The re-drafting of the constitution set out by the British Mission to Seamen coincides with the centenary of establishment of the 1856 Mission in London. This pamphlet appears to have been received by someone who was offered a Life membership in 1957.6 pages of text pamphlet outlining a brief history and outcome of a Special meeting of members at Buckingham Palace gardens 16th May 1956, that is a redesigned Constitution of the Mission to Seamen. Designed to include non-British based Mission representatives. Blue print on white paper throughout with Mission flag at head of first page.in handwriting top edge in blue ink : " Rev'd with letter re Life Membership / May 1957constitutions, mission to seamen, london, the flying angel mission

St Michael Paternoster Royal accommodates the offices of the central Mission to Seafarers in LondonColour photograph depicting the Missions to Seamen flag in St Michael Paternoster Royal, Londonst michael paternoster royal, london-uk, mission to seafarers, pat dann

Flag of dark blue rectangle with white writing 'The Missions To Seamen' & flying angel imageflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, the missions to seamen, flag

This book, The Australian Psalter, was part of the furniture and furnishings from the St Nicholas Church, Williamstown. It was used in the worship service there until the church closed. The items from the church and the Missions to Seamen were then donated to Flagstaff Hill and are known as the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Collection. The publisher, Novello & Co., of London, published the book in 1903. One reference noted that "It was printed in response to a desire expressed by the Diocesan Synod of Sydney in 1903" (National Library of Australia Catalogue). THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN (Brief History: for more, see our Reg. No. 611, Set of Pews) The Missions to Seamen was an Anglican charity that served seafarers of the world since 1856 in Great Britain. It symbol is a Flying Angel, inspired by a Bible verse. Today there are centres in over 200 ports worldwide where seamen of all backgrounds are offered a warm welcome and provided with a wide range of facilities. In Victoria, the organisation began in Williamstown in 1857 as a Sailors’ Church, also known as ‘Bethel’ or the ‘Floating Church’ in an old hulk floating in Hobson’s Bay, Port of Melbourne. It soon became part of the Missions to Seamen, Victoria. In the year 2000 the organisation, now named Mission to Seafarers, still operated locally in Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings. The Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild was formed in 1906 to support the Missions to Seamen in Melbourne and other centres such as Williamstown. Two of the most significant ladies of the Guild were founder Ethel Augusta Godfrey and foundation member Alice Sibthorpe Tracy (who established a branch of the Guild in Warrnambool in 1920). The Guild continued its work until the 1960s. In 1943 a former Williamstown bank was purchased for the Missions to Seaman Club. The chapel was named St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church and was supported by the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, the Williamstown Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary and the League of Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Friends. It ceased operation in 1966. A Missions to Seamen Chapel and Recreation Room was a significant feature of ports during the late 1800s and into the 1900s. It seemed appropriate for Flagstaff Hill to include such a representation within the new Maritime Village, so the Melbourne Board of Management of Missions to Seamen Victoria gave its permission on 21st May 1979 for the entire furnishings of the Williamstown chapel to be transferred to Flagstaff Hill. The St Nicholas Seamen’s Church was officially opened on October 11, 1981, and closely resembles the Williamstown chapel. The Australian Psalter is historically significant for its connection to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary, an organisation of women, formed to support seafarers. It is an important part to the worship services held at the St Nicholas Seamen's Church in Williamstown. This book is significant historically for its origin in the St Nicholas Mission to Seamen's Church in Williamstown, established in 1857 to cater for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of seafarers. It originated in Bristol, England when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The connection of this book to the Mission to Seamen and to the Ladies Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary highlights the strong community awareness of the life of people at sea, their dangers and hardships, and their need for physical, financial, spiritual and moral support. The Book, The Australian Psalter, was published by Novello and Company, London. Blue fabric-covered book with gold-embossed text, two bands of seven stars, and an emblem of the sun surrounded by stars on the front cover. The book contains the Psalms of David and the Canticles and Proper Psalms Pointed for Chanting. It is stamped with the library stamp Missions and Seamen, Melbourne. The book is now part of the St Nicholas Seamen's Church Collection.Embossed text: "THE / AUSTRALIAN / PSALTER" Emblem: [six stars] around [sun] Stamp: "From the Missions to Seamen Melbourne"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, religion, religious service, st nicholas seamen’s church, williamstown, missions to seamen victoria, psalter, hymn book, worship service, songs of worship, novello & co. london, worship music, the australian psalter

The Mission accommodated seamen from all nationalities from the earliest days of operation. Asian seafarers are recorded visiting the Mission from the late 19th C. onwards. The first Chinese chaplain to be appointed was Rev Steven Wong who moved to Melbourne in the 1960s. Rev Wong served from 1963-1966 and according to his sons helped design these information brochures. Images of Rev'd Wong are included in the VC Database. The pamphlet gives days and times of activities such as dances and films and chapel services. The Chinese writing was made by Reverend Stephen WongA rare surviving period example of a non-english speaking flyer on information about the Mission to Seafarers Victoria Commercially printed paper single fold flyer providing directions and information to the Central Club, Missions to Seamen at Flinders St extension, in Mandarin. Contains a drawing of the central mission and a map of Docklands.In English: CENTRAL CLUB/THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN, FLINDERS STREET EXTENSION, MELBOURNE C.3 In Mandarin: Translation (from Google translate): date and time of services / date and time for dances, movie sessions, teareverend stephen wong, mandarin, chinese, asian, reverend perry mitchinson

Reverend Howard Sinclair Bailey and his wife left the South Shields Seamen's Mission, England, to work in Melbourne to replace Reverend John Reginald Weller who had left in January 1929 to work as Superintendant in London. Reverend Bailey arrived in May 1929 on the ship Cathay. He had been working in South Shields for two years. During WWI, he was on active service with the Australian troops in Egypt and Palestine. The article was found loose in the fan album dating 1928.The article relates to one of the chaplains who have worked at the Melbourne Mission.Newspaper article with photographreverend howard sinclair bailey, south shields, england, 1929