Then on the four Sundays the ship was in harbour, Captain W. H. White most graciously invited members of the community to attend Divine Service each morning, and; rovided boats to take us to and fro, an invitation readily availed of by a very fair number of people, and much appreciated. Lest anyone, ignorant of.the conditions of life at this port, should think that ordinarily we have no Sunday Services, Jet me hasten to say that we have Services in our Union Church every Sunday evening, from 6 o'clock, conducted by the resident missionaries. We are also favoured by the visit of a Port Chaplain every month, who holds one or two, or more, Church of England Services in the mornings at the same Church.
But as the Church was still in the hands of the builders, owing to the ravages of white ants, when IS. Ocean came in, the privilege of joining our fellow-countrymen in public worship on board ship was thoroughly appreciated by us. Lest it should be thought, however, that all the hospitality was on one side, I must add that all sections of our community have vied with each other in trying to make the stay of our gallant defenders as happy as possible. "Cricket, foot ba tennis, hockey, have found many votaries and have been much patronised, while there has been a good deal of private hospitality at the houses of the various residents. Neither have the sailors been neglected, for every effort has been made at our Sailors' Home to make their stay on shore pleasant and enjoyable. I must not forget to mention also, that on 17th January, the "Ocean Minstrel Troupe Variety Company gave a very enjoyable concert in aid of the Amoy Chinese Hospital, to a full audience. Altogether we were very sorry when orders came that she was to leave us, and we could but wish her a bon voyage," and hope she may some day return to this port to ce us to renew the many friendships made.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.