The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-26


quenting the port Of Savannah, ana where
as they are DESTROYS, for the better effect
ing OF these objects that the said society
snail be incorporated" The act then goes
on 20 declare THAT William Crabtree,
John Lewis. Asa HUFF, Joseph Felt, Joseph
George, William w. Wash, K. VI. Good
win, William Duncan, John Ingersol, J.
ives, W. A. Carruthers Thomas Clarke,
IL. y. Wynn, b. Snider s. Goodall, X. A.
Lewis, s. Thilbrick, with all other persons
as are now or may become hereafter men,
oers OF said society, be and they are here
by Incorporated and made body polite
by the name and style Of the Savannah
Fort Society,"" and 10 confer upon 1t the
usual privileges and rights of such an or
ganization. AS the act indicates, the so
clety was in existence prior to this IN
corporation. With varying fortunes we
have continued until this day. We can
safely claim that much good Of a pracu-
cal character has been done We regret 10
say that we can not claim that our people
are now showing anything like proper
recognition of the real value of this en-
terprise.
The treasurer's report shows that in
our entire receipts are represented only
$500 of dues and $34.5S in collections from
the last annual meeting showing that the
entire donations from Savannah during
the year have only been S43A5S. We have
received from Nonresident seamens So
cieties 800, and as voluntary donations
from ships $l62.27. In a commercial city,
dependent as Savannah is upon its COM
merce, we confidently believe that no in
stitution in the city more deserves sub
stantial recognition from our people, par
ucularly from our business men, than does
this. From the standpoint of mere graft
tude, the returning of something like an
equivalent for value received, and from
the plane of mere selfish interests this So
deserves a & G
receiving. Non-religious men, who make
the excuse that ii is an organization de-
signed only to have prayers with the sail
ors, to give them religious talks and have
them sing religious songs, blunder great
ly, and leave out of sight some of the feat
ures of the organization that are essen
TALLY practical and would be wise and
beneficent, IL there were no system of re-
Yealed religion and no hereafter.
These remarks are opposite in connec-
ton with our plan for a new building
which we are about to commence In or
der not to borrow beyond our ability TO
retire the loan without embarrassment
we ought to have from the citizens of Sa-
Vannah $1,000 in donations for this good
purpose and it seems to us that this
amount ought to be readily subscribed
II we did nothing outside of furnishing
headquarters for sailors, where, with
pleasant and wholesome surroundings
letters home, have good reading and a
comfortable place of rendezvous, we would
do good deal that is commendabe upon
lines entirely practical. This work. which
has been done here for years, will be con-
tinued in the new building, but with
better and more attractive sur
roundingS and a larger equipment for
usefulness. We will increase very large
ly our sleeping quarters. heretofore 1t
mas been necessary a number of times to
turn off sailors because of our lack of
room. We expect to have in the new
building ample accommodations. We
ought to make our port attractive to the
captains and owners of vessels, and we
cannot do it in any better way than by
the erection of this contemplated build
ing. Advertisement is the order of the
day, and this attractive and commodious
building will be a far-reaching and en-
phatic advertisement of the port of Sa-
vannah and of its advantages After its
erection ii cannot be said that we neglect
the men Of the sea, to whom
we are so much indebted. We
are glad that the practical side
or religion and of benevolence is being
stressed, and we are prepared to let our
work be judged by the practical. We pro-
pose to bear in mind that the purpose of
our organization is not only the religious,
but the moral and the temporal improve
ment of seamen frequenting the port of
Savannah. We would be false to the pur-
pose of our charter, false to our sense of
duty and our convictions of right and of
policy to ignore either the religious, moral
or temporal aspects of our work. We be-
lieve that these things are indissolubly
Joined together, and that the highest good
and the highest wisdom prevent their di-
vorcement."
At the conclusion of Mr.. Adains' address
collection was taken up, and the serv-
ices were concluded with the doxology and
benediction. After the meeting had been
dismissed the members of the society re-
manned for a short time, and reelected
the old board of officers and directors, as
follows:
Presidents. Il. Adams.
Secretary and Treasurer-T. c. Clay.
superintendent Iverson.
Directors-H. ID. Stevens, Julian Schley.
Il. d. Bloodworth, Walter Coney, Adam
Kessel, j. p. Williams, T. Lloyd Owens,
Joseph Clay, Robert Ellington, L. Nc
Neil, George j. Mills
The canvass for funds to aid in the
erection of the new port society building
win begin at once. Subscriptions will be
received payable one-half June l and the
remainder Oct /.