The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-18
THE BETHEL WORK.
The Annual Report of Rev. Mr.. Southworth
Shows that a Quiet but Very Effective
Work Has Been Going On Here and at
the Islands.

Rev. Francis Southworth has sub
mitted to the Portland Seaman's Friend
Society his report for the year 1898. This
report begins with a notice of the SER
vices held during the year. All coliec-
lions have been discontinued at these
meetings, the object being to impress
more fully upon the wayfarers the idea
that their good only is sought. About a
thousand packages of good literature.
which would measure nearly cord have
been distributed among the sailors. and
twelve libraries leach consisting of
about twenty volumes, Bibles, hymn
books, Pilgrims Progress, Century and
Harpers' bound, etc. have been put
aboard as many ships, making the whole
number 493 of such libraries that Mr..
Southworth has put aboard vessels in
the tw enty years that he has paid atten-
ton to this branch. During the year
s53 80 have been spent for library books
This does not include the cards. tracts,
etc., and the Bethel Flag, now in its
nineteenth year, the expense of which is
borne by Mr.. Southworth himself
The reading room has been open during
the year, and 1900 visitors, chiefly sailors,
have used it, and 400 letters have been
written at its desks.
Three broken dcwn sailors have been
assisted to prove their rights to shelter
in the Sailors Snug Har Dor at Staten
Island In all about twenty old sailors
have been SO helped in times past
The work of Captain George W. Lane,
the coastwise missionary is spoken of at
length. Considerabl religious interest
Island, Yarmouth, and smaller islands.
A little school house on point of Great
Island, which has been called Bethel
Point, has become crowded to its utmost
capacity, men and women coming in
boats long distances
Captain Lane had come to the conclu-
sion that the island people should have
religious utilization with some religious
body, and the Bethel seemed to furnish
the best nucleus. So the Island Bethel
Association was formed. This is OF
undenominational lines entirely, and is
slIHpiA bnc OTSdHlZdGIOu Ol IL CuT1Stldu
community. The confession of faith ex.
presses the desire of the people to be " a
Christian community, worthy of oul
Divine fl lend and Savior" pledges SUI
preme loyalty to Christ, !" accepts fellow
ship and enters into cordial cooperation
with the Seaman's Bethel and invites
| Captain George W.Lane to become per-
manept pastor. ss.s
/ This action of the island people met
with very cordial response from the
Bethel. 1t is expected that in the spring
a little meeting house will be built on
Bethel Point, Great Island.
A large amount of clothing has been
furnished by the generosity of citizens,
especially members of Williston church,
and has been distributed among the
destitute.
The Bethel Sunday school now mum.
bers seventy-five members in ten classes,
under the superintendency of Deacon
John NJ Gould. Thirty have come into
| membership of the church through this
I branch.
| In conclusion Mr.. Southworth says
"The work may have been conducted
more noiselessly than some, yet out oil
this quiet movement there are results
| worthy of profound gratitude"