SAILORS' FRIEND SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 284, 27 August 1919, Page 8

SAILORS' FRIEND SOCIETY

._» . TWENTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY A SUCCESSFUL WORK The twenty-first anniversary meeting of the Sailors' Friend Society, Whitaor o'reet. wosjield last night, Mr. T. M.' Wilford, M.P., presiding over a large attendance of sailors and friends. Before addressing the gathering ti'" chairman presented two silver cups w<" m boxing contests on the Amokura T : nrst prize was won by James-Hanct and the 'second by Laurence Fillingha In making the presentation, Mr. Wilfo: 4 6aid that on the Amokura they had some of _ the smartest boxers it had been his privilege to see. Ho had donated the cups, aud it gave him much pleasure 10 hand them to the two recipients. Passinn to the work of the Sailors' Friend society, Mr. Wilford said it was a body that avpesled to the better side of human nature, and had, by the attainment of its twenty-first birthday, "grown out nt knickerbockers." Jack Tar and loimuy Atkins were both gallant gentle-•aen-(applauoe)—and the war had given a better idea of how much landsmen and sailormen should appreciate one another, ine society.e objective was. the finding inendly hand to those sailors who re. quired assistance. The part the Navy had. played m the war could never be coo strongly stressed. The people should never forget the services rendered during ATi Y he ,? ll of the mercantile marine. Ihey had done wonders.'(Applause.) He could assure those present that tlio xNavy to-dny better appreciated tho mercantile marine than ever it had done u T>rV e ? ar to< * Pkce. (Applause.) Mr. Wilford concluded by urging all present tp remember and support the work of the Sailors' Friend Society. Reviewing the .Work of the society, Mr. James Moore, missioner, said that in ail its vicissitudes it had ever maintained the open-door policy." The society had no paying members, and it welcomed the moneyless sailor just as cordially as the man who had been paid off and had plenty of money. They had'cause to thank bod that the institute had never been on the wrong side of the balancesheoi, and desired to thank the people of .Wellington for the manner in which they had supported the institute. Oil the motion of. Mr. G. Allport, seo onded by Mr. H. Townshend, a -esolutun wae carried, regretting that Mrs. W. E. Williams, donor of the Seaman's Institute building, was unable, through ill-health, to bo present that evening, but rejoicing .that she was still able to take an active part.in the good work, ■ which was proving so* helpful to thousands of seamen of all creeds. Mr. T. Forsyth proposed, and the ftev. A. Eeader seconded, a resolution recognising that the glorious victory over Ge'r- .' many had been du» in large measure to . the indomitable courage and self-sacrifice of the men of tho Navy nnd mercantile . marine. * , . The resolution was carried.. [ A further resolution, moved b>; the 1 Eev. E. Drake, and seconded by Mr. 11. T. Johns, was aiso passed, commend- [ in» the work of the mission to the prael tical and prayerful sympathy of the ! public, and extending thanks to the m:s- ---[ Bion workers, tho committee/the volun- [ tnry helpers, the Press, and all friends ■ 0? the mission. , Musical items were contributed during E the evening J>y Misses Weston and Castle, Mrs. 51. Gilmour, and Mr. Montague 1 Gilmour. ! ' The gathering concluded with several i hearty ohonices, the accompaniments for ! which were played by Mr. Wilford.