The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-20
oReANIzINo 4 NEW BETHEL.
what Some Canal Bontmen Have Done
with - Very Little Outlay.

Covered with snow, and their sides shining
! with thick conts OF leo two hundred canulboats
lie tied up Mt the foot OF Fifteenth street Jersey
City. In their midst IL the northern boat T.. A.
BullinRham. Capt. Jameson. or large size,
lying deep in the water. her decks presented a
marked contrast with those OF her ncighbors.
At her bows had been erected wooden cupola.
with n plain wooden cross on top. Three mod
est little skylights. Of rough hewn wood, laid
even with the decks. Tho cupola serves as n
porch to tho newly dedicated Church OF Barge
vile.
Down several steps. rudcly shaped In tho
form OF stairs. tho body Of the cxtcmporizod
chapel Of the canalcrs and rivor mon Is entered.
Wooden benches. made Of roughly planned
plnnks. run tho entr length Of the boat. aud at
the stern is n pew. consisting Of few boards
nailed together. In the body Of the church IL n
large stove. which burnod bright and cheerful
Capt. Bowers was sweeping yesterday. He
had largo shovel full " snow. and swept the
floor with will Cnpts. Jameson and Pack in
son wcre assisting in filling the little oil lamps
for the evening service.
Wnlcnme, atrangerl" wah the hearty salute
Of Can't. Bowers. Service will soon begin"
On Jan. the cnnalmcn and bOatmen in that
neighborhOod determined to orRani2e bethel.
They had no money to spare, because their
families needed 1t all, and ut this season OF tho
year. the majority Of boats nre tied M. But
cnufch tne lnnlmen were urtnfm n'i To nave
one that would do credit TO them and their TAM
HES. They needed n plucc 81 worship. and felt
that thoir children should have Sunday
- win give M my boat to tho caqsel was
Capt. Jamoison's first words. The Lord has
been good 90 me. and f"0l that can devote her
90 his bidding until we can do beticrl'
Suhscri ptiOns were Immediately started to
get tho boat in shnpr. Men gathered round,
and those who could spare no money volun-
loored to devote so many hours work to turn
ing the boat into q chapel The sh'srrWiuns
chapel was submitted Yesterday II WIS sim
pie, PLAIN account. amounting only To $1,000
An effort was made TO get some Bibles. prayer
books, and hymnas, but as vet none have boon
e But the Lord is with us Can't. Parkinson
said. for We only started this church ON the LIST
of January. and to-day we have large congre-
CATION. Already we count thirty-threo who
have risen in prayer and confessed their desire
acknowledged that they have received tho word.
saturday night we had 100. who crowded into
the church. IL was great meeting. Thomas
Mccain. u young and brave engineer on the
Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad. came hero
and stood up like "A man and spoke to us. He
told us. how he had been saved from drunk
ards life by his conscience one night whisper
ing, to him. Be man and Chlstinn.' That
night Tom Mccain said. entered barroom
Bible in hand. and wrote on the first page, !
swear by the living God never again to tdka an
other drink Of liquor" My poor wife was very
miserable. | rushed home and said, Mary.
have sworn never 70 drink again. Tom,
that So often that | fenr YOU will not keep your
word" Mary" replied. am determined to
hc man md Christian. and have written II
down on the Bible TINT never will drink again"
Show IL to me-" she replied, and took the
tallow candle up. and IA she raised herself on
her pillow showed her the book, ana she read
what | had written To-day Tom McCann
owns his house. well furnished, and his vile is
h9pRy."
said.
At 3 o'clock yesterday from almost every
canalbOat men, women, and children were seen
Stepping over the snOwrcOVercd deck. Singly
they filed down the rude steps and rs the men
took their seats on one side the women and
children occupied the other. No clergyman
came TO give the canal men announcement.
but a Mr.. Jones Of New York. a veneer .ble- look
ing man, who has long been a friend OF the
canal men. quietly walked to the littlo pulpit.
He had IA Bible aud "A hymn book under his arm,
and as he knelt down and prayed many "a deep
and grun voice responded with carncstnese.
Miss Bowers and tho wives and daughters of
the canal men sang several old familiar hymns,
which sounded quaint in the hull Of the old
boat.
After prayers and the reading Of the Bible
several strong. able men, with earnest sun
burnt faces, stood up and told how they had de-
ermlned TO become Christians. They confessed
openly TO having led rough lives and to having
neglected their families. but now they wee de-
torpincd 10 begin life anew.
To-day Carts. Jameson, Bowers. Hunt. and
Park insOn will call az tho Bible House and the
prayer books. aud hymn books for their now
lpufiuu b,thtI