BRITISH SAILORS’ SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 79, 28 December 1925, Page 10

BRITISH SAILORS’ SOCIETY

CHANGE OF NAME. The Society hitherto known as the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society has recently altered its name, and in tho last number of the “’Chart and Compass, the official organ of the society, just to hand, the authorities announce: “The change in the society’s name is now an accomplished fact, the legal requirements having been duly complied with. The society will henceforth be known as the British Sailors’ Society (at home and abroad), though the second part of the title will be used on formal and official matters only.” The general secretary in London has received :i few letters expressing regret at the change, but with these ex-, captions all those —and they are many-— who have written have warmly approved and commended the new title. The secretary for forty years (Rev. E. »»• Matthews) has sent his congratulations and approval, and this will be an encouragement to those of the older friends of the society who regret the necessity for changing the name. The new name will, it is hoped, tend to clear away certain misconceptions which have, aiisen about Hie former name, one of which has been that the society is not an entirely British society, but one which is controlled bv an international group ot philanthropists interested .in the wellbeing of seamen. The society is cntiiely British in origin, and has for 10. years continued as a British organisation, and is British to-day. It. has subscribers in manv foreign countries who are glad to recognise that no genuine sailor in distress, of whatever nation, is refused such service as can bo rendered him; tn tlie same sense that no general hospital shuts its doors in the face of a foreigner who has had a serious accident, nor does the lifeboat refuse to go out into the storm to save life if the ship in danger is not sailing under the British flag.