The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-10
First Act OF the Great Moral. Religious, and
Phi.anthrophic Annual Drama, held In the
city OF New YorIs.-The Fourteenth Ami
versary OF the seamcn's Friend Society.


The first scene in the first act of this mos, mpor.
tant and momcntous drama, was presented to the
New York public last night al the Tabernacle. The
occasion was the anniversary Of that
most valuable body, the Seamen's Friend Society,
Captain Edward Richardson, President
Although IL is not very usual Occurrences TO see
that enormousand strangely constructed building, the
Tabernacle. filled during the first act of the great
Annual Religious Drama in this city; yet last night
the people of New York seemed to have walked up
with new feeling, and to have determined 10 be
present at the opening scene particularly The ladies
consequently the Tabernacle, body and gallery,
was quite full-every seat was occupcd-half of
them by ladies', at least. And several extra seats
were provided for and filed by young and beautiful
women all round and close up to the Reporters
table-a OF them handsomely dressed, and most
attentive and anxious listeners from first to last
And all round the front row of the gallery semi
circle unbroken line of Young and
well dressed women; and most lovely picture they
presented. At The back Of The speakers the whole
ofthe orchestra seats filled with very fine choir
of handsome young men and women, who sang
two or three pieces OF music, in most admirable
and thrilling manner; particularly the exhilirating
hymn sung just previous to the reading of the report
of the Executive Committee. On the platform was
the Hon. Benz. +. Butler, Dr. Bethune, and several
other distinguished characters. The place much
better lighted than usual-better ventated---all
were able 10 obtain seats, although the place was
quite full the accommodations for the reporters were
most admirable-the readers and speakers were au-
dible and distinct, and altogether it was ore of the
interesting occasions that have ever been pre-
sented in this CITY.
The following was, on this occasion, the
ORDER OF EXERCISES
/. Voluntary the Organ q Prayer 3. Music. 4.
Report OF the Executive Committee by Rev. j. Spaud.
ing Address, by Rev. Mr.. sewall of South Carolina
7. Collection g. Music. Q. Address By Hon. b. F. But.
Ter of New York. TO- Benediction
The Report of the Executive Committee, which
was read by the Rev. |. SpAuLDINo stated that Eng
land and America had joined hand in hand in the
great object which this Society set before it.
Neither were any sectarian distinctions known by
the Directors. In concert with the British Society
stad, Sidney. New South Wales and Cape of Good
Hope. Additional aid had been rendered to the
station al Amsterdam, in Holland, which is under
the direction of the Consistoy of the Dutch Re-
formed Church. With the Glasgow Association
friendly correspondence had been maintained. A sta
ton had been formed at Gottenburgh, and Chaplain
had been sent to Hayre, in France. On the 10Th of
March a Chaplain sailed from New York for Ho
henloe in the Sandwich Islands. At Rio &c de ia
metro New Orleans, Mobile, Charleston, Savan-
nah, Alexandria, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York, Providence, New Bedford, Salem, Portland,
the beeD and had Ssen
greatly blessed. During the past year there had
been subscribed 81 ,762 so cents-for the general
purposes OF the society Sl3,099 ] cents, making
a total of $40, S6l 80 cents exceeding the amount
contributed last year, $lO,l5S 81 cents The cor
ner stone of the new sailors home in New York |
which was laid on the 18th of October, has heen
completed, and is now in successful operation.-
Within tour years, according to past experience,
this establishment would have accommodated 10000
sailors, who would have saved $50 900, one thou
sand of them would have been strictly temperate, |
and SIX hundred Of them would be in heart and in
life the followers of the Lamb. The whole expense
OF erecting and finishing this " Sailors Home, in
Guiding the cost of the lot on which was built has
been $4,000. On those who appre related the i'm |
rely for $4,000 to meet their present liabilities. To
the ladies' of New York, Brooklyn, Orange county,
Now Rochelle, Bushwick, and other places the Di |
rectors were bound to express their most grateful
a sailor, as he laid his head on his pillow in the
Sailors Home, thanks to the ladies for their kind
ness" and he spoke the honest feelings of a thou
sand hearts There were now at least six hundred
pious sea captains and more than ten times that
number OF praying sailors Five thousand seamen
had during the past year joined the New York Ma
rine Temperance Society, and there were the most
cheering evidences that the Society had been bes
men TO the " truth as ii is in Jesus"
The Rev. Mr.. Sewall of South Carolina then in |
troduced, and spoke as ollows:--
Mr.. PresidcntPehaps in the whole course Of nv life
j mean of my ministerial life-have understood more
fully the importance of the following passage Scripture
The fear OF man bringet snare" understand il now
expressly. 1t almost SIM and certainly shame that
one grown grey in the ministerial should be un;
Ter any circumstance ntimdated. But time ofjeopard
alton has seized me- that has produced papitaon
hat might induce Illustration. Is thing Sir to take
seat in your closet and in the retirement string toge
other to rise before audience like this and to shape
form these reflections into words, and many may do the
former who would he unable to do the latter. NV idea
this subject has been graphically expressed by Cowper
in these lncs:--
Sometimes we think could speech produce
Much to the purpose, if our tongue were loose,
But when we try 1t dies upon the lip
Faint as a chickens note that hath the pip"
The Committee Of Arrangements will bear witness that
consented reluctantly to appear before you but
hen found difficulty getting of desired to lead the
to appear in front was lily prepared to act the part
The bcs should be kept to the last lean dstnc ty
reooect when sailors drift not only upon the
high seas but also from charity if from the church,
hanks be 10 God this day has gone by short time ago
made short from Charleston to Baltimore and
observed that the captain Christian and that several
Of the sailors Christians also And was happy
had southern breeze and swept smoot hly over
he ocean and on the Sabbath all collected on the
quarter deck and there we worshpped God Time was
here home for the sailor but the astle now
blessed be God they have another castle in this City
New York visited this castle this afternoons saw there
vom,.Hc rcns'ous new sPapers,Teng DOCKS
and the Bible that glorious book. | saw also their
comfortable lodging rooms and my heart reoced to
IL saw too the place where their provisions pre-
pared and better bread sir QurrS vcroRA herself
not desire to eat Every thing there neat every
thing comfortable have regarded sailors sir the
INK which connects shore with shore continent CONT
nent, and world to world recol!ect riddle which
knew when was boy which said, The used and
eas thought or and have sometimes thought this lass
oil the communy-saors mean-were Of the most use |
ou' least thought Of We however waking up to this
supect-perhaps we are not quite wake yet but the pc
we he no
ten to the facts detailed in the report and doctrines put
forth in It, without expecting this National distinctions
seem to be lost Denominations al distinctions also are
lost and this reminds of fact which occurred near
the borders of Canada during the last There was
camp meeting and British and American soldiers were both
there. There ridge pole put up separate them and
red coats at side and blue other The
services commenced and the BnLr read " hen
Of the rel pressed among the blue and blue pressed
among the red and very shortly the pole thrown