science, and look noble and beautiful to the eye. But, sir, allow me to say I have not seen any to my way of thinking that looked so noble and grand as was the launching of the 'Chart and Compass' from that building yard up in Mercer-street, Shadwell, London, E. May the builder be preserved in health, and continue to build and launch monthly, from that building up of faith yard, that noble and soul-refreshing craft, the 'Chart and Compass,' and let them float to distant shores, so that the world may be benefitted by them. Please start off 100 of them to wherever you may think it desirable, and I will call and pay you for the same,-I am, dear sir, yours sincerely, S. B., Old Sailor." "The October number (says the Quarterly of the S.M.S.) more than sustains its past interest and usefulness. Its avowed object is • To assist seamen to sail life's ocean with Christ? On that voyage, 6 and with that mission, we indeed wish the Editor, and his ‘Chart and Compass.' God-speed." JOHN ELKIN, Esq., J.P., of Gravesend: "It gives me much pleasure to bear my humble testimony to the value and interest of the Magazine, which I think especially adapted to our seafaring brethren. I enclose my draft for two guineas, being one guinea for the Society, and the remaining one to be apportioned in the proportion you think best, between the 'Chart and Compass' and the New Hymn-book funds." "MR. JAMES TELFER: "I am sorry that I have overlooked my subscription for Chart and Compass.' I have much pleasure in reading it, and find it very interesting. One of my friends who got a reading of the January number, wishes to subscribe for it. enclosed find 5s." Also THE SEA. (How many maidens and mothers have thus lost dear ones at sea). I stood on the shore of the glorious sea, 'Twas the evening hour, an hour of calm, All was at peace save the restless wave, Which ever anon round an hollow cave, A broken raft, a rotten board, A book all drenched and torn; Of treasures deep, 'neath its blue waves And my heart within was sorely stirred, Then a form beloved in days gone by, Rose slowly to my view; The ocean more drearily seemed to sigh, As over the waters it flew. Yes, below its blue waves buried deep, For a loved one wrapped in endless sleep; And I marvelled not at its heaving breath, SEND A LITTLE MORE OF IT TO OUR TREASURY. HERE is your Treasury? Sailors' Institute, Shadwell, London, E. What do you do with it? Supply all the Stations of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. You mighty London, pray do not spend your money upon sham Societies and worthless Charities, while this Treasury is so empty. Recently Mr. Joseph Cowen, M.P., said: "There is collected in London alone, by voluntary subscriptions for charitable purposes, £6,000,000 a year. That amount is supplemented by obscurer classes of charity, the extent of which cannot be so well tested. But if you put the amount of the benevolent subscriptions every year, in London, to the amount paid for poor relief, you have something like £8,000,000 contributed in the Metropolis, for the voluntary or involuntary relief of distress, suffering and poverty. I do not think there is any country in the world—certainly no city in the world that furnishes such magnificent results. Fully to realise the amount, I may tell you that it is nearly equivalent to the total revenues of the Kingdom of Holland. It is more than equal to the aggregate income of the three Scandinavian States-Denmark, Norway, and Sweden." A SPLENDID SAILORS' MISSION. HEN in New York it was no small pleasure to take part and witness what is being daily done by the Port Society. It has been fortunate in having a succession of able, and suitable chaplains. We need only mention Chaplains Jones and Murphy. Though sixty-three years old, it has renewed its youth by keeping the old spirit and adopting any new methods proved to be effective. In connection with the regular preaching and services, they have daily meetings, and while they have most valuable help from a few unpaid helpers, yet the moving forces are the pastor, three male and five female missionaries. Leading off the reading-room are seven small enquiry-rooms, where the men are dealt with personally or in small groups. During the year 1880 no less than 500 sailors applied for church membership: 102 were received on confession by the council of the church, and 398 were candidates. Too many of our Sailor Reading Rooms are completely and absolutely secularized. No doubt they are a negative good, but they must not be compared with such positive efforts as the above for evangelizing seamen. God has indeed honored the simple means used. The revival has not been a flash in the pan, but renewed continually by incoming and outgoing sailors, and we trust it may continue till the Master comes.-ED. P.S.-In a future number we shall give some suitable verses, by Mrs. White, one of the Lady Missionaries. HOW AN OLD SAILOR LIVED AND DIED. By W. Whitmore, Ramsgate Harbour Mission. OBERT COOK, the subject of this brief memoir, was born at Margate, Kent, on the 26th of May, 1805. His parents were respectable people, and in humble circumstances of life. His mother was a member of the Church of England, and from what we have been able to gather respecting her, shows that she was a consistent Christian, training her children in the fear of God. Though as they left the parental roof, and became exposed to the influences and temptations of the world, they wandered in the ways of folly. But there is no doubt her prayers while on earth were ANSWERED long after she entered the rest which remaineth to the people of God. His father was a seaman. The son at a very early age exhibited a desire for the same occupation. It was evident when quite a youth there were certain features in his constitution which, when developed, would tend to make him a good sailor. In this respect as time moved on clearly proved that an incorrect judgment of his indomitable courage and perseverance had not been wrongly conceived. These were not only characteristic traits of the days of his boyhood and youth, but as he advanced in years. were more clearly manifest, and showed they were interwoven with his manhood, and proved that he possessed great energy of character. Amongst the many necessary qualifications for a seafaring life there is reason to believe they were entrusted to him in a very eminent degree. Those who knew him best will be able to judge for themselves whether a correct estimate of him or not had been formed in this respect. His genius as a seaman was shown in different ways. In consequence of his great intrepidity he was a clever diver, and often employed to recover cargoes from sunken ships, &c. He was also an expert yachtsman, and on several occasions by his dexterity and good seamanship was successful in winning prizes in yachts in which he sailed. He was courageous in his attempts to save the lives of his fellow seamen when exposed to perils on the sea, often risking his own life in assisting to rescue them from a watery grave. In the early part of his history he was always ready to make one of a crew, -to man such a craft as was then employed for the purpose. After lifeboats were established on different parts of the coast by the "Royal National Lifeboat Institution," he never shrunk from rendering such service as was in his power in the lifeboat belonging to the station. He also took a deep interest in the "Shipwrecked Mariners' Society," of which he was a member for thirty-two years. It was a great joy to him when HOW AN OLD SAILOR LIVED AND DIED. 133 he was successful in inducing any sailor to enrol himself as a member of this noble institution, and it would be a great blessing to seamen generally if many more of them should be inspired by the same spirit. Like too many others of his class, the early years of his life were spent in habits of dissipation. Naturally fond of society, he cultivated a liking for company, and indulged his impure propensities by associating with the gay and thoughtless. He became a great adept at dancing, and when parties were coming off, both on this and the other side of the English Channel, when he was well known his company was greatly courted. Being master of a small coasting vessel belonging to Margate, trading between England, Belgium, and France, his name became very popular at the dance-houses of Ostend and Dunkerque. To show how determined and intent he was in his course of sin, and that the bent of his mind was to follow habits of vice. On one occasion in particular he had engaged himself to dance at a party that was to come off on a fixed date at Dunkerque. Having given his promise he resolved on being present. The vessel was loaded at Margate, and ready for sea, but the weather was very stormy and the wind contrary, which to others beside himself was very doubtful whether she should leave the harbour; but he being a bold servant of the master whom he then served, nothing daunted, insisted upon her leaving port, but had not proceeded far on the voyage before the vessel had to be brought to an anchor to ride out the gale. In the early part of the evening of the same day the weather moderated, the anchor was weighed, and the prow of the vessel once more directed towards her destined port. It was not long before the wind again increased to a gale. To attempt to go back was madness, and to proceed was not only to run great risk of life, but also to the ship. Much to the alarm of those who sailed with him he kept the vessel on her course, and, through an over-ruling providence, reached the port of destination in safety. Though he did not at that time think of God's protecting care over him, but simply ascribed it to his own cleverness and good seamanship. Many times after his conversion he spoke with great humility of this particular instance of God's goodness, preserving mercy, and distinguishing grace, in sparing his life on this occasion to show to him, one of the chief of sinners, the greatness of His salvation, and would frequently exclaim, with emphasis, "Why was I made to hear thy voice?" &c. In the early history of the Temperance Reformation, through the persuasion and example of a shipmate still living, on WhitMonday, in the year 1838, he was induced to sign the total abstinence pledge, which he, by the grace of God, kept inviolate till his death, extending over a period of forty-two years. From the time of his becoming an abstainer he took a very deep interest in the temperance cause, promoting its claims by his influence, example, and pecuniary assistance as far as he was able. It is right to state that many years ago he made a profession of religion, but it was not of that character which takes root downward, and bears fruit upward, consequently in the hour of temptation it withered and died away. Rather more than twenty years ago the "Ramsgate Harbour Mission" was established, and through the instrumentality of its present missionary he was led to see that something more than his teetotalism was required to fit him for the kingdom of heaven. It was during the second year of the history of this mission that he was awakened to a sense of his condition as a sinner before God. The word was quick, and powerful; it pierced his heart, stripped him of his self-righteousness, and brought him to feel his great need of a Saviour. After a short and severe struggle of conviction of sin, he was able, through the influence and power of the Holy Spirit, to rest on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and able to exclaim, "Jesus, thy blood and righteousness," &c. There is every reason to believe from this period, that Christ was his life, and that he sought by the light given him, to live accordingly. He was no boaster and never assumed to be that which he was not, but always humble, and teachable. He took the liveliest and deepest interest in everything connected with the "Harbour Mission," that he might glorify Christ. Opening, lighting, putting sailors into seats, furnishing them with books, hoisting the Bethel Flag at the Old Bethel, as well as assisting the missionary in many menial duties, were the joy of his heart. Many years ago, one Sunday morning on entering the old room the writer found him sitting at the door reading his Bible, and was accosted in the following manner. "Do you know what I was thinking about just now." Being answered in the negative, he said, "It was this, 'I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness,' (Psalm lxxxiv. 10.) That, he said, with much earnestness, was written by a great King, but I have a right to use it, for I am a King's Son, and love His house." This was really true of him, for he was always present when the doors were opened for worship. He never missed the weekly prayer meetings, except when prevented by sickness, and other circumstances over which he had no control. He would not allow trivial things to interfere with his attendance at these services, to him, important means of grace, for he frequently said at the close of these meetings. "Bless the Lord, another lift towards heaven.” 66 66 |