The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-17

are landed in the porr Of New York and
that only an inhniteslmal percentage
of this great army have their homes
here.
II Is no wonder, then. that the Sea-
mans Church Institute is known all
over the world: that 10 has a warm
spot in rhe hearts Of sailormen Of every
race. religion and country; that a vas.
multitude OF sailormen's wives and chill
dren thank God for its existence, know
ing as they do that when husband or
father reaches New York he will find
here great benefiCent organization
which provides a home for him while
in port; a savings bank, a store where
he can replenish depleted clothing and
other personal needs at lowest prices
where he will bc guarded from sharks
in human form. who prey on unpro-
tected seamen while ashore, and where
ne IL surrounded by ennobling, COM
forting, inspiring influences.
During the year just ended more
than four hundred dormitory beds or
separate bedrooms were occupied every
night by deep sea men. They deposited
in the ChHrch Institutes savings bank
more than 100000 of hard earned
was sent home. through the institutes
assistance. to wives and children liv-
ing in forty or more different coun-
tries. \ muhftude Of letters have been
written for sailors unable to handle
pen and ink. and 10000 letters have
been received there for seamen. And
this constitutes but portion of the
service rendered gladly by those sup
mort - r1tls praat anIprnfiga
During its existence OF threescure
years and ten the Seamans Church
Institute has in every way safeguarded
the merchant sailors against evil in
ftiencrs found along the waterfront.
In the old days Il was n common oc-
eurrenCe for n sailorman to land at this
pogt at once tn fall into the clutches
of sharks and in a short time to wake
up to find that he had been drugged,
robbed. beaten: while in unnumbered
cases the unfortunate walked up from a
sleep influenced by drugs to find that
he had been shanghaied. had been put
on board an outwardbound ship and al
ready was at sea on his way half
around the world
From its very beginning. in 1874 the
Seaman's Church Institute has striven
time 1t maintained stRtions lin various
parts of the city. such as a floating
church and mission in Pike street. a
sailors home a block or 80 away, a
boarding house in Brooklyn, and the
North River Station at 34l West street
But changes in the shipping situation
have caused most of these to be closed
and the work as a whole is concentrated
in the splendid new building at South
street and Coenties Slip. which recently
completed the first year az SIS service
a striking monument to the faith Of
good men and women in the past, and a
lasting tribute to the vision and devO-
non Of Edmund l.. Baylies. TO whose
inspiration and ceaseless effort it is
due.
His courage in graphing with the
situation end Conquering II forms a
chapter i'm the history Of service for
others which already occupies a prom
inent place in that great volume of good
works by which New York measures
herself against other capitals Of the
world. Yet Mr.. Baylies is a man so
modest that the world at large does not
know what he has accomplished He
does not look for self-advertising; he
looks for results through persistent
effort based on careful plans. Like
Franklin he thinks nothing about OBJ
tanning credit for this or that. He saw
a great opportunity when he came to
New York. after being graduated from
Harvard. and when the time was ripe he
seized 1t with unhesitatinE grasp.
Mr.. Baylies became a member OF the
institutes board of managers nearly
thirty years ago and soon thereafter
tx.hf a6 hn
has since continued to hold From the
very beginning he gave freely of his
time and thought to the undertaking,
and when the present superintendent Of
the institute. the Rev. Archibald II.
Mansfield came into the work in 1896,
ne found in Mr.. Baylies one to whom
he could turn at any hour for advice,
assistance, announcement.
AT that time" said Mr.. Mansfield
yesterday, when recalling the long con-
tinued movement leading up to the new
building, MIR. Bayles was one Of the
younger members of the board. AL
though he was never aggressive in any
way yet he was quick. responsive and
ever ready to speak when his opinion
was asked about this or that.
ale had been brought into the work
largely through the influence Of Be
noni Lockwood, "A very conservative
man who thought 1t would be a great
mistake to dispose of our scattered
stations about the city and try to con-
centrate the work at a central point
do not know that Mr.. Baylies ever
opposed these often expressed views
for he went right along in "A quiet
way, doing his part In the undertake
ing, but | am sure that he recognized
az did many others, that there could
not be unity OF action whore effort was
30 widely scattered. where superintend-
ents and chaplains in several different
stations tried to carry on the effort
through independent methods.
"Following Mr.. Lockwood, j. Angus
tus Johns N came into the active work
and with Mr. Johnson's entrance began
a new epoch in the history of the Sea
mans Church Institute. lie believed
N police protection for sailors who
were ashore, surrounded by unfamiliar
conditions; he believed in free legal aid
for such men, and in conserving their
well being In every way. Furthermore
Mr.. Johnson had a vision of what the
institute night accomplish under diff
H.. n NWa. IEaua