SAILORS AND RELIGION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 10

SAILORS AND RELIGION.

INCIDENTS OF THE PAST. CHAPLAIN AND PIRATES. .... [FROM OTO OWKf CO.RRESPONEENX.J ! NEW YOKE, Dec. 1. Sailors ashore do noli generally get ; a reputation for godliness and morality, but they are really religions men, declares their chaplain, Dr. Caleb Stetson, rector of Trinity Church, which -occupies the strategic position of the busiest commercial corner of America, at Wall Street and Broadway; in this port of a million sailors. The 12th anniversary of Sailors* Day is the occasion of Dr. Caleb's pronouncement. He told of instructions isused to Sebastian Cabot in 1553 for ilia voyage in which he hoped to find £ short way to China, which included such remarks as"That no blaspheming or detestable swearing be used in any ship, nor communication of ribaldry or ungodly talk to be suffered in the company o£ soy s hij>,_ neither dicing, carding ncr. other devilish games to ba frequented." There was another warning, that morning and evening prayers, with other common services appointed by the King's Majesty to bo held and said in every ship ciaiiy» and the Bible to be read devoutly ana christianly to God's honour, and for His grace to be obtained and had by the humble and hoartfy prayer of the navigants accordingly." " I have come across an incident related in the life of a famous English pirate, Bartholomew Roberts," ' said the chaplain. "He and his ships happened to put into a harbour on the coast of Sierra Leone, and there found at anchor the British ship Onflow. Many of the crew ashore, so sihe became an easy prize. There was a chaplain aboard the Onslow. He must have be in a, very attractive fellow, for the cut-throat, crew liked him so much that they wanted to take him with them and make him their chaplain. They actually offered him the freedom of their company' and a share of all the booty, assuring him he would not be required to fight, but merely to perform the duties of chaplain; "and to pray for them."