The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-11-15

10 ssamen 6 IL the shipping interest Al some meas
ures were taken TO provide board for seamen IN
private families where they would be less exposed
10 ntemperance ard the various kinds OF dss'pa-
ton than what they are when Promlscous'y aSso-
ciaied together There are families in town VINO
would be willing to take boarders, but who en-
terrain an idea which is very common, 'ha' san
ors are of course troublesome and disagrceable'-
This, however, is not necessarily the case. we
have many seamen that sail irom anu arrive Ut
our port, who are highly respectable and not I'D
dictcd to those vices 100 gcncroy prevalent among
sailors. If measures were taken by the Society TO
ascertain this class Of sailors and recommend them
to good private families 10 board, it would DO an
important means not only Of preserving them from
many dangerous influences, to which otherwise
the. will be likely to be exposed, but, by leading
them to mngle with different class Of society, be
the means ofinspirng them with more sell re-
spect Of soiteniug their manners, and, II not act
ually elevatng aud improving them, at least OF so
establishing and confirming them in their present
integrity us to render them less likely to be over
come or led astray by tho evil communications to
which they may be exposed, when at sea ard in
foreign parts. AndnOl'only SO. bu, it will CON
tribute to tit and prepare them to be instrumental
by their example, if not efforts, in reforming and
eleva,ing the more degraded class Of scanen with
whom they may chance To have intercourse Be
sides, such measures will have beniicia inhu-
ence on our shipping interest, as it will be tho
means Of permanently attaching TO our port most
interesting class Of seaInen, such as it will always
be for the interest Of our merchants 10 employ in
+ preference to others
j Your Comn,itteewould also suggest whether it
lis not cxpedicnt to change the time Of holding the
annual meeting of,hc Society. II seems to be
desirable that the annual meeting should be held,
and the annual address delivered at a season Of the
year when the greatest number oiour captains and
seamen are at home, which is not the case in No
yember, when they are now by the Constitution
provided to be held.
II Your Committee would further suggest, what
must be obvious to every one on reflection, that in
order TO secure the successful operation Of the
clety, and to attain its useful and benevolent pur-
poses, i, is highly important that oil its officers
should faithfully and zeaousy discharge their re-
spective duties However excellent its objects,
and how perfect soeyer its organization, the So
cicty can lie expected to accomplish but conIpar-
atyely little unless its officers especially feel
deep Interest in its concerns and faithfully dis
charge their several duties. A great deal, III an
especial manner, depends on the faithful discharge
of the duties uf the Visiting Committee, us with
them, in great measure, is the primary action Of
the whole Society.
| Your Committee would finally suggest, whether
it would not be profitable and expedient to hold
msn,hly meetingsfo the purposes ofprayer, as al
so Of conferrng together and communicating inter-
esting intelligence the objects Of the Society,"
They feel that such arrangement would seem
very mnch to deepen the interest in the minds Of
all and quicken both officers and members in their
several dates, besides having our efforts watered
by tho dews Of Divine grace. The third Monday
evening in every month is the time recommended
and observed by the American Seamens Friend
Society, as also by many af the nuxiliarics, and
your Committee would suggest whether that would
not be the appropr ate time for US to adopt, if the
Society should sec fit TO adopt the foregoing ar
rangenent,
| We have confined our remarks to the local ope-
ratons Of the Society here, and more with an inn
mediate reference to its temporal than spiritual con-
Germs, because in the narrow limits Of our report
we have not space to dwell upon, or scarcely al
lude TO the great spiritual and ultimate ends TO
which the Society aims. And besides, we feel
that the proper organization and immediate cpe-
raiioDs Of the Society are what VIC are now chiefly
called upon to consider, and that these must be
well matnred before the greatest ends can TO any
considerable degree be attained But when we
reflect that we are cooperating with other similar
Societies not only for the improvement, of the tenn
poral condition, but for promoting the religious
improvement and the eternal salvation of 90 large
and so important class Of men, rs the seamen of
our country, aud ofthe world ard more, that
this is one Of the great christian enterprises Of the
subservient to each other, in hustcning on that
great and glorious day, when not only I" the a.
bundance ofthe sea, shall be converted unto God 4"
but 9. all shall know Him from the least to the
greatest - considerations like these should inspire
US with holy confidence und a most ardent zeal
in cause SO noble and so glorious
| s. p. CHILD,
| PASGHAL ALLEN,
| THO. c. WILLIAMS.
The following gentlemen were unanimously c.
lcc,ed officers for the ensuing year, viz
NATHAN NJ. WHEATON, President.
JOSEPH SMITH, Vice President