The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-01-05
IN AID 0ReTHE SAILOR.
THE woMra's srAMrN's FRIEND
 soCIETE'S ANNUAL.

Inferesting Features of fhe Annual Re-
 port.-Elsctions of omesrs-standins
 Committee to ss Appointed In Move
 ment 10 Broaden the Work. l
 The annual meeting of the Women's Seamen's Frien6s society was held at the Bethel home, 61 Water street, yes- terday afternoon. There were many in- terested listeners to the able reports rendered.
 The library committee through Mrs. H. B. Hoadley, told of the good result ing from the books distributed. only four libraries being lost during the year, as were also the vessels carrying the same.
 Before the election of officers Mrs. AL word B. Winchell, president, made a statement that the society had been called a close corporation. After con sulting the members and upon legal ad- vice, it was deemed advisable that a standing society committee to ap- point, the members are expected to &C., quaint themselves with the needs of the society, and only expected to be present at the annual meeting though welcome to the monthly meeting. Also through the executive board the society is to re- ceive from them suggestions as to any plans or matters for the benefit of the society. The executive board and so- ciety thus formed to combine and elect the officers and various committees. This statement of the president was &C., oepted The election of officers resulted as follows:
 President-Mrs. Alvord E. Winchell. 1 Vice presidents Henry Cham pion. Mrs. Joseph Porter, Mrs. Simeon J. Fox, Mrs. Frank A. Monson, Mrs. A. B. Fuller.
 Recording secretary-Miss Mary F. Law.
 Treasurer-Mrs. Luman Cowles. l Missionary and superintendent-Rev John O. Bergh.
 l Aiiditor-Mrs. Albert S. Holt Advisory board-G. o. Cruttenden, General E. S. Greeley. Judge John c. Hollister, Frank W. Pardee Joseph Porter Joel A. Sperry. Herbert c. War ren.
 Executive committee-Mrs. Henry Champion. Mrs. Luman Cowles, Mrs. Simeon J. Fox, Mrs. James H. Foy, Mrs A. B. Fuller, Miss Florence Graham Mrs. Horace P. Hoadley, Miss Mary E. Law Mrs. Frank A. Monson, Mrs. s. E. Mcqueen, Mrs. J. c. North, Mrs c. c. l Powning, Mrs. Joseph Porter, Mrs. AL yard E. Wincheil, Mrs. Jay Johnson. l A summary of the various reports are as follows:
 Superintendent Bergh presented a very interesting report of the years work at the home, laying particular stress on the immense stride of i'm lprovement of the conditions under which sailors live.
 In nearly every port there are Sea- mems homes and missions, Legal Aid societies have proved an inestimable boon; through representatives. legisla- tion has been made to favor the sailors Sailors unions all over American and Europe have done much for the sailor tyranny and fraud on shipboard being almost entirely obliterated.
 Tn spite of these, or rather because oi the abuse of newly acquired privileges the sailor of to-day is not as good a sailor, nor any better man, than he oi times past
 I A spirit of indifference, insubordina- tion and reclxlessness prevails and sub lstantiates the claim of the superinten- dent that a corresponding improvement in the character and morals of the men must be made before the best results can be attained.
 Altogether in the direction of bet. ] torment of morals is this society labor ing with gratifying effect. The transformation in shipping from sailing vessels to steam and barges has been more complete in New Haven than in New York, Boston or Philadelphia A square rigged vessel is rarity about here; also foreign vessels with the ex- ception of an occasional visitor from Nova Scotia.
 The number of barges have been un- usually large and the class of mer aboard. is made up almost entirely oi whom q good influence is extended tc the young.
 The local work during the year was l done through the following agencies:
 First. the home: second, the reading room; third, the letter department; fourth, furnishing reading matter tc boys; fifth, the preaching of the gospel; sixth, mothers meetings. At the home from eight to ten have stayed the year through, a growth o1 appreciation of it's comforts is noted with qualification. One old captain who has sailed the seas for forty years declares that he never saw one to com pare with the New Haven home Twenty-six men who were without
 money were cared for, given food, lodg- ing and medical care where needed. Some interesting statistics given bS the superintendent follows: Number of religious services ...... 5: Visits to reading room. ,00; ot