The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-02-13 00:00:00

f'Enitu,Otv 13, 8

I.IIEETING 0::"I'LlE MARINER'S CHURCH SOCIET

On Friday the annual meeting of this society was held at the
Music-hall, 80ld-street, at Twelve o'clock, the Lord Bishop of
the Diocese, occupying the chair. The meeting was very thinly
attended, so much .su that we were in doubts whether there
would be a meeting, nut above 25 persons being assembled. The
extremely wet day might iu some measure account fur this. On
the entrance of the Right Rev. Chairman he was accompanied
by the Reverends H. M'Neile, Maynard, James Haldane Ste-
wart, Buddicoui, Lawrence, Davis, Lyons; Adam Hodgson,
Esq., &c. &c.
On taking the chair, his Lordship called the Rev. Mr. May-
nard, the chaplain of the Mariners Church, to open the pro-
dding with prayer.
'The Right Rev. CHAIRMAN in opening the business of the
meeting said, it had been called. with the desire of exciting the
attention of the community to a class of persons who formed a
very important part of it.. Not indeed, now, for the first time,
but for the sake of renewing that interest which in the progress
of years seemed, after being once excited, to be allowed in some
degree to become dormautagain. They all knew that he alluded
to those who brought•to our ports as well as to our houses, so
much of that wealth,' and of those comforts by which we are
cheered, and enriched. It was characteristic of a christian
spirit, and a christian charity to look out to the different fields
which might be opened for their exercise—to look to the dif-
ferent fields which might require cultivation, and amongst them
undoubtedly tire class to which he alluded formed a very im-
portant part. That class required, as they were well aware, a se-
parate provision • a provision which must be peculiar to them-
selves, as they themselves formed a class, in many respects,
separate from the. rest of the community, and for this purpose,
in order that they might be thus supplied, the institution that
he was naming was formed many years ago. They would find
by the report which would be read to them, that the institution
had not been formed in vain, and that the blessing of God had, in
a great degree, accompaiued the exertion which hail been made.
But as was the case, not with this only, but with other: societies
likewise, exertions were now requisite, because fresh expendi-
ture was necessary; and they desired to call the attention of all
those who were iuterested in the class of which be spoke, to its
spiritual wants, which,.without such attention, must be neglected.
For what would be said, if, after an undertaking of this kind bads()
prospered, it were to fall to the ground for want of support.
How bad a return should they make, if, after having seen
that the exertions of the society were bringing a blessing on it,
they neglected the exertions necessary to revent them relaps-
ing again into irreligious apathy. This was a return which he
trusted would not be given by the inhabitants of Liverpool;
and he trusted, that notwithstanding the unfavourable circum-
stances under which the preseut meeting was assembled, still,
that they should find the result of the meeting in some degree
corresponding with their wishes, The right rev. prelate con-
cluded with calling upon the chaplain of the Mariner's Church
to read the report.
The Rev. Mr. AlaiNalin then proceeded to read the report:
It set forth the great, importance of promoting the spiritual in-
terests of the sea-taring population. Formerly the sailor was
forgotten, and it-might almost be said that no man cared for
his soul; but since the establishment of the Mariner's
Chattel, the door had been thrown open for him. Who should
say what had been the effect already produced, or the amount
of benefit which might yet be conferred by this institution. It
behoved them to endeavour to alter the manners of the sailor,
fur in the foreign poi t the example he set counteracted the
efforts of the ruissiouary. It was also the more necessary that
the means of grace should be held out to the sailor while on
shore, from the great uncertainty of his life. At the Mariner's
church the sacrament was administered the first of every mouth,
and there were from 3U to 40 communicants. Besides the Sun-
day's service, Divine service was administered every Tuesday.
The congregation was numerous, attentive, devout. A society
had also been formed amongst a number of young men for dis-
tributing the formularies of the church amongst the sailors at
theii lodgings; and in sonic instances this had been found,be-
neficial. At the same time the society felt that much more
good might be done did their fuuds permit. A reading room
had been established for sailors, with a fire, where they were
accommodated with books; but this had been obliged to be
given up, as the resources of the society would not allow it.
Had it not been for the liberal bequest of the late Robert Sher-
burn, Esq„ of £2OO, the society would have been greatly in
debt.

Mr. CHARLES PARKER, the Treasurer of the Society, read
the statement of account, from which it appeared that there
was a balance due to the treasurer of 1:35 18s.
The Rev. Mr. BUDDICHM said he had been requested to
Move " That the report now read, together with the treasurer's
accounts be printed and circulated under the direction of the
committee." - He had great pleasure iu fulfilling the duty, and
he only wished, for the sake of the society, that the room were
as fell as it could hold. He was much gratified by that part of
the report which spoke of the operations of the society, out of
the inure immediate ministerial sphere of the chaplain. It
. Showed that material advantage might arise were the spirit and
principles of the Church of England were wrought out by the
co.operation of young men giving their assistance in promoting
our common Christianity. The situation of seamen was one of
a very peculiar kind, and they had been peculiarly dealt with.
All classes of persons had considered them as altogether with-
out the sphere and pale of Christian exertions. It was consi-
dered a kind of ruin of the character of daring recklessness of
sea faring men if they were humanised by the blessiuge of re-
ligion—if their minds were enlightened, their affections altered,
and their hearts changed. It was thought that the very inGment
the power of God reached the seaman's heart, that very moment
it extinguished the fiery enterprise of his character. That
opinion had been contradicted by men who had had experience
amongst seamen, and their testimony was enough to set that
matter at rest. Another class of objectors was those who
censidered sailors altogether incapable of receiving spi-
ritual knowledge: they had considered that the very boards
of the ships, especially of ships of war, in which seamen dwelt,
received such a measure of contamination that the ship became
as 'it were a very leprous house which must be actually taken
down because it was quite incapable of being purified. Ex-
perience bad told them the fully and the vanity also, of that
view of the subject, for they khew (blessed be God for the
knowledge) that there were many vessels now out of this port
the crews of which were now fearing God and working righteous.
ness, carrying Christianity amongst whom they went abroad,
and acting as would do honour to those who professed religion
and had better opportunities at home. (Hear.) The only
~,ilureh in this town for a great number of centuries, he be-
tieved, it was built soon after the conquest, was tbe parish chapel
Wl:it. Nicholas, dedicated to a saint that was a patron of seamen
in,the nourish calendar, and till -now. the seamen had been left
tattle patron saint St. Nicholas; fer to the present time, while
Churches and churches had been raised, nothing had been done
tail Within 4 few years for the eccommodatiuu of the seiiinau.
it might be said that the 'church doors were open to seamen as
to landsmen; but the difference of their mode of life made them
Shiftik from going and it was a sort of giving up of cast to sailors
to mingle in worship with landsmen. Seamen would not associ-
ate with landsmen, and it became them to furnish them with
the means of worshipping God in that way which was consistent
with their prejudices. And sure they all were, if they once
came to a knowledge of the value of the exceedingly precious
Promises of God, that they would be then led to go wherever
the word of God was preached. They were called on as.regard-
N, ore benefit they were continually deriving fron them, and,
t)y their instrumentality, to assist them. We had been sitting
every man under his own vine and fig tree—we had been
drinking. of the waters of life, and had neglected them, and it
wal • •
quite time for us to send spiritual blessings to them. He
.eaucluded with moving the resolution, which was seconded,
and carried unanimously.
The Rev. Mr. MAYNARD, in lnovitig• the next resolution, said
he felt that there was no class of persons fur whom their exer-
tions should be exercised with greater diligence and zeal than
for seafaring men. Let them consider, iu the first place,
the temptatious to which they were exposed even when they
cable on shore. They were sent on board vessels at au early
Period of life, and debarred from early instruction and from the
service of God in his sanctuary, and when they came on shore
there were thousands of temptations laid for them oh every side.
If they felt a desire to remove them from the influence of these
temptations, let them show that desire by coining forward and
Sunpoi hug this institution. After an impressive appeal on
behalf of the institution, he concluding with moving, "'That
this meeting desires to return thanks to God fur that measure of
success which has hitherto attended the labours of the society ;
and regrets that its usefulness lies been greatly impeded by the
want of funds." lie would put it to themselves whether the
sailors had received that support from the shipowners which
they ought to have, and he doubted not but that they would
come to the resolution that the funds of the society should be
increased.

ADAM PODGAON, Esq. rose to second the resolution, in the
absence of Mr. Horsfall, who was detained by a particular en-
gagement. He wished they could say so of all the other ship-
owners absent that day. It was impossible not to feel disap-
pointment at the meeting and the low state of the funds of the
society ; but if they referred back to the early history of the
society it would tend to dispel those sentiments. He well re-
membered when the society was first projected, how many
various and painful difficulties it had to contend against, whilst
they had scarcely a hand. held up in its behalf. In a cause
like this be felt that despondency was criminal. It would have
been their duty to have persevered in a cause like this under
the most discouraging circumstances. He believed that there
was a mural and religious feelin, excited in the town since this
society was established that made it impossible that it should
fall. He would state this confidently in the face of the empty
britches before him ihat there was no fear of the Want of success
of the society. If the merchants would not come to that meet-
ing and Bear the cause of the sailors pleaded, there were places
where it was a solemn duty for- them to attend, and where the
rev. gentlemen around hint could discharge the highly respon-
sibly duty which be considered was incumbent upon them, of
advocating front their pulpits the claims of this society (hear).
He concluded with seconding the resolution, which was carried
unattimoifsly.

The Ilev.wH. M,'NECt.I3 rose amidst loud applause to move
the next resolution, " that this society has strong and increasing
claims on ship owners, merchants, and the inhabitants
of Liver-
pool fur their support ; and that the clergy and friends of this
institution be requested to use their influence and exertions to
promote its welfare." That resolution had been already
spoken to in a very touching and feeling way by Mr. Hodgsou,
and- he for one felt his appeal. Mr. Hodgson had used the
language of apology for the present thinly attended meeting, he
would be faithful and bold enough to add the language of re-
proof. That meeting was a disgrace to Liverpool. If there
were any gentleman there who reported their proceedings for
the public press, he wished,, without intimating any disrespect
to any class of the community, that his sentiments on this point
sheuld be known to the very large class of merchants in this
town who must have had notice of the meeting, and that their
respected Diocesan would preside over it, that this meeting was
an indelible disgrace to the town. He trusted he should be
excused fur this reproof when he remembered that the scriptures
required of them reproof as well as exhortation and forbearance.
They naturally connected a sailor's life with exposure to dan-
ger, Aud although they were in the midst of dangers them-
'elves, so that even on land it was no exaggeration to say that
to the midst of life we are in death:" yet still undoubtedly,
aeoording to the usual dealings of God with mankind, there
was a much larger manifest amount of risk of sudden death in
their case than in others: therefore according to the simplest
Principle:oicalculalion there ought to be in their case the high-
est principle of calculation there ought to be in their case the
highest possible amount of habitual preparedness for death—a
Preparedness which could onlybe real when based upon the love
of Christ. 'That sailors should be fitted for their calling, they
Ought, it would be at once conceded, to be free from the fear of
daritzpr and death. Add where should freedom front the fear of
eath be found, such freedom as became a rational being,
here? bat in the knowledge of Him who gave Himself to
(leath. that through death he might destroy hint that had the
LPower of death, that is the devil, and deliver those who, through
ear of death, were, all their life time, subject to biindage.
s
here was one consideration of great importance. He was
Persuaded that there existed a wide spread delusion with regard
tilt' immediate effect of danger on the human Mind.. Ile.•
(2might it was a very general epiniiin
_that in the extremity of
tr,4:.iger a man must aud would repent; and that then, even iu
? • last hour, crying. to the merciful God, he would Lind mercy.,
Pe ventured to call this a delusion. Ile did' so, not froth any
reeling or limitation of the divine mercy,. but from tin wave' in;;
11!!!odtfidence in the truth of the divine word.
That ti•uth was,
1. t " Jesus Christ is the way," and that " nn man cnmetli to
the Vanier but liv Him." 'That "he who bath the Son bath
life, and that he. that bath out the Son of God hath nut life."