GENTLEMEN:

Much has been written from time to time upon Seamen's Missions, both for and against the work, but we can confidently claim at this port that the past twelve months have shown that sailors of many nationalities appreciate what we endeavor to accomplish in their behalf, and have openly expressed their satisfaction. One old sailor mentioned that he had been at sea for forty-two years and that this is the best sailor's home he has ever known.

The year's work has, as usual, been full of interest. The arrival of warships, training ships, liners, and many cargo vessels has brought hundreds of sailors to our doors, whilst officers and men paying off from ships, have again and again filled the Sailors' Home to capacity, and we have had to turn numbers of men away for lack of accommodation.

The U. S. Shipping Board Training ships "Brookdale" and "Hollywood" made several trips to Honolulu, and the Washington State Nautical School training ship came once. At such times our building became the headquarters for crowds of young embryo sailors, and a look in at the rooms of an evening would generally show the boys enjoying themselves in various ways, or busily writing home and to friends. The Captains and officers of these ships cordially co-operated with us in our efforts to be of true service to these young fellows, and our many friends willingly arranged a series of most enjoyable entertainments.

During the stay of H. M. S. "Renown" at Honolulu on her way home to England with H. R. H., The Prince of Wales aboard, the Superintendent had the honor of a personal interview with the Prince, who expressed his cordial interest in the work, and the evening before the ship sailed a very fine concert and entertainment was held in the grounds of the Institute, at which hundreds of sailors, both American and British were present. The Mayor of Honolulu kindly permitted the Hawaiian band to play, and men of the "Renown" Concert party together with local talent provided an evening's enjoyment that will long be remembered by those present.

The coming of H. M. S. "Chatham" on her way to New Zealand gave us an opportunity to entertain this crew with the assistance of the British Club.

Thanks to the efforts of our House Committee and the generosity of local shipping firms, and other friends we were enabled to have the building thoroughly repaired and painted. It was found that great damage to the woodwork had been done by borers, whole floors having to be replaced, and much new timber used. The work, which took over two months to accomplish, was well carried out, and we have now a Home and Institute that is much better fitted for our work, and is said by sailors to be the most homelike place of its kind that they have been in 'round the world. We are very grateful to those whose interest and financial assistance made this possible. The work of the Superintendent will also be much more efficiently carried out by the use of the Chevrolet car provided by the Committee. Much time will be saved, and many more ships visited which otherwise would have been impossible.

Sailors continue to deposit their money for temporary safekeeping with us, the sum of $7,253 having been received during the year.

Destitute sailors have been assisted, and temporary work found for them until they could obtain ships. In several instances men have decided to quit the sea, and the assistance of the Institute has been the first step to obtaining a good position ashore.

SERVICES

It has not been possible to hold as many Services as usual during the year, this being accounted for partly by the closing of the rooms during repairs for over two months, and partly from the quiet state of shipping at times. However the spiritual side of the work is ever before us, and the personal talks upon higher things are often very encouraging. One sailor wrote that he had given up drinking, had set to work ashore, and is now doing well; another, in a short chat after a Service stated that until that evening he had not been inside a place of worship for fourteen years.

During the visit of a training ship a services was attended by 194 officers, cadets and men.

INSTITUTE

As usual, officers and men of many nationalities have used the building in large numbers, and we have experienced many strenuous days in seeing to the various wants of the sailors.

The writing room has been filled many times with men busily writing home and to friends. Some 300 letters were written in one evening when Training Ship cadets crowded the rooms.

Many letters of appreciation have been received from sailors in different parts of the world, and it is good to have officers and. men dropping into the office for a hearty handshake and a "yarn" over former visits, and their varied experiences.

Several letters of inquiry regarding missing sailors have been received, and in some instances we have been enabled to trace a man, much to the relief of anxious relatives.

the weekly list of Missing Sailors from the New York Seamen's Church Institute, lists from the Missions to Seamen, and the investigation Department of the Salvation Army, Christiana, are posted on our Bulletin Board, and more than once sailors have supplied information which has at once been forwarded to the proper quarters.

SAILOR'S HOME DEPARTMENT

In spite of the closing of the Institute during repairs, more officers and men than ever have stayed at the Home, and many have had to find other quarters in town owing to our beds being all occupied.

Sailors from twenty nationalities were received from every class of vessel visiting the port: liners, army transports, America; and foreign cargo vessels, timber ships etc., and from these many interesting and encouraging details of successful work accomplished by Seamen's Institutes in different parts of the world have been received, showing that the great chain of Seamen's Missions of different Societies, by co-operation with one another, are having a steady and firm spiritual and moral influence upon the lives of those who go down to the sea in ships.

TRUST FUNDS ON DEPOSIT

The sum of $7,253 was received during the year for temporary safe-keeping, and upon several occasions sailors have told us that, but for this help, the money, so hardly earned, would have been spent very quickly, so many are the inducements and temptations of a shipping port.

SHIP VISITATIONS

Over four hundred visits to ships entering the port have been made during the year, and this branch of our activities is always found a valuable help in getting into personal touch with officers and men. There are often times when a ship is only in port for a few hours, and the sailors cannot get ashore, so that a visit from the "Sky Pilot" is appreciated, and the brief "yarns" on deck, in fo'c'stles, and cabins are often splendid opportunities for entering more fully into the lives of these men, and many firm friends have been made in this manner.

ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Through the kind and whole-hearted efforts of many friends fourteen concerts and entertainments were held, and these were attended by over 1500 men who thoroughly enjoyed the happy social times provided.

In spite of a drenching downpour during the occasion of the Annual Christmas Dinner and Concert, our good friends and helpers of the Harbour Lights Guild and others rallied at the institute and provided the big crowd of sailors with a splendid feed and a thoroughly happy and Christmassy time, and how the men did cheer them for their most successful labors.

Some of our friends from St. Andrew's Cathedral Choir rendered some of the old Carols very sweetly during the evening. Father Christmas distributed gifts from the illuminated Christmas Tree, whilst local artists provided many musical items that were greatly enjoyed.

HARBOUR LIGHTS GUILD

Again we owe our cordial thanks to the members of the Guild who have so willingly co-operated with us in the work, and their efforts have greatly strengthened our hands in many ways. They have assisted at Services, Socials, Teas, in obtaining magazines and books for outgoing ships, and in many other directions have shown their interest, and we very greatly appreciate their help.

SHIP COLLECTIONS

Once more we wish to express our very hearty appreciation of the way in which the officers of the Matson Co.'s vessels have supported our work by making collections on board their ships for our local work. It is very encouraging to us to have them show their interest in the work in this practical manner.

IN CONCLUSION

We humbly thank our loving God for the many evidences of His blessing upon our efforts, and go forward into another year confident that He will continue to guide and direct us as we wait upon Him.

To all our friends in Honolulu we would express our gratitude for enabling us to "carry on," and are assured that, as in the past, so in the future they will rally round us so that in this port the sailor may feel that there are those who have his real interest at heart, and that seamen of all nations may know that in Honolulu the Sailor's Home and Seamen's Institute stands for his true benefit in every way.

Very Respectfully,

CHAS. F. MANT,
Superintendent.

ANNUAL STATISTICS

Visits to Government Vessels 38
Visits to Government Vessels 382
Visits to Queen's Hospital 49
Services held 25
Officers and men at Services 466

Others at Services 100
Officers and men at Sunday Teas 588
Concerts and Entertainments held 14
Officers and men at Entertainments 1522
Money deposited for temporary safe-keeping $7253.00.

Officers and men of all ranks from vessels, and of the following nationalities have stayed at the Sailors Home during the year: American, British, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Greek, German, Italian, Peruvian, Chilian, Panamanian, Japanese, Chinese, Siamese.

FROM OUR MAIL BAG

July 5th 1920.

Gentlemen:

In behalf of the Apprentices and Officers of the Training Ship "Brookdale," I wish to thank you for the splendid time you provided for us last Friday night, July 2nd., at the Outrigger Club at Waikiki.

We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I am sure I voice the sentiment of the entire personnel of the "Brookdale" in saying that we are indebted to you and your associates, The Women's Auxiliary of the Outrigger Club, and the Ladies Missionary Union, for one of the most enjoyable evenings we have ever had in the Hawaiian Islands.

Thanking you again, I beg to remain,

Yours very respectfully,

O. BEATON, Master,
U. S. S. B. T. S. "Brookdale."
April 5th 1921.

Dear Sir:

I have just received a letter from my nephew--written on your stationery, and I suppose you have met the young chap since he has been there.

V--is only 16 years of age, and if you can do anything to aid him I will certainly appreciate it. He has never been away from home--only one year at college.

Please start him back at the earliest possible moment as he is too young to run around amongst strangers--and God knows I have raised him to be a good boy and do the right thing at all times.

Thanking you in advance for your trouble,

Yours very truly

L. M.

I EXPECT to pass through this world but ONCE. If, therefore, there be any KINDNESS I can show, or any GOOD THING I can do for any fellow being, let me do it NOW; let me not DEFER or NEGLECT it, FOR I SHALL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN.

1. By visiting the Institute and seeing the work for yourself and so give encouragement.

2. By arranging a concert or social among your friends and so provide a pleasant time for the sailor visiting your shores and remind him of home.

3. By collecting magazines and papers or books for our Floating Library or supplying flowers for the rooms.

4. By taking part in our services at the hospital, on board ships, or at the Seamen's Chapel.

5. Ask for our report and circulate the information verbally.

6. To endeavor to make a special Thank Offering for a safe return from sea to be given for the extension of the work.

And to ask God to bless the efforts that are put forth in behalf of seamen in the Hawaiian Islands.

Project Canterbury