Two Titanic Survivors who were Christian Scientists

There were two interesting and wonderful testimonies by two Titanic survivors  published in the Christian Science Sentinel in 1912, one by Lieutenant Charles H. Lightoller, R. N. R., and the other by Lawrence Beesley.   Both had been studying Christian Science for several years prior to the tragic sinking of the Titanic.


Charles Herbert Lightoller, who was the highest-ranked officer that survived the Titanic, was one of the last to leave the ship as it was about to go under. Lightoller was a Christian Scientist, and had had several years of studying Christian Science by the time of this trying experience, which was only one of several that he endured.  

After the Titanic, Lightoller served with distinction in both World War I and II.  On June 14, 1918, Lieut. Charles H. Lightoller, D.S.C., R.N.R, was conferred the R.N.R. Officers' Decoration, and on June 14, 1919, as Lieutenant-Commander, Lightoller was decorated with a BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Cross, conferred in an investiture ceremony by the King of England. 

  

Of noble character,  Lightoller was a hero  at Dunkirk during World War II.  Having been asked by the Admiralty for a loan of his 58-foot cruising yacht, Sundowner, for the evacuation from Dunkirk, he himself went with his eldest son and a young Sea Scout, and rescued 130 men on his boat. Click here for a photo of Sundowner, and to hear Lightoller relating that adventure in a BBC interview.

The 1958 movie of the Titanic, A Night to Remember, reveals a better characterization of Lightoller than that of Cameron’s 1997 Titanic.  The facts known about his life bear out that the former movie portrays Lightoller’s character better, as I would expect.  Lightoller's son advised Kenneth More, the popular actor at the time, how to portray his father.  

I found it interesting that Lightoller’s widow visited the set of A Night to Remember during the filming, and Lawrence Beesley also, who actually wanted to get into the movie, but was refused by the Director, because of union rules.



Although he had been trained in the natural sciences in Caius College, University of Cambridge, and had been a science master at Dulwich College, Beesley was already in the public practice of Christian Science, a few hours a day, prior to the Titanic. "In 1957 he was still teaching as Principal of the Northwood School of Coaching, Northwood, Middlesex." Click here for Encyclopedia-Titanic’s biography of Lawrence Beesley.

Both Lightoller and Beesley wrote highly-valued books about the Titanic and the event of its sinking. Project Gutenburg has The Loss of the S.S. Titanic, by Lawrence Beesley, which you can download or read online. I couldn't find Lightoller's book, Titanic and Other Ships, online, although I think it may become available sometime soon, when its copyright expires.