PRESENTATION AT THE SAILORS' REST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13387, 13 September 1905, Page 6

PRESENTATION AT THE SAILORS' REST.

A very large number of the -friends and workers at the Duncdin Sailors' rest gathered there la3t night in honour oi the approaching marriage of Miss Agnes G. Bannerman (daughter of the late Rev. Dr Bannerman), and lo present her with a token of their lovo and esteem in the shape of a largo marble timepiece. Amongst those who took part in ihe tea wero Jlesdames James Kirkland, Lindsay Mackie, Misses Robb and Honner (missionaries for South America), and Messrs Hcycock, Bain, Wilkinson, Felt-hani, and Falconer. Mv Falconer (seamen's missionary), in'making the presentation, said he supposed ho had been selected because of his long and intimate knowledge of the worth and work of Miss Bannerman. For many years \past she had been a good worker in the Sailors' Rest both for the temporal and spiritual benefittheir sailor friends. Many even of the friends the mission did not know how devotedly Miss Bannerman had served the mission, tor most of it had been done quietly and unseen by others. She had taken a very active part in the social teas for sailors. Doubtless she often watched to ascertain if sufficient ships were_ at the wharf for a tea 7 and, then he (Mr Falconer) would receive a letter or a. visit offering welcome, 'hearty, practical aid. Many a sailor had enjoyed the hospitality of her home, for her revered parents welcomed them at their table and fireside. Her father, the venerable Dr Bannerman. often told'him that it did bis heart good to listen to the simple story pi these lads. He knew Misa Bannerman did, and still continued to, correspond with somo of these Christian sailors, and ho -hoped he was not telling too much when ho added that bo. saw the other day a, most .beautiful -marriage present Bent from Iho other sido of the world to Miss Bannerman by one of those youths. Many of them knew the work Miss Bannerman had undertaken for other missions, especially the work in ihe New Hebrides, in connection with the Presbyterian Church Mission 1 there: but-.what was desired to be acknowledged that evening was her services to the Seamen's Mission. As they knew, they gave to every sailor in port on Christmas Day a sailor's bag filled with' odds and ends useful to him at sea. Miss Bannerman had always done her best to see that a whole copy of tb Biblo was put into these bigs, and more than once, when they had to bb oontcnt with a copy of the New Testament, he had had to take out tho littlo volume and put in in it.3 stead a full copy of the Bible, Miss Bannerman and her Bibloreading circle having Font him the :nc-ar.3 to do so. In conclusion, he asked Miss Bannerman to accept the timepiece as a small token of Christian love from fellow workers and friends of the Duncdin Sailors' Rest, and he hoped God would bless her and all dear to her.