The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-17
THEIR FLOATING CHAPEL.
sCENESINTHE SEAMEN'S BETHEL
IN NEW YORK.

IN NEW YORK.
nes,de the Screw Docks-Work that Has
Heep Done by the Episcopal Missionary
soc,ctv for saiiors-A sunday spent
Abroad.
Sexton Montgomery walked brlskly
down Pike street shortly after o clock
last Sunday morning, and stopped for a
moment before the little floating chapel
that lies IN the East river next to the
big screw docks.
1t was a fair day in port. The sun
shone warm through hay mist, and
the water rippled gently in the morn
ing breeze. Mariner like, for Sexton
Montgomery was a sailor man for many
years before he became the colporteur
of the aeaman's Missionary Society OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church. The
sexton made a nautical observation OF
the weather and hastily calculated
whether the signs were propitious for
fair attendance at the morning service
Apparently they were, for after
brief survey of the horizon the sexton
smiled pleasantly to himself and de-
scended the little flight of stairs that
leads to the gangway up to the chapel
doors.
HIGH CHURCH LAST SUNDAY.
Bishop Potter once observed, 1.-The
chapel is either High Church or Low
Church. according 10 the tide. Last
Sunday morning it was decidedly High
Church. and the gaDgway pointed up
ward like a ladder ready for use. The
little slip in which the chapel lies
moored was completely filled with
pieces of driftwOod, which rose and fell
on the waves and gave bekolder the
impression that some carpenter gone
daft had spent the night before laying
an impossible floor of inlaid wood upon
the waters surface.
The sexton, however, had little time
to follow the beholder's fancy. 1t was
not the first time this same carpenter
foolish work had met his eyes, and, be
sides there was real work to be done IN
side the chapel doors. Only a week
before the chapel had lost its rector.
The Rev. Robert j. Walker, who had
conducted its services for many years.
was buried in the sailors plot in Ever
green the previous Monday, and the
Rev. DR.. Goodman, the assistant rector
was too i'll TO be present. a new clergy
man was expected, but there was no as
surance that he would come, and the
sexton had to be on hand at an early
hour to arrange for whatever emer'
gency might arise.
After q while the sections pretty
daughter came, and then the work OF
preparing the chapel for the day went
on vigorously and with a rush. The
windows were opened, the pews were
busted, prayer books and hymnals were
distributed, and before 10 o'clock the
members of the congregation began tC
assemble.
THE CONGREGATIONS.
First there came a middle-aged man
square and angular, even to his stiff
neck whiskers. grown and kept cropped
after fashion known to and loved by
sailor men of past generation. lie Il
captain. and has been wOrshiplng II
the floating chapel for nearly quarter
Of century.
Then there came a stout man, goo(
natured and red-face1. He was sea
man in every way save his gait. 1t ha.
once been rolling, but now crutcl
was needed to make it steady. lie Is
retired sea captain, and regular at
tendant.
After these early arrivals the rest o
the congregation strolled In IN two
and threes. More sailors. just i'll from
long cruises; a colored woman iron
the West Indies, once a stewardess
now a dweller on shore, who spends
large part of her time doing mssionar.
work among the black sailors who com
to this port; several captains and thei
wives: a pretty young woman with he
, babies, daughters and granddaughter
i of a sailor: two or three men who hav
, left the sea and are now stevedore
and longshoremen, and wealthy gen
tleman from Murray Hill, who is
r prominent member of the Misslonar.
Society and attends the services regu
larly.
There were forty-seven in all VIII
( were in their pews when the Organis
began the service with prelude. For
ty-three of the congregation Remained
, after the sermon and partook Of com
munion, and nineteen follow the Sc
for livelihood.
THE INTERIOR OF THE CHAPEL.
= Inside the chapel one might fame.
he was in a partly finished ship restinI
an a Aont until. keaL unnermnst I'M