paused while reading and smiling said: “That psalm seems made for just this occasion, doesn't it?”
After this, with very little delay, we went back to do whatever we could to comfort and cheer the people. Mr. Koop, whom I knew, had with him his wife and two daughters. Mrs. Koop almost immediately became delirious, but under the doctor's care was very soon quietly asleep. Mr. Koop said to me: “Do you think a man who hasn't been doing his duty ought to pray at such a time as this It seems a little ignoble, doesn't itt”
I answered: “Perhaps the trouble was permitted, so far as you are concerned, to lead you to pray.” Then I showed him, giving him an instance, how men have been led to prayer through meeting with accidents. I had hardly finished when Mr. Koop's countenance was filled with hope. From that time on he became the helper of others who were in need. There were many cases where people shed tears, some in great terror and some in great distress.
The acuteness of the situation was shown when during the first, almost hopeless condition, my daughter-in-law
