The Portland daily press., 1875-06-19

| Dune 15th), $22531.
The Secretary, Rev. F. Southw ORTIZ, reports a
prosperous year. The attendance at the church
improved. No summer vacations allowed
Sabbath meetings 10d o'clock a. M, 3 and u p.
m. Regular weekly social meeting Thursday
evening. There is a very il teresting Sunday
School, numbering some 125, under the super
intendence of Majo j. M. Gould, in connec-
ton with the Bethel, held at % p. m.; a good
place for the children, and where few good
teachers are very much needed. Indeed, this
Is present want of this church, men and wo
men, who love to work for the welfare of 9TH
ers. The Y NJ q. A. have occupied the Bethe,
Tor several months past at 101 o'clock. Their
meetings are eminently worthy of attention.
1t is hoped they will be continued permanently.
The visitors from the Bethel have gone every
Sabbath morning, as heretofore, without re-
gard to weather. to the vessels and boarding
houses with invitati ,ns to meetings. while the
Chaplain has continued the service during the
week, SO that it is not easy for sailor to enter
this port without experiencing the kindly inhu-
ences of this constant and varied ministry
But the need is recognized of other means than
these, to send the blessings of the Gospel be-
yond the church, to thousands who are rot at
tracted to meetings or whose opportunities of
hearing are transient. Tracts, papers, maya
zines are supplied on shipboard. More than
500 packages have been sent out during the
year, besides those singly distributed; an ag-
gregate at moderate calculation, of over 30
600 pages of reading matter. But a means of
greater service is found in the seamen's libra
ries, 161 of which have been made at this port :;
so during the year. These contain about 25
volumes each, in all near 1000 volumes Very
encouraging reports of the usefulness of these
libraries have been received. We we're unable
to supply the demand. The work waits the re-
Spouse of those both in Portland and other
erous patronage has carried the enterprise thus
far.
The erroneous impression, in some minds,
that the Portland Bethel work is merelv of
local character, is modified considerably by
statement of the hailing ports of vessels receiv-
ing libraries, Calais, Lubec, Bucksport Ban
gor, Belfast, Swans Island, Searsport. Well
fleet, Boston, Bristol, Southport, Boothbay,
Salems Bremen, Wells, government vessels,
Kennebunkport, Deer Isle, Provincetown, Free
port, Monhegau, Harpswell, Damarscotta,
Bath, Westport, Rockland, Halifax, Surry,
Goudsborough, Pembroke, Quincy Point-(had
the Chaplain kept more accurate accounts of
hailing ports the list would doubtless have been
longer.)
These libraries are loaned without any charge
to the officers and crews desiring them, and are
to be returned or exchanged as occasion per-
mits. Thank offerings have sometimes been
received from those benefi led, but it is not ex.
pected or required as condition of the loan.
Fourteen dollars have been received since en-
tering on the work from those having Libraries.
in sums varying from % cents to S.. We should
be very sorry to have the impression reach the
sea that any payment is expected for these VEN
lures or good will.
This society has cared for many destitute sea-
men, and hopes to be yet more useful to the
sons OF the ocean in time to come.