The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-14
PORT SOClETYS PAST YEAR.
ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN
IT'S ENTIRE HISTORY.

the meme OF the SerVtces-Prest-
dent Adams Interesting Report.
Some Money Stiu Due on the
Structure-Rev. DIR. Fair Speaks of
the Bethel and Its Meaning to
Seamen-BuiIding to BE Open TO the
Public Tomorrow and Wednesday.
The fifty-fifth anniversary of the Savan-
nah Port Society will go down as one of
the most important. interesting and sig
nificant in its history.
There was a large congregation at the
Independent Presbyterian Church last
night on the occasion of that meeting. The
galleries were crowded, and all the seating
capacity of the church was taken up so
rapidly that many people had to be turned
away. Members of the congregations of
several other churches, which were closed
for the evening on account of the meet
ing of the Port Society, were present. Rev
Dr. James Y. Fair was assisted in con-
Quoting the servicese by Rev W. c.
Schaeffer and Rev. NJ. ]. Epting of the
Lutheran Church, Rev. Arthur j. Smith
Of the First Presbyterian Church, and Rev.
]. H. Scruggs of Trinity Church. who sat
with him in the pulpit. Most of the mem
bers of the Port Society were gathered to-
gether in the front pews.
The services were opened with the hymn
Praise Ye the Father" sung by the choir
followed by the hymn, Bringing in the
sheaves," sung by the congregation. After
prayer and scripture reading and the
hymn, Jesus Shall Reign" by the congre-
cation, Rev. H, Iverson, chaplain of the
society, read his annual report
The society, Mr.. IVerson said, has much
to be thankful for. There were ga vessels
in port during the year, including coast
wise steamers, but not river boats. There
were 16O religious meetings by the society,
with an average attendance of forty-two
at each. The chaplain made SAB visits to
vessels during the year for religious pur-
poses, and sixty-one to the hospitals. dis
tributing Testaments, tracts and other
reading matter. He held twenty-four tenn
perance meetings, at which ninety-seven
men, including five captains, signed the
pledge. He sent money home for seamen
to the amount of 1901 80. During the year
the society let out 1913 nights lodging
and gave out AIS charity beds. The chap
lain mentioned the other work of the so
Getty, particularly that done by the ladies'
auxiliary, for which the seamen have been
most thankful.
The choir sang Satisfied" after which
Mr.. Tracy G. Hunter read the annual re-
| port or the secretary and treas urer Mr..
Julian Schley, who could not be present.
He showed that there was taken in during
the year from all sources, including $4,000
| borrowed on the new building, $23, 924. u.
! There was paid out on the building alto
out for the chaplain's salary and incidental
expenses, leaving a balance on hand of
| $40. 43.
President Samuel B. Adams delivered
| his annual address. He considered the oc-
| casion one for great felicitation on the
part of the members of the society. 1t
has made more real progress during the
year, he said, than In any of its previous
| history. The statement was made a year
| ago that the society was going to have
new building and now that new building
| is completed. The society needed a new
! building, and so did Savannah Mr.. Ad-
ans said and now that it has provided
! good, comfortable quarters and a hand
| some structure, a new and brighter era
| is dawning before it. The first brick was
! laid May IS by the chaplain, and the build
| ing was accepted as completed on Jan. IS
| last. The cost of the new building in
| round numbers, he said, was $2l, 900, and it
| is well worth the price paid. 1t is built of
! excellent material, and not a dollar was
wasted in building it, Many people have
| said that it looks more like a $4,000 build
ing than $4,000 one. The society wanted
| to give the contract TO Savannah men, Mr.
Adams said but the bids were such that
| in the interests of the society, it could not
be done.
The special thanks of the society and
of the people of Savannah We're due, he
said, to the building committee. Partic-
] nj rlN wa trI1a n In hai ~
| Stevens of that committee and 10 Chap
| lain IVerson. The amount donated to the
building fund.- he said was S4,096 80. He
| spoke especially of one donation of $1,000
| by gentleman, who does not live in Sa-
! vannah, but who had expressed as deep
an interest in it as did certain lady who
| once lived here, but who has since linked
| her fortunes with his. The society, he
said owed $4,000 on the new building,
portion of which he hoped might be raised
| at the meeting. Mr.. Adams spoke of The
death during the year of Mr.. T. c., Clay,
! who was a most ardent member of the
| society and whose valuable services had
| been greatly missed.
The president referred to the opening of
| the building Tuesday and Wednesday of
this week, when the members of the La
| dies Auxiliary Will be IN attendance 10
| show ii to the public
! Rev. DR. Fair was extremely fortunate
in his address to the members and friends
of the society. In the language of the sea,
which has a dialect of its own, there Is
| one word, he said, which is peculiarly
sweet to the sailor-the word Bethel. 1t
is a word to him crowned with golden
| memories and wreathed with benedic-
| tions. 1t is a word that reminds him not
alone of land. but that a loving kindly
greeting awaits him; it makes him re-
member that he has friends far away
who feel for his spiritual welfare and who
| pray for him. There are thousands roam
| ing the sea to-day who are thinking of
that word, a word which means the house
| of God.
The word was brought out i'm it's pres
| ent application, ii seems, by that flood
tide Of Christian sympathy, a sympathy
which is awakening to a sense of the sail
| or needs. The sailor is no longer consid-
cred mere beast of burden but is con-
sidered as he should be human with HUI
man feelings and desires He is begin
ming to be looked upon by Christians as
friend, a human being and a brother.
The anniversary of the Port Society," he
said. has been regularly held, but doubt
less with varying emotions. This seemed
the brightest and most propitious occa-
sion in the society's history, when the tolls
of more than half a century have been re-