The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-11
For the Farmer ana Mechanic
The Seaman's Bethel of New Or
lie ans


ton street. near Jackson. where a week
ly concert and entertainment is held for,
aud by the sailors. and their friends in
that large hearted, generous Crescent
city; where the good and evil Of human
nature IS 50 sharply contrasted.
The city, Ike ali seaports everywhere,
has a mixed population, and cut-throats,
peradoes, and outrageous Williams are
a. common in New Orleans as III all
other maritime cities. They come before
the fOotlights. and tlaunt in the suush hiuc
all the while, ald the hasty and unre-
flcctiug look at them and forthwith
label them as native specimens, indigo
nous growth, sample citizens, etc, while
nine times out OF ten they are importa-
tiOus, driftwoOd swept in by the current,
the common tlotsam and jetsam of all
ports.
In thus speaking, | do not assert that
the New Orleans people are better than
the average OF people elsewhere for |
believe human nature IS the same the
world over; the same curious mixture OF
good and evil vice and virtue weak
ness and strength. | do not believe in
prepOnderance of virtue or vice as a geo.
graphical factor that people are bet
ter or worse according to the accident OF
latitude, or longitude, or climate. Tho
might be tempted TO believe 1t III this
special locality, for as a matter OF actu-
al, demohstrable 'act, the Outrages
most notorious while | was in New Or
leans were committed by Irishmen, viz:
the Murphy-Fo ord murder, the killing OF
Brewster, the burning OF the old woman.
etc. Murphy and all the Fords were
Irish, Brewster was Irish, the three as
aailants OF the old woman were Irish.
The best abused man connected with
the Exposition Management, the Chief
of installation, is a Cincinnati Yankee,
and all the Presidents of the street car
companies are Yankees. These are
simple matters OF fact, and not to be
reckGncd either for or against the places
the people came from, nor must they be
credited to New Orleans either. Rem
der unto Cesar, the things that be Cse-
sar's.' buj don't add more to the ac-
count than honestly can be said to be
Caesars.
In other words, don't estimate New
Orleans as worse than other places be-
cause the scoundrels from those other
places commit some of their habtual
crimes within her limits.
But as | began to say, New Orleans
is as spicuously good as she is pro-
verbally bad l heard very intelli-
gent visitor from distant State say
that nowhere that he had ever been in
the wanderings of a long and restless
| life had he seen SO many hospitals, asy-
| lums. and havens Of refuge for the affilc-
! ted. the infirm. and the destitute as are
! in the Crescent city.
This Upper Bethel is one Of the city S
WiscS and truest charities. Few people
realize how helpless and forlorn Jack
Saiior-mau is on shore. His ship, as a
rule. puts into port, far from his home
and friends, and he is turned aGrift.
/ Now he, tho Il sailor, is man Just
! like other men, he has a heart and soul,
natural affections and desires a love for
social amusements, the natural human
/ longing for sympathy and companion
ship. God did not make him out OF
/ different stun from other men, and attcl
/ a long rough cruise he needs some kind
ness, some recreation, some kindly hui
man recognition from his fellow men
/ Ordinarily he goes ashore, falls into The
/ hands OF land sharks. and sailors board
/ ing housC-keepers. etc, IS tieeced, il
/ treated. beggared and reshps to repeat
the same f0rlorn role in the next port,
Dr.. Withcrspoou told me that soon
after he went to New Orleans in Isl.
to take charge of mission work connec-
ted W tn the Presbyterian church in thai
city. his attention was directed to the
sailors. who were 50 large q part of the
floating populatjonl and some gentle
men interested him in the Seaman
Bethel. He said he had never knowl
anything about ships Or sailors. anC
therefore felt himself peculiarly unlitteC
to take charge of such a mission, bu
still, did not think he had a right to reius,
what might be Gods work tol him.
So he began to hold a special service
took shape in his hands. and grew anC
pered beyond all hope. lie begal
bv treating the sailors like men, no
either as reprobates, or overgrown chill
dren, or anything different from an,
other man ashore. By degrees the con
lCerts aud entertainments were added
then a reading room, then the last ant
best, a Sailors Home, where they cOult
have clean comfortable rooms and beds
good meals. honest and respectable sur
= Iroundngs. and wholesome influences
and all at a mere nominal cost Whicl
they could afford to pay, and for moth
ing if they were out Of work aud money
1t Is free to any and all sailors, tn
world over, and it is beautiful to sc
; how they respond to the kindness an
, aud trust shown 10 them. Religion
, not forced down their throats, they ar
gently won over, and rich has been til
l harvest OF souls.
. The entertainments are free to a
sailors, but visitors pay small admi,
sion fee which goes TO the support OF tn
institution.
The musical directress of the Bethel
a young lady, Miss Mamie Higgins {
whom Gen. Beauregard said: ''She is
, most remarkable young woman, an
has done more good than any woman {
her age that | ever knew, and the sal
ors fairly worship her"
As is the case with those who do th
most good in the world this young lad
/ has her hands full of care and work or re:
. possibility, viz: the support and comtoI
, OF a widowed mother and six or seye
little brothers and sisters. All day lon
she is giving music lessons. and worl
ing to provide for her dependant famil,
! and yet she iinds time for the sailor
who give her unqualified love and reve
ence, and who have borne her name
loving praise to every port in the wOrlt
DR.. WitherspOon of course Is great
beloved, and his whole heart is in hi
work, a work that any man might than
God for giving him to do, so rich is lis il
visible fruits and rewards. To man
men it is given to do good but only
few chosen ones are ever permitted
see the good they do.
i The concert hall is lalge comforts