The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-10


Exercises, sc.
The twenty fifth anniversary meeting of the American
Sesmens Friend Society held last evening at Metro
poltan Hail. The lower portion of the hall and the Arst
row Of boxes well filed. Among the gentlemen
the stage were number Of officers Of the navy in uni
form, among whom we noticed Captain Hudson Captain
Forte and Lieutenant Boggs. At half past o'clock
the chair taken by p Perit, Esq, President.
hymn then sung by the congregation, under the
leadership of Mr. NJ Colburn, after which fervent and
eloquent prayer offered by Dr. Chickering of Port
land, Me.
The annual report Of the Secretary then road by
Rev Spauding of the secretaries Of the society.
The following abstract of the report The receipts
o. the society during the past year, without including
large amount which has through the treasures
OF auxiliary and branch societies. for the ending LIST
instant SIS 2ss and the expenditure asa eav
ing balance Of e. 000 The operations of the parent
society to considerable extent blended with those Of
kindred institutions located our own seaboard while it
for the benefit OF in the Sandwich Islands, New
Granada, Chill, Brazil China st. Helena, France, Swe
den, Denmark and New brunswick, Ihose IN oni ana
Brazil bearing joint commission from this society and
the Christian Union.
Sailors Homes continue to be indispensable auxiiaries
in the work of protecting and eevang seamen the
owned and sustained by the society in Cherry street. New
York. having had within the past year 3,os9 sailor
boarders two hundred of whom were shipwrecked and
destitute and received aid in board and clothing besides
various necessary articles furnished gratuitousy by
friends the city country the OF 1854 46
expense to the society The whole number of boarders
since this house was opened eleven years ago.
Captain Sayre its faithful superintendent on account
Of prot racted illness in his family has resigned and Mr.
Daniel Tracy VIII has had long experience in seafarng
lfs has been appointed his II is under
going extensive REPAIRS to make it more comfortable and
attractive.
seamen's banks, too, are happily accomplishing the
objects of their establishment inducing provident hab
it's and bringing thrift and comfort to them, and their
families Their bank in Boston has about 1915 900 placed
to their credit while that in Wall street. New York. has
about million and half These institutions are
chartered and managed by their respective boards
and the agency Of this society tends to the conf
dence of in the safety and utility OF their ncreas
ing deposits
Seamens cemeteries are provided, pleasantly 10.
Gated and beautifully ornsmsnted 50 that those who
find it sary to to the New York Hospital have no
occasion to dread the burial OF dog IN the Poters
field
attention and conessedy great and embsrrass
ing the evils Of the system it is believed they
not beyond the reach of redress
Ssamen's Libraries The society has directed more
than usual attention to this subject the past year hav
ing put some 0Oe volumes board naval and merchant
vessels. This department of usefulness will be greatly
augmented provided legacy left the society for this
purpose BY the late Abram G. Thompson, New York. is
secured.
In their unabridged report the directors refer to
tage ground gained the prosecution OF their work. to
foundations laid and consolidated to the general cent?
dence in its praccaby and success and to the moral
phenomena Of the as among the most striking won
ders Of the present age
improvement in progress among seamen are abundanty
corroborated by facts, viz =
i. "A
American vessels and thousands OF total abstinence sea-
men on shore.
2 better Observance of the Christian sabbath The
Sabbath is not the great sailing day from port as for
merly. Many shipmasters give their men portion of
Saturday to make ready for day Of rest. Many use
Stringbam of the U S. frigate Cumberland in recent
visit Athens in Greece declined salung the French
ADMIRAL on the sabbath having in common with many
other naval officers at the present time respect for
the Laws of God than for the rules OF etiquette esab
Gshed by man.
The sentiment aud practice of Commodore McIver OF
the u fgate Congress. is the growing sentiment and
practice of OF and officers both the
naval and mercantile marine, viz that the law Of kind
better than the lash; and that however bad the
they may be trained and disciplined according to
this law.
A. increasing desire for the Bible, and good books.
The literature Of the sea is improving
8. Numerous Christian commanders, officers, and
sailors.
Religious services on shpboard are no longer considered
out Of place and many the cabins and forecases
the worship Of God is observed All the chaplains and
missionaries of the society have recorded instances of
spiritual change 1t and shore the past year. No.
thing evident than that the spirit and hand
of God engaged in the work Of gathering the spiritual
harvest Of the New fields are open to the society
new to their OF T ness
and the Lights Of Christianity, the best hopes
Of the world.
After the reading of the report Captain n Briggs of
Sippican, Mass. introduced to the audience, and
spoke as follows -
In attempting appear before large respectable
audience in this great emporium am impeled by the
interest feel in the operations OF this society and wish
to give hearty response the sentiments Of the report
therefore offer the following resolution for your
Resolved That the report an abstract of which has
now been presented be accepted and published under the
direction Of the Board of Trustees
will explain the of the interest that felt My
father and two brothers sailors have myself been
sailors. thai this society is doing much
for seamen forty years acquaintance with sailors has
made me familiar with their character for thirty years
have been trying to do something for their benefit;
twenty years agoI abandoned the of gr0g among
my sailors used to head my shipping lists, ne gros
and in pursuing this course have been amply repaid
have often found that six months labor with
on board ship has been neuralized by xix hours life
shore and al by the OF in oxicating liquors. Tue
influence of this society has been good among sailors
would rather ship men from Sailors Home than from
any other place but am sorry to have often found
in Sailors Homes men who not sailors. Twenty
years ago could not take ship to sea, account Of
the drunkenness of the sailors 1t is not Ihave
had sailors under my command, who, even in
storm refused TO take spirits Two months ago was
shipwrecked and my sailors refused to take groy
But even this reform not enough The abundance Of
shrine What has elevated man? What is reforming the
worldly Is il Paganism Mahomedanism Rom anism, or
infdeityS 1t has been done by the influence of Bible
truth Sailors like other men. The day has passed
when little girl used to say; 1.-TWO and one sailor
Two have passed away since the Of
this society commenced and it has accomplished much
Let u all remember that for every work there Is
reward and let US not be weary in well doing
adopted. song" The Ship on Fire"--was then sung
with fine effect by Mr.. NJ. Colburn.
Rev. A. s. PORTER, OF Williamsburg then addressed the
meeting as follows True benevoence is wide the
world II is transient impulse but is fed and
tanned by Him VINO into the world to die for the
benefit Of its inhabitants and it will not be content till
the world has learned the salvation of our God 1t en-
braces all classes the inhabitants Of every cline, and of
those who do business upon the gea waters and whose
home the ceep 1t has been the blessed Office of this
society teach the Word Of God to seamen The inte
rests II seamen have been greatly overlooked Whether
4 ha N in nH 1ha dis lpnt an
chant nen to the view it is true that the
doors have been forgotten. IL reminds Of Jealous
phan thropist Who when requested to contribute his
mite for the relief OF some poor people near him.
said that he absorbed in plan to give
flannel shirt to every negro cha in Africa. There
is too much Of this philanthropy, which travels
to distant objects We should neither neglect the
the other II the inhabitants Of China, and Hindostan
and Micronesia demand place in hearts, should
overlook those who carry charities to those dis
tant lands the sea through the energ Of
scanned that this continent was brought out to the know
ledge Of the world. When the prosecutions OF Church
State drove the saints away from their homes, sea-
MOI ried VIII n