PORT LOUIS. Brief account of the appropriation of the Hulk JOHN MARSH," lying in the Harbour of PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, for a Seaman's Chapel, or Bethel. Previous to the year 1842 the Bethel-Flag had occasionally been hoisted on hoard different vessels in the harbour of Port Louis: but, notwithstanding that many captains had cordially come forward, from time to time, to tender the use of their vessels for this purpose; the inconvenience of such a course, and the want of a stated place of worship for seamen, had been constantly felt and deplored. In May 1841, the plan of a Permanent Bethel was first suggested. A petition was in consequence addressed by the Rev. J. LE BRUN, the Rev. D. JOHNS, and Mr. E. BAKER, to the late benevolent Governor SIR LIONEL SMITH, Soliciting the use of the hulk in question for that purpose. To this petition His Excellency the Governor promptly and favorably responded, by sending an officer of the Royal Engineers to inspect the Hulk, with a view to obtain an estimate of the fittings-up that would be required, to render her deck available for the proposed purpose. This estimate, amounting to £53 14 8. was duly furnished; but the expenditure failing to receive the sanction of the Finance committee of government, a delay of several months took place; during which period, however, Divine service was continued every Sabbath-day; and a great degree of interest was manifested by many persons in the object. 66 At length, in October, 1841, a second petition was addressed to the Governor, SIR LIONEL SMITH, in favor of the project, signed by twenty-four captains and two mates of vessels lying then at anchor. The purport of this letter was, that the writers, hearing that the first petition had been twice rejected by the finance committee, on account of the expense having been judged unnecessary; respectfully solicited His Excellency, to adopt such other means as might seem best adapted to promote the religious benefit of seamen frequenting this port or otherwise, whilst withholding pecuniary aid, to grant the hulk for the use of protestant ministers of the gospel, and pious laymen, whether churchmen or dissenters, who hold the orthodox doctrines of the churches of England and Scotland." In which case the petitioners pledged themselves "to aid and assist in the fitting-up of the said hulk as a place of worship, so far as might be indispensably requisite." On the presentation of this letter by his excellency to the council of government, it was immediately voted that the expense should be borne by government; and on the 18th of October, 1841, Messrs. Le Brun, Johns, and Baker, had the pleasure of receiving an official notification,, informing them, that "his excellency had been pleased to accede to their proposal: the hulk, so fitted up, to be available for divine worship by christians generally." Much delay again occurred, through the want of labourers in the engineer department, that could be spared to execute the work; until April 1842, when, government having invited tenders for the performance of it, and one having been accepted, the work was accomplished in May, 1842, mainly through the vigorous aid of captain HAMLIN, of the RAMSAY: and the fittings-up were rendered more complete, in several particulars, than had been contemplated in the original estimate. In addition to this benefit, about ninety dollars have been contributed by captains of various vessels, and other benevolently disposed persons, to meet the continuous expense of boats, &c., which is expected to amount to twelve or fifteen dollars per month; and for which the promoters of the Bethel service are dependent upon voluntary contributions. Bibles, hymn-books, and the church of England book of common prayer, have been supplied to a limited extent; and the undertaking has met with the hearty concurrence of British seamen, and will, it is confidently hoped, prove a moral benefit and religious blessing to the port. Although Divine worship has been hitherto conducted in the manner of the Scottish church, and English dissenters, the design is simply to provide for the preaching of Christ as the only hope of mankind for restoration to the favour of God, and eternal salvation; without regard to the sectional peculiarities of protestant churches; and the same general principle of directing their efforts to the promulgation of the great truths of our common-bible christianity, will influence the promoters of this work, in the distribution of tracts, and lending of books, &c. so far as they may be able to adopt any such additional measures of usefulness in connexion with the Bethel service. REMOVAL OF THE REV. E. E. ADAMS, A. M. TO HAVRE. It having been arranged between the committees of the American Seamen's Friend Society, and the Continental Evangelical Society, that our esteemed friend and fellow-labourer, the Rev. E. N. Sawtell, (who has been successfully employed as Seamens' Chaplain at Havre,) should remove to New York, to take the superintendence and management of the latter institution, a door has thus providentially been opened to our beloved brother, the Rev. E. E. Adams, into a most interesting sphere of action, as the successor of Mr. Sawtell. Thither he has removed, and has commenced his labours with the most cheering prospects of success. Havre is an important station. There are located families, both English and American, of great respectability and influence, on whom the ministry of our estimable friend will act most directly and powerfully. While his exertions among the seamen, will only lead him further on in the path of his sacred enterprise. May his life and labours be long continued-may his ministry be instrumental of widely extending the knowledge of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, among those on land and those on sea-and may the crown of his reward be filled with imperishable gems! FANCY BAZAAR. A BAZAAR will be held at the Swan, Stockwell, on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th August. Admittance 1s. and children 6d. each, to be allowed in the purchase of Articles. Doors to be open at Eleven o'clock. CAMBERWELL AUXILIARY.—On Thursday Evening, August 3rd, A PUBLIC MEETING of the Camberwell Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, will be held in Albany Chapel, Albany Road. David Wire, Esq. will take the Chair at half-past Six precisely. No. 57. SAILORS' MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER-MDCCCXLIII. [NEW SERIES. ARTICLES.-ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. HISTORY OF THE SAILORS' CAUSE. Five and twenty years have rolled away since the institution of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, under the designation of the Port of London and Bethel Union Society, whose specific object was the moral and religious improvement of British seamen. This high end has been steadily kept in view ever since. And in looking back on the efforts of those years-efforts which have not been confined to home and to British sailors', but extended to almost all nations whither our commerce and our christianity have been carried; the Committee feel that there exists the most enlarged grounds for gratitude to God, and the most powerful stimulus to the church of Christ to continue, and even multiply their exertions on behalf of seamen. Then a pious sailor was something rare and unlooked for ;-he was conceived to be beyond the reach and the influence of religion—or it was imagined that religion would disqualify him for his duties and dangers as a seaman. But this delusion has been greatly dispelled, and it has been found, that in proportion as religious truth, and religious principle regulate the sailors' conduct, the more dutiful, and the more daring, and the more faithful he is on board-ship. This is no mere conjecture. It is plain fact. There are now some thousands of pious seamen, and the uniform testimony of commanders, is, that with these men on board they have more submission,-more order,-more of home, and domestic comforts. When the society first commenced its operations on the Thames, there is reason to believe that not a single BETHEL FLAG existed. But now there are hundreds of this sacred banner. There is scarcely a shore on which it may not be seen streaming in the light of heaven, and intimating the nearer approach of that day when the abundance of the sea shall be converted and numbered among the trophies of redeeming He fession. Judge of his feeling of heart, and our pleasure, and satisfaction of mind, when on his knees before God, he uttered these words, "Lord in this ship I served my apprenticeship, and sailed many voyages, thou knowest I was then a drunken sailor, a blaspheming sailor, and disobedient to thy commands; I bless thee that I went to the Sailors' Chapel, at Bell Wharf, that thou didst give thy power to the gospel preached there, and that I am now a new creature in Christ Jesus." This sailor had not attended a place of worship for the space of fifteen years, after which, he came to our chapel, at Shadwell, and there a gracious God was pleased in infinite mercy to convert his heart from the error of his ways. I knew him, thin in person, and destitute of clothes, but now he looks like the son of a king, fine, healthy, and noble. brought also some of his children with him to the Bethel meeting, and I was glad to see the evident improvement of his family. Thank God there are many such instances as this, to which we might refer. Two have just come to my notice, the captain of a ship, and his apprentice, whose minds were first seriously impressed at a Bethel meeting, on the River, eighteen months ago, who now, are uniting in religious services, and other efforts to promote their own happiness, and the everlasting salvation of their brother sailors. I have attended 25 services on board different ships since my last report, at which 400 seamen were present, distributed tracts to all at each meeting, with books and magazines which were gratefully received, and I have no doubt will be read with advantage. MR. J. L. ABBOTT.-Fourth StationThe present state of religion among the sons of Zebulon is most encouraging, and calls for grateful acknowledgment to the God of all grace, who has caused his gos.. pel to triumph in the emancipation of so many from the vassalage or thraldom of Satan. But although the cause wears a generally encouraging aspect, yet there remains a great work to be accomplished, and it will be a glorious event both to the world, and the church, when this important section of the human family is brought into the full enjoyment of gospel truth, and gospel ordinances. This glorious event will be the precursor of yet more glorious days, and the introduction of a brighter era than the world or the church has ever yet seen, and to the establishment of a state of things that has never yet been enjoyed. In the prosecution of my labours, my mind is more than ever deeply impressed with the importance of the work, in all its various bearings, both in the formation of individual character, and also in giving strength and support to the labours of those who have gone forth far hence among the gentiles to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. The cause of truth, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom in distant nations of the earth, is most intimately connected with the state of religion among our seafaring population. These views are very generally held by those who have been brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. In conversing with captains and others I have been both surprised and delighted with the soundness of their views on these all important points. ing to witness the interest excited, and the means adopted for enlightening the minds of those who previously sat in darkness, and the region of the shadow of death, and to bring into existence a people which were not a people; and to bring those who were afar off, nigh into the full fellowship and citizenship of the saints. And these efforts are responded to with heartfelt gratitude by many thousands of the sons of the ocean, to whom the bethel flag is a signal, they delight to see waving in the gentle breeze. Often has it proved a banner of love and mercy, and therefore the meetings of which it is a signal they gladly attend. The subscribers would feel themselves amply repaid if they could listen to the expressions of gratitude and attachment to the society, and those who support it, which proceed from those who are the objects of their solicitude. From what I have witnessed on my own station, and the testimony of many captains respecting other ports, the work is going forward. Many have prayed this last month that I have not heard before, and in their prayers out of the abundance of their heart, their mouth has declared what God has done for them. Others who have made a profession still walk well. It is truly delightful to listen to the testimony which is borne to the acti vity and zeal, and christian principles of our Bethel captains and men in different ports at home and abroad. The full effects of this eternity alone will develope. In looking over my journal I find such remarks as the following:-Attended a meeting on board, a full cabin crowded steerage, many bowed the knees, some wept. At another-the captain very thankful, wished the flag to be left again. At another--good preparation made, fair attendance, several prayed, all very attentive, and some appeared to feel the power of truth. I have watched them as they have retired, apparently full of thought, and deeply impressed. My hands have been greatly strengthened by the cordial co-operation of pious captains, in canvassing the tiers, in distributing tracts, leading the devotions, and in giving a word of address. One of these captains when he came aboard (for he came from another tier,) said, "he had been looking out for the flag all the week, and he felt great disappointment in not catching a sight of it before." Thus many hail this flag with delight, and seek instruction and the renewal of their spiritual strength at the meetings held under its auspices. I have held 11 meetings, present 190 men, distributed 230 tracts. REAR-ADMIRAL SIR JAMES HILLYAR, K.C.B. It is our melancholy duty to record the sudden decease of this gallant and distinguished officer, who was not more eminent in the service of his country, than he was devoted to the cause of seamen, and the objects of our Institution. While we would humbly bow to this painful dispensation, we pray that his unexpected removal may incite ourselves and our friends to renewed and enlarged exertion. |