THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1904, Page 2

THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.

* _ YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S CEREMONIES. The ceremonies of opening the now Missions to S6amen Church and Institute in Whitmore-streeb were yesteiday afternoon attended by a largo- and represontativo gathering of citizens, amongst whom were Lord and Lady Plunkefc and party, members of both Houses of Parliament, and miniature of nearly every religious denomination. « The HfUrrnouu'N proceedings began with a dedication service in tho chapel upstairs, presided over by the Might Rev. the Bishop of Wellington. His Lordship, in hm address, expressed thaukfulnw>s to Uod and to Mrs. WjUjuius for tho very handsome gift that had been bestowed on the Committee of tho Mission. The institution had beer established heven years, and from various small beginnings had gone ahead wiuh great success, and hud every prospect of continuing to 'flourish. Tho congregation then sang tho hymn "0 God ol Bethel," and afterwards adjourned to the social hall, where the opening ceremony was held. Mr. JaB. Moore, Missioned to Seamen, who was received with cheer*, read a letter from Captain Kemps on, of the big ocean liner Athenio, expressing togrot that neither he nor his men were able to attend owing to the departure of the vessel at noon from Wo'dington. Ho took the opportunity of •testifying to the good work done by- tho .Mission, and said it had been the means of elevating his men and conducing to their good conduct ou board thq vessel. The Premier and other leading public men also sant apologies for non-attendance. Mt. Mooro, in his address, said that afternoon was a bright chapter in the lives of both Mrs. Moore and himself. For six years they had oeon buffeted about the oity from> no less than 25 places trying to find a home for the sailors, and at last their hopes had been realised by Mrs. W. ». Williams— * generous, warm-hearted woman— giving to tho Bowmen that and almost perfectly equipped institution — the. beat of it* kind south of the line. (Applause.) It wm an institution open to the sailors of all nations irrespective of colour or creed. An institution where the Qospol was explained in tho simplest of terms, and where a. feeling of brotherhood was cultivated. Ho had often been amazed at the may in wliioh foreign see in en with tho slightest knowledge of English hnd been able to grasp the truth and the underlying prinoipla of the Christian faith. From far and wide he had recoived correspondence from sailors recording their gratitude to Iho •Mission for whnt it had done in assisting them

to live and help others to live better lives. Ho paid a warm tribute to those who had aabisted the Mission by donating flowers nnd comforts to the sailors, and utilising their energy nnd talent in amusing them. Ho particularly referred to Mr.' Q. W. Built rop, who, he said, had already given about 60 limelight entertainments at tho Mission free of chargu, which otherwise would have coM. £120. He referred lo the deterring influence the Mission had on drunkenness, und said during tho year 155 men had voluntarily signed the pledge without the slightest coercion on the part of any member of tho Mission, and 16,216 had attended tho services. Mi*. Williams at this stage presented a gold koy to His Excellency, and requested him to declare tho building open. Lord Plunket, ii( performing the ceremony, referred to tho building us n princely gift and an enduring memorial. In accepting Uio invitation of the cominitteo to identify himself with tho opening of the building, he felt that he was, ns a representative of tho King, under*, taking. a duty \yhich would particularly mcob U'ith His Majesty's approval, for it was upon tho Royal Navy and upon the British mercantile marine that the safety mid prosperity of the Empire depended. (Appkttjxf.) He referred to the temptations' held out to the sailors when they camo aahore, and facilities which tho institution offered in assisting them to com bat tho temptations. Ho had seen something of Auckland and Wellington, and only a few hours ngo he returned from a journey to Christchurch and Puncdin. During tho seven working day* tliat he had been away ho had attended upwards of seventy-eight functions, formal and informal, aud the impression that he had received would never fail from hi« mind. It would bb his duty and pleasure to lay before the King the loyalty of the people of New Ze«.nd to bis Throne and person, and lo say that it showed no diminution ; that tho people in this far-olf and beautiful possession combined a prklo in the Old Land and a firm determination to retain their distinguished position in the Empire and hold it fast. He considered that tho meeting was a, particularly suitable conclusion to his journeys, for, with the (Mtiefactiou that his travels had given him, there had been brought forcibly before his mind what it wn» that made those lmppy aft'eitions in tho Empire generally, and New Zealand particularly. It was the chips on the sea and the men who manned thqso ships, "Anything I can do for seameii," concluded His Excellency, "will bo done witl} a whole heart." (Loud applause.) A vote of tKanks to* the Governor was moved, seconded, and supported by the Rev. Iked Glasaon, Mr. C. P. Powles, and Dr. Pollen respectively. The latter said soyen ycara ago it was a common occurrence for t>l« sailors to paint the wharves red nnd the policemen black. However, sinfce Mr. Moore's arrival in Wellington, his influence had gone a long way towards rectifying thin otato of affairs and improving the conduct of seamen. The Hon. Hnll-Jones, Minister for Marine, represented the Premier at the ceremony, and in moving •», vote of thanka to Mr«. W. R. Williams for her handsome donation, said she had done much for the seamen. Her late husband was a ooa captain, And ehc having travelled with him sp often had acquired •» knowledge of their wants and necessities, and had erected the building as a fitting memorial to her dear husband. They owed a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Williams, and he waa sure that she would have the blessings of the sailors, their wives or sweethearts, or relatives, for the benefits tho seamen derived from the institution. Her gift would ■bo appreciated by tho colony at huge, and especially in" this town of Wellington. The motion wjuj seconded by tho Mayor, and carried amidst great enthusiasm) Mr. Balcombe Brown, in responding on behalf of Mrs, William*, said eho folt tliankful God Almighty to put it infcp her heart to erect a building for the seamen, nnd that she had been spared to see tho building erected and see it opened for use. She' trusted from tho bottom of her heart tlmb the building would be a great blosaing to oil seamen, no matter what their nationality or creed was. If those hopes were realised she would bo more than rewarded. On tho motion of the Rev. T. H. Sprott, M.A., a vote of thanks was accorded to flonom of gifts for furnishing. A presentation of a gold buoy and oam to Mrs. Williams from the Mission Committee and the sailors in port was made by Mr, Moore, and the proceedings terminated with tho Doxology. Lfiter in the evening the sailors in port were ontertajned by the helpers and friends of tho Mission at«a tea and concert, the latter being crowded to the doors. Amongst those who contributed towards the programme wore sMesdames Vcale and Wilson, the pisses Holiday, Mcc, Prlhgle, Birch, Hugo, Delahey, Hennah, Pivnns, Wai-d, Kennedy, and .Barnard, Messrs. Dykes, Rattigan, Willon, 'Proueo, Kennedy, and Genry, members of the Harbour Lights Glee Club, pupils of Mr. Harrison's gymnasium, nnd Messrs. Ryan. (Tauranga), Winter, and Angus (Tutanekai). At the conclusion of, the concert an excellent supper was provided by -Mrs. L. Blundell, and tobacco by, Miss Morrnh. During tho afternoon ceremony tho eitring band mirsic was provided by an orchestra under tho guidunce of Mi?s Grace Kennedy.