"About My Father's Business": Work Amidst the Sick, the Sad, and the SorrowingArcher, Thomas
Religion
"About My Father's Business": Work Amidst the Sick, the Sad, and the Sorrowing
Archer, Thomas
Pastoral theology
One-fifth of the candidates admitted are nominated by
the committee on the ground of their necessities or
special claims to the benefit of the charity, while general
subscribers or donors have privileges of election according
to the amount contributed. Perhaps one of the
most touching records of the subscription list is, that not
only did the cadets of the mercantile training-ship
Worcester contribute something like £100 in one official
year, but that the little fellows on board the union
training-ship Goliath lying off Grays, have joined their
officers and their commander, Captain Bourchier, to
send offerings to the aid of the ancient mariners, of
whom they are the very latest representatives. On many
a good ship these small collections are made for the
same object, and at the Sailors' Home in Well Street
there is a box for stray contributions; but much more
has yet to be done. Perhaps it is far to go to see this
great house on the hill, but most of us have caught a
glimpse of its tall towers and its flagstaff in our excursions
down the silent highway of London's river, and it
might be well to think how little effort is required to give
to each cabin its inmate, and to fill the dining-room with
tables, each with its "mess" of six or eight old salts,
who are ready to greet you heartily if you pay them a
visit, and to salute you with a grave seamanlike respect.
Would you like to know how this rare old crew lives in
the big house under the lee of the wind-blown hill? To
begin with, the men who are not invalids turn out at
eight in winter and half-past seven in summer, and after
making beds and having a good wash, go down to prayers
{81}
and breakfast at nine or half-past eight, breakfast consisting
of coffee or cocoa and bread-and-butter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account