The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-15
CAPE NICHOLs's RErIvAL.
A Bontmnn Preaching to Boatnen IN the
Boats of the California Bnsin.

In the California basin n quarter Of mile
north Of the Erie depot in Jersey City. about 100
canal boats. mostly the homes Of families, win
ter every year. Some of he inhabitants Of that
floating village scarcely ever leave their homes.
and the excursions Of the most venturesome
rarely extend beyond the ncighborni; groceries.
In February last Capt. Lewis $. Nichols. who
owns one of the ncatrst boats in the feet and
hns a large family felt impclled to work among
his w-hoatmcn in the cause of religion. He
is a gray whiskercd man Of 50 or So. and even
when officiating in his semi ministerial capac-
ity dresses like the majority OF boatmen.
At first he held his meetings in the cabin Of
his own boat. gathering about him ten or twelve
devoted Christians. Soon the sounds Of sacred
song were heard nightly in the fleet. and before
long the meetings were so well attended that
larger quarters became necessary. Then
tho hold Of an empty canal boat was
fitted mp roughly. and Capt. Nichols preach
ed nightly to from forty to sixty per-
sons. In the course OF two or three weeks
the people Of Jersey City heard Of the re-
vlva and the meetings were swelled beyond the
capacity Of the boat At this juncture the pro-
| pretor of the Washington. large Ice barge.
offered the use Of that craft TO Capt Nichols
and the latter, aided by his congregation, fitt"d
| her up with hairs and rough seats sufficient to
| nccommodnte 500 persons In her the revival
has been in progress for some weeks. Worship
| p"rs from the fleet forming the greater part Of
the congregation. although tho sunday even ing
meetings attract large numbers of men and
| women from Jersey City.
| OILS s floating chapel. Ono is 10y muddy foot
! path. half u mile in length, from the street
railroad track and the other Is over the fleet of
| canal bouts. II IL easy enough Tor hoatman to
cross fleet Of canal boats. but to one not ac-
| customed 10 that sort Of exercise. the task is
! neither easy nor pleasant. To walk Twenty-Five
| feet oyer narrow plank. and then climb over
high bulwark. skirt cabin with marginal
| path 81 less than twenty inches wide. and 10 do
all this. with the constant dread of dirt and
| paint, is surely trial to n woman's heart.
| Still. fifty or sixty women essayed and accom-
| plshcd the feat Yesterday. and half as many
| more tramped down the muddy road TO hear
| Capt Nichols. Arrived ut the barge Washing
| placed al steep incline having first walked
over mass OF loosey.piled timber.
Harbor Boatmen and Sailors Gospel Mission.
! and he is about TO appeal to the Christian public
to make ! a permanent institution. Already" F"
verted and the effect upon the mon who win
tered here has been marked. Canal ooatmen
and sailors spend much of their time away from
home and Church influences. and are surround
ed by temp atoms that 40 not attack other class
rs ~ workers. My object in starring this re-
yival-lf man can he said 10 have
an object when he simply oheys an in
war ioar oo,mn, WIS lX !" my i"i
where the scrvicrs would Be- conducted with
| SIMPLICITY and in language that they could un-
! more susceptible or easily led in the ways II
| religion than this very class. and they need u
! plh''ol NNISilp tl'7e 10 lu'lI poals. Ai'f
| saw that my efforts were meeting with success.
! | resolved To make the mission permanent II
| possible and TO devote the remainder of my
| days to the good work. II 5000 can be raised
! by subscription, Will give my own hont up as
chapel. and this sum will suffice to III her III" "
Last evening Capt. Nichols had a congrega-
! ton ~ about two hundred persons. chiefly from
| the canal fleets in California basin. the Long
| Dock.an other canal boat winter quarters. The
service consisted OF prayer. singing 10y the con-
| grsgation, and short but impas- ioned sermon
| hy Capt. Nichols. H. Is not a rantor. hut talks
| lik" sensible boatman. as hs Is. and points his
| romHsks with references peculiarly applicable
! to the persons he addresses. While he believes
| In hell. he does not constantly hold up its tor
| rors before the eyes of his hearers, preierring
rather To- pant, in simple. earnest. homeiy
| terms. the happiness and delight oi heaven.
| Should Capt. Nichols raise the money re-
! quirrd, he purposes 10 build a chapel ON the
dccl, Of his own boat. and move her tOa point
IN the Long Dock basin. where she will be- az
| cessihle to all the canll hoatmcn and sailors in
| the vicinity He holds meetings every evening
| and on sunday afternoon and evening