There was once a gospel ship, the steamer Good Tidings, on the Great Lakes. She carried a cross on her foremast and her foresail, which was brightened by trim of gold leaf. She cruised on a circuit of evangelicalism. Her skipper, Captain Bundy, was a sky pilot as well as a navigator. In those days, a seaman's calling was risky enough to insure an interested audience. Three times a day, in the officers' mess, he would recite a seaman's prayer full of metaphors and great fervor.

"O Lord, lift up our feet from the rough road of life and help us safely cross the gray plank of temptation into the ship of salvation. Let the hands of prudence guide our helms, the wind of love fill our souls and the Good Book be our compass. And Almighty God, whose patience with humanity is everlasting, keep all hidden rock of adversity off our course. Let our bow cut clean the fresh waters of righteousness; steer us clear of Satan's derelicts; and may the bright rays of hope never die out of the light along the shore that we may make the run of life with out disaster. And O' Lord if it be thy pleasure, let the tides bear unto us into the letter of Gold, the true meaning of the ten commandments that we may be mariners worthy of blessings. Let not our eyes be darkened by the fogs of evil; keep ringing loud for our guidance, the bells buoys of faith. When at last we have sailed and anchored into the very port of death , may the good skipper of the universe say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful mariner; came and sign the log and receive eternal happiness, your salvage reward.' "