MRS. BEST GONE HOME.

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a tin at coffee time, or the kid for soup at dinner time, and so the round of a long voyage goes on. In Samuel Budgett's life it was said it took three things to make a successful merchant-tact, push, and principle. It takes three things to be a successful shipmaster,-feed your men well, work your men well, and use your men well. Lack any of these departments of discipline, and alas! for a captain's influence among his men. Give them good wholesome food, properly cooked, give them plenty, but regular work, watch and watch, don't call a man out of his name, but Brown, Jones, or Johnston, as the case may be. The men favoured to be in such a ship would be ashamed not to appear aft at worship, when the time of meeting came. I have written as if I was on board a sailing ship, and on a long voyage, such as I had many years experience of. Steamers are becoming a very numerous factor in the merchant navy service. I had a few years experience in steam also. It appears to me a very different business, and from the nature of the short voyages, and the two classes of men on board, there was not the same grand opportunities of moulding these men that we had on the long voyages. Firemen in general are a rough lot, but susceptible of kindness, like other men, very few of them ever appeared aft at Divine Service. Much depends on the management in the stokehole and that is not the captain's department. I am glad to say some grand specimens of firemen sail out of Glasgow, who love the Saviour, and work for Him. I would refer the “reader to Capt. Hopkins who is an authority on the best way to manage and work steamer men.

[This admirable article, by Captain John Smith, of Glasgow, will be continued and concluded in our next issue.-ED.

MRS. BEST GONE HOME.

RS. BEST has for several years written a monthly letter for our merchant seamen at home and abroad. She began February letter, but her daughter finished it after her mother had gone home. We sincerely hope Miss Best will be sufficiently encouraged to continue the work. And without weakening the doctrine and seriousness of age, put into the coming letters the historic, poetic, allegoric, and illustrative sides of youth. May the spirit of the sainted mother in rich abundance rest upon the daughter is our prayer. She says:-"I believe many of you like receiving the letters she from time to time has written, if I may judge from the kind notes some of you have penned. Shall the letters come to an end now that she has gone to heaven? or shall

K

I send you a message from God if He sees fit to use me? If I receive any communication from any sailors expressing a desire for me to continue her work, I am ready to be used by my Heavenly Master. I love to work for the Lord. Winning souls is the highest of all work on earth, "for they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever."

When my mother sent out her January letter she remarked, "I have begun the year with salvation, but I shall end with praise." And so it is-She is among those who cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." (Rev. iv. 10-11).-Yours truly, LYDIA C. BEST.

Lansdowne Crescent, Leamington February, 1883.”

SYMBOLS OF THE SEA.

EA life gives to us many beautiful symbols of our temporal and spiritual life. The voyage, the pilot, the port, the ship and its different parts, the captain and crew, beacons, lighthouses, soundings, wrecks, storms and calms, seadepths, night-watches, shore-greetings—each of which might furnish helpful thoughts. We will only take the sea itself as typical of our voyaging life. We read of Israel, "All passed through the sea." It is also true of each one-some have much rougher passages than others, but we thank God we may find safe anchorage here and now, and blessed is he who early finds it, from how many a possible wreck is he saved! There is a quiet refuge in every storm of life. Cast thy burden on the Lord, all thy care, for He careth for thee.

We learnt many lessons the other day as we watched some poor half-drowned sailors, wrecked on the Goodwin Sands, brought in by the Ramsgate lifeboat-all cargo lost, and they "only not a wreck" because saved in the precious lifeboat. There is sorrow on the sea (Jer. xlix. 2 3) and trouble (Ps, cvii. 28; lxxxviii. 7; xlii. 7), and we have to exclaim sometimes, "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee"-I was well-nigh overwhelmed, but Jesus is our lifeboat -He can save us all the time-"Neither is there salvation in any other "-" He sent from above-He drew me out of many waters." We were gladdest of all to watch the reception on shore of those Norwegian sailors; not with shouts of rapture were they greeted, but with subdued sympathetic tenderness and restorative help from men who doubtless had passed through similar experiences. In the beautiful Sailors' Home at Ramsgate there was ready for them

-all wet and famished as they were-clean, dry, warm garments and hot, substantial food. Immediately we thought of the tender, loving reception in the Father's home, given to many poor disabled voyagers; how it is said, God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. There shall be no more sorrow nor crying, neither any more pain. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; in that land there is no need of the sun or moon, for there shall be no night nor sea there. So he bringeth them to their desired haven, safe home in port, as safe as everlasting love can make them.

The safe home-bringing is a blessed truth, even for those who lead ignoble and unworthy lives in the Captain's service. We have heard some speak in all humility of how glad they will be if they may but just creep inside heaven's gate, whilst others aspire to the "abundant entrance." As we write we have in sight a lovely ship, coming into Dover Harbour, with sails all fully set and colours flying, the glorious sunlight shining on all. What an inspiring sight it is! all watching on shore with outbursts of joyous welcome the home-coming of the noble vessel sailing thus majestically into port, as if conscious and eager to receive the reward of all her voyaging. We shared in the general gladness and joy, and prayed, God give us grace so earnestly and bravely to live here, that when nearing the harbour we may be able to say, "I have finished the work Thou gavest me to do, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown," and so receive the welcome home, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord."" M. M.

Antwerp House.

TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS.-All Chart and Compass monies will be acknowledged up to the 12th of each month. And in future we hope to give the initials of those sending contributions to our pages. This will save postage. We are always glad to be reminded of any sum, article, &c. overlooked.-ED.

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THE OATH AND THE KISS.

WEAR not at all," said our Saviour, addressing the fishermen of Galilee, "neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, nor by earth, for it is His footstool; neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black." Is swearing then the peculiar vice of sailors? I should be inclined to think so, else where did Peter learn to curse and swear? Was it not whilst preparing his craft or mending his nets on Genesereth's Lake. Three years close intimacy with the Holy One had not cured this vice in nis disciple, who, although ready to follow Him to prison and to death, yet quailed before a servantmaid and denied his master with an oath. But the Lord Jesus had prayed for him, and He turned and looked upon Peter, and He wept !

Not so with Judas. We read, "As soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to Jesus and saith, 'Hail, Master,' and kissed Him." "Judas," said our Lord, "betrayeth thou the Son of Man with a kiss?" But Jesus looked not on the hypocrite and he perished. As it is written in the book of Psalms, "Let his habitation become desolate and his bishoprick let another take." Acts i. 20. Naples.

A. S. JERVIS.

HAMBURG SAILORS' INSTITUTE BAZAAR. 8,000 MARKS (£400 STERLING) TAKEN IN TWO DAYS. THE Ladies' Committee held their Bazaar for the sale of work and English fancy articles in the Freimaurer Logenhaus (Freemasons' Hall), 74, Valentinskamp, in aid of the above Institute, on Thursday and Friday, the 29th and 30th of March, 1883. There were nine stalls in all, presided over by the Ladies' Committee, Consul General Annersley's daughter, and two other ladies, each lady was assisted by two other ladies, who wore by way of distinction, a pretty white apron trimmed with dark blue, and over the shoulders a large white collar with blue edgings, and on the breast, the British and American flags; the Ladies' Committee wore a neat black apron trimmed with red, and a red, white, and blue rosette on their breast. The Hall was tastefully decorated with flags of different nationalities. Over the contributions of the Princess Royal of England (Crown Princess of Prussia), the British and German flags with the Prussian Eagle in the centre were suspended, and over the Sailors' Stall the text, "They go down to the sea in ships," &c. Mrs. Hitchens, the missionary's wife being too ill to preside at the Sailors' Stall, found an admirable substitute in Mrs. Little, the wife of the architect of the Institute Building. At the opening the following letter addressed to the Ladies' Commitee, was read:-"We, the undersigned, representatives of the sailors visiting the Port of Hamburg, at a Public Meeting held at the Sailors' Institute, on the 26th of March, 1883, when above one hundred seamen and friends were present, were deputed by them to give their hearty and sincere thanks to the Ladies Committee and other friends who have so kindly assisted in getting up this Bazaar, and for their kind help and very valuable support to the Sailors' Institute, and they also respectfully ask the Ladies presiding at the Sailors' Stall to accept of aprons to be worn on this occasion. Signed-Geo.

ANOTHER LEGACY FOR OUR SAILORS.

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Soulsby, Master, s.s. "Albano "; R. S. Walker, Master, s.s. "Huddersfield"; W. H. Davis, Chief Officer, s.s. “Prague”; W. Alexander, Chief Engineer, s.s. "Sandringham." Edward Chaplin, Esq., Chairman, and the members of the Committee were indefatigable in their efforts in assisting the ladies, which contributed very much to their great success, several captains and officers enlivened the proceedings by their presence and liberality. Captain Walker, Captain Watson, and Mr. Borrill, brought valuable presents, and a number of other seamen kindly contributed useful articles. During the evenings instrumental music was given. Altogether it was a decided success, and the ladies are pleased with the result, and have already handed over to the Treasurer £400, and it is hoped that this will be a little increased by donations, and the sale of a few remaining articles. Captain Wales, of London, has added £5, a few more fives, and the £1,000 will be made up, with what is already promised and in hand. This has been a work of faith, and a labour of love, and the Ladies' Committee are very thankful for the many articles sent from Great Britain, from friends of sailors, and also from friends in Hamburg and elsewhere, not forgetting the sailors themselves.

Hamburg, April 3rd, 1883.

JAMES HITCHENS, Port Missionary.

ANOTHER LEGACY FOR OUR SAILORS. MY DEAR SIR,-I send you by to-day's post, this week's Cornishman, in which you will see that another £10 legacy has been left at Liskeard for our Society. This is the fourth £10 legacy left us there within the last four years. For the last 22 years I have paid an annual visit to Liskeard on behalf of our Society. I have always met with a hearty Christian reception. Clergymen and ministers of the town, as well as leading lay-gentlemen, have taken part at our meetings; good collections have been received. Cannot you induce towns you visit to imitiate our good little Cornish town, Liskeard, in the Legacy Department? Perhaps your speeches lack point. I modestly at public meetings urge this matter.

Our good, and highly respected Mr. J. Watts, who was secretary many years at Liskeard, fell asleep in Jesus a few weeks since. I little thought when he grasped my hand in November last, and said, "Well, you had as usual a good meeting last evening. Look up, and work on, old friend, heaven is before us," that it was the last time I should meet him on earth.-Yours, dear sir, respectfully, H. V. BAILEY,

Falmouth.

Rev. E. W. Matthews. "One of the oldest townsmen of Liskeard, and a native of the town, passed away on Wednesday in the person of Mr. Thomas Botterell. His had been a familiar figure in the town for very many years, and though of late he had withdrawn from public life, he was in his earlier years a member of the corporation as a councillor and an alderman. Among other bequests, Mr. Botterell has left sums of £10 each to the Liskeard Temperance Society, the Green Bank Chapel, the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, the South Devon Hospital, and the Eye Infirmary."-The Cornishman, March 15th, 1883.

Since 1878 in our reports, addresses, and in various ways we have referred to this legacy question. But we are glad to be rebuked if we fail in this, and to go forward in well doing. Will our friends help us to roll off this reproach by including us in their wills thus:

I give unto the British and Foreign Sailors' Society in London, the sum of Pounds sterling, to be paid out of that part of my personal estate which by law may be effectually given for the benefit of the said Society, and for which sum the receipt of the Treastrer for the time being shall be a sufficient discharge.—ED.