Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-07
DIR SEAMEN.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SAYAN-
NAH PORT SOCIETY.
Reports OF the Omcers-The Society
out OF Debt-EIoquent and Practfs
cal Discourse by DR.. Landrum-
Election of Omcergs


Election of OmcerS.
In accordance with previous announcement
most Of the Protestant denominations Of
the city last evening united at the Baptist
Church, Chippewa square, to participate in
the exercises attendant on the commemora-
ton OF the thirty-eighth anniversary Of the
Savannah Port Society.
The church was filed from the altar to
the door, every pew being occupied, whilst
there were also many in the galleries.
On the pulpit platform were Rev. DR..
Arson, Rev. ID. K. Mcfarland, Rev. ]. o.
Branch, Rev. Richard Webb. the seaman's
chaplain, and Rev. DIR. 8. Landrum, pastor
of the church.
Mr.. Philip Phillips, the famous singer Of
sacred songs, occupied seat at the organ
In the altar enclosure, and during the eve
ming sang several beautiful hymns. His
song, "What are you going to do, my
brother Pr when collection was taken up
at the close, was powerful, and deeply af-
iected the vast congregation.
The exercises were opened shortly after
half-past seven O'Clock with the usual re-
lfgious services, which were followed by the
reading Of the reports of the several officers
Of the society.
Dir. R. B. Reppard, President Of the soci-
ETY., read his report as follows, and others
were submitted In the order below:
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
Ladies and Gentlemen Of the SaOaanah Port
Society Your managers are gratified to
state that the hope expressed in the last re-
port is now a reality. The society is at last
free from debt. Mr.. Knapp's legacy has
been received. This, with few contribu-
tions, and the membership dues, has en-
abed us to extinguish every vestge of the
debt, without having to call upon the COM
munity at large during the past year for
any contribution except toward the home
fund.
We are, however, under obligations to
the New York Society for four hundred
dollars, contributed toward the pastors
salary, and hereby tender our thanks for
the same.
We have added few names to our list,
but we should double the membership, and
could easily do so IL each member were to
exert himself. We would like very much
to enlist In this work our lady friends. whose
zeal and efforts could not fail to accomplish
great good. The Bethel needs some re-
pairs, which we hope during the coming
season to have attended to.
Our city has at the present time greater
cause for thankfulness. Never In her histo-
ry has Savannah known such uninterrupted
prosperity, and to whom does she owe more
than to the sailor for the great Improvement
in her commercial relations Already is she
mistress OF as fine a fleet of steamers as
sails from any port, and we have reason to
anticipate the time when she shall be port
second to none in the SJuth. The hour is
past when we can entertain the thought of
permitting our Port Society TO die. We are
called upon by all our present surroundings
and in our future prospects to add In every
way TO its efficiency. Its usefulness should
extend beyond our own borders, and the
work done through this society should WELD
an influence that shall Re felt in all lands.
We would refer you TO the TreGsuref's re-
port for statement of the finances of the
society. You have seen that, while we are
out Of debt, We have no funds in hand. We
ought to complete the home. We have, as
you know, the first story built, and for want
Of funds were compelled to wait until
a more suspicious season. Our staunch
friend, Mr.. Frederick Marquand, of South
port, Conn, has made to the society an
offer that we should promptly meet, viz:
that IL we would raise $l9, 000 he would
give us 81 900, making $4,000. an amount,
we think, ample for the completion Of the
home. We have, so far, been able to get
subscriptions for about $4,000. Can we not
raise the entire amount? Mr.. Marquand
has given us until October LIST, 1881, to OBJ
tain the subscriptions. As soon as we have
that amount paid III, he will fulfill his
promise. He has put the offer in q definite
shape, and we will during the spring make
strenuous efforts to obtain a sufficient sum
to secure the liberal offer of our friend,
upon whom we pray Heavens choicest
blessings.
1t now remains with the friends OF the
society to say whether we shall have the
home completed at an early date or not
Are the $4,000 seamen visiting your port an
nually, and to whoH you owe so much of
your prosperity, to receive your assistance in
elevating and saving them? The most of
them are away from home aud its good
moral influences. We think with
comfortable building where they can
receive the attention Of both Christian min
istry and people without being subjected to
the degrading surroundings and associa-
tions to which sailors in port are generally
doomed, that your labor will be amply re-
paid. We rejoice to hear from many
sources that the number Of Christian sailors
is increasing year by year, and we comb
IDENTIFY promise ourselves abundant success
in our labors for the moral elevation of
those who 60 down to the seas in ships.
CHAPLAIN's REPORT.
The Chaplain, Rev. Richard Webb, sub
mitted his report as follows:
It affords me much pleasure to present to
you my thirteenth annual report:
Oar Heavenly Father has kept US through
another year, and by His favor and protect
ing care enabled me to make one thousand
and three visits to vessels of all classes and
various nationalities, conversing with many
seamen on the subject Of personal saliva
ton, and distributing among the crews
SO, 456 pages Of tracts IN twelve different
languages, also ninety-two copies of the
Word of God in foreign tongues.
have preached during the year in the
Bethel and other places, mostly to seamen,
175 sermons, and have also distributed 10
English 787 numbers of the Sailors Maya
zine, and 2263 numbers of the SeGmGn'S
Friend, which were furnished US gratui-
tously by the American Seaman's Friend
Society of New York; also 953 religious
papers given to me for distribution by
Christian friends in Savannah.
have paid II visits to the hospitals, and
9 to the jail, and obtained As signatures to
the total abstinence pledge. Our coDgTe-
cations at the Bethel have not been as large
as In the past few winters from the fact that
we have had less English shipping in port,
and so large a proportion Of Scandinavian
sailors, who though an excellent class of
seamens do not understand the English Ian
guage well enough to profit by hearing the
gospel preached in it.
TREAsURERs REPORT
John W. Burroughs, Treasurer, in account
with the Savannah Port Society for the year
ending January ], 1851: