The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-12
THE NEW sBAMEN's BETHEL.
The Port society's Work Among the
EailOra

Sailors
A MORNING NEWS reporter went through
the seamen's quarters last night with Chap
lain Gilmore The "bethel" is now on the
second floor of the building at the corner OF
Absrcorn and Bay streets. The sailors
seem perfectly at home ia the quarters.
Between forty and fifty were in the rooms
last night.
In the main room is writing desk,
| game tables and reading tables, and each
| table was in uee. The gas lights
burned brightly, and the men we're enjoy
/ ing themselves. Some of them were
| writing letters, some were reading, some
| looking at picture books, while others sat
arou9d the game tables playing dominoes.
| Adjoining the main room is the chapel. 1t
has a neat lecture room and has a seating
| capacity OF nearly 100. Opening into the
passage between the chapel and the officers
room are two large rooms that are used
whenever the chapel is used, making it &C
commodate considerably larger number
of people.
Across the passage on the north side of
the chapel are the officers room and the pri-
vate office of Chaplain Gilmore. Both
rooms front on Bay street. In the officers
room is table with books and papers, a
mantel, fireplace and a large table used for
games
No sailors are allowed to remain on the
vessels nights now, and they find their way
to the bethel before night. They remain
there reading, writing, talking, meeting the
crews of other vessels in port, and PLAYING
games until late IN the evening, when they
go TO their rooms. Chaplain Gilmore had
Just come in last night, after being out all
DAY with the captain of the Hampshire.
lie took the captain over the town and
showed him the points of intarAst
Il am much better pleased with the new
quarters than the old rooms" the chaplain
said after he had shown them off ''They
are much larger and will accommodate a
great many more people. We have about
forty visitors every night now, but very
soon we expect to have 100, and before the
season is over we expect fully $50 men at
the bethel every night"
The nrst concert of the season will be
given at the bethel tomorrow night. Chap
lain Gilmore said that he has made every
preparation for it. Refreshments will be
served during the evening. The entertain
ment will be free. A piano will be placed
In the hail to-day and an interesting pro-
gramme will be arranged. Chaplain Gil
more said that the success Of the bethel has
been very gratifying. Since he took hold
OF 1t the membership in the society which
supports it has increased from forty
members to over 125 members.
His chief aim now is to make the bethel
home-that is, he wants to have a sleeping
apartment attached to the quarters. The
bethel is now the most complete in the
United States, with the exception of New
Orleans. and the chaplain thinks that the
Port Society can make it excel them ALL
The question of making the bethel a
home was talked of last season and many
sailors who were here then came back this
season expecting to find a home. This
year has been an unfavorable year to
work, the chaplain said. The disastrous
fires have set matters back, and it was
deemed best to let the bethel run along
until next year, when he hopes to be able,
aided by the society, to annex the sleeping
quarters From time to time ne will add
new features to the bethel, and will en-
deavor to make the present quarters com
Portable for the sailors. He has carpeted
part of the rooms and viii try to carpet all
of them