CHURCH NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 17 July 1901, Page 4

CHURCH NOTES.

" With Christ at Sea."

Of late years few writers have been brought before the public nor gained so wide and enthusiastic a circle of readers as Frank T. Builen. Few would ever have dreamt that he who vvas a cabinboy and afterwards an able-bodied seaman could in later years become one of the most charming novel writers of the age. There is much genius in the world that remains undeveloped and will remain so while pressed and stifled with an oppressive environment. Mr Bullcn is a grand example of how a man may surmount difficulties, overcome obstacles and rise triumphant from apparently adverse circumstances, Thirty years ago Frank Builen was friendless and forgotten among London's millions of souls. He became an orphan while an infant, and many a night has slept under a railway arch or on a doorstep. Living oil a penny a day. he knows the pangs of hunger and the experiences of poverty. At eight years of age lie was ''swept like a drifting ship out of the peaceful haven of Ins aunt's house. Education, love, and sympathy all disappeared. In their places came hunger, blows, severe exhausting labour from six in the morning till eleven at night, and an atmosphere of vile lang'uage." Then Builen went to sea as the last refuge for his lonely spirits Travelling all around the world he saw much and learned much of its ways. He at last joined a ship, the Cachalot, and it is to this ship he owes much of his fame. At first it seemed as if his life was to bo dull and monotuous on this ship as it had ever been. He seemed the victim of misfortune, and it is a wonder he ever survived the trying circumstances through which he had to pass. Even in his marriage it seemed as if fortune was always against him. In a reminiscent mood he tells us that neither his credit nor his friends were worth a row of pins. At last when almost in despair he found a birth at £2 a week, and it seemed as if he were qnre a wealthy man. At 23 ho began his literary career, and after writing for several journals he wrote " The Cruise of the Cachalot." T'he success of this book was phenomenal. His latest book is " With Christ at Sea," and forms one of the moot inspiring and interesting novels ever written. No one can claim any great acquaintance with the sea until he has read this marvellous book. Its beauties, its wonders, are delineated with remarkable genius, and it is when this book is read we exclaim " How little I knew of the Sea." Mr Builen is essentially a Christain writer, and pays a beautiful tribute to the Bible. He says: "I believe the Bible is the inspirer of all that I have done. Practically all my work has its origin in a thorough knowledge of the Biblo as literature, and in my having been ablo to bring the daylight of the Bible, as it were, to'bear on everything at soa." How true these words are can be easily seen by the reader of Bullen's books. It is impossible in such brief notes as these to say all we would like to say for F. Builen. , His works speak for themselves. No library should be without them. No Sunday School student should rest content till the books are read. When one commences " With Christ at Sea " all is forgotten and enveloped with the overmastery spirit of the book. The only regret is there comes an end to the book. Bullen's life forms a grand held for a more fitting review than we can afford it here, but let us direct the attention of some to the reading of these grand books and our end is in a great measure attained. The rest we leave with the author.