The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-10
Anniversary of the American Seamen's
Friend. Society.

This society held its Seventeenth Anniversary
last Monday. at the Tabernacle and seldom have we
seen that vast building densely crowded as twas
on this occasion. Every nook and corner was
cranmedtull, haf an hour before the time appointed
for the CONNIE ncement of the exercises of the evc-
nng, which were of highly interesting nature, and
eDiivened by music both from the choir and piano.
The mo iority of the audience consisted of ladies,
and we have rarely such assemblage of
modest beauty and intelligence. We also observed
several officers of the Navy, and many of our most
influential and leading shipping merchants and
captains. The worthy President OF the society be-
longs to the latter fraternity and his name will be
long remembered by the hardy tars OF America with
gratitude and love; we need but say 1t is Captain
Edward Richardson. In fact, the whole meeting
showed that not only Is the sailor now known and
appreciated by his more immediate employers but
that landsmen and others, who have never expe-
rcnced "the pers of the deep" are by no means
lacking in feeling and sympathy for the manly and
gallant supporters of our country's name and honor
in every part OF the known world.
The exercises commenced by singing hymn APP
propriae TO the OCCASION IN which the audience were
invited TO join with the choir and the effect of such
vast crowd uniting las with one voice. was one
of the most exquisite and touching scenes il has
fallen to our lot 10 witness. BY the iudicous dstri-
button of bills containing the words of the hymn,
every enabled TO contribute their quota of
music, and il formed, altogether, one of the most
pleasin. features of the evening.
This was followed by prayer from Rrv. Mn. DowLIyc,
Chaplain to the Sailors Home, who in most eloquent
terms invoked the Divine blessing the Society and
returned thanks for the great blessings that had been
extended during the past year to their efforts, and the
increase OF their work that apparent in the bet
tered condition of the seamen. lie duplicated the
blessing of God the institution Of the Sailors Home
in this city, and prayed that the great importance OF i'm
pressing religious feelings the sailor whose sal.
vation thus made and the force of his example
and precepts carried wherever he sailed might be made
more apparent than ever.
At the close OF the prayer, the SECRETARY read
abstract OF the annual report by which appeared that
many and cheering facts were developed regarding the
social and moral Improvement of the many who navi-
gated great inland waters, well those who
were employed on the seaboard. Mariners churches
and temperance boarding houses rapidly increasing
in every direction and OF the churches they could num-
Der about fifty the scaboard In the Sailors Home in
this city, during the year ending the lst of May, ls45
they had received and entertained 3Dl6 sailors and du
ring the three last years including the just mcn
toned, they had received zoos sailors in all The
Marine Temperance Society on the coast numbered full
30 600 members and the New York Marine Temperance
Society had now enrolled on itspages s3s names On
board of war, out of $50 men, ll5 had vol
UNFAIRLY resigned their grog and board another 800
out OF 900 had done likewise Since the establishment
OF the bank for sailors savings the large amount of
nineteen hundred thousand dollars had been paid in and
fourteen hundred thousand withdrawn thus leaving an
amount OF half million hand absolutely be-
longing to scamcn, those in way connected with
them With regard to their operations in foreign lands
they were OF much importance not only TO seamen but
also to the advancement and diffusion of knowledge of
the gospel in various parts of the world In addition to
chaplains in the Pacific New South Wales and France
sending to China possible without
counting the receipts of the auxiliary societies, their
receipts for the year past have been Si7322 and their
expenditures Slsi7s Were the receipts OF the auxil
iary societies added, they would exceed $4,000. To
this report beyond the extension, must be added
greater energy and confidence IN prosecuting their la
bors. Temperance, both and shore was progress
ing with rapid strides and the sabbath was also OBJ
served more strictly than heretoore an increased desire
for the bible and fuller appreciation of its blessed
truths distinctly manifested Letters from va
rous parts of the world gave them every day evidence
thA ht ltctr
Of tracts, and the home free from temptation that
supplied the sailor his return. The gentleman rca-
ted Several instances of the happy effect Of pious
member Of o had upon the remainder, and closed
by expressing gratitude for the blessings with which
they entered on year OF their existence, and be
speaking the cooperation of every friend Of in be
half Of their society.