SEAMEN’S INSTITUTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 5

SEAMEN’S INSTITUTE.

FACTS AND FIGURES,

The British and Foreign Sailors’ Society gives the following facte and figures as merely indicating its farreaching labours on behalf of the seamen of many nationalities and religions— The Society is Catholic in the best sense, internationally and ecclesiastically. Like the lighthouse on a stormy night, it does not ask the nationality or the creed of the passing ship. Its mission is to give light and to save life.

During 1914, it distributed 37,618 Bibles and Testaments and nearly half a million books and tracts; kept 1998 libraries and literature bags in circulation among the ships, received and posted 76,9:28 letters for seamen, and made 72,413 visits to sailors in ship hospitals and prisons. Over 1000 temperance pledges were taken and 469,317 seamen attended our reading room 6. We gave 25,695 free meals and 8561 free beds to shipwrecked and destitute sailors. Its chief work is to convey the glad tidings of salvation to a class of men in whom the whole country is interested, and who have hitherto, in many foreign ports, been sadly neglected. Every Sunday through its agency services are held .at some 109 ports; while during the week good work is done by providing bright social evenings. Reading;, writing, banking postal and library facilities arc placed at the disposal of all seamen. C'are is taken to do all things economically and wisely, but above all prayerfully. Efforts are made to secure the best agents and to superintend and encourage them in the work. 1 The Seamen’s Institute at Lytteltou is now urgently in need of funds and however small, they will be thankfully acknowledged. Donations cun be sent direct to the Institute, care Mr S. Booth, or Mr Ronald Badger, 187, Manchester Street, Christchurch.