Member # 498
posted April 29, 2006 09:57
Now the bell tolls for him
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From the Detroit News:
Mariners' Ingalls navigated storms of life
The Rev. Richard W. Ingalls spent decades helping people navigate the storms of life. But his earthly journey ended Monday when the beloved rector of Mariners' Church in Detroit from 1965 until his retirement in January died at age 79.
A dramatic moment 30 years ago will stand out for his parishioners and millions of others.
On the evening of Nov. 10, 1975, Ingalls learned that a horrific storm on Lake Superior had caused the ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald to founder, and all aboard had probably perished.
Song immortalizes rector
After the news was confirmed the next morning, a somber Ingalls came down to the church and began tolling the church bell to honor the crew lost on the sunken ship. Ingalls then returned to the sanctuary and continued his prayers. The stunned pastor soon noticed that reporters had gathered after hearing the bell.
The poignant scene was captured in stories throughout the continent. Canadian balladeer Gordon Lightfoot was among the readers, and he composed "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."
The song soared to No. 2 on the pop charts in the fall of 1976. Although not mentioned by name, Ingalls became known worldwide because "the church bell chimed till it rang 29 times for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald."
The legend lives on. To honor those lost in Superior's ice water mansion, Mariners' conducts a memorial service every November. It is part of a year-round effort to meet the daily needs of seafarers and other congregation members from all walks of life.
Ingalls' walk followed a biblical roadmap. The reverend loved Scripture, which he described as "new every morning and fresh every evening." His moral compass was found in Ephesians 6:14: "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."
These protections offer great solace when storms threaten to engulf us. Ingalls said those who look through the eyes of faith can see beyond any tragedy. He said that while it is important to weep with those who weep, believers should not live without hope. The promises of salvation in the sacred texts are a beacon to everyone with childlike faith.
Faith stalls squall
A marvelous guide on how to live is offered in the fourth chapter of Mark. Jesus and the disciples are crossing the water when a furious squall nearly swamps the small boat. Christ is in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples wake him and say, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He rebukes the wind and says to the waves, "Peace! Be still." The wind dies down, and it is calm. Jesus asks the disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
Everyone is tossed by the winds of despair. The Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy is a somber reminder that we are all mariners on the sea of life. Now, as the bell tolls for the Rev. Ingalls, as it will eventually for us all, we remember a man who immersed himself in the waters of redemption and has arrived safely in his Creator's eternal harbor.
Kendall Wingrove is a free-lance writer from East Lansing. E-mail:
letters@detnews.com.
