Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-17
PENOBSCOT BAY
BETHEL MISSION
DIRECTORS MEET

The Annual Meeting Of the Board of
Directors Of the Penobscot Bay Bethel
Mission was held in this city last We'd
nesday night at the home of J.Colby
Blaisdell Winter street.
This MISSIONS headquarters is at
Rockland, and it's work is among the
sailors and fsher-folk living on the
islands and coasts from the Penob-
scot river to CascO Bay. Rev. J. l..
Corson. the superintendent. is a
former Waterville boy. living here at
the time he entered the State Mission
airy work eighteen years ago. He was
sent to Stockton Springs during the
boom when the Bangor & Aroostook
Railroad built to the sea, to do reli-
sious work amcng the men. From
that beginning has developed the pres
ent work which extends over 1875 miles
of coast
In his report to the directors Mr.
Corson says in part: Brethren, this
is my tenth annual report, but 1t is
beyond human power to tell you of
the work of the year past SO that you
will fully understand what has been
accomplished to advance Gods King
dom.
1T seems to me that every new year
brings a class Of work entirely differ
ent from the lie which preceded it.
Missionary work in Maine does not
entail so much Of hardship and danger
as does Eastern fields but there are
none harder or seemingly unfruitful
and not the least of these are along
our coast. The adverse interests that
are at work are appalling. But the
work has steadily advanced all along
the way.
THE Seamen's Bethel we opened in
connection with our headquarters at
Rockland last winter has been a sue
cess from the beginning. We begun the
work there under a great handicap, be-
cause suitable quarters could not be
secured, but recently I'VE moved into
new building which affords every
thing desired for up to date seaman's
work. such as reading and recreation
rooms and hall for the religious ser
vices and entertainments. Also sever
al rooms to let TO night dodgers, men
who are waiting to ship with but lit
tie cash. Each man is charged 25 cents,
if he has it. if not he is kept just the
same. The aim Is to make it as much a
home as possible"
Speaking of the charity work, he
says Last winter the demand for as
sistance in the way Of clothing by our
island families was greater than ever.
Fif:y-one families were helped and
more than $1,000 worth of actual value
was given away. This work needs a
great deal of diplomacy in order to be
really helpful for the aim is to lift the
family out Of want, but not the finan-
c1al burden. so that they can have a
httle more money to indulge the fancy
anc 9npetite. We helped but two fami-
lies we We're helping five years ago
The others are self-supporting now.
We had large share in placing
three children under the care Of the
state. Two of them were colored chill
dren. the product of the Malaga Is
land shame. the island in Casco bay
that former Governor in a fit Of zeal
bought for the State and then drove
the families from their homes to he
scattered here or there. without friends
or protection from the towns where
they found a hut or other place to live
in,
These two children, boy of II and
girl Of Is. whose mother had died
the year before Of tuberculosis while,
living on an old leaky skoW moored
In New Meadows river and whose ia
ther is a poor simple fellow, the prod
uct OF incest production for several
generations, and who is not capable of
getting food and clothing for himself
to say nothing Of the children. I re-
ceived word last winter the children
were suffering for food and clothing.
had to take the matter up with the
State Beard Of Charities and Correc-
tons before we could get the children
under the protection Of the State. They
are now being taken care of at the
Maine Children's Home Society. Au-
gusta. . III
AT Bremen. Long Island, which lies
in Friendship bay. a church building
is In prospect, There are about 76 ash
er-rolk living there. We began work
tnere about eight years ago and stead
Hy fund has been growing for the
past three years until 1t is now near
the $500 mark and it is now planned to
begin work In the spring. The raising
cf this money has been in the hands of
the Ladies' Ala OF the Island"
Following the reports Of the treasur-
er, auditor and other officers were
elected for the coming year as fol-
lows: President. Elmer L. Craig. Wa
terville: vice president, Rev. D. B,
rneian' Rockport; recording secretary.
Kew: J. L. Corson, Roekland; treasurer,
Wins z. Halves. Augusta; auditor, J.
Colby. Biaisdell. Waterville; directors
Tor three years. Hon. Frank H. InRra.
ham, R0ckland. L. & Roh,r.or pcoi.