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42
The Marine Society of the City of New York, 1770-1995: A Concise History , by Gerald J. Barry, foreword by Walter Cronkite (One Hundred Year Association and Sea History Press, New York NY , 1995, 96pp, illus, appen, biblio, index; $17.50hc) A story of worldwide sweep and consequence in small compass, this lively work brings the reader close to the realities of the changing times of the last 225 years of sea captains' experience sailing from New York. In fact, this gem of a book covers virtually all the leading currents and outstanding events and personalities that shaped the history of New York port-and thereby the nation. As Walter Cronkite, an honorary member of the Marine Society, observed in his foreword, "New York sea captains have written illustrious chapters in this continuing saga of a ci ty built from the sea." And that pivotal fact gave Mr. Barry, commissioned by the Marine Society to write its brief history on its 225th anniversary , a grand opportunity to tell the story of the port through the history of its honor society of sea captains. And what a story it is, from buccaneering privateers of the American Revolution and War of 1812 to the dedicated skippers, some of them leaders in the Society today , who shipped out to help keep America's strength pouring down the arteries of ocean traffic in World War II. In the process, they suffered higher casualties than the US Navy, whose men went out in ships designed to fight the war, rather than slow , vulnerable freighters carrying the victuals, munitions and troops in their holds that produced the victory. We were impressed by this slender, abundantly illustrated volume, with its abundant anecdote and sound insights, when it was submitted to us for review in the course of publication. NMHS therefore stepped forward to help market the book through our Sea History Press. Otherwise it would have had only the most limited "insider" circulation. It could be considered technically improper for me to be reviewing thi s work, since we are now involved in its distribution. But I am not letting this stand in the way of commending this brief, authentic and lively narrative to anyone who wants to understand how New York became the world capital of international trade. It was a matter of these ships, you see-and of the men , masters of their trade, and riders of the tides of hi story,
who drove them. For one who knows this story well , this slim volume will be a refresher course-and it is written in a manner to refresh and challenge one's thinking-and for those who do not, it is the best brief introduction to New York's relation to the sea that this reviewer knows. PETER STANFORD
Anchored Within the Vail: A Pictorial History of the Seamen's Church Institute, by Leah Robinson Rousmaniere (The Seamen 's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, New York NY , 1995, l 35pp, photos, illus, biblio, notes, ISBN 0-9643657-0-7; $18pb) This handsome volume provides an institutional history of the most influential church-related service organization for seamen in the United States. The Seamen's Church Institute, founded in New York City in 1843, was part of that revival of religious enthusiasm known as "the Second Great Awakening." However, a commitment to practical assistance and a canny willingness to adapt to changing conditions are continuing themes in the hi story of the SCI. Attempts by church groups in other ports to ameliorate the condition of seamen foundered because their pompous religiosity failed to establish rapport with the seamen. From the beginning, practical assistance to sai lors was central to SCI's religious ministry . SCl's ministry soon expanded beyond that ofa Seamen 's bethel, although its first headquarters (1844), a floating church built on the hull of an abandoned ferry, provided an easily identified and centrally located waterfront focus that continued after SCI "came ashore" in 1868. Perceiving the need for clean, secure, and affordable lodging, safe from crimps and other waterfront predators, SCI provided accommodation for seamen ( 1851) and a rudimentary banking service (1852), which would spin off as the Seamen's Bank for Savings. These were followed by an employment bureau for seamen, a mail receiving and forwarding service, an "office ofintelligence" where seamen could obtain reliable information on world events, and a finding service for lost or missing seamen. Of more enduring importance were the SCI-sponsored Seamen ' s Service of the Legal Aid Society, and active lobbying efforts advocating a series of maritime reform bills. During World War I, SCI inaugurated its Navigation and Marine Engineering School to prepare seamen for SEA HISTORY 74, SUMMER 1995