MISSIONS TO SEAMEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1941, Page 7

MISSIONS TO SEAMEN

WORK FOR MERCHANT NAVY WORLD-WIDE OPERATIONS. ROTARY CLUB ADDRESSES. An informative address on the work of the Missions to Seamen for the men of the merchant navy was given at- today’s luncheon of the Masterton Rotary Club by the Rev. B. J. Williams, port chaplain, Wellington. “Just about the time New Zealand was pioneered the work of what is now known as the Missions to Seamen was started in England,” said Mr Williams. “A young clergyman, the Rev. John Ashley, of Bristol, began to realise that seamen were a community liv-

ing apart—away from the spiritual ministrations of their thurch, away from the social amenities of life ashore —and set to work to do his share in making the life of the seamen more tolerable. At that time, 1835, it was usual to find scores, often hundreds of ‘windjammers’ ‘whistling’ for a wind or waiting for orders, or waiting for crews, off the ‘Penarth Roads,’ the stretch of channel lying between the Steep Holmes and the Flat Holmes and the mainland. He acquired a launch and fitted her up as a chapel. This he sailed into the midst.of the ships and held services for the officers and men. Those who could not get into the floating chapel tied their dingies up alongside and joined in the singing. “John Ashley carried on his work in

the Bristol Channel for 15 years until forced to give up due to ill-health,” said Mr Williams. “In 1856, Mr W. H. Kingston (better known as the author of ‘Peter the Whaler’) organised a committee with, as its object, the sending and maintaining of chaplains and] lay-readers in all the ports round the coasts of Great Britain. From such a small beginning has grown this great society with more than 100 institutes and seamen's churches round the shores of the seven seas. In all the main ports of the world the flag of the ‘Flying Angel’ is flying and the seaman knows that flag as well as he knows his country’s flag. “Many of the institutes in the Homeland have suffered as a result of air

attack and several have' been wrecked,” said Mr Williams. "In each place, however, the work goes on. In Wellington we have scarcely been touched by the tragedy of war. We are, however, doing what we can to show the men of the sea that their efforts and self sacrifice are appreciated. Nearly every -evening in the institute, entertainments are held —dances, pictures, concerts, or whist drives. On Saturday and holidays there are picnics and cricket, tennis and football in season. During the year 1940-41 more than 17,000 seamen used the. institute and over 11,000 meals were served, free in the course of entertainment and the relief of distress.

"Since the outbreak of war.” Mr Williams observed, “all wireless sets owned by the men have been put in bond while the ships are at sea. Some form of musical entertainment had to be found. The old gramophone-that went out with the bustle lias had to be resurrected. About 120 gramophones and 5000 records have been placed on board. Thousands of books and magazines, playing cards and table games have also been distributed. Life in the forecastle of a ship, even in peace time, is bad enough, but in time of war, with ■black-out’ conditions and the constant strain of expected attack from the air,

from submarine and surface raider and mine, without the chance of effectively hitting back makes the life one of extreme hardship. It seems unnecessary to emphasise the part played by the merchant navy and New Zealand's dependence on the work of the seamen who man our ships and whatever we do for them we shall still be in their debt. At a time like the present no troops could be taken to the various battlefronts of the Empire, no munitions or food could be carried to support those troops. The stories of individual bravery of the men are too numerous to mention; it is sufficient to say they arc taking whatever Hitler can give them. I cannot do better than give you the final words of a letter

which I received from my brother after his evacuation from Dunkirk: ■Sheer fright kept us going. We were escaping'from it all. These men (the men of the Merchant Navy) were coming into the middle of the most awful Hell to fetch us out to' safety. I take my hat off to the Merchant Seamen.’ "For some time I have been afraid that shipwrecked seamen would be put ashore in Wellington without clothing so we are gathering together men’s clothing and having it cleaned and repaired in readiness for such an emergency. I hope you will keep that in mind,” said Mr Williams in conclusion.