The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-05-23
"Hold Fact"
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On the island Of Martha's Vineyard
is church that gathers its congrega-
ton, and takes the people home again.
It has pursued this method for sixteen
years, with constant success and eff
cheney.
The Seaman's Bethel Of Vineyard
Sound has a widely scattered constit-
uency in every one OF the seven seas !;
but almost every day in the year some
Of Its long-absent members come back.
Not many ships discharge their car
goes at Vineyard Haven; but more
ships are said to put in there for safe
ty than at any other port on the Allan
tic coast. Three hundred vessels of all
nations have been counted there at
once. Yacht clubs and fleets of battle
ships; fishing vessels and ocean liners !;
lumber schooners and merchantmen
all know the way to Vineyard Haven /;
and in time Of storm or fog the cOngre-
cations increase at the Bethel meet
ings.
But the sailors must be gathered, or
they cannot get ashore. An hour be-
fore the evening service the Bethel
launch puts forth and picks up con-
gregation-one man from one ship, two
or three from another, until dozen or
score of ships are visited. And when
the launch returns to the Bethel, it has
on board fifty, seventy-five, and some
times even a hundred men.
Some of these know each other, but
meet for the first time in years; others
are strangers, but meet in the fellow
ship of good work of worldwide pro-
portions, and in the clean, light Bethel
chapel they join in song and praise.
They tell of victories over tempta lions
and gain strength for new duties. They
receive help and encourage each other,
and then set sail again.
1t Is not rough or poorly dressed
set Of men that gathers in the Bethel.
Unlike the rescue work in the cities,
which takes seamen after their shore
work, this brings them from the ship,
sober and clean. and sets them back on
deck again, cheerful and strong.
It is a thrilling experience to accom-
pany boatload of these men back to
their respective ships after testimony
meeting in the Bethel. Out into the
fog, and If it be winter, into the ice
and storm, the launch makes Its way,
sailing many difficult miles among the
shipping to find the vessels where the
men belong.
A ship looms up ahead. The search
light reveals its name, which is shout
ed back into the cabin, that the men
who are to board 1t may Chamber to
the roof Of the cabin and be ready.
The launch comes alongside; the sailors
scramble up. There Is hurried Good
nightw and God bless you!" shouted
back into the night, and a parting, per-
haps for years.
But on whatever sea sailor sees a
blue button with a white dove and the
words Hold Fast" he knows he meets
a companion of the company who have
made that journey to and fro, and have
entered into covenant with God and
each other to be clean and strong and
brave.-Youth's Companion.
sTnasmuch a. Ye Did It.'
It is not much the Master asks Of thee /;
Only tender smile, kindly word,
To some poor, lonely, troubled, stricken
soul,
That feels alone amidst life's busy
crowd.
It is not much the Father asks Of thee
Only helping hand to His poor child
That wanders blindly out Ger mountains
Or loses love and life in deserts wild.
1t is not much the Saviour asks of thee
Only to love the sinner for His sake;
Only to seek the fallen and the lost;
Only the consecrated cross to take.
It is not much the Christ doth ask of
thee;
Only cup of water in His name:
The hungry fed !; the naked clothed again;
A word of cheer to halt, and sick, and
lame.
It Is not much that / can give to thee!
Oh, Master! Father! Saviour of us
all!
But may the words, "Ye did it unto me-"
To love and labor be to me the call.
-Rev. j. T. Stephens
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The Duty Of Right Living.
To live right is duty we owe first
to God, and then to self, and It is also
solemn duty which we owe to those
whom we profess to love, that we may
make it as easy as possible for them
to do right and as hard as possible
for them to do wrong
We are to be lights in the world to
show forth the Christ-life. Our bust
ness is not so much to make profes-
slons Of religion or display good