The New York herald., 1870-12-02

gested the necessity OF such an institution
as that about to be erected. The plans include
regular exchange for the transaction OF business IN
the Interest OF seamen, with library, reading rooms
and school rooms There VIII also be offlces for an
Intelligence bureau and savings bank, besides
hal for religious services, temperance meetings aud
lect ures. IL Is Intended moreover. that the instu.
ton. should be Tor sailors what Christian Assoc-
alton rooms are for the young men IN the cities.
The ots opposite the Sailors Home In Cherry street,
81 by l2l feet, have already been purchased and
run through to Water street. fronting on both streets
The cost VIII be about 100000, two-thirds Of which.
1t Is said are already secured and the balance u Ii
believed will be found as required.
tr THE BUILDING COMMITTEE
consists OF Messrs. NJ II. Grinnell, Edward Hncken.
NJ. s. Beach, W. Z. Dodge, w. A. Booth and O. G.
Du mean. The prospects Of the establishment
exceedingly promising.
Shortly after two O'Clock yesterday afternoon the
space allotted for the building was densely thronged
and o great deal OF interest was generally mani
tested in the proceedings. The fne band from the
Navy Yard, under the direction OF Mr. Peter ALL
played capital and appropriate selection ana
tended to enliven The ceremonies. Among the nu-
mersus visitors present were Mayor Hail. Secretary
Robesen, Judge Benedict Admiral Stringharn, Ad-
miral Smith, Commander Waters, Chief Engineer
Sewell, Commander Chandler Captain Nicholson.
Captain G. Q. Duncan, Lieutenant Sheridan, Pay.
master Cunningham, Surgeon Peck and others.
Several ladies graced the occasion by their presence
Captain Duncan, President OF the New York Sea-
mems Association, occupied the chair. ana first
introduced the Rev. DR.. Tying, who invoked
BLESSING UPON TIE WORK
about TO be commenced.
After the benedicton Mr.. W. A. Booth addressed
the aSsemblage. He said he had consented to SO.
llcitaIi0n TO make brief statement OF the interests
OF the Institution and the objects be obtained by
its establishment. Provision had been made IN this
State for almost every class and the charitable In
stitutisns rejected most creditaby upon the gene
rosity and pnilanthrophy OF the citizens. There
was larger number OF charitable institutions In
this city than, perhaps any other In the world. He
alluded to the advantages OF the Young Mems
Christian Association, and thought there was ne
cesslty for similar institution for the benefit OF the
seamen OF this port. 1t had been found tnat some
thing more needed than the institutions already
established for the benefit Of seamen. The sailor
was exposed 70 many temptations, ana had not
proper place to employ his leisure time and ex-
change friendly salutatiops with his companions.
It had been estimated that at least
FIFTY THOUSAND SAILORS ANNUALLY
come to this port and that there were 5000 con-
stantly here. For their accommodation there were
about two hundred boarding houses. few OF
those were Of class entirely satisfactory and In
every way calculated to make his home agreeable
when the sailor came into port. But there was a
large number, by far the largest number In when
vices exerted degrading influence over him. More
than one hundred OF those houses were kept open
mad been found that there had been no eiectaai Il
execution OF the law possible In the
S 1p'9 ss ss %s 'rs s 5 The he s1ss %ss.
cruel impositions. such as n they were gene
rally KNOWN would excite the Indignation OF the
herr " n ham
and bethes, which tended to promote the elevation
OF the seamen, and yet large proportion Of those
severe temptations and most degrading company,
and II was very common for them TO suffer days and
sallly idle, having no way to spend Their time.
Why, then, should NOT some provision be made Tor
them--a place OF resort where they could meet
each other during the day and find
FRIENDLY COUNSEL AND PROTECTION,
and be surrounded by satisfactory influences Re.
cognizing tins need number OF good men formed
themselves under charter from the State into an
association for the moral, mental and social I'M
provement OF the condition OF the seamen to elevate
their character and class ard protect them from
abuses at home and abroad. Those were the special
objects OF the institution. The more efiectualy to
secure telr Objects the Beard Of Trustees had con-
sidered 1t essential 10 seek suitable building, and
had 50 lar progressed as to be able 10 lay the
In = little over year $Go0o0 mad been raised,
$4,000 Of which had been obtained from
TO compete the editice ana furnish Il. and
to make the work self sustaining, $4,000
more would be required, ana or that sum the board
relied upon the iiberalliy OF the comm unity The
sailor would ind friendly greeting, would be
encouraged to save his money, he would have
amusement aud be kept from bad company, ana
he trusted that the Institution would ever be
A BEACON LIGHT
TO .ne mariner. Such was the general outline OF
the purposes and the interest oi the institution ana
the purposes the trustees had In establishing 1t. All
il needed now to make it entirely efflclent accord
ing To their opinion was the cordial support oi the
entire community. tApplause
SPEECH OF MAYOR HALL.
The Chairman then introduced Mayor Hall, who
was received with loud cheers, and thanked the
Mayor for his attendance. Alter the applause had
suDslded Mayor Han said
The ceremonies in every respect proper. 1t is
emnently suitable that the city OF New York, by It's
chlel executive officer, should take part In them.
This Is the capital we see Of the sailor world. |
doubt that any sailor In every sense OF that word,
has arrived at The age OF forty without having been
IN the port Of New York in the capacity os MS voca
ton. ON an equal plane with the mechanic as con-
triDutlng most OF all classes to the greatness and
prosperity OF the metropolis, stands the sailor.
tApp'ause) And yet while all the Rreat sea capitals
OF Europe and some OF the commercial cities this
country, have We'd with each other in making gene
rous and grateful provision for Jack Tar, ! have
long busbed 10 remember that New York has
scarcely done ANYTHING But To-day begins lrbute,
the hands OF New Workers.
me sailor has oesp called the especial ward o. the
Of Chancery treated The minority child, or as the
high court Of Heavens chancery treats the sinner
tenderly, kindly, ferglvingly, and with all re-
gard TO his peculiar surroundings In the world. The
EvEgYBODY's WARD
and, OF course, everybody should be his guardian.
He has small chance to learn 10 defend himself IN
the great school OF human nature The poet his
home the rolling deep; but prosacaly. the
sailor has no home he is the professional exile In
the world, and yet 1t Is possible to give him an ap
Nproximate homo. (Applause.) To ths end Is an At
tempt made to-day. The sailors familiar sea school
Is the forecase. Much depends for the young sailor
on the kind OF forecaste he first enters. There he
derives his first impressions. the sailor Is
exposed to all the worst influences that the
werId can present when he IL on land
Its influences are apt 10 be impressed upon his
memery, his thought and his Will when ae goes TO
the forecastle. IT, however. the Influences on land
are good they follow him through life.
In the building about to be erected She sailor,
young or old, will find when on land kindly home.
He will be surrounded by the best influences. In IL
he win learn the bright phase Of his profession. In
1t he can deposit his hard earnings hsw expressive
are those words, hardearnod wages, when applied
to the sailor with certainty OF his getting them
back with COED interest," or, II accident happen 70