Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-05-31
AMERICAN sEAMEN's FRIEND SOCIETY.

total no.
AMERICAN sEAMEN's FRIEND SOCIETY.
The eighth annual meeting of this socle.
ty was held at the Tabernacle, on Monday
evening. The whole Of that immense
building, was filled to overflowing by an
audience whose fixed attention throughout
the exercises, gave pleasing proof of the
interest felt in this important cause. The
chair was taken at 1-2 O'Clock, by A.
Van Sinderen, Esq. And the exercises oi
the evening were opened with prayer, by
the Rev. DR.. De Witt. A portion of the
Psalm commencing with
God of the sea whose awful voice, &C.
Was sung by the choir, under the direc-
ton of Mr.. Hastings. The annual report,
of which the following is an abstract, was
next read by Mr.. Greenleaf, the Cores
pondig Secretaryof the Society.
The 'abors Of this society will be better
understood when reviewed under the fol-
loving heads: Foreign Operations-At.
lantic Scaports-lnzand Waters-Ssamen's s
Homae-Means Of generazimprouement.
l. FOREIGN OPERATIONS.
CGnton.-Rev. Edwin Stevens, Chaplain.
This is the Oldest establishment of the
Society. This was the place where the ex-
pertinent was first made whether was
practicable to sustain a ministry for seamen
amid the floating population of thronged
foreign port. The past year has disclosed
no very material alterations at this station.
The Bethel flag has been displayed at the
ship anchorage almost every Sabbath for
the year, and an audience collected on the
deck or in the cabin of some ship, either
American or English. In the course of
the year, Mr.. Stevens has made two con.
siderable excursions along the eastern coast
of China, once in company with Messrs.
Gordon and Gutzlaff, and once with Mr..
Medhurst. By these excursions much i'm.
portant knowledge of the coast has been
obtained, which may be of service to the
society in their future operations.
Harre.-Rev. David De F. Ely, Chap
lain. During the past year the Seamen's
Chapel at Havre has not been closed for n
sing ele Sabbath. The services ofthe Lords
day, the weekly lecture, the stated prayer
meeting, and the Sabbath school, are all
attended. Tracts are distributed, and a
reading room kept open for the accomoda.
ton of sailors. Though the assemblies
are generally small, yet we are not without
evidence that some good has been effected,
nor could the station be abandoned without
detriment to the cause.
MarseHes.-This important port was one
of the first ever designated as the station
for seamen's chaplain, but circumstances
beyond the control Of the committee have
hitherto prevented its occupancy. A pros
pect is NOW opening for employing a
chaplain there. The services of the Rev.
Eli N. Sunteli, of Louisville, Ky. having
been secured by the Board, he has. been ap-
pointed to labor at Havre, and the COM
mittec have proposedto the Rev. Mr.. Ely
to remove to Marseilles, inasmuch as his
thorough knowledge of the French Ian
guage and character will render him more
useful at Marseilles than any person pro-
bablv could be who went directly from this
country, while the station at Havre can be
appropriately filled bya person speaking the
English language only. 1t is expected
that Mr.. Ely will proceed to Marsellles
when his successor shall arrive at Havre.
Honozuu.-Rev.J John Diel, Chaplain
The port of Honolulu, in the island of Oahu,
one ofthe Sandwich Islands, is the principal
resort of the whole ships in the Pacific
Ocean. At that place cargoes of oil can
be landed, if need be, and fresh provisions
and fruits are readily obtained. II was
hence chosen as the most appropriate place
for q seamen's chapel.
twas stated in our last report that the
chapel was completed, two reading-rooms
prepared, and a house for the chaplain
built. The committee have now the plea
sure to state that the bills for the whole
have been discharged, and that establish
ment freed from pecuniary embarrassment.
Sailors can now avail themselves of all the
customary means Of grace while IN this
port. /
Lahaina.-This port, in the island OF
Maui, another of the Sandwich Islands, is
more frequented by seamcn than any other
except Hono'a.u. Tc;s consideration led