about his soul. He went to his lodgings, and shut himself up in his bedroom. When dinner was prepared, the man of the house went to call him, and, calling at the bedroom door, was invited in. The door was no sooner opened, than his boarder caught him round the neck, weeping, and confessing what a sinner he had been; and would not go down till they had prayed together. Shortly after I held a prayer meeting at the house. He was present; and, after meeting, went home with me, to get some instructions in regard to the new life he had then resolved to live. I I did not fail to improve the opportunity, by giving him the best instructions I could: giving him some tracts, I then commended him to God, and the word of his grace. I lately perused a letter from him to his friend, in which he asks prayers of Christians, that he may resist those temptations to which his occu-. pation peculiarly exposes him, and devote the remainder of his days to the service of God. He particularly regrets the want of those prayer meetings which he once despised, but which his situation at this time does not allow him to enjoy. He states, also, that he has not forgotten that "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." I hope you, and those associated with you, may eventually meet him in heaven. What a rich reward would this be for all your labours of love for the salvation of poor sailors!

One day, as I was in my study, I heard a rap at the door, and going to see what was wanted, I observed a man standing there in the habit of a sailor, with a kind of bandage round his head. I gave him my hand, and invited him into the house. He said nothing, but walked in. I gave him a seat, and asked him to sit down; he did so without uttering a word. I sat down by him, and, after a short pause, I began to be apprehensive, from his total silence, that his head had been so seriously wounded as to impair his reason. I then said to him, Have you hurt your head?" To which, after a little pause,

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he replied, Not so much as I have my conscience;" and the big tear rolled down his cheek. He then told me he was a sailor, that he saw himself to be a sinner, deserving of damnation, and desired to know what he must do to be saved. I told him what he must do, in the language of the Bible, gave him some tracts suited to his case, prayed with him, and directed him to Christ, as his only Saviour.

Besides these, a number of sailors have called on me in a peculiarly interesting state of mind; some of whom had obtained a hope in Christ; and others anxious about their souls; and all desiring my counsel and prayers. In visiting from house to house, during the above mentioned period, I have been often gratified and animated. The solicitude of sailors and their families to be visited-their eagerness to receive tracts-to be instructed-to be prayed with-and the inquiry "What shall I do to be saved"-have rendered some of my visits peculiarly pleasing. The seamen's lecture and prayer meeting, has, in general, been well attended, and often very interesting. Better order and attention I have not witnessed in any church in this city. The addresses and prayers of sailors, broken and artless indeed, but fervent and sincere, have often struck landsmen with asto

nishment, and moved them even to tears. The other prayer meetings which I have attended among sailors at their dwelling houses, have been equally pleasing. Indeed, I have often felt, in these little praying circles, that the Holy Spirit was present, rendering the place as the house of God, and the gate of heaven.

Some of the sailors who profess to have been blessed from having attended the Mariners' Church; even with the best of all blessings, that of being made savingly acquainted with the Lord; have joined some church. As might have been expected, they have freely opened their minds to me on that subject; and I have uniformly advised them to unite with the church, and to inform the minister whose church they should join, that they wished the privilege likewise of attending the sailor's meeting at the Mariners' Church. This has opened the way for them to enjoy the ordinances of the Gospel, and yet not deprive your society of the benefit of their piety, prayers, and labours. In this advice, I have always been governed by the principles of Christian catholicism, and have constantly directed them to unite where it was most agreeable to their own mind. One has joined Dr. McAuley's church; one has united with the Methodists, and several have joined Mr. M'Murray's church. There are also several others about to join some of these churches.

From the consideration that I was employed principally for the purpose of attending the seaman's lecture and prayer meeting under the church; of attending other prayer meetings, as often as it should be practicable; of visiting and distributing tracts; and also from the fact, that some of the Board have always been present, some part of almost every sabbath, to witness the public exercises; it could hardly be expected that I should say any thing respecting the congregation in the Mariners' Church. During the sickly season, however, circumstances existed, which rendered it necessary for me to supply the pulpit in that church oftener than was at first contemplated. Those circumstances were, the absence of the Rev. Mr. Truair, and most of the clergy of the city, which rendered it extremely difficult to obtain a supply for the seamen; and yet the state of feeling among the sailors, forbid that the church should be closed, as long as it could with safety be kept open. Many of the Board were also out of town, and, consequently, I had but little advice or assistance from them. Thus, for a season, almost the whole labour of the Mariners' Church fell on me; besides my services in the Wesleyan Seminary, which were very considerably augmented by the absence of the principal of that institution: and I should do violence to my feelings not to acknowledge the kindness of a gracious God, who preserved my health, and gave me strength to sustain these accumulated labours, in that trying season. It is incumbent on me then to say of the Mariners' Church, that it has been well attended uniformly; and your congregation of seamen is increasing; and is almost daily becoming more and more interesting, by their increasing attention and solemnity. And I do not hesitate to express my firm belief, that your society, now in its infancy, promises, by its prosperous beginning, and successful progress thus far, to prove a lasting blessing to seamen, and a powerful auxiliary in evangelizing the world.

I have made one hundred and three visits, distributed about three hundred tracts, attended twenty-seven prayer meetings, and preached thirty sermons for sailors.

Wishing you every prosperity in your noble undertaking, I have the happiness to be

Yours, with sentiments of great respect,

in the fellowship of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. HENRY CHASE.

New-York, 17th January, 1823.

MARINE SOCIETY.

At the Fifty-third Annual Meeting of the Marine Society of the City and State of New-York, held on Monday Evening, the 18th January, 1823, at Mitchell's Hotel, in Fulton-street, the following Officers were unanimously elected for the ensuing year

The meeting being organized, the Chairman of the Standing Committee presented the following Report:

THE Standing Committee of the Marine Society, elected for the purpose of conducting the important concerns of the Institution, have given that attention to the various duties committed to their charge, which they so deservedly merit: they felt much solicitude on taking a retrospect of the funds of the Society, which had been decreasing for eleven years, as they well knew that such decrease had already produced the unhappy effect of curtailing the widows' and the orphans' yearly pension. Under such circumstances we felt it our imperative duty to endeavour to excite an interest in the bosoms of our Brethren of the deep," as well as in those of the philanthropists and merchants of our city, for the woes and sorrows of the helpless widow and fatherless child; and with satisfaction we report that our appeals have not been in vain. Since our last report, seven captains of vessels have become members of the Society, and seventeen merchants of this city have been enrolled as honorary members of our institution, and whose liberality of contributions are entitled to our thanks. Thus for the past year, we have been enabled to meet the numerous demands upon our treasury without encroaching upon the permanent funds of our Society. Notwithstanding we have passed the year more satisfactorily than for many seasons before, and the prospect of more extensive usefulness opens to our view, yet we

feel an increased anxiety for this benevolent Institution, and conceive it to be our duty to extend the warning voice to its delinquent members. Our books show that there are many, very many members who neglect to pay their yearly dues, (the trifling sum of two dollars per annum) which exposes them, agreeably to the charter and bylaws of the Society, to expulsion; thus depriving themselves, their widows, and children, of that assistance which has never been withheld from the necessitous. The Committee have seen many tears shed by widows who were left destitute of the necessaries of life, from this neglect of their husbands, when in prosperous circumstances, to secure and continue for them a permanent and faithful friend in this Institution; an anchor sure and steadfast in the storm of adversity.-A donation was all that could be given them. Our Association commenced its existence before the Declaration of Independence by our country, and has progressively increased in usefulness and respectability; it has received the support and approbation of our oldest and most experienced commanders of vessels who are members of our Society, and many citizens of distinction have been admitted honorary members.

In the year 1805, fifty ship-masters and a number of merchants were added to our association, which increased our funds 1167 dollars-the yearly dues received amounted to 637 dollars-the interest on the permanent funds was 2170 dollars, which made our receipts for that year 3974 dollars. This was a cheering anniversary for the widow and orphan.

It is not the intention of your committee to bring into review at this time, the annual report of former Committees; but we have selected the one above named as evidence of what may be done by concert of action of the members of our Association.

The Report of our Standing Committee for the year 1821, stated, that since the organization of this Society, 79,013 dollars had been distributed to widows and orphan children; and we have now to inform you that 2182 dollars, the past year, has been added to that amount, making the total of 81,195 dollars.

Sixty-eight indigent widows of deceased members, (many of whom have large families of children,) now remain upon the pension list, and receive the yearly stipends; in addition to which donations have been granted in cases of necessity, where the applicant could not, by the laws of our society, become a pensioner.

Can the respectable shipmaster hesitate a moment to enrol his name as a member of this Society? A Society which requires no political creed, no religious test, no national boundary, to be subscribed to.Charity is our sheet-anchor-good will towards man, our pilot. The small yearly sum required of a member, secures to the partner of his joys, and the children of his love, a refuge from want and distress, in the event of his misfortune or death; and we would most affectionately and pressingly urge this consideration to those shipmasters who are not members. If he or his family should never require pecuniary aid, he has the satisfaction of knowing that his charity will be faithfully applied to the aid of those who have experienced a reverse

of fortune. The light and pleasant breezes of Prosperity do not always prevail-the storms and tempests of Adversity unexpectedly arise. The morning watch proclaims all's well, the meridian presents the mighty deep in angry motion and night-fall closes upon a lee-shore, without the prospect of escape from shipwreck. The rocky coast of Kinsale can testify that the strongest vessel, with the most skilful commander, cannot resist the storm of adversity.

Your Committee would suggest the propriety of an appeal to our most respectable and wealthy merchants in behalf of our Association; our list of Honorary Members although long, is not full, and we trust that it would be only necessary to extend the invitation to unite in the labours of charity and benevolence, to ensure a large accession to our numbers.

Your Committee look forward with pleasing anticipation to the time when this Society, by an increase of its funds, shall be enabled, not only to alleviate the bodily sufferings of the widow and orphan, but to instruct the minds of the latter, so as to render them useful members of the human family.

CHRISTOPHER PRINCE, Secretary.

JAMES LOVETT, Chairman.

THE WHALEMEN.

To the Editor of the Seaman's Magazine.

DEAR SIR, The Sandwich Islands, especially Woahoo, are becoming places of great importance for doing good to seamen In the course of the last year about 700 touched there; and in consequence of the discovery of new fishing ground, it will now be the grand rendezvous of the English and American whalemen. If I am correctly informed, between 4 and 6,000 of this class, who usually live upon the ocean, without seeing a Protestant church or preacher for three years at a time, are expected there in the spring and summer following; and repeatedly afterwards, while collecting their cargoes. This circumstance, as it may greatly increase the trials and usefulness of the missionaries, is deeply interesting, and ought to unite the prayers and offerings of the friends of seamen and pagans. Though the whalemen are now generally supplied with Bibles and tracts, yet if more of these were forwarded to the missionaries, together with such publications as President Allen's Accounts of Shipwrecks, the Seaman's Devotional Assistant, and the Seaman's Magazine, they might dispose of them to advantage, and avert much evil. Among many whom I have seen, late from those islands, not a man of respectability declines to speak well of the missionaries. Those reports which were sent abroad from Nantucket, reproachful to the character of the missionaries, and which were reviewed by Christian editors, were libels, fabricated here by a spirit which only thrives by being noticed. ABNER MORSE.

JOURNAL OF THE BETHEL FLAG.

(Continued from page 476.)

Tuesday, 10th December, 1822.-This evening the Bethel meeting was held at the usual place, (317 Water-street,) and a good number of seamen, ladies and citizens attended. The exercises were the same as usual, and the most profound attention was observed.

Tuesday, 24th.-Many strangers were present, among whom were a number of shipmasters, who took a part in the exercises. It is impossible to describe their earnest solicitations to God and men in the