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 unte the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.-Psalms.

BETHEL UNION.

Our excellent friend and correspondent, the Rev. G. C. Smith, of Penzance, England, has furnished us with a copy of the "First Report of the British and Foreign SEAMAN'S FRIEND SOCIETY AND BETHEL UNION," presented at their anniversary meeting in November last, from which we shall copy a few extracts, which will give a summary view of the rise and rapid progress of religion among Seamen in the ports of Great Britain.

In the year 1800, the moral and religious condition of the marine population of Great Britain was most deplorable; many officers and seamen now living, both of the naval and merchant service, can recollect, with the strongest emotions of regret, that, at that time, "Darkness covered our ships, and gross darkness our sailors." They were indeed "without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise; having no hope, and without God in the world." A man of war was proverbial for every kind of wickedness, and a sailor was but another name for a guilty lawless being, neglected by man, and apparently abandoned by God; "given up to his own heart's lusts, to work all uncleanness with greediness;" his places of resort on shore were, alas! infinitely more fatal "than winds, or seas, or storms;" where thousands and tens of thousands have made shipwreck of body and soul, and from whence they had been hurried, unprepared, to meet an angry God.

Exceedingly faint were the rays which relieved this melancholy gloom, and few, very few, were those who, "plucked as brands from the burning," lived to " glorify God in their bodies and spirits, which were his." A captain Torial Joss had indeed quitted the sea, and preached for Mr. Whitfield, at Tabernacle and Tottenham Court Chapels. A Samuel Medley had been rescued by Divine grace, after a long servitude in the Royal Navy, and established as a preacher of righteousness among the Baptists at Liverpool; and a John Newton had been graciously delivered from the slavery of Africa, and the iniquitous trade of Guinea, and had been raised by Divine Providence to the ministry of Salvation at St. Mary's Woolnoth Church, Lombard-street.

It was natural to suppose that the holy fires of Christian zeal, kindled in Great Britain, would extend to her fleets and armies, and that the tribe of Zebulon, "THE MARINERS' TRIBE," as Isaiah predicted, "should see a great light." This is a fact sufficiently notorious to many pious and respectable families in this nation, and it was during the last war that a Minister of Jesus Christ discovered religious officers and seamen in nearly 80 ships of war; and, encouraged by several pious gentlemen, whose names are endeared with gratitude to the hearts of Christian Sailors, as the late Wm. H-, Esq. of Fleet-street; the Rev. S. G. for

VOL. VIII.

8

merly of Newport Pagnel; the late Rev. Andrew Fuller, of Kettering; an eminently useful Lady of Portsmouth; Dr. S. of Edinburgh, and other respectable Friends in Scotland, he maintained a regular correspondence with those ships in all parts of the world, and assisted them by various methods to promote religion, and frequently published their correspondence in different popular works. The labours also of the Rev. Mr. Griffin, of Portsea, with one or two chaplains in the navy, and the exertions of other Ministers in seaport towns, in connexion with Bible, Tract, and School Societies, had produced a wonderful reformation among officers and seamen, both in the naval and merchant service. To which may be added, the generous and persevering efforts of religious fathers, mothers, wives, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends.

The frequent correspondence of such endeared relations and connexions was singularly blessed among captains and seamen, and while it strengthened them to repel the torrents of marine depravity, it encouraged them unhesitatingly to avow themselves on the Lord's side. The year 1815 arrived, and the blessings of peace were again restored.

Considerable progress had been made in the navy towards the principles of Christian faith, and many respectable persons from that profession became now eminently useful on shore. The increased labours of Ministers and Religious Societies in every seaport had also produced a visible change among our merchant seamen, and hopes were fervently excited that the peace would facilitate the access of ministerial labours, and open channels hitherto unknown. for the introduction of the Gospel among them. Such hopes have been fully realized; officers and seamen scattered throughout the kingdom have been induced to attend an evangelical Ministry, both in the Establishment and among Dissenters ; they have in consequence become decidedly religious. While others, who when at sea were only " babes" or "young men" in the school of Christ, as the Apostle expresses it, have, with increased privileges and instruction, become "fathers in the Christian Church, counting all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus

Christ."

From this rapid outline of the rise and progress of religion among British Seamen, sufficient ideas may be gathered to form a general opinion of the materials Jehovah had, in boundless mercy, been preparing for the present day of Christian exertion among this invaluable class of our countrymen.

Still there was no Institution, with the exception of Bible Societies, that professed to regard the spiritual interests of Seamen, and conduct them to everlasting glory. But the time, " yea, even the set time," to favour sailors, was now come, and the means by which the public attention was first awakened to this subject are too humble and too interesting not to deserve special notice in a Report of the Bethel Union. A very plain but promising beginning had been made to establish Prayermeetings in a few ships by an obscure individual at Rotherhithe, and this effort was abundantly encouraged and promoted by Samuel Jennings, Esq. a respectable merchant at Rotherhithe. This gentleman, who is a zealous member and local preacher of the Wesleyan connex ion, may be indeed regarded as a pattern of the religious exertions now making among seamen. His exemplary zeal-his independent spirithis early Sabbath meetings-his judicious classification of masters and seamen-and his paternal attention to their temporal and spiritual necessities can never be forgotten in an historical detail of Bethel exertions.

Nor can it be just to pass by the labours of several masters of vessels in the coasting trade from the North of England, who solemnly consecrated all their energies, in union with our friends at Rotherhithe, to establish Prayer-meetings from ship to ship, in the year 1817; and first hoisted a flag with the word Bethel in it, as a signal for Divine service on board.

In the month of May, the same year, a kind of providential circumstance brought a person, whose business is on the Thames, acquainted with the event, who embraced the earliest opportunity of communicating it to the Minister who corresponded with the Navy during the last

war.

Delighted with such lovely appearances of piety, those Christian friends united all their talents, influence, and exertions, to encourage ship preaching and devotional engagements of extemporaneous prayer. The Almighty condescended to bless their varied efforts to promote his glory among seamen. Ships were seen crowded with attentive hearers; the spirit of prayer mightily increased, and regular meetings were now established, in the Upper Pool, near London Bridge, under the Bethel Flag.

The subject of ship preaching was partially brought before the public, and general approbation succeeded. Very early in those proceedings the idea of a Ship Church, or Floating Chapel, had occurred; and, for three months successively, the Minister and his friends laboured to promote such a plan, and interest every one they possiby could in this important object. The smile of Heaven again crowned their exertions with success, and a kind and gracious Providence directed their steps to the highly-respected Treasurer of the Port of London Society; under whose auspices arose that valuable Institution, and, by whose kind attention, the British Ark now floats on the River Thames. "Peace," celestial " Peace, be within her walls," and the most abundant " prosperity within this palace" of the Lord Jesus. "Pray for peace.; they shall prosper who love her. For our brethren and companions' sake, we will now say peace be within her; because of the House of the Lord our God, we will seek her good." In the summer of 1818 the Christian public hailed this sacred establishment, and every succeeding month has justified the measures adopted, and proved the vast importance of such a vessel for Divine worship on the River Thames.-(To be continued.)

NEW-YORK MARINE BIBLE SOCIETY.

Fifth Annual Report, read at the Anniversary Meeting, 11th April,

1821.

THE Managers of the New-York Marine Bible Society congratulate its members and friends, on the return of another anniversary. They rejoice to meet an assembly of seamen and friends of seamen, whom they can address as friends of the Bible. The Lord be praised for his preserving goodness to those who have traversed the seas; that he has delivered them from the fury of storms, and brought them to the port again; and that seamen and landsmen are met together in mutual good will, to unite their efforts for the further spread of the word of Gop.

It would give the Managers the highest satisfaction to be able to report, as the history of the past year, that every ship sailing from New-York, had been well supplied with Bibles; and that seamen, and the friends of seamen, had come forward, with cheerfulness and generosity, to aid the funds. They will, however, report the truth; and, while they exhibit the encouragements, will endeavour to make as evident as possible the necessity of livelier zeal and greater efforts.

The Managers have distributed, in the past year, 315 Bibles, making the whole number distributed by this Society since its formation, 3551 Bibles, and 200 Testaments. Two hundred and fifty have been received from the American Bible Society, (besides an additional donation of 300 Bibles and 200 Testaments, which has just been made for future disposal.) One hundred dollars only, the Managers regret to say, is all the return they have been able to make for these supplies. Few donations and subscriptions have been received. One, however, particularly deserves to be mentioned as an example of one means of promoting the funds. The passengers on board the Empress, on a recent voyage to Charleston, by a united contribution, made the whole crew members of the Society.

The distribution of the Bible, though partial, has not been in vain. Wherever the providence of God sends it, it carries with it the unfailing promise, that it shall not return void. It has been made, and will doubtless continue to be made, even in the midst of the ocean, the power of God unto salvation.

More than forty shipmasters of this city have voluntarily given their opinion, that the spread of the Bible among seamen has made many of them better men, and that its good effects are daily increasing. Few captains are now willing to go to sea without Bibles. One who was unwilling to receive the Bible on board his ship, and was altogether opposed to the Society, now calls it one of the best institutions in the world; and hopes that, by means of the Bible, he has become a new creature in Christ Jesus. He now devotes a regular season to religious exercises on board his ship, and sees, in the wonders of the sea, the power, and wisdom, and goodness of God.

In a voyage on board the schooner Logan, Captain Holmes, to Curracoa, after passing the Hook, the Captain gave to each watch a Bible, requesting them to read it. They received it with indifference. A few nights afterwards, as he was walking the deck, he saw one of the most hardened of the men on his knees in prayer, under the lee of the longboat. After seeing this for several nights, the Captain conversed with him, and found him concerned about his soul: "When and how did you receive these feelings?" "By reading the Bible which you gave us." This man shortly after became a bold believer, exhorted his shipmates, lived before them a new life, and, on his return from sea, having been found steadfast in obeying the Gospel, he was received into communion with the church in this city, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Williams. The crew to which he belonged were much improved.

A seaman, not many weeks ago, came to his owner, to tell him the circumstances of the wreck of the ship from which he had escaped, saying that he had saved nothing but his Bible. To its blessed truth, we

trust, his mind was directed in the hour of his peril, and he took it with him as his best friend.

Other instances might be mentioned, to prove that the members of the Marine Bible Society are not occupied in a fruitless labour. Nor is it to be supposed, that the blessed effects of the circulation of the Bible among seamen, have all come to our knowledge. Those who have laboured in the glorious work, have a right to hope, that of the hundreds who have received the Bible, many may have been reformed from their evil habits, and made sons of God, whose names and history they know not; and that, already, while dying in foreign lands, sinking in the ocean, or starving on the wreck, many, whose history will not be known until they are seen in heaven, have placed all their faith and hope on the Saviour.

While the Board of Managers rejoice that any instances of blessing have attended the exertions of this Society, and deplore that its usefulness is still limited, they rejoice that there are other labourers in the same cause. During the past year, Marine Bible Societies, auxiliary to the American Bible Society, have been formed in nearly all the ports to the eastward of New-York. By the generosity of the American Bible Society, and by the care and attention of the Secretary of the Navy, arrangements have been lately made for supplying the seamen of the Navy. The Bibles destined for this purpose, are, by the direction of the Secretary, to be covered with canvass, and thus furnished to the men, who have the option of returning them in good condition, or of having them deducted from their wages.

Th

While other Societies are making these exertions, the Board believe that many generous-hearted seamen will be pained at the fact, that the Managers have paid so small a sum to the Parent Society. And they cannot forbear to express their regret, that even aside from the co-operation of seamen, a great mercantile community should be so deficient in seeking the interests of the immortals whom they employ; that if the Bible had been circulated, only in proportion to the funds furnished, there must have been not more than 150 Bibles distributed among the thousands of seamen, who, in a whole year, have visited the port of New-York.

They call upon seamen and their friends, (and who shall be the seaman's friend, unless the merchant who employs him?) to use their exertions in future, that the Marine Bible Society of New-York may be able to distribute, at its own charges, not 150 Bibles, but as many as the necessities of seamen require; and even, if possible, to afford some assistance to the larger plans of the American Bible Society.

The managers especially ask a more full and general co-operation of seamen themselves. They are anxious to number thousands as the members of this Society. They do not consider the Marine Bible Society so much a Bible Society for seamen, as a Bible Society of seamen. Its design is, not so much to give the Bible to them, as to aid them in giving it to one another. It is, in truth, a Society of seamen, aided by their friends, engaged to spread the Bible among their own brotherhood, and as far as possible even beyond it, in the world. If there be seamen who have nothing to spare from their earnings, their comrades and friends offer them the Bible, and they beg them to come and receive a gift, which, if they improve it aright, shall make them for