New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-14
NETWORK PORT SOCIETY.


The Forty first Anniversary of this Society took
place last evening at the Cooper Institute. The spa
cious hall Of the Institute nearly filed by very
respectable class of people, The band of the United
States chip North Carolina occupied platform con-
structed in front Of the stage, and the choir OF the
Mariners Church in Madison street, the space back
of the speaker.
The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev.
WILLIAM w. PHILLIPS, after which song, entitled
" Far, far at sea" was sung by the choir.
Capt. ANDREW BARTLETT of Boston first addressed
the assembly making a short but well-timed speech
upon the influence of the Christian sailor, and the his
tory and usefulness of the Port Society. -
The Annual Report, which was voluminous but well
prepared and ended with eloquent appeal to Chris
tians to assist in Gquidatng debt OF Sl2 700, was
then read by the Corresponding Secretary. The lie.
port stated that in the month OF April, ISIS, small
company of gentlemen assembled at the mouse OF Mi.
Jonathan Little, wealthy produce merchant OF this
city, TO consider what means could be taken to better
the condition of seameD, whose neglect and immortality
bad become crying evil; and that the Manners
Church in Roosevelt street. built by the society then
formed was the first Of the kind that had ever been
erected on terra trma. That Deghborhood, however,
deteriorated TO such extent that Divine worship
was seriously interiered with, and the Mariners
Church in Madison street was, some time aiterward,
purchased at an expense OF $20,UOO Contrary
to expressed doubts, the success OF that chorcn
signal. at present. two members, sons OF
the ocean, were preparing for the ministry, ana
two more were looking that way. During the three
years Of the Rev. Mr.. Joness pastorage, men porn IN
81 different countries and speaking 80 different Ian
gusges, had been converted. The correspondents
Kept up between the pastor OF tue ehurcn ana It's
former members averaged IS monthly breathing warm
and encouraging woros The weekly devotional ser
vices of the church varied by lectures, prayer.
meetings &c. III almost al the different languages OF
Europe and were usually well attended. The Ladies
Dorcas Spciety, the Marine Benevolent Society, the
Sabbath School, Bible Glass and Youths Prayer
Meeting were all enooursgingy kept up as auxliarles
of the Mariners Church. The Marine Temperance
Society also auxiliary, had enrolled 30 wv mem
bers TO the list of total abstinence since its for
nation in 1888. The church library OF two nun
dIed volumes, and the reading room IN tne
basement were in constant use by SAILORS. DIf
ing eight months, over 1900 seamen had also
bes brought under the influence of the Church by
band Of volunteers who went out from week to week
and distributed tracts in all parts OF the city, goody
number Of Chinese had also been assembled al tne
Madisonstree Church, the report stated, ard become
interested in religion, under the labors OF the Kew
Mr.. Carter, formerly missionary to China lac
Board Of Directors OF the Port Society is composed OF
thirty geptem men, members OF al the different Chrs
tan denominations. OF the original Board in ISIS,
only four survve-tte cradle President, NsJsh
Taylor John III. Hurd, Tho mas {. Butler, and Peii-
tlah PERT. The repor. then sve an account OF .ne
conversions on board the North Carolina and Other
ships. The union between the Port Society snd the
Seamens Friend Socisty was dissolved IN OCTOBER
last, since which time frsterns love hsd oeen the
only bond of union. The former abored cniehy among
American seamen, and the latter among forelgn.
The Rev. DIR. ADAMS described the class OF people
engaged on our vessels of war snd merchandise, ard
the nature Of the work they performed, ana iho~ed
how the Port Society ard ts hundred institutions, In
various ways, did great good TIE night way 70 Per
form efficient missionary seivce was to meet with the
upconYertet face to face and 10 tdiH instead OF the
cold and stsd defamation OF preaching. livery
body that has thing 10 90 with the sea- be tnought
had large and noble heslts-ths immensely OF tner
sphere giving expansion 20 the mind aud lmsglnstoh
y Mr.. JOSEFH b. LIONS, seaman on oosrdtne Nortn
Carolina, dressed in seamsus clothing, next spoke
but being entirely unused to public speaking lett the
stage after briefly stating the effects religion bad
wrought among the men on board that ship. HIS
speech though he manifested much embarrassment,
was well received.
A collection taken up which amounted to slsl.
A converted sailor, named JoHS Scorr, thanked
God that there Port SOcetY, and feeLngy stated
the good fleets thst Mariners Societies had brought
about in bis own oase aud Tow the sea nsn tociel
condition was raised from that of only poor, dTlL6
sr sailor 10 d hopeful usu Sud Chnstisa.
Rev CHAs J0NES, OF the MaTGers Churc'. sai
tbafdurirg toe eight nine yesrs be spent % the
ocean be al lot krow thst there Was al iIdiyida.