The New York herald., 1870-09-19
MARINERS, CHURCH.
Tho New York Port society-Anniversary

Tho New York Port SOciety-Anni versary
Sermon by the Rev. e. ID. Murphy.
The Mariners church, corner OF Catharine and
Madison streets, was on Sunday last very numer-
ously attended to listen to the sixth anniversary
sermon OF its pastor the Rev. f. d. Murphy. The
congregation was made up OF many highly respect
able seararing and their families, who evinced
the nvees interest in the extended reference to the
workings OF the New York Port Society. one OF the
Oldest OF It's character in this city. The minister
selected his text from Acts xxxviii.. I5:-"He
thanSed God and took courage" Mr. Murphy said
that the position OF the Apostle Pau when these
words were uttered was living, fearful reality,
filing all with alarm. Yet after the shipwreck
and the stirring events which transplred on the bar
barous island upon which Paul and his companions
were cast had passed, and Paul was received by his
brethren with great affection, his soul fresh
ened and he thanked God that truth would be vim
dcated and God be honored. He took courage Tor
the future; and Paul's feelings were, perhaps
syn0nOmOus with those OF the congregation present;
certainly 1t was an appropriate occasion to be
grateful for the past and hopeful for the
future OF the New York Port Society. "SiX
years ago. said Mr. Murphy, II preached my
stranger and wholly unacquainted with the charac-
Ter oil the work which, since that time, has so
cheered my heart" After reference TO the known
fact that anniversary sermons We're not usually de-
hvered by him, the present had been deemed an
OppOrtune moment 10 call the attention 0f the public
TO the
ORIGIN And EARLY HISTORY
OF the Society. In April, 1878. a small company OF
Christian gentlemen met at the residence OF Jonathan
Little, In this city, to provide for crying want--the
amelioraton OF the condition Of thousands Of poor
6camen, whose suffering had been overlooked by
Ehrstans in the schedules Of their charitable works.
THAT meeting the dawn Of the bridal day. In
less than two months thereafter the society had
been formed and charter obtained from the State
Legislature, with board OF directors appointed.
Temporary places OF worship were obtained until
the Roosevelt church was erected, two years and
month subsequent 10 the organization, and that
house of worship the first ever built on land for
seamen. The Rev. Ward stafford took charge OF the
first meetings III December, 1913, and did earnest
work for two years. when he resigned. AT that time
a missionary engaged TO preach and pray for two
hours day to the sailors who visited the rooms on
Cherry street, when IN March, 1921, the Rev. Henry
same kind OF labor 1or three years. Fol.
lowing that missionary, came Mr. Truer,
and then again Mr.. Chase was reappoinied
in April, 1896, and so Zea.ous was he
that the board OF directors saw ft to continue his
appointment year after year. until death, tnat stern
arbiter, called him to his account in 1883 HIS mem
ory still revered at home and abroad by the older
living sailors whose good fortune 1t was TO SIT under
bis ministratons.
In 1894 Captain Gambler, Mr. Perritt and Mr. Hurd
were committee to consider the prOpriety OF estab
fishing savings bank in this city. On the 18TH OF
February 1929, Arson @. Phelps, Rufus Davenport
and Lockwood Deforrest proceeded to Albany, with
the object OF obtaining charter for such an institu-
tion and they were entirely successful Such was
the nrst step toward the now eminentT we'll known