The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24
JACKS FRIEND ON SHORE
WHAT THE PORT SOCIETY Is DO
ING FOR THE SAILORS WHO
COME HERE.

[ It's Anniversary Exercises Tonight
at the Independent Presbyterian
Church-Dr. Palmer and 100 Voices
From the Festival Chorus 10 Fur
nish the Musfc-COmfOrtabIes Sleep
ing Quarters Provided For the
Men During the Summer Months.
The anniversary exercises Of the Port
Society will take place tonight at s
O'Clock at the Independent Presbyterian
church. A very interesting programme
for the evening has been arranged. and
the music Will be made a. special feature.
DR.. II. r. Palmer will preside over
the choir Of 100 voices by which the mu-
sic will be rendered. This choir will be
from the members Of the festival chorus,
and a number Of selections viii be rem
dered. The choir will meet this morning
at 1870 o'clock at the Independent Pres
byterian church for practice for the ex-
ercises Of the evening.
The first feature Of the evening viii
be the reports Of the societys officers.
the president, secretary and treasurer.
and chaplain, after which will come the
address of the evening by Rev. W. c.
Schaeffer of the Lutheran church, who
will speak about the Port Society and
its mission A short meeting of the society
for the election of officers will be held
at the conclusion Of the services.
The work that is being done by the
Port Society is interesting and through It
more good Is being accomplished than out
siders have any idea of. The rooms and
headquarters Of the society, which are To-
Gated at Bay and Lincoln streets up
stairs were visited yesterday by a repre-
sentative of the Morning News. They
combine all the features necessary for an
institution Of this kind, but with the aid
such as an institution Of this kind should
have, much more that is really necessary
in order to carry out its aims and ideas
could be accomplished.
The Port Society Is by no means profit
able alone to those who visit the rooms
Of the society, but 1t Is an institution OF
incalculable benefit to the community.
Sometimes there are as many as three or
four hundred sailors in port here, many
of whom are foreigners and unaccus-
LOlltl 10 llAd laws VI AAAAS IVAANA @-+~
rooms of the society are visited by an
average Of hundred sailors every day
many OF whom are thereby kept out or the
haunts of vice and places where they
might engage in brawls and scrapping OF
such a nature as would be detrimental
to the interests of the port and the city
The Port Society furnishes an attraction
for them of which many Of them take
advantage, and 1t Is a benefit in many
WAYS to those who 20 there.
The reading rooms are comfortable and
convenient, that for the officers being
separate from that reserved for the crews,
but one thing is noticed and that Is the
literature, magazines and papers which
are kept on the tables are in rather a dlap-
dated state. The society depends in a
great measure on the people of Savannah
to supply it with literature for the sailors,
and anything in the way of old magazines
and papers, that are of no further Use to
their owners Is always appreciated If sent
in to the rooms, or II Information is
given as to where such literature can be
sent for. There are many people in the
city who could aid the society in this way
at little or no expense to themselves and
they will be helping a worthy cause, and
one in which they are to a certain extent
interested as well as every citizen of Sa-
Vannalh.
The society has recently start
ed dormitory system, which has proven
of great benefit and advantage to the
sailors. 1t has just $50 BEDS which are
placed in the large rooms on the third
floor. These rooms are large and airy, and
make the most comfortable and desirable
sleeping quarters during warm weather.
The crews all sleep aboard their vessels
during the winter months and part of
the summer, but there are certain months
during which they are compelled by city
ordinances to sleep ashore. Beds are fur
nished them in the rooms of the Port
Society at 20 cents a night or for 81 a
week In cases where a sailor is out of
a Job, or is in need of charity, he is given
a lodging free for a certain length of
time, or until he can find employment.
Every Saturday night a meeting is held
in the meeting hall, where services are
conducted by Chaplain Andersen, and
some sort OF entertainment is furnished
the sailors who are present. The society
is equipped with a stove and cooking uten-
sis, and on the occasion of these meet
ings they have free coffee and cakes.
These meetings and the religious meet
ings, which are held Sunday evenings,
are attended by an average of about
hundred sailors. The officers and mem
bers of the society take a great deal OF
interest in its work, and II is one that
deserves to receive much encouragement.