New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-21
fOommunieated1
Rein the Sailor.

We bespeak the cooperation Of our
fellow citizens in aid OF general operations
among seamen, and particularly in securing
q reading room, bethel and exchange, where
American and British eeamen aud the sea-
men of every other nation, Withdrawing
from scenes Of inebriati0n and indulgence,
can resort for business and amusement, ana
instruction, and the blessings of redemption.
Several reasons for this cooperation will be
given In this and succeeding articles, with
permission.
First, although munifcent donations were
given to this cauee before the war, and
there was succession of mismanagement
and disasters sufficient to discourage any
people from contributing to it, yet since the
war it has not received the pr0portial share
of what the people in their deep poverty have
been enabled to give to benevolent objects.
l have now lAbored in this place continu.
Ously over seven years, under the direction
of the American Seamen's Friend SOclety,
o society, which like the Bible Society,
embraces all denominations. During that
period the entire amount contributed BY
the citizens of this commercial metropolis of
the Southwest for general operations among
seamen has been less than 800 per annum.
But because we have not impOrtuned the
people for money; because we have held NO
public meetings, got up NO fairs, issued no
circulars, but have gone or noiselessly, per
servingly and successfully, paying our own
debts, and we owe no man anything at the
present time, it does not follow that money
has not been needed, or that we should be
always tied to cradle which We have long
since outgrown.
The success of the establishment was
demonstrated years ago. As reading
room and place of daily resort, our humble
Bethel has enjoyed q degree of success
never achieved in the palmiest days Of the
CITY. And it has never been more success
full than during the past winter, and was
never IN q more prosperous condition than
at the present moment. 1t has not been
uncommon to count fifty men ut time in
the reading room all silently engaged in
reading, or writing to friends. 1t has been
very common to count forty, and by day
and by night we have been full, and our
evening meetings were never more interest
ing. More than 1000 letters year have
been written there to distant friends. More
than 500 letters have been written there
during the last three months.
Through four years those hardy Scandi.
navian mariners, who have seemed as if
they would crowd the American flag en-.
tirely out of the port, have been fur
nished with a place for all their relig-
ious meetings, in perfect readiness for
them, and with y liberal supply of Scandi.
navian publications, without receiving or
asking farthing from them in return. And
our place has been more thronged since
they left than when they were with US, or
at any time previous.
With library of nearly 1000 volumes,
and large amount Of periodicals in many
languages, / have, so far as the supply is
concerned, one Of the best furnished sailor
reading rooms in the country, not excepting
New York or Boston. And the simple rea-
son why NO more are procured, is have no
place to put them if 1 had them. If the
business men Of the city will sgree to fur
furnish and supply it in a style that shall
be at least equal to that Of the building.
L. H. PEASE,
Seamen's Chaplain.