Seaman's Magazine,

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they [sailors] glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Psalm.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY AND

BETHEL UNION.

(Concluded from page 479.)

A Sea Missionary, in the course of Divine Providence has been raised up, and the Society has had the happiness of presenting to the world a circumstance equally novel and interesting. The Rev. Messrs. Smith and Brown, both of them formerly of His Majesty's Navy, have been, and still are, labouring among seamen in connextion with the Society, but their several situations would not admit of their devoting their whole time to this object.

In Captain Angas the society has been honoured with a suitable instrument whose whole soul is devoted to the work, who is admirably fitted for it, and whose circumstances allow him to surrender himself up to this office, and travel by land and by sea to perform its various duties without expense to the society. This is certainly a most wonderful proof of the Divine care and concern for seamen; Captain Angas had been some years preparing for this work before there was any seamen's society existing. His travels from London to Whitehaven, through the various sea ports in the North of England, and his success in forming societies in all of them, have been fully detailed in the Seaman's Magazine. He has succeeded also in bringing forward ministers of all denominations to form one grand bond of union, and has left them in the amiable spirit of peace, and love, and harmony, which Christ enjoined on his first ministers and disciples. Our worthy missionary to sailors is now on the continent of Europe, and we wait with the most pleasing hopes to hear of his labours in foreign seaports. Having thus hastily passed over some general proceedings among sailors, the committee will leave the detail of particulars for the present, and advert to the labours of the Society among

Soldiers. The attention of the committee was first directed to this important class of our countrymen at the formation of a Bethel Union in Chatham, when the Rev. Messrs. Slatterie and Giles urged the necessity of their being included in the operations of a society in a military station of so much importance. To the "Chatham Seamen and Soldiers' Friend Society and Bethel Union," followed a similar one at Woolwich, and at Plymouth Dock and Stonehouse. These have been imitated in such ports as contained soldiers, and thus the society has had a multitude of immortal souls brought under its paternal care in a most providential way.

Watermen who ply on the river Thames have necessarily fallen

under the notice of your committee, and a river mission was undertaken some months since to ascertain the spiritual state of all persons who are supported by the traffic of this river. The result of diligent inquiry has been that, the number of persons and their families connected with the Thames appears to be about 60,000, for whose religious instruction no specific provision was made.

New Floating Chapel.-The committee have adopted means for a new Floating Chapel to be moored off the Tower in view of London bridge.

The Boarding House.-Your society was influenced to adopt this plan by daily information of the drunkenness and impurity to which sailors were exposed by lodging in public houses, and the shameful impositions practised upon them by unprincipled men. A house has been taken in Hermitage-street, Wapping, it has been plainly furnished with suitable beds, &. for seamen, a sub-committee has been appointed to visit it, and the superintendence has been committed to a pious active man (capt. Baker) who has been to sea almost all his lifetime. In the infancy of the society, and the very limited state of its funds, the expenses connected with the out-fit of this boarding house have been severely felt, and so fearful was your society of injuring the other objects of the institution that they had seriously talked of breaking up this establishment, when it pleased God to incline the honourable the directors of the East India Company to vote your society, chiefly for the purpose, the sum of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS; this handsome grant has so encouraged your committee that they have started with fresh vigour in their efforts to rescue sailors from the dens of infamy and ruin, that abound on the banks of the Thames.

A Church of England ship.--It is the happiness of the Seamen's Friend Society to be honoured with the labours of good men of all persuasions, and particularly in the Church of England. It has for some years been an important object of the society to obtain a vessel that should be set apart entirely for the Episcopal service of the Church; but the difficulties in the way have been so very great that it has been found impracticable at present.

The committee, however, still wish to see a Church of England Ark under the direction of suitable gentlemen, and they shall be happy at any time to render all the assistance they can to promote such an establishment.

The British Navy has deservedly occupied a large portion of the Society's attention. This field is of the very first importance, and has been in a great measure unoccupied by other institutions, excepting where Bibles are concerned. The committee consider it a circumstance of the utmost importance to great Britian, that naval men of last war should be in a great measure dispersed throughout the kingdom by the establishment of peace-they have now an opportunity of hearing the Gospel, and forming their character according to the present moral and religious tone of society, and should this nation unhappily be again forced into war, your Committee are persuaded that the British navy would be so effectually purified from its gross immoralities, and so generally influenced by religious sentiments, that a man of war would exhibit a state of morals equally respectable and exemplary.

New-York Bethel Union.

In conclusion the committee say:

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They do most affectionately and respectfully call upon all persons who may hear or read this retrospect of their proceedings, to thank and praise our God and Saviour, whose mercy first selected the seamen of Galilee, and who appears now determined to hasten the accomplishment of his own word, that "THE ABUNDANCE OF THE SEA SHALL BE CONVERTED." Your committee would seem to hear the high command of Jehovah, when by the prophet Isaiah he cried, "O to the land shadowing with wings:" and whether England or America, or most probably both, be intended, they rejoice to find them distinguished by this blessed and evangelical feature, "That sendeth ambassadors by sea, in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go ye swift messengers." In this holy and happy employment to conduct our spiritual ambassadors to the nations of the earth, and ultimately become messengers of mercy themselves, may British and American sailors be engaged, until the word of eternal truth shall be fully accomplished, when "the dominion" of our glorious and exalted Immanuel "shall be from sea to sea, and from the river unto the end of the earth.”

NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION.

THE second anniversary of this institution was celebrated on New Year's eve, in the Murray-street church. DIVIE BETHUNE, Esq. President, took the chair about half past 6 o'clock, and the Rev. ROBERT M'CARTEE gave out the 100th Psalm, and offered the introductory prayer. After the President had opened the business of the meeting with a short address, HORACE HOLDEN, Esq., Secretary, read the annual report. Resolutions were then offered and supported by JACOB OSTRAM, M. D., the Rev. JAMES M. MATHEWS, the Rev. JOHN TRUAIR, and the Rev. GARDINER SPRING, D. D. The report and addresses gave much highly pleas ing and encouraging information, which will be found in our future pages. A collection of $71 25 was taken up, and the meeting concluded with singing an appropriate hymn: the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. M'Cartee.

A convenient stage was erected in front of the pulpit, for the accommodation of the officers and managers, and the managers of other institutions engaged in promoting the best interests of seamen, also the Rev. Clergy, and many other citizens who were invited to attend. The audience was highly respectable; amongst whom we were pleased to see a number of shipmasters and sailors. The music was performed by Messrs. Allen, (who led,) Sage, Morse, and Alden, in the best style, particularly the last hymn, which we shall insert in our pages.

At the opening, the President addressed the audience in nearly the following words:

CHRISTIAN BRETHREN AND SISTERS-Last year we introduced to your notice for the first time, as a society, the claims of the adventurous seamen on the prayers and the exertions of the children of God-You heard us with interest, and you appeared to lift up your hearts in devout supplication for the souls of that class of men, for whom we feel, and wish to act.

Have not the events of the year, now nearly at its close, furnished new motives to Christian efforts in this important work. Recollect the Albion; see, she rushes before the storm, on inevitable destruction! In breathless anxiety the large family on board crowd the forward deck, in the desperation of hope, to seek pro tection of the craggy promontory from the whelming wave--but hark, the dread

ful crash-she strikes a sunken rock-rent in twain, one general shriek is heard, and all is still in death. May every soul be safe as it enters on a long eternity. Is not this the first wish that presses on the heart of him that reads the tale? Then be alive to seamen's claims; bring near to them that Gospel which you have felt to be the salvation of your own souls, and pray that the Holy Spirit may new create their souls. Behold one passenger survives; his body with a feeble grasp stands in a shelving rock; his soul by the firmer footing of faith rests on the Rock of ages; he feels his Saviour near; and had he too been swept away, he would, in the language of a mother in our Israel, have passed from the bosom of God's ocean to the bosom of his God Oh how precious is that faith that gives comfort to the soul even when the body is drowning. This is but one shipwreck -how often have we heard of sweeping storms hurrying hundreds into eternity at a moment's warning.

Must we not shudder to reflect how many seamen who were alive on our last anniversary, have been since called to struggle in vain with the king of terrors. The progress of death on land is slow in comparison with the sweeping blast of the ocean, driving the flying victims of its fury on a lee shore.

Proportioned to the amount of danger ought to be the amount of exertion. The more rapid the transition of the souls of the mariners, the more imperious the duty of vigorous exertions on the part of Christians to have their souls prepared for death by the acceptance of the great salvation. For this sorely tempted, this long neglected people a blest restorative has lately been tried.

PRAYER

Is discovered to be the most powerful engine of deliverance-directed by faith and love, and constructed from the word of God, it lays hold on Omnipotence to succour the distressed and to sanctify the polluted-The same divine power that turns the heart of stone to flesh in a landsman, can work an equally gracious change in a seaman. Prayer is more skilfully employed now than formerly, and there are multitudes lately engaged, to turn this mighty engine to the seaman's benefit-To one praying soul on board of a ship was once given the lives of all that were with him; and to the united prayers of his people will not the God of grace and power, think ye, give the souls of many seamen.

At this moment we are met under the banner, and in the temple of One, our Lord and Saviour, who, even when he tabernacled on earth, extorted the admiring exclamation "What manner of man is this that the winds and the seas obey him." How much more will he now deliver them that trust in Him, since all power in heaven and in earth is given to Him; and we have his own blessed word to encourage our prayers, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you—ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

(To be Continued.)

Notices and Acknowledgments.

"E. P.;" "S. L.;" and X. Y.;" are received. "Tom the Sailor's" "lines" were neither poetry nor prose, and his request was complied with-" the whole" put in the fire."

was

We thank "A CONSTANT READER" for his useful hint-it shall be attended to. But with respect to the journals of missionaries, we feel persuaded our plan is the best: a brief view of the state of a mission will be the most acceptable to readers in general, and will enable us, though at the expense of great labour, to give our readers much more matter of fact than the plan proposed.

We trust no apology will be thought necessary for the length of the Obituary in this number, though the seamen's department and "Intelligence" are consequently reduced.

Report of Sunday School Teachers-Bethel Union-and proceedings at the opening of the new "Bible Society House," will be given in our next, with several other articles prepared for this number.

Polynesia.-South Sea Islands.

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of the first fruits; or if we be not favoured to participate even of them, we shall sow immortal seed, which will in due time spring up and produce a plentiful crop. Though David was not allowed to build the temple of the Lord, yet his preparations were of essential use in its erection by Solomon his son; and his desire to accomplish that great undertaking himself, received the approbation and the plaudit of his God.

Entelligence.

POLYNESIA.-SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.

THOUGH in a late number, p. 365, we gave a full account of the report of the de putation appointed, by the London Missionary Society to visit these islands, we cannot withhold from our readers the high gratification they must feel in the astonishing facts recorded in the following extracts of a letter from the Rev. D. Tyerman to a lady in England, dated Taheite, Nov. 24, 1821.

THE power and wisdom of God, as displayed in the structure of this wonderful island, can only be exceeded by that stupendous and marvellous change which has taken place among its inhabitants: a change which fills me with incessant astonishment and joy. Had I opportunity and leisure to describe the former moral condition of this people, it would be unnecessary that I should do it to you: suffice it to observe, that it was peculiarly the place where Satan's seat was, and if ever that awful being were allowed an incarnation it was here. The details of wickedness, given us by the Missionaries since we have been here, are enough to fill us with horror. How many human victims almost daily bled upon their cruel altars! Two thirds of the infants born were instantly murdered by the hands of their own mothers. I saw one woman the other day, who had destroyed eight of her own offspring; I have heard of another who killed nine, another 17, another 20!!! The god of thieves, for there was such a god here, was faithfully served, while crimes of other kinds too horrible to be named, every where defiled this beautiful land. All the worst passions of human nature were indulged in the utmost possible extent. But, where sin abounded, grace much more abounds!

God has done great things for this people. The faithful and holy exertions of his servants are most amply rewarded. The prayers of the British charches are indeed heard; and all the expenses which have been incurred, are now fully repaid. O that you and all whose hearts are engaged in doing good to the heathen, could but witness what I have already seen; it would fill your soul with amazement and gratitude.

Where I have been, the Sabbath is universally regarded; not an individual is known, whether among the chiefs or the common people, who does not attend divine worship on the Lord's day. The engagements of that holy day commence with a prayer-meeting, conducted entirely by the natives themselves, at sunrise. Knowing the backwardness of Christians in England to attend early prayer-meetings, what do you think my surprise has been on going to these services, to find their large