The morning call., 1893-04-14
FOR JACK ASHORE.
A Seamen's Institute for
San Francisco.
THAT IS ONE IS PROPOSED.
A Place Where SeagoiBg Men and
Boys Can Enjoy the Comforts
of Club Life.

Rev. John Fell. young clergyman OF the
Church OF England. is visiting San Fran
cisco to establish in this city phiianthropic
institution which exists In nearly every
other sea port In the world.
His scheme, in short, is clubhouse for
sailors, where they can pass the hours
when they are ashore In a rational and
pleasant manner.
The idea originated In London with the
Seamen's Mission, an auxiliary organization
of the Protestant Episcopal church. Rev.
John Fell is an agent Of that society. He
has visited the principal seaports of the four
great continents to carry forward his mis-
sionAry work in behalf of the men who
plow the seas.
These clubs are known as seamen's in
stitutes. Within their walls Jack ashore
finds ali the solaee, light comfort and free
dom necessary TO social enjoyment The
Institute is provided with reading. smoking
and billiard rooms. A large assembly room
for magic lantern exhibitions and concerts
is one OF the features. Refreshments are
also supplied when demanded. The assem-
by-rOOm is furnished with a parlOr organ
and piano, and religious services are held
here on Sundays. No class OF men are so
beset by evil influences in all seaports when
they come ashore as the seafaring class.
No class are in SO great need OF protection
and receive less.
For four or five months Jack has per-
haps been at sea, without change, without
amusement, with the same companions, and
enduring an endless mOnOtOny of scene,
company and food. He has had no letters,
no newspapers, no knowledge whatever OF
what is going on in the world. None but
sailors know the intensity Of longing with
which they look forward to the time when
they will be in port and find some comfort.
change and amusement.
San Francisco, it appears, has had the
unenVable distinction Of being about the
only great seaport where the cold shoulder
is turned to this class. The crews on deep
water ships fad no hospitable doors open
TO them where they can lounge and smoke
and play billiards and do about as they
please free from all degrading associations.
When the vessels are dischargiDg they are
allowed to come ashore after P. NJ. From
that hour until far in the night bright boys
in pilot jackets with brass buttons may be
seen drifting about the streets in groups OF
two and threes, and sometimes more. No.
body knows them. Nobody seems to care
TO know them. Many Of these boys are the
sons Of refined people in their own coun-
try. II approached they will be found
to be quite gentlemanly in their
manner and speech. Rarely, however. Is
the door OF a citizen opened to them. They
are strangers in a strange land and when
they leave US they contrast San Francisco
unfavorably with those ports which main
tain seamen's institutes. In this regard the
| boys are likely to say some disagreeable
| truths about the bOasted hospitalities OF
California and Calfornians.
So long as the foreign sailors and ap-
prenticeS have any money about them they
| are always sure Of a cordial welcome in the
saloons, beer joints and underground dives
| with which the city by the Golden Gate
| still abounds. In these places many have
| been for the first time introduced to vice in
! its most repulsve aspects.
1t was TO see if something could not be
| done in San Francisco that Mr.. Fell was
| sent out here by the British Seamen's Mis-
| sion. The reverend gentleman has met with
| some encouragement from prominent citi-
| zens since lie began his work. Bishop Mich
OILS has promised his sympathy and CO.
| operation. The movement has met with the
| warm approval of merchants and ship
| owners.
The San Francisco Seamen's Institute,
! is, like the others in the international chain
| of institutes, TO be open TO the men OF all
| nationalitlps, the only reservation being. as
| in other ports, that the place is kept for the
use only of men and boys who are genuinely
| seagoing people.
| confidently expected, it cannot be doubted
| men and lads who ale entire strangers and
| without hume and friends in this city.
All that Mr.. Fell hopes for in his enter
! prise is that many may feel such interest IL
| SO good a cause and in an undertak.
| ing which cannot fail to rebound faYoraolS
| TO our reputation abroad that they will
| lend him a helping hand and thus aid thC
| Seamen's Mission to promote the sailors
| welfare in this port.