The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-18
Tho Society for the Relief or Destitute Chill
dren OF Seamen--Ei ghth Anniversary.

The eighth anniversary tho Society for the Relief
Of Destitute Children Of seamen was held yesterday
afternoon at the " Home" for the children Of seamen,
near the Sailors Snug Harbor, Staten Island.
AT o'clock p. NJ, very large number of visiters
from the city, interested in this deserving insttu
ton left the foot Of Liberty street in the New Brighton
boat, and arrived at the Home shortly before two.
After tour Of inspection through the building, which
was found be admirably fitted up for the purposes for
which designed the visitors present proceeded to
the rooms devoted TO educational purposes Here the
children under the Of the society to the number
Of hundred and ten congregated awaiting the
examination Of visiters. Mr.. Joseph McKeon, City SUI
pernte dent of Common Schools examined the scholars
at length upon the various branches Of common
education, and found them on the whole remarkably
proficient. 4
The children dressed very neatly and seemed
cheerful and happy We have seldom many
healthy, intelligent and good looking Juveniles congre
gated together.
The anniversary exercises conducted in the spa
cous hall Of the institution, in the presence Of
large auditory Mr. Buell. occupied the chair The pro-
ceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev Mr..
Broyue;, after which the annual report was read by
Rev. Mr. Parker. From this document, which though
ghat lengthy is exceedingly interesting appears
tina. during the year fftythrec children have been
admitted into the 'fHomen Forty for various
causes have left The whole number Of children in the
sHome" is hundred and ten of whom but four
teen have paid the sum of fifty cents per week laid
down in the regulations The expenses of the institution
re 81 900 per year and the subscription t ieh lar
The necessity for the increased subscriptions Of the
benevolent is Therefore easily seen The receipts
unep has ah eaE ef ii 9mae expenses 20 The
ociey is indebted tho Trustees Of the Sailors Snug
Harbor to lie amount Of SIG COO II has vested fund
Of 50 90 and sonsg rnnd of IS ooo The report in
conclusion appeals TO tho benevoence of the public and
calls upon all who are well disposed toward the noble
che 10 Inn to lpi N
Rev Mr.. butcher, OF Bergen, was the first speaker
He said =
ngage in work which Is at once honor and glory
to racewhich in many cases looks not only to the
present but peers far onward into the future which not
only insurcR reward for time, but in many
for eterntyhow we hesitate to do it, TO rejoice
to be parent 70 the orphan-to be friend to the
fortunae-to impart of the possessions which God has
given TO institution of real charity, is a noble
work and is sure TO make descend blessings upon the
head Of those who engage in it. But as we have told
of this really praiseworthy institution you must cast
your bread broadcast the waters trusting in God
that the winds and the waves and the
storms it win return to you again, even though it may
have been the sport Of the for many days And
could feel that one in manner connected with this
truly benevolent enterprise lacked this necessary iatn
would ask them TO think well all the good which
has already been done, and then TO anticipate all that
shall be accomplished in the future. But would ask
them TO go step further and pom Ter upon all the
providence which has oyortaken them thus far whether
God has not given them friends and continually caused
their cup to run over with morces whether he has not
always watched over them with more than parental
solictude and whether judging from the past, they
when lying upon bed of death, to go down amid
he that believeth shall never dc-for entrance
within the aapplrcd walls OF the Jerusalem above, and
doubt that the Saviour will make good his promise when
he bids you TO cast your bread upon the waters 1t
cannot be- But take tie fact for granted that you
have entered into this work from proper motives and in
the exercise of reliance upon God; and because you
have done this, you gather encouragement from
everything above, around, and beneath you Look up,
from the clouds Zee, when they full, they gently
dist their water upon the ground, causing it to fall
equally upon the just and the unjust-upon him who
fears not Cod as well as upon him who loves him with
lia love And if the heavens thus bounful to the
your charity with rcsoute heart to that interesting
osp wI s1ys s special claims upon your sympathss
stool with yourselves. But, again look up and
draw encouragement from the sun, he is goriously
that must be useful to us ALL Is he not truly benevo
lentf He sheds his light for ALL The Laplander amid
his eternal SHOWS and the Arab amid the burning sands
and the hermit in the secson of bis CELL all enjoy it.
Shall not then be renehened to perform part9
Oh ana in this pleasant and wide Geld you may be
the Instruments of doing mach good for your country
for humanty-for the world Suppose it be scarcely
pcreeptblc at first, still it WI. be good and mingling
with kindred drops there may flow forth living stream
TO gladden. and to bless" Benevolence is principle
heavenly origin, Its starting point Il the Great White
Throne and from thence il radates all worlds and every
Thing in the three kingdoms CT nature is mpregnated by
It, Bcneysence is written upon the it sends
forth its fragrance upon the air and blooms beautiful
ly for every eve Benevoence is written upon the dew
drop that parkes brilliantly in the rays of the morn
irg Benevoence is written upon every Of the
oceanas bears upon its bosom the thousand merchant
every harvest Geld waving in the windupon the bound
less prairie that feeds the swaming herds upon its
upon every star that looks down upon us a cloud
less night and OH and above ALL IL Is legbly written
upon every act of the Saviours from the time he laid
aside his seepre and his in heaven till he return
shores Of me Rhng Is and trVM
thing serves as 10 those who enter
it's performance with faith You may remember in the
beginning our remarks that told you we conceived
the principle OF true beneyolence 10 be embodied in
Of the passages to which we had occasion to refer"Cas
thy bread upon the waters for thou shalt find after
many days'-and that in these words, and indeed, in
every truly benevolent act there list be done, which, to
some extent requires the exercise Of faith in its
formance But there another which suppose be
contained in these words which, have told you are
an embodiment of this noble principle promise for
that in every really benevolent deed there is i'm
do good to those around him. say the very
least virtual promise that he shall not lose his
ward AS the husbandman finds his seed in an abund-
ant harvest, and as the merchantmen his venture in
rich return SO he who casts his charity upon the
tiers shall find it returning to him again. at win bring
full interest In the present gifts OF Gods providence
and graces and comforts Of the spirit and the prn cpe
Is laid in heaven for it is lent unto the Lord" Tax
finger upon the time when lending to the Saviour he did
not pay you again, yea, and give you more than an
equivalent When you clohe the naked, VIXEN you feed
the hungry yea, when you give cup OF cold water in
the Of disciple, have you not promise that yeu
TO ten US that though that reward may be slow in COM
ing, yet assuredly II win The object which
you labored may almost be forgotten and those whom
you sought to benefit have passed away vet in an
hour when you least expect IT. and in way you think
not Of you shall find your reward returning. And, my
friends, Ia not this encouragement What could
desire moref Here you engaged In most audable
undertaking. to provide for TO educate and to train up
these children for respectabty for usefulness and FOR
heaven; and they have than ordinary claim upon
your sympathies In some respects you stand in their
parents places know not but as look over that group
of IRE
that their fathers sleeping not in yonder
burial ground but distant shore, they found
grave beneath the dark blue waters OF the ocean, and
when they died the wild winds chauned their funeral
drge Others perhaps, fated to their
children lone wanderers they would be upon the
high way OF life, unless Providence kindly gave them
friends. Oh canyon not feel that You shall have re-
ceived disciples reward and give them the Kindness
which Is contemplated in your institutions Can you
not feel touching this interesting group that II YOU cast
49, H.. -.