THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6088, 21 December 1906, Page 9

THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN

CREWS IN THE SOUTH SEAS. In connection with the jubilee extensions of tne Missions to acumen, tue Rev. G. E. Wilson, M.A., superintendent, ns coming out on a mission tour to the South Seas, to visit Australasian oorts, and by conference and co-operation to take part in the developments of the sailor work which has been started with so much sympathetic and kindly energy by the church in the colonies, in conjunction with the church at Home. The bkhops of tho Anglican Cnurch, assembled at Lambeth in iaJ7. resolved; "Tnat it is tlio duty or riie cnurch to aid -in providing ior the moral and spiritual needs of our seamen of the mercantile service by the ministrations of clergy especially set apart for tins work.” Tho archbishops of Sydney and Melbourne, and the bishops of Wellington, Auckland, Newcartle. and others, are taking an active part in making tho Church's care of sailors a very practical reality in those distant harbours, and there is quite a band of the Missions to Seamen chaplains and lay missionere working in those great centres of shipping, with seamen's churches and institutes, steam and motor launches, and other mission boats. Sir Wilson hopes to roach Melbourne by tli ..earner due there on January 6th, holding interviews en route with tailors' friends at Fremantle and Adelaide. The Missions to Seamen chaplains at Melbourne and Sydney are arranging a round of visits_ to tbo largo ports in Victoria and New South Wales, before Mr Wilson goes to New Zealand harbours, to observe and discuss what more could be done to protect and asrt t crews frequenting ocher ports, in the South-Seas. Great advantage is.hoped for by the g nerul-superintcndent conferring with the bishops and clergy, as well as with the chief officials of the marine departments, and the many warm friends of sailors in the colonies, to 'see how bert mission efforts may be extended to meet the existing needs and opportunities. It is ako hoped that experience g lined in so many other ports occupied by the Missions to Seamen may be of use in discussing further plans for religious mini- trations afloat in colonial harbours. Thu visits wii! also bring many distant mission stations and workers into more personal touch with each other, and with their fellow'-workers all round the coasts of the world, as well as with those responsible for its direction and unification at Home. Thus, as in the common brotherhood of the sea, sailors of all nationalities, colours and_creeds are bound together as members of one body, so this visitation may help towards linking all sailor workers together in a brothertiood of common work and service tor Christ and for seamen. The Rev G. F. Wilson (who is accompanied by r Mrs Wilson) is the general-superintendent of the society, that has eighty-six stations in the ports of the world, with 234 agents, boatmen, etc-, and IC6 churches and inrtitutes. and eighty launches, cutlers, etc. Its income in 1905-6 was <£60.000. _ Already arrangements are well in hand for Mr Wilson’s arrival in Wellington, in February. It is hoped he will be able to give special accounts of the work in other ports before audiences in the building donated to the Missions to Seamen by Mrs Williams, and in other buildings, yet to be announced. Mr Wilson’s experience of the work extends over a period of twenty years, seventeen of which he has been superintendent, and aa hie time is taken up constantly inwork for the sailors of the world a moot successful visit is looked forward to. ;