Dispatches from Home – Titanic: The Last Sunset.

Easter, 1912, fell on April 7th. The magnificent churches and cathedrals of England would have been packed, their soaring, columned interiors filled with the sweet bouquet of incense and majestic choral music. But on the RMS Titanic, its luxurious interiors were being readied for her maiden voyage.

30,000 fresh eggs, 800 cases of shelled walnuts, and 15,000 bottles of ale, stout, champagne, and fine liqueurs were being loaded. Five concert grand pianos were being tuned. The fifty-phone switchboard was being installed. Exquisitely carved furniture, dozens of potted palms, and crate after crate of fine china, silver, and crystal were all being brought aboard. All this activity surprised no one. After all, the Titanic was a floating city! But by the following Sunday, April 14th, that floating city was nearing its final destination—irrevocable disaster.

Divine services were held in the 1st Class dining room that morning, led by Captain Smith. The Episcopal Church was the church of choice for many of the 1st and 2nd Class Americans aboard, which suited the English as well. 1st and 2nd Class Catholic passengers would have attended Mass in the 2nd Class dining room.

3rd Class passengers were excluded from those services due to the strict immigration laws of the time. They were kept separate because they were the only Class subject to rigorous health screening upon arrival in New York. The majority of 3rd Class passengers were Irish and Scandinavian, therefore separate Catholic and Lutheran services would have been held for them.

The hymns that were sung that morning would have included those from the Episcopal songbook and others. Popular hymns such as “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” and “Fairest Lord Jesus” may have been sung, as well as “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” That hymn is traditionally associated with seafarers. It is also the hymn sung by the 1st Class passengers in James Cameron’s “Titanic.”

In 1912, providing religious services for the Buddhist, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Muslim, and Jewish contingent aboard the Titanic would not have been a high priority for the White Star Line. However, I would like to believe that Isidor and Ida Straus did celebrate Passover that year, which began April 1st.

April 14th began with divine services for most passengers. After that, each Class would have enjoyed its own individual delights. There would have been genteel conversation in the lady’s writing room, along with cards and port in the men’s lounge. Spirited laughter and high jinks would have been the norm in 3rd Class. And thus, the afternoon passed into evening. Survivors remembered many things about that Sunday. But to a person, they all remembered the sunset of that last, dying day.

In the gathering darkness, the sky was aflame with color–lavender, tangerine, and indigo. The vast shimmering horizon seemed endless, as did the dreams and aspirations of the Titanic’s passengers and crew. As the Atlantic’s icy sea water gently danced against the ship’s immense black hull, the unsinkable Titanic steamed serenely into the night and its destiny.

(What do the initials RMS stand for Titanic fans?)

(Originally posted April 4, 2021)