"PEACE AND OUR SAILORS"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 201, 20 May 1919, Page 6

"PEACE AND OUR SAILORS"

Sir—ln your valuable paper on May 10 you mention where the British and foreign Sailors' Society are asking for funds to help our sailors celebrate ,peace in a right way. .Now, Sir, with the great est respects to the B. and and their noblo work, I think it only just that we should remember there is another society in Wellington doing most .valuable work in the care of our sailo» I mean the Sailors' Friend Society. I am not connected with them .any-more than with the B. and E.S.S., but -several times of late i have witnessed some of the valuable work dono by the missioner, Mr. Moore, and his helpers, and perhaps no harm would bo done if I mention theni. On Easter Monday a sailor mate of mine took roe to the Mission Hall in Stout Street, where a sailors' picnic was being held, and to my surprise the room was packed,, with the exception of a spaco in the centra where all sorts of garnet were being' played. At every interval cigarettes wero handed round, with ample supplies of good-food and soft drinks, and after spending the best part of the day to well after 10 o'clock at night I left, having spent' one of the happiest picnics ot my life. Wishing to see more of this work l l called again the following Sunday. night, and there in a lovely littlo church; with a congregation of 60iup hundred odd sailors,' a grand little se£ vice was being held, and I learned from one sailor present that he and his mates had been there the best, part of tho day, ■ had tea, and he intended staying to supper, and join tho little after service. And, lastly,. Sir, on ft recent Sunday my heart was greatly touched when I wit' nessed one of 'the most ' little funerals, I. ever wish to'see, when, under the niissioner, Mr. Moore, some hundredodd (sailors marched to tho last, restingplace of 'one of their comrades, Now,- Sir, 1 have given these few faota I calf fully -vouch for, and with tho assistance such work must have to carry 0n,,1 think it only,fair tlrat tho generous public should know and help to keep going this- glorious -■work, with tho welcome handshake one receives on enteriiig-i and my advice to any person who really has the glorious work our sailor brothel's have done and are doing at lieart, go and sco for yourselves a 6 I have doiie. Although a working man myself,, when giving at these times hurts, you will feel as I do that the small amount will bo greatly appreciated and devoted to a very just cause, and the lives of some sailors many miles from their own home i and dear ones may be mado happy while in "God's own