7 two great nations should be so morally vitiated and depraved,-so corrupt and corrupting in their character? Why is it, that wherever they go, they are entailing a curse on the native population of the various countries ;-and, positively endangering some of the missionary stations, on which we have been accustomed to look with such interest ? These are questions which we leave the churches of both lands to answer, as they shall have to give account to God. Appeal has followed appeal on this subject, to the Committee of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society in London, and to the Board of the American Seamen's Friend Society in New York, but they have been under the painful necessity of replying-" We have not funds to enable us to send a seamen's chaplain to every foreign port; we cannot even occupy the fields which are now open before us at home!" It is evident from their statements, that they have felt the force of the appeal which has been made to them; and most bitterly mourned over the evil. But the remedy is not in their hands. It remains with the Christian community of both countries, to supply the necessary resources. Till this is done, the churches of Britain and America must be held at fault. But let these Societies, which profess to provide for the moral necessities of the sailor, possess the adequate funds, and the responsibility will rest with them. Theirs will be the guilt, if, humanly speaking, this torrent of iniquity is not arrested in its progress. We therefore recur to our former question,-What is to be done? To leave things as they are, would be to aggravate our guilt. An effort must be made to destroy this giant evil. And, under this impression we submit, whether it is not the duty of all the great Bible and Missionary Institutions in Britain and America, to publish the naked facts of the cuse, and keep them before the Christian church, by reiterating them from the pulpit, the platform, and the press, tül every Christian fe ls it a solemn obligation, enforced by the authority of high Heaven, that he should, to the utmost of his ability, muke provision for the moral recovery of these men. Further,—would it not be perfectly legitimate, and likely to secure an important end, if these great institutions were to instruct their various agents, who may be stationed in any foreign port, to direct special attention to the seamen who may visit such ports, and bring their agency and influence to beur on their moral circumstances. A very large amount of good might thus be effected. And just in proportion to the change produced in the character of the sailor, would be the probability of religion and purity being extensively promoted among the inhabitants of those iands, on whose shores they so frequently touch. The virtue of the sailor would reprove and check the vice of the native. And instead of giving countenance and support to all that is dark and revolting in human conduct, he would employ every energy, to bring the perishing heathen into the way of peace. An island is found in a state of healthy prosperity," BECAUSE there is no harbour for shipping there!" What a volume is embodied in this single sentence, and how full of meaning! BOARDS OF MISSIONS!-Constituted to represent and act for the church of Christ! You are most deeply involved in this subject. The darling object of your hearts, is here at stake. Is it not in your power, to a very large extent, to prevent and ward off the calamity which threatens some of the most interesting and promising missionary stations abroad? Will you, then, longer suffer to leave your shores in thousands, men, whose influence must act like the most deadly agencies on every heathen settlement, and endanger your missions on every shore? MINISTERS OF CHRIST!-Captains of the army of the redeemed, who are leading them on to conquest and glory!-will you allow the laurels, for which the church has so nobly fought, and which she has so honourably won, to be torn from her brow with a rude hand, and trampled under foot? יי CHURCHES OF CHRIST!-Conservators of the world!-will you not interpose, and by an enlightened and united effort, seck to bring seamen under the purifying influence of the gospel, that they may no longer be "the savour of death unto death among the heathen? The power is in your hands. Your labour in the Lord will not be in vain. The salvation of seamen, will be not only the safest guard and protection to your missions, but the precursor of the world's salvation! ENGLAND AND AMERICA! The two first nations on earth in moral power!-Will you not combine and pledge this power, first to rescue the sailor from his own personal degradation and misery, and then, through his salvation, seek to save your missions,-redeem the race,—and bless the world. British and Foreign Sailors' Society's Rooms, 2, Jeffrey-square, St. Mary Axe. R. FERGUSON. the disposition burst forth, and with the impetuosity of a resistless torrent carried the people before it, so that they appeared maddened with infatuation. I could scarcely imagine that they were the same persons among whom I had lived so long, and of whom I had thought so highly.' Nor is this the sum of even Mr. Williams' testimony. At a public meeting in this metropolis, he thus expressed himself: "Only think, what would be the effect upon your missionary stations, if every ship that visited them carried pious captains, officers, and men ! Instead of which they come to our beautiful islands, looking forward to the gratification of every vile passion, and at times there is an inundation of wickedness brought upon us by them. Some time ago a captain visited our island, and procured a number of native females, whom he took on board his ship, and carried them fifteen miles off. The native authorities followed him, and demanded their restoration, but instead of giving them up, he actually loaded a cannon, and fired five balls at the chapel and settlement !”† Impressed and pained with these facts, (as well they might) the Directors of the London Missionary Society addressed the following letter in 1833, to the Board of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society : "DEAR SIRS, -You will doubtless have seen, from some of the publications of the London Missionary Society, the demoralization produced at some of the islands of the South Seas, by the increased use of ardent spirits, large quantities of which have been imported by our countrymen and Americans, and hawked about the settlements, as well as sold in barrels. Recent accounts from the South Sea Islands are, in reference to this subject, most discouraging. Our brethren state that the besetting sin in Tahiti, at present, is drunkenness; that it had produced the greatest unischief in the churches; and this state of things, which fills the Directors with the greatest distress, is attributed greatly to American and British sailors, who have established a number of grog-shops on shore for retailing spirits, and who have induced the chiefs to become traffickers in rum. "The extent and disastrous operation of this immoral habit, has led the Directors to devise and apply the most suitable remedies; and, among others, they have instructed me to make this communication to you, directing your attention, at the same time, to the baneful influence of seamen on Foreign Missions, and inviting your prompt and efficient exertions, especially in behalf of seamen visiting the South Sea Islands, that they may become instructed, reformed, and improved, and go forth to other countries, as interesting samples of the BRITISH NATION,-the BRITISH CHARACTER. But what is to be done? The evil exists; how is it to be remedied? It has been suggested, that every thing possible should be done "to put a stop to a traffic, which entails so much wretchedness and evil." But this would not reach the case. It might restrict the evil, but not remove it. The natives have most unhappily contracted a taste for strong drink, and have been taught to "convert even their bread-fruit into ardent spirit by distillation." Suppose then the traffic were to cease, and every merchant were to abandon the trade, the natives have now, to a great extent, the means of supply within themselves. Besides, there is another source from which this deadly liquid may be obtained. "Though the use of ardent spirits is forbidden in some islands, and though destroyed when found, yet there are too many who carry on the trade in an underhand manner." It is supplied also from the various SHIPS who visit the islands, not excepting those which are denominated TEMPERANCE SHIPS! What a foul blot on the national character of the two countries! "Tell it not in Gath." It appears, then, that the great source of the evil lies with those "who go down to the sea in ships," -with British and American sailors,—that their intercourse with the natives, has been the cause of the wide-spread misery in these islands. As soon as an English or an American ship comes in sight, instead of hailing, or being gratified by its approach, the missionary deprecates and dreads it. The conduct of the scamen sickens his very heart, and stands as the most formidable obstacle, and most painful trial in his path. How is this? How is it, that the seamen of these * Missionary Enterprises, by the Rev. John Williams, pp. 465 and 405, 406. In addition to this we have the concurrent testimony of both Church and Wesleyan missionaries, and equally affecting intelligence from other parts of the world. 7 two great nations should be so morally vitiated and depraved,-so corrupt and corrupting in their character? Why is it, that wherever they go, they are entailing a curse on the native population of the various countries ;-and, positively endangering some of the missionary stations, on which we have been accustomed to look with such interest? These are questions which we leave the churches of both lands to answer, as they shall have to give account to God. Appeal has followed appeal on this subject, to the Committee of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society in London, and to the Board of the American Seamen's Friend Society in New York, but they have been under the painful necessity of replying-" We have not funds to enable us to send a seamen's chaplain to every foreign port; we cannot even occupy the fields which are now open before us at home!" It is evident from their statements, that they have felt the force of the appeal which has been made to them; and most bitterly mourned over the evil. But the remedy is not in their hands. It remains with the Christian community of both countries, to supply the necessary resources. Till this is done, the churches of Britain and America must be held at fault. But let these Societies, which profess to provide for the moral necessities of the sailor, possess the adequate funds, and the responsibility will rest with them. Theirs will be the guilt, if, humanly speaking, this torrent of iniquity is not arrested in its progress. We therefore recur to our former question,-What is to be done? To leave things as they are, would be to aggravate our guilt. An effort must be made to destroy this giant evil. And, under this impression we submit, whether it is not the duty of all the great Bible and Missionary Institutions in Britain and America, to publish the naked fucts of the case, and keep them before the Christian church, by reiterating them from the pulpit, the platform, and the press, till every Christian fe ls it a solemn obligation, enforced by the authority of high Heaven, that he should, to the utmost of his ability, muke provision for the moral recovery of these men. Further,—would it not be perfectly legitimate, and likely to secure an important end, if these great institutions were to instruct their various agents, who may be stationed in any foreign port, to direct special attention to the seamen who may visit such ports, and bring their agency and influence to beur on their moral circumstances. A very large amount of good might thus be effected. And just in proportion to the change produced in the character of the sailor, would be the probability of religion and purity being extensively promoted among the inhabitants of those iands, on whose shores they so frequently touch. The virtue of the sailor would reprove and check the vice of the native. And instead of giving countenance and support to all that is dark and revolting in human conduci, he would employ every energy, to bring the perishing heathen into the way of peace. An island is found in a state of healthy prosperity, "BECAUSE there is no harbour for shipping there!" What a volume is embodied in this single sentence, and how full of meaning! in BOARDS OF MISSIONS!-Constituted to represent and act for the church of Christ! You are most deeply involved in this subject. The darling object of your hearts, is here at stake. Is it not your power, to a very large extent, to prevent and ward off the calamity which threatens some of the most interesting and promising missionary stations abroad? Will you, then, longer suffer to leave your shores in thousands, men, whose influence must act like the most deadly agencies on every heathen settlement, and endanger your missions on every shore? MINISTERS OF CHRIST!-Captains of the army of the redeemed, who are leading them on to conquest and glory!-will you allow the laurels, for which the church has so nobly fought, and which she has so honourably won, to be torn from her brow with a rude hand, and trampled under foot? CHURCHES OF CHRIST!-Conservators of the world!-will you not interpose, and by an enlightened and united effort, seck to bring seamen under the purifying influence of the gospel, that they may no longer be "the savour of death unto death" among the heathen? The power is in your hands. Your labour in the Lord will not be in vain. The salvation of seamen, will be not only the safest guard and protection to your missions, but the precursor of the world's salvation! ENGLAND AND AMERICA! The two first nations on earth in moral power!-Will you not combine and pledge this power, first to rescue the sailor from his own personal degradation and misery, and then, through his salvation, seek to save your missions, redeem the race, and bless the world. British and Foreign Sailors' Society's Rooms, 2, Jeffrey-square, St. Mary Axe. LONDON, JUNE, 1839. R. FERGUSON. Since many will doubtless be induced from these statements, (who have never hitherto done so,) to lend their aid in attempting radically to improve and elevate the character of the British sailor, and since those who are now engaged, may be constrained to renew their energies and double their efforts, we deem it advisable to introduce a notice of the Institution, which more especially proposes As its end the moral renovation of our seamen. Its claims are powerful, and sooner or later they must be met. CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY. The Society shall comprehend all denominations of Christians, holding the essential doctrines of the Protestant faith. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Board of Directors, chosen annually at the general meeting of the Subscribers. All agents of the Society shall be chosen by the Directors. That every annual Subscriber of One Guinea, shall be a member of this Society; and that Ladies subscribing Five Guineas, and Gentlemen Ten Guineas, shall be members for Life. That each Subscriber of One Guinea, and Collectors of Two Guineas, shall be entitled to the Society's publications. Every minister, giving a collection to the Society, shall be at liberty to attend the meetings of the Committee. A report of the proceedings of the Committee, with an audited statement of the finances of the Society, shall be presented every year to the general meeting. Truly catholic and enlarged are the objects which the Society embraces :-By establishing the preaching of the gospel on ship-board, and on shore, throughout the port of London ;-by a system of constant visitation amongst the seamen, calling their attention to the truths of religion, furnishing copies of the sacred Scriptures, as also books and tracts of a truly evangelical character, (to effect which the Society employs faithful, well-known, and acceptable teachers to attend the Bethel meetings, and Thames Missionaries to visit seamen on their arrival in port, in the several docks, in the Boarding-houses, and when about to leave ;)—by day and sunday-schools, for the education of the children of seamen and watermen ;-by furnishing ship-libraries of religious books on loan, to vessels bound to foreign parts;-by providing agents in the provincial ports of Great Britain and Ireland, and aiding local associations in prosecuting the great objects of the Society, by grants of money, books, tracts, and Bethel flags;-by engaging missionaries on remote stations of maritime importance;-by providing chaplains for the most frequented foreign ports; and co-operating in every practicable manner with the friends of seamen throughout the world, especially American Seamen's Friend Society." "The FEV. ROBERT FERGUSON, Secretaries, REV. THOMAS TIMPSON. SOCIETY'S ROOMS, 2, JEFFREY-SQUARE, ST. MARY AXE. SOLD BY MESSRS. WARD & CO., PATERNOSTER-ROW. PRICE 2d. or 14s. per 100. W. Tyler, Printer, 5, Bolt-court, London. In an article on the Ark, or Floating-chapel, we traced this history up to the time when the vessel purchased and prepared for a sanctuary was moored in the Thames, and solemnly dedicated to the service of God. To that memorable period many still living look back with peculiar interest, and on the glad scenes which then took place their imagination loves to linger. To many, the events of that day will constitute some of the most pleasing reminiscences of life, and be among the most grateful recollections of immortality. The effort then made in London became known throughout the kingdom, and on the other side of the wide Atlantic. Corresponding measures were immediately adopted in several of our provincial ports, in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland; nor did our American brethren linger in the rear. A new impetus was given to the christian mind, and there was a spontaneous movement in favour of the sailor. Place provoked place, and nation emulated with nation to provide for his moral instruction-his education for eternity. And had no unpropitious circumstance ever arisen to impede and endanger the work, (which was scarcely to be expected in this imperfect state, and amid the ignorance and infirmities of human nature,) there can be no doubt but the sailor's cause would have now possessed that place in the public estimation to which it is pre-eminently entitled. Still the work proceeded; and in November, 1819, some individuals, contemplating a wider field of exertion, associated toge |