great sufferer-had been given up by the doctors, and put into another ward, by himself, to die; but our heavenly Father saw fit to stop the progress of disease and snatch him from the brink of the grave. So, from the border-land, his steps were turned to earth once more, and I found him now sitting up in bed, anxious for my visit. I said, "My friend, how are you to-day?" He said, "I want to tell you a little about myself. When I was in the other ward alone and thought I should die, I got out of my bed and prayed to Jesus, and then tears ran down my cheeks more than they ever did in my life before. I have been shipwrecked three times, but I never felt so afraid. While I was praying for the pardon of my sins, I found Jesus and felt happy. The doctor came in while I was at prayer and waited till I had done, and said to me, 'Do you want anything?' I said, 'No, for I have found the pardon of my sins.' Since then I have been getting better in body and now I feel quite happy." Alluding to my meetings in the sick ward, he said, "At one time you were talking to us about a ship going down and you said, 'a few might get saved, but it is more likely the greater part would be lost.' I thought on that, and I thought it might soon come to my turn to die, but now, thank God, I am not afraid to die. I feel thankful you ever came to the Hospital and spoke to us about good things."

He left Malta a few days after. If I never see him again in time, may we meet in our "Home beyond the river."

April 2nd.-Kindness received.-Visited a large steam yacht. While talking to the captain-an old friend, the owner came on deck and said, "Well, Mr. Stephens, I am very glad to see you again. What did I give you for the Mission last year?" I told him. He said, "Then I will give you the same this year." He put his hand into his pocket and handed me a sovereign, and asked me to give him some papers to read. I gladly supplied him with a few "Gospel Trumpets' and 66 Missionary Records." I have received great kindness from this gentleman during his visits to Malta. He appreciates our work among sailors, although he belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. The captain purchased a large type Bible and some "Chart and Compass" magazines. He and the crew also gathered up some money for the Mission.

May 8th.-Conversing with the chief officer of a large London steamer, I asked him if he had the Russian sailor on board still, to whom I sold a Russian Bible last December. He said, “No, he is not here this voyage. There was a great change in him before he left the ship; he used to use very bad language, and I have spoken to him about it, but after he bought the Bible he became quite a different man; whether it was what I said to him, or the reading of your Bible, effected the change I cannot say ; no doubt both did him good."

May 30th and June 2nd.-Opposition and Success.-Made two or three attempts to visit a small Portuguese Man-of-War. The first time met with very little encouragement. As soon as I stepped on deck, I found I was surrounded with Roman Catholics. On my offering them Gospels and tracts, some sneered, others laughed, a few looked serious and took some tracts, while a few others looked as if they would like to tear them up. After waiting some time, a sailor came and looked at a Testament and offered me a battered sixpence for it, which I refused to take. He then pulled out six Portuguese pennies—that was worse still; he apparently had no other money, and I saw he wished to have the book, so I took the old sixpence. The next time I went on board I succeeded a little better. The illustrated Scripture cards I distributed among them took well; they soon came round me and asked the price of the Scriptures; two bought Bibles and three purchased Testaments, and all seemed willing to accept Gospels and tracts. Some of them asked if I would call again. I promised I would. This evening,

EVIL CONSEQUENCES OF INTEMPERANCE.

61

after visiting several other vessels, I made for the frigate again, and this time got in favour with the officers and engineers-a very different reception from the first, for they all seemed pleased to have me on board. The vessel has been three years in commission, up the Mozambique Channel, she is now going to Lisbon to be paid off. I left on board 55 Portuguese Gospels, 56 tracts and 32 Scripture cards; also sold two Portuguese Bibles and 10 Testaments.

R. STEPHENS.

EVIL CONSEQUENCES OF INTEMPERANCE.

Written for CHart and CompASS by Vice-Admiral J. R. WARD.

Drink! Drink! Drink! Whiskey, Rum, and Gin,
The sad occasion is of half the poor man's sin;
For when by its noxious fumes his brain is set on fire,
He is tempted oft to deeds that never would transpire
If sober he remained-

With passions uninflamed,

And drunkenness avoided with its consequences dire.
Then take warning, foolish one, before it be too late;
Take warning by the drunkard's miserable fate;
Travelling ever downward, along the mirey road,

That may terminate for ever in guilt's dark, dread abode;
Step by step descending-

Midst horrors never ending,

Bending, broken-hearted, 'neath sin's increasing load.

PORTLAND SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY.

NoT Portland Maine, on the Atlantic side, but what will probably prove its greater rival, Portland Oregon, on the Pacific side. We owe an apology to the energetic chaplain for not noticing his report for 1880 before. Our little ship, "Chart and Compass," will only carry so much, and we have been almost bewildered at the accumulation in the sheds of our editorial wharves of so much cargo. And one of the pains which rends the editorial heart is to see so much useful matter laying in heaps waiting for a chance of transit to far off ports, or consigned to the wicked grave of the waste paper basket. But as we look into the face of our friend Stubbs, we are sure he will absolve from all editorial faults of omission and commission; and if he will not, his excellent wife will, unless these portraits of them tell lies, which artists now-a-day too often make them do. Without further explanation, we gladly give this admirable letter :

:

REV. E. W. MATTHEWS.-DEAR BROTHER,-This beautiful morning seems to be auspicious, and I seize a moment to send my fraternal salutations, and, herewith also, the Christian love of our Bethel folks for your very kind remembrance of us, and your practical interest in us, as evidenced by the welcome monthly magazine, "The Chart and Compass," which comes to us quite regularly.

In its selections and general contributions it certainly promotes the cause so dear to our hearts-the cause of humanity, the cause of Christ in the forecastles, the half decks, and the cabins of our vessels.

God's blessings upon us—since we began our labours among the men of the sea-have exceeded our most sanguine expectations. To His holy name be all the praise. Nearly a hundred seamen have turned away from their sins to

Christ, the sinner's Friend; and most of them have witnessed a good confession among many brethren. Nearly 200 have signed the total abstinence pledges, of which the enclosed is one specimen. These results have been to us tokens from above to cheer and to animate us in the midst of our other more secular labours; for during the same time I have secured, by personal solicitation, over 6,000 dollars, and therewith purchased a beautiful lot, 100 by 100, with a fine southern exposure. I determined, by God's blessing, that our Sailors' Home should be on one of the best corners in the city, and thus it should not be shut in by a rum shop at the corner, as is so often the case.

During this period, also, we have fitted for temporary use a Bethel Hall, and Reading Room and School-room, where we have had a succession of precious meetings; and the presence and blessing of God's Holy Spirit and Word was acknowledged over and over again, By pamphlet, I send you one account, viz., of the conversion of Mr. J. McNeill. We have many deeply affecting letters from the lads who have gone from us, and have written to us from different portions of the globe, telling us of their conflicts and triumphs in Jesus, and His precious Word.

Judging by our observations, we unhesitatingly declare that, as a class, seamen are susceptible, tractable and stable religiously, whenever they are fairly brought under the influence of the Gospel; and they do actually yield a larger percentage of fruits to the labour bestowed upon them, and the privileges enjoyed by them than lands people do. We have gathered together, and distributed among seamen, steamboat-men, and long-shoremen about 4,000,000 pages of wholesome reading. We intend to supply every vessel with a package of from 2,000 to 3,000 pages of tracts, pamphlets, books, and papers.

Hoping to hear from you soon, allow me to close in Christian love, in which Mrs. Stubbs heartily unites, Yours fraternally,

CHAPLAIN R. S. STUBBS.

We had hoped to give an account of the rise and progress of Oregon and Portland, with its vast increase of inhabitants, shipping, wheat, flour, salmon, wool and beef exports, but neither time nor space will admit of our good intentions. Suffice it to say, that it is a mystery, in this day of inter-oceanic communication, that people remain starving in Ireland, or any other land, when vast States and territories are opened up with abundance of food for millions.

This Portland Sailors' Society has made rapid growth since its start in 1877. Chaplain Stubbs has been honoured of God in doing a glorious work there. Right glad are we to see in the balance-sheet two hundred and thirty-five and-ahalf dollars from fifty-six British ships. We owe a debt of gratitude to Chaplain and Mrs. Stubbs, and to all others who care for our British seamen in those distant parts. This is how our friend Captain John Black remembers them :"MY DEAR MR. STUBBS,—I arrived at Liverpool May 8th, all well. You will think that I have forgotten you and all my dear Christian friends in Portland, but I can never forget you and your dear wife, and the blessed times I had with the people of God. I will thank my God for ever that He took me there.

The first night after leaving Astoria we had a heavy gale from the south-east. Our good ship, Shenir,' lay for two hours with the water up to the hatches. It looked as if it was to be our last night here, but I knew I was in my Heavenly Father's hands, and whatever was His will it was well with my soul. The gale was at its height at the time we ought to have had our prayer meeting, so we had no meeting that night, the only night for all the rest of the passage, of 104 days. Your brother in Christ,

JOHN BLACK."

EDITOR'S NOTES AND NOTICES.

Arrangements are now made for the Rev. W. Cuff to give his popular lecture on the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, on Tuesday evening (8 p.m.), in the East London Tabernacle. The Rev. A. G. Brown has kindly consented to preside We are expecting one of the most brilliant gatherings ever held in this famous centre. Full details are given on bills and tickets, the latter sixpence each. Proceeds to be given to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society.

To our correspondents in Burton-on-Trent, Sydney, Adelaide, Shanghai, Chatham, and many other places, your kind communications will duly appear in "Chart and Compass," but our friends would not have to wait so long if articles were shorter.

The Rev. B. Sackett, of Ebenezer Chapel, preached on January 9th, a sermon, based on the 107th Psalm, 23-31 verses-"Distressed Seamen and the Sovereign of the Seas." I am told it was an eloquent sermon and pleaded well the sailor's cause. In the evening the pastor gave an address, as, also, Mr. Samuel Lonsdale. Collections were taken at both services for the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. The predecessors of Mr. Sackett during the whole of this century were the active friends of this Society. We are glad, therefore, that Mr. Sackett is treading in their footsteps and to hear the people say he will have been successful because of his useful ministry.

"CHART AND COMPASS" ACCOUNT FOR 1880.-It will be seen that our income for the year was £181 16s. 10d., while the expenditure for the same period was £194 11s. 2d. ; so that had we not a little reserve fund the Editor would have been out of pocket, in the year's transactions, £12 14s. 4d. As this is only the second year of its existence the friends should be encouraged to so increase the circulation as to make it entirely self-supporting.-Ed.

WE are glad to call our sailors' attention to this Home, and hope when in port they will avail themselves of it. We can scarcely conceive of a grander boon in our foreign ports than a Sailors' Home. Whoever starts such a place is a real sailors' friend. Such a friend the Rev. D. S. Govett has proved himself to be. First he began a reading room and had special services for sailors, now he has opened this Home. Would to God that in all our foreign ports Consular Chaplains had embraced such magnificent opportunities. We are pleased to see that our London Sailors' Home in Well Street, has made an appropriation to it, as also the American Seamen's Friendly Society, New York. The Home is an accomplished fact, and the following sentence from its first report speaks for itself.

It is with great thankfulness to Almighty God that the Committee record the success which has hitherto attended the working of the "Home." Institutions of the nature of hotels and pensions, at first starting being but little known, expect for awhile to be comparatively empty; but in the five months, dating from 1st July last, when the Home was opened, the books record 2,625 days' board and lodging supplied (including that of forty-two British and German shipwrecked sailors), which would represent an average of 6,300 in the course of its first year: these men protected at the same time from land-sharks, parasites, and vicious surroundings, and brought under the moral and religious influences of a Christian "Home." (All communications to the above address).

FROM THE WORD OF GOD.

"In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." -PSALM xii. 28.

SUNDAY, February 6th.-"What is my life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away." "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. "But thou, O man of God, * * lay hold on ETERNAL life, wherewith thou art also called." -JAMES iv. 14; JOB vii. 7; 1 TIM. vi. 12.

SUNDAY, February 12th.-" This is life ETERNAL that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give unto them ETERNAL life, and they shall never perish."— JOHN xvii. 3; x. 27, 28.

SUNDAY, February 20th.-"The Lord is the STRENGTH of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"-PSALM Xxvii. 1.

SUNDAY, February 27th.-"Jesus said unto her, 'I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in ME, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in ME shall NEVER die.' Believest thou this?" -JOHN xi. 26, 27.