IN previous issues of this Journal * the building and testing of a Life-boat have been described, and it is proposed in this and ensuing articles to give some account of the further life history of the boat.

The boat being all ready for despatch to her station, various methods of sending her are adopted. These depend on the size of the boat, and to some degree on the distance to her destination. The smaller boats are loaded on to trucks and despatched by rail to the nearest station, where they are unloaded, placed upon their carriages, and drawn to the boat-house. This method is impossible with the larger type, which have to go upon their own keels; in some cases, as, for instance, the many large sailing-boats which have in recent years been placed on the coast of Ireland, this involves a very long sea passage, and baffling winds * See LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL for November, 1908, and November, 1909.

and calms may prolong the voyage for a protracted period, although the ad- vent of the motor-engine for Life-boats has, of course, done much to simplify this problem. One of the Institution's riggers accompanies the boat and sees her safely housed ; at the same time he explains to the coxswain the uses of the various parts of the equipment, and the manner in which they should be stowed, especially pointing out any new arrangements in the boat or her carriage which may have been introduced since the last boat. In the case of a newly- established station the Inspector of the District also pays it a visit, and gener- ally superintends the first launch for exercise.

The regulations prescribe that as soon as possible after her arrival the boat should be taken afloat on a really rough day, so as to test her in the sort of weather she will have to encounter on actual service. This also helps to accustom the coxswain and crew to handling their new boat under oars and sail, and gives them confidence in her seaworthy qualities. Prior to this, however, it is usual to carry out what is known as a " Naming Ceremony." The naming of a newly-built vessel by the sprinkling of wine upon her bows to the accompaniment of religious ceremonial is said by some to have a very ancient origin, and is traced by them to the sacrificial ritual of an early paganism. It is doubtful, however, whether there is any solid ground for this assumption, and the custom is more probably the product of a later-day and a more benign religion. Be this as it may, it will not be denied that if any vessel is to be consecrated to its purpose by religious rites, the Life-boat is peculiarly entitled to such; and there are few seaports and villages whose inhabitants do not accord this welcome to a new arrival.

A suitable day, generally a public holiday, is selected for the purpose, and the Head Office of the Institution is communicated with in order that a representative may be present; a lady is invited to perform the ceremony, the donor of the boat usually being given the first refusal. Invitations to attend are sent to the neighbouring Life-boat stations and to all the subscribers and friends of the Institution in the vicinity, while the forthcoming function is always well advertised locally.

The day frequently begins by a pro- cession round the town headed by a band, in which the Local Committee and others walk, the Life-boat on her transporting carriage, bedecked with flags and drawn by gaily-caparisoned horses, taking the place of honour.

On the return to the launching place the following proceedings are generally carried out.

The donor of the boat, if present, makes a formal gift of her to the Life- boat Institution, whose representative in his turn hands her over to the Local Branch, the President of which accepts her.

A short religious service follows, which generally consists of a reading from Scripture, such as Psalm 107; Mark iv., 35 to end, followed by the hymn for those at sea, together with a prayer which was used on the occasion | of the first launch of a Life-boat of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITU- TION in the early days of last century and has always been used since :•— " O Thou great eternal Father, Who inhabitest eternity, and hast promised to dwell with that man who is of a contrite spirit, we pray Thee to pour Thy blessing upon us and the work in which we are now engaged. Thou art of all power and might, Thou stretchest ' out the heavens like a curtain, Thou I walkest upon the wings of the wind, j Thou makest the clouds Thy chariot, Thou rulest the raging of the sea, and when the waves thereof arise Thou ; stillest them. In Thy hands are all the I issues of life and death; but inasmuch as Thou art willing to act through human instruments, we beseech Thee to ' pour Thy blessing upon this Life-boat, i which we now present unto Thee, and we beseech Thee that it may be service- i able in the preservation of the lives of 1 our poor sailors, who, for the mainten- ance and support of their families, face the dangers of the ocean, and the tem- pests of the stormiest sea. We know Thou wiliest not the death of one sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live ; we therefore pray ; Thee, Lord, to spare our sailors from a sudden death, for it is a fearful thing to enter Thy presence unprepared, with- out a moment's warning. We need all : the time that Thy mercy will grant unto us that we may prepare to meet our : God, that we may repent us of our sins, j and make up our accounts that we may | render them to Thyself. We pray Thee ! for the crew. Grant that they may be Godfearing men, and not trust to the ; raging billows through the power of | their own strength, or of their iron will, but that they may feel that it is not by might or by power ' but by My Spirit saith the Lord,' and that all their attempts are vain unless Thou givest j the increase. Grant that they may • be instruments in the hands of Thy Providence ; and that many a wife may ! breathe the prayer ' God bless the Life- i boat and her gallant crew,' that many ! a Christian sailor may say from his heart ' For these and all Thy mercie;, 0 God, we thank Thee,' and that many a sinner, saved by this boat, may be.