The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-07-05
PENSIONS FOR THE SOLDIERS.
Sailors Sacred Songs.

"Thc Cross is my Anchor, though wave follow
Though frail be my vessel, the Anchor shall save
Let faith in full vigor now trust in the Lord;
Midst dangers I'll rest in this life giving word
The Cross is my Anrhor-all storms Shall soon
ccase;
My vessel, though frlil, reach the haven of peace"
10 shipwrcck nor storm need evernorc fear;
When dangers extreme my Savior is near
This hymn was sung Yesterday in the Mari
ncr's Church, 46 Catherine street. by some
thirty sailors. who sang it with tnat lifting
swing so typical of the songs they sing Wien
hauling in sail.
These singing sailors hail from all points of
the compass. Their vessels are now lying in
New York harbor. Most of the tars were in
their land clothes, and seemed to feel rather
uncomfortable. But there was one sailor.
short, pretty-faced, and presumably French
man. who was uniformed in navy blue. and
wore tricolor neckerchief loosely looped in
front. Beside him lowered Il big, brawny mari
ner, whose stern face, beaten by ocean storms
and bronzed by the tropics, made him a. fierce
looking as an old pirate. There were also many
tOW-haired Swcdes and Norwegans. couple
Of red-haired Irishmen, and Spanish sailor
all singing in nautical rhythm.
The Mariners Church is an institution of the
New York Port Society, and was established to
win Jack Tar from grog and grossness to
life of righteousness. Through its untrin.
solcitude hundreds of seamen have been con-
verted, twelve of whom are now ministers of
the gospeE-eight in America and the other
four respectively in France, China. Italy and
Iceland.
The church is supported solely by contribu-
tions, and among the contributors in 81 were
Mayor Hewitt. the late AIgernon S. Sullivan,
the Hon. William NJ. Evarts. Mrs. Livingston.
wife Of Admiral Livingston, U. 5. n; the Old
Dominion Steamship Company, Messrs. Cor
nelius and W. X. Vanderbilt.
Its venerable pastor, the Rev. T.. ID. Murphy.
is non-denomnational-h teaches broad Chris
tianity. He is assisted by Iaymen from the
Church OF the Covenant, Rutgers Church, the
First Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn and the
Collegiate Church on Fifth avenue and Forty
eighth street. The assistant pastor is the Rev.
Samuel Boult, formerly a tar. and pretty
tough tar. too. lie told the writer that the
Rev. DIR. Murphy converted him in 1913. when
His face was then bleared and botted. his nose
-"oh! II you only saw that nose,' he eX-
claimed,''a "a big red puff, shapeless and shney
and see those sears over my left eye and just
under my chin, see them, cl:-wcl. those are
mementoes Of fights on shipboard. But since
'13 Pve been Il Christian man and have found
Christianity more wholesome aud righteous
than my former life"
agent Stein of Henry Berglis Society,"" the
Rev. Mr.. Bout added, is also converted
sailor, ''thOugh / can't say that he ever was a
very tough sinner
The church is modestIy furnished: upon the
preachers platform are Il common >ittinsroom
sofa upholstered in green with pair of chairs
to match, and lecturn which looks like a cap
stan. On the wall behind is scrolled in gilt:
''He shall have dominion from sea TO sea-
Ps. 72.S. just below the scroll is an evergreen
anchor. Beside the platform is humble house
organ. The peWs are cheaply upholstered and
each one contains half a dozen Sailors Hymn
books AS this title implies, most of the hymns
are replete with nautical metaphors. like the
one given at the head of the column; but some
follow the usual ritual
In the appendix of the HYMN books are dircc-
tions how to conduct Il religious burial at sea.
Forms of prayer similar to those of the Pres
byterian liturgy are given; and when the dead
body, already seWed up in canvas. is about to
be launched overheard, the sailors are directed
to kneel on deck along both sides of the sliding
plank in respect for the deceased.
Yesterday the Rev. Mr.. Murphy was sick
and the services were conducted by the Rev.
DIR. McCleen of the New York Bible Society:
In his opening prayer DIR. McClccn prayed
especially for the sailors who are now ut sea.
Nav He who rules the deep save them from
tempest. May He control the winds and calm
the waters and guide all seamen to a snug
harbor."
The first hymn was sold IIundred,- which
was sung by the chorister, Mr.. j. Craig, and
the few ladies who were present. The sailors
seemed reluctant to make 4 vocal venture. But
when 1.-The Middle Watch" came the mariners
spread 1uII SAIL anu sang IL us OnIy sailors can
sing sailors song. The chorus of '"rhe MID
die Watch" was as follows:
Yes, Lord, my grateful voice III raise
At midnight in my watch at sea;
The waves shall swell my song of praise
And roll 1t on in natures melody.
The sermon was on 4 prophecy of lsaial's,
and contained no allusion to seafaring life.
The service lasted over an hour. There are
five services every Sunday and morning and
evening service every week day. One Sunday
service is in Chinese and two on week days in
Norwegian. Some of these are conducted in
the sailors reading room, which is in the base
Dutch, German, Norwegian and Italian, and 4
Bible in Chinese labelled Wun Chart. The
Bible leaves are of white tissue paper and the
hieroglyphics are ranged in columns, instead
Of horizontally. like English print.
The reading room is not open for reading
purposes on Sunday and the N. Y. Port Society
are too scrupuIous to buy Sunday newspapers
for the sailors. But every Saturday night the
room is filed with sailors Of every color and
country. Here they write letters home-write
10 English, Portuguese, Arabic. Norwegian