The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-28
GIFTS FOR THE SAILORS.
SAVANNAH PORT SOCIETY PLAYS
SANTA CLAUS.

Three Hundred Useful Presents Dis
tributed Last Night Among the
Crews of Vessels in Port-Enter-
tanning Services Followed by He
freshments-A Christmas Tree That
VIII Re Repeated Every Year
Hereafter.
Three hundred sailors received gifts
from the Chris mas tree of the Port Society
last night. The programme included spirit
ual and physician food for all, as wen as
substantial evidences OF regard that WIN
serve for many months as reminders OF a
pleasantly spent evening in Savannah.
The chapel was tastefully decorated with
branches of trees and vines. Flass secured
from ships for the occasion were suspend
cd between the pillars or adorned the walls.
A large Christmas tree bearing many small
candles, stood 10 the right of the pulpit
Back Of it were the gifts, Including COM
fort bags. WOODEN muniers, wrstIets.
gloves. socks and other articles that would
be of constant use to sailors untl worn
out by hard service. All were singuarly
appropriate and highly appreciated by
those to whom they were given
The services began with the singing of
the popular hymn Throw OUT the Life
Line" he'd by Miss 'Iverson aud other la
dies; the sailors sang heartily and well
Prayer by Rev. J. d. Chapman followed,
and then came another song, Pull for the
Shore" A scripturai reading Of the birth
,off vl,rfaA
Soldier preceded an entertaining talk by
Rev. J. Y. Fair DR.. Fair spoke of the in
huence of Christ on the life of the sailor,
pointing out that behind the Bethels the
lodging houses, the homes, the libraries
and the other efforts to advance the condi-
ton of the sailors was the spirit of Christ
Impeding men aud women to unite in
these works for their ameliora ton Christ
| had been the great factor in the uplifting
| of the sailor, and in the future as in the
past would prove his truest and best
| friend. DR.. Fair referred to the circum-
| stances surrounding sailors in the past
| how they We're cruelty treated on board
| ship and robbed and abused on shore
| Christ, who had gone down among sailors
| While on earth, had come to their aid. His
| spirit moved Rev John Flavel in Eng
land, in 1850, to efforts TO improve the
treatment of sailors to relieve them from
1 =
| them. From that time to this there has
! been no cessat ton to this work, despite the
| discouragements that met those who have
| labored for Chrsts sake in The sailor s
! behalf. To-day the work of caring for the
| sailor is farther advanced than ever. Many
| evils have been abolished at many ports
! Ravens such as the Port Society of Savan-
nah affords, have been established. and the
! spirit of Christ is steadily elevating the
! condition OF seameu afioat and ashore
| DR.. Fair spoke of how different life on
| ship would be if Christ We're in the cabin
| and in the forecastle, animating' officers
and sailors and guiding them in their per-
| sonal relations; Of how Christ would be
the sailors friend and Closest companion
| al all times and in all places even unto
| the end. When land had been sighted for
| the last time, and the pilot awaited to
take the Voyagers on the last trip. across
| the bar and through unknown seas
! Christ would be his osolace rand his
| strength until he reached that Bethel be-
| You'd, cast anchor and furled sails forever
| where tempests are unknown and all is
| peace and joy.
Rev. Mr. Mitchell of Chesterfield. Eng
| land, made a brief prayer, and What a
| Friend We Have in Jesus" was. sung. The
ladies of the auxiliary of the Port So
/ ciety then served refreshments. sand
/ witches, coffee and fruit. The distribution
of the presents then took place. All of
| the gifts had been numbered in advance,
| and each sailor, as he entered the chapel
| had received a slip with a number. As
each article was taken up the number was
| announced and the sailor holding il came
! forward and received the Christmas pres
| ent. Prior to this, the candles had been
| lighted on the tree, making pretty pic
ture. II was after II O'Clock when the last
| present had been handed out. The first
| Christmas tree was in every way a >uc-
cess, and there is no doubt that it will be
an annual feature of the Port Societys
| work hereafter.