A NOBLE GIFT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5031, 31 July 1903, Page 4

A NOBLE GIFT.

It is perhaps a proof of the rarity of Christian charity under .the sun that tho announcement of tho donation of £7OOO made hy Mrs IV. K. Williams for a Sai'ors’ Institute was received with tremendous surprise in tho city yesterday. The happiest man in Wellington in consequence is Mi" Moore, the seamen’s missionary, who was privileged to make the announcement at a concert on Wednesday evening. But there is prohably one person who” is even happier, if it ho possible to he more happy than the gentleman who has clone so much for tho seamen of the port, and that is Airs Williams herself. It is not because her gift is the largest ever made hy a living person in New Zealand to any cause; the largest gifts in our annals have been testamentary. It is because the happiness and benefits flowing from this splendid munificence are simply incalculable. The lady can also have the satisfaction of feeling that the institute she is creating will be a fitting monument to the memory of her husband, who had been so long associated intimately with seamen. To Air Moore is due the credit for the state of things which made this thoughtful donation passible. It may well be doubted whether anyone else in tho country could have brought that about. In the first place, he captured tho seamen. It required a remarkable collection of talents to do that—tact, persuasiveness, strength, gentleness, geniality, enthusiasm and a rare power of attracting and leading men. The particular difficulties, moreover, required a persevering spirit even rarer than tho combination of qualities and talents. Air Moore persevered in spite of disappointments as frequent as they were aggravated. It is not creditable to the Harbour Board that its scheme of work did not embrace a refuge for the largo number of friendless men frequenting tliis port. The Board did their best in the .absence of provision, but if it had not bean for Air Alooro its good intentions would have swelled a certain pavement. Driven by sheer lack of provision from the harbour premises, the indomitable missionary, stuck to Ills purpose until he made tho desert of “poor Jack’s” life a-shoro blossom 'like tho rose. It was the sight of those blossoms that appealed to the thoughtful generosity of Airs Williams.

The results are, as wo said, incalculable, of a gift which ensures for all timo a successful appeal to the better nature of numbers of men, homeless and friendless, who are by the nature of their employment exposed to the worst temptations. Without patronage, which is- offensive, on ono side, and without loss of independence, which is one of tho bases of self-respect on the other, this large number of splendid men is saved to true religion and prevented from forgetting the tender influences of homo life. Wanderers preserved for good citizenship, youth saved from vice, the ennobling influences of literature and music and healthy recreation extended to all—these arc tire results assured to thousands-who have felt them, thousands who are yet to visit us, and thousands yet to bo born. No ono who has helped others has ever bettor deserved the well-earned tribute paid to Mrs Williams on Wednesday by a grateful seamen of—“ God bless her.” We will add that the indomitable missionary has equally well, by his services, which are beyond price, earned tho right to similar tribute.