BENEFITS OF THE COAST GUARD LIBRARIES. "TIME will show," indeed it has already shown, the vast importance of the provision made for the religious improvement of that great body of seamen and their families, the coast guard around England, Scotland, and Ireland. From among other interesting communications, we give the following letter, addressed to the Secretary, from one of the crew, on the south-west coast. SIR,I have a long time been desirous to address a few lines (imperfect as they may be) to those kind ladies and gentlemen who come forward so nobly, so kindly, so zealously, and so affectionately, to endeavour to impart unto the great bulk of men to whom I belong (I mean the Coast Guard), that knowledge which alone can lead to joys on high; as well as that knowledge of an innocent, entertaining, and useful nature, connected with things of this world; and which, while we study the things of nature leads the contemplative mind to nature's God. I have perused most of the books in the Station Library,' particularly those of a religious tendency. The life of Burn, of Newton, of Gardiner, &c. have been read with much profit and delight: may I follow those as they followed Christ. I have likewise commenced my study from that large and valuable selection contained in the District Library; in both of which, I am happy to find, that our great benefactors have selected, according to my idea, the most useful books for pointing out to the sinner his desperate, lost, and undone condition, and to direct him to that Saviour, who has suffered, bled, and died, the just for the unjust,' to bring rebellious man to God. I desire to embrace this opportunity of rendering my sincere gratitude. to all those who have so nobly come forward to aid in this glorious work my prayer is, and continually shall be, that you may not labour in vain, nor spend your strength for nought; but that your labours may not only be blessed thirty or sixty, but even an hundred fold: that while you are thus endeavouring to water the souls of others, by your praiseworthy exertions, your own souls may be abundantly blessed by God; and that above all, you may have the happiness to see, at that great day, when the great white throne is erected, the Judge seated thereon, and assembled worlds collected together, that many precious souls have been brought savingly to glory, through the means of the Coast Guard Libraries. And while I take this opportunity of expressing my gratitude, I beg to say that there are others at this station equally grateful for this invaluable boon; there are two more of the crew, as well as myself, connected with the Wesleyan Methodist Society, together with several members of our respective families; yet I trust that so far from entertaining any bigoted principles, we are ready to lend the right hand of friendship to all who are endeavouring to overthrow the strong-hold of sin and Satan, and erect the standard of our common Lord and Saviour on the ruins of Satan's empire. "There are likewise many others who derive much satisfaction from perusing these valuable mines, on whose heart, no doubt, the Spirit operates; and who will, no doubt, be brought to glory. I believe, dear Sir, that eternity alone will reveal to your astonished views the good that has been done through the means of Coast Guard Libraries were there pious, zealous, and devoted officers at every station, I doubt not but your ears would frequently hear, and your heart be cheered by the good which would be done; but at present this is not so, and, sir, frequently the fear of man bringeth a snare. I have taken this opportunity to let you know that your labour is not altogether in vain, thinking that any information might rejoice your heart and give you courage to go forward; and I sincerely pray that all those ladies and gentlemen who have acted so nobly, may at last, when they have finished their earthly course, be welcomed into the city of our God, to see without a veil between the Godhead reconciled, when they will be 'Far from a world of grief and sin, With God eternally shut in.' "I remain, honoured Sir, with all respect, your thankful and humble servant, B. W. W. Our Station most of the "P.S. Your PILOT is read by some of us. being closely connected with the town, and crew living in town, we have formed no school." SAFELY IN PORT-THE VOYAGE OVER. Thou Sovereign Lord of earth and sea, Thine outstretch'd arm, thy glorious power Display'd o'er dangerous seas, Grant, O thou God of truth and love, Thy grace to draw our souls above, Guide us, O Lord, life's voyage o'er ; Bring us, at length, to Canaan's shore, A SAILORS' FRIEND. American Chronicle. BOSTON SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY. THE following brief extracts of the last Report of the BOSTON SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY will fully illustrate the importance of evangelizing sailors, and the noble generosity and holy philanthropy which are produced by the Gospel of Christ. "Depository and Registry.-Our Depository has been open as usual. Multitudes of seamen find their way to it. They receive the Bible and Tract, accompanied with a word of advice, or consolation, or reproof, as it may seem proper, with gratitude. In no instance has your Agent received an unkind word from one of these sons of the ocean. But on the contrary, the testimony he has received of their friendship has been very gratifying. 'How do you do, Sir?' said a young sailor, as he entered the office; at the same time giving the Agent a warm shake of the hand. Thank God,' he continued, 'I am glad to meet with you. You are the man of all others I am rejoiced to see. Ah! Sir, that Bible and them Tracts you gave me were the things! They opened my eyes, blessed be God, to see what a poor wretch I was; and here is a little bit of a present for you:' at the same time presenting him with a neat basket of shells. That's to pay you for talking with me. That little Tract, called Lydia Sturtevant, or the Fatal Resolution, first opened my eyes, and the Bible showed me the way. I trust I have found Christ precious to my soul. Not one of my shipmates knows any thing about this religion. I want six Bibles to give them before we separate." He paid for them, and left the office with a light heart. Your Agent afterwards learned that he sent three dollars to the Treasurer of the Foreign Missionary Society, and four dollars to the American Tract Society. Before he sailed, he called at the office, and obtained six more Bibles to distribute among his shipmates. He also purchased Scott's Commentary and Dwight's Theology to read while absent. “There have been distributed during the year, 599 Bibles, 102 Testaments, and several hundred thousand pages of Tracts, together with 15,000 Sailor's Temperance Almanacks, and a large quantity of religious pamphlets and newspapers. "Seamen's Library. Nearly all the books of this library are now on the waters. The circulation of religious books among seamen, the Directors are persuaded, is one of the most efficient ways of doing good to this class of men which has been devised. A young man, who owes his conversion, under God, to reading the Bible and Doddridge's Rise and Progress, every voyage calls at our office to get his supply of books. Nearly a year ago he took from the library some of these volumes. He circulated them among the officers and crew. The chief mate, who was an intemperate man and a scoffer at religion, began to read them. He abandoned the use of strong drink, became serious, and, it is believed, was converted from the power of Satan unto God. On the return of the vessel to this port, this pious sailor called on your Agent, in company with his shipmates, and joined the WINDWARD ANCHOR TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, which recognizes in its pledge total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors." Correspondence and Proceedings of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. IMPROVED SERIES OF THE PILOT, OR WE beg again to inform our readers that it is proposed to improve this work in typography and paper,—to ren -- der its intelligence still more diversified, and to the fullest extent to make it a faithful record of the proceedings of THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY. Among other matter it will embrace original Essays on important subjects: The importance of Seamen to Great Britain: - Their moral condition: and the progress of religion among them: Notices of kindred Societies: Biographical sketches of pious Seamen, and of the friends of Seamen : Influence of Seamen on Missionary operations: - Maritime commerce of Britain, and of Foreign Nations: - Progress of British colonization: Illustrations of the Natural History of the Sea: Rare Marine productions, &c. &c. The work will be published January 1, 1838, and continued in monthly numbers, price three-pence, by T. Ward and Co., Paternoster Row, London, and may be had of all booksellers; and will be found an interesting family Periodical. KENTISH COAST MISSIONARY TO SEAMEN. MANY of the most generous friends of seamen, especially the ministers of the Gospel of different denominations, have been very solicitous to have a devoted missionary employed among the seamen around the Kentish coast. After much deliberation on the importance of this station, the Rev. J. Chapman, whose labours among the seamen in the port of London have been well received by that class, offered himself for that mission, and he has been appointed to the work by the resolution of the Committee. Mr. Chapman entered, Oct. 22d, upon this new and important sphere of his labours with cheering prospects of success, and with the heartfelt prayers of many who had profited by his ministry at the Sailors' Chapel in London. Considering the extended sphere of his operations, which will be directed in various ways, as may appear necessary, from Dover around the coast as far as Sheerness, it is hoped that many seamen of the intervening places, Deal, Sandwich, Ramsgate, Margate, &c. will have reason to rejoice in this arrangement of the Society, and many be brought to the knowledge of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. The ministers of Christ of different denominations, in that district, the Committee are assured, will cordially co-operate with Mr. Chapman, and strengthen his hands in his |
