MYFBS, MAY(R - the Digital Library of Georgia

MAYOR'S ANNUAL REPORT.SAVANNAH PORT SOCIETY.SAVANNAH, GA., February 6, 1902.Hon. Herman Myers, Mayor, Savannah, Ga.:DEAR SIB—I beg to submit some facts relative tothe Savannah Port Society, based mainly upon thereport of our Superintendent and Chaplain.This Society was incorporated by the Legislatureof the State in 1843, the object stated being the"temporal, moral and religious improvement of seamenfrequenting the port of Savannah."During the year preceding his last report Mr. Iversonheld 180 religious meetings, half of them in,theScandinavian language. The average attendance atthese meetings, including the regular prayer meetings,was 38. He made 623 visits to vessels lookingafter the seamen, distributing reading matter, and 48visits to the hospitals. He held also 24 temperancemeetings and secured the pledge of 76 seamen tototal abstinence. He sent $885.55 for seamen totheir homes, and placed in the bank for safe-keepingfor the seamen $695. The reading rooms were openall the year, have been well supplied with readingmatter and made comfortable. Every Saturday nightthere is a meeting in charge of the ladies of the differentchurches held at the Bethel, and at thesemeetings, after simple religious services, the seamenare given a slight collation, the ladies waiting onthem personally.In the dormitory, in addition to the crews of theOcean Steamship Company, which were there for