Charity Fête Program - SS Suffren - 24 October 1927

Front Cover, Program of the Charity Fête for the Benefit of Several Benevolent Institutions, 24 October 1927. GGA Image ID # 20ac7aecfa

Title Page, Charity Fête Program, SS Suffren of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique / French Line (CGT), 24 October 1927. GGA Image ID # 20ae18f2db

The Program of the Charity Fête Is to Be Held on Board for the Benefit of Several Benevolent Institutions, of Which CGT-French Line Is a Patron. GGA Image ID # 20ad342903

To Be Held on Board

for the benefit of the Several Benevolent Institutions of which the " Compagnie Générale Transatlantique is Patron

The principal benevolent institutions of which the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique is Patron are :

• The Central Lifeboat Society.
• The Marine Welfare Society.
• The Society for Aid To Families Of French Shipwrecked Mariners;
• The "Transatlantique" Maternity Fund

The Central Lifeboat Society. People in Lifeboat Being Tossed About by Large Waves. A Vessel Is Visible in the Background. Illustration by Jean Droit. GGA Image ID # 20ad5552b7

The object of this society, founded in 1865, recognized at a work of public utility is to help mariners shipwrecked on the French coast, to propagate the necessary know edge for saving ships in distress and to study the causes of marine casualties and the necessary measures for their prevention.

With this object in view, it has created and now maintains lifeboat stations at all the useful points along the coast, assuring their upkeep and the supply of crews. At points where a lifeboat cannot be installed, other simple apparatus are provided.

It dispenses rewards to those who have distinguished themselves by acts of courage and heroism on the sea, and renders assistance to their dependents in the case of need.

The Central Lifeboat Society maintains 109 lifeboat stations, 22 of which are fitted with powerful motor lifeboats, 72 Rocket signal and alarm gun stations, for lifelines, 350 stations fitted with lifeline throwing guns and other apparatus.

Since its foundation up to the 15th of December 1925, 1,751 ships in distress have been helped by the Society, and 20,624 lives were saved.

With the exception of small official grants the sole resources of the society consist of benevolent contributions.

For this reason it makes a special appeal for public support. The extension of its services depends entirely upon increased contributions.

The Marine Welfare Society. Three People in a Row Boat in the Foreground With a Steamship in the Background. Illustration by Jean Droit. GGA Image ID # 20ad730043

The Société des Œuvres de Mer, founded in 1894, is chiefly concerned with furnishing medical, moral and religious help to sailors of French and other nationalities. It is especially concerned with the welfare of deep sea fishermen in the North Sea, Iceland and around Newfoundland.

With these objects in view, it equips, every year, a hospital ship, the steamer Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc, which cruises over the fishing areas, answers calls from fishing boats provides all necessary help, and devotes its attention entirely to their needs. A doctor and a chaplain are always in attendance on the Sainte Jeanne-d'Arc.

The Society also maintains «sailors d'hommes» at St-Pierre-Miquelon, and in Iceland: comfortable clubs for the sailors where they are always sure of finding a warm welcome and repose.

Thanks to its vessels the Society has, since its inauguration, been the means of placing 1,865 sailors in hospital aggregating 23,911 days of treatment. It has given 9,818 consultations, received or distributed 826,614 letters and rescued from shipwreck 420 souls.

The Society for Aid to Families of French Shipwrecked Mariners. A Mother Holding an Infant With Two More Children Beside Her. Illustration by Jean Droit. GGA Image ID # 20ae4dd1b5

This Society founded in Paris in 1879, by Mr. Alfred de Courcy, under the auspices of the Assureurs Maritimes Français, has as its object the assistance of the necessitous widows, children and dependents of French sailors, who as members of the crews of French ships, fishing vessels, pilot-boats, or others, have lost their lives at sea through shipwreck or accident.

Assistance is given immediately through the Administrateurs de la Marine, either upon their request, or as soon as notice of a shipwreck is lodged with the Society.

The Society also controls at Pluvigner (Morbihan) the Notre-Dame-des-Pins Orphanage, where the orphans of shipwrecked sailors are received and looked after without charge until they are twenty one.

During the year 1925, the Society distributed: Fcs. 641,411 in money to widows and orphans, for the purchase of clothing, cradles, and layettes, and for the upkeep of the Notre-Dame-des- Pins Orphanage.

The "Transatlantique" Maternity Fund. A Mother Cradles Her Infant Baby While Her Husband Hold Up Clothes for the Child. Illustration by Jean Droit. GGA Image ID # 20ae182ef5

The "TRANSATLANTIQUE LAYETTE" was founded in 1913 with the object of helping those mothers-to-be whose husbands have been in the service of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique for at least six months, both shore and sea-going staffs.

The "TRANSATLANTIQUE LAYETTE" provides medical attention and a layette for the baby. As well as giving material help, it also sets out to look after the general welfare and happiness of the mother, keeping up her courage and giving the newborn infant a fair start in life.

Ladies visiting committees, in the four principal embarkation ports of the Company, Havre, Saint-Nazaire, Bordeaux and Marseilles, keep in personal touch with the families of the Company's employees, and adjust the grants paid accordingly.

During the year 1925, amongst other things, 449 layettes were distributed. This branch of work has progressed most satisfactorily, and the figures for the distribution of layettes in each of the four quarters of the year 1925 have moved up as follows: 98, 102, 108 and 141.

An Iceland fisherman.

... And all the hours of the day passed, one after another, and all the hours of the evening, and all the hours of the night, and all the hours of the morning. As she counted the days when he ought to have been hack, a wild terror seized upon her. She did not want any more to know either the dates or the names of the days.

Pierre LOTI.

Quête au profit des Œuvres de Mer par : Mmes Anthony SIRACUSA - Elizabeth SCHOOLKY, Clifford POWELL - Ora NAGLE, Elia SHARP et Mlle Carrie LINCOLN