large revenues from the labours of the maritime community. Obligations, therefore, of the most weighty kind are laid upon the Christians of that populous and opulent borough to be liberal and zealous in promoting the evangelization of sailors. These obligations have been worthily acknowledged, and several preliminary meetings have been held to render these convictions practical. A public meeting will therefore have been held before this number of the PILOT can have been published in May, to form an Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society for the borough of Southwark. Many will be highly gratified to learn that the following gentlemen have kindly engaged to be its officers. John Ivatt Briscoe, Esq., President; Treasurer. Rev. Lewis, Rev. Maitland, Esq., Secretaries. Newsom, Esq., Hulme, Joseph MONTHLY MEETING OF THE AGENTS, AT THE SOCIETY'S OFFICE, 2, Jeffreys' Square, St. Mary Axe, London. CONFERENCE, as to the most efficient means of securing the objects of the Society, especially on the river Thames, exhibiting the scene of labour in the port of London, with its ever present "forest of shipping," averaging two thousand, beyond the powers of one Thames Missionary. Still the influence of the present inadequate labour is, on all hands, seen to be truly delightful; and the agents were unanimous in their ardent desire for another devoted Thames Missionary to seamen, to prepare the way for their Bethel Meetings, and to co-operate with them in the vast port of London. Brief Extracts of the Agents' Reports. First Thames Station.-Rev. J. T. Rowland reports in March, though the stormy weather had interfered with some of his duties, two meetings afloat on this station had been very pleasing. One captain desired him to return thanks to God on his behalf for the almost miraculous deliverance he and crew had received during the late heavy gales; his ship had been greatly damaged. For days and nights he had to encounter such awful storms, that from one moment to another he expected to be shipwrecked. After all he was conducted in safety into port, and seemed deeply sensible of his obligations to the protecting providence of God. Mr. Rowland, in April, reports, "Three very good meetings afloat on this station, numerously attended; and it is hoped that much good has been done here by the instrumentality of the Gospel." Rev. W. Benson writes, in March, "I am happy in stating this month that the meetings have been well attended, and I have had much interesting conversation both with captains and seamen. It affords me very pleasing reflections, that all the vessels occupied by me this month have had pious captains. These have very cordially received me, and used every effort in getting attendance. One of these, adverting to a certain captain who is now a praying man, said, 'He, like me, a twelvemonth ago, was living in great wickedness, but now we both love different things. Indeed,' said he, it is very different now to what it formerly was in his family: they well know the change; all around him observe it too. As for myself, I see so much beauty in religion, and feel so much its importance, that I trust 1 shall live more under its influence.' Speaking about Bethel meetings, he said, he should always hail the Bethel Flag. His conduct confirmed his words, for the lantern was conspicuously placed, and on my entering his ship, he said, Welcome, Sir, on board the C. But "One captain who came on board, having begun to love religion, said 'If we enter into the king's service, we look for a reward; yet that will only be a temporal one. if we engage in the service of God, we shall have an eternal reward; and this is great encouragement indeed.' When I apologized for protracting the meeting, as I could not possibly avoid it, the captain replied, Sir, I could 6 have listened much longer to such important things; we don't think the service of temporal pleasures too long, why then should we those of religion?' "I have engaged three times this month at the Sailors' chapel, and once at Poplar." Rev. W. Benson, in April, specifies "Six meetings very well attended;" from which, however, we can make no further extracts. Second Thames Station.-Mr. Edwards, in March, mentions, "The stormy weather, as interfering with meetings afloat, and that after one of these a pious master informed him, that on his passage from Great Yarmouth he had passed twenty-seven wrecks of ships in the space of ten miles? While large property has thus been sacrificed, many souls have passed into eternity, it is feared, altogether unprepared for the kingdom of God. Mr. Edwards, in April, reports the difficulties of the weather, yet the progress of the work of God among our mariners. Mr. Barclay, in March, writes, that "when on one occasion a congregation had been gathered on board a vessel, the master and his mate led the devotional exercises, and after an address, the pious master followed up the remarks by affectionately entreating his brother seamen to accept of salvation so freely offered in the Gospel. One new vessel has been consecrated on this station to the ser vice of God. Some young men on a visit to the captain were very reluctant to attend the service; they were, however, constrained to do so. At first they made light of spiritual things; but it was my unspeakable happiness to observe them, ere the service closed, melted to tears, when the enormity of their guilt in having refused to obey the Gospel was set before them. After the meeting they expressed themselves very thankful for my visit." Mr. Barclay, in April, says, "He has much pleasure in stating, that another new vessel has, during this month, been obtained, on board of which he was received with every expression of good will, both by the master and seamen assembled for worship." Third Thames Station. Rev. J. T. Rowland reports, in March, three meetings on board of Welsh vessels this month on this station, and which were well attended by one hundred and twenty-four sailors. All these meetings," says Mr. R., were of a truly spiritual character; and the enjoyment of the Divine presence, realized on 66 these heavenly occasions, will never be forgotten by many who had the privilege of being present." Mr. Rowland writes, in April, "One of the meetings held on this station was of a truly interesting character, about thirty-two seamen being present; and, among them, five or six captains. Through the presence of the Lord, it was a Bethel indeed' to our souls." This agent is glad to find, "that the service of God is so far established on this station that Welsh seamen look for its usual signal, and are anxious that it should be regularly held.” Fourth Thames Station. Mr. Edwards, in March, says, Here I have attended four meetings during the month, and they were tolerably well attended. Another master took part in the service with us for the first time, and his address at the Throne of Grace was marked by much fervour and spirituality of mind. Here we had had another vessel added to our long list of Bethel ships." Mr. Edwards, in April, writes, "This month has afforded much encouragement to persevere in the work of the Lord. The meetings have been well attended. At one of them a young seaman prayed with us for the first time, and appeared to have recently been brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. 6 "On another occasion, the mate of the vessel on board of which the meeting was held went over the tier to invite his brethren to the Bethel, when, on his return, he said, Sir, there are some Spaniards who say they understand English, and desire to attend with us if they may be allowed.' I replied,' By all means: we shall have pleasure in their company. The mate informed them, and several came, very eagerly listening, as if deeply interested in the things of salvation. The cabin, state-rooms, and steerage, were completely full. "The captain informed us, that, since his last visit to London, he had been at Memel and Montreal, at which places he was delighted to find that the Gospel of Christ was prevailing among the inhabitants. When he arrived at Memel, he had not a decidedly pious man on board his ship; but as he was compelled to remain there some time on account of the frost, he had the unspeakable pleasure of seeing two of them awakened to a sense of divine things, and he had reason to hope made savingly acquainted with the Gospel of Christ. On this station, during this month, four masters have permitted the Bethel flag to wave at the mast-head of their vessels for the first time. One of them has performed only one voyage, and he had pleasure in thus consecrating his ship to the Lord." Mr. Joyce reports the encouraging prospects among sailors, and their increasing regard for Bethel meetings. Mr. Abbott, in March, writes, "The meetings during the past month have been well attended. Feb. 29, on board the P- for the first time; the captain, a pious man: there were present three other captains. Two of them lifted up their voice in prayer. These had experienced narrow escapes from shipwreck during the late gales; and the gratitude which they evinced in their devotions seems to reflect seriously on the insensibility of those who are favoured with greater privileges. "On board the M-, for the first time, the cabin and steerage were crowded, while several were listening on deck. Many of them had Bibles, and used them while your agent was reading the Scriptures. "There is one circumstance which ought to be hailed as a token for good-the willingness of the captains to go over the tiers, to invite the sailors to attend the worship of God. Surely the recollection of the late fatal gales will quicken the attention of sailors and their friends in seeking their eternal salvation. One master stated, that he had passed no less than twenty-one wrecks within thirty miles on the coast of Suffolk! "Two new ships have been added this month to the list of Bethels. "Your agent has supplied one Sabbath afternoon at Cotton Street Chapel. At the close of the service, three sailors applied for copies of the Scriptures; and this service for them appears likely to be of great usefulness, under the blessing of God." Fifth Thames Station. - Mr. Waldon, after reporting the interesting meetings of the month, writes, in March, "One of the young men in the boat coming on shore from a meeting, said, 'I say, Sir, these meetings are nothing but good things for us sailors, who were all going the downward road.' "A sailor after one of the meetings stated, the mate being present, that they had been to America, eight months from home. On their outward passage, which was long, through the number of passengers, they had ex |