Seamen's Christian Friend Society. Office, 237, Commercial-road, E.; institution, 215 and 216, St. George-street.- This society, which is described as being "unsectarian in its constitution, comprehending all denominations of Christians, has for its object the improvement of the spiritual, moral, and social condition of seamen." The means employed are the establishment and maintenance of bethels, free reading-rooms, libraries, and schools; the employment of missionaries religious services, lectures, meetings, distribution of the scriptures, &c. The operations of the society are not confined to the Port of London.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of the Thames, 1881