The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-08
American Seumen's Friend Society.

| American Sesmen's Friend Society.
A. Peret, Esq, President, in the chair. Last eve
ming the twenty first anniversary of this meritorous
society was held at the Tabernacle, Broadway. The
attendance in every way worthy the object
tempated by its members The number of la dies pre-
sent was immense, which showed the deep interest
which they take in the welfare of the sailor Hitherto
unfor tunstcy. he has been regarded a mere ma
chino set in motion when necessary while his social and
moral condition has not been deemed worthy of con-
sideraton by thoseo whom he has toied endangered
bis life and made fortunes. But. thanks to the lau
! dable efforts of the phianthropist, may say
temto'a mutanfu'. the times are changed.
The meeting was opened with praying and singing,
after which the Rev Mr. Spaldng the Secretary read
abstract of the report from which it appeared that
the receipts for the past had been SIS 5S2 90 and
the Sailors Home in this city for the year ending this
month has been $685. and for the last years has
been 25554
The Rev. Dr. ScvtT of Newark moved that tho alb
sract of the report just read be adopted and printed
under the direction Of the Board of Trustees lie said
that the importance of that society to promote the in
terests they had assembled there must DO mani
fest to all There n oneness which constituted the
whole class of sociey-a oneness of hope aud sorrow
Of Joy and pleasure. Were they not all brothers! Was
there among them who had not been called upon
to weep the ashes of dear departed friend
No mans nature different from his. They had but
one common interest in every thing which related to
the and the land. The interests of the seamen
were those of the landsmen, and pice rersa Three
quarters of the globe were covered with WATER and
only one-fourth was land. The Pacific Ocean was
globe and therefore, according to the law Of pro-
portions greater Importance was to be attached to
the There were three millions of men engaged in
marine and naval business, and who could calculate
the amount of human capital that was invested! No
the calculation. Let them think Of the wives and
daughters of the sailors the merchants who poyed
were engaged in building the ships,les them reflect
upon that array of great facts and they would have
in If. nd in h
welfare. The sailor promoted, in the highest de-
planters at the South the merchants in Canton
and Ceylon do, it not for the sailor! The sailor
was the great importer and exporter of the world He
the spirit which moved the wheel of commerce in
the hands Of God The sailor intrustcd with vast
amount of human life; thousands upon thousands of
men, women and children were entrusted to the care
and guardianship of the mariner Was not the sailor
brother whom they ought to cherish and protect?
gard the sailor IN his proper light at such critical time
period fraught with such imminent peril! Had not pray
ers been offered that his (the saor's health might
not give out, but that he might be enabled by divine
providence to brave the tempest and conduct the gal
liant ship safely through it, The sailor had all the in
| dearng enjoyments There were no monuments over
the lover the brother and the friend who at the
bottom ofthe deep the perils Of which commended
them to the special attention and of that society
1t was noble institution. The destnies Of the world
in the hands of sailors Had not the sailors of the
Mayhower carried the destinies Of their land Had
they not by the providence of God borne the destnes
of the gospel He could not describe the value of hu
man soul No, that beyond the power of the most
profound-the most learnedthe most philosophical.
| 1t was point, the sublimity of which no mind
could reach, but by the providence of God That So
| ciety through Christ, had saved many souls. The
time would come when sailors would be found hanging
lamps, more brilliant than and which he saw around
him. upon the every nation the face of
the earth. He Uhe Rev. Dr) thought he hearda voice
saying that the harvest of the sea was ripe Let all
rally around the sailor to enable him to take the sill
yer trumpet to proclaim throughout the uttermost
bounds of the earth his own regeneration through
the saving graces of the gospel. 1t the
sacred duty of every citizen to his most
exerons for the benefit and prosperity of the society
| upon which so much depended, and in which in
voved interests Of the deepest and dearest character
After some other remarks, the learned gentleman
| cluded very able speech, and resumed his seat
amidst continual and general applause
The been seconded, was put and carried
The Rev r. s. sroRns, Jr. of Brooklyn, moved the
next resolution, which called upon the friends of this
good cause and upon all Christians for their sympathy
and cooperation. After PREDATORY remarks
he said that there passions at sea verse
than storms. There were ignorance and deep de-
fitted he must be lifted to the light and glory of the
| Gospel The sailor came to him a mandy that
title he the saor had claims upon his sympathy and
affections The sailor to him and related what he
had SEEM he was man in Gods image, and to live
as long as Gods throne stood and when the Heavens
had rolled away like scroll he the sailor would live
Had he not claims upon his he reverend genteman's)
| affections? Some noble persons were to be found
PEELED from College for having got into some scrapc-
who could not bear to meet an angry father whose
feelings were ovepowered at the thoughts of coming in
contact with Il fond mother-thosc who might have
commanded the applause of the Senate, and marched
at the head of armies: such the persons to BIZ
found ON board their shipsmen who superior to
him, and should he work for them He must work
for them and lend his aid for the purpose rescung
them from the rapacity Of the land sharks. He MUS
cooperate with others in bringing them from tho
temptations Of the bottle in giving them libraries
| friends could establish their chapains for them
not men eminent for their dosmas in theology,
Srs,cS who 3,s could in plain and and simple manner
| places, and for them. along their coasts They
could establish savings banks for them, and bcstow
moral and literary point of view aud they could throw
| around them influences which would make Chrstian
| as omnipresent ms the atmosphere 1t had zen
said that there college board n ship could
agiandcr cathedral than that which overarc he'd
by the vault OF heaven be conceived and could music
more sublime than the sound of the winds and the
tempest BE- listened to? lie that saveth the soul of
sailor doth mighty work Thcrev gentleman having
| dwolt in strain of thrilling eloquence upon the i'm
portapce of the Society and upon the great and vital
interests which were inseparaby connected with it.
called upon all present to lend their prompt assistance
that the sailor might 20 forth glorious illustration of
the workings of Christian benev oencc and the stan
| dard bearer of the gospel The row gentleman was
loudly applauded throughout his excellent and power
full address
Mr.. BAKrR introduced to the vast assembly as
one who had lately come from the lie said he
delighted to find that such deep interest had been
eynced behalf of the sailor The subject was one
OF magnificent Importance. lie did regret tho
pericnce which he had of the sea; it was the best
school he had been in. Sailors men Of Pc
culiar feelings. and therefore of peculiar character
| ana II there was an uncouthness Of manner about
them it was because they by the nature their
avocation. removed from tho influence Of the
sex His description OF the perils to which the sailor
was exposed on stormy night when he obliged to
aloit, to take in sail very touching lie CON
cluded very eloquent speech by saying he sure
that the appeal of the snor the heart Of the Chris
tian would not be made in vain. God had already
done much for the sailor, but stupcndous work stl
remained to be done
The Rev. Dr. BrrcH,R, of Boston, next addressed the
meeting. and with his usual ability advocated the
rights Of the sailor lie spoke Of the necessity of edu
cation for the sailor and that II the working
classes were to be educated let sailors by all be
the first to receive attention that ground Let their
friends entertain high hopes and by that means they
would feat In the current OF Gods heart Why should
not sailors be educated and become the most intel
gent men in tho community Let them make the
effort.
The proceedings of this truly important and splendid
meeting were appropriately concluded with a benedic-
ton On the platform men ointment in divinity,
literaur and commerce. and all seemed highly graft
fed at the imposing demonstration which the society
had made