an overflowing humanity, permeated with much of Christ. A little of that sense which is called common, and tact which is perhaps not so common ! And that editorial intuition which leads to wisely receive or reject, which is said to be the common privilege of those fair fingers which write poetry. All this, to say nothing of making it PAY, and much more are needed; but who is sufficient for these things? Gratitude, then, to all our missionaries and merchants, subscribers and sellers, readers and writers, preachers and poets, friends and foes, who have rendered any needed help. We invite you all to sign articles for 1882. Chart and Compass has the grandest mission of any Magazine afloat. Because it is for the best interest of the most magnificent marine the world ever saw. This Marine is the product of a Divine purpose, prophecy, providence, and power which is to inaugurate the Messiah's universal reign. Commerce is to be Tyre's fair daughter for Zion's King. When the "abundance of the sea” is converted, then, but not till then, the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in. All the refreshing showers of the land come from the sea. So, in the spiritual, the sea is to be yet married, by the golden ring of commerce, to Him who walked its waves. Chart and Compass will be to many a Carmel-a mount of vision from which they will "look toward the sea." Go up Now, even seven times, till you see the propitious and prophetic cloud. EDWARD W. MATTHEWS, Editor. Sailors' Institute, Shadwell, London, E. The Volume for 1881, with its clear printing, handsome binding, many illustrations, and varied information on all things pertaining to Christian life on the ocean wave, will make a splendid gift book both for girl or woman, boy or man; and all post-free for FIVE SHILLINGS. Dear Friend,-Send up your subscription for 1882, and get others to do the same. In a great undertaking of this kind we must depend upon those interested in the sea and seamen to help us. See that no other crafts take the wind out of our (sails) SALES! You can also send out free copies. E. W. M. LIFE IS A YOYAGE, THEN NAVIGATE IT WELL. PRAISE is the key-note of this January number. Praise in the beginning, praise in the middle, and praise in the end. Yes, we do thank God for all the help and favour which have attended this Magazine effort, to give light and save life. Friends have arisen in unexpected quarters to float and sail this Mission ship. To the missionaries of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, and their families, to the many helpers and readers, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. PRAYER in this life must follow praise. At this festive time let every loyal heart pray for the disturbed parts of his country. Around cheerful fires we ought to remember in prayer the miners, on whom leap the fearful fire-damp. Above all, do pray for the sailors. As will be seen elsewhere, our brother missionary, Mr. Jones, at Genoa, fell, one dark night, twenty-four feet into a steamboat's hold; let us pray for any brother who thus specially needs our sympathy. Mr. J. W. Janson, who prepares "Sunday Thoughts," suggests that we should, every Sunday morning, specially pray for "Chart and Compass." For the above suitable picture were a indebted to Mr. Strange, of the Wesleyan Book-Room. Our old heading did not commend itself to his true sailor instincts, so he designed the above. All our readers will join us in thanking him for it. Look at the captain; so ought we to daily prick off the chart of our soul. Look at the sailor, with firm grip of the wheel, and his eyes on the compass card; so ought we to steer life's dangerous sea. Look at the ship; the anchor is weighed, the tug is alongside, so let us start for JANUARY, 1881. VOL. III. INTRODUCTION TO OUR SAILORS' HYMN-BOOK. HE Directors of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society requested the Editor to prepare a new edition of their Sailors' Hymn-book. The first Sailor's Hymn-book was the outcome of a great religious awakening among the sailors in the early part of the nineteenth century, and which culminated in the establishment of this Society. For this first Sailors' Hymn-book, James Montgomery, who, perhaps, of all hymn writers during this century, best strung and tuned David's harp, wrote the following letter, June 19th, 1821 "An application having been made to me, by post, to contribute a few pieces to an intended hymn-book for sailors, I send you the annexed, and shall feel myself enriched if these mites, thrown into so worthy a treasury, be accepted for the use of a class of men to whom we are so much indebted, and to whom we have paid so little for hazarding body and soul in the defence, or to promote the glory, aggrandisement, and wealth of their country." Sailors sing, not only in their recreation, but when they heave the anchor and hoist the sail; in fact, their song is proverbial. As their life is full of tempest, hardship, danger, and hair-breadth escapes, and their spiritual life correspondingly real, these unique experiences often find expression in sacred song. From the first Sailors' Hymn-book, edited by the Rev. G. C. Smith in 1822, to the one just issued from the press, the Directors have attempted to meet this want by publishing, from time to time, several editions. It will be seen that the Editor has gleaned and winnowed some of the choicest wheat from the great harvest of song. While it is not possible for such a small garner to hold all the golden grain from so many shores, yet it is not too much to say that more sailor hymns are gathered here than were ever collected in one book before. Every hymn may not be of standard value, but we have aimed at the useful rather than the classical. More hymns might have been given in the allotted space, had we not shunned the dangerous principles of abbreviation and alteration. The book is divided into three parts. The first, contains hymns particularly suitable to a sailor's life; the second, general hymns upon the highest themes; and the third, miscellaneous, with some popular hymns which are much used to-day by the sailors. Every man has his favourite hymns, but he must not expect to find them all in such a small book. There are enough sailor hymns to justify the title "Sailors' Hymn-book;" but even these are so symbolical and spiritual, that they can be used with profit, even by those who have never seen the sea. A few hymns learnt in childhood have been purposely included (partly for families at sea), as, in after life, they bring back sacred memories, which are often much INTRODUCTION TO OUR SAILORS' HYMN-BOOK. blessed to MEN. Even the great Dr. Guthrie, when dying, said, Sing me the bairn's hymn." 3 To encourage devotional reading of the Scriptures and religious sermons afloat, there are added a few suggestions and short suitable prayers (which might be helpful to some), written expressly for this book by the Archbishop of Canterbury,* the Earl of Aberdeen, Miss Marsh (author of "Hedley Vicars"), Mr. J. W. Janson, and the Rev. E. W. Matthews. Grateful acknowledgments are respectfully tendered, to the above; to the Rev. George Wilkins, Capt. T. Davies, and others, who have rendered valuable assistance; he proprietors of "Hymns, Ancient and Modern," for permission to use their hymns, as also Thomas Richardson and Sons, for the use of the Rev. F. W. Faber's hymns; J. T. Hayes, Esq., for the use of "Ancient Latin and Greek Hymns," by the late Rev. Dr. J. Mason Neale; Congregational Union; Religious Tract Society; Messrs. Morgan and Scott, for several hymns from "Sacred Songs and Solos; Mrs. A. R. Cousin ("Immanuel's Land," Nisbet and Co.); to our esteemed treasurer's niece (Kate Hankey), for "The Old, Old Story," and also to the following writers: and if, through inability to obtain addresses, or through inadvertence, the Editor has not communicated with living authors, their kind indulgence is requested :-Revs. C. H. Spurgeon, E. E. Jenkins, J. H. Newman, David Thomas, H. Bonar, E. H. Bickersteth, R. H. Baynes, Hyde W. Beaden, Godfrey Thring, Frederick Whitfield, W. Mercer, S. Baring Gould, E. H. Jackson, J. Denham Smith, E. Hopper, George Duffield, Theo. Mono, R. Lowry, Professor J. S. Blackie, George Rawson, and W. R. Buck; also to the following ladies-Mrs. Elizabeth Charles Lynch, Elizabeth Codner, Fanny Crosby, H. B. Stowe, M. Stockton, Amelia M. Hull, Mary Leslie, Susie G. Matthews, Lynch, and Campbell. The Directors trust that this edition of ten thousand copies will soon be bought up; that it will deepen and extend the religious life of those who go down to the sea, so that tens of thousands will sing unto the Lord a new song. It was suggested to Mrs. A. R. Cousin, by the Editor, that thousands of our seamen meet every year a watery grave, and that a hymn, embodying in each verse the dying words of Stephen (Acts vii.), "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," would be very appropriate for this Hymn-book. The beautiful hymn which she has written (No. ) receives additional emphasis from the fact, that last August her own son was drowned; and, like so many mothers in these islands, she says, "I have realised it all." But we close our preface with the hopeful lines of Baxter; commending this little book to thousands of God-fearing seamen, and to their Divine Pilot, who once slept in the storm, walked on the seas, subdued their fury, and saved His affrighted disciples. "As for my friends, they are not lost: EDWARD W. MATTHEWS, Secretary and Editor. British and Foreign Sailors' Society,, Sailors' Institute, Shadwell, London, E. January 1st, 1881. * The printer is now only waiting for the Archbishop's prayer. THE LOSS OF THE KENT. Y dear old grandfather who was the first officer on board an the loss of the Kent. I have heard of one's hair standing up and blood running with lightning-speed through the veins, but whether mine did or not, the impressive reading of this book, by an old sailor, produced the most vivid impressions, which cannot but be eternal. Little did I ever dream that I should see the distinguished writer, who is now known as General Sir Duncan Macgregor, K.C.B. “Is the old man yet alive?" yes, and a grand old man he is. Not only a Queen's soldier but one of God's noblemen. It was a great pleasure to see the writer of the loss of the Kent. "Though ninety-four years of age, there is the fire of the British Soldier in him yet, and the living faith, of a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He may yet live many years for he retains, not only his noble face and presence, but considerable mental and physical vitality. Not only does he enjoy talking of the great men and stirring scenes of the past, but when his only little grand-daughter comes tripping in to pay her daily visit to grandpapa, he as warmly enters into her pleasures. Suppose the old general who joined the army in the last century, were to invite to a drawing room meeting, all those who were on board of that burning Kent; and the little Cambria, I am sure he could find chairs in his drawing room to seat all who are still living! Though spared from the wreck yet all must die. 66 Why, now write about the loss of the Kent? Because a new edition with additions" and the old graphic engravings has just been published by the Religious Tract Society? Who are the additions by? By baby Macgregor who was the first to reach the "Cambria" from that fearful wreck. Twenty-three days after this baby was tossed inio the strong arms of a sailor, on board the "Cambria," he was in the arms of none other than the celebrated Hannah More. I saw the dear little shoes, now sacredly kept, made by those blessed fingers. "To Master John Macgregor, with a pair of shoes of my own knitting. May a third better life thy spirit meet; E'en life Eternal at thy Saviour's feet." May 23rd, 1825. HANNAH MORE, Berley Wood. This prayer has been answered, and this little bundle of energy, none the less restless because of his Biscay Cradle experience, has become, what is the highest on earth and the most glorious in heaven, Christ's servant. This daring young first-born, of Rob Roy |