The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-11
TWENTY FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN
sEAMEN's FRIENDS SOCIETY. s4

Like rain drops in the sea.
Then may u Saviour's dying love
Pour balm into his breast,
And watt him to the port above,
or everlasting rest
r. PERT, ESQ, President of the Society, then
briefly addressed the congregation. In the first
place before proceeding to the regular order Of
business he had to ask their coincidence on the de-
cease Of their most worthy fellow aborer, the late
Mr.. Oiiphant, WHO had died al Cairo in June last,
on his way home from China. lie had always been
the friend of seamen and his hospitable house at
Canton had been the home of the missionaries.
They associated with his memory all the virtues that
could adorn enterprsing and honorable merchant,
and faithful and devoted Christian. The nim of
the society was to follow the seaman, in all his
derngs with inhuenceswhich tended to his temporal
and spiritual welfare. la all this, they were aided
by their dec eased friend How far they had succeeded
would be best shown by the facts that would be laid
before them tonight. 1t would be better exempli-
fed by contrasting the seaman condition now with
what it was before any such efforts had been made
in his behalf. During the long wars which preceded
the downfall Of Napoleon, the navies of Europe and
ometimes That OF America, were engaged in FREE
quent deadly conflicts, and the blood Of seamen
flowed in torrents on The decks of men ot-war; they
persisted also, now, by storms, and diseases Of
pesilental climates and not hand was raised for
their spiritual or moral assistance. The difference
ight now be perceived. They had men abroad
in command, VINO nj the same time ia hers
of their crews, and watched carefully over their
moral improvement and advancement. There
were officers in the navy and captains in tho
mercantile marine. who were eXorfng most valuable
influences. There were other evidences TO be
in the Seamens Homo, the temperance boarding
houses, the resort OF sealnen In their conyersa-
tions and manners there evidences that
brought conviction to every member Of this board
their success in accomplishing the great object Of
the society, notwithstanding tue calumnics and
SANDERS that had been brought against it, There
was one evidence, amounting almost to mathe-
matcally certain test. In Wall street there was a
Seaman's Savings Bank, where hundreds and thou
sands of dollars really aud substantially belonging
to seafaring men were deposited. All these pre-
sentcd guarantee of the success of their cause
The Rev. IL. LOCUS, one of the secretaries, then
read the following abstract from the twentyfourti
Annual Report:-
ABSTRACT or THE ANNUAL REPORT.
The report commences by noticing the difficulty
Of giving annually history ofthe progress Of moral
changes. As minute is too short to mark tho
changes in the progress Of light from starlight till
noon. 80 year is too brief to mark the progress of
the Kingdom Of moral light. 1t contrasts the present
with thirty years ago, and notes the progress Of our
commerce, in the tonnage, speed and beauty of our
ships, and in the increased number and improved
character Of our scamen. Then our tonnage was
little over 600 0OO seamen less than 10000; now
it is nearly 900, 900, and than 200,-
000 1t notices also the increased interest and efforts
for the temporal, moral, and religious improvements
seamen and the success Of these efforts The receipts
of the society for the year ending May |, from all
sources, including a balance of $2i3 81 from last
years account, 81, ego "a. Expenditures for
tho year, $22 ,64 Oh. An increase in receipts
the last year OF $3.50 i3. This does not include
the amounts raised and expended by branches, aux
aries, and other Seamen's Friend Societies on our
seaboard, and on our western lakes, rivers and ca
nails. The society continues its missions in success
full operation in China, Chill. the West Indies,
France. and Sweden. II has also sent, during the
year. chaplans to San Francisco, to Panama, to
Rio dc Janeiro, to Denmark, and has under COM
mission for St Helena; and extends aid to three
chapaineies in our own ports. There has been
more OF less religious interest among scamen at
nearly all the foreign stations, and some reYiyals
cupboard, as well a. in our own ports. Bibles and
evangelical books, in various languages, have been
extensively circulated among seamen of almost
all nations. The Sailors Home, in New York, I'M
der the patronage Of the Society, Is prosperous.
1t has received during the year, S,O27 sailor
boarsers 2il Of whom have become officers of
ships; 9SJ have signed the temperance pledge;
$40 of them apparently reformed inebriates
2lo shipwrecked and destitute and boys
have been relieved at expense Of 1858 0S, besides
q considerable amount Of clothing furnished by va
rious ladies' societies. The whole number wfch
have entered the Home in ten years since it was first
opened is 1851 The present condition and future
prospects Of extensive usefulness of this institution
were never more hattering. Under the judieious
and careful management OF Capt. Sayrc, and those
connected with him, It seems gradually becoming
sef-sustaining institution. Boarders 81 the Home
have deposited within the year over Sii,gyo IN the
Seamens Saving Bauk, In Wall street. This bank
ha. now over So 900, 900, considerable portion of
which hes been deposited by seamen The fact tells
the story Of their improvement and of the produo-
fNcnes5 Ot lHc investment tNtr rttOfU1tlgn.
The POUND given to them, or for them has gain
gilmore than "ten pounds" Tbcwhole number OF
seamen who have boarded in temperance houses in
New York within the year, is about 1000, and the
number in the homes and temperance houses, III all
our sea PORTS no. fur from 26,0O0, while the num-
her that enter these ports annually sover 10000.
The raport concludes with the assertion thai though
great progress has been made, the work il not yet
Gone. and calls on the freads Of seamen for con-
tIucd and increased interest and patronage, till tho
" abundance fthe sea shall be converted to Zion"
Tho Rev. g. LOOMS, late Scamen's Chaplain Ia
China, moved a resolution chat the report, an ab.
sract Of which has been presented, be accepted
and published under the direction of the Board. Ia
moving the adoption. he felt the report needed no
special advocacy. All who had listened 10 its in
terestng details, replete with indications Of pro-
gressiye advancement, with accounts of victories
already gained against fearful odds The bold war
ror of the past had never had the bodness to CONCEIVE
that in less than gu after of century inc aho
Apprentices ehould be passed., and the war earriea
into the enemies country. The Bethel nag noaeing
in the east and west Atlantic, ard he east ana west
Pacific. with its mild gentle dove with the olive
branch over all the isles and oceans, and inland
seas, breathing ''peace on earth, good viii towards
men" (Appiause.) The report was full OF hopes
of good and of it he might say as Webster said Of,
when contemplating the monument On Bunk&u