Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-11

FOBTY.THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF
THE PORT SOCIETY.

Chaplain Wobb's Resignation Alter Sew
enteen Years of service-The EXer-
discs At the Independent Presbyterian
Church Last Nisht-rbe Anniversary
sermon by Rev, Timothy Harley-Re-
ports OF Oficers.
The fOrty-third anniversary OF the Sa-
yannah Port Society was celebrated last
night at the Independent Presbyterian
Church. The audience, owing to the ex-
IRENE cold weather, was small. The an
niversarY sermon was preached by Rev,
Timothy Harley.
President X. B. Reppard submitted his
annual report, showing the society TO be
financially solvent. with a good Church
edidce and "a, 900 invested in city bonds.
In spite OF this the past years work. he
sand, had not been attended by such re-
suits as the officers desired. Forty-three
consecutive years Of work are drawing to
a close, and what he asked, is the RESULT
There are large numbers Of seamen who
need the attention of the society, and with
all the work that there is 10 be done-the
oversight and care OF sick and distressed
sailors, a personal visitation among
them with a view to "A betterment of
their spiritual condition and the
work OF reclaimng the fallen
and directing them into paths Of virtue
and right living. II is not a time for sus-
pension Let US, be added, put our shout
ders to the wheel with II renewed effort
for the elevation Of that large class that
so urgently demands our attention.
Rev. Richard Webb, in submitting his
seventeenth annual report as chaplain, ten
dered his resignation, to take effect Jan.
+. During the past year he made $50 visits
TO vessels lying at the wharyes, distribut.
ed among seameu 1884 pages OF tracts in
various languages, 70S numbers Of the
SuttOrS -NaqQEiHe, l,3i6 numbers Of the
Seq0eH's Fried, 1851 religious uapers,
A Bibles and Testaments, and preached
1913 sermons. besides making frequent
visits to the hospitals and Jail
81 find IL impossible" be said, ito get
congregations al the Bethel, hardly al any
time during the year being able to get
more than twenty at one time and fire.
quenty not more than six or seven
The great majority OF sailors who come
10 this port are Danes, Norwegians and
Swcdes. The chaplain being unable to
preach to them IN their own language rec
commended the employment OF new
chaplain who is able to preach in the
scandinavian tongue. Being somewhat
advanced In wears and uua9se 10 20 safely
among the shipping as much as the work
requires, be deemed DO best that bee should
vacate the position in '0rler that il might
be flied by a younger and more efficient
man. The employment of chaplain who
is able 10 sug8k the scandinavian Ian
guage, he believed, would re sult n filing
the Bethel With large congregations The
English speaking sailors scatter about
among the various churches, but the
Scandinavians who do not understand
the English language are unable to do So
The latter are a church-going class while
the contrary is true Of English speaking
seamen.
IN closing his report Mr.. Webb recon.
mended the employment as Chaplain OF
a young scandinavian Missionary who
de- at present employed by tue Baptist
Mission u New York
The report OF Mrs. Webb Superinte nd
eut of the Bethel Mission sunday school,
showed that there were in attendance at
the school At the close Of last wear 81
bows and 20 girls, making a total member
ship of60.
The report OF the Treasurer, Mr.. John
W. Burroughs, showed the total amount
IN the treasury to be S7l %.
The statement for the year is as fol-