The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-13

New York was held yesterday afternoon IN the
Croton Hail. for the purpose of explaining and pro-
noting the Objects Of the Society formed last week.
under the nsnc Of the Seamen's Self-Preseryatlon
Society. The meeting, though not so numerously
attended as had been anticipated, was composed
altogether of seamen, of whom there were between
sixty and seventy present, and who appeared 10
take the warmest interest in the proceedings. Mr.
WILSON, chairman of the committee presided, and
he commenced the meeting by offering up n prayer
for the blessing of Almighty God upon the cause.
The CHAIRMAN next said-This Society has been
formed for the support of the seaman's wages, in
order that they might not be decreased and he had
reason to believe that the very men who supported
this movement were the very men who paid the
wages now asked for. These men were willing 10
give the sailor oftemperance principles fifteen dollars
a month"; but they were decidedly opposed to paying
the incorporate sailor Sl2 or even $40 month.
In fact those who opposed the present proceedings
seemed to be the sailors friend whilst they were,
in reality, supplying him with soul destroying
poison they were, however, men little TO be
cared for, lnasmnch as they had but little interest
interfered TO prevent sailors from attending these
meetings They had, in order to accomplish their
own ends, propagated false reports respecting this
society; they had done all in their power to nure
it in the estimation of the majority of the seanen
in New York; but the members of it did not trust
in themselves for Its extension They looked to
God for support and as God had promised that
each Christian sailor should become the represent
tative of his nation, the missionary and herald of
the cross of Christ, he (the Chairman) believed the
time was not far distant when, through the nstru-
would be wiped of the character of sailors, that
they were disgrace to their country. He looked
for the time when they would be hailed by the
heather the faithful representatives of Christian
land and religion. (Applause) new era was
then, about TO commence in the history OF our
sailors, and the veriication of the prophecy was
about to take place-"That the abundance OF the
sea shall be converted to God."-(Cheers.) These
changes he expected TO be produced by the men
themselves rigidy acting upon the principles OF tenn
perance, and joining an institution like the present.
whereby their hard earnings would be treasured up
for their benefit in seasons of sickness and adversely
II was not, he remarked, the temperate man who
required assistance of this kind except, perhaps in
times of distress and disaster to which all alike
liable, but il was those identical in men who OPP
posed the objects of this society and refused to at
tend Its meetings; 1t was those unfortunate beings
who recklessly spent all their earnings in soul kill
ing liquor, and this society wished TO be the means
little of the back reckonings. "-(Cheers.) And
thus the society hoped to be grand stepping stone
towards effecting permanent reform in the tenn
poral character of our seamen, and he prayed, also
to knowledge OF the religion of Jesus Christ
(Cheers.) The rules of the society We're then read
by the Chairman, from which It appeared
that II Is intended 10 prevent seamen ship
ping for less than fifteen dollars a month, by
supporting them at periods when from circun-
stances thev might otherwise be under the neces-
sity of accepting less, and also TO relieve wrecked
seamen, widows and orphans There were many
seamen who when they unhappiy persisted, left
their families in want; II was known that those
families might apply TO the Home, where they
would be relic ID for the present; but he con-
tended that something more than mere relief was
necessary-namelv. a friend who could enter into
the feelins of 'hr bCreaved sympathize with
their dstresses, he same time admins
lister the requ nu. MARY ald-(Cheers.)
fttrtI 1o1 Dral.a
poor men who might be said to be worse than ship
wrecked-those who are landwrecked and lyng-to,
becalmed about Water street and Cherry street.
(Cheers) Ii was intended to lift this wretched
class out of the mud, II were, and to point out TO
them the way OF becoming good, useful, and re-
spectacle members of society. These Objects he be-
heved, would obtain the appreciation and support
of the intelligent citizens of New York -(Cheers)
The constitution of the Society, as he had explain
ed it, had in fact received the unanimous vote of
the seamen in port. But report had been circu-
lated, that though the object might be excellent.
the result might not prove to be good was an
tlcipated. In other words, it was lnsinuated that
the funds might, or would, be vested in the hands
OF some irresponsible person, who, when sufhcien.
cy had been accumulated TO suit his purpose would
decamp with 1t. In reply to this difficulty the Chair
man read the bye laws, which distinctly provide
that money shall remain in the hands of the Off
GERS beyond certain tlme but be deposited in the
Seamen's Saving Bank, from which it shall be
drawn only by the authority of the Board of Con-
troll Objection, on this ground, was therefore at
M Chairman concluded by observing that this
satSect had strong claim upon the attention and
0uJgor II all classes, including the government and
] branches oi the mercantile community.
b. Mrtsa. old sailor, congratulated the meeting
pa ~ Circumstance of this movement having origna
~ ana h~n organised by no but common sailor
- lack before the mast II reminded him that bles
ss Lord and Master when he propagaed his divine in
structions circulated them first among sailors and fisher
He reloiced that his fellow had determined
TO become sober men, then neither merchant shipping
master, notary public, boarding house keeper, or any
other person would be able to take advantage of them
He had himself from disspaed character became
Der man. and from that very act he enabled in the first
year hundred dollars the year he saved
another hundred and in and months he had
saved betw cen two and three hundred more How
this done BY his having to the conclusion to let
go the neck Of the decanter and put stopper upon the
liquor. (Cheers He found he had applied the
stopper his pockets began to fill cheers) and that in
stead of aborng to clohe the sellers wife and daugh
in beautiful velvet mantles with diamond rings upon
their fingers, and all the fnery imaginable he provi
ding himself with whatever requisite for his comfort
likewise and the seamen Of our ports were wise they
would come up to the help of it, He earnest
ly called upon them therefore, to sign the temperance
pledge well enroll themselves members of the Sea-
mems Protection Society
Mr.. Stockwell, Mr. Munson, Mr.. Brown. Mr. Whit
lock- (secretary) Mr. NCann and Mr. Johnson, next ad
dressed the meeting in eloquent speeches of much length
The principal topics to which they confined themselves
were the wrongs inflicted upon sailors by
tain boarding house keepers and the evils to which they
liable from Incorporate habits. The remedy sug-
gestcd and strongly urged was the observance Of total
abstinence and membership in this society.
Mr. SpALpiSc, Corresponding Secretary Of the Sea:
mems Friend Society, then came forward, and said =
Mr. President will you allow me, friend to congra
tuste yourself and this meeting upon the position
have taken Regret has been expressed by OF the
speakers that there few present to-day confess
that do not feel it, and cannot sympafhze IN inc seht
Of regret which has been LOT TINS reason
that nv heart gladdened to see so many here
What 80 More than three score and ten seamen
in minds self respect has been created Cheers)
Five years ago such this in the city OF New
York would have been impossible; three years ago il
would have been wonder. But what see nowl Sober
doing business like sober men, and invoking the
blessing Of Almighty God to rest upon them (Cheers
confess, therefore cannot sympathze in the feelings
Of regret which have been put forth few
To be might have wished that this hall would
have been filed but confess myself grateful that what
has been done has been done in the right way and in the
right spirit There time in the history OF our
country-a time of deep and thrilling nterest-which
this meeting suggests to my mind-l allude to the
time when that immortal instrument the Declaration OF
American Independence had been just written was all
written and ready for the signatures Of the members OF