The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-19
sEAMEN,s FRIEND SOCIETY,"
The Work Accomplished by the Portland
Association.

The Portland Seamen's Friend society has
just held its annual meeting and elected
Woodbury. s. Dana, president. John NJ.
Gould, treasurer and Z. Southworth, secre-
tary. The secretary presented report
which excited considerable interest. show
ing that quiet, persevering work may really
be as effective as those methods that adyer-
tise themselves In brief. this society which
operates through the Seamen's Bethel, has
sustained its work. during the year with
usual efficiency and success. The religious
service have been well attended; and re-
Gently have given tokens of special spirit
ual impression and fIuitfulness. A very
large amount of choice reading matter has
been distributed. The number of sailors
libraries sent to sea by this society is now
close on to five hundred; contaiping about
$1,000 volumes. The reading room has re-
oeived some 1000 visits, and over 400 letters
have been written there. .
The new enterprise growing out of the
intimate acquaintance between the Bethel
and the fishermen and coasters, along our
seaboard has resulted in the building of a
chapel on Bethel Point, Great Island, East
Harpswell, by aid of friends in this city,
contributing over S4c0, in cash, and by
labor by people on the island. The cash
outlay is reported at $471.75, exclusive of
land, labor and gifts of material, which.
swell the amount to about six hundred
dollars.
This chapel, capable of seating two hun
dred, has been conveyed by deed to all the
people of the island. without distinction of
any kind. to be held by board of trustees,
seven OF whom are on the island, and three
in Portland. The fellowship between the
members of the Bethel and the people of
the island is something rare and delight
full.
1t might be gathered from the report that
the work for seafaring men is very at
tractiye not only here, but in other COM
merciaI cities. and that there is tendency
to multiply agencies more OF less compet1-
tive and antagonistic, and that economy of
resurces suggests unity and cooperation
among all the various workers, and that If
for the past quarter of century all could
have worked together from one centre,
vastly more good would have resulted, and
other spheres of usefuless might have been
entered. AS for example the railroad men
at the west end of Commercial street and
elsewhere, are more numerous now than our
regular sailors.
Mention was made of the publication of
religious reading. specially adapted to
gospel Bethel work. The Bethel Flag, ex-
olusively nlled with the most practical
Christian reading. 100000 copies. Mcody's
sermon, Good News, 1900 copies, Where
Art Thou, 1000, Testimony 10 Missions,
1900, Good Sheaves. in tract from, 10000,
With Christ or Without Him, 1000. CONVEX
sion of Won Schulerinb back, $4,000. There's
Only One, 1O, 600. How. When and Where,
30G0. Hymn Books, for Bethel services and
for distribution, 1900, and many thousands
of miscellaneous tracts, and l400 volumes of
books. These publications have grown out
of the need of the work, and may be had
freely by any of our citizens for use in
Chri stian services.