The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-09

sao6No oAr.
AmeSacan oeamsn's Friend ooelsty.

Amssacan osamsn's y1ssnA soeissy.
The twentieth anniversary Of the above named
society celebrated at the Tabernacle last evening
The chair was taken by the president Captain Edward
Richardson, and the exercises need by sing
ing after which suitable prayer delivered and the
report Of the proceedings of the society for the last
year read by Rev. Spauding of the secretaries
From this report we learn that the receipts OF inc
society for the past year have been S2to0I ana the
expenses $237e3 The receipts exceed the amount OF
previous years by $6492. CO,
the city was introduced to the meeting and offered
resolution that the report OF tho society DC
and published doing he said he mad pleasure
for he was satisfied that its publication would cause
great deal of good He has been Tor more than quar-
ter of a century among scamen and no would throw
out few words which might be diated upon at length
by the speakers who were to succeed him. There are
nearly three millions of in the world. and the
wonder is how they have been neglected until COM
paraivcy recent date and this too when the natives
Of Africa, the sandwich Islands, and other distant
places were carefully attended to and received know
ledge righteousness 1t not till the year 1877
when the cause of seamen first attracted attention.
in that year the mariners church Yin New York,
and the Bethel Church in London, were
constructed In that year the Society for the Promo
ton of the Gospel among seamen in the Port OF New
ork, formed, composed of thirty directors and
this society is known rs the Port Society, and was
composed of persons of all denominationsHenry Eek
ford Jonathan Little, Arson q. Phelps. John West
field. Josiah Sturges Theodore Dwight. Major Taylor,
Charles Richards and others, composed the board Of
directors of this the first society organised in the
United States or in the world for the benefit of
men. Thirteen Of these have deceased, and the re-
mainder alive, five Of whom now remain in the
board In November, 1915 they employed the Rev.
Ward Stafford to preach, and the project was deemed
experiment. but it very short time before the
which they occupied in Roosevelt street was filled
by sailors Funds then collected, and the church
in Roosevelt street was built. At the laying OF
the corner stone an incident worthy Of notice
oc cured. and that was. that when the minister
said Let pray one of the tars in attendance
cried aloud agreed" and his manner showed that he
was agreed The speaker then related an incident
which happen ned to himself He preaching SER
mon. and in the midst of it a sailor and pro-
ceedng the door when he the preacher paused and
remarked on the The sailor listened very
attentvely and looking mt him respectfully said Sir
your sermon is very good but it is too long This,
the speaker took hint that sailors do not like long
sermons. Laughter The Society, above mentioned.
progressed in the good work and its efforts in bringing
sea-faring men within the influence of the gospel,
were Of the most gratifying nature. 1t procured re-
forms in boarding and at length hired house
IN Cherry street 1or the accommodation OF sors tne
success OF which them 80 much as 10 induce
them to conceive plan OF erecting an immense building
for similar purposes The building was opened in
November 1872 and is the present building known
the Sailors Home The Port Society perceived that
a great portion of the sailors money was either squan
dered or fched from them, and the result the
establishment of a Savings Bank, in which at this
nome mt there il deposited the sum Of two millions OF
dollars. which otherwise would have been expended In
supporting theatres and other immoral places. The
next Emovement one to promote temperance;
and in March, 1885, the Marine temperance Society
of New York was organized, which now enrols some
twenty three thousand members. The speaker then
pointed to memorable in which temperance led
religion TO the dement's OF tcn-
pcrance among seamcn in the cases of captain and
some sailors. Mr. Chase then contrasted the cond
ton Of sailors before tall these efforts made for
their benefit and their state xt the present time when
there six places of worship especially designed for
scamen and open to them three times every Sabbath.
All this originated in the movements of the Port So
ciety and in the erection Of the Mariners Church.
The resolution to publish the report was then passed
Jso. THOMPSON Esq, of Poughkeepsic, was the next
speaker, and commenced by referring in fowery Ian
guage to the increase of commerce. and its effects
England. the United States, and other commercial
countries in the building of cities which are depend
ing on commerce alone for their existence He then
directed the attention of the assembage to the I'M
people because they the representatives of the
nations to which they belong. and such nations are
judged in portions Of the world BY their
tian nations have until lately. sought to
direct the honest and mpusive nature of the seaman
into proper course; ana not let ike river. waste
its virtue on the desert sand
The Rev. c. FORBES, late preacher at Lahna. Sand
wich islands rose and asked who will stand up
to the sailor his rights, and give him his Sabbath? 1t
may be that in one ship out of hundred the Sabbath
day is respected but as general rule the sailor knows
no Sabbath Where lies the fault 7, This he would not
decide but should not all feel that the sailor should
have the sanctifying influence Of the Sabbath 1t is
said the sailor has thrown himself away that he il
nothing but man dressed in duck pants, red shirt
and tarpaulin hat yet it not for the sailor we
would have no commerce Forty years ago merchant
Of wealth drove his carriage and six months ago he
him in the capacity Of cook on board whale
man He cxhorted the old man to stay on shore.
and improve his talents and education; but the man
answered Who for the sailor Yea, who
the salor,-Thc speaker then related several Incl
dents connected with the present condition of seamen
which painfully interesting and illustrated forci
bly, the disregard which is too generally paid to sailors
and the with which they arc treated When
he heard to night that thousand dollars was
collected last year for the benefit of the seamen, he
thought if tho Of the sailor had much
he had of them and of their wants, they would con-
tribute literally than they do; for what Is such
small that compared to their necessities! There
should be chaplain in every port at which they touch
where they may receive religious knowledge which will
preserve them from those Of hell the grog shops
A collection then taken up in aid Of the funds
for the objects of the association
Rev. DIR. BETHUNE spoke after the collection, and
said there just two thoughts which had occurred
to him in reference to this causefrs We have hither
made great distinction between worldly bust
and religious relations Devotional exercises
not religion but religion consists in entertaining
and acting religious principles. II is well to Keep
the Sabbath but day of the Christians year be-
longs God and il has been in reference to the
advancement Of Gods He thought the present
society had reached point at which the Christian
promote Gods cause, and his worldly interest, Mt
the time by making every sailor missionary
The time is coming when the influence Of prayer and
If the Bible, will consecrate in ba nd Of
missionaries who will preach Christianity to the
hoat hon