FROM NAGASAKI.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 11

FROM NAGASAKI.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR HOME FOR : • SEAMEN. _ .» . ' INTERVIEW WITH MR.' WM. J. DAMSON. Mr. William J. Damson, fiuancial secret tarjv of the Christian Endeavour Home for Seamen arrived, from the south yesterday in continuation of tho tour, he is making of Australasia in the interests of his mission. ' ' 1 - Mr. Damson explains that the institution ho represents is one which has been established for twelve years at Nagasaki, and has for its object,the providing of a home for visiting seamen of all nations, a placo where they can . obtain meals and lodgings at a nominal cost, and which supplies a free writing-room, library, gymnasium, etc. Thoro • is a wliito. population of only about 400 (men, women,' and children) in Nagasaki,, so it' is impossiblo to maintain the institution, which has been doing good work, without outside assistance. Miss Antoinette Jones, secretary of the Floating Christian Endeavour, 13 making an effort to raise.funds on its (the Nagasaki Home) behalf in America, similar aid is being solicited in England, and Mr. Damson has been commissioned to do what he can in Australasia. The work has been conspicuously successful, says Mr. Damscn, in administering to the needs of bluejackets of tho Euglish, American, and German navies, as well as 'those of American troops, on route and from the Philippines. Tho responsibility of administration rests with tho Protestant missionaries at Nagasaki, and with such other white residents as wore elected by them. During his visit to tho East, Mr. W. H. Taft, the Republican candidate for tho' Presidency of tho United States, had inspected tho Home, after, which he wrote:—"l believe it to bo worthy of support by all Amoricans." Which words wero not less applicable to Englishmen and Germans. Speaking of tho affairs of Japan, Mr. Damsou said that sinco tho war the people had been taxed to. tho absolsto limit, and though there seemed to bo a chronic want of monoy, there was no falling off in tho building of battleships, and tho increase of army divisions. _ - . , Mr. Damson will only bo' in Wellington a' few days, during which timo his address will bo at the Y.M.C.A.,'whilst communications in tho future will find him at the Missions to Seamen, Nagasaki. Ho will be pleased to hear from anyone interested in tho work he has in hand. •