Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-31
FOR JACKS SAKE.

FOR JACKS SAKE.
 form of practical philanthropy, com mended as worthy of imitation in all sea- coast towns, is the work of the sDeep Sea Mission of England," under the patronage of Queen Victoria.
 Ten years ago the secretary of the Thames church mission became interested in the condition and needs of the North sea trawlers. Fifteen thousand men are engaged in the coast fisheries on "the Dog ger," an immense submarine sand bank in the German ocean, fifty miles from the nearest strip of English coast and three hundred miles from the mouth of the Thames. The strongest influence for evil that endangered these toilers of the sea, more perilous than all the forces of wave and storm, was that of intemperance, destroying their homes, and wrecking them, body and soul They were supplied with liquors from vessels sent out to the Dogger for this purpose, by interruptions dealers, but these floating bars are disap- bearing from the fishing fleets, as the de- mand for their merchandise has steadily decreased since the work of the Deep Sea mission began.
 MT. Nautilus, the secretary, determined to prevent this evil, if possible, and he en- listed in the enterprise a number of earn est and influential men and women. Through their agency small vessel was purchased and fitted out as a fishing smack, making it's first trip in the summer of 1852. The skipper was an earnest Christian and thorough seaman, pre- pared to direct the fishing interest while attending to the missionary work, the miSSinpa ryy ebir, hainrv toI to r% itself by trawling.
 Very few of the fishers were Christians or temperance men until this craft sailed into their fleet. Since then Sunday ser vice, and, when weather will permit, evening services through the week have been maintained, with the result of a wonderful improvement in the morals of the men, and a corresponding decrease of illness. There are now ten mission ships, two of them being the gift of philanthropy ic women, and one fitted out by the queen at an expense of one thousand pounds. Three are hospital ships, and the surgeons, equipped for all sorts of weather, and vis- itlng patients on vessels that are stationed miles apart, find their position quite ar duous, requiring all the zeal and self sac rifice that inspires and rewards the true missionary.
 Several wealthy and charitable ladies of New York, interested in sailors missions in that city, are also contributors to the Deep Sea mission fund, and some of them even knit and send out to the Dogger the thick woolen caps which the sailors wear in rough weather.
 done in New York by band of Kings Daughters, who prepare "comfort bags" for Jack Tar to take upon a voyage. A bag of strong cloth, nine inches by twelve in size, is filled with needful and comfort tIng Ig. r591ffs@ss5ts, 0an or yarn yasehne, linen bandages, absorbent cotton, and the like, while, for his spiritual well-being, & little testament is added. A committee of young ladies visit the merchant vessels and distribute the bags. This circle make and fill two hundred bags in a season, replen- ishing them on the ships return to port.
 Who can tell what else Jack may find in his comfort bags Suggestions of home, of mother-love and solicitude; of sister delft fingers fashioning parting gift for the sailor lad; host of dear, sweet mem ories of boy life, forgotten in his rowing manhood; the consciousness that, rough seaman as he may be, someone has a thought for his welfare; all this, and more it may be, widening in him B nobler ambition and encouraging him to be steadfast in duty and resolute in resisting | temptation.
 The work of the Deep Sea mission is a grand one since it directly attacks the sail | ors deadliest foe, intemperance. It is not given to us all, however, to aid in such an enterprise. It may be that in lesser ways if only in making comfort bags, our own | Ladies' Seaman's Friend society would be | grateful for assistance. If so, ought wt not to be both willing and glad to offer it HILARY.