The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-24
AT THE BETHEL.
A Pleasant Evening and an Address
by Vale j. Rozier, Esq.

by Vale ). Rozier, Esq.
There was very pleasant entertainment
yesterday evening at the Seamen's Bethel, on
Fulton street, near jackson, for the object Of
aiding the fund for the enlargement Of the
Bethel. large and select audience had
gathered within the Bethel.
Mr.. W. G. Raymond, Of the Seamens
Friends Association, introduced the orator
OF the evening, Vale J. Rozier, Esq, who
spoke as follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen--I feel honored at
being assigned the pleasing duty which de-
wolves upon me to address you upon this
occasion; but must confess that ! feel some
hestancy In doing SO, by reason Of the con-
seriousness that the reverend gentleman who
more judicious choice. and fur hermore,
some few weeks since,I had the pleasure OF
listening to an address, delivered at this
Bethel, which was 50 appropriate and accom-
and profitable will fall to interest you
Ladies and gentlemen, here we find q house
where cordial and hearty welcome Is ex-
tended to sea-faring men from all countries
and every cline, many OF them strangers in q
strange land, without, or separated from. the
OF them thousands OF miles from their homes.
Sailors are men proverbially honest at heart
and generous to improvidence itself; often
thoughtless, credulous. and frequently and
cumstances. Exposed in all large cities to
every temptation and the allurements OF
every attractice vice, these men are invited to
come to this Bethel and make 1t their home
q home for their hearts, q place for rest and
for the refreshment of their minds and souls
The sailors life Is a hard one-exposure,
labor, danger, coarse fare, severe knocks,
strict discipline, and not much Of q lookout
ahead. Out Of such storm Of adverse cir
cumstances, any port promises cheer and
and imposed uponi A few weeks ashore and
| they have not dollar left-and sharks
cards and liquor have swallowed their small
but hard-earned wages. Feeling that they
have been imposed upon, and feeling the re-
morse of conscience, they sign articles draw
an advance, spend 1t at once, and put to sea
again, to repeat the same thing at every port
until they enter the last port Of all, and re-
ceive their last wages from Him who sent
them out on the voyage Of life, and who will
omit nothing In their log when he over
hauls It,
Now, then, the lives OF these men should
have something better and more profitable In
them than this. Many, Of them have found
this out, and have acted upon what has thus
been learned. Efforts are continually making
in this country and England to give sailors q
more advantageous position among tie
laborers of the world. Consuls. courts and
commissioners are charged with the duty Ut
| protecting them In their rights. New laws
| are passed from time to time to protect sea-
men from abuse by owners, agents and Off
| GERS The civilized world owes this class a
| great deal, and Is not unwilling to acknowledge
and be grateful for it and to give the sailor
fair play and help.
/ Tossed on the pillows OF the main
Aud doomed from zone to zone to roam,
The seaman 1Oiled for others gain,
But for himself he had no home.''
But securing the mariner decent treatment
aboard ship, healthful and abundant food in
spectlon as to seaworthiness of vessels and
all their strictly legal rights will not protect
MIN from temptation and from himself when
he goes ashore.
In every seaport town OF any size there are
people who make a disgraceful living out OF
the sailors wages. They are as cunning az
they are unprincipled, as sharp as the sailor
IS needless. The seaman relieved from the
irksome, but necessary restraints and diacin.
line OF seafaring life, ready to enioy to The
utmost newly-gained liberty. fresh and
rare What more natural than to al once saal.
those pleasures which contrast most stronoIn
with the hum-drum regularity OF existen,ss
, anoat! WI hat more natural than that ftasiro
should influence more than reason. ana tha Z
license should prevail when the gtrictest =,
coordination 30 long enforced Ia no longer = II
J qulred. For long time the sailor has Shad NJ
, chance to spend dollar, and now he a ny w
money-being naturally generous, be is bes at
py sharks more eager to rob him than thew
are eager to be robbed. Long abstinenacys