Vx* * C if, *&r #* 4>l .- BY THE AUTHOR OF buR BLUE JACKETS. UCSB LIBRARY TEMPERANCE WORK IN THE ROYAL NAVY. TEMPERANCE WORK IN THE ROYAL NAVY. BY THE AUTHOR OF "OUR BLUE JACKETS." WITH PREFACE AGNES E. WESTON. HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXXIX. Hazell, Watson, and Viney, Printers, London and Aylesbury. PREFACE. I GLADLY write a few lines of intro- duction to this small book of facts. Without ignoring all that has been done in the Service by other tempe- rance organisations, I feel that the Royal Naval Temperance Society, from its broad basis, the simplicity of the working, and the good which it has achieved in past years, will commend itself to the officers, as it has already to the men, of the Navy. It will be seen from this little book, vi PREFACE. that this Society has the advantage, possessed by no other, of having arisen from the Navy itself, and outsiders have done little except by encourage- ment and support where necessary. To the National Temperance League be- longs the honour of stepping forward when funds were exhausted, and taking the cause of our seamen in hand. They have for many years most generously supplied the large amount needed an- nually to carry out so great a work. They deserve, a^nd have gained, the thanks of the Service, and of the country at large, for their noble-hearted generosity ; and the Royal Naval Tem- perance Society is proud to remember PREFACE. vii that it is a branch of the National Tem- perance League. To the more direct Temperance work, in this book a chapter is added on Coffee Canteens, which have been found, where tried, to do so much for the men physically and morally, and also on the possibility of starting self-sup- porting Temperance Homes for Sailors. Anecdote and illustration have been avoided, and the aim of the writer has been to condense as much fact as pos- sible into these pages. The personal work spoken of as carried out by my- self could not have been done, but for the energetic help and co-operation of my valued friend and fellow-worker viii PREFACE. Miss S. G. Wintz, who is a thorough sailor's friend. I feel that I may commend a subject which speaks for itself to the thoughtful interest of offi- cers and men in the Service, and to all those who have the welfare of our Royal Navy at heart. AGNES E. WESTON. SAILORS' REST, DEVONPORT. CONTENTS. PAGE ITS RISE 1 ITS PROGRESS 12 ITS WORK IN H.M. TRAINING SERVICE . . 2O PERSONAL LABOUR 24 SILVER MEDALS 31 PLEDGES 33 " THE NAVAL TEMPERANCE NEWS " .38 COFFEE CANTEENS 43 TEMPERANCE HOMES FOR SAILORS : CAN THEY BE MADE SELF-SUPPORTING? . . 57 to afar. iwk in Ijxe ITS RISE. r ~pEMPERANCE SOCIETIES are making such great and rapid strides everywhere, and so many persons of influ- ence and power are seeing the necessity of doing something to stay the torrent of intemperance in our land, that it will not be surprising to find that our Blue Jackets are to the front in this great movement also. Indeed, if we take into consideration that our Navy only numbers about fifty-eight thousand eight hundred men, and that from seven to 2 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. eight thousand of these are pledged ab- stainers, we may fairly say that they are not one whit behind their brothers on shore, but decidedly in advance of them. Drink has always been the seaman's snare the cause, as many a command- ing officer has stated, of " nearly all the crime in the Service." * Bravely and resolutely have many of our sailors taken the great tempter as it were by the shoulders, and thrown him overboard with the words " For my own sake, and for the sake of my shipmates, I will have nothing to do with you ; " right man- fully have thousands kept to their resolve, * See " Our Blue Jackets " Narrative of Miss Weston's Life and Work ; published by H odder and Stoughton, Paternoster Row. ITS RISE. 3 and the acknowledged result has been of vast national benefit. In tracing some of the earlier move- ments in the Service towards this great work which has now gained such stand- ing, I would instance the case of Captain (now Admiral) Prevost : twenty years ago he paid off a frigate, H.M.S. Satellite, at Portsmouth, when the large number of 109 officers and men were found to be abstainers, owing to the Captain's personal example and influence among them. Another instance will be found in the noble example of Admiral Sir W. King Hall, K.C.B. (then Captain King Hall), commanding H.M.S. Russell at Falmouth : finding out, to his sorrow, that a vast amount of drunkenness was going on among the ship's company, 4 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. he took a sheet of paper and wrote a temperance pledge upon it, promising to head it with his own name if any of the men would put down theirs ; forty immediately signed it, and the result was the reclamation of a large number of the worst characters in the ship. The late Commodore Goodenough, himself a total abstainer for the good of his men, also -took an active part in the work. Admiral Sir James Sulivan, K.C.B., has been a staunch and earnest supporter of the cause ; and many others might be mentioned. To these early workers among the officers, and to a large body of men whose names are unrecorded, we owe the sowing of seed which we doubtless are reaping now. At length, about 1863, ITS RISE. 5 a most important movement took place : a band of officers, warrant officers and men, formed themselves into a little society of abstainers on board H.M.S. Reindeer, during her long commission 1863 to 1868 on the Pacific Station. The work so quietly begun went on steadily and surely during the whole of the cruise ; and when eventually the ship was paid off in 1 868 at Portsmouth, it was found that as many as forty had joined the association, and had kept their pledges. Thus it will be seen that this important movement took place within, and not without the Service, as some have wrongly supposed ; and we would draw particular attention to this point, because it is the principle on which this work revolves, and which under God 6 RO YAL NA VAL TEMPERANCE WORK. accounts in a great measure for its marvellous success. Before the members of the Reindeer Society dispersed to their homes in various parts of the country, it was ar- ranged that a farewell gathering should be held. This took place at the Trevelyan Hotel, Portsmouth where, in the words of the secretary, " a cold collation was served, and a very pleasant time was spent by all." The supper was provided out of the funds of the Reindeer Total Abstinence Society, and commenced at 7 p.m. After supper Lieutenant A. J. O'Rorke, R.N., called the members to- gether, and presented each with a solid silver medal, also provided out of the funds, bearing on the one side H.M.S. Reindeer ploughing through the waves, ITS RISE. 7 having just let go her life-buoy, and on the other the words " Reindeer Total Abstinence Society: instituted July 1868." It was on this memorable occasion that the ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE SOCIETY sprang into life ! Before separating, all unanimously agreed that the work so well commenced must not be allowed to go to pieces ; and a committee of officers, seamen, and gentlemen connected with the Service in Portsmouth was appointed, in tho- roughly business-like style, and thus on the dispersion of the ship's company the matter was left in trustworthy and zealous hands. The Society worked for some time, and prospered wonderfully ; the head- quarters being at Portsmouth, with branches at Devonport and Sheerness, and also on board many ships. But after 8 ROYAL NA VAL TEMPERANCE WORK. a time the practical and pressing ques- tion of the age money began to press upon them, and the difficulty of raising it crippled their energies. Very wisely they looked around for some plan by which the work could be carried on and developed, and the sinews of war supplied. At this juncture, in the year 1873, the National Temperance League came to the aid of the Society : the Committee offered to take over the naval work, supply the funds, and carry it on themselves ; and after some little correspondence and consideration the committee at Portsmouth accepted the offer ; the ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE SOCIETY then became the " Royal Naval Temperance Branch of the National Tem- perance League" ITS RISE. 9 At a deeply interesting meeting at Portsmouth, Miss Weston, who had long been working among our sailors, and was well known for her temperance work at Bath and elsewhere, was pre- sent, and willingly promised, at the request of the Committee, conveyed through Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards General) Eardley Wilmot, to superin- tend it for them. She says : " A total abstainer myself, I knew very well that the sailor's spiritual interests were closely bound up with the temperance question, as well as his efficiency in the Service ; I therefore cheerfully accepted the post of Superintendent of the League's Naval Work." It will be distinctly seen that the important truth which I wish to bring io ROYAL NA VAL TEMPERANCE WORK. clearly before my readers, called " self- help," has been an integral part of this work. The wish for teetotalism came from the Service, and the Royal Naval Temperance Society was formed in the Service ; and with its growth since no inconsiderable one the same principle has become stronger and stronger. The League finds money and material, and Miss Weston keeps the machine going by correspondence, personal supervision, visiting the principal seaports,* and holding occasional meetings on board ship, as well as on shore, when per- mission is given by the captain. The importance, where feasible, of coming on board cannot be over-estimated : men * See " Our Blue Jackets "Narrative of Miss Western's Life. ITS RISE. ii are reached in numbers, and influenced by a lady taking the trouble to come to them, in a way which never could be attained on shore ; and it has given Miss Weston a hold upon the Navy which she could not have gained in any other way. The extent and variety of the work, and its important influence, not only upon the Navy, but on people of all lands and tongues, we hope presently to show. The broad and unsectarian basis on which it stands seeking to benefit all, without any question as to the re- ligious body to which the man belongs is worthy of so great a work, in such a branch of the public service as the Royal Navy. 12 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. THE PROGRESS of this Society has been most re- markable. At first great difficulties were encountered : indeed, Miss Weston describes the work, after she undertook its superintendence, as very up-hill. She says : " The branches on board ship might be counted on the fingers of one hand, but they rose steadily in number as prejudice was disarmed, and it was found by commanding officers that the work did not clash in any way with the rules of the Service. At present they stand at 220, of which 200 are floating branches. The total number of ships in commission does not exceed 230 : thus it will be seen at a glance what an advance the League's ITS PROGRESS. 13 Naval work has made. Miss Weston's great desire has always been to get a temperance branch on board every ship in the Service ; and had it not been for the many and constant changes in the Navy, her desire would ere this have been accomplished.* The mode of working each branch is very simple. A responsible person, gene- rally a Blue Jacket, is appointed, and named " Honorary Agent " of the Royal Naval Temperance Society's work on board ; he has to take charge of the pledge- book, cards, quarterly return papers, etc. Printed questions respecting the progress of work have to be answered on these return papers, and sent to Miss * " Our Blue Jackets " Narrative of Miss Weston's Life. 14 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. Weston regularly once a quarter. They are very simple, and capital " tell-tales " as to the powers and industry of the workers on board the ship. They are as follows : " How many pledges have you taken ? " " What difficulties have you to contend with ? " " Do you receive and distribute the Monthly Letters, and have you a sufficient number of copies ? " " Do you require any fresh supplies ? if so, please state them." " Do you want any cards of honour ? if so, state the men's names, and the dates of signa- ture." Pocket pledge-books, very useful to active members who carry them with them, and are thus fully equipped and able to nail a messmate on the spot are also sent out, with tempe- rance tracts and papers for distribution. ITS PROGRESS. 15 This plan of working is eminently suc- cessful, and is carried out by the quiet, steady influence which two or three sea- men may exercise over the many. The "cards of honour," very handsomely emblazoned in gold and colours/ are presented according to the term of years which the men keep the pledge ; they value them very much, and it is no uncommon thing to see them framed and hanging up in their rooms at home, side by side with the pledge card which records the day and month when the first resolution was made to give up the drink. Each honorary agent has, if possible, a committee of four or five " blue jackets " and marines to assist him in the work namely, two deputy agents, 1 6 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. a secretary, and a treasurer : the latter keeps account of any money received or spent for the Society's work ; the secre- tary is the active member, engaged in correspondence. As the honorary agents increased, it was found that they needed personal supervision and encouragement the aid of some responsible person in the squad- ron, or on the station, who could keep them supplied with ordinary necessaries for their work. Organising Agents Afloat were accordingly appointed by Miss Weston active, energetic men, attached to the Channel Fleet, the Mediterranean, North American and West Indian, East Indian, Pacific, and Australian Squadrons. These men, whenever opportunity occurs, visit the ITS PROGRESS. 17 honorary agents, inquire into the work, and gather them together on shore for conference and prayer ; and with the aid of the Shore Committee, of which we shall presently speak, arrange meetings, temperance teas, picnics, etc., for the men when on leave. These organising agents have started temperance so- cieties in many of our West Indian Islands, some of which are still doing a good work there, and also in out-of- the-way places on the Pacific Station. Acting in concert with these are the Organising Agents Ashore for the future to be called Presidents of Divisional Centres. These gentlemen, occupying, if possible, a good position in civil life, kindly interest themselves in the wel- fare of the temperance men while the 2 1 8 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. ships are in port, and co-operate with the organising agents afloat in getting up temperance meetings, and directing the men to respectable lodgings, or Seamen's Homes. There are some of these kind helpers at Ningpo, Shanghai, Wenchow and other Chinese ports, Yoko- hama, Barbadoes, Valparaiso, Sydney, etc., who are doing good service to the Royal Naval Temperance Society. It is hoped that Temperance Homes for the sailors, if proved self-supporting, will be started in many foreign ports by the aid of these gentlemen and their com- mittees, and be incalculable blessings to the Service in keeping the men from the low grog-shops, which are generally the only places where our sailors can obtain refreshment when on shore. ITS PROGRESS. 19 Many officers of the Navy are ab- stainers some pledged and some un- pledged -and have kindly given their names as presidents and vice-presidents * of the Royal Naval Temperance work under the League's auspices. Anything countenanced by the officers is thought doubly of by the men ; and the kind support lately lent by them has given the work a great push forward, and not a little raised it in the estimation of the Blue Jackets. It may be interesting to mention here that two branches of the Royal Naval Temperance Society went to the Arctic regions with the expedition of 1875. Before the sailing of the ships Alert * See Royal Naval Temperance News. Pub- lished monthly. Edited by Miss Western. 20 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. \ and Discovery, Miss Weston asked per- mission, on behalf of the National Tem- perance League, through Admiral Sir Leopold McClintock, to be allowed to place a pledge-book and cards on board each ship in the hands of a total ab- stainer. It was granted, several names were enrolled ; and Adam Ayles, who took charge of the book, Henry Petty, and W. Malley, came back having kept their pledges intact, and were living witnesses that even in the Arctic regions drink is not necessary. We cannot help feeling that the Arctic Ex- pedition of 1875-6 has done great and efficient work in the temperance cause. The work among the Training Ships Impregnable, Implacable, St. Vincent, Ganges, and Boscawen, is not the least ITS PROGRESS. important phase. The wise regulation of the Admiralty, of allowing no strong drink of any kind to the lads in train- ing, is a good stepping-stone for the inculcation of temperance truth. A very large number of the boys in H.M. training ships are enrolled as abstainers, and keep their pledges after they are drafted into the Service as ordinary seamen. An ave- rage of 2000 names are on the books ; but allowing for those who break their pledges when rated as men, the number, if kept up and increased, must exercise a great result on the Navy. Devonport is the head-quarters of the Training Service ; and at the Sailors' Rest, where the boys come weekly in hundreds, several thousand have enrolled their names. At this Institute there is a 22 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. voluntary attendance of between two and three hundred boys at the Sunday afternoon meeting ; and during the week impromptu temperance meetings, heartily relished and joined in by the boys, have been held when they are ashore. By these means, joined to personal influence, many of the boys have become not only sober and steady, but decided Christian lads. The same good work in the tempe- rance cause has gone on on board the St, Vincent at Portsmouth and the Ganges at Falmouth. In the former ship especially a great work has been done, thanks to the energy and zeal of one of the Society's most valuable agents, who has had the good fortune not en- joyed by many hard workers in the Service of being stationed on board one ITS PROGRESS. 23 ship for some years. He has induced, by his example and personal influence, 1682 boys to become members of the Society, most of whom are remaining true to their promise, and as a matter of course getting on well in the Service. In his report he says : " I meet many of my boys : now men who are keeping firm to their pledge. One, after four years' absence, is now Honorary Agent of H.M.S. Hecla ; another lately carried on the work on board H.M.S. Vernon ; another, lately returned from foreign service, is an A.B., who is doing good service to the cause on shore, as well as afloat." All this speaks well for the work which is being done on board our training ships. As these young lads are the future " hearts of oak " 24 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. whom England will expect to do their duty, this branch of the Society's work is most important and interesting. Truly " prevention is better than cure " ; and looking at these boys, our great desire is that they may be an honour to the Service and to their country. Few, in reading these pages, have any idea of the vast amount of PERSONAL LABOUR involved in carrying out the League's Naval work the sacks of packets which are sent to ships all over the world, the pledges, cards, books, etc., which go forth, and the enormous correspondence which falls on Miss Weston's shoulders. One of the rooms at the Sailors' Rest is set apart as an office for this pur- ITS PROGRESS. 25 pose ; and it is a workshop from early morning to late at night in very deed ! Men are constantly coming to see Miss Weston for advice, help and encourage- ment, and are either stirred up to fresh efforts or established more firmly in their total abstinence principles. A considerable part of the work is afloat. Miss Weston personally visits a large number of ships, and addresses the ships' companies in most instances having the personal presence and sup- port of the captain himself. These meet- ings are always useful and interesting, and result in a considerable number of pledges being taken, and much good being done.* * " Our Blue Jackets " Narrative of Miss Weston's Life. 26 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. The head-quarters of all this Naval work is at the SAILORS' REST. This Institute, and its branch " The Homeward Bound " at Keyham, opposite the gates of the Steam Yard, are visited by a very large number daily, being besieged as early as 5.30 a.m. by those who are waiting to go off to their ships, not for the morning dram, but for the steaming cup of coffee, and business steadily continues till 1 1 p.m. Many a Blue Jacket has been picked up in the streets, not able to take care of himself, has been taken in and cared for till the next morning, and in many cases induced by kind words and treatment to give up the drink entirely. At this Institute much direct temperance work is done : free teas are given monthly to sailor ITS PROGRESS. 27 boys, marines, etc., and very frequently to sailors' wives, after which addresses are given and pledges taken. The bar pledge-book bears ample testimony to the advantage of having such a book always available in a place of public resort. A man, if he is so minded, can drop in, take a cup of coffee, and enrol his name. Miss Weston always impresses on the men the wisdom and absolute necessity of looking to God for strength to keep such a resolution, and that, so far from its being the sign of a weak mind, it shows the greatest strength of character for the bravest man is ever the humblest, and the wisest always feels that he knows the least. Cromwell's Ironsides had no lack of bravery, as well as true piety ; and in the great battle of the nineteenth 28 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. century against drink, the best parts of the character of those brave soldiers, without the wild fanaticism which often- times disfigured them, are found in the earnest workers in the Royal Navy a brave band of all ranks and ratings, who have quietly and perseveringly pushed on the cause among their shipmates and friends, ashore and afloat. It would be invidious to mention one name more than another, when all try to do their best ; but the labours of the organizing agents of the West Indian, China, and Australian Squadrons, and also at Portsmouth, have been be- yond all praise. The registrars or honorary agents have also in many cases done a good work on board their ships. An instance may be given of ITS PROGRESS. 29 an honorary agent on board H.M.S. Raleigh, who, on joining his ship when she commissioned at Chatham, found two teetotalers besides himself : when she paid off, after a four years' commission, he numbered eighty staunch abstainers, who might be depended upon to work well anywhere, and thirty (making a total of one hundred and ten) who were also pledged men, but not of such a solid character. He also kept a record of the rating of each man when he signed the pledge, and the rating of the same man when the ship was paid off: the boys had become seamen, the ordinary seamen had become A.B.s or else petty officers, and so on showing clearly what a blessing total abstinence is to the Navy, in a Service point of view. 30 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. It has been already stated that the National Temperance League most gene- rously supplies the funds; but members of the Society have felt and rightly that if the League thus burdens itself with such a work, the least that the Service can do is to help the League. Last year, in answer to an appeal sent forth by Miss Weston, a CHRISTMAS Box collection was made, and the handsome sum of 82 i os. "$d. was collected by officers and men, as a donation from the Royal Navy, in grateful acknowledg- ment of the great work which the League has done, and is still doing, among them ; and we hope, as Miss Weston says, " that this shot from Jack's locker, which has been so willingly offered, may not only induce our sailors to ITS PROGRESS. collect year by year, but may also incline other organizations, also nobly helped by the League, to follow the British flag in this respect." An honourable decoration, in addition to the emblazoned cards, has been added this year, in the shape of SILVER MEDALS. These medals are an exact copy of those struck for the Reindeer when she paid off in 1868, and when a few earnest- minded officers and men started this Society. The ship appears on the medal, her life-buoy thrown overboard to rescue the drowning seaman ; on the reverse a laurel wreath, with the inscrip- tion " Royal Naval Temperance Branch, National Temperance League. Insti- 32 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK'. tuted on board H.M.S. Reindeer, i868.' : These medals are presented to men who have had their names on the books for five years in the Service ; those who have continued abstainers ten years receive a medal and a clasp, and a clasp is added for every five years ; so that a man may leave the Service after twenty years with a medal and three clasps. But in all cases the pledge must have been signed in the Service, and kept con- tinuously the only lapse allowed being that of sickness under medical certificate. A small silver medal is presented to those boys who have become teetotalers in the training ships, and who on joining a sea-going ship have continued staunch to their promise, without taking up their grog, for at least twelve months. These ITS PROGRESS. 33 medals, distinguished by their size, are given to stimulate to the steady keeping of the pledge, and are much valued by the men. PLEDGES. With respect to pledge-signing in the Navy, there is a current idea among some persons that if a man takes the pledge and breaks it, he becomes worse than he was before. Such is certainly not Miss Weston's experience among our sailors : the man remembers how happy he was when he had nothing to do with the drink, how much better he got on in the Service, he " is sorry that he broke, and he would like to try again," such is the invariable testimony. The fallen man picks himself up, and 3 34 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. feels that with God's help there are better days in store for him. Many persons also have a great prejudice against the fact of signing a pledge, because, they argue, if broken a solemn oath is violated. Without in any way detracting from thie great importance of the members not only signing, but keep- ing true to the obligation, we maintain that in itself, it is but a record in writing of a promise made in the presence of a witness. Such promises are daily made under different circumstances, and are daily broken. The pledge against drink involves no oath, but a simple promise which a man takes by his own free will, and from which he can release himself, if he so pleases, by giving due notice in writing ; but it is a fact that, ITS PROGRESS. 35 amongst the thousands of cases which have come under Miss Weston's notice, although many under strong temptation have broken the pledge, to their own loss and sorrow, not one per thousand has deliberately resigned ; the testi- mony of the men on this point would fill a volume. "Thank God for the day on which I took the pledge," says one ; " I have become a different man since." " I have been saved for the Service, and for my family," says another. " I broke the pledge more than once," writes a third ; " but I felt that the manly thing to do was in God's strength to try again, and to-day I am a saved man." " On the day I signed the pledge," says another ear- nest worker, " I gave my heart to God." 36 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. We could chronicle the history of num- bers of what Americans would call " re- constructed men," who tell the same story. Some testify to the fact that the pledge, under God, opened a way for the love of Christ in their souls ; others, that they have entered on a career of success and advancement in the Service ; and in various ways God has stamped His mark unmistakably on this simple promise of abstinence. That total abstinence is a sign of weakness, is surely an argument from a wrong standpoint. The philanthropic, chivalrous feeling which leads a man, from love to his fellows, to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who, but for his friendly aid, would go under in the struggle, is certainly ITS PROGRESS. 37 no sign of weak-mindedness. We may call the man, whoever he be, that sets his face against any ruling custom, a reformer, or even a fanatic, but we do not consider him weak because he pulls against the stream instead of with it. When strong drink is clearly seen to be a luxury, and a dangerous luxury, but no necessity of life, when the bearings of the question, nationally and politi- cally, as well as socially, are looked into, and the importance, if not for one's own sake, at any rate for that of others, is felt, of making a clear decided stand, then men in all ranks of life will certainly come to the front in this great battle of right against might, and will show that independence of character and true courage are shown 38 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. better by the manly stand against luxury, than in compliance with an old custom " more honoured in the breach than in the observance." This short sketch of the Royal Naval Temperance Society's work would not be complete without giving a little account of the starting of the Society's organ, the Naval Temperance News. Periodicals, monthly and weekly, are counted by hundreds ; therefore, in issuing the first number of the Naval Temperance News, it is the editor's duty to submit to a little catechising. What good will it do ? Why launch another ship on the troubled waters of newspaper life ? In answer, we would say, the great ITS PROGRESS. 39 necessity of having some regular medium of communication, some bond of union, between the " head centre 1 " and the large body of scattered members con- nected with the Royal Naval Tempe- rance Society, has long been felt. " Our Paper " has therefore met a great want, and been received with open arms and general acclamation. Yearly subscriptions of eighteen penny stamps have come in rapidly and plentifully, and " all hands " have said, " It is just what we wanted." We trust this publica- tion will indeed fulfil its mission : may it be a " missing link " well fitted in, at the right time and in the right way, and do its great and good work for the Society in and out of the Service ! None will for the future be able to write 40 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. reproachfully, and say, " I have heard nothing about what has been going on for months. The Naval Temperance News is to be sent regularly every month to all the ships' committees for sale and free circulation. The list of contents is varied and interesting. The first page gives an en- graving, and there is an interesting account and explanation of it on the other side. Page 3 has Skip News viz., reports of how temperance work is going on on board the different ships where the Society has its branches. This page is filled up by contributions from members only. Page 4 is Latest Intelligence, Home and Foreign, which, no doubt, will be eagerly scanned by those on distant ITS PROGRESS. 4< stations. (Thje Naval Temperance News is registered as a Newspaper.) Page 5 is devoted to Reading Poetry and Recitations for temperance meetings, which will be found very useful for those taking an active part in temperance entertainments, etc., on shore. Page 7 is filled up with the Editor's Post-bag, Chips from an old Block, and List of Ships Committees t Winners of Medals, and the Honour Lists. Thus apparently every want is supplied, and it is hoped it may reach a large and increased circulation among our Blue Jackets of all ranks and ratings, officers and men. The Editor in the first number issued (January 1879) says : "It will and should undoubtedly give a helping hand all 42 ROYAL NA VAL TEMPERANCE WORK. round ; we want it to enable our members to see and know all that we are doing, and we want it to make them feel proud that they belong to the Royal Naval Temperance Society" Any one wishing to have this paper should address Miss WESTON, Sailors' Rest, Devonport. COFFEE CANTEENS. As a counter attraction to the drink, these cannot fail to be a great benefit and advantage to any ship. The long hours between meals which unavoidably occur, must strike any thinking man as very trying to the constitution of any save the most robust. On board H.M.S. Raleigh, when com- manded by Captain Tryon, a canteen on a very large scale without any in- toxicating drink was started, to provide for this need, and thus to benefit the ship's company. The results seem to have been most satisfactory and interest- 46 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. ing, showing how the men benefited physically and morally by the scheme ; drunkenness was lessened, and money which would otherwise have been fool- ishly squandered on shore was directed into channels which could not fail to produce a salutary and beneficial effect upon the men generally : indeed, many of them aver that the Raleigh during that commission was one of the happiest ships' companies in the squadron. It was also noted that for months the sick list on board the Raleigh was lower than that of any other ship on the station, and she also had the name of being the smartest ship in the squadron at drill. It is very eviflent that the large quantity of coffee sold in a day did good and not harm, and the excellent COFFEE CANTEENS. 47 plan of piping all hands down at four bells for a cup of hot fragrant coffee made them smarter aloft, and prevented many a name from figuring on the defaulters' list, although it gained for the Raleigh the soubriquet of the " Coffee Ship." The plan of working appears to have been of the simplest description. Through the kindness of the captain the sum of i$o was advanced; a committee of five, consisting of one representative man from each class viz. one first- class petty officer, one second-class ditto, one able seaman, one corporal of marines, and one marine was selected, with an officer as President, and the paymaster as Treasurer. All bills con- tracted for provisions were paid by him, 48 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. and all money taken daily for the sale of articles was received by him. Before the month had passed, more than the sum kindly lent was realised ; and in six months so large a surplus was in hand that everything was sold below the cost price to get rid of it. Such are the facts : let us now come to the secret of its success. This seems, on careful examination, to be chiefly due to the kind co-operation and help given by the captain arid officers, combined with the choice of a good working committee and general manager : this latter man was told off entirely for this work. The articles in stock were coffee, sugar, jams, potatoes, cheese, preserved lobster, salmon, sardines, etc., and every article except clothing. The difficulty COFFEE CANTEENS. 49 of providing a suitable place was met by the appropriation of a part of the lamp room to the needs of the canteen : this space was temporarily granted for the keeping of the stock, and thus by general consent much good was effected in a very simple way. An advance of 250 or 300 for large ships, and about 150 for smaller ones, is neces- sary to make a good start with. This can be granted temporarily by 'the captain, or raised in i shares from the men, with a promise of 5 per cent, interest on them in three or six months, according to circumstances. Coffee Canteens pure and simple are, as a matter of course, much easier to start and manage. Through the kind- ness of an officer on board H.M.S. Indus 4 50 ROYAL NA VAL TEMPERANCE WORK. we are supplied with the following in- formation respecting one which seems to be doing good work. He states: " This coffee canteen was opened on speculation not to make money, but simply to provide men with coffee who did not care for beer. The apparatus cost about 30^. ; and with milk cans, measures, etc., the total cost was about 5OJ. One man, a marine, is told off to to make the coffee, and issue it in the presence of a committee of three petty officers, who at the close of the even- ing sign a book, showing the amount of coffee, milk and sugar that has been expended, and the number of pints and half-pints that have been issued. The Marine does light duty in the ship, as well as look after the stores, etc. The COFFEE CANTEENS. 51 price charged is \\d. per pint, or id. per half-pint ; and in seven months, after paying all expenses, there was a surplus of from 6 to 7. The usual amount taken daily is from ^s. to $s. The great secret of success is, that the men have a stand-off time of a quarter of an hour between 9 and 10 a.m., at which time a cup of coffee is very acceptable to all hands. It is also to be had in, the evening, although a beer canteen close beside it somewhat interferes with the trade then." The chaplain of H.M.S. Cambridge has elicited the following valuable infor- mation regarding a coffee canteen on board that ship. We cannot do better than give the questions, and his kind answers verbatim : 52 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. 1 . How was the Coffee Canteen started ? " A committee was formed of petty officers of the ship, who undertook to make and sell the coffee ; the accounts and money are kept by an officer." 2. How many men are needed to work it? " As a rule two of the committee are present during the sale of coffee one to serve it, the other to receive and keep accounts of the money. For the actual working of the boiler one man is quite sufficient." 3. How muck money was required to start it ? and what apparatus is neces- sary? "The original boiler cost 2 4^.; a bag of charcoal costs 3^., and lasts about sixty days. Coffee is is. 2d., and sugar 2d. COFFEE CANTEENS. 53 a pound. Nothing was paid for until sufficent money had been made by the sale of coffee. The above is all the apparatus necessary for starting the affair." 4. What are the profits of the concern ? " For the first month the coffee was sold at id. per half-pint ; but this was found to give such a large profit, that the price was reduced to \\d. per pint. In thirteen months the profit has been 60 after all expenses have been paid." 5. How much is sold in a day ? and is a man entirely told off for the work ? " About eighty pints are sold daily. A man is told off to assist the com- mittee in the evening, an A.B. who takes great interest in the work and volunteered his services." 54 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. 6, Is there any special time on board when the men can have their coffee ? " The work on board the Cambridge being of somewhat different character to any of the other ships, the boiler is only lighted up in the evening from six to eight, when the men who are not allowed on shore for night are very glad of it ; but it is so easily set going, that it can be lit two or three times a day if necessary." These coffee canteens, if introduced and worked efficiently under the kind super- vision of one or two of the officers, would undoubtedly not only lessen drunken- ness, but improve the health and tone of the Service generally. The too easy access to the one glass on board, alas ! only too frequently promotes a thirst COFFEE CANTEENS. 55 for the five or six glasses on shore, and Jack comes back off leave, only to be put into the cells or on the black list. Every little done to prevent such sad occurrences cannot fail to be a blessing and help to men who as a class are so easily influenced for good or for evil. mes far TEMPERANCE HOMES FOR SAILORS. HOW CAN THESE BE MADE POPULAR AND SELF-SUPPORTING ? To answer this question practically we must pay a short visit to the Sailors' Rest at Devonport. It is only about twenty steps from the Dockyard gates. The men have just landed from the harbour ships * (about 4.30 p.m.), and one after another give * Numbers of moderate drinkers, as well as men very much addicted to drink, frequent this Institute. 60 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. the swing-door a slight push, and with a friendly nod to the two women behind the counter ask for a cup of coffee and permission to leave their coats and other small parcels they may have, in a safe place until their return ; most of them put down their names for beds for the night. One thing is certain that though the bar is innocent of beer and strong drink, it is none the less popular among the men. Two or three are lounging against the settles, or smoking their pipes on the doorstep, chatting and enjoying them- selves thoroughly ; some more are turning out their pockets and giving loose cash, watch, etc., to the manager to keep for them, and after arming themselves with a hot pasty or two, start off to see some of their friends or go up for a game TEMPERANCE HOMES FOR SAILORS. 61 or a quiet read, etc., in one of the com- fortable rooms upstairs. Some may think that a moderate allowance of beer served to those who desire it would be an advantage and would make the place more useful. None answer this more decidedly than the 0;z-abstaining seamen, who frequent this " Public-house without the drink " in large numbers. The question has frequently been put with the view of eliciting their opinion : Do you think that it would be a good plan if we had beer here in small quantities, so that any man who wished it could have half a pint ? The answer has been most emphatic : " Don't you have it, it would ruin the place it the drink were brought in. We don't want beer when we can get all that's on 62 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. tap here ; besides which there are plenty of public-houses all around us who supply that article without the Sailors' Rest doing it as well." There is no red tape about the place, and yet by kindness and brightness every- thing seems to go on pleasantly and well. About fifteen thousand men use the dormitories yearly ; and by throwing the refreshment bar open to the public, notwithstanding all the heavy expenses of a large Institute the working staff consisting of a manager and seven ser- vants, everything is defrayed, including gas, coals and incidentals of all kinds, out of the takings of the bar, leaving a profit of 120 to .150 to the good nearly 2 per cent, on the original outlay. Another place, on a smaller scale, has TEMPERANCE HOMES FOR SAILORS. 63 been opened opposite the other Dockyard gates at Keyham, called " The Homeward Bound" and will, it is hoped, do even better, having less heavy expenses. Two or three points are essential to ensure success in working a Home of this description for sailors. ist. It should be, in a good situation. This is most important : a few yards round a corner, or on the wrong side of the street, make the greatest difference in every way. 2nd. It should be managed, if possible, by one of themselves : a sailor knows the habits and ways of a sailor, as no one else can. 3rd. A portion of the building should be thrown open not only to the Blue Jacket, but also to the Blue Jacket's wife and 64 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. friends; this, under efficient, firm and kind government, introduces sociability, and makes a man feel at home and yet any licence can be checked. 4th. There must be an absence of stiffness. 5th. Women servants judiciously chosen for tJte purpose, of a suitable age, are very desirable, especially for serving in the bar ; the manager being of course responsible for their conduct. This is easily understood, and found to work very well at the Sailors' Rest. 6th. There should be a monthly Balance- sheet struck by the Secretary or Treasurer, who should keep the books in proper business order. The Manager should bank all the receipts daily, and pay all bills (drawn out in cheques by the Secretary) monthly. A clear idea of the TEMPERANCE HOMES FOR SAILORS. 65 pecuniary state of affairs is thus arrived at at once, before " matters have gone too far" for alteration. /th. The religious and temperance work carried on in the Home should be kept distinct and yet ttnited, conveniently near and yet not interfering with each other. At the " Sailors' Rest " the two are working in perfect harmony ; the result is, the religious work in the Hall and the business and more practical work in the Institute, instead of hindering, have helped each other. The two departments are linked indissolubly together, and yet each has its own time and place ; men are not scared away from the Home by having spiritual subjects forced upon them at untimely seasons and unsuitable occasions, and yet the Hall close by, 5 66 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. with its bright meetings and plenty of music, acts as a powerful magnet, and the spiritual and temperance work done among the men has been very satisfactory. A small gallery which the men can enter and leave without being seen is a great addition : many Nicodemuses are thus got hold of, who would never attend a meeting in a more conspicuous way. In the bar there is always a pledge-book near at hand, pleasant cheery words are spoken by those in attendance, and many a man takes up the pen and quite volun- tarily signs the pledge, which afterwards leads to his attending the meetings in the Hall, and seeking higher and better things altogether. Numbers of instances of this kind could be given, but space forbids. TEMPERANCE HOMES FOR SAILORS. 67 We will briefly, for the help and guid- dance of any who may be thinking of starting a Temperance Home for Sailors, suppose ourselves in such a position. What would be the best course for us to pursue ? We should naturally answer that the first thing to be done would be to get together, either by shares or voluntary contributions, a sufficient sum of money to furnish and fit up a tolerably large- sized house. .800 at the outside ;iooo would be ample for this. 500 ought to be sufficient for a small Home, unless a very large number of beds are required. The next step would be to obtain a first-rate situation in the main thorough- fare, where all the men must pass and 68 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. repass in coming from and going back to their ships. This being settled upon, and a lease obtained, it would be wise at once to look about for a good manager a sailor, if possible, blessed with plenty of common sense, a total abstainer and religious man. He should be a good- tempered man, have a good practical business head on his shoulders, be cleanly in his habits and pleasant in his manners. If he has a wife, unless she would be a desirable and useful assistant to him, it is better she should not live on the premises, but somewhere near, especially if he has children. The next undertaking would be to fit up the Home as brightly and cheerfully as possible. There should be A Refreshment Bar on the ground- TEMPERANCE HOMES FOR SAILORS. 69 floor, so that the men could with a push of the arm enter it from the street. A Smoking Room or Bar Parlour at the back, where they could sit and read and chat whilst partaking of refreshment. No smoking should be allowed in the Bar. A Reading and Recreation Room, with all kinds of secular and religious peri- odicals, such as Leisure Hour, Sunday at Home, Illustrated London News, Penny Illustrated Paper, British Workman, Band of Hope Revieiv, Cottager and Artisan, Friendly Visitor, Boys' Own Paper, and any of the daily papers ; Punch, Fun, etc., etc., etc. A General Room, where the men could receive their friends. A Manager's Room, Servants' Rooms. 70 ROYAL NAVAL TEMPERANCE WORK. Six or twelve Double-bedded Rooms (with two single beds in each), for general sleeping accommodation. Plenty of pictures and looking-glasses should not be forgotten. Gas at night should not be stinted, especially after the public-houses shut up ; and every- thing should be made to look as bright and nice as possible. The Bar furniture should include copper tea and coffee urns, hot closets for dinners, pretty glass dishes, etc., etc., for the counter and windows, which should always be kept shining and brilliant, and comfortable settles or seats, etc. The kitchen should possess a good range, with steam appliances ; and the dormitories good beds and bedding (strong spring mattresses with a small hair mat- TEMPERANCE HOMES FOR SAILORS. 71 tress on the top are the most durable). The smoking room should only require a few long wooden benches. The day being fixed, and the opening announced by bills, placards, and adver- tisements in the local papers, the great event should be celebrated by as large a gathering of those interested in the undertaking as possible. We thus see the ship equipped and launched : it remains with those to whom the work is entrusted to make it tho- roughly popular and self-supporting. Hazell, Watson, and Viney, Printers, London and Aylesbury. BY THE SAME AUTHOR. Fourth. Thousand. Crown 8vo, cloth. Price 35. 6