Ship Missionary Work in New York Harbor.
By H. E. Osborne
A FEW weeks ago the writer had the privilege of meeting a sailor who had just returned from a voyage to Chinese ports, and who, upon reaching his own city (Chicago), had taken the trouble to search out the office of the Sentinel of Liberty. The circumstances which led him to do this were briefly these:— While this seaman’s ship was in New York Harbor, preparing for her long voyage to the Orient, our missionary yacht “Sentinel” came alongside, and Capt. J. L. Johnson boarded the vessel for the purpose of interesting the captain and crew in our books and periodicals. To the great surprise of our sailor friend and his associates, the skipper of the little visiting craft succeeded in interesting the captain in his books, and even made so favorable an impression that he was invited into the cabin to converse on Bible themes. Several books were purchased. But this was not to end the incident, for, after a long voyage of several months, the ship again anchored in New York Harbor, and this seaman’s interest had been so intensified by the literature he had been reading during the journey, that he at once searched out the captain of the “Sentinel;” and, desiring to keep in touch with the people who published the good books he had so much enjoyed, he secured the address of our Chicago office. This simple incident serves to illustrate the extent of this quiet work which is now being done in the harbor of New York City. These books, tracts, and papers, placed on ships that sail to every part of the world, not only provide reading for sailors on the long journey across the mighty seas, but also frequently find a place in the homes of these men in far-off lands. Thus a lady from Scotland recently writes concerning “Daniel and the Revelation,” “The Desire of Ages,” “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and other works purchased by her husband from the “Sentinel” in New York Harbor? “What a precious investment it is!” It is known to Brother Johnson that at least three persons have been led to accept the Sabbath truth through the agency of the reading-matter distributed in the harbor work. In the very nature of the circumstances, it is impossible to know the entire influence of this literature, scattered as it is to the remotest nations of the earth. The work is largely self-supporting. Last year the cash sales amounted to over eight hundred and twenty dollars, besides donations of cash, provisions, and material necessary for running the harbor boat. But every day affords excellent opportunities to place free literature where it will be read and re-read. Brother Johnson desires to place at least some of our periodicals on every friendly ship visited, even though the crew may be unable to purchase the same, and some one must meet the cost of procuring this reading-matter. Perhaps some one who has followed a seafaring life, and has known how good books and papers have beguiled many a weary hour at sea, reading these lines, may desire to contribute to the fund for purchasing literature for circulation among the sailors; or some whose eager thoughts often reach out after loved ones now tossed upon the restless bosom of God’s great ocean, may desire to participate in this work. Any so disposed may forward their gifts to the General Conference Treasurer, H. M. Mitchell, 267 West Main St., Battle Creek, Mich. Please state that your offering is for the New York Harbor work, and your contribution will be acknowledged, and will be faithfully devoted to the purpose indicated. “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.” Ps. 107: 23, 24. Since the environment of these sailors tends to teach so forcibly the dependence of man and the mighty power of the Creator, ought they not to be regarded as a favorable class to influence with religious truth? While the Lord seeks to arrest their attention through the agency of wind and wave, let us be used by Him as instruments for enlisting their interest in present truth. So shall He bring many unto their “desired haven.” H. E. OSBORNE.