Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1940, Blaðsíða 211

THE NORWEGIAN SEAMEN’S MISSION
205
Seamen’s Mission takes its share in relieving the social evils from
which practically every seaport is suffering. Co-operating with
mfluential men and institutions whose aim it is to relieve con-
spicuous defects, the workers of the Seamen’s Mission have in the
course of years done social work of the greatest value, not only
for their countrymen but also for the ports and communities in
which the Mission carries on its activities. It was not without
reason, therefore, that an old engineer could say after having vi-
sited the greater number of the world’s most frequented ports:
“There is a considerable difference between the ports in which
the Seamen’s Mission works and those where there are no churches
for seamen.” The authorities in most countries are thoroughly
alive to this fact, and therefore they usually look with sympathy
on the activities of the Mission. —
Of much greater importance than that which can be done for
the comparatively few who for some reason or other have come
to live on the seamy side is the work for bringing brightness and
variation into the common seamen’s daily life ashore.
There is in the first place the reading-room. It should be
spacious, comfortable, warm, and clean like a nice sitting-room
at home. A good selection of newspapers from the seamen’s home
town will find eager readers among those who are anxious to
learn the latest news from home. Various games such as chess,
draughts, ludo, etc. are at the disposal of those who like this kind
of relaxation. Nice writing tables invite them to send a letter
to those at home. In comfortable chairs in a cozy corner they may
sit at ease, smoking their pipes and discussing the most vital
problems of the day with the chaplain, his assistant or acquaint-
ances from other boats or friends ashore. Over a steaming hot
cup of coffee and waffles, such as his wife or mother makes them
at home, they may revive the memories of bygone days. Or po-
pular lectures or an interesting weekly summary of events without
any political colouring, absorbs the attention of the visitors. Some
of them have, perhaps, been in the midst of the very incidents
described. Now they will see them in a wider connection. The
whole program, conversation, singing and music intend to create
a much appreciated home atmosphere, giving the seamen new
impressions, nourishing good intentions, turning their thoughts to
new problems, or throwing new light on old ones ....
But the friendship which started onboard and was further
developed in the reading-room brings fresh tasks to the Mission