Two Titanic Survivors Who Were Christian Scientists
There were two testimonies of Titanic survivors published
by the Christian Science Publishing Society: one in the Christian Science Journal of October, 1912, by Lieutenant C. H. Lightoller,
R. N. R., and the other in the Christian Science Sentinel of December 20, 1912, by Lawrence Beesley. Apparently
neither knew of the other's presence aboard the ship. Please click on the links below to read Beesley's testimony
and some other interesting information regarding them. Lightoller's testimony is available ($) from the Christian Science
Monitor Archives and at any Christian Science Reading Room.
I read on the Encyclopedia Titanic Message Board that Charles Lightoller had written an autobiography entitled, "Titanic
and Other Ships", which was reported in one message to have sold for over $400.00! One entry on the message board mentioned
that only six chapters covered the Titanic. The book is in the Library of Congress: LC Control Number: 35006499
Type of Material: Book (Print, Microform, Electronic, etc.) Brief Description: Lightoller, Charles Herbert. [from
old catalog] Titanic and other ships, London, I. Nicholson and Watson, limited, 1935. viii, 344 p. front. (port.)
20 cm.
Also available at: Science Business and Industry Library, (SIBL) New York Public Library
During WWII, Lightoller carried out a heroic act of rescuing over a hundred trapped men at the battle of Dunkirk
with his boat. Also, the Titanic was not the only ship catastrophe that he survived. Therefore, I would expect
his autobiography to be very interesting.
Lawrence Beesley also wrote a well-known book entitled, "The Loss of The Titanic."
