The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-06

Bethel?" Tho work is greatly hindercd
because of this. The expense OF Bethel
would be So little in COMPARISON to the
great good 1t would do. Think over the
matter. 1t is worth YOUR while. During
the past ten months since the San Antonio
convention more than 100 ships have been
visited and sixty services have been held
on shpboard. Nearly 1850 seamon have at
tended these services. Some of the men
had not attended religious services
for years. They will STAY on board to the
services out of curiosity. perhaps, or 1t
| may be the singing attracts them. Last
summer the society on the revenue cutter
donated an organ to the work, and 1t great
ly improved the music. They ioin In sing
ing some OF the old familiar hymns that
they used TO know years ago They listen
10 the remarks of tho leader. their hearts
are touched and they think about their
spiritual condition. Tho service closes,
pledge cards are handed them and are
signed by some. After inviting them to
church services we leave them with "A few
parting words OF exhortation and encour-
agement. All this is good, but IL there
was Bethel to invite them 10 where the
spiritual interest might be deepened they
would be better prepared 10 Withstand the
temptations of land and sAa. AS IT is, they
go ashore and walk around the city. They
want some place to go to. They need some
place.
| After n voyage OF twenty ov.:hirty days,
perhaps longer. they are tired OF the ship
| If any of YOU have ever been In the fore
castle of n ship you can truly appreciate
| their desire for change. Last winter on
| several vessels the captain granted per-
mission for services. but would not allow
them to be held in the cabin or on deck
| They had TO be in the forecastle. 1t Is a
| little place not larger than six by twelve
There ten or twelve men live. 1t is their
sitting room dining room and bedroom
Little wonder II is that they are indiffer
ent to religious things. Their surround
ings are not conducive TO tho highest at
| tainments. either mental. moral or ply
steal
They are compelled to be In closest con-
| tact with their shipmates. They have no
| privacy. One young boy signed the pledge
at a service. He wrote to us that before
| he retired on the night he signed the
pledge he knelt by his bunk to pray. His
shipmatcs laughed and ieered at him, but
he said with the Lords help he was deter
mined 10 keep his pledge and try to serve
the Master. He had a courage that few
lands people would show.
Every nationality has been represented
at the services on shipboard Turks
Greeks. Russians. Fins. Swedcs. Norwo-
Gians portugucsn French, German
Scotch, Welsh. English--verv few Amerl
cans. We held a service on board a Nor
wcgian ship not long ago. The men al
understood English and suoke it very
well. but evidently could not write 1t. 70,
after leaving port two of them wrote bach
TO me and one of the letters was translated
by scandinavian minister, The other
one was such mixture of Swede and Nor
wegan that 1t could not be read by him
We Will never know the csitents We only
know the heart was full of gratitude, ana
though the pen did not make it clear to u.
| ha Nnstar knows and He VIII reward,
So it goes on. We can not always know
what the results are. for we see only th'
outward appearance. while the Saviour
seeth the heart. Nav all of our hearts b,
so filled with His spirit that we Will wan
10 serve Him whenever or wherever ii'
calls us. remembering ALWAYS that 1T IL
not by might nor by power. but by thu
spirit. saith the Lord"
The report of II. H. Grotthouse. secre'
tary and treasurer. was then submitted: