The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-13 00:00:00

THE PRISON MINISTERS' BILL.

The committee on the Prison Ministers' Bill sat yester-
day under the chairmanship of J. F. Maguire, 'Esci's
M. I'. for Cork. The principal witness called was •gt
The Earl of Carnarvon, who expressed himself against
any increase in the number of Roman Catholic chaplains
in gaols, but preferred the working of the present syster,n;
He did not object to the increase on religious grounds'
but because of the increased expense and the necessary
employment of addititonal warders. He is chairman 4
the visiting justices of the gaol at 'Winchester, and
did not think there was any inducement heldout to Roman
Catholic prisoners to attend the Protestant chapel by thela
being no other service in the gaol. Did not consider the hotly 6
release from solitary confinement would be such anl
in-
ducement—it would be of the smallest possible character.
If Mr. Rathbone, the chairman of the Liverpool visiting
In
justices, thought differently, although he had a great
ac.
re-
spect for that gentleman's opinion, yet he would not
cent that opinion without some cross-examination.
.13
Winchester county gaol a Bible and Prayer-book were
placed in the cells of all prisoners, without discrimination
and all but first-class Protestant prisoners were permit
to have a tract in addition. A Roman Cathol,
prisoner had the Douay version of the Bible in his cells
and was further entitled to any Roman Catholic book
recommended by his minister. That rule aPPliebie
prisoners of every class. The reason for giving s'A
as
and Prayer book to all prisoners indiscrirninatelY, wro
that not more than 5 or 6 per cent of the Roman Catho),
prisoners could read; and it was not, therefore, thong
desirable to alter the rule of the gaol, to treat a Bible si.?l!
Prayer book as part of the cell furniture. Catholic books
were not left in the cells of Protestant prisoners excel'.
by accident. It was against the rules of the gaol to do r..
Personally, he should have no objection to Protestant hue.
being kept out of the cells of Catholic prisoners ; but
would involve considerable changes, and a corresP°fleill'a
expense. He did not think that leaving the Bible 3,11.
• Prayer-book in the cells was forcing them upon the us'?
tholic prisoners. They had formed a 'library of Catholic
books, which was under the charge of the Roman Cathq:
lic minister. The schoolmasters are Protestant ; but
Was perfectly optional whether the Roman Catholic Pr':
Boners went or not. Where there was a sensible Protestaeb
chaplain, he generally satisfied the Protestant Dissenters
as well as the Church prisoners ; but his lordship could n°b
say whether he satisfied the Roman Catholics also. Mr'
Collinridge was the Roman Catholic chaplain, so far 34
giving instruction to the Catholic prisoners in their cel
was concerned. Winchester was one of the earliesp
counties to appoint a Catholic minister under the act.-
°
had no objection to the Roman Catholic minister Wll
what books were proper for the prisoners !9a
his faith, instead of the Protestant Bible and
Prayer-book being part of the cell furniture—beyond
involving extra expense and new arrangements. He 11 to
hid some correspondence with Mr. Collinridge as
increased facilities for the religious instruction of t."
Catholic prisoners, and to arrangements for their asse:
dated worship. The court had extended the time for
instruction, so that the minister was now allowed three
.
hours per day for the purpose. With respect to assn'
slated worship, the justices thought it would involve
.an
increase in the staff of prison officers and the furnishing
of another chapel. The proposal of Mr. Collinridie
.
would seriously interfere with the discipline of the o°ll
but if at any time the Roman Catholic prisoners shoul?
so increase as to bear a large proportion to the other pri-
soners, the court might then consider such an arrange-
ment as was proposed. There had been cases of Protes;
tant dissenters objecting to attend the ministrations 01-
the Protestant chaplain. They were principally Ba,ptiSti
and Presbyterians. The Catholic prisoners were to
liberty to take their own Bibles with them
school ; but the schoolmaster read from the
Protestant Bible. If a Roman Catholic prisoner, rather
than listen to it, stayed away from school, it would be to
his own loss. That was his misfortune, being in thq
minority. In reply to other questions, his Lordship sant
:that at Winchester the Roman Catholic prisoners
were certainly confined to their cells durl
the worship of the Protestants ; but ha "id
not believe, as had been stated, that they dreade
such confinement more than the treadmill. Looking t
the class of people who are prisoners, if there were sue;
a feeling in their minds, a great many more would deelar,".,
themselves Protestants than really did. He had of
objection to the Act being made compulsory instead„-
optional, if the matter were fairly considered and
cussed.