New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-03-28
The Ship.vreck Society.
.xtract from Sermon lately delivered in this CT,

Extract from Sermon lately delivered in this City,
BY REV. oRvILLE DEWEY.
Let me take you TO sphere of life, quite out OF
the range of our ordinary phanthropic considera
ton; and one for which noble nterposition is now
put forth in almost all the maritime States OF the
world mean the Mariners life. 1t IS not of the
sailor such; it is notof the sailor alone that now
speak, but of all who are exposed the dangers OF
the sea- There has lately been formed in this Gig
Shipwreck Society, and it is to that specific enter
prise that wish to invite your attention.
at will give you pleasure to know that this is but
branch OF grand affiliated Association which has
spread itself around almost the entire coast of Eu-
rope. Kings and Princes, Mobiles and Ministers Of
State, Prelates and Phanthropists of every sect,
have engaged in this humane enterprise and its APP
paratus is found-its houses of refuge are built and
its signal lights rising amidst darkness and tenn
pest on many shore, far round the habtable globe.
When was in London last year. L observed all along
the Thames placards setting forth that within might
be found and apparatus for rescung or restor
ing 10 life, drowned persons. How striking con-
trast in civilization from what an eyewitness toid
me that he once saw our own American coast!-
He was hunting on the sea-shore-l VIII not say
where it was--when the night Tell, he was over
IL ken be one of those fearful storms when upon the
sea-shore more than any where else, seem 10 leave
all nature shelteress and exposed TO It's fury. AS
he drew near to a lonely tavern on the beach, and
the night closed in thick darkness around ni, ana
the roar of the laundering surges rose upon ms et,
mipgling with the wailings OF the tempest he could
not help thinking almost with awe, that some nap
less voyagers might be drivlng. upon their desuuc'
ton almost at his very feet. Whatthen was his sur
prise on enteriug the house, TO find IT brilliantly
lirhted up aud occupied by party oil revClers III
1he highest pitch OF gee and merrlmcnt! The revel
lasted quite through The night, and was only inter-
rupted by the sallylng forth OF the party ~ DAY
break. with much noise and hilarity to walk upon
the beach. In about an hour they returned, as com
pletelv changed as if every one OF them had oeen
seized with fit of illness; every trace OF mrth ied
from their faces sad, spirtless, detected looking
like mourners al funeral. Ihey ada Jol,e .., ng
trreck Yes II as true they had sung and revcied
all that night in the hope that the wild ana desolale
shore without had been resounding with the shreks
and agones of shlpwreck!
CHOW II is in part-as in ancidentai purpose-lo
sav. the victims of such dread calamity from these
human fiends, that the Shipwreck Society is estao-
I;shed Itproposes 10 place on our coast instead OF
these Gends proving for their prey, KIND and hui
name watchers who by means OF signals, can trans
init intelligence from point TO point, and can BRING
steamers to the aid OF vessels IN alstress. ao Ho'
that il is necessary for the Society TO keep
sons in constan. pay for this purpose But some m
Jucemepts held out some rewards offered hte-boats
nrovided and housed at thepoints OF prncipal expo
snye rockets prepared and ready Tor OCCASION tese
are the simple and inexpensive means by whlch
ao,,sauds of lives may be rescued from destruction.
The pyrotechnc art is now producing lshts taal
nather wind nor rain can extingRish. Ship Masters
will be instructed to provide these lights, OF whch
different colors may indicate different stuulioiis
some the want OF pilot; and others, Tie ulleilios'
1egree az distress. For want OF such device inc
poke, shin Sheffield was lately in the most lnml-
men: dancer of being lost. Steamers sailed around
without deserving her. Fifty lives We're rlsKed LOT
want Of light that would have cost lew shiiliss
Aud surely If there be any case concevapie or pos
sible in which humanity Is most Loudly caiieo uPoi
10 nterpose il is this. 1t IS an lnerposuoh IN DC
half Of fellow-creatures involved III the utternost
calamity ever known or imag lined on earth. foVer'y
indeed is a calamity, and should be relieved. But
the poorest beggar on earth-wouid ne eAci"ASe
situations with the wealthiest Prince IN peril Oh snip
wreck? Sickness should visited and tended
Yet il bears its victim 10 the grave step by step II
ryes him pleasure TO contemplate the end 10 ga'ei
nm his thoughts TO meet IT. 10 summon patience anu
PRAYER TO meet it; yes, and sometimes 1t reconciies
HIM 10 death, and makes him ask tor II as Tor re-
lease and blessing. But oh. when comes the hgh
nJ icons bonr NJ return 10 ones native land, weary
DAYS and weeks behind the exiled voyagers and De-
fore him Reckoning gestures and angel smiles o.
welcome from the green and sun-ut Do"ets oi nis
home-,hen for the dark storm to rse and the biacS
night TO gather around and the raging waves &c
sweep on in mountain masses, ana uio hi'u 'iiit
fremhlnp through all her mighty ribs TO mount and
nlngc and nause, and rush on again, and al last &c
strike strike God pity thy creatures What shrek eve,
rose from human agony like that, Sudden death
should not fear; but death like that l sh nc ~
dread as for the time the most overwheihihs " on
earthly horrors. And canno, but reflect that may
be involved in that exposure, tina! you may be- OF
our children OF friends, and certainly that many
Of cur fellow beings are brought into that tremendous
peril every year. And mutual assurance s1cle,yI
giving all the assurance Of rescue from such peru
that il can, seems TO be plainly recommended by the
coolest reason and the merest interest. But BEYOND
this Humanity puts in its claim and II says, Wn se
Ocean shores where God has placed your evenings
by raging seas, into Which many must descend 10
do business in the great waters, into which many
go down for health and travel and improvement mt
meet it is that Charity planting her foot on llle nin
land should stretch out hes hands to save nose WI.
are sinking in the whelming waves And were
statue erected picture painted to elnbody s,ilh
ing idea ofhnninn charity, know not IN whas place