The New World was still very new indeed when, in 1536, sea captain Richard Hore organized the first “pleasure cruise” to its shores. Tourist cruises to warm climates were not uncommon then, though they were often disguised as pilgrimages. Hore was the first to see potential profit in the prospect of visiting the newly discovered continent. Hiring two ships and a crew of 90, he announced a sightseeing tour across the ocean. Thirty gentlemen interested in exotic adventure signed on at prices designed to make Hore a rich man.
In Newfoundland, one of the ships ran out of provisions, and the passengers began to starve. They tried to live off the land, scavenging herbs and roots. Then one man killed another and feasted on him; soon others began to disappear. Shocked, Captain Hore preached a sermon deploring cannibalism, asking everyone to abstain from it in the future.
That night, a French ship wandered into the harbor and the Englishmen commandeered it for their trip home. None of the survivors ever explained why they couldn’t have subsisted on Newfoundland’s abundant fish and game, instead of each other.
Now, while we deplore such actions as cannibalism, we do not seem to mind consuming others with our hateful words and actions which Paul warns us of. We are not to be cannibals in these areas either. I would agree, wouldn’t you?
What to do:
✞ Be kind not cannibalistic with your words and actions.
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