May 1. 1909.]
HONGKONG SEAMEN'S
INSTITUTE.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE.
INCREASED DONATION BY MR. MODY.
The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Hongkong Seamen's Institute which has been the long cherished object of all deeply interested in the welfare of the sailors who visit our port took place on April 28th under the happiest auspices. The site is well known. It is on the Praya East, a little to the east of Arsenal Street, and fronts the harbour. The speeches given on the occasion were largely historical, so that there is no need to reiterate what was then stated, suffices it to say that the now institute which is to spring up in this conspicuous site will be worthy of the colony. The site was purchased for $37,000, but it was found that a building, such as was contemplated could not be erected for less than $35.000, but happily the problem which thus confronted the committee was solved by Mr. ody, who, on learning of the facts agreed to raise his promised contribution for the erec- tion of the institute from 35,000 to $50,000. | There remains the money necessary to furnish the building when completed and doubtless this will be forth-coming when the time demands it. The building is to be of there storeys. The ground floor will be occupied by a chapel capable of seating 200, a large billiard room and dining and refreshment rooms, with offices. The second floor will have a large concert hall capable of accommodating 400 people, as well as offices, while the top floor will be devoted to dormitories, in which 33 men can have separate bedroom accommodation, and if necessary accommodation for another 30 can be arranged. It will be so constructed that another storey can be added if it should be found advisable in the future to extend the sccommodation of the institute A large gathering assembled to witness the stone laying ceremony, which took place under a matshed covering. Among those present were Mrs. and Miss Lyon, Mrs. Lander, Mrs. Pollock. Mr. H. N. Mody, Bishop Lander, Rev. J. H. France, Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, Hon. Dr. Atkin- son, Revs. J. Bunbury, E T. Johnson, Thom- son, Dr. Clark, Mes rs. G. A. Woodcock, E. Shellim, C. S. Gubbay, A. Shelton Hooper, A. Ough, J. L. McPherson, G. Piercy, E. L. Hughes and others. On the arrival of H. E. the Governor, he was escorted by Bishop Lander and the clergymen to the place selected for the ceremonial. The proceedings began by the singing of the hymn. The Church's one foundation, led by the boys of St. Peter's Church choir under Mr. Sykes. This was followed by the office for the laying of the foundation stone, special prayers being offered. Then the Bishop at the close addressed the gathering,
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HIS LORDSHIP THE BISHOP OF VICTORIA then said-Your Excellency, ladies and gentle men, before the stone is laid the committee desire me to give a little historical sketch of the scheme that is to make such progress to-day and also there will be an opportunity for the gentleman who is the prime promoter of it to address you. For many
years past the excellent Missions to Seamen have had agents in Hongkong and all the chaplains one after another have expressed their desire for a suitable institute on this side of the harbour in addition to the one in Kowloon. So long ago as 1893 Mr. Goldsmith who was then chaplain took steps for the provision of a seamen's institute and he opened what was called the Seamen's Star, renting premises in Queen's Road. Three years later he set forward his scheme for the erection of the Seamen's Institute on the grounds of the Sailor's Institute. understand that the committee
gave their consent and some money was collected but it was not found possible for lack of funds to go on with this scheme. Then Mr. Iliff took his
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
359
one from giving. On the contrary he is de sirous that that should be a stimulus to other people and not a deterrent. He told me he was willing to give this donation on the under- standing that other people would furnish the building in a suitable and proper manner. The committee went into the matter. They came to the conclusion quite easily spend the matter of $15,000 and !
that they could
furnish it very nicely and the least they could possibly do it on would be $10,000. I cannot conceive it possible that when this build- ing is erected on such a beautiful site that it should be useless for the lack of the furniture. I feel persuaded that the ladies and gentlemen, here present and others interested will come, forward and provide necessary the $10,00 or $15,000 to suitably furnish the building as soon as it is open. On behalf of the church which I represent-Your Excellency I am sure will speak on behalf of the colony-I desire to assure Mr. Mody that we deeply appreciate his generosity and we will do our best to maintain this building in a manner worthy of his munific- ence and of the objects for which he has given it. (applause).
friends in England for money to erect a large institute. Some £600 or £700 was given and others were willing to contribute but alas it was impossible to secure a site. The committee was advised to invest the money in order that they might rent premises in Wanchai, the pre- mises that they now hold, where an excellent work is going on. But they are altogether inadequate and also too far away from the centre of things. At the beginning of 1908 this site where we now are seemed to be coming into the market and Mr. France who was ever on the qui vive for something of the sort said it was time for us to be considering. We made inquiries and found that the site thought excellent in many respects was extremely costly. It has a grand frontage and it is spacious. The site was to cost $37,000. It seemed altogether beyond us but nothing venture nothing have. We consulted with Your Excellency and you consented to pre side over a public meeting, which was held in March last year.
You will remember that His Excellency urged forward the scheme in his speech, and Admiral Sir Arthur Moore, who was then the Admiral in command, also spoke, taking a very keen interest in it. I received a letter from him some little time ago in which he said "I can testify to the excellent work oar ried on at Hongkong by the chaplains of the issions to Seamen, participated in by men of all denominations. I know that our men in the naval service greatly value the privilege of mak ing use of the Institute when on leave. more suitable building would be welcomed by them as well as by the men of the mer cantile marine who visit Hongkong. After Admiral Moore Mr. Mody expressed a desire to speak and His xcellency gave him permission to do so. Those who were there will remember the electric shock he gave us-how we were thrilled with delight when he got up and told us that he thought the work among the sailors was so important to the colony that he would like to give a donation of $35,000 towards the building-(ap- plause) providing a suitable site could be obtained. We then appointed Sir Paul Chater whose accident we all deplore to-day and the result of which we hope will soon pass away and that he will be restored to his accustomed health-we appointed Sir Paul Chater as treasurer. He took it up and collected upwards of $27,000 which added to the sum already in hand collected by the late Bishop Hoare the Rev. A. G. Goldsmith and the Rev. J. H. France amounted to the sum of $38,000, sufficient to pay for the site. We are gratefal indeed to him (applause),-for the public spirit he has shown, and we are also grateful to all those friends, heads of firms and others who have come forward and responded to Sir Paul's ap- peal. We now had sufficient money to pay for the site and we had Mr. Mody's promised dona- tion of $35,00 towards the building. Mr. Bryer, the architect, had drawn up plans for a very suitable three storied building. On the ground floor a chapel to accommodate two hundred men, a billiard room, large enough for two full sizo tables, a large dining room and refreshment room and so on; on the second floor will be a beautiful concert hall with accommodation for 400 men, with office and quarters for the caretaker and 80 on; the whole of the top floor will be for dormitories where we shall provide separate bedrooms for 30 seafaring men, and we can accommodate more in other dormitories. The building is to be substantially built. Tenders were invited and alas the lowest tender for the building apart from any furniture was $50,000. We had gone around collecting for the site and had only $35,000 for the building that our good friend Mr. Mody had promised. What was to be done? We stated the case to Mr. Mody without the least insinuation that he should do anything more. It was the last thought in our minds. He said When I promised you $35,000 I thought that would do for the building. If it will not, I will raise my contribution to $50,000" (applause). We are all very proud to see on this stone the inscription that this building is erected and presented to the colony by our good friend Mr. ody (applause). Before our munificent friend addresses you, I know there is one thing he would like me to say and that is that he wishes his benefactions to in no way deprive any
place and he acquired larger premises called the Seamen's Star at the corner of Pottinger Street where a very excellent work was carried on for some time but alas, lack of funds necessitated their moving into smaller premises in D'Aguilar Street. But the rent was high and before very long they had to remove from these premises. My very revered predecessor Bishop Hoare issued an appeal to
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Mr. MODY said -Your Excellency, My Lord ishop, Ladies and Gentlemen :-Believing, as I do, a care for the welfare and comfort of the men of our ercantile Marine when on shore to be the duty of all those in whose interests they brave the dangers of the mighty deep, and especially so in a Port such as this of Hongkong which proudly ranks among the first of the great Shipping Centres of our Empire, I have taken a very keen interest in the Mission to Seamen here because to our Merchant seamen this Colony owes so much of its prosperity its commerce, I might almost say its very exis- tence-(applause) and it seemed to me but right and fitting that we here should do something to show oar gratitude to them for what they do for us, (applause) and well I know from experience how grateful they are for any kindness shown to them. Among the greatest of their needs is such an Institution as this, some place to which when so far away from their own homes they can come for rest, healthy recreation and wholesome refreshment (applause). The Mission to Seamen has been established here for many years past carrying on its good work as best it could, now in one part of the town, now in another, but ever without sufficient means to do all that it would wish to do and without, till now, a proper and suitable building of its own; it was these considerations which led me to offer at the public meeting held last year, over which Your Excellency so kindly presided, the sum of $35,000 to build an Institute if a site could be provided, which sum it was then thought would provide such a building as is required. My offer was, I am pleased to say, accepted and a site has been secured where we now stand. It was however found that a sum of at least $50,000 would be required for the building and, as His Lordship the Bishop has just informed you, it has been my privilege and my pleasure to increase by $15,000 my original gift (applause) and to take upon myself the whole cost of the building and to present the same to the Colony (Applause). It is grati fying to note that, since the needs of the Missions were brought to the notice of the Public and the present scheme inaugurated by the Committee and others last year, it has received such hearty support from the residents of Hongkong, subscriptions to the amount of $27,255 having already been collected. This sum in addition to the sums previously collected by the late Bishop Hoare and the Chaplains of the Mission has enabled them to pay for the site. For this satisfactory state of affairs we have, while gratefully thanking all those who have so generously given very largely to thank the energy and persuasive tongue of the Honorary Treasurer to the Fund, Sir Paul Chater (applause)-who is unfortunately unable to be present here to-day, but further sums are required for the proper and adequate furnishing and equipment of the Building when completed and I venture to hope that this gift of mine may help to stimulate the generosity of others and induce them to come forward with the money required for this purpose.-(applause), Sir, I am not good at speech-making and shall not therefore keep you much longer from the completion of the ceremony we are met here to- day to perform, but there is a gentleman with
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