The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-01-03
MISCELLANY.
FOR TnE STAR.
IS THE SEAMEN'S FRIEND
SOCIETY WORTHY OF PUBLIC
PATRONAGE
ron TnE STAR

M tnis uhy, whcn ~ "uhy uinoIoW fu-
stautions are presenting themselves be-
fore the public, and urging their several
claims for confidence and support, il
sesms important that the pretsnsions Of
each should be fairly examined, tbA when
patronage 10 afforded, il may be done
with understanding. The objec, Of the
following remarks, 10 to esamins tho
claims Of the Society which has arisen
among Us within few years past, profess- |
ing TO have in view the peculiar benefit
OF seamen. This society 10 aot known
yet received much sid. II is hence the
more necessary that information be gene |
rally gwen, that tho public may ei,hor
sustain it's operations liberslIy, when they
are solicited, or reject the application
with decision, il the society is found to
have no sufficient claims on christian lib |
xrality.
1t is now about twenty years since the
first systematic attempts were made TO
benefit seamen, considered - a distinct
class Of men. For q cosslderable pert
of that time the operstions were confined
20 the ports in our own land. Bethel
meetings were held on board vessels ly-
ing in the harbor, Bibles and Tracts we're
distributed on shipboard, and at length
Mariners Churches were erected in the
large Atlantic ports, aud measures taken
to secure the attendance OF seamen at the
several places OF public worship prepared
for them.
But defect was soon observed in the
plan, or rather the influence of the mess-
ures adopted stopped far short Of the
good intended 10 be accomplished. The
sailor must depart. He was found in our
own ports but few Sabbaths IN year,
md frequently spent as long time in
foreign ports " at home. IL was seen
also that the moral situation Of sailors in
foreign ports was far worse than at home;
and il they were exnosed to be drawn a.
way by the current Of licentiousness here,
the evil was increased tenfold in the large
foreign cities for in very many Of the
foreign ports where our sailors congre-
gate, the Sabbath is disregarded, tno re-
ligious atmosphere is felt, 40 sanctuary
opens its doors to the mariner, few pious
. examples are around him, and without
very strong previous counteracting influ-
ence, the sailor falls into the current q:
ungodlinsss almost without q struggle
This evil was discsrned by the benovo-
lent, aud remedy was devised. 1t was
ahought that could Chaplain, devoted to
tho interest Of seamen, be stationed in
every large foreign port, who should seek
them out on their arrival, visit from ship
to ship, preach on the Sabbath either on
shipboard, or in q floating chapel, or in
one built for the purpose on shore, as the
circumstances Of the several eases might
demand, and in these and various other
ways labor for the good Of seamen, it was
believed that could this be done abroad,
. while mariners churches were vigorous
ly sustained at home, the moral and re-
,lgious Improvement Of seamen might be
efectually promoted through the world.
"A When 1t was ascertained that this
course was desirable, the question arose,
who should do the work 1t did not fall
exactly in the province Of any foreign
Missionary Society, as those societies
had specially in view the evangelizing OF
Ahe heather. Neither could the Domes-
tic Missionary Society engage in it with
any propriety, as their efforts were direct
ed to the destitute Of our own land, and
the various societies in the large ports at
on the Atlantic seacoast supported each
its own establishment without aid from a.
broad, at least to any considerable extent.
Who then should do this work Hence
arose the formation Of the American Sea-
mems Friend Society. The object Of
this society is to improve by every means,
the moral condition of seameE through
out the world. Il extends a fosterins
hand 10 every institution which is cacr-
lated to render seamen better members Of
society, to make them more temperate,
or more economical. 1t is designed to
follow the seamen when he crosses the
wide waters, and to labor for his improve
ment in foreign lands, to watch over him
there, by stationing faithful man 10 he
foreign port, who shall take the sailor by
the hand when he arrives, who shall ad-
wise him for his good, and be his friend in
every difficulty.
This society was organized ia the year
1926, but no Chaplain was sent out till
l899. When il was known in tho sum-
mer Of that year that tho Rev. MIR Abel
was about to visit India az q missionary, /,
a proposal was made that he should spend
one season a. a Chaplain to seamen in
che port Of Canton. The service he per-
formed. 1t was an experiment, and prov
ing a satisfactory one, moro permanent
CRsplains were sought to enter the white
ming fields. Early in the year 1892,
three young men, who were about finish
ing their theological course, offered them
selves to the Executive Committee as
lsborers among seamsn in foreign ports