A Little Bit Drowsy
The Monon Line is a railroad system that operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana. The railroad received its name from Monon, Indiana, where the main routes converged. The railway system which lasted from 1897-1971, became known by the slogan: The Hoosier Line. It’s red & white or black & gold painted locomotives were easily identified, as they bore the university colors of several Indiana colleges to which the train ran regular service.
Seventy-five years ago occurred the worst train accident on the Monon Line. The Monon Line was a single track railroad, so trains going in opposite directions had to pull off onto “side tracks” to allow the preferred train to pass.
In the early hours of June 3, 1947, northbound Freight Train #70 pulling 53 cars and a caboose, pulled out of Lafayette, IN. The weather was clear. They were to pass southbound Freight Train #75 about 10 miles away as it waited on a side track.
At 3:22 a.m., as Train #70 rounded a bend near Ash Grove, the engineer was aghast to see the headlight of the southbound Train #75 bearing down on them. Moments later there was a terrific crash. The wreck claimed 3 dead, but amazingly the engineer of southbound Train #75 survived with injuries.
The crash investigation showed that the fault of the wreck lay on the engineer of southbound Train #75. He had failed to switch off the main line and onto the side track. Before the collision, the report showed that Train #75 had passed 3 separate “red lighted” signals warning the train to stop.
At the investigation, the engineer of southbound Train #75 stated that he had been “drowsy” and he had missed the safety of the siding, and he had not seen the three different “red warning signals.” (Publication ICC Investigation No. 3106. July 18, 1947)
How many Christians over the years have become “drowsy” to the things of the Lord. They let their Bible reading slip, their prayer life wane, or they begin missing church. They get caught up in the world, and they fail to see the warning lights that could save them from the coming “train wreck.”
In I Peter 1:1-10, the Bible encourages us to give diligence to add to one’s salvation: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. This is one of the great opening passages of any book in the Bible. Verse 10 gives a summary and makes this statement... if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
When We Get Home
On June 18, 1910, the luxury liner S.S. Kaiserin steamed into New York Harbor. Among the 3,000 on board was Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s popularity was unrivaled, and thousands gathered from across the country to welcome the former President home from his year-long safari in Africa. In the harbor amassed 200 vessels, including the battleship South Carolina which fired a 21-gun salute as the liner sailed past.
Theodore Roosevelt was taken by launch and landed in Battery Park, within sight of the Brooklyn Bridge. A large speaker’s platform and grandstand had been constructed for the start of the morning festivity. Five thousand policemen plus dozens of medical workers were called in for the event. When Teddy Roosevelt came to the rostrum, the crowd and overflow was estimated at 100,000. Next began a five mile parade down 5th avenue that was viewed by 1 million spectators lining the streets. Businesses gave their employees a half-day holiday. (Goodwin, Doris. Bully Pulpit. New York: Simon & Schuster. 2013. p.1-11)
In contrast, on the opposite side of the country, the seasoned Methodist evangelist, Henry Clay Morrison (1857-1942) arrived from preaching a ten month “around the world” evangelistic tour. He preached in England, Scotland, and the Middle East, but most of his crusades were held in India and throughout the Orient. He became very sick and weak from disease, and he finally landed in California in June of 1910.
When the evangelist got off the ship, there was no one on the pier to greet him. As H.C. Morrison boarded a train for Wilmore, Kentucky, he became discouraged and felt abandoned. “I picked up my heavy grips and started off, all alone. I could not help contrasting the homecoming of Roosevelt with my own. God had privileged me to lead ten thousand souls to Christ on that trip—yet there I was, without a soul to meet me! Nobody cared. Suddenly I stopped. A new, glorious truth had gripped me. And I found myself saying aloud, slowly, exultantly, ‘Maybe I’m not home yet! Maybe I’m not home!’” (Illustration told by Dr. Monroe Parker [1909-1994] with Morrison quote)
Ending Notes
June is the month that we remember our fathers. Hardly a day goes by that I do not recall a saying, an anecdote, or some wisdom that was imparted by my father, Dr. Russell Dennis, Sr.
Directly after he passed away on June 6, 1998, I received his two preaching Bibles. I used each of these Bibles as I read through the Word of God the next two times, copying various sayings that he had written in the margins of his Bible.
His primary preaching Bible along with his large prophecy chart are on permanent display at Heritage Baptist College.
I have shared in past June Updates a few of the many nuggets from my Dad’s Bible. Here are some gleanings from the book of I Timothy:
It is more than what you do, it is who you are. (1:12)
Take praise and criticism in the same spirit – Take it and let it go (2:1).
Peacemakers, not Peace Keepers (2:2)
How you treat the Man of God...is how you treat God (5:17)
Flee, Follow, and Fight (6:10-12)
All Things to Enjoy...Think it Over (6:17)
Obedience gives force to a man’s influence. (6:20)