Genealogy Chat

Seamen's Missions: Their Origin and Early Growth, by Roald Kverndal, William Carey Library, Pasadena, Calif., 610 pp., plus 292 pp. of notes, appendices, indices, bibliographies, etc. $29.95 retail, $25.50 discount. Reviewed by John Holzmann, staff member with Caleb Project. 'Any attempt to evangelize... seamen [in the early 19th century had] to contend with two particular forms of public prejudice. Many, not least in evangelical ranks, saw seamen as totally irredeemable; having been beyond the pale of church and society for centuries, they were now, as a class, considered to be utterly impervious to spiritual or moral impressions. Others... held that a converted sailor would, by definition, make an inferior sailor; anything more than lip-service to religion would simply soften the 'hardy tar.''--- Seamen's Missions, p. 51. Roald Kverndal's Seamen's Missions is the fascinating story of the development of Christian ministries to seamen. Focused primarily on British activities, but highlighting the early development of missions to seafarers in North America as well, Seamen's Missions takes readers from the time of the early Church on through the heady seamen's mission start-up years of the mid-19th century. Along the way, we're also treated to a view of the social, spiritual and historical roots of significant movements in the Christian church (the international Bible societies and tract distribution, for instance) and of changes in society at large. For a book that began as a doctoral dissertation, Seamen's Missions is surprisingly easy to read ('only' a 12th grade reading difficulty) and profusely illustrated (close to 200 photographs, woodcuts, and other illustrations). Still, people who are unversed in (especially British) naval terminology will have a difficult time with many passages. This reader, anyway, would have appreciated a 'ready reference' card that explained what, for instance, a '74' is, or the difference (or similarity) between a 'Jack' and a 'Tar.' With a simple two- or three-page glossary, the book could have been made more accessible to a far broader audience. The Naval Journal overstates the case when it comments that Seamen's Missions holds 'surprises on every page.' But there are still enough surprises and points of interest in the book to hold the attention of 'most any serious student of Christian history. As far as this reader is concerned, one of the more inspiring sub-themes Kverndal develops is the interplay of social and spiritual ministry among our evangelical forebears. As he puts it, '[T]he dawn of organized seamen's missions was heralded by ministry to the seafarer's social needs to be followed... by a ministry to his spiritual needs--- not vice versa' (pp. 50-51).In describing the social conscience and resultant ministries of evangelicals 150 years ago, Kverndal gave me insights into my evangelical heritage, insights my teachers--- both secular and spiritual--- either never knew or were pleased to overlook. Highly recommended not only for students of naval history (for them it is required reading), but also for those concerned with social and moral reform today. Gives hope that God's cause--- righteousness and justice--- can win over immorality and injustice.

The priest?/Vicar?

hi, does anyone know what a missionary to seamen did? my ancestor was one in liverpool, lancashire in the 19th century. thanks, Sharmala