"I would say that no seaman can be an atheist. He sees the Hand of God so often in the elements."

"I would say that no seaman can be an atheist. He sees the Hand of God so often in the elements." That is what Captain Donald Sorrell wrote in his (posthumously released) memoirs. Mariners and religion have a long, long history together: whether it be the Quaker whalers from Nantucket or the Cunard captain who performs Divine Service aboard one of the three Queens today. The two are connected. Captain Sorrell knew this, which is perhaps why he choose these words for a special prayer for the Caronia's maiden voyage:

We give Thee thanks, O Lord, for this beautiful ship, built by the efforts of people in whom the desire to strive and create has been allowed, through Thy grace, to develop and produce such a splendid result, and we pray that the crews manning her will continue, as we have commenced, to uphold always the highest traditions of the British Merchant Service. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Before anyone gets any wrong ideas, I want to explain my reasons for posting on such a topic. God and religion have both played a major role in maritime history and Captain Sorrell's prayer is a prime example of that relationship. Nothing more and nothing less.

References: Sylvia Duncan and Peter Duncan, The Sea My Steed: The Personal Story of Captain Donald Sorrell (London: Robert Hale Limited, 1960), 155.