MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1696, 31 August 1904, Page 24

MISSIONS TO SEAMEN.

MRS W. R. WILLIAMS’S MUNIFICENT GUT. THE NEW BUILDING OPENED BY THE GOVERNOR. AN IMPOSING CEREMONY. Thursday was a red-letter day in the history of missionary work amongst seamen in New Zealand—nay, in Australasia. The big two-story brick building at the corner of Whitmore and Stout streets, dedicated to seamen by Mrs W. R. Williams—a building which will ever stand as a monument of the generosity of tho donor and the good work of the missioner, Mr James Moore —was officially opened by his Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket, in the presence of a very large gathering of people. The main entrance to tho handsome structure was gaily decorated with flags in honour of the event. Festoons and the ensigns of all nations were also suspended across tho street to the Supreme Court Chambers. Inside tho building, similar tokens of rejoicing and bright decorations were everywhere displayed, while the shipping in port was also gaily decorated with bunting. Proceedings opened with a short religious service in the mission chapel, which forms tho upper portion of the building. The spacious room was simly packed with people; many crammed into the passages and numbers failed to gain admission at all. Bishop Wallis presided, and Rev J. D. Russell, hon secretary of the Missions to Seamen, read Die lesson. A number of hymns were sung by the congregation. In the course of a short address, his Lordship reminded his hearers that it was seven years almost to a day since the mission amongst seamen in Wellington, which had been so abundantly blessed, was commenced. Since that time tho work had gone on without check, and ho trusted that if ever help was wanted it would ho forthcoming. They were there to dedicate the church and the building to tho work amongst God’s children—that was the first- and principal part of the proceedings of the day. His Lordship concluded, "In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we humbly dedicate this room to-day to the service of God.” When the ceremony concluded, about five hundred people gathered in the institute on tho lower floor. The strains of "God Save the King” announced the arrival of Lord and Lady Plunket. Their Excellencies, who were accompanied by the Hon Kathleen Plunket and Captain Braithwaite, A.D.C., took their seats on the platform amidst hearty applause. Mrs W. It. Williams was loudly cheered when she appeared. Bishop Wallis, Revs T. H. Sprott, J. D. Russell, and J. Reed Glasson, Mr J. H. Williams and Mrs Williams, the ITon W. Hall-Jones, Dr Pollen, Mr Balcombo Brown, the Missioner (Mr James Moore), and others occupied seats on the platform. A sheaf of apologies for non-attend-ance was received. Tho Premier wrote, regretting his inability to be present through great pressure of work, and conveying kind wishes for the future welfare of the Mission. He warmly commented on tho great and noble nature of tho work which was being carried out. Similar letters wero received from Sir Joseph Ward, • Lady Stout, Major-General Babington, the Rector of St. Patrick’s College, the Hon W. Bolt, M.L.C., Captain Kempson, of the Athenic, and others. Amongst those present wero members of both branches of tho Legislature and leading citizens. Bishop Wallis, on behalf oir the committee and all interested in the work, cordially thanked his Excellency for consenting to be present. In response to Bishop Wallis, Mr James Moore, Missioner, then gave a lengthy account of tho history of the Missions in Wellington. Six years ago they had commenced work in earnest, and for over six years now they had been without a permanent home. In the present building the "open door” policy—about which so much was heard—was tho only one obtaining. It was a building given by a noble woman; and it would ever stand as an institute worthy of the city of Wellington and the colony <as a whole. It was the first dual building of its kind in Australia,. (Applause.) An estimate of tho extent of their work amongst seamen would bo gained when it was explained that last year 16,210 men had attended tho services. The sailova were provided with good wholesome literature; and here again they had attained a good deal. Last year no less than six tons of books and periodicals, donated by citizens of Wellington, were distributed amongst the men. Then

they had the concerts. Last year these wero attended by 15,821 sailors. One gentleman to whom they were particularly grateful was Mr G. W. Barltrop, who had delivered sixty limelight lectures without fees of any kind. (Applause.) Tho Mission was also carrying out a good work in seeing that homeless sailors who died in Wellington wero deoently buried. No sailor who died away from friends or homo was allowed to be buried without the attendance of the Mission and some of his fellows. At the concerts last year 455 men had voluntarily signed tho pledge. The men were ro small contributors to the Mission funds. In 1903 they contributed £173. The Mission never owed a person a pennypiece. (Applause.) Tlio building was a froo gift from the foundations to the topmost pinnacle. (Renewed applause.) They owed all to Mrs Williams, and he trusted in the evening of her life she would be fittingly rewarded for her great and noble deed. (Applause.) Amidst prolonged cheering Mrs Williams then presented his Excellency the Governor with a gold key, and requested him to formally declare the building open. His Elxcellency said he need hardly remind those present, that the object of their meeting was to publicly declare tho building open. In the words of the generous donor, it was to be for sailors of ail nations, ail creeds, all classes, and all conditions. It was a noble deed and a princely gift which would be an enduring memorial. (Applause.) When he was invited by the committee to formally open the building, he felt that as representative of the King he would be undertaking a duty which would meet with his Majesty’s approval. It was on the navy and the royal marine that the safety of the Empire depended; and it was, therefore, little use to boast about our navy if we neglected tho men when they came ashore. (Applause.) He had now seen something of Auckland and Napier, and a good deal of the South. In fact, he had returned from Dunedin just a few hours previously. In the course of his journeyings ho attended seventy-eight functions, and when his term of office expired it would bo his duty to say that tho loyalty of the people of New Zealand to the Throne and person showed no diminution, and that they combined a pride in the Old Land and a firm determination to maintain their own position in the Empire and hold it fast. What brought to mind this happy state of affairs in the Empire generally and New Zealand particularly? It was the seamen and men from the ships. (Applause.) Anything lie could do in the interests of seamen would be done with a whole heart. (Loud applause.) A vote of thanks to his Excellency, moved by the Rev J. Reed Glasson, and seconded by Mr C. P. Powles, was carried, amidst hearty cheering. Tho Hon W. Kall-Jones, in the absence of tho Premier, moved a vote of thanks to Mi’s W 7v . R. Williams. He deeply regretted that Mr Seddon, who had taken a keen interest in Mr Moore’s work, was unable to be present. ' It would certainly have given him great pleasure to have been present. They all owed a deep debt of gratitude to Mrs Williams. She would have tho blessing of the mothers, wives and sweethearts of all the men who came to tho building. (Cheers.) Mr Moore, the missioner, was also, deserving of tlieir most hearty thanks. Ho moved a hearty vote of thanks to the noble woman who had given such a magnificent gift to Wellington and the colony at large. Mr J. G. W. Aitken seconded the motion, which was carried amidst hearty cheering. Mr Balcombo Brown suitably responded for Mrs Williams. A vote of thanks was accorded the donors of gifts for furnishing, on the motion of Rev T. H. Sprott and Mr Moore. The ceremony concluded with tho presentation to Mrs Williams o* a handsome gold buoy and oars, suitably inscribed, from the sailors in port. Mr Moore handed over the gift in a touching speech. Mrs Williams rose to speak. “Thank you very much,” she said. "When I think what they have given me—l cannot say more ——” Cheers wero given again and again for the donor, and the audience filed ©Et*