The morning call., 1893-07-22
A SEAMEN'S CLUB.
A Home Provided for Deep
Water Men.
GAMES, BOOKS AND CHARTS.
A Place to Spend Leisure Time in
HealthfuI, Moral Environment
Free of Cost.

At 80 Steuart street, little ways from
Market, there is wedge-shaped sign
"Seamen's Institute" ou plain. substan-
tial. three-story building. Ascend one
flight of stairs and yOn enter large, we'll
lighted, well-ventilated, scrupnlously clean
room, furnished with billiard tables,
check cker-buards, chess-boards and other
games The walls are Ornamented with
artistic prints, and long reading table is
covered with newspapers and periodicals.
This is the main room Of the Seamen's ln-
stitute. which was established here some
weeks ago through the efforts OF tho Rev.
James Fell who came from London spe-
cially for this purpose, aided in moral
and financial way by the San Francisco
public.
Its purpose is to provide an attractive
resort for mariners during their stay n
pOrt-a place where they may pass their
leisure time in rational amuSement-where
the moral atmosphere is wholesome;
where they may read, write, play innocent
games, sing songs and once week hold
communion with the great source OF all
things. 1t is devoted exclusively to deep
water sailors, and only to those who are
either actively employed In tne mercnant
marine or waiting to ship. Sailors who
have left the sea and obtained employment
on shore are not included in the benefits
and privileges.
Nor is the institute devoted entirely to
the men before the mast. Half OF the
first floor is set aside for 0fhcers and ap-
prentices. separate and apart from the
sailors, thus carrying out on shore In the
sncial side If their lives the same principles
which prevail in everyday life on ship
board. Any attempt TO commlpgle mas
ters and men socially would Of necessity
miscarry. However, at concerts, other en-.
tertainments and at religious services there
Is general gathering.
There is library under charge of a COM
petent janitOr, accessible to all. and a
table for writing personal letters. When a
CALL reporter visited the institute yester-
day he found about thirty neatly clad
sailors engaged at checkers, chess and bill
lizards as quiet and orderly as the knots of
old gentlemen who daily congregate in the
Mechanics Library rooms. Others were
reading and others writing. The room
for officers and apprentices is provided
with easy chairs, tables and books of par
ticnlar interest to shippers.
The third story is one large hall. It's
principal furniture, apart from the chairs.
is an organ and piano. For the present
one concert week is given. The attend
ance last Tuesday was 130 On Sunday |
evenings religious services of more or less |
informal nature are held. A week ago |
ninety men and boys joined MIR. Fell in de- |
volions. Following the services there was
a simple repast of tea and bread and |
butter.
The institute is open from 93O A. NJ. to |
10 80 p. NJ, and there are no restrictions |
except that conduct shall be orderly. No |
charge of any kind is made. nor Is hint
for cOmpen sation thrown out further than
the contribution box at the door, Though |
q n az hne haa ar fich MI h. ~
lime. more than 5000 alen OF the sea he We |
ayailed themselves II its prIviIeges-an-
1ther proof that 3 &C nsiderable number of |
sailors will seek Sueh respectable pacss
az are open to receive them IN preferences !
~ the rilFsages5s 4 fes.'stssss
tbAt tAe visits are mainly in the evening,
when temptation Is moro Keen than. during
the day.
Mr.. Fell is young man specs .S -iitted
for tine work. He understands the prac-
tical side Of the religious question, and is
free to state that the average seaman can |
not De won over by first offering him a |
psalm or tract. If it were possible he
you'd have cricket ground. football!
held, bOwling-alley, a gymnasium and |
baths. He quoted a remark made in his |
hearing by a well-known English Arch
bishop: II think st. Paul would have |
enjoyed a football match immensely"
Mr.. Fell has closely observed tho working |
OF similar Institutes in London, Liverpool |
and other British ports. At Cardiff a
building has recently been erected which |
cost $4,000, and one is in the course OF |
costing S150,0OO. In Liver
pool the institute is visited daily by about
1000 sailors.
The institute is supported by private
and its efficiency for the
future depends largely on the financial
upport which it shall receive. 1t has
not ta1 Nf ttnh rvxnt
ute and It's ability to supply such need,
md it cOmmends itself to all persons who
eel the responsibility OF giving from their
tore for the benefit of those less fortunate
han themselves.