409 - Titanic: John Harper Rare Autograph Letter Signed from Chicago’s Moody Church, Five Months Before His Death on the Titanic

Titanic: John Harper Rare Autograph Letter Signed from Chicago’s Moody Church, Five Months Before His Death on the Titanic Scottish Baptist pastor and evangelist (1872-1912) best remembered as one of the victims of the Titanic disaster. Harper was traveling aboard the Titanic with his six-year-old daughter and niece, bound for Chicago to conduct revival meetings at the Moody Church, when the ship sank on April 15, 1912; his daughter and niece survived, while Harper died in the disaster at the age of 39. ALS, three pages, 8.25 x 11, The Moody Church letterhead, November 9, 1911. Lengthy handwritten letter to “dear brother Charlie,” in full: “I am leaving you a few lines, now that I have got to this side of the Water. I had a most stormy passage, and was very sick, but am now getting round the corner. I arrived here late on Saturday night, and commenced work on Sunday. This is truly a great Institution, and wonderful memorial of the faith of dear D. L. Moody. The Lord gave us a very blessed time on Sunday and we had a season of questioning of the Saints, and Conversion of Sinners in the great Services. It is just Paisley Road over again in a greatly expanded & enlarged form. I am seeking the face of our Covenant God that He will give us a gracious revival while here, and there are some signs, being given already. Praise His Holy Name. Let all the Saints in Paisley hold on mightily on my behalf. We commence a week of Special Services for God’s people on Sunday, and hope if our gracious God lead to follow on with a fortnight in some big Central Hall or Theater for the unsaved. How very weak His servant is, but am sufficient in the Lord. I am hoping to be in Glasgow from 3rd January till 5th, and am reserving Thursday 4th for a whole day at Paisley Rd. Will give you a Conference address at 11 a.m., another at 3 p.m., and Gospel address at night, or Lecture on my trip here, or on the ‘Rescuers of the Race’ full of the Gospel, or simply conduct a Gospel Service if you think that best. It would be more to my own heart. The other might draw the crowd. Please decide, and let me know per return of post. There will be no expense except a little, very little towards travelling expenses, and if other places pay sufficiently this item Paisley Rd will be entirely free. Say nothing about this till I come. Dear Charlie, I never felt so much what may be the next move our gracious Lord has for me. I know not, and have no concern but an ever growing longing to be a flame of fire for my blessed Saviour. Just where I am for the few days I may be here, and then pass on to be where next He may lead. At times I am feeling my heart grow faint with deep yearning to see Him glorified in His Church being revived, and this poor doomed world awakened out of its sleep of death. I have been with you dear Saints at Paisley Road much in prayer, mentioning your names one by one before Him, and I think I am more your Pastor now - however unworthy - & in fellowship with dear brother Dick than ever before. Oh that the richest benediction of our risen Lord may ever abide on you all. Very kindest love to dear Pastor Dick - all the Saints - all of your household & yourself.” In very good to fine condition, with intersecting folds and creasing to the corners. Harper became the first pastor of Paisley Road Baptist Church in Glasgow in 1897, building its congregation from about 25 members to more than 500 before eventually leaving for Walworth Road Baptist Church in London. His continuing attachment to his former congregation is clear in this letter, in which he calls himself “more your Pastor now” and plans a full day of services at Paisley Road during a January return to Scotland. At the time, Harper had just begun a revival engagement at Chicago’s Moody Church that lasted through January 1912; its success resulted in an invitation to return for a second series of meetings. Five months after writing this letter, Harper boarded the Titanic at Southampton with his six-year-old daughter Annie Jessie and Jessie Leitch, bound once again for Chicago and the Moody Church. Harper died in the sinking on April 15, 1912, at the age of 39, while his daughter and Leitch survived in Lifeboat 11. The present letter was therefore written at the beginning of the Chicago ministry whose success led directly to Harper’s fatal return voyage aboard the Titanic.