The lectern was gifted by Mary Georgina Howard Northcote in December 1907 for the Siddeley Street mission (see Annual Report 1907: list of gifts for the new institute page 8). It was moved to the St Peter Chapel, Flinders Street, and has been in use ever since. Mary nee Reynell in Cheltenham, England, was the wife of Edward Northcote, ex master mariner and general manager of the Adelaide Steamship Company between 1899 and 1926, before his death on 4 November 1926. Edward Northcote was the cousin of Henry Stafford Northcote, Governor General of Australia (1904-1908). Lord Northcote laid the stone of the Siddeley Street Seamen's Institute on Tuesday 5 February 1907. Mary died in December 1932, in her will she made a donation of £25 to the Mission. As it was moved to the St Peter chapel when the Flinders Street Mission opened, it was added to the 1917 list of gifts.The Mission to Seafarers Victoria has been in operation for over 150 years in Victoria although experiencing many name and location changes. Support and patronage by Governors general and State governors was key to official recognition of the work of the Mission.The current site at 717 Flinders Street is the most enduring and many artefacts from previous locations have been relocated to this site. This lectern underscores the relationship between the Mission and notable Victorians.The head of the lectern is supported by three wooden cross sections each engraved with a criss-crossing leaf pattern. The legs of lectern have a similarly carved decorative panel forming an arched shape. Each corner of the panel has gum leafs and nuts carved into it. The foot of the lectern is less ornate although there are three decorated wooden panels mimicking those supporting the head.Brass plaque on lectern: FOR THE GLORY OF GOD/THIS LECTERN/WAS PRESENTED BY/MARY HOWARD NORTHCOTE/DECEMBER 1907religion, lectern, australia-wharf, mary georgina howard northcote nee reynell, edward northcote (1854-1926), adelaide steamship company, henry stafford northcote (1846-1911) g.c.m.g, mission to seafarers, seamen's mission, mission to seamen, flinders street, yarra river, siddeley street, heritage listed, gifts-1917

The book was used as a visitors book for the early Mission to Seafarers. The first date in the book is the 13th of December, 1907, although there are almost six pages of signatures before this. The last signature is dated the 28th of June, 1951. The book documents some of the most significant moments of the Central Institute: - the Opening Ceremony of the "new" Mission to Seafarers building in September 1917. - the signature of HRH Edward, then Prince of Wales, and a newspaper clipping, detailing his visit, during has Australian tour in 1920. - the visit by the Governors General including HRH the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in 1945. Also registered: the Australian Chaplains conference attendees of both 1936 and 1949. Many supporters, ladies from the Guild and seafarers signed the book.The book is a significant record of VIP visitors to the Mission to Seafarers 1907 to 1951. It records respective Opening Ceremonies for Mission Buildings of both 1907 and 1917 and attendees. The book also documents a visit from Edward, Prince of Wales in 1920, travelling on the H.M.S "Renown". Significant national and international visitors throughout the first half of the 20th Century range from the royal, Vice regal and political through to international Members of the Mission to Seafarers, participants in diocesan conferences and AGMs.Printed in gold on the front cover: VISITORS; First name registered and handwritten: "Northcote" in black ink ; Last name entered "Paul Morra"signatures, handwriting, 1907-1951, h.m.s-renown, duke of gloucester, chaplain conferences, catherine florence aviss nee frampton, martin frampton, elizabeth frampton, herbert aviss, prince of wales, duchess of gloucester, seafarers, sailors, seamen, prince edward, opening ceremony, edward northcote (1854-1926)