74 WHAT KIND OF BOOKS SHOULD BE ON BOARD SHIP. There remaineth a rest. Here the soldier must wrestle- There perfect the peace and unending the joy! That home is above which your Lord is preparing, Whence your loved and your lost seem to whisper: .. Away." There remaineth a rest. Then press on to those dear ones, Though long seems your journey be brave and be patient, 'Tis love everlasting your pathway is guiding, WHAT KIND OF BOOKS SHOULD BE ON BOARD SHIP. For Chart and Compass. EAR MR. EDITOR,—Like your good work at London and elsewhere, there is a good work among seamen carried on here. On the north side of the Clyde are the Seamen's Chapel and Institute, with all their operations, under the presidency of the chaplain, the Rev. J. M. Campbell. On the south side is a Mission Hall, we call "Seamen's Bethel," where Mr. Morrison, himself a sailor, now called to be one of the missionaries of the G.S.F. Society, chiefly holds his meetings. His usual custom at his meetings is to hold an after meeting for personal dealing and prayer. Many of these sons of the sea remain to be talked with and prayed for, and very many at these meetings find Christ a personal Saviour, and go forth to tell of His power to save. Last night at the after meeting a lot of fine men remained after service for conversation and prayer. I said to a bright-faced young man, "Do you know the Saviour, brother?" "Yes, thank God," was his reply, and his face lit up with an expression of joy, as if he had come off a voyage from a 'better country" than from Calcutta, where he has lately been. How long is it since you found the Saviour?" "Six months ago." "Now tell me all about 66 A FRIENDLY LETTER. 66 75 it; how it came to pass." 'Well, about nine months ago I shipped in the "Manitoban" Allan Line Steamer. In the library box I got hold of the Pilgrims Progress. I discovered I was like that man, lost, and needing to flee from the wrath to come; but knew not how. I was three months anxious about my soul. I came to Glasgow and went to stay in the Sailors' Home. I shipped at Glasgow on 6th June, 1881, in the "Eurydice," of Greenock, for Calcutta. On the passage out I got a book of sermons out of the box. I think it was by Dr. Wallace, where the word was in John vi. 29, he said, this is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. I was trying for three months to work, and do, and pray; but all to no purpose. I had no peace. But I saw I was all wrong. I must just believe on Jesus for my salvation, and in that instant light and peace broke in on my soul, and I have been happy ever since. How I did enjoy the meetings at Calcutta; I went on shore to them every night." I rejoiced in this young man's testimony to the value of books on board ship that lead men to the Saviour. Some well meaning people, at least they are members of visible churches on earth, think that amusing tales and some light reading should be given to Jack, to help to wile away the monotony of a long sea voyage. I had thirty years of sea life, and know well, whether it requires tales of romance or light reading to wile away the time at sea. There are plenty higher pursuits for Jack in his watch below, after he is done mending his clothes and turning out his chest on a sunny afternoon. The slate and the copy book, the aspiring idea, in the study of navigation in "Norie," or some other popular epitome of navigation. Then for change, besides dog-watch games, books of travels, of history, of science, biographies of good and great men, but above all, the Bible for every man, and every man with a Bible, are the best books to place on board ship for use of sailors. January 16th, 1882. FRIENDLY LETTER. BY MISS SKINNER. JOHN SMITH. The twentieth friendly letter is to young ladies, especially those who have just left school. The gifted author can write for the rich and learned as well as the poor and unlearned. Put this letter into the hands, heads, and hearts of the young ladies of England and we shall have brighter and better homes. A "Friendly Letter" came to me, To guide, to cheer, to wara; And when I marked how wide the range, The Letters" now embrace, I thought how multitudes would feel, The youngest, weakest, poorest, too, And words that Christ, the Lord pronounced, Bath, Nov. 29th, 1881. REV. T. Wallace. ROPOSED Sailors' Bethel and Reading Room in connection with the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. AN OLD FRIEND AND DIRECTOR. EAR MR. MATTHEWS,-Your kind letter of last week I duly received. Glad to hear you have safely arrived home after your visit to Genoa and Naples. I read in the December number of Chart and Compass an account of the death of your beloved wife. I had not the pleasure of a personal knowledge of her, but she appears to have been a most estimable and excellent Christian lady, a fellow-labourer, and co-worker with you in everything you set your hand to, in seeking to promote the religious interests of our sailors. You have my kind sympathy in this very great trial. Received also by the same post the volume of Chart and Compass for 1881; it is very nicely got up indeed, I intend to send it down to the North to the managing owners of a new steamer recently launched, asking them to place it on board "for the use of the officers and crew." She is a vessel I have some interest in, and my son is one of the managing owners. Some of the monthly parts of the Chart and Compass you sent me down last year have been circulated, but I am not sure I have secured any new subscribers. The reason is that the Port of Hull Society, and the Orphanage Institution in connection with it, claims and receives the almost undivided sympathy and support of the friends of sailors and fishermen in Scarborough, as it does also in many other towns in Yorkshire. The orphans in considerable force come to our town at least once a year, with their welltrained brass band, and parade our streets. Their general appearance on these occasions certainly does the friends and managers of the institution credit. I have no disposition or intention, however, to transfer my interest and help from your Society to the above Institution. I intend to stick to the old ship, for I still treasure in my memory many happy reminiscences of some of its missionaries, and their services both afloat and ashore. I think it is about 48 years ago, being then only a young man, and only in a very humble position, I became acquainted with the Society's missionary, Captain Prynn, at Bell Wharf Mission Station, being only a young Christian. He took me by the hand, and was always ready to show me kindness when in London, and this humble Mission Station became my spiritual home when in port. My attachment then to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, you will see, was formed very early in my life, and has continued undiminished to now, I therefore feel a pleasure in enclosing a cheque for 1 1s., my annual subscription for the current year. I desire to be kindly remembered to the Society's missionaries, in London, viz., Messrs. Lonsdale, Boase, and Custard. And with best wishes and prayers for the Divine blessing to rest on your valuable Society and self,-I remain, yours sincerely, Scarborough, January 16th, 1882. GEORGE BUTCHART. E who boasts of being perfect is perfect in folly. I have been a good deal up and down in the world, and I never did see either a perfect horse or a perfect man, and I never shall till two Sundays come together. You cannot get white flour out of a coal sack, nor perfection out of human nature; he who looks for it had better look for sugar in the sea. The old saying is, "Lifeless, faultless :" of dead men we should say nothing but good, but as for the living, they are all tarred more or less with the black brush, and half an eye can see it. soft place in it, and every heart has its has its prickles, and every day its night. and the skies are darkened with clouds. has folly enough to stock a stall at Vanity Fair, Where I could not see the fool's-cap, I have nevertheless heard the bells jingle. *From John Ploughman's Talk, (Illustrated). By the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, Messrs. Passmore & Alabaster. A most readable and useful book for sailors as well as shore people. A 1 at Lloyds. Every head has a black drop. Every rose Even the sun shows spots, Nobody is so wise but he |