The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-04

full recipient Of all divine ~dbene1actions.
We recall the severe difficulties under
wnich the society labored when. we
were compelled perforce Of pecuniary
circumstances, as some of the manage
ment thought, to abandon what, your
h considered to be h
OF the progress Of the insti-
tuition, towft: the Reading Room.
The apprehension Of the committee,
felt alike by other members Of the So
cfety, We're confirmed, during the sew
eral years the room remained closed by
the tardy responses made by the sail
OTIS for whose veal We were 1aDoring,
to our efforts to induce them to visit
the home or the Bethel. We now
contemplate, with satisfaction, the eff
f~ectiveness Of tahatwork, wroughaby this
change, the ~reopening of the ROOM, and
the interest manifested by h same
class of people, the seafaring men, as
a~ppreciative of what Is done in their
behalf gratuitously.
The rooms, as originally in this part
Cd the building, have been remodeffed.
repaired, painted, and white washed,
and the outcome in this large and airy
room which would be creditable to any
seaport. Generous donors have sup
piled books, papers, magazines, and
periodicals, which are always neatly
dIIdIScu upoi lLIC ldDiCS GUM 4 %,
and accessible to those who desire to
peruse them. The Bible, interpreted in
the mother tongue of tine sailors found
en- the different vessels, is freely dis
tributed. Games Of several kinds are
provided for amusement. Tobacco and
pipes are contributed for comfort, and
in addition thereto, the material COM
forts are further enhanced by warm
fires and cool water.
We are under obligations to Colonel
Julian S. Carr, of Durham, N. c., for
the gift of fifty pounds Of smoking TO-
ibacco and a supply of pipes; to the Hon
CRADLE Samuel Smith, NH OF the
British Parliament, for the sum Of
s1OO.0 90 contributed for the purpose of
supplying coffee: to the Messrs. Owen
F. Love & Co., city, for putting a stove
i'm position at to them net cost, includ-
ing the price of the stove, and to
Messrs. VIM. E. Worth & Co., city, for
ice furnished daily, free
The attendance at the new Reading
Room has been distinctly of sailors,
and the room is comparatively we'll fill
ed, and at times as many as forty (4O)
or fifty (50) sailors may be found to-
gether in the evenings. The appoint
ment of Mr.. Cristoffasen as janitor and
superintendent, deemed at the time jul
dicious, has proved a marked success
He is on excellent terms with the SAIL
Ors throughout the port, and has by
careful and constant intercourse with
them, made the room very attractive.
The average attendance is from 20 to 80
men daily, but on the three nights of
the week when hot coffee is served
free, the rooms have been quite crowd
ed by an appreciative and grateful
OF jack-tarS. This attractive
feature, the gift of Messrs. Pee Cot
fee Importers of New York, has served
to make the society very popular
among the seafaring class. CCTnpara-
lively few of the Sailors in Tins port
are treated to coffee on their ships, Il
Thus Wholesome and stimulating bever-
age has doubtless prevented many of
them from going to worse PAGES.
Your committee think that, it is fair
to say hat the Sea1men's Friend So
ciety Of Wilmington has never been in
a more prosperous condition than at
present, and that at no time in the
past has it done so much good as is
being lone now through the instrument
'tality of the Reading Room, ard une
Sunday sci vices which nave been well
attended by the sailors, being quite a
change from the character of the con-
gregations formerly composed largely
of citizens. This was a di9couragina
feature to the ~chaplains for i NO. /
of years, and verifies the opln N
terained by some that the Betht. was
an annex to the Reading Room and moi
Vice-versa. Sometimes, after the
aband onment of the Reading Room
there was not a sailor present at the
devotional meeting; now, we have from
thirty 600 to fifty (50) sailors, earnest
decorous hearers of the Word ev,
cry Sunday evening.
AS a majority is supposed sometimes
to rule in this county, we promise tc
! incorporate in his report, and to ten
der the gratitude of this socioty to thu
most efficient, but the most modest
member of this committee, for ole
general and generous We b. wet
upon it's affairs. Your minds, b. forl
of experience, turn to the man. Per
NIT us specifically to mention that dur.
ing the Christmas and New Year.
holidays, when every n was environ
ed by merriment, the poor Jack Tar
far from home, and a stranger within
our gates" was made to feel that he
was not far from friends. To this end
through the 1fberality of the commit
teeman referred to, feasts were spread
upon the respective occasions, to which
very sailor was bidden; and the hear
OF Eno MOST CdlIOuS LDuSC nave Dc61
touched.
For all of the many material com
forts which ave been, and are now
daily put within the reach of every
sailor who visits this port, We er'
persuaded hat We receive their CRATE
full recognition.
A detailed statement Of the inancia
status of hat part OF the work apper
tanning to the committee on librar!
and Reading Room, will be found il
h report of the treasurer, to which
we refer you.
[Signed] JOHN COWAN,
Chairman.
The committee consists of Messrs
COw7an, James Sprunt and A. u. Nc
Clure.
Committee on library an Reading
o OF the Seamen'S Friend So
ciety.
Wilmington, n. c., Feb. 1, 1898.
LIBRARIANS REUORT.
The Reading Room was opened DC
tober s, 1897, n a detailed account o
visitors have happ made from w h;rl