TO HELP SEAMED

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 596, 26 August 1909, Page 5

TO HELP SEAMED

' A CHEEEPUL AUNIVEESAET. ' "Happy speeches, happy music, and a liappf crowd" described the anniversary gathering at 1 the Missions to Seamen held last evening. Tho . . Mayor (Dr. Newman) presided; and among the apologies received: was one from tho Acting.Prime Minister (the Jamps Carroll). • The Mayor boro witness to the proficient work' of Mr. James Moore, missionor, and the genor* i. osityof Mrs. Williams, :who, gave'tho dte foi • the building. Ho hoped to'sec some day a 'similar institution where' 'land-lubbers" \\ ho came as strangers to Wellington could, smoke a.. > ■ . r pipe and make acquaintances,' instead/of having no other social resort'than the hotels. ' Air. Mooro said that in 1902 the number of .vessels that visited •Wellington iras; 2563, and ~ tho arrests of seamen for drunkenness' nurn-', bered 554. In 1908 the arrivals of ships were' 3458, and tho arrests only 290. Tho attractions ~ of the missions, were largely > responsible for , • this diminution, of another attraction.' Fifty • years ago only two men were working for. the missions throughout the world, with two mission vessels, no ohurches,' and ' no institutes. Now there were over 200 missionaries,'9o mission vessels, and 130 ohurohes and institutes. In the local hall 500 men during tho year signed the temperance, pledge of their own free will. Last year 356 men attended tho amhulanise leotares, of the local missions, and 27,000 tho religi- ; , ous services. , . ' V. The Mayor moved: "That this meeting oongratulates the committee, the missioner,.' and the workers on the fact that' they have so splendidly an equipped and beautiful building at., their disposal in whioh'to carry on wbrk among the men of the sea. It further rejoices in tin continued success of the efforts mado by. tho missions for tho spiritual,' moriil, and sociuJ welfare of the seamen, of all nationß, and warmly commends the work of the Missions to i Seamen to the prnyorful sympathy and com tinned praotical support of the public." The < Mayor said that tbe : popularity'of tiio mission, was impressed on him by new evidenco daily. Mr. I s . C. Frcetli seconded the motion, winch was adopted unanimously. Mr. Justice Chapman moved: "That thu • » meeting places on record Us high appreciation of tho work done by the committee, the mißsioner, the 'voluntary .helpers, the collectors, tho press, tho donors of gifts, and the othe» friends' of the mission, and in thanking then promises to support them as much as poisiblt, in aiming to brighten the lives of seamen who .. ■ > onter the port; 'and that further, the \von» thanks of ; those prcsont be tendered to Mrs. W< K. Williams for her continued interest in the work of the Missious to Seamen, and for her' kindness in haying made it possible to do th» ■ work for .God iand our sailors that is boini done in' tho beautiful building sho lias plnced , ■/. at the disposal of the-Missions to Seamon and v the sailors of the world." The mover said that -jj.., it gnvo him extreme pleasure to propose th« •, motion. , This' was a work that ought to npi .■' ■- peal to Englishmen, since it was a mission tt, the men who had made England what it was, tho class of men who had suffered most neglect in history, and who had desorvei? least neglect. (Applause.) Ho dwelt on the services of British seamen in undertaking tho policing of the world and in conducting surveys for the bonefit of all nations. Reference ' ; was also made to tho early days of Wellington, when schooners 1 floated on the very site of the present missions building. Mr. Yung-Liang Hwang; Chinese Consul,, in seconding the motion, dwelt on the international aspect of tho missions' work., Dr. Pollen and Mr, C. P. Powlos. members of the committee moved and seconded. a vote • of thanks to tho Mayor, which was given heartily. The motion was supported by Commander Hooper, who called on the' Amokura boys, ' ■ prcsont in force, to give three cheers for tllo : helpers of the missions. The cheers wpro givenwith a will. Songs were given by Misi V. Mullcr, Madnnie Muller, and Mr. Leslio Hill, who, with Mis. Querce, accompanist, saved tho situation musically, after Mrs. Wilson nnd Mr. Widdop, who weie to have bean responsible for this feature; had tataa moment.