The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-25 00:00:00

SEAMANS' FRIEND SOCIETY.

The fifteenth anniversary meeting of the friends of the above
society was held on Tuesday night, in Great George-street
Chapel, at half-past six o'clock.
On the motion of Dr. RAFFLES, Mr. Alderman Brown, was
called to the chair.

Mr. Alderman BROWN, on taking the chair, said he should
ill discharge his duty as a member of the society whose anni-
versary meeting they had met to celebrate, if he declined to
accept the honour which they had conferred in requesting him
to preside over this present meeting.
The Rev. Dr. RAFFLES read the report, which deplored the
very limited support which the society had hitherto met with—
a support by no means commensurate to its great importance.
During the period of its existence the average annual income
not having been more than £ll7. The greatest sum contributed
to its support during any one year was in 1826, when the amount
was £ll3. I4s. With so limited an income it was impossible to
do what was wished. The report went on to state the urgent
necessity which exists that the murals and conduct of seamen
should he improved, as even the labours of the foreign mission-
aries have been found to be much retarded by the conduct which
some of them have pursued in foreign stations. It was urged
that the town should be canvassed with the utmost activity, that
the ships should be visited, and that the lodging-houses should
be, as much as possible, attended to. With this view, Mr.
Joseph Peart, it was stated, had been engaged as a stipendiary
agent, and assistant secretary of the society, which would entail
an increased annual expenditure. Much was expected from the
zeal, talent, and devotion of the above-named gentleman. It
was stated, that during the past year a sum of money had been
contributed from the town of Sheffield, and but little doubt was
expressed but the society would receive annual support from
the same quarter. One year Manchester had contributed £2OO,
and it was thought much-good might be done by sending depu-
tations to this and other towns soliciting contributions. The at-
tendance at the Floating Chapel, the report stated, was good,
and the devout attention and behaviour of the seamen highly
gratifying. An individual at the north end of the town had
built a room for public worship at his own expense, which was
now well attended. They had also a school in the same quarter,
with teachers, &c., and the results were already very cheering.
The operations of the society in tracts and books, with the de-
partment of ship libraries, was also stated to be in full activity,
six libraries having been fitted up during the past year. Several
contributions of bibles and tracts were acknowledged from the
Bible Society, and from the London and Liverpool Tract
Societies.

Mr. Alderman H. C. JONES, read over the accounts for the
past year.
Mr. Councillor Horn proposed the first resolution, "That the
report be adopted, printed, and circulated, uuder the direction
of the committee." He (Mr. Hope) had early taken an ac-
tive part in the operations of the society, but he regretted that
he had not lately had the opportunity of doing so, notwithstand-
ing his ardent wishes for its welfare. So far from his attach-
ment to it having suffered any abatement, it had increased, by
every observation which he had made. Mr. Hope went on to
state, the great importance of paying every attention to the
morals of seamen, whom he had uniformly found exceedingly
susceptible of religious impressions, and grateful for instruc-
tion. He spoke not on his own individual authority alone, but
from the experience of others. When Bishop Heher landed
at Bombay, he was requested by a captain of a vessel to preach
to the seamen there. Che bishop said, he would readily com-
ply, if he thought the seamen would be disposed to listen to
him. The captain requested him to make the experiment, and
he complied ; when he was so highly gratified that he appoint-
ed a chaplain to perform this duty ever after. He would ad-
dress himself to their interests as well as to their feelings of
Christian benevolence, and would ask them, if it were not their
interests that the seamen should be virtuous rather than wick-
ed, temperate rather than dissolute. Should such an immense
quantity of valuable property, as was imported into, and export-
ed from the port of Liverpool, be entrusted to drunkards, rather
than to men who could not conduct themselves respectably ?
Even activity and bravery were to be expected iu a greater de-
gree from the latter than the former. In this, he was borne out
by the testimony of Captains Parry, Ross, Basil, Hall and
others.

The Rev. Mr. LISTER seconded the resolution. He agreed
with Mr. Hope, that even the temporal interests of the ship-
owners of Liverpool, required that they should forward the
views of that society. The chairman knew, that very many of
the losses which took place at sea, were occasioned by the igno-
rance, and frequently by the intemperance of seamen. It was
desirable, that vessels should be manned by seamen, and com-
manded by masters who had the fear of God before their eyes.
The spiritual interests of seamen were interwoven with those
of their ewn countrymen, abroad and at home, as well as with
foreigners, who looked into their conduct for somo of the fruits
of that religion, which was impressed upon them by our mis-
sionaries. The Rev. gentleman concluded by contrasting the
improved state of morals exhibited by seamen now, in this town
with those of some years since, and by seconding the resolu-
tion.

Mr. 1!'I ART moved the second resolution, to the effect, "That
the meeting desired to express devout thanks to God, for the
many tokens of his blessings and presence to the Bethel Union,
during the past year, and earnestly implored his benediction for
their future labours." Mr. Peart, in a very eloquent speech,
advocated the objects of the society, and gave a brief view of the
results of his past labours, and of his objects in future, from
which he appeared to augur great success.
Mr. PETERS seconded the resolution in an emphatic and pow-
erful address, which was received with great applause. After
setting forth a number of striking arguments, he said he had
one of more weight than any of the rest. lie begged to hand to
the chairman the sum of ,E 8 125.. which had been collected by
Miss Christian, and entrusted to him for presentation.
Several small donations were the❑ announced by the Rev. Dr.
Reifies, amounting to the sour of £ll Bs. 6d.
Mr. ROWL•Niis proposed the third resolution in lieu of Mr.
Blackburn, who was absent. It was to the effect, that the meet-
ing had heard with pleasure of the success of the agent, and of
the confidence which the seamen had in him, and that they com-
mended hint to the prayers of the society.
The Rev. MOSES FISHER seconded the resolution. He had,
he stated, been present at the formation of the society, he had
watched its progress with pleasure, and he now rejoiced at its
success.

Mr. PEA UT briefly returned thanks for the allusion in the re-
solution.

Mr. Councillor JOHN CROPPER moved the fourth resolution,
"That the meeting, impressed with a conviction that the visiting
of lodging-houses was en useful and important branch of their
operations, earnestly solicited the support and co-operation of
the meeting to that effect." Mr. Cropper supported the motion
in a brief speech.
Mr. W. K A y seconded the resolution.
The Rev. JAMES JONES moved the fifth resolution, to the ef.
feet, that the meeting rejoiced to hear that the attendance on
the ministry of the
gospel and at the prayer meetings was so
good, and that they returned their grateful acknowledgments to
the ministers who had preached at the Floating Chapel.
Mr. Alderman JoNES briefly seconded the resolution.
Mr. A DvmAN proposed the sixth resolution, to the effect, that
the thanks of the meeting he presented to the Rev. Dr. Raffles,
the Kev. J. Kelly, the Rev. .1. l'eart, &e. Seconded by Mr.
JOHN Joe.
The Rev. Dr. RA MRS proposed the thanks of the meeting
to Mr. Alderman Brown, for the kindness and urbanity with
which he had presided over that meeting.
Mr. Alderman BROWN returned thanks.
The following gentlemen were appointed for the ensuing
year :—Vice-presidents—Sir John Tobin, Samuel Hope, Esq.,
and James Cropper, Esq.; Treasurer—C. H. Jones, E,q•;
Secretaries—the Rev. Dr. Raffles, and James Jones, Esq.;
essrs. R. Anderton, J. B. Blackburn, J. Bulley,
Johnel'it't.roepi-M
i-er, T. Christian, R. Farrar, J. Hurry, W. Hughes,
J. Job, C. Job, J. Jones, D. James, W. Kay, L. Knowles, W.
M'Cann, D. Marples, D. Rowlands, C. Smith, S. Tillotson,
W. White, and B. Wood.
A collection was made in aid of the funds of the society, Which
amounted to 1.:63.

A cabinet council was held at the Foreign Office, to-day at
one o'clock, all the members in tow❑ were present.—From the
S'tandar•d of Saturday.
•
The Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Eng-
land had another interview with the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer this morning.—From the Standard c?/-' Saturday.
Clibach-RaTE.—At Lynn, in Niafolk, a church-rate was
contested on Friday and Saturday last; the result was—For
the rate 378. Against the rate '273.
At the west entrance of St. Bride's church, Fleet-street, a
white marble tablet has been lately erected to the memory of
Mr. Alderman Waithman.

The performa,,,:es of Mr. E. Forrest, combined with the at-
traction of the &eye of Corinth, ha.- drawn more than £4OO a-
night, during the last week, at Drury-lane.
We understand that Sir John Cain Hobhouse is in treaty
fur the renting of P.ilestoke Park, near Devizes. A rumour is
also prevalent that a marriage is on the lapis between the hon.
baronet and the accomplished daughter of one of 'the members
tor Wilts.—Devizes Gazette.