MEETINGS AND SOCIALS

Evening Star, Issue 14250, 27 December 1909, Page 7

MEETINGS AND SOCIALS

SEAMEN'S SOCIAL. The thirty-sixth annual gathering of seamen took place in the Choral Hall on Christmas Eve. The hall was crowded with seamen and visitors, the steamers Delphic, Rakaia, Matatua, and H.M.S. Pioneer being in port. Friends had provided a bountiful spread, and a band of lady workers gladly attended to the wants of the sailors. The usual gift, a sailor's ditty bag, was handed to each seaman. Each bag contained many useful articles, euch as thread, buttons, needle case, worsted, stationery, reading matter, a Bible or New Testament, Sankey's hymn book. They soon find a place by the bunk side or the sea chest, and are carried by Jack for years round the world. After tea and an hour's friendly conversation, Mr A. R. Falconer took the chair and opened the meeting, reading a portion of Scripture and giving out a hymn. Captain Robert Neville (commodore of the Union Company's fleet), a friend of the Seamen's Mission from the start, engaged in prayer. Mr Falconer briefly thanked all present for their attendance, giving special welcome to the seamen. He r.tsntioned having just received since entering the hall a loving letter from Captain William Young (commodore of tne Clan line of steamers) recalling bygone years, when as a youth he received special blessing in this port, and wishing he could be with them that night. Other letters had come from other ports in China, India, South Africa, etc., from past fellow-workers and from seamen, with pleasant memories of bvgone days. The Rev. R. E. Davies, of Knox Church, gave a short address on the dangers of "drifting," and pointed out the way of escape.

Captain R. Neville based his address on the record given of Paul's shipwreck. On the speaker calling for a show of hands from the sailors who had been shipwrecked quite a large percentage of hands were raised.

Other speakers were Messrs Geo. Hcrcus, Charles Falconer, and Cumming, and first class petty officer Abraham, of H.M.S. Pioneer, Returned thanks to Mr Falconer for hospitality received while in port. The following ladies assisted at the tables and in the providing of refreshments: Misses Simpson, La Nauze, Porteous Brown, Harrison, Flora Allan, Enid Inglis, Brunton, Shuttleworth, Hall, Falconer, Mesdames Mirams, Hercus, Porteous, Cook' Buchan, Inglis, Kirkland, Broadbent, Kirk! Patrick, Romeril, Campbell, Charles Falconer, and Mrs Dr Falconer.