U R B L E T O U J AC K E S .
A N A R R A T I V E
’ fifi i sss M c ssto n s gift zruh «£q mu ti ng
" ’ mu fi nilm s .
W I T S O P H I A G . N Z
P OP ULAR E D I TI ON
37 5 11 130 11 :
- N N II O D D E R A D S T O U G H T O ,
2 P A T R N O S T R W 7 , E E R O . R A R
” 7 67 ?
‘ W 5 W 5 o
S e be Ic i e I s n 6 011 ba é IB r f t SJ ft r o fi ,
e m m m n m 9 0d) b t 6 m fo t Do 06 .
e t o o t r b u t m u c h m o r e t o T T o u e n C un y , h e e " , , ’ ” e t o e wh o a v s t Th e fo r m e . My lif giv , g y lif
a ”W t , a s o n a d V e fl g n y , Pr aqte s Lo n o n d A e , in y , d n a y l s b u q; P R E F A C E .
HE writer of these pages t r u s t s that this
’ s h o r t h i s t o r y of on e of G o d s great wo r kers m a y encou rage and strengthen the
h earts of others si milarly engaged , and stir u p those of ou r Ch r istian readers who have
as yet don e n othing for Christ, to seek hence
“ ' forth to do s o z i z e z /z z l zg for H i m who has ” d on e so m uch for them . The obj ect of this sketch is simply to bring glory to H i m who has condescended to use su ch a hu mble i n stru ment for accomplishing H is pu rposes ;
o n l . y to exalt the Master, and not the servant Much practical experience is lai d before the
‘ reader, with th e hope that i t may i n some m easu re be a help and benefit to those desi r ing info rmation as to the meth od a r dopted by M iss Weston , for secu ing suc
s r ce s i n her g eat u ndertakings .
“ I s I f have poken aught which is m ine , ” r r fo give Thou , an d let Thy people fo give ,
0 r r " and Thou , Ete nal Fathe shalt have all the praise and glo r y for ever and ever .
Amen . ” us t e D e T r i n i ta t e . S t . Aug in , C O N T E N T S .
HA T R C P E I .
EARLY LI FE
HA TE R C P I I . SMALL B EGI N N IN GS
TER C HAP I I I . “ ” MON THLY LE TTE RS OR B LU E B AC K S ,
HA T R IV C P E .
T EMP ERAN C E W OR K
HA T R C P E V . STORY OF THE P U RC HASE A N D FITTI N G UP OF TH E SAI LO RS’ R EST A N D I N ST ITUTE
HA T R C P E V I.
’ ’ FI RST YEAR S W OR K AT T HE SAI LORS REST 95
A PPEN D I" 1 26
C HAPTER I .
E A R L Y L l F E .
Z GNES E LI ABET H WE STON, a name
well known now to every seaman i n t h e
Royal Navy, was born some readers will
no doubt i magin e at Portsmouth , or at some
other great Naval arsenal , where seeing the “ jolly J ack Ta r s daily roaming abou t the
s h e town , becam e stirred a t an early age with the desire to do something for their
r — r bodily and spi itual welfare but, cha ming and natural as such an introd uction to her life an d work would be, the very opposite wa s the case ; i ndeed , throughou t this short sketch we shall often b e forcibly reminded
“ of the truth of the words, My ways are n o t your ways , neither are my thoughts y ou r thoughts , saith the Lord .
r She was bo n i n London , i n the midst of r l e r e /s e t s 1 0 s e a m o n g o u B u fi . t h e bustle a n d t u r m oil o f the grea t m et r o
' pol i s ; b u t l o ng b efo r e s h e w a s a ble t o j o i n
r s s o r r s . eithe i n i t bu iness pleasu e her father,
r s a ba ri ter, and a man of considerable seien
t i fi c knowledge and attainments , removed to
Bath, and devoted himself almost entirely to
r i s ast onomical and scientif c pursuit , i n which
r his family took a keen i nterest an d pleasu e .
r The Fellow of several lea ned Societies, but
w t r s t i hal an hu mble an d devoted Ch i ian , his delight was to consecrate his talents to his
’ “ s r v Ma te s ser ice, and to lead from Nature
’ u r p to Natu e s God . Such were the early i nfluences and sur
r o undings of Agnes Weston ; and as s h e
’ h a s t C s of en said, i n speaking of her hildhood
s “f o e d av , to me, i f with such a father an d
m o t I her , and such home influences , had been
aught t ha n a child of God and a wo r ker i n
H is vi n e y ard Although the child of m any
pray ers s h e was for som e years a sou rce of
gr eat anxiety to her parents : the strong will
a n d m i pulsive, passionate temper had need of
r much careful t aining . I I E a r l L i e y f .
H er father w a s m uch i mpressed by the w s r ord of a p ofessor of phrenology, who w hil s t staying a t his house observed h e r
r s o gan ic d evelopment , and prophe ied that h e r ca r ee r would be a re m arkable on e ; he
s o s a even went far as to y , that a crisis “ w o r s h e ould ccu i n h er li fe , when would tu r n decisively either to the right or left would choose to be great either i n th e ” r se vice of God , or i n that of th e world . In aft er years her father would recu r to “ s a this and y , Agnes m ight have been an
instru men t for evil i nstead of good , but,
thank God , it has been otherwise . Has descent anythi ng to do with vigou r
o ? s o and p wer of character I f , her energy and strong i mpulses may be accou nted for o through a l ng lin e o f ancestors, many of whom have i ntermarried with the noblest families of Englan d : the family pedigree pa s ses back wi t hou t a broken link to the C ti me of the onquest, when the old Norm an fou nder of the house kept feudal state i n
Normandy, an d came over a Baron , in Duke 1 2 i r fs L f e a m o n g o u Bl u e y a c é o .
’ VV i l li a m s d t r conquering army . Rewar ed af e
r r m wa ds with lands an d mano s , he beca e
s Raou l d e Bailleu l de We ton . Although the estate s and m anors have passed into a
s n oble hou e, through th e female lin e, i t is most interesti n g to lo o k down the o ld pedi
r gree, an d to see the fo ce of character, some
times for evil and sometimes for good , which h a s d istinguished gen eration after genera tion ; and now i n the l gt h centu ry we have i n the subject of this sketch a “ chip of the ” old block ; may not some portion of her dauntlessn ess and energy of character be du e to the old Norman ancestors who knew how
to wi n l ands and honours, and to keep them ? Childhood and youth passed qu ietly away i n
1 8 6 study and home life , when i n 5 , at Sixteen
r yea rs of age, a change took place in ci cum
r stances i mmediately su rounding her, through w t h e a n d hich twi light , dawn , then su nshin e, o f r U Divine G ace was to fi ll her sou l . p to this time s h e had been e m inently ca r eles s and dead t o all s piri t ual thi n gs ; unlike some r i 1 E a /y L f e . 3 who have had a gli m mering of truth always “ r r Shining i n their hea ts , She ca ed for non e ” of these things , and the forms of prayer, and
’ reading of God s Word night and morning,
o n e r g th ough pu ncti liously by m any, were
h e r utter ly neglected by . The change that took place was i n the min istry of the church which she al ways D B . . t : . a tended the Rev J ames Fleming, , now
’
o r V . Canon of Y k and icar of St M ichael s ,
i n Chester Square, was appointed to the
’ b n c u m e c . y of All S aints Chapel , Bath H is
preaching was clear, faithful , and vigorous
Christ first, last, an d m idst ; an d doubtless i t told upon n u mbers i n that congregation . H e little thought that there was a hea r t i n the breast of a young girl w h o attended his
m inistry from Su nday to S unday, with who m
’ r the Lord s Spi it was striving, and who on her part was striving against H is power . I n all the congregatio n there was hardly on e
r mo e careless and thoughtless, and at the same time m ore determined to keep out the
u t s h e . t r th , h an was o 47 13 I 4 L g/ a m o n g o u r Bl ue 57 15 .
I w a s obliged to go to church , she writes ,
“ s referr ing to thi period , bu t I was deter
t h e m ined not to listen , and oftentim es when t p r eacher gave ou t the text, I have s opped
m m S , my ears, and hu t y eyes that I ight neither s e e nor hear. I put away the truth
r o deliberately f m m e, and the marvel is how th e Good Shephe r d followed me u p .
’ But M r. Fleming s earnest preaching, by
r the power of the Spi it of God , combined w ith the i nfluence of a Ch r is t ian fr iend and t h e r r s r praye s of Ch i tian pa ents , Slowly but
r r . su ely did the wo k She began to listen ,
’ and t o think ; God s Wo r d was no longer a sealed book . For hou rs She used to wander
' s m n abou t i n the field Bible i n hand , and a y
o f a night she laid awake i n agony sou l .
For m o n t hs her spi r itual state can only be
’ “ s r s s r de c ibed i n the P almi t s wo ds , Deep callet h unto deep : all Thy billows and Thy
’ r waves have gone ove me .
’ a r e " How various God s dealings Some ,
r a n d like Lydia, are b ought at once, cal mly gently, to the feet of J esus ; others through
‘ 1 6 e a m o n o u r l u e a c /c o z s L if g B y .
w I kn e that I was lost , she writes at “ this ti me, but although salvation through t h e r blood of J esus was clea ly preached , I di d s e e h o w not I could be saved, and , like
r many another, my life was a mixtu e
s of terror and anguish of soul , carele sness
‘ ’ - s o r . a nd am usement, and called good wo ks Oh that I had u nbosomed myself to my
s r " mini ter, or to some Christian f iend but
‘ r r my ha d , proud , reserved spi it said , Any ’ — thing but that, and I paid the penalty, by ” years of u nrest an d uselessness .
a s Was it a solace to the burdened heart, or a frantic effort to turn the mind to some thing else ? I kno w not ; but abou t this ti me s h e w h h e r suddenly thre herself, wit all i rre s i s t i b l e e en rgy of purpose , into the study of m usic and organ playing . This instru ment ,
r of all othe s the king, had a great fascina
r t tion for her, p incipally from the difficul y of maste r ing it ; but nothing sho r t of this wou ld satisfy her . From the ki nd guidance of a r f iend who taught her the first rudiments , s h e passed u nder the profession a l t eaching I 7
E K . s of J . Pyne , q, organist of the Abbey
i n Church , Bath . H e took u n feigned interest
her progress . Hours passed like m inutes a t
the fin e old organ , and oftenti mes the poor organ - blower struck work an d cried for m ercy before the enthusiastic perfo r mer had had hal f enough .
After studying for som e ti me under M r .
s h Pyne, he suggested that e should ai m
higher, and i f possibl e place h erself u nder the teaching of that celebrated organist and
c . . . omposer D r S S Wesley, of Glou cester
Cathedral . D r . Wesley was puzzled h e was
not accustom ed to train ladies, an d especially amateurs, of wh om h e had a very small opinion ; bu t at the earnest request of his
frien d M r . Pyn e, h e agreed to meet M iss
Weston i n a certai n chu rch in Cheltenham ,
s e e s h e and what was mad e of.
s h e c Arrived at the church first, at on e mad e her way to the orga n loft, and com
’ m e n c e d playi ng one of Bach s pedal fugues .
s a t Dr . Wesley entered u nobserved , an d down in a pe w and listened atten tively as soon a s u l e c s 1 8 s e a m o n g o r B u 7 a é e t .
the fugu e came to a close, he walked i nto the “ t organ lof , and without i ntroduction said, I
do have heard enough , I wi ll teach you ; but ” you wi s h to learn as an amateu r ? ” wa s w t No, her i m mediate ans er, I wan as sharp training as you would give to a ” s profes ional .
“ s h e You hal l have it, said , smiling “ gri mly ; com e back with me to Gloucester, an d I will ask the D ean an d Chapter to ” allow you to study on the cathedral organ .
Scar cely a day now passed for some weeks that she was n o t found rousing the echoes
s r of Glouce ter Cathedral , p actising morning ,
r a l l noon , and till long after da k, spite of the ghostly stories narrated by vergers an d
- fellow pupils .
I n connection w ith this s h e tells the follow
. D r ing incident . Wesley was one evening
. giving her a lesson in the Cathedral after da r k ; no lights w er e allowed except i n the
organ loft, and their feeble gli mmer m ade
m s the huge nave look black, vast, and y t e r i o u s i ndeed . She had just begun to play E a r /y L if e . 1 9 when a m essenger arrived w ith the request
that D r . Wesley would return ho me at once ,
r t h e on impo tant business . H e left with promise to be back directly, adding as he “ s r h O e went down the tai s , I p you will not m ind my l o cki ng you i nto the Cathedral we are n ot allowed to leave the doors ” u nfastened .
s h e D espising all supernatural fears, laugh
“ i n l r g y rejoined , Oh no , I shal l be pe fectly happy an d comfortable u ntil you r retu rn , and at once s e t to work vigorously practising
o at a difficult bar of the m usic bef re her, not giving the ghosts or dead men ’ s bones lying
all around another thought . ffl S uddenly, however, She heard some m u ed footsteps slowly an d stealthily advancing u p the Side aisle of the Cathedral : they came
nearer an d nearer, u nti l they paused i n the
- side chapel, at the foot of the organ loft
. stair Feeling sure that i t could not be D r,
’ s h e Wesley s tread , listened in dismay and “ h a s s h e . orror, till , described it all the s tories wh ich I had heard o f the ghost of 20 r e a r e l s I n "? a m o n g o u Bl u j /e .
t h e crusader, which was supposed to hau nt ” r the vene able pile, rushed i nto my m ind .
s a t She paralysed for a moment ; the next, determined not to give way to such childish
r s r — fea , threw aside the cu tain , and saw no one
I t was only the wind whi r ling i n and around the C loisters and the recu mbent e ffi i e s w g i n the aisle , hich had caused sounds f similar to mu fled footsteps . Ashamed of
s h e o n herself, hastily went practising, bu t
Dr . Wesley on his return soon detected that
c something had oc urred , an d laughingly wrung from her an unwilling confession that s h e
had been after al l the victi m of the ghost.
On her return fro m Gloucester, her father, much pleased at the strides which s h e had
r made, p esented her with an organ of her own , which was built i n London , and put u p for her use i n the new country house which he had j ust completed on “ Lans
d owne, n ear Bath of which , as i t was Agnes
’ VV e s t o n s home for many years, i t may be w l c el to give our readers a short des ription, a r / L i e 2 1 E y f .
Situated on the su m m it of on e of t h e highe s t
s t h e r hill , down st etching for mi les behi nd i t,
“ ” i t fully j u s t ifies the nam e of E n s l e igh — E n d of the lea bestowed upon i t . Th e view from the lawn or windows on a
’ clear su mm er s day is not easily ei t her d e sc r ibed o r forgotten . The groun d suddenly
descend s, and the eye is carri ed over a
r fe tile an d beauti fu l valley, to a fin e range
of hills, and on agai n from range to range,
o ff till , about twenty miles , the panorama is
VV i l t s h i r e closed by the chalk downs of , and l the edge of S alisbury Plain , whi e far below rise the towe r s and roofs of the old city of
Bath . The spot was well chosen , and co m manding a glorious scen e of a thoroughly
English type . Grand as is the mountain
scenery of Switzerland , for daily, happy,
cal m , and peaceful enj oyment, what can be compared to the hills and dales of the west ? of Englan d Well is i t for u s when our lot is cas t amid such scenes "and as health an d vigour of body are generally the a c c o m pa n i
' n t /z me ts of cou ntry exercise an d ai r, z s 2 2 a n u r B l n e a e s e m o g o f r /e l s .
r count y house was no exception to the rule, and has bestowed its gifts richly on M iss
s r r We ton , i n vigou , and st ength of body, which eminently fit h e r for the trying and busy life i nto which God has led her . We allud e to this home of her former life because it was i n the t r ue sense of the words a happy and a beautifu l one ; and it was with m any a linge r ing look of regret that
’ t r s h e relinquished i t i n af er yea s, at God s
r call to work elsewhe e for H im .
Glancing back on these early days of s u n shine and cloud , how delightfu l it is to see
’ o r the L d s guiding han d i n all , and how
r r rema kably, step by step , does H e t ain an d
fit t h e i nstru m en t fo r the exact kind and natu r e o f the wo r k which H e has i n store for
r s it ; t uly we can e e H is wisdom guiding .
r a ranging, and overruling even the smallest
s event .
’ The wise Master - builder visits Nature s
r r quar y, and fi st selects the stone which H e r r s fo r r equi e a ce tain part of the building , by blasting and r ough chiselling H e r emoves it
C HAPTER I I .
S AL/1 B EGIN N I N GS LL .
OM E of u s who are lovers of mountain
and moorland scene r y can well r eme m ber t r aci n g the strea m from its source amidst
fern and heather, winding its way like a silver thread down the mountain side, gaining
m r volu e and strength as i t goes, b awling over r ocks and boulders , or sleeping i n quiet pools
r i n th e valley below, receiving f esh supplies
r t r n on eve y side, and at last , af er fe tilisi g and
r blessing the count y through which it passes , d s t s r b e i charging i elf, a iver, i nto the ocean
’ n y e d. What a pic t u r e this is of the Spi r it s
r " wo k i n the soul "u ietly and lovingly , here t a little and here a little, H e leads step by
n step , u ntil at last self becomes nothi g, Christ
r n eve ythi g , and the happy believer is launched into the ocean of redeeming love . s 2 Sm a l l B eg z n n z n g . 5
I n 1 86 8 we find Agnes We s ton no longe r
r r g oping i n the da k, no longer afraid to utter
r s h e t uths which had not realized herself, but
actively engaged in unfolding to the young ,
a n d the sick, the dying , i n Su nday School ,
t - Hospi al , and Bible class the u nsearchable
r riches of Ch ist . I n speaking of her own conversion she has
always sai d that s h e could never defi n itely
mention any day, hour, or even month , when
s h e was conscious of being born of God ; bu t
l ike many othe r s S h e can look up with c o n
fi de n c e r t , i n the full assu ance of fai h , and , in
the words of one whose outward expe r ience “ w a s s a the same as her i nner one , y , O ne
thing I know, whereas I was blind , now I ”
s e e .
r 1 86 8 r In the ea ly part of the year , th ough
r the kind i nte est of the Chaplain , the Rev .
r s h e E . J . W ight , received permission to visit U the patients at the Bath nited H ospital ,
and s o mu ch were these visits valued and
a looked forw rd to , that i t was arranged that
Sh e should give a short Gosp el addres s i n r l 2 6 s e a m o n g o u r Bl u e fi e /ee s .
’ r each of the men s wa ds once a week . On
s these occasion , after addressing them alto
r s h e r gethe , would go rou nd f om bed to bed ,
e o and Speak to ach man pers nally, aecom panying the wo r ds with little gifts of flowers
o s and b ok , which were much prized by them .
I n her Hospi t al J ou r nal She relates many a tou ching incident of on e and another br ought
to God by these m eans . One afternoon , while s h e was conducting her sho r t service
r r r i n the Albe t Ward , a poor fellow te ibly c r ushed by an acciden t i n t h e ston e qua r r ies
r u was b o ght in . The trai l of his blood lay
f r r on the loo over which he had been car ied ,
o o n s and a deep , s lem n hush fell peaker and l istene r s as h e was laid on a bed at the
r w r d fu ther en d of the a . The doctors, who
r with matron an d n u ses gathered round him ,
o pr on unced i t to be a hopeless case . D is
r s t essed beyon d measure, Mi s Weston asked
m per ission to speak to hi m I t was granted ,
“ with th e rema r k that as h e would never be
w r conscious again in this o ld , it mattered ” h s h e little w at said to hi m . ' 2 Sm a l l B eg z n n z n gs . 7
With an upward glan ce for grace and
s a n gu idance she t dow by his sid e , behind
h e r the screen , and putting hand gently o n h i s s h e r shoulder, epeated the first text which
“ came i nto h e r m in d : God s o love d t h e
- o S o n world , that H e gave H is on ly beg tten , that whosoever believeth i n Hi m s houl d not
r r pe ish , bu t h ave eve lasting life . After a sho r t pause she repeated it again . H e moved
slightly, and big tears rolled down h is rough
w a s cheeks . This th e only answer which s h e received : bu t who can s a y what passed at the moment between that sou l and its God ?
r Another ent y is very interesting . August
2 t h —V w 9 . isited the hospital . A poor fello was
r . lying i n the E dinbu gh Ward , n ear his end
H e m entioned M iss Marsh , and the loving
r s h e wo ds which had spoken to him , an d s obbed bitterly as he told me of his wife an d l ittle children , whom he felt that he was about l to leave . I tri ed si mp y and earnestly to
point hi m to J esus , as the object of his faith . Our conversation was broken off by men from i e a m o n o u r e a e l 2 8 L f g Bl u 7 /c e s .
the other wards trooping i n to the service, but
‘ ’ de c i de d before I left he said earnestly, I ve
’ to t r ust i n J esus .
Another short entry is also interesting, as
s h o wing how God blessed her i n this work .
2 8 t h — r . . F iday, Sept Addressed the patients in the Albert Ward from Genesis xxviii . A p o or man with both legs broken was lying
r - o n a bed nea me . H e was a tender hearted
o fell w, and told me m uch about his children
h i m and their devotion and love to , and he listened with the i nterest of on e to whom the words were new as I showed
’ ‘ r hi m the Holy Spi it s record , that as a
s o father pitieth his children , the Lord pitieth
’ them that fear H im , and asked hi m how he had returned thi s love and tenderness ?
“ ‘ ’ ’ I ve been a bad fellow, he si mply said ,
‘ ’ ’ but I ll love H im . “ P assing to the next bed , there lay a poor
o l c l ier, with his face disfigured and blackened
by an explosion of gunpowder . H e seemed
’ s e e a n d r glad to me, epeated Miss M arsh s
r little p ayer, which I had taught him the 2 Sm a l l B eg z n n z n gs . 9
O m week before God , wash m e from al l y
’ sins i n the Saviour s blood , and I shal l be
whiter than snow . Fil l me with the Holy
’ ’
r . Ghost , for Jesus Ch ist s sake, Amen
H e said , I a m very n ear death , but I a m
’ not afraid of i t now : I have got J esus . These and m any other i ncidents from real
li fe she wove i nto tracts , and thus began to use the pen which is now su ch an instru ment in her work . They were published by M r . Dru m mond i n the Stirling Series by the Reli
C o . gions Tract Society M essrs . Partridge and ,
an d others . H er simple and yet clear way of bringing forward Gospel truth was much
l iked , the tracts obtained a large circulation ,
an d are still doing work for God . Ever busy, and ready to enter i nto any fresh enterprise, s h e nevertheless still continued her work at
the S unday School . Every u n ruly class, both ol d and young, from i nfants to u nmanageable
s i n boy , were handed over to her turn , and the more un manageable they were, the more s h e u p delighted in , as the C rat e ex ressed it, licking th em into shape . l 30 s e a m o n g o u r B u e y i n /Ee l s .
At length the senior boys ’ class developed into a class for wo r king m en . Some married m e n having expressed a wish to join , the mem bers swelled until they r eached th e average o f one hundred each Sunday afternoon , divided
r a n d i h into two classes . I n this i mpo tan t t e r e s t i n g work s h e received th e cordial sanc
o - r t h e tion and t ope ation of Rector of Walcot,
C r the Rev. anon Berna d , who allowed her th e
m use of the parish schoolroo . After a whi le a mission - room in the east of Walcot offering
s h e i tself, rented it , and henceforth all her — ’ work was centred there , Working Men s
- Bible classes and Prayer Meetings, Temper
ance and Band of H ope work .
She often s peaks of her old friends t h e w orking men , and of their earnest prayers for
her i n their little meetings, as the fou ndation o f m uch of her after work for God . I n her j ournal for 1 86 9 She frequently “ : 2 r d. alludes to them thus Tuesday, May 3 Prayer meeting : 1 2 men present ; prayed
“ most earnestly for a revival i n their midst , nor
Th s di d they pray in vain . e re ult was soon
3 2 L if e a m o n g o u r B l u e y e w/e e l s . when su ddenly I was pulled up short i n a
- m ve r y unlooked for and u n istakable way .
At the close o f one of ou r temperance m eet
r ings , a desperate d unkard cam e up to m e , w ishing to Sign the pledge . H e was a chi m
n ey sweeper, and well known to us all . I was
eager to get hold of h im , knowing h is past
history, but as he took the pen i n hand , h e
suddenly looked u p i nto my face, and sai d
‘ enquiringly, I f you please, M iss Weston , be you a teetotaler S omewhat disconcerted by
this direct appeal , I replied that I only took
r a glass of wine occasionally, of cou rse i n st ict moderation ; upo n which he laid down the
‘ pen , and said , Well , I think that I wil l do
a s s a j ust you y , take a glass sometimes i n
’ r mode ation . No entreaties of mine could prevail upon h i m to sign the total abstinence
r pledge , n eithe could he keep within the
bounds of mode r ation ; h e w ent back to h i s
‘ old l ife, saying that he would do as the
’ lady d id .
“ “ s h e s a w That n ight , adds , I my duty
r very plainly, and I en olled my nam e in t h e Sm a l l L e z n n m s g g . 33
r pledge book , hea tily wishing that I ha d done
fo r w r l s o before this poor fellow came a .
The total abstinence question i n i t s medical aspect is clea r ly laid down b v eminent medical m en— who prove conclu s i v e ly that although intoxicating drinks may be a luxury, they are no necessity, that they contain nothing for the building up and s u s
n n c e t h e t e a of body, on which they simply act as the whip or spur to the j aded horse, taking ou t his reserve strength , and putting nothing
in . I t is needless to speak on this point, and yet th e personal testi mony of each worker a s to physical strength is very valuable .
r c After ten yea s of abstinence, during whi h
M iss Weston says, to use her own words,
“ Although I have worked harder with brain ,
m uscle, and nerve than I ever worked before , travelling thousands of miles , frequently hold i n g two meetings a day, and standing at the
r hel m of the la ge ship entrusted to my care,
I may safely s a y that I have never enjoyed better health . Rest an d food are the only ” r docto s which I have had to employ . ‘ e a /e e z s 34 s e a m o n g o u r Bl u y e .
Would that al l Ch r istian workers would enroll themselves against this great national
S o s o in , on the br ad principle clearly laid down i n God ’ s word “ It is good neither to
f s r a n /fl un W eat le h nor d ink wi ne, nor y g hereby
r f thy b other stu mbleth or is of ended , or is ” made weak . After enrolling herself in the great tem
e r a n c e p cause, we very naturally expect to s e e her throwing herself heartily into it, and
2 n d r such was the case. The Some set M ilitia
r fo r assembled every yea at Bath training, an d all the evils c o nnected with the gathering
of such a body of men were very apparent .
I n conj unction with the Chaplain , an d with
’ the Colonel s full sanction and approval , Coffee and Reading Rooms were started for
r a the use of the men , and were la gely p
’ r i s e d t o n . Every evening a popular meeting w a s a r n m s ra ged for the , consisting of song ,
s reading , an d addresses , which were much
s r appreciated . M iss We ton also unde took a
- w a s S unday Bible class, which well attended , and the te s timony of one of the officers wa s ' Sm a l l B eg z n n z n gs . 35
—“ given i n the following wo r ds S ince M i s s
h a s Weston taken the men i n hand , and kept
t h e s them out of pu blic house , they are not ” like the sam e fellows .
A m ong h e r ent r ies at th is ti me stands “ — the following M o n day 1 o t h Ma y Th e
M ilitia Reading Room s have been c r o w ded
m e n m this evening with , i ncluding any non
r r s s commission ed office s . I gave a n add e on
‘ ’ m An awakened conscience . M any re ain ed
r behind to ou r Praye Meeting, and m any
signed the pledge .
The close of the training was c o m m e m o rated by the Colonel givi n g her pe r m issi o n to present each m an wi t h a Testa m ent befo r e they were disbanded . They were drawn u p
r s on the parade groun d , an d after a few ea n e t ,
s h e m a r simple words passed fro r nk to ank , accompanied by t w o Se r geants ca r r ying t h e
’ s s books , an d placed on e i n each m an hand .
Thus the good seed was sown i n th e h ea r ts of these militia men , to bear fruit u nto life eternal . S ince the devotion of her whole ti me to a m o n o u r l u e a c l re l s 36 s e g B 7 .
the Royal Navy , this i nteresti ng work among the men of the 2 n d Somerset has been taken
s r u p and developed by her si te . Would that in every town where our M ilitia Regi ments assemble such work for God cou ld be carried on .
s e e Our readers will for themselves how,
’ s h e looking to God for each day s work , was led on step by step to greater and still greater t hings . Does any small begi nner despai r ?
’ A s Let hi m take gne Weston s motto, and “ e n e xt e t h n e Doe y y g . C HAPTE R I I I .
’ OR “ B B K AI N L I E T TERS UE A C S . O TH L , L
“ A NY h Ho w ave asked, d id M iss Weston com mence her work among ? ” sailors The answer is simple, and i t is a
commentary on the passage, I will lead the ” l w b ind by a way they kno not . The seed
was a very small on e, and the work which has grown out of i t is very great ; bu t we can the more clearly trace th e hand of God i n i t all .
1 86 8 I n the early part of , sh e relates, i n “ s I one of her printed statement , wrote a letter to a Christian soldier then on passage with h i s regiment from Englan d to India i n H . M . S .
’ Cr o c o di l e , one of H er Maj esty s troop ships
r e - H e read and read i t, and finding com fort an d help from its words of Christian
a . sympathy, he showed it to seaman The 38 L if e a m o n g o u r Bl ue 7 a c é e ts .
’ seaman s eyes glistened as he handed ba c k
the letter, with this remark,
“ ‘ n o That is good , we poor fellows have fr iend : do you think that that lady would wr i t e t o m e ? I would give anything t o
’ r eceive a letter like this .
“ ‘ ’ I s h e t h e am su re that will, replied
‘ ’ s a k oldier ; I will write and s her .
H e did so, dating his letter from Suez .
My heart was rejoiced at finding something, ever so small , to do for J esus, and I replied
t t at once . Tha le ter was the germ of all my
r present wo k i n the Service . For any ability i n the letter - w r iting way I have to thank
’ - the Carus Wilson Soldier s Friend Society, who supplied m e with the n ames of Christian
soldiers with whom I could correspond . This
Society s t ill carr ies on the sam e good work
r among our soldie s , and are glad of the help of Ch r istian ladies wishi n g to consecrate their pens to Jesus . The result of Miss Weston ’ s letter to this
H o n r t . r M S e e a r s . F e N e t e H o s e V t o r a c y , yff , l y u , ic i
S a r e C i to B r s t o qu , l f n , i l .
r e a e l z 4 0 e e a m o n g o u Bl u y e l s .
r m r h i m a t embl ing hand ca e f om , i n which
s he aid ,
a m r I ve y ill , down with fever ; but Jesus i s nea r m e : I know that I have eve r lasting life th r ough H is blood . Something seems to tell me that I s hall have to wait to s e e my
r s l dea one on the other side, and there I shal
i n m eet you too . I send you four shillings
’ s tamps to help to carry on God s work among ” m r y brother sailo s . A letter was written i n answer to this by the next mail , but he had entered the haven of rest , as he said to his mates i n th e
’ r hospital , I m going home by a sho ter cut ” than by old England . That letter came “ back , with the one word , Dead , written
across it i n red ink .
A letter is a very preciou s thing to a s fa r ailor away from home . When the mail
r r bag a ives , those who have letters are the
r fo tunate fellows, and those who have n o
r - f iends feel very lonely then . Letter writing to ou r s ailors was certainly supplying a
r m issing link, and g eatly helping and e n l lf o n l lz l L e l l e r s o r l u e B a e l rs 1 y , B . 4
c o u r a i n r u - g g, i n thei p hill life, those who had
r i s t become Ch istian m en . It well known tha
u - s J ack is genero s and kind hearted , ea ily
led to the r ight or to the wrong . I t can therefore well be i m agined h o w his heart is touched when he receives an u nexpected letter of s ympathy and encou r agement fr om
r a frien d i n O ld England , an d that f iend a
Christian woman .
S uch links bind ou r sailors to their cou ntry, an d are valuable not only as regards the men
“ ” o f personally, but also i n a Service point view ; because everything that can raise the
’ - sailor s self respect, and make hi m feel that
h e is cared for, thought of, and prayed for ,
makes hi m more contented with his lot, and consequ ently a better seaman .
The corresponden ce with sailors grew i m mensely ; on e man written to on board any ship wou ld send the names of other
r Shipmates, who wanted to be on the oll
r some of th e naval chaplains also , h ea ing of this correspondence, began to take an
n m w a s i terest i n i t, a ong whom the late 2 e m o n o u r l ue a c h ts 4 s a g B y .
R N r . . Rev. Richard P ice, , at Devonport . H e kindly volunteered to p r ocure names o f
r t Ch is ian men at that port, which he did th r ough some of the Readers of the Royal
’ r Naval Scriptu e Readers Society, in which a Society, at that time, he took prominent
r pa t. h Alt ough many years have since passed ,
r an d many of these wo kers, including hi mself,
t have been ga hered home , this Society still ca r ries on its work for the Master on board o u r ships of war, seeking by thei r Readers to
r e gain a pe sonal i nflu nce over the men , i n order to lead them to Christ . All i nterested i n ou r Royal Navy should help this Society, " and enable i t to enlarge its usefulness .
c Friendships, lasting, in many instan es,
through life, were made with hu ndreds of B lue Jackets i n this simple way . “ We never light our pipes with your ” “ r o u letters, w ote a sailor, because y thinks about and cares for us .
e r e t a r C a t a Ca m o Tr a a a r S a r S c y, p in pi n , 4 , f lg qu e
a r C r o s s Lo o . Ch ing , nd n M o n t/M L e tl e r s o r l u e o o ks y , B B . 4 3
I ndeed , so great was the demand for w r itten letters , that Miss Weston foun d it ne cessary to supplement them with a monthly
r p inted letter, which enabled her to speak a fr iendly word to a very much larger n u mber t han s h e could have reached by her pen .
r 0 0 D uring the fi st year of issue, 5 copies a month addressed to individual m en were sent .
1 8 2 1 0 0 I n February 7 , 5 copies of the letter
were forwarded each month . The nu mber rose steadily to a month , and still names poured i n fro m all pa r ts of
r e the wo ld , and the circu lation ros from
n o w to at which figure i t stands . “ These letters are called by the m en little ” Blu e Backs, on account of the blue cover
c in whi h, most properly, they are sent into
the Navy . There is hardly a bronzed and weather -beaten Bl u e J acket i n the Service who would not answer , i f he were asked
’ s whether he knew M i s Weston s Blue Backs, “ e s c o rn e d Why, y , they aboard my ship ” every month , all t he ti me we were away .
a l o n e H er desire is to speak to each man , L i e a m o n o u r l ue a e é e s 44 f g B y l .
r i s and by the lette this accomplished .
Thousands of sai l o r s read them because they
r r e come st aight f om M iss Weston and hom , and their naval colour reco m mend s the m “ eve r ywhe r e The ti t le r eads A Monthly
r Lette addressed to the Officers , S eamen ,
r r Ma ines , and Ma ine Artillery of the Royal ” Navy at Home and Abroad Below this
title is an appropriate device of a Bible,
r n t Sceptre, and c ow , and the mon hly text, on which generally th e letter is based . “ A sailor wrote to M iss Weston , I thank
God that I ever s a w the outside of your little
‘ ’ Blue Backs . I must tell you all abou t it because i t will encou r age you to send them to all my mates i n the Service . I was very mise r able on account of bad news which
I had received fr om home : some one very
r t o s o r dea m e had pitched m e over, I dete m r u ined to th ow p everything, and to drown
m my misery by a fling on shore . O n y way
Any a nnua l s ubs c r ibe r o f £ 1 c a n r e ce iv e a co py o f t hi s
e t t e r m o t o s t r e e o n o t i t h e s a m e t o s s l n hly , p f , n ify ng M i 7 \\ e s t o n . f n lz l L e l /e r s l u e a r /c s fl o l . y , B B 4 5
s s to ask for leave, I passed one of the me
‘ ’ s t tables, on which lay a Blu e Back , j u
r o i t r a rived by the mail . I t ok up , and ead
o r r r the text on the c ve , The e is a F iend
’ s r h i t that ticketh closer than a brothe . I t m e m m hard , and , asha ed of yself, I turned
back, and sought and found that Friend , who has been my all i n all ever since .
A n officer thus racily desc r ibed the advent of a packet on the West I ndian station I took the parcel of Blue Backs on the
r m lower deck of our ship , and dist ibuted the
’ among the ship s company . I t happened to be Sunday afternoon , and they all rushed at
’ s i r " m e with , M e one , and M e one, sir
n s o that I had to stan d agai st a gun , in order to keep off the crowd .
I wen t round the decks again half-a n - hour
s e e afterwards , j ust to what they were doing with the m it would have chee r ed yo ur heart
— s to have seen the sight , groups of men itting
- r cross legged on th e deck a ou n d one, the best
reader probably, who was seated i n the midst, r e a ding the letter alou d to his listen ing mess u r l e r e /ee l s 4 6 L efe a m o n g o B u fi .
m n ates . I went back to my cabi to thank
s r r s God for tho e p eache s i n blu e j acket , an d ” Hi m r asked to bless readers an d listene s .
’ ’ Mi s s Weston s heart s desire is well " nigh
m acco plished . The whole of the Navy now receives t hes e l ittle messenger s m onthly ; they are sent to the Royal Naval H ospitals at
H a s l a r , Plymouth , and Chatham the Coast h guard Stations have been added , and throug the kindness of the Trinity Board s h e al s o
s send to all the English lighthouses . Touch
s r fe w ing letter of g atitu de, enclosing a s s hillings i n stamp , have been received from
t s these solitary ou posts , and m any lighthou e
’ keepers have come t o the Sailo r s Rest to
s a shake hands, and to y that since receiving the little packets they have seen thei r wa d y m a e clear, by faith i n the blood of
Jesus .
Soon after the com m encement of the regu
’ t h e r lar issue of men s lette , Miss Weston found i t neces s ary to bring one out for the
boys of the training ships also .
. [i n r e n a l e Some lads from H . M S . / g o cam e
L i n u r l e a c l s 4 8 f e a m o g o B u 7 /c e .
r white ensign flies . The g i m monitor an d the tiny gun -boat alike receives its Go s pel
r and Temperance budget regula ly. They have travelled even i nto frozen regions amidst eternal snow and ice, an d have r eached the highest latitude ever attained by man . Before the last Arcti c expedition left
Portsmouth , the men asked M iss Weston
how they were to get their monthly letters , a s no mail packets run between England
’ and Smith s S ound . The riddle was soon solved by a seaman , who exclai med,
’ I ll tell you , I have i t ; Miss Weston can
s e e get letters ready for, let m e , two years
’ ahead , and then , come what may, we re sure
to have enough . They can be put up i n packets for each month , and stowed away i n
’ a couple of chests, one for each ship we ll take them and they can be served out once a month : twi ll be almost as good as if a mail
r came out f om Old England .
This advice was acted upon , although i t
c h involved a good deal of work ; ea Ship, / l u c le s [Wo n t M L e i /e r r o r ue . y , B B 49
i c o c r A l e r . . D s u . t . H M . S . and H M S y , took a
“ ‘ s t s r smal l che full , an d the Blue Back we e regu la r ly dist r ibuted and read and we tru s t and bel ieve i n the aw fu l da r kn e s s of th a t
t Arctic winter, hat these silent messengers
o r s t o m e n sp ke many wo d cheer and help the ,
n d t o s s r a to guide them J e u the t u e Light .
M is s Weston often receives le t te r s full of lamentations from Blu e J ackets on d i s tan t s s r tations i f the packet do not arrive egularly .
The di fficulties encountered i n keeping a c onstant lo o k - ou t on the m o ve m ents of al l Ships are i mmense indeed "the Sail
’ o r s t i s a o r Res list like kaleid scope, neve
c w twice alike , and with every are they il l g o wrong sometimes . She often r elates a touching i ncident which She met with at Portsmouth i t shows
“ the blessing, u nder God , which these Blu e
Backs m ay become, an d the valu e set upon them .
She had asked permission of the captain , which h e kindly gave, to pay a visit to
H. M. S . D u e W e l l i n t o n k of g , flag ship , and to 4 n u r l e a c lc e l s 50 L fi e a m o g o B u 7 .
’ r give an add ess to the Ship s company . The m t w a s eeting wi h the men , which held o n the m ain deck , was a very interesting one at its cl o s e she was a s ked whether s h e wou ld visi t
r the Sick bay, to speak a wo d to the men
m who were not able to co e to the meeting .
Gladly assenting , she went rou nd , speaking a
o r o w d or two to those confined to their c ts .
“ s h e O n leaving the sick bay, I came, says ,
m a n on a who was better , and sitting at a table tu r ning o ver the c o ntents of his ditty
’ box The sailor s ditty box is the one little
piece of property belonging to hi m , i n which
he can keep his home treasures . The young
r seaman emptied his g adually, taking o u t
s r photograph , d ied flowers, a lock of hair, an d some letters As I passed hi m he held
“ out a Blue Back , and sai d to m e, ? ’ D o y o u re m ember that
’ e r C tainly, I answered , and taking i t i n my hand I s a w by the date that it was t w o years old . “ ‘ I got that out i n China , aboard the
’ Ri n a ldo r r i , he answe ed , i n eply to my a flf o n l lz l L e i fe r s o r l u e B a c le s 1 y , B . 5
‘ u t q iring look , and I thank God tha you
I wa s t ever sent i t to m e . one of the wild es
r b u t s w fellows i n the Se vice , that letter ho ed m e j u s t what I was . I wen t to J esus for
’ r n o w pa don , and I m a happy man ; I would
’ r t h t fo r s not pa t wi that let er five pou nd ,
i t and he pu t again i n his d itty box , turn
‘ s d i ng the key, and aid slowly, When I i e
r I should like i t to be bu ied with m e .
The letters which M iss Weston receives yearly fro m all parts of the world may be
fe w r reckoned by thousands . A b ief quota
t o r tions, wi hou t giving the name of ship
r . w iter, may i nterest the reader
H . M . S .
R HR I STI N D Y -I s i t DEA C A LA , down to w r i te thes e few lines an d to tell you o f the good work which is going on on board of our
t o ship . We are hoping and praying God for its advancement : may H e pour down H is
H oly Spiri t in to the h ea r ts of th o se who are
r m t ying to lead a better life . Th e onthly
t a r e u s let ers a great help to us, and keep r l u e a c lz e l s . 52 s e a m o n g o u B 7 strong and happy ; that is what we want to
s o , be, for the sake of those arou nd us that we can show them the good example of what a Ch r istian ought to be, an d to induce others to j oi n o u r little band . We m ust rally round on e a n oth er an d carry our flag before u s, and let i t float with a good breeze ; the main
r thing is to be always t usting i n J esus, is i t
o t . n , dear friend H e will keep us fro m evil
You r ever sincere friend , L
H . M . S .
I VV E STON — DEAR M SS , You can not think what j o y it caused to my heart whe n I received you r letter and read its contents . I fear I am troubling you too m uch by w s o t riting to you of en , bu t it seems good to me to s i t down and tell you the goodness
t h e Hi s r of Lord , an d how wo k is reviving
o f s w on board our hip . H e does ans er ou r
a r pr ye s . May God bless you in your labou rs,
an d give you the desire of you r heart .
Yours truly in Jesus , Mo n i /z l L e tt e r s o r l u e a c ks . y , B B 53
“ ‘ MY D R HRI STIAN R I N D —I EA C F E , was v ery pleased to receive a letter from you
s o soon after my arrival ou t here, and also pleased to know som e on e remembered m e at
s o the throne of grace . I was very glad to read J u ly ’ s monthly letter about the ‘ Word
’ " less Book . You ask m e , dear friend , i n you r
a letter, i f I a m Christian . I a m happy to
’ Y e s a m be able to answer , for I very happy,
i n Y o u and rej oicing the Lord . will b e glad
to know the sailors often s ing a n d talk abou t what they have heard at your meetings when
s u b the Ships were at home . I enclose a
“ ’ scription for the Gospel letters . May God s
blessing be with you all .
“ I remai n , your friend , “ B
H . M . . S
AR RIEND —On DE F , accou nt of illness I
n a m i nvalided hom e from th is statio . I am
n n Mo n t e t t e r s Th e c o s t o f p r i n t i n g a n d s e di g hly L ,
E a n d B b e -w o m a n o s t a e F o we r s a l a r y o f v a n ge li s t i l , p g , l
a l N a a l Ho s t a r e i e o f de s t i t t e Mi s s i o n t o Ro y v p i l , l f u ” s e a m e n e t c . a e r a e s 0 0 a e a r . , , v g A , 5 y a /e e /s 54 L if e a m o n g o u r Bl u e Y c .
h s o r r y to l eave my s ip an d Sh ipmates , espe
s t o c i a l ly my Chri ian c mpanions, and they too
m deeply r egr et my having to leave the , and o ffe r many p r aye r s fo r my safe j ourney home .
Home "t h e s oun d of that wo r d makes m e
r s t lo o k at t h e Side of two pictu e . I lef hom e
r a young beginne i n drunkenness , but , thank
m e n God , your books and are sending m e
a m a n b ck a sober, temperate, and Christian , and my hea r t rej o ices at the thought of the
s n o w welcome I hall receive at home .
c r r I remain , your sin e e f iend “ F
’ r o f Sankey s hymns, f om the si mplicity
r t h e o f the cho us at end each verse, and the
r t t o a r e s e t r b igh tu nes which they , are g eat
r t t favou i tes wi h J ack . The men will of en
i s i t n a circle rou nd one w h o plays the con
“ c e r t i n a s t h e , and ing Hold Home “ ” r r s s ove The e , Safe in the Arm of J e us, an d many othe r s ; those who do not know the wo r ds chi m ing i n at the choru s ; and who can s a y h o w m uch blessing may be the result ?
IV C HAPTER .
TE AI P E RA N CE W ORK .
RINK has always been the seaman ’ s
— a s snare, the cause, many a com mand
o r ing fficer has stated , of nearly all the c i me
i n the Service . To see the fine, manly, stalwart
’ ' form of a man -o - war s man reeling u p the
r st eet, all his manliness gone, and the kindly, pleas ant - spoken fellow turned either into a
r d ivelling idiot or a rough sweari ng bully, is a spect acle s a d enough to make m e n and
s r angel weep . As a fearful and ter ible
r h a s hi nd ance to the Gospel , Miss Weston
"ever since the sha r p les son lea r nt on t h e s ubject i n past days) felt i t her bounden
u r s n r d ty as a Ch i tia wo ker, to move this
r s m - o f g eat tu bling block ou t the way .
r 1 8 I n the yea 7 3, the National Temperance
League having u ndertaken temperance wo r k ' Ye m pe r a n c e W o r /c . 57
i n the Roya l Navy, She wi llingly promised to supe r i ntend and carry it on for them .
“ She says : I had long been wo r king
s among ou r sailor , when I began to feel how i t would fu r the r the cause i f I cou ld
carry on , as a hand maid to the Gospel , some definite kind of temperance work among
them . I therefore took up the cause with
’ double zest, feeling that the Lord s blessing ” wo u ld be with it . The first step was to get permission to
Speak to the m en on board their ships . The d ifficulties were almost i nsu rmou ntable ; the
w e l l a s etiquette an d rules of the Service, as
strong prej udices, were all against her .
At las t a fr iend came to the r escu e i n K Ad m iral Sir W . ing H all , then Ad miral S uperintendent of the Dockyard at
D evonport . H e characteristically told her h i that he would do what he could , an d use s i nfluence w ith the commanding officers at
D evonport, on one condition , viz . , that She should first give a short address to the dock
’ y m e n ard s at their dinner hou r, at which
r Te m pe r a n c e l Vo le . 59
both h imsel f and his chaplai n w ould be
r s s h e . p e ent , to see what could do
“ ” fo r I f I am to be su rety you , he said ,
m s r fo r I u t fi st hear you myself, you see , you m igh t g o on boa r d and say things that
w s we could not allo to pas , and then we shouldn ’ t know what to do with you I f you
were a m a n we could soon walk you over the
’ ship s side ; but u n fo r tu nately a lady is not ” s o soon disposed of.
’ True to his word , a meeting of dockyard s
r men was convened , and the esul t was that the word was passed on to all the ships in —“ ’ the harbou r Don t be afraid to let Mi s s
Weston com e on board and speak to you r
’ ’ ship s company : I ll stand secu rity fo r ” her .
This kin d help from the Ad miral , himsel f
an earnest worker i n the temperance cause,
d id much to s mooth the way, and the
’ National Temperance League s organising agent followed i t u p by waiting on each
captain for special per m ission to hold these
m — eetings , personal work which M iss Weston 6 0 r l a c z e s L ife a m o n g o u B u e y l l .
coul d not possibly have done herself, but which has now become u nnecessary, a note to t h e captain of any ship being usual ly quite s u fficient to obtain the n eed ful per
s o f m i sion . Nu mbers an ecdotes might be
told, for these meetings held on board ships of war by a lady are u niqu e.
Amon gst her ea r lier efforts s h e held one
r S t V i n c e n t o f on boa d H . M . S . . , one Her
’ s i n Maj esty s training ships for boy , lying
r i Po tsmouth harbour. Let us picture t for a moment . The work of the day was over ; i t was a
r i clear, b ight moonlight night ; the capta n had given permission for the m eeting to be held late i n the evening, that the m uster m ight be general . Taking his stand on the
’ poop by M iss Weston s si de, he kindly opens the meeting with a few manly, straigh t forward
“ ” r s r n wo ds of coun el and i nte est ; the , as
“ s h e r e graphically desc ib s i t, I gave them
t all a good alking to . The moon strug l g ing through the clouds, the shadowy
r o u t t acery of the masts and rigging, the c f l u 6 1 Tc m pe r a n e [ h la . l ines of the old V i c /o r } and the D u /I’ e of
PVe l/i n l o n m g , the lights glea ing from the
r ports on the water, an d the c owd of young
w a s Blue J ackets below, a scene never to be
r r forgotten . There we e at least five hu nd ed
u ptu rned faces, al l listening with eager atten
r tion to every wo d that was spoken , an d coming for w ard i n crowds at the close to ” sign the temperance pledge .
We will d escribe another meeting, on board
V a n u a r d H . M . S . g , then lying i n Plymouth
S ound . I t was a fine sunny day, the captain had given a cordial assent, an d a kind friend had offered to take her i n his own boat . I t has been truly said i f you want to s e e J ack i n his element you m ust pay hi m a visit on
board his ship . We follow this boat as i t sped over t h e th r ee m iles of dancing waves
’ which lay between the shore and t h e m an -o
’ r war s ancho age .
r V a n u a r d As they nea ed the g , on e of the
“ ’ r owers exclai med , H allo , she s getting u p ” steam ; they pulled for thei r lives , deter
’ m i ned that i f possibl e the Ship s company e a c /c e l s C2 L if e a m o n g o u r Bl u 7 .
“ ’ s h o uld n o t be baulked of M i s s West o n s ya r n i f they could help it .
On a r r iving alongside another difficulty pre s en t ed i t self ; o r ders having been received to
e t s r a c c o m g u p team and leave the po t , the m o da t i o n ladder had been shipped and stowed and the ship towered aloft with n o m o de of acc e ss except the rope ladde r used by the
r r seamen . He e her kin d f iend came to the
’ s t r rescue, s c aled the ship side wi h her ca d in h i s e hand , and present d i t to the com mander,
r who with true B itish courtesy exclai med ,
“ Mi ss Weston alongside ? tell her s h e s hall be up i n a moment . O u t with the acco m m o dation ladder again ; there w ill yet ” m be ti e for the meeting .
I t was not lo n g before she stood upo n
s the deck, receiving smile of welcome, and ap o l o gies for t h e appa r ent breach of faith ;
m r o m r d a tele gra f m the Ad i alty, or ering the
V a n u a r d s e a g to proceed to , had caused all
s m thi com otion .
N o w then fo r the m ee t i ng s ha r p m ust be the word ; whe r e Shall i t be held ? A
’ e /s 6 4 L rj e a m o n g o u r Bl u e 7 a c l . to en r ol them s elves we r e invited to Sign their
s fo r r name , looking to God st ength to keep
t r thei r b r ave r esolu ion . About fo ty signed the
book, and all was over ; descending i nto the boat the ladder was agai n shipped , and the noble s hip weighed anchor and stood ou t to
s e a .
The i mpo r tance of gathe r ing such la r ge
m e n m s i m o s nu mbers of together, al o t a n p s ib i li t o n s r r - y ho e, cannot be ove estimated ; an d i t h a s given M iss Weston a hold u pon the Navy which s h e never could have gained
r in any othe way .
The r e is yet anothe r i ncident i n connec t ion
s r . s h e r s t o with thi wo k which often desc ibe ,
the great amusement of her hearers .
“ o n I found myself one day board H . M . S .
To a s e p , of course by the kind permission of t h e r commande . H e was most i nterested i n
s w a s the proceeding , and present hi mself ; the c r owd of Blue Jackets were grouped
m e before on the lower deck . After address
m n o t ing the , anxious to lose an opportu nity of taking the names of those who wi s hed 6 Te m pe r a n c e PVo r /c . 5
’ To a s e s to en rol th emselves on the p books , I
e ask d perm ission to do so, which was freel y granted ; but the di fficulty still to be solved
was the want of a table . I looked rou nd ,
- and seeing, as I supposed , a bread tub with i ts bright polished ban ds standing n ear, I asked whether I might be allowed to use i t as a table .
’ Certainly, was th e answer, with a smile ;
‘ ’ but i t s the first ti me it has b ee n put to such a use . Now, men , a cou ple of hands to
’ r o -t u rol l out the g g b .
Amidst ch eers and lau ghter the grog -tub
was rolled ou t, an d a capital table i t made, on which more than si xty enrolled their names On e young sailor cam e forward an d signed his n ame ; after doing so he lai d down the
pen , and significantly rapping the tub with
‘ u his kn uckles , said , There goes a n ai l in yo r "’ coffin , old fellow “ After all that wished to do s o had entered
c u their names, the om mander took p the
e book , and runn ing his eye d own t h lists , s c ‘ x - ignifi antly added, S i ty odd nails to day ; 6 6 r L fi e a m o n g o u Bl u e 7 a c é e l s . if they all hold firm I won ’ t give mu ch for
’ - the old grog tub s life . Ti me and Space fai l to dwell m uch longer
’ on t his po r tion of M iss Wes ton s work to r t h e each men , and to i nfluence them for
o g od , to induce them , for the sake of the
wives and little ones at home, and , above all ,
t h e t - for sake of heir n ever dying souls, to
r give up the d ink which has been , and is , the
ruin , body and soul , of many a one who on ce
r s p omi ed well . She has held meetings on
r boa d very many ships i n the Service, often ti mes speaking to them on deck with the
r wind whistling th ough the rigging , or going o ff n i n the teeth of a gale of wind, cari g little
r s o s h e for the weathe , that m ight keep her appointment and not disappoint her sailor r f iends . The Committee of the National Temper
L 1 8 6 - ance eague , in their Report for 7 7 , make a statement a s to the Nav al Branch of their work supe r intended by Miss Weston ; i t wi ll
“ be as well to quote their own w ords : Your
Com m ittee have pleasu re i n repo r ting that m e r a n e P r lc Te p c Vo . 6 7 the temperance work carried on i n the Royal
Navy u nder the careful direction of M i s s
’ W eston is i n a m o s t p r osperous condition .
r At a recen t m eeting i n the Me mo ial Hall ,
r r w a s Fa ingdon Street , which presided over
r m o V - A d by Ad mi al Bailli e H a ilt n , and ice
K s \V . m iral Sir ing H all , Mi s Weston received a richly- me r ited vote of thanks for her earnest effo r ts i n behalf of the brave men who are engaged i n the defence of thei r
h e r h . s e country I n the course of address,
‘ r d said , At first the b anches might be cou nte
’ r on one s fingers , bu t they have isen steadily
2 year by year. At present they stand at 35, of w hich 2 1 2 are what are termed Floating
a s Bran ches , and the total nu mber of ships
2 0 i n the Service does not exceed 3 , it wi ll be seen at once how g r eat ly the Navy is i n fl u
’ e n c e d by the National Temperance League s
’ r naval wo k . At t h e time of writing these l ines a wider area has bee n covered ; there are now 20 0
Floating Bran ches, besides those on shore i n the H ospitals and Coast Guard thus leav f 6 8 L ue a m o n g o u r Bl u e y a c /e e l s
ing only about thirty ships to be filled .
’ Miss Weston s great desire has always been
to get a Temperance Branch on board e v e ry ’ s hip i n the S ervice, and had i t not been for ’ t h e m any and constant changes i n the Navy
h e r desire would ere this have been aecom
l i s h e d p .
V C HAPTE R .
S TOR Y OF TH E P UR CHA S E A ZVD F I Tl V G l/ P OF TH E S A I L ORS ’ RES T A N D [A ' S TZ T U TE .
T h a s been well and truly said by a
“ ’ r powerfu l and deep thinke , that God s people should not live by the year, the
o r month , the week , bu t by the
d r a r e Daily bread , daily grace, aily st ength
’ m r w given , bu t no o e . God s ord and personal experience combine to teach th e sa m e simple
r w an d blessed t uth , a truth which , i f kno n an d
t a lived in , would lif load of care from a
s r m thou and anxious hea ts i n a mo ent . A
’ r m r day s trials , so rows , te ptations, and wo k
r w seem ve y little to cope ith , but those which a r e h a n gi n g over us to - morrow or n ext week
— r they are te rible indeed , an d yet the words
fo r are true all ,
Mo m e n t b m o m e n t y , Le t d o w n fr o m h e a v e n
m e o t Ti , o r u n i t y pp ,
a a r Gu id n c e e give n .
n o u r l e r e /e e l s 7 2 L fi e a m o g B u fi . very hopeful as to the possibility of gather ing these young salts and truly remarked , “ They are as restless when they com e a s hore as birds let out of a cage ; they like
m t o r oa about, and you will never be able ” to c o llect them . The difficulties truly seemed great ; nothi ng
o daunted , however, M iss West n made u p her mind that she would not give up the young
B l u e J a c k e t s u ntil a thorough trial of the plan had been made, an d by means of notices dis
r s h e t ibuted among the boys on board ship, i nvited them to meet her i n a large public room i n Devonport for singi n g and reading on S unday afternoons . " The first Sunday came, but, alas after
’ two hours weary waiting and watching, on ly
wh o r one lad appeared , was too f ightened to sta y w hen he fou n d that he had not one of
his Shipmates to bear him company . The
following Sunday not one came, although
h undreds were roaming about the streets .
After s pendi n g fou r S unday afternoons i n
r s h e this unsatisfacto y manner, was forced to ’ Sa i l o r s Re s t a n d 7 3 come to the conclusion that what her naval friends had said was pe r fectly t ru e .
Much discou raged , bu t determined not to “ s h e give i t u p , retu rned home, and took i t to the Lo r d i n prayer ; and with prayer and
t fai h came wisdom and gu idance from above, and help fro m an unexpected sou rce .
The fr iend i n whose house Sh e was staying most kindly offered the use of her kitc hen for the meeting, with tea and cake as an attrae V tion . olu nteer help also presented itself ;
’ e m l o e two earnest Christian m en , on e an p y i n H M . . Dockyard , the other a member of the f Metropolitan Police , of ered to go out into the streets, and i f possible to bring the lads i n . They did not work long before they
succeeded i n getting a dozen ; the tea, cake , an d warm kitchen were each i n thei r way
powerfu l magnets . The dozen doubled and
trebled . Hymns were chosen , sung, and
talked over, som e si mple Bible story was
read or told , prayer was offered up , and before many S undays had passed , it was bec oming clear that the kitchen would soon L i e a m o n o u r l u e a c /e e l s 7 4 f g B 7 .
be too small . The lads would sit on the
window ledge , among the cups and saucers
r s s o on the d es er, even i nside the grate , c r o wded was the room fro m the rapidly i ncreasing audience .
A m ong al l these lads one of the greatest
r m w r pleasu es was to find so e who ere eal , ” r t ea nest, ac ive Christians, living Christ
s s a mong the tir and bu tle of a n aval life .
Among this little ‘ circle was a fine young
sailor, seventeen years of age, named Arthu r
Phillips . S unday after Su nday he was always at the meeting : nothing hindered
u A S him except actual d ty. regu larly as
the clock struck three, he might be seen
with his happy sunburnt face, coming up
r the ga den path , accompanied by two or three messmates, whom he had persuaded
h i m t o accompany . H is bright smile was sunshin e indeed , as with a j oyous laugh he
s a would y ,
“ Well , we are crowded out ; we Shall soon have to ask God to give us a larger place ” , M iss Weston l ’ Sa i l o r s Re s t a n d 7 5
The last ti me h e was able to com e is sti ll
i n r t fresh the memory of all p esen , when h e brought the news that he was draft ed into a s e a - s going ship ; an d tears stood i n his eye ,
t r - as , af er the little praye meeting , h e bade
“ ” - w t h e r s all good bye , i th wo d ,
’ r m Neve mind , it is God s will y Saviou r
w w e ill be with m e, and as soon as come i nto
Plymouth S oun d again I shall be u p at the s e
dear old meeti ngs like a shot .
Dear lad , his was i ndeed a si mple, earnest
faith , and to his prayers m ay be traced all the great wo r k which was the outcome of
that smal l kitchen m eeting . m So e months passed , and he did not return . a A letter at length arrived fro m his c ptain .
s a d contain ing n ews i ndeed .
Arthu r Phi llips was no more . Captain
’ r H enry D . Grant s lette is well worth record
i t v e r ba t i m s i ng ; we give , as it hows plainly
f r t the Christian o ficer , as well as the Ch is ian
b e v .
“ Tr i u m /z While i n com mand of H . M . S . p , then fo rming a pa r t of the Channel Squ ad r on i ? a m o n o u r l u e a c é e l s 7 6 L " g B 7 .
1 t h 1 8 at Liverpool , on the s of J uly, 7 4 , I r eceived a report from Com mander I nglis t hat a young ordinary seaman , named Arth ur
Phillips, had j ust been taken u p from the
— D D ‘ chain locker EA . H e added , H e was
’ o n e of my smartest royal yards men , and
’ i n s uch a good lad . S ubsequently he
o f rmed m e that, withou t maki ng ostentation
r of eligion , he was well known as a pious
lad, and that i t was supposed he had met with his death while on his way to the
bag racks, where he had been i n the habit of going during the d inner hour for retire
r r ment and p ayer. F om subsequent enquiries which I made 1 found that he was a j oyous
r young Ch istian , and his i nfluence over the
men , I was told , was remarkable . Many an
’ oath was stopped on a man s lips, and bad
fo r expressions were apologised , when i t was
e notic d that Phillips was near . We can well i magine the love and faith i n his heart as he
was t r ipping down the ladder for his usual
place of prayer, when , at the foot of the
r t h ladde , an open hatchway "the hatch of e ’ l u Sa i l o r s Re s t a n d [n s /i l e . 7 7 chain locker h aving been accidentally left Open fro m the Tr i u mplc having parted her cable
the day before i n anchoring, and the crew working for several hours previously at the — cables), an d Arthu r Phillips was ushered into
glory . Not a mark was on h is body, n o
bones broken ; si mply the shock, and the face
was cal m i n death . S om e would la ment that su c h a bright young life was s o suddenly ended ; bu t the Lord knows best : H e takes
H is young servant to H is reward , and his very death may be fou nd i n the day when all the mysterious ways of Providence are dis c losed to have been th e means of bringing
’ other souls to Christ . The ship s company erected a tablet to h is m emory i n Bebington
c Cemetery, n ear Ro k Ferry, Liverpool , with th e following inscription
I N MEMORY OF H P H A R T U R I L L I P S,
S e a m a n M Tr i u m /z of f L S . p ,
A G D 1 8 Y E EARS,
W h o wa s k i ll e d b y a n a ccide nt a l fa ll o n b o a r d th e s a i d
S o n th e 1 th l 1 8 d r th e s t o f th e a hip 5 J u y, 7 4, u ing vi i Ch nne l a l 7 8 L if e a m o n g o u r Bl u e y c /c e s .
r o Hi s r e m a s a r e i t e r r e e a r t s S qu a d r o n t o L ive p o l . in n d n hi s o t a n d t s m e m o r a i s e r e t e h i s S m a t e s t o t e s t p , hi i l c d by hip ify t h e i r e s t e e m fo r t h e co n s is t e n t Ch r i s t i a n c o nduc t h e a l wa ys m a e t nif s e d .
’ ’ B le s s e d a r e "b e de a d w/ nc /z di e i n t /z e Lo r d.
1 s a w When thou wast u nder the fig tree, ” thee, said J esus to a prayi ng sou l an d j ust as truly is the Saviour present when the
“ “ ” bag racks, the mai n top, the Shelter of a gun , becomes the place of prayer . These
P e n i e l s Bethels and , thank God , may be
’ fou nd i n many a co r n er of England s float
r s ing fort es es .
Ti me rolled on ; the kitchen meeting swelled
r u ntil i t entirely bu st its bou nds, and Miss
Weston was able to secu r e a room in a very good situation , close to on e of the landing h places , and this large room was filled wit
e t r boys very Su nday af e noon , for the meet
I ngs were becoming bett er known a mong them . Although the first di fficulty of get
r r e ting them together was su mou nted , the w r a c ere othe s equally great . S ailors as ra e
8 0 L gfe a m o n g o u r Bl u e 7 a e ne i s .
cleared , except abou t a dozen on the front
bench , who had not been qu ick enough to fall i n wi t h the rest . I was of course put on my mettle to keep this small r emnan t
s r . of the catte ed forces, an d did so The sailor boys had taught m e a most valuable — lesson , that the grand thing is to get the attention of you r audience ; an d I must say for our lads that once gain their attention , and a more i nterested audi ence cannot be ” met w i t h .
As this work widened and d eepened , the question was c onstantly asked b y one
and another,
’ Can t we have a place to which we c a n
-a come i n the week , temperance house ;
‘ in a word , a public house without the
’ ” r ? d ink , close to the Dockyard for there
were plenty, alas , of the other kind of public
r houses u p and down the street . Th e te n p e r a n c e men clamoured fo r a temperance
- head quarters , and the Christian men for a - religious head quarters, and they carried the day. ’ S a i l o r s R e s t a n d 8 1
But for the pressure brought to bear ” t h e m e n u pon me by , M iss Weston has
“ t m r of en re a ked , I do not know that I eve r
t Shou ld have sta r ted the Institu e . b S o step y step the way was cleared , and the thought ente r tai ned of open ing a place i free from i ntoxicating drink , wh ch the m en and lads could make their home when they “ w cam e ashore , and where M iss Weston ould be able personally to carry on direct wo r k for Ch r ist among them without let or hind
’ rance ; and i f i t w ere God s wi ll H e would
su rely open the way, and send the means . Earn est prayer was offered by many Ch r istian
r s e e seamen and othe s , who were longin g to such a building for the M aster ’ s service i n the m ai n street of D evonport .
i n n 1 8 At l ast the autum of 7 4 , a house
r r became vacan t i n Fo e St eet, wh ich , as
n its am e i mplies , i s the mai n thoroughfare
n c of the tow , leading dire t to th e great
I t w ill b e cl e a r ly s e e n t h a t t hi s b a s i s i s e n t i r e ly di s t inc t
’ fr o m t h a t o f S a il o r s H o m e s in ge n e r a l ; n o s t r o n g d r ink o f
' a n is e r m t t e d t o b e So o r r o t t o t h e y kind p i ld , b ugh in
r e m s e p i s . 8 2 i ’ L f e a m o n g o u r Bl ue 7 o r l e i s .
gate way of the Royal Dockyard . I t was
s t ruly the very house for the purpose, carcely
s u b a dozen steps from the Dockyard gates, s t a n t i a l ly built i n the good old -fas hioned
m r style, with ti ber and m ate ial enough i n i t for any two modern houses , extensive premises at the back, and a frontage passed and repassed by all who went i n or ou t of
r the ya d . I t see med i ndeed , as was truly
c a s e t m t i n the , tha the place had fal len ean answer to prayer. B ut where was the Silver and the gold with w hich to p urchase it ? “ The silver and the ” t gold are mine, sai h the Lord . I n reply to a short appeal in the c olu mns of the M iss Westo n i n a fe w days r eceived a sufficient s u m to pay th e whole
’ r of the first year s ent , and to the faith “ which laughs at i mpossibilities and cries,
It i a shall be done, this was a su fficient di c a t i o n that the fifties would grow in to
t s hu ndreds, and th e hundreds into housand ,
c c u ntil the work should be a omplished .
a b I t was gloomy afternoon i n Octo er, ’ 8 Sa i l o r s B e s t a n d [u s /i l u l e . 3
r when , accompan ied by a f iend who had been with her i n t h e w o r k and i s s till labou r ing
h e r s h e w t s with , stood i hin tho e walls, d estined
r s o to b ing m uch j oy and happi ness , m ixed w i t h hard w o r k an d many trial s of faith to
r s s o t o herself and othe . A glance h wed i t be “ w hat au ctionee r s cal l a place of great capa ” b i li t i e s ; but everything would have to be
- altered , old warehouses to b e cleared away, a coal - shed and s mall yard converted i nto
’ - a hall , an oil store i nto a sailors d ining
- an d sitting room , and the dingy old Shop ,
t r a n s m o r i fi e d wreathed with cobwebs , g i nto
r a b ight attractive bar .
I n her own account of the affair . M iss W eston says
“ Fully pe r su aded that this would be t h e
w t h e t r t pl ace , ere money for hcoming , I w o e a Cle r i s t i a n letter to the , describing th e n eed ,
m an d the way to m eet it . At the sa e ti me,
i n order to secure the house, I took i t on my
own responsibility for a year. The response
’ to that letter i n a few days ti m e w a s a s u ffi
’ c s u m s r ien t to meet that twelvemonth en t . 8 i e o o ’ s 4 L f a m n g u r Bl u e y a c l e f . an d then the money commenced to flow in . Many a touching tale could be told i n c onn ection with the gathering together of that noble s u m of nearly £ 6 0 0 0 wh i ch bought
’ and fitted up the S ailo r s Rest and Institute . The boys i n the training ships pu t their
C oppers together, turned them i nto gold , an d sent them to M iss Weston ; the men from the most distant foreign stations sent their
s u m savings, often with the request that the “ ” m ight be entered as grog- money money given by the Admiralty i n place of
’ grog), saved , and devoted to the Lord s service . Officers an d Ships ’ companies sent handsome
su ms . Also from England , Scotland , Ireland ,
c N e w Z , I , , Ameri a ndia ealand Switzerland , and Italy came the needed suppli es . b As each contract had to e signed, the
s u m w a s right i n hand , and borrowing or running into debt was n e ver for a mom ent thought of ; there was always enough i n the
r treasu y, though seldom m uch over . But
while trusting simply and i mplicitly, M iss ’ Sa i l o r s Re s t a n d 8 5
Weston did not Shi r k putting her shoulde r to the wheel ; while the workmen laboured
r at D evonpo t, she travelled h undreds of m iles t hrough the length and breadth of C the land , to lay the case before the hris
- tian public . Her clear, simple, true hearted statement met with m uch hearty sympathy an d response ; soon the d u st a nd con fusion c o f leared away, and through the goodness
God , em bodied in the one shilling from the
’ 200 sai lor boy s mother, as wel l as the £
o n anonymous donati , the place was finished ,
as Nehemiah says , by the good han d of my
God u pon me and was accordingly opened ,
not by a grand m eeting, an i naugu ral dinner ,
a n d or a flou rish of trumpets , but by prayer
r p aise . The front of the building is its smallest
side . Som e have expressed themselves a little disappointed at its exterior appearance ; bu t the two tablets of Portland stone let i n over the plate -glass windows tel l their si mpl e s to r y i n letters of gold to every passer-b y :
8 t h 1 8 6 This bu ilding was opened May , 7 , i c e l s 8 6 L f e a m o n g o u r Bl ue Va / e . for the glo r y of God and for the good o f ” the Service . Let us pause awhile before we step u nde r
r r t h e ca ved doo way, and look at the prettily
r r w - a anged i ndows, with thei r tempting look ing eatables reflected i n the b r ight m i r ro r s
behind , and flanked by white and gol d china
r t s r r t h e m s s ba rels wi h ilve taps , bea ing har le
“ ” “ s r o o f m in c ipti n s New M ilk, Le onade ,
“ r . r Ginger Bee , etc , while a b illiant little
s r fountain ings the p aises of cold water .
Handsome lamps s tand out from the stone
r o u wo k each side of the wi ndows , while
r r within , opal globes sp inging f om a hand
r w some brass cable, th o both a soft and
r b illiant light on the pavement, making al l
n look cheery and i viting . We will linger n o longer on the doorstep
with a light touch the swing door gives way , and M iss Weston ’ s Public H ouse wi t hou t th e
s drink tands before us . Tea, coffee, daily
r r pape s, and a hea ty welcome , i n place of ale,
r t s - t a r e spi i , and hal f ipsy men , a pleasant exchange . Some may think that a moderate
8 8 L i e a m o n o u r l ue ew/e e s f g B y l .
h o t - s joints, speaking tube , and a lift com m n i c a t i n u g with the kitchen , settles an d t ables capable of accom modating fifty peopl e a beauti fully-i llu minated scroll run ning right
n rou nd the ceiling , some autical pictures
n a n d hangi g on th e walls, a parrot, a m usical
box playing a lively tune, complete the
i s refresh ment bar, which used by many
hundreds, i ncluding sailors, sold iers, dock
’ ’ yards men , sailors wives , and others every
day, and is a busy scene from i n the
’ 1 2 morning to o clock at n ight .
n Leavi g the bar, we open a side door, which leads into a room which is J ack ’ s s — a pecial favourite, small smoking room . Many a yarn has been spun with an “ old s hip , over nothing stronger than a pipe an d
r a cup of coffee , a nd many a me ry tun e has
e b en played , an d hornpipe danced , i n this room . Ascending the stairs we c o me to the Read
ing Rooms , public and private, d ivided by a
r r evolving shutter , which when necessa y dis
appears into the ceiling, and leaves one fine ’ 8 S a i l o r s B e s t a n d f n s /i l u l e . 9
. roo m the entire , width of the building Som e
- s book shelves , fi lled with books of all k ind ,
pictures, co mfortable seats , a bagatelle board , and plenty of religious and other papers make
o this room a very popular one, especially n
Sundays, when many of the men ashore from Saturday till Monday come there for a quiet r - ead . On the same floor is the Bath room ,
fitted with three hot and cold baths , and an
f M a n di l Le t t e r s O fice , fro m whence all the y are despatched , Temperance supplies sent to
fi r m al l parts of the world , and a hold kept on absent sailors .
t h e k Above this floor is itchen , an i nsti t u t i o n which can make or mar i n most
establishm ents, more especially in s uch a
’ place as the Sailors Rest , where so m uch
c u i s i n e . L d epends on a good arge and bright , with plenty of fresh air , there is always a
e bustle here, an d the cook ing is never don
m with , fro early morn ing to late at n ight .
w e Com ing down the stairs again , pass
’
M iss Weston s temporary rooms , the least
convenient and comfortable i n the whol e
’ Sa i l o r s Re s t a n d [n s l i l u l e 91
s h ouse , which she has fitted up and furn i hed h erself. Below these agai n are two rooms open ing
’ " — on e i nto the other, the sailors d ining and
r o n e sitting ooms, i n which the boarders and
others can have a fam ily meal all together, the other a roo m where they can sit and read
w t and rite quietly, or i f they have kep the “ m idd le watch take a good sleep on the
settles . O n accou nt of coziness these rooms
r l are ve y popular a mong the men , a nd a smal
l ibrary, and bright pictu res round the walls ,
give to them a very attractive appearance .
r I t is wo thy of notice that while religious ,
s temperance, and ecular papers lie side by
t t h e a r e side on the ables , religious papers
h r r quite as muc , i f not more f equently ead
than the secular ones . Som e are afraid to
’ scatter religious papers i n workmen s clubs ; but su rely the mistake l ies not i n placing the
r papers on the tables , bu t i n b inging pressure
o n m en t o r ead the m they will r ead them i f
r left f ee agents i n the matter . On Sundays
r r o nly, the tables a e c lea ed of all secu lar 2 L i e a m o n o u r l ue a c e s 9 f g B y le l .
r r papers and books , illust ated eligious maga z ines and Su nday books being substi tuted fo r them ; t hese are delighted i n by the m e n
and boys , who are fond of anything i n the
t pic ure line .
We descend again , and come to a long passage on the ground floor, which leads us t o r s the dormito ie , originally some tu mble down c o ttages standing on a plot of grou nd behind the house ; they have gone through many me t amo r phoses : they are now a fine s e t b o n e of u ildings , block five stories high , each of the beds being divided o ff into litt le
r p ivate cabins, m uch prized by all , espe c i a l l r y by the Ch istian men , as they have no quiet place which they can call thei r o wn o n r boa d ship .
r i n I t is i nte esting to trace , by the names s d i e and out, the history of each cabi n an d
R u b c o t . One bears the name of y , an d
’ o D i a m o n d t r an ther of , af e Her M aj esty s s hips of those names ; another has the grand
Un da u n t e d t V o l a e name of , and ano her g ,
’ th e se were given by the ship s companies ’ S a i l o r s Re s t a n d 93
of the respective ships, and nam ed by th e men after them .
“ Another is called Little Nan , another ” r m Har y, in emory of some dear ones
gon e before .
r r r Anothe bears Simply a text of Sc iptu e,
“ ” w s t as, My l ife i s hid ith Chri i n God , given by the D uchess of Manchester an d — Mr . Stevenson Blackwood , who testified to the glorious words as having been the m eans — of his conversion , an d so on .
I t is a noble wo r k to have provided for our sailors these safe and h appy shelters fro m th e s i n n and temptatio s of low lodgi ng houses , a n d the fifteen or five pounds s o invested w il l s urely return good interest to the gi v ers he r e and hereafter . There is nothing that a Blu e J acket enjoys more than a n ice clean com fo r t a b l e bed ; his hard s hips are often great ; broken rest and damp clothes someti mes for
r days together, make a man look fo ward to a good sleep on shore with childish deligh t .
Com fortable cabi ns are therefo r e a very
’ h s t i mportant item at t e Sailors Re . a l 94 L z/ e a m o n g o u r B l u e 7 c /e e s .
r n t o At ight a gles with the Institute, and
r i s r the ear, the Gospel Hall , ente ed by a passage from the street, an d also by a private entrance from the Rest ; he r e m eet ings are held every day, an d when th e whole plan o f the bu ilding is completed , this Hal l will be supplemented by a larger on e , capable o f
n s i x holdi g double the nu mber, namely, some h u ndred people .
Ou r next chapter will Show how M i s s W eston ’ s various plans for the temporal and spi r itual welfare of ou r seamen have s u c c e e de d t , and whether the I nsti ute on which s o h a s much thought, time, and money been
h a s expended , prospered ; whether the m en
have really used the place , or whether, like s h s y bird , they have only looked at it and
flo wn away .
6 9 L if e a m o n g o u r Bl ue 7 a c é e i s . are over " Generally difficulties only the n commence ; espec ially i f the staff cho s en for the work are not exactly suited to thei r posts ; a testing ti me is sure to come i n one way or an other. Before a cable is supplied to any of ou r
w r n ships, it is al ays subjected to a severe st ai to s e e whether its links are sou nd or d e fe c ‘ tive ; and before i t is fi t for service the weak
n s links m ust be removed , and stro ger one pu t i n .
m r k h The ill , i f i t does its wo t oroughly , gri nds the corn and throws ou t the ch aff ; a n d
s o d w t the fire purifies the gold , u n er God, i h the work and the wo r ker ; troubles and m is
u e takes beget experience, and tr ly xperience
is a priceless possession , that no man can take away.
After al l the labou r and bustle of fitting u p and altering, the opening day came at
. r b n last B ight and eautiful daw ed Monday,
8 t h 1 8 6 O M ay , 7 ; the doors were thrown pen
’ o c t h e a n d at 5 clo k i n morning, busi ness
’ c ommenced w ith ou t ostentation Or display ’ e F i r s t Yc a r s l Vo r / . 97 the o pen ing cere mony being the si mpl e
t h e fact , that previous evening the Gospel
Hall was filled by Chri s tians of all denomina
r tions, who in earnest , hea tfel t prayer asked fo r t h e blessing o f the Lord that maketh r ich , on the bu ild ing and the builders .
This si mplicity was i n acco rdance with
’ M i s s Weston s wi s h ; s h e has fr equently ex pressed hers elf very s trongly on thi s poin t to fr iends who have consulted her abou t gran d opening ceremonies i n these words “ Had you not better p ut O ff the grandeu r
t /z e n u ntil you r an niversary, you can tell o f what you lz a v e done ; n o w you must Speak beforehan d of what you dr i n k you are go i ng
‘ to do ? Let n o t hi m t hat putteth on his h ar ness b c ast hi m s elf as h e that putteth
8 t h o f 1 8 6 w a s The M ay, 7 , a glorious day,
on e o f the b r ightest of t hat sunny m onth ;
the servants we r e u p wi t h the lark ; but the
coffee was hardly hot , and the bread a nd
r s s r o r i m bu tte an d cake ca cely cut , bef e an
pat ien t kn o cking O u t side m ad e i t ve r y e v i de n 8 s 9 L fi e a m o n g o u r Bl ue 7 a c /c e l . that there would be no lack of c u stomers on w that day. I n they came ith a rush , an d for an hou r the popular saying was tru e that
“ ’ one m ight have walked upon the m en s ” - h eads, sailors j ust going to catch thei r
’ s boat , dockyard s m en going to their work i n the yard , policemen come i n from thei r
’ n ight s rou nd , were all glad to get a cup of f hot tea, co fee, or cocoa , and a roll ; an d d uring the rem ainder of the day there was but little cessation from the sti r an d bustle
o f the morn ing . Al l classes, especially those employed by Govern ment, cam e to buy,
to eat , and to d rink . This first day was a memorable one i ndeed to al l the household ; t h e outsid e and the i nside of the I nstitute were besieged with
s cu rious Spectator , who , not satisfied with s i m t ply seeing every hing , wanted to taste
a s everything well . Although this great r s u h has happily ceased , thank God the
o t t h e p pulari y of place has not di minished .
From the com mencement also th e sai lors m ade u p their m inds that i t should not b e a
' 1 0 0 L fi e a m o n g o u r Bl u e 7 a c l e l s . and prayed ; i t did my heart good to hear
them . Thei r photographs are still hanging u p ;
r and they have, like the birds , retu ned to roost i n their own n est whenever they
s o could manage to do .
I t w a s calcu lated that over vi s its for the pu r chas e of articles were paid to the
h e s t . refre hment bar alone, d uri ng first year
The dorm itories st r ictly kept for sailo r s and ma r ines had Sleepers from May
1 8 7 6 to May 1 8 7 7 ; and not withstanding all
the heavy expenses of a large Institu te, the working staff "consisting of a manager and
s several servant ), everything was defrayed ,
a s including g , coals , i ncidentals of al l kinds,
. t i n t h e n ewspapers, etc , out of the akings b a r f 1 d — r r o 1 6 s 8 . , l eaving a p ofit £ 3 1 . nea ly
2 r per cent. on the o iginal outlay. This may seem s mall compared with many coffee and
i t r cocoa houses, but m ust be remembe ed that the heavy cost of a large Institute had
r to be born e by the ref eshmen t bar, and i t the r efo r e s hould be c o m pa r ed with Si m ilar ’ ’ Fi r s t K a r s IVo r /e . 1 0 1
s s w t h e in titution , and not ith simple cocoa
house or coffee tavern .
h e r i M iss Weston , i n account , na vely
“ r i s rema ks , J ack a shy bird , and is apt
t o give a wide be r t h t o any place whe r e
w r he thi nks that h e i ll be p eached at , or
made a teetotaler of ; and as these were the
’ s r t h e r s t t h main objects i n ta ting Sailo Res , e
fi h o w d if cult problem had to be solved , keep
t r r w ing hese g eat points clea ly i n vie , it could
c - be made a financial su cess , and a self sup
o r It r di ffi p ting place . was a task of g eat
t m " cul y , at times seemingly i possible
No pressu r e as to attending meetings is
t brough to bear on the men , bu t the H all , wi t h i t s b r ight gatherings a nd plenty of m usic
s i s close by ; they can easily tep in , i f only
m s w r for five inute , and the most po e ful o f — — all m a gne t s to the sailor good singing is
r r f fi p ovided for by a la ge and e cient choir .
r I n the bar, among the sy ups an d variety of
o - t g od things, lies the pledge book, wi h pen
s and i nk repo ing coaxingly by its side ; kind , chee r y words a r e Spoken by the s er vers "a ll ° e a c 1 0 L y e a m o n g o u r Bl u 7 c / e l s .
total abstainers), which go very far with J ack
- and lead to many a signature ; thus quiet
r n o n e wo k is ever goi g on for the M aster, and
o and an ther, once drunkards, are now leading steady and Christian l ives . Feeling the great i mportance O f establish i ng the Institu te on the soundest and best
r p i nciples , and bearing i n m in d that there were many i nstitutions i n the town needing
r annual suppo t, M iss Weston resolved from the com m encement that the Sailors ’ Rest should be made i n som e way or other to stan d on i t s own feet , or else the shu tters m ust go up , an d the H all alone be used for evangelistic
p u rposes . That valuable institution , th e K School of Cookery at South ensington , lent
r a l l its aid to the cu lina y department, a nd its lessons were gon e through by her fello w
e r s o t w w ker, hat a thorough personal k no
o f r r ledge p actical matters was a rived at, an d
“ ” s a s i na mu ch knowledge is power, a highly
t r sa isfactory retu n was the result .
The wo rk the r efo r e con s ists of t w o depa r t
. s s o r m ents, but both linked i ndi olubly t gethe ,
i e u r l u e a c l ’ e t s 1 0 4 L f a m o n g o B 7 .
r popular to men of al l shades of characte , has
’ a r s r been ppa ently olved at the Sai lo s Rest , as the n umbe r s frequenting i t will clea r ly s how ; and this resu lt has been arr ived at one
’ t u r of God s best gif s , simply by sing what Lo d “ K n intore calls sanctified commo sense,
The spi r itual results have been most sati s facto r y ; there are nu mbers who can dat e “ ” t h e fi r st s tep forward i n the right direction
’ fr om the day when they came into the Sailors
s r s t o Re t the worse for liquor, we e poken
m kindly by the attendants , and ade to feel
fi e t hat t here was hope for the hopeless .
The following incident fr o m real life out of m i r any others s worth pages of theo ising .
A - s sailor, half ober, sauntered one evening
r - into the b ight bar . Throwing down half a crown on the counter, he called out to one of t h e s ervers to give h i m a glas s o f half- an d " ” l i a lf m s t i f , and ind you make i t , h e
r h i added . I nstead of looking g i mly at m
Th e s e p o int s h a ve be e n fo r cibly b r o ugh t o u t a s t h
’ r e s t o f t wo e a r s e x e r e e o t a t t e m a b e f ul y p i nc , h ping h h y y o
r e t o o t e r s e e i n s m r w o r s e vic h nga g d i ila k . ’ f mr s o r k 1 Fi r s ? V ”. 0 5
w an d r eproving h i m , sh e at once said , ith a
’ w s oman tact ,
“ ’ s - - b u t We haven t y ou r ort of hal f and hal f, would you like to t r y som e of ou rs
“ ” “ ’ " s s Yo urs was his re ponse ; what that , then “ “ l Well , she said wil you h ave some thing hot or cold ?
“ r H e smiled . You see m to have mo e
’ than cold water ; I d l ike a j oru m of some t hing hot . “ f ? Well , would you l ike a cup of co fee
“ ’ i t s Yes , that I wou ld , he answered ; a
’ l o ng ti me si nce I ve had m uch i n the coffee
li ne .
h i m Looking at again , and thinking that s h e would bait the hook still m ore, she sai d ,
“ ” A r e you a Devon s h ire man ?
r a m — a s To be su e I , We t cou ntryman t o w a s r r the backbone , the p ompt answe .
” “ ’ s h e t t Then , said , you ll like a li le ” Devonshire c r ea m i n you r coffee ?
’ This carried the da y ; J ack s eyes fairly
“ ’ d i n h i s n anced head , as h e said , I ve bee l e s 1 0 6 L z/o a m o n g o u r B u 3a c é o f .
’ rou nd the Horn , and I don t know where
’ beside, but it s a long day since I and D evon
r . s shire c eam have met Thank ye, missu , ” s a t s t kindly, and h e down to enj oy the fir cup of coffee h e had tasted for many a day.
When he had finished it, she brought hi m back the half-crown which he had thrown
“ ’ down , saying , Can t you give me a penny ” i nstead of th is ?
“ ” “ ’ e n n l A p y he exclai med . You don t mean to say that you are only going to charge a penny for all this, and the Devon
m ? s shire crea into the bargain Well , if M i s
’ Weston gives away things like that, she ll ” soon have to shu t u p the place . I t was explai ned to hi m that on every cup of coffee a p r ofit of at least a halfpenny was m ade ; and he we nt away to tell his Shipmates t o c o m e and try the new- fangled public house h e . s which had found Thank God , this vi it, and thi s cup of coffee give n by a kind and
r w n Ch istian oman , was the beginning of a e w
h i m r m a n life to ; he became a tempe ance , a n d aft erwards gave his hea r t to the Lord
' a m n o u r E /z z o a o /c e t s 1 0 8 s e o g y .
’ As the refres h ment bar of the Sailors Rest w a s intended to be one of the engines for r ende r ing t h e place independent of cha r itabl e
t support, i t was hrown open to the public , b u t only s eamen an d marines were pe r mitted t o go beyond it ; this plan has l ikewise
w fe w a dv a n answered , its dra backs are , its t “ ages many . It has provided a public house wi t hou t d r ink for all passers-b y ; it gives a comfortable h o use of refresh ment not only to
’ t the Blue J acket, bu t also to the Blu e J acke s w ife ; the refres h m en t bar is fr equen tly
’ r w s r s c owded ith ailo s wive , n ot to m en t ion
s - the inevitable baby, e pecially on half pay d ays when they retu rn from the dockyard , where hu ndreds go to d r aw their mont h ly allotments ; these women forme r ly had fe w places of r es ort for rest and refreshment save
s t h e public hou e .
Thi s opening of the bar has done its
r s wo k i n pou nds , shilling , and pence also ;
was taken over t h e counter du r ing t h e r s r w fi t year of wo k , and Jack al ays feels that whe never he wants someth ing ’ r / 1 F i r s t Ye a r s PVo é. 0 9 eithe r to eat or to d ri nk he h a s b ut to step
r i n and have i t at a moderate ate .
s r Th e boarding ystem , which has its g eat
i n advantages , is active operation also ; two
s r r r roo m u pstai s , very b ight an d che e ful ,
t s t h e a s s wi h pictu re rou nd w lls , chai r , lounge ,
“ ’ a r S e a m e n s p pe s , and books , are labelled ” a r D in ing and Si t t ing Rooms . H ere meals e
r t h e provided at fixed hou s i n on e, the other
s is appropriated to the use of th e boarder ,
who can read , s moke , write letters , sleep , or aught else . I t is pleasant when m any m en
are on leave , and especially on S undays , to see the tables c rowded "oft en two or three
r relays com ing on on e afte r anothe ), flowers
i n vases , the manager i n attendance , one or two sailors with great p r id e ca r ving for the
others , and their deli ghted expressions o f,
“ ’ ’ ” n "i t s Well , isn t this ice j ust like hom e .
The sight which demonstrates mo s t clea r ly the n u mber of men of d i fferent classes i n the
t o S ervice who m the I nstitute e mbraces , and
whom i t is hoped i t will be a blessing , is to
1 1 m w be seen between an d p , hen ’ 1 1 0 s e a m o n g o u r Bl u e 7 a e l e ts . ships are in port ; the bar is crowded with
- men , frequently the smoking room also, an d they are sitting u p the stairs ; a strange — medley they are, some sober, quiet men , “ ” others wild voung fellows bad hats, many h half seas over, laughing, talking , w istling, running abou t without shoes and stockings,
singing , dancing hornpipes, etc .
The manager and the men under h i m "fo r all t h e women are taken off b efore that late hour) have enough to do, and a very large demand is made on their forbearan ce .
H ere a m an is turning out his pockets,
h i s and giving loose cash, watch , etc . , to the
a manager , to keep till morn ing, receiving r t t eceip in retu rn ; here, a party j ust come
s f i n are discus ing co fee and pasties, a noisy seaman is being coaxed an d persuaded t o
s go to bed , while a lively e t of you n g fellows
call ou t,
o - a ll Last boats j ust off, g od night, , as
r V fr they disappear to thei rooms . ery e
quently all the bed tickets are gone , an d
- shake downs have to be improvised , while
r l e al e /J e ts 1 I L fi e a m o n g o u B u Y . ” ? Where are you answered a shipmate ,
’ ”
s . why, i n the Sailor Rest , to be s ure “ “ Well , he said , this beats all I ever
— n o u t cam e across , the publica tu rned m e , and the teetotalers have taken me i n I shall go aboard an d tell them all abou t this .
r i s o J ack neve forgets a k ndness ; he d id , an d s o well di d he tell his story that n u m bers of men at h i s recommen dation visited t h e
I nstitute to try i t for themselves , an d best of
all , th e man i n question gave u p d rink , and , i s . i t hoped , became a really C hristian m an
Sailors are proverbial for giving n ickna m es
r s . to pe sons and thing , and i f a place is popular i t is sure to have a name that
passes curren t among them .
An officer i n t h e Navy was once speaking
m to some men on board h is ship , telling the
r that they we e going rou nd to Plymouth , and that h e hoped t hey would go to the
’ s t h e -s Sailor Rest, i nstead of to grog hops ; on e of those s poken to afterwa r ds asked hi m whether he knew the n ame by which i t w a s
r called i n the Se vice . ’ ‘ r e F i r s t I i a r s U o l . I I 3
He said that h e d id not . ” “ s i r Well , , answered the sai lor, we cal l
‘ ’ ’ h C s i t t e Three ; we say one to another, \V ’ ell , J ack , are you going to th e Three C s
? ’ ’ to - n ight We don t m ea n any harm by
’ s i r i t , , i t s a real good m ea ning ; i t m eans
o f C f ee , Com fort , and Company, and i f a
’ r man s got good coffee, comfo t , and plenty
o f good co mpany, i t goes a long way to
’ ” m keep h i fro m what s wrong .
Thank God , houses which m ight well put
“ ’ ” u p the sig n of Three C s a r e i ncreasing
everywhere, and are powerful i nstru ments i n
r - keeping our wo king men , as well as sailors ,
from d rink and si n ; and not only this, bu t are i n God ’ s hand the means of bringing t hem to Christ ; for when the drink is t urned
h o w r from , then f equently the stone of stu mbling is rolled away, and the sou l led t o the Saviou r . We n o w come to the more strictly religious work i n conn ection with the H all at the back h of the building . Capable of olding t wo h undred p e ople, i t has many ti mes had three 8 r a e l ’ e ts 1 1 4 L if e a m o n g o u Bl ue y .
hundred packed into it . Owing to the social
nature of the sailor, who when on shore cares to go now here u nless with his wife an d
r t h e r f iends , H all is gene ally thrown open to the public ; this does not i n any w ay
f i t s a fect the Institute, as the H all possesses U own entrance from the street . p the pas sage brigh t ly l ighted and paved with colou r ed
’ t r r iles, st eams the c owd when the doors are
opened , an d meetings go on every day and
n ight i n the week . The sailors have their own p r ivate entrance fr om the I nstitute i nto
s e e the Hall , and i t i s pleasant to them
’ d ropping i n by on e s and two s as the choir co m m ence singing some of the hy m ns which
a r e are so popular among them . Seats
s r m specially re e ved for the , the only thing which sometimes disappoints the casual o h ser ver is the absence of that naval un ifo r m
s o which landsmen admire much , bu t which sailors are always glad t o doff for plai n clothes, when they come ashore . A daily
r - - r p ayer meeting, lasting exactly three qua ters
u of an hour, has been unceasingly kept p
t s" 1 1 6 L if e a m o n g o u r Bl u e fi z z /s e . people come together to hear the “ truth as i t is i n J esus . No doubt great blessing has com e fro m t h e broad Catholic basis on which the work
Ch u r c h stands . A member of the of E ngland
herself, M iss Weston holds to the truth that
“ ” i n union is power and blessing . On one night the platform is occupied by a clergy
n man , on another by a m i ister, on a third
— f i n by a layman , frequently an o ficer Army
-o u r or Navy, a fourth by a wo king man , who with a heart bu rning with love to the Saviour — longs to tell his fellow workmen that H e i s ” able to save to the uttermost, and the earnest wo r ds of some of those a r t i z a n s will never be
f de n o m i forgotten . Thu s all di ferences . all n ationalism is laid aside , an d Christ, an d
C a n hrist alone, is proclai med as a Prince d ” a Saviour at all these services .
' o i Sailors write fro m all parts the world , some saying that they shou ld n ever forget such and such a beauti ful hym n sung by the
h ad 16 d t m choir, that the words . he to decid e fo r J es m 4 r r ' f r "I [ e a r s o n t . f
“ On e, i n sailor terms , exclaimed , I w a s hard hi t one evening at one of you r meet — ’ i ngs by what the speakers said , had n t any
’ rest for days ; now, thank God , I ve found ” s i t i n Chri t .
r Another, w iting from China , says that the words of one of the hymns sung by the choir the last nigh t he w a s on shore a r e ringing i n
r h is ea s still, and that he has since given h is hea r t to the Lo r d ; and yet anothe r w r ites
r fro m an i onclad in th e Sea of Marmora , and says I cam e u pon a nu mber of my shipmates
’ singing S ankey s hymns ; I asked them where they learned them , and they said at the
’ s Sailor Rest , and thank God some of them ” s r can sing with the pi i t as well as the voice .
An i nteresting featu r e of the work is
s l the ailor lads , who throng the H al every
’ S unday afternoon fr om three to five o clock ; the meeting con s i s ts of a great d eal of sing
ing , short pithy addresses with plenty of anecdote, and prayer . Several workers fitted
u t for it take p these m eetings, and m uch frui I 1 8 s e a m o n g o u r Bl u e y a e /c e ts
i n has been reaped ; they are the outcome, as
’ o f deed the Sailors Rest itsel f is , th e k itchen meetings mentioned i n a previous chapter .
Many lad s have been led to Christ and are witnessing for Hi m on board their ships .
A petty o fficer acquainted Miss Weston of an interesting fact that had come under “ w a s h i s . notice H e said , I going rou nd the ship whe n I came u po n a dozen boys
’ w ith a ship s lantern I thought they wer e up
to m ischief, and watched them without thei r seeing me . The boy with the lantern held i t s o that the l ight shone on h i s book ; i t was
the Bible he read a few verses out of it, then
s e t shut the book, down th e lantern , and they
i n al l knelt roun d it a ci rcle , and one an d h another prayed . I fou nd t at they m et like h that every night, and I thoug t i t would do
o y u r heart good to hear about it, m iss , as i t did me to li s ten to them they are boys who
m t o s t t s a t co e up the Re , an d hey y hey
l earned to love J esus there .
a Ag in , i n the Royal Naval H ospital a little
n w a s s s w a s lad lay dyi g ; he happy, for J e u
1 20 L fi e a m o n g o u r Bl u e y a e é e ts .
Weston i n one of the speci m ens given of the
fi l o /i ta ; L e t t e r s l) , has thrilled the great heart i f of th e country . H ow we should work, or,
w we cannot ork , pray , for the brave men who " man our iron walls noble , manly fellows they
r are, and when Christian men , not far f om the high standard of H i m who was s a n s pe u r e t s a n s r e r o e /z e p .
Not to indulge , to hu mour, or to pu t the m
t s s e t ou t of heir place, has M i s Weston this
I nst itute on foot ; bu t to make them s elf
- — reliant, sober, self respecting , above all ,
s r earne t Ch istian men , men who would not be afraid to do and dare anything for thei r " ueen , their country, or a brother shipmate ;
“ who would not be ashamed to own who s e ” they were and whom they served , bu t who
r s a would be af ai d to y the wicked word , or to — d o th e wicked action these a r e the m en
r n who are the bulwarks of their count y, feari g n ought but God . O ne interesting event at the Sai lors ’ Rest w r ill illustrate this, and we have done . D u ing
1 1 8 the fearful storm of October 4 , 7 7 , a small ’ r U/ r /c 1 : 1 F i r s t Ye a s o .
m r s t e chan t ve sel , wi h a crew of twenty men , w en t right upon the Plymouth B r eakwater ;
s h e s s i n a moment was da hed i n piece , and
’ w all on board , including the captain s ife , and
w her little baby, were s allowed u p by th e
s e a . I raging had said all , bu t on e man , a — Fi nlander, named Albert Blom , who was i n th e cross trees looking ou t for the Break
s e e water light, which , alas , h e cou ld not , t — hrough the rai n and spray, was washed
m fro wave to wave .
n Clingi g to a spar, h e had fain t chance of life Ho w h u man natu r e held ou t i t i s hard to s a y ; but he w a s young and vigo rous for seven hou rs he d r ifted about at the
r me cy of the waves, and , worse sti ll , h e was
r t car ied past ship af er ship . H e tried to
make those on board hear, but the wind carried his voice away ; at last h e dri fted pas t
Tu r u o i s e : H . M . S . q he cri ed ou t with all h is m ight, for his strength was j ust gone .
A noble heart, such as beats u nder m any a
s w a s bl ue erge, keeping watch that n ight ,
J ohn E mman uel Barnes ; h e hea r d the fain t a e /e e ts 1 22 L g/e a m o n g o u r B l ue y . c r y for help through the roaring of th e hu r ri
r s o r can e , and quickly app i ed the ffice of the wat ch but what could be don e ? The captai n could not sanction th e lowe r ing of a boat i n such a gale, sacrificing probably eight lives for on e . What was to be don e ?
John E mmanuel Ba r nes was ready to risk al l to save the d rowning man ; hurriedly
fastening a rope round his waist, an d
o f r s divesting himself all supe fluou clothing, he j umped i nto the su rging s e a ; swi mming u fo r s nder water, the wave almost stu n ned
r h im , he app oached the dark object floating
a b r e a k o on the water ; i n the cl uds, from
u which the moon shone ou t, revealed an p
tu rned face pale as death , and the figure of
a man dressed in oilskins .
w H e pushed a floating spar to ards h im , and ,
t o clinging i t, signalled to those on board t o hau l them i n ; rapidly they reached the ship
- and were more than half way u p her side ,
r when , losing consciousness , Albe t Blom loosened his g r asp and fell back i nto t h e
f " 1 24 s e a m o n g o u r B l u e fit s / e fi .
t lander, and only imperfec ly understanding
s r t h e Engli h , was unable to joi n ve y fully in chat going on arou nd h i m ; he was sitt ing by hi mself i n the Reading Room when the
’ sou nd of Barnes voice r eached hi m ; h e
t h e j u mped up, and with one boun d cleared staircase, rushed into the Bar, and like a fo r eigner threw both his arms round his res
’ cuer s neck , and kissed hi m on both cheeks .
Barnes good -h u m o u r e dly u nclasped his
h h i s arms, and putting bot his hands on s r houlde s, shook him as he wou ld a New fo u n dl a n d r dog, and looking ea nestly i n his face said ,
“ ’ m ? Blom , y boy, how are you I ve been
’ p r aying for you ever si nce I ve been away ;
’ you know I ve saved your body, but I
’ ’ ’ sha n t be happy ti ll I ve s aved you r sou l ” t o o : do you ever r ead you r B ible ? Many evenings aft er that the men were to be s een tu r ning over the page s of the Bo o k of
o bo ks, in deep an d earnest converse, and before
s e a Albert Blom went to again , he left abu n
t r u s e w dan p oof, to his own ords, that God ’ r ’ 'a r s ”o r /c F i s t I i . had not wa s hed hi m up o n the doorstep o f " r s n o w r the Sailo Rest i n vain , for he t usted
a s i n Jesus h is Saviou r, and loved the open
Bible . Barnes , too , has sailed to the other
’ s ide of the world i n one o f H er Maj esty s
ships , and is not ashamed to confess Christ
r r i s c ucified whe ever he .
t h e S uch are the sailors that cou ntry wants , an d such are the m en that would fight h e r battles, i f need be, with cool courage ; m en
t that possess the piety and determina ion ,
withou t the fanaticism , of the old I ronsides men that love their Bibles and prayer ; who
“ can say No i n the hour of temptation ; who wil l stand to their guns in the day of battle ; who are desc r ibed i n the words i n which the Holy Ghost pictures a soldier of
“ old : A devout man , one that feared God
’ h i s . with all house , and prayed to God always P ND I" AP E .
I N CE th e publica t i o n o f t hi s b o o k in i t s l a r ge r fo r m , G o d h a s e n a bl e d M i s s W e s t o n t o ca r r y o n a n d d e v e l o pe
h e r w o r a m o s a o r s w t r e a t e r a n d s t r e a t e r s e s s k ng il i h g ill g ucc .
r a o s e o o s t e t h e a t e s o f t h e r e a t s t e a m - a r A b nch h u pp i g g y d ,
D e o o r t h a s e e e s t a s e a n d i s o w A S e . v np , b n bli h d , d ing ll m a ny o f t h e l a r ge s t s hips a r e d o ck e d a n d r e pa i r e d in t hi s
a r t h e m e n m e e e a a e o f a a s t e a s s e t o y d , uch n d d pl c c ll h y p d
a n d fr o e t w e e t h e t o w a n d t e r s s T e a e b n n h i hip . h y h v quickly a o t e t h e o s e a n d a e m a e i t t e r o m e s i n i fi d p d h u , h v d h i h , g ’ ” c a n tl a m i t Tae L i t tl e S a i l o r s B e s t t o i t s m o r e y n ing , h ugh digni fi e d t i t l e i s T/z e H o m e w a r d A gl a nce a t th e ’ ba la nce s h e e t in t h e l a s t ye a r s r e p o r t w ill s h o w t h a t i t i s s e -s o r t a n d w t i t s r t b a r s m o a n d r e a lf upp ing , i h b igh , king ding r o o m s a n d o r t e s h a s r o e a a a e a t o i t s , f y b d , p v d v lu bl dj unc t
r e a t a r e t Fo r e St r e e t g p n in .
I t h a s a wa s e e a m a r k e e a t r e o f t h e w o r t a f r l y b n d f u k , h t a
r o m s e e a n d e s r t o e xt e h e r o r e r s s s W e s o f king d i ing nd b d , M i t n h a s s o t o s e a h a d o e s t r s , p k , p ning h u t up o n h e r in s o s t r iking , ’ a m a e r a n d G o s w s o e a r a n d a s o w t a t nn , d ill cl ly pl inly h n , h
s h e h a d b u t o n e o r s e o e t o h e r t o o o r wa r t a c u p n g f d , h nking
G o d a n d t a o r a e e r ta t a H e w h king c u g , c in h t o uld s upply t e
s e r a n d th e o a n d a s o t h ilv g ld , l e phys ica l a n d m e nt a l p o w e r
e e s s a r fo r s o r e a t a s t r a o o a n d m m n c y g in up n b dy ind . A o ng ’ t h e m a ny t o k e n s o f G o d s fa v o u r a n d bl e s s ing h a s b e e n t h e ’ s t a r t o f a s m a S a o r s R e s a P m I h ing ll il t t o r t s o u t h . t a s l o ng
’ b e e n s t r o ngly fe l t in t h e s e r vic e t h a t M i s s IV e s t o n s w o r k ” w o uld n o t a s co m pl e t e unl e s s s h e go t a go o d a nch o r a ge
a t P o r t s m o t t a t r e a t n a a r w u h , h g v l p o t hich h a s b e e n ca ll e d ” t h e s e o r t a e o f e e r s a o r t e r m c nd bi hpl c v y il . Af uch p r a ye r a n d s o m e e i e r a t o a s s a o o d l b i n , inging l n , ca ll e d i n n a u t ic a l
1 2 8 Am an da .
? s i b i l i t i e s w i t h ch e e r fu ln e s s I t i s t o b e fo und in h e r bl e s s e d e x e r e e o f w s h e o t e s e a k s w t r e o o f p i nc , hich f n p i h j icing, th e ind w e lling p r e s e nce o f Ch r i s t i n h e r s o ul ; s h e h a s r e ce ive d
H i m a s h e r K h a s o s e r a t e e r s e r e s e r e ing , c n c d h lf un v dly t o
H i m h a s a e t h e o e r m e t e t r e o n H i s s o e r , pl c d g v n n n i ly h uld ,
d fi s h e r a e t a t H t a e s a l l a r e a l l r e s o n a n nd in d ily lif h e k c , p
s i b il i t t a t Hi s r e s e e m a e s a e r He a e w t a n d y ; h p nc k v y v n i hin ,
a t w e th e w i s r o t t o o w t H i s w t e t h h n ill b ugh in uni n i h ill , h n
t h e r o wt o f C r s t a l i f s w t t h e e s s e r e a lly g h h i i n e b e gin , i h bl d
“ ’ a s s u r a nce t h a t th e pr o gr e s s s hall b e FROM G LORY U NTO ’ G Lo a