CORRESPONDENCE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13979, 8 January 1916, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

ROYAL ALFRED MERCHANT SEAMEN'S INSTITUTION.

(To the Editor of "The Colonist.")

bir, —When one considers the truly great and heroic part British merchant; .seamen are taking in tho war, their claim upon the generous consideration of- all is unquestionably established., That one of these brave fellows should; stand in need of a helping hand when iorced by age <cr affliction to abandon; tho .sea- would be, one ventures' to a:iirni, an ingratitude to those to v.'hoin as a body Britain owes her commercial prosperity, tind to whom to a- degree wost apijarent of late she is indebtiod lor tlie very daily necessaries of life. At one time it could bo truly saidthab: Britain was the only great maritime nation without a provision for its merchant i-oanien, but with the establishment'of the- Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen's Institution that stigma was removed, and for half a century this great national charity has provided .a home or pension for thousands of a.ge<i and destitute seamen of the British | mefcantilo marine. Like many ottiei old-estiiblished institutions, the "Royal Alfred" has felt the pinch of war. conditions and the competition of the numerous funds for worthy objects arisiii'v out of the present national crisis. Ait earnest appeal is therefore made to Britons in all parts of the world to help I the committee of this old sailors ciiaritv to make good the deficiency and to answer the urgent "signals of distress from hundreds of haid-presscd marui-«-s who have given the best years oi th'tir lives in the service of their coun-j try. Contribtitions kindly directed to the "Royal Alfred Institution, at 08, I F^nchurch stioert, London, E.C., will !be gratefully acknowledged. I am, etc., . J. BAILEY WALKER, | Secretary. 58. Rmchurch street, London, E.C.