Putnam patriot., 1918-08-09
HOW SAILORS
 ARE CARED FOR
Physical and Spiritual Welfare Looked After By Seaman's
 Bethel
Rev F. D. Sargent Writes of Work
 At Vineyard Haven

What is the use of a Seamen's
 Bethel in so quiet a harbor as Vine
 yard Haven? There Is no great
 amount of shipping here. Few. if
 any. vessels load and unload-and
 such a thing as an ocean liner tying
 up to the pier Is never dreamed of. A
 land-loeked harbor. lined by beauti-
 full shore, dotted with cottages more
 or less pretentious these and other
 conditions hardly seem to warrant a
 Seamen's Bethel Let us look at the situation and if possible find reason or reasons that will justify an expend
 iture of money year by year, for this purpose.
 1 In the first place, look out into the 1 harbor. The day is not an unusual one, not much of a sea Is on. and the sky is clear, but within half mile or so of land there are six or eight steamships, some loaded with four or five thousand tons of coal bound for Boston or Portland, while nearby are twelve or fifteen schooners-a few of them five or even six masted-loaded till the decks are awash with lumber or other commodities. Why are these crafts anchored on this bright. quiet day? Two reasons may be given. One is, and the most probable, the wind and the tide are against them-and the second is that the submarine pa trol boat has warned them that the German U boat Is off the Cape and if they continued their course they'd do so at their own risk As a rule they obey the commands of their owners and seek safety first Think of it Thirty, possibly forty, vessels. total ing a company of two or three hun dred men, waiting for favorable time to get away. with nothing to do but keep their vessel trim and neat. Do you wonder that they turn wistful l eyes toward the shore and welcome the sight of the Seamen's Bethel that | stands out plainly to view Let us get a nearer look of this Bethel.
 It is building twenty by forty, a | story and half high, fronting the | harbor and bordered on the front and | side with luXuriant shrubbery. easy of access from the pier The upper part of the building is arranged for | a home for the chaplain and family. | The lower part Is one large room. pro vided with folding partitions so that three apartments can be made out of l one. On the walls hang marine pie lures, many of them the work of the | men of the sea In one corner is which the sailors are urged to take 1 with them to their vessels. The room Is provided with . cabinet organ and piano twaiting to be replaced by bet ter instruments from some kind friends), . bass drum used to call the sailors together. and folding chairs used for social and other purposes. On one of the walls is a glass-doored cabinet within which are many letters waiting for delivery. Friends. of sea- faring men, who have lost track of these wanderers of the deep, have sent these letters in the hope-often vain one-that perchance they might be called for. Not few of them have been in the case many years, and God only knows what has were addressed.
 But what about the work in this building? Early in the morning the chaplain's assistant is busy with broom and dust brush, for Jack must not find an untidy room when he comes ashore, and visiting Marthas must not discover dirt on the floor nor dust on the walls Early in the day 1 the sailor lads will wander in, some to get reading matter, others to write letters and read the papers, others to play games or indulge in quiet chat. Never, however, will lad find the
 Bethel who is not looked after and
 given fatherly greeting by the ge-
 nial chaplain. Visitors are always
 welcome, and during the summer
 months, especially, many visit the
 Bethel and learn of the work. On
 this particular day, about which we
 are talking, the work of the chaplain
 is varied a little by call from a yes
 sel in the harbor, asking that the
 Bethel boat be sent out to bring in a
 man who has met with an accident
 and soon the Helen May is on it's CT
 rand of mercy, and in due time the
 sailor is brought ashore and sent eith,
 CT to the Marine Hospital nearby, oi given over to the charge of the loca
 physician
 Not infrequently some poor lac
 succumbs to disease and not having any family friends, one of two
 things must happen-a pauper's bu | ~;ol or O crave in a Int nrovided h,