The Christian Herald and Seaman's Magazine

The Seaman's Magazine.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. - They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.-Psalms.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The great variety of interesting intelligence with which we have been recently supplied for this department of our work, would have induced us to devote a larger number of pages to the SEAMAN'S MAGAZINE, but in this number we must confine ourselves principally to the Correspondence of the Board of the "Port of New-York Society," and shall first lay before our readers the following letter from the Rev. GEORGE CHARLES SMITH, one of the Foreign Secretaries of the "BRITISH AND FOREIGN SEAMAN'S FRIEND SOCIETY AND BETHEL UNION," addressed to the Board of the Port Society in New-York, dated

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Jordan House, Penzance, Cornwall, Feb. 7, 1821. To the Directors of the Port of New-York Society, &c. ESTEEMED FRIENDS, The Committee of the British and Foreign Seaman's Friend Society and Bethel Union have received with great pleasure your communication from New-York, and congratulate you on the prosperity attendant on your exertions to improve the character, and save the souls of Seamen. We shall esteem your information as brethren in the grand and important work, and with such coadjutors, and the divine blessing, we doubt not but our Saviour's name will be known from the rivers to the ends of the earth. Allow me to recommend most forcibly to your attention the early adoption of the Bethel Flag; you will have one sent out from London for you; and I would advise the establishment of one in every port. The plan is very simple, and most effectual.-For instance, let the Christian friends of all denominations in each seaport of the United States be invited to co-operate in this mode of doing good to Sailors. Let one or two evenings in the week be fixed on for prayer meetings, on board a vessel in the port. Let a Bethel Flag be procured at the port by subscription, place it in the care of some pious person residing near the quay, or pier, connected with the shipping concerns. Give him directions on the morning of the day appointed, to go on board any vessel and solicit permission to hold a prayer meeting on board-if granted, then let him hoist the Bethel Flag at the mast-head, as a signal to all Mariners. A few pious friends could always be obtained to go on board in the evening and hold the meeting, and occasionally you will meet with praying sailors and captains who will join with you. Poor praying men are of essential service in this work. We have many sailors' meetings conducted by themselves. They like it, and enter into it with great spirit. Short hymns and, short prayers make the meeting lively and profitable. - Sometimes you will have a minister on board to give an exhortation. This is not essential, though it is welcome and acceptable. In the summer, your Bethel meetings can be held on deck, or in the holds of vessels cleared out. In the winter, most of your vessels have spacious cabins, and if you only get the crew of the ship to attend, you do great good. By this simple and cheap means you augment the quantum of prayer to an immense degree, and then you may be certain you insure the prosperity of the work in proportion. -Much prayer among the shipping will be the sheet anchor of your society, and the gale that will press forward the work with all possible success. In a little while the Flag would be generally known, admired and visited. Every port can also have a sailors' monthly prayer meeting, on board a ship, when prayer can be specially offered up for the conversion of sailors throughout the world. Suitable addresses may be given here to stimulate and keep the work alive with all hands.

May I also venture to recommend an American Sailors' Magazine. I think such a work might be established monthly, without injuring any periodical work at present in circulation. You might begin a small one at first, to sell for 4d. per number. You see the nature of our Magazine, blending every thing that is interesting, edifying, and profitable together.-Sailors love to read of the sea, of ships, of seamen, and every thing connected with their profession. Sunday Schools, and the progress of education, will render them generally a reading class of people. They have much time. If we don't find them good books, Satan will provide them with bad ones. Your own newspapers will furnish you with much interesting matter. Voyages and other books will help you forward. Marine, Bible, and Seamen's Societies will assist you. Restored sailors and captains will strengthen your hands. Correspondents in all sea-ports will supply you. Your own proceedings will contribute.The Sailors' Magazine from England will provide a large fund. And accounts, ere long, from every part of the world, I expect, will reach you, that will form very interesting intelligence. For we cannot suppose the flame kindled in England and America will be confined to those countries. No, Sirs, it will extend, by Divine Grace, like Bible and Missionary Societies, to every quarter of the globe, until British and foreign sailors become one fold under one Shepherd. I trust you will be directed to some suitable persons as editors of such a work.

I remain yours, respectfully,

BETHEL FLAG.

G. C. SMITH.

The friends of Seamen will feel peculiar pleasure in perusing the following letter, which announces the donation of a large and handsome " BETHEL FLAG," to the Port of New-York Society. It shows how deeply our transatlantic brethren feel for the spiritual welfare of Seamen, and how ready they are to aid us here in the great work of spreading the Gospel among this neglected portion of our fellow citizens.

From THOMAS PHILLIPS, Esq. one of the Corresponding Secretaries of the "British and Foreign Seaman's Friend and Bethel Union Society," to the Rev. WARD STAFFORD, late Preacher of the MARINER'S CHURCH in this city.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Committee Rooms, 18 Aldermanbury,

London, 22d Feb. 1821.

I now have the pleasure of committing to the care of the Rev. J. Allen, of Tennessee, the Bethel Flag, presented by the "British and Foreign Seaman's Friend Society and Bethel Union," to the Seaman's Society in your city, and which I hope will be frequently hoisted as a signal for seamen to assemble on board ships for prayer. Mr. Allen has attended the Prayer Meetings on the Thames, and will be able to give you much pleasing information, and I hope to hear from your Society much good news of the success of the means you are adopting to bring sailors to Christ. The cause is spreading here, and exciting great interest. At Hull on Saturday last a new Flag was hoisted on board the Cambrian, 375 Tons, where a congregation of from 600 to 700 persons attended, principally sailors, employed in the Greenland fisheries. At other ports the society have been the means of stirring up pious friends on shore to seek after the salvation of seamen, and I hope, ere long, Prayer Meetings will be established in every port, round our coast. "Surely this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.' ." I need not urge you or your friends to go forward; you feel the importance of the work, and cannot help it,

It will give me pleasure to hear from you whenever you can devote a few minutes, and I shall be happy in communicating such information from time to time as may be interesting to the friends of seamen in New-York.

I remain, with much esteem, my dear Sir, yours very truly,
Rev. WARD STAFFORD.

T. PHILLIPS.

From ROBERT HUMPHREY MARTEN, Esq. Treasurer of the " Port of London Society," to the Directors of the Port of New-York Society for promoting the Gospel among Seamen.

London.

SIRS-I have received from Mr. Bethune, of your city, the most interesting intelligence of the opening of the " Mariner's Church," built by voluntary Christian donations, under the auspices of your important Society.

As Treasurer of the "Port of London Society for promoting Religion among Seamen," I have deemed it my duty formally to lay before its Committee the animating information of your co-operation in the great aim of instructing Sailors in their moral duties, and bringing them to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ.

I am desired by the Committee to offer its congratulations on the formation of your Society, and on your having the honour of managing its concerns, and to ex press its joy in the zealous exertions which they feel confident will be made by you; a confidence which will be felt by their own renewed animation to attain their high pursuits, encouraged by the singularly simultaneous, and concurring efforts in the two Hemispheres.

The Committee have, by an unanimous vote, directed that the Reports of the "Port of London Society" should be sent to you,-together with an engraved representation of the Society's floating Chapel,*-with a request that you will be pleased to accept them as a testimony of their respectful regard, and of their anxious desire for the success of your noble efforts for the promulgation of the Gospel among a class of men hitherto certainly much neglected.

I have also to beg your Society's acceptance of a copy of the "Seaman's devotional Assistant,"* intended for the use of merchant vessels at sea, and written principally by a pious Officer of the Royal Navy. It is finding its way into use, and appears much approved. Should it be deemed worthy of a reprint in America, and become serviceable in your Mercantile Marine, it will afford an increase of gratification to the Committee of the Port of London Society, by whom it was procured, and under whose recommendation it has been published.

Should American Sailors, who arrive in this port, attend the public worship in the Chapel for Seamen, which is moored off the London Dock Gates, they will ever find a cheerful welcome; and British Sailors would, I doubt not, have a welcome as cheerful from the brethren in the Mariner's Church.

It will afford you much pleasure to learn that the subject of imparting religious instruction to Seamen is finding every where advocates and willing labourers. At Leith a ship is fitting for a Chapel for Seamen, under the care of a new formed Society, named the " Edinburgh and Leith Seaman's Friend Society." At its establishment it had the attendance of both the great and the good, and there is every reason to hope that it will be of extensive benefit.

The Bethel Union Society for encouraging Prayer Meetings among seamen has been instituted in this port, and several meetings are held every week on the river Thames in merchant ships, lent for the evening by their masters for this purpose.

Another Institution is now forming to be called the "Cambrian Union for promoting religion among Welch seamen," for the purpose of facilitating the assembling of Welch seamen, who do not understand English, and procuring the Gospel to be preached to them in their own language on every Lord's Day. On Thursday evening last between 200 and 300 were assembled in the hold of a merchant brig to hear a native preacher.

The Bethel Union Society has this year begun a monthly Magazine, called the "Sailor's Magazine," which it is hoped will be a useful channel for good instruction. That you may be instruments in the hand of the Lord, and successful in teaching sailors to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts to live soberly, righteously and godly -and to look for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, is the humble but earnest prayer of, Gentlemen,

Your friend and fellow labourer,

* These have been received.

PORT OF LONDON SOCIETY

For promoting Religion among Seamen.

R. H. MARTEN.

On Tuesday, the 13th of February, was held at the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street, a Public Meeting of Noblemen, Ladies, and Gentlemen, interested in the religious instruction of British Seamen. The meeting was numerous and highly prayer meeting, on board a ship, when prayer can be specially offered up for the conversion of sailors throughout the world. Suitable addresses may be given here to stimulate and keep the work alive with all hands.

May I also venture to recommend an American Sailors' Magazine. I think such a work might be established monthly, without injuring any periodical work at present in circulation. You might begin a small one at first, to sell for 4d. per number. You see the nature of our Magazine, blending every thing that is interesting, edifying, and profitable together.-Sailors love to read of the sea, of ships, of seamen, and every thing connected with their profession. Sunday Schools, and the progress of education, will render them generally a reading class of people. They have much time. If we don't find them good books, Satan will provide them with bad ones. Your own newspapers will furnish you with much interesting matter. Voyages and other books will help you forward. Marine, Bible, and Seamen's Societies will assist you. Restored sailors and captains will strengthen your hands. Correspondents in all sea-ports will supply you. Your own proceedings will contribute.The Sailors' Magazine from England will provide a large fund. And accounts, ere long, from every part of the world, I expect, will reach you, that will form very interesting intelligence. For we cannot suppose the flame kindled in England and America will be confined to those countries. No, Sirs, it will extend, by Divine Grace, like Bible and Missionary Societies, to every quarter of the globe, until British and foreign sailors become one fold under one Shepherd. rd. I trust you will be directed to some suitable persons as editors of such a work. G. C. SMITH.

I remain yours, respectfully,

BETHEL FLAG.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Committee Rooms, 18 Aldermanbury, }

I now have the pleasure of committing to the care of the Rev. J. Allen, of Tennessee, the Bethel Flag, presented by the British and Foreign Seaman's Friend Society and Bethel Union," to the Seaman's Society in your city, and which I hope will be frequently hoisted as a signal for seamen to assemble on board ships for pray

er.

Mr. Allen has attended the Prayer Meetings on the Thames, and will be able to give you much pleasing information, and I hope to hear from your Society much good news of the success of the means you are adopting to bring sailors to Christ. The cause is spreading here, and exciting great interest. At Hull on Saturday last a new Flag was hoisted on board the Cambrian, 375 Tons, where a congregation of from 600 to 700 persons attended, principally sailors, employed in the Greenland fisheries. At other ports the society have been the means of stirring up pious friends on shore to seek after the salvation of seamen, and I hope, ere long, Prayer Meetings will be established in every port, round our coast. "Surely this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." I need not urge you or your friends to go forward; you feel the importance of the work, and cannot help it,

I remain, with much esteem, my dear Sir, yours very truly,
Rev. WARD STAFFORD.

From ROBERT HUMPHREY MARTEN, Esq. Treasurer of the " Port of London Society," to the Directors of the Port of New-York Society for promoting the Gospel among Seamen.

London.

SIRS-I have received from Mr. Bethune, of your city, the most interesting intel ligence of the opening of the "Mariner's Church," built by voluntary Christian donations, under the auspices of your important Society.

The Committee have, by an unanimous vote, directed that the Reports of the " Port of London Society" should be sent to you, together with an engraved representation of the Society's floating Chapel, *-with a request that you will be pleased to accept them as a testimony of their respectful regard, and of their anxious desire for the success of your noble efforts for the promulgation of the Gospel among a class of men hitherto certainly much neglected.

Your friend and fellow labourer,

* These have been received.

PORT OF LONDON SOCIETY
For promoting Religion among Seamen.

R. H. MARTEN.

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The Christian Herald and Seaman's Magazine, Volume 8