MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 865, 11 July 1910, Page 11

MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.

THE ANNUAL REPORT. Tho Wellington Committee of tho Missions to Seamen, in presenting to tlio Anglican Synod their Twelfth Annual Report, states that they are again able to report that tho work of the mission continues to ifo most satisfactory, and that all classes of tho community share their hearty appreciation of Mr. and Mrs. Moore's devoted labours. The services every Sunday and on Tuesday evenings, with a monthly celebration of the Holy Communion, have been well maintained during tho year, there having been 26,465 attendances of seamen. The boys of tho training ship Amokura attend the Sunday morning service whenever they are in Wellington. Tho social sido of tho work has boon equally encouraging; for tho concerts and ambulance meetings, held every Wednesday and Friday ovenings, havo attracted the unprecedented number of 43,065 attendances of seamen during tho year, in addition to tho thousands who havo frequented tho inetituto on Sunday afternoons and on other week evenings. 'Hie work done by the_ missioner yoar by year sarily increases in this growing port. Ho has this year hold 79 services and Biblo readings afloat, and paid no fewer than 1595 visits to ships in the harbour; while the enrolment of 473 seamen under tho banner of total abstinence by his exertions speaks for itself. The fact that so many men are met with who havo kept their C.E.T.S. pledges taken in Wellington in past years (some as long as 11 or 12 years ago), proves the solid character of this sido of the work. Tho number of letters (12,346) received at tho institute for seamen, and the number (13,o00) written and posted by them there, greatly exceed all previous records, and testify to tho increasing value which the institute is becoming to seafaring men. Tho treasurer's balance-sheet shows that tho finances of the mission aro in a healthy condition. Tho committee gratefully acknowledges the continued contribution of £70 per annum towards tho missioner's salary by the parent society in England. Gifts in kind have been given with extreme liberality by all classes of tho community. The Misses Kreoft and Morrah havo supplied no fewer than 7823 buttonholes for seamen, and Miss L. Powlos'has provided flowers each week for tho tables in the institute. Tho spiritual and moral results of the work cannot, of course, be tabulated, but there has boon much to show that God's blessing is resting upon it, and tho committee feel that this is mainly due to the personality of Mr. Moore, the missionor, whoso sterling character and singular gifts and experience have won so many hearts. Tho formation of a branch of the Seamen's Guild (affiliated to tho C.E.M.S.), with a. membership of 22, has been of great benefit to tho work in many ways, while tho able assistance of Mrs. Moore and a largo number of voluntary helpers, together with the generous and practical sympathy of tho people of Wellington, have greatly contributed to the success of tho work.

. An instructive lecture on "How to Act in a Sudden Emergency, calling for Medical Attention," was given by Mr. James Moore at the Missions to Seamen Institute on Friday evening. There was a largo and interested audience, The lecturer dealt chiefly with the common accidents, those likely to occur in tho daily course of life. He gave demonstrations showing tho methods of bandaging broken limbs and of treating other accidents. The lecturer gave several useful hints relating to health matters. Competitions in connection with ambulance work wore held, and won by sailors from ships in port. A most ojijo'yablo programme of music was

provided by Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Bell, tho following contributing items: — Misses G. and D. Bell, Messrs. Nelson, W. Iliomson, A. Barnes, and G. W. S. Ml. Miss G. L. 801 l played the accompaniments. The performers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion of the meeting.