The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-10-05
Interesting Scene in Prison.
HARTFORD, September %, |

Interesting Scene in Prison.
HARTFORD, September %, 1889.
| Mr.. Edhor,-Ths morning a religious SER
vice was held in the prison in this city, where
the African prisoners are confined, and have
thought an account of it might be interesting to
your readers. All the county prisoners, (beng
twelve or fifteen in number, and mostly whites,
were assembled in the Hall or enclosed Piazza
that surrounds the cells, and which is appropra-
ted 10 the use of the Africans Each sat on the
bench he brought into the hall with him, and the
Africans were seated on benches along the wall
and in front of the platform on which stood the
preachers, the interpreters, and few male and
female visitors. Jngua seated himself in a chair
in front of his comrades. Rev. Mr.. GalIaudet
went through the usual services. The subject of
his discourse was laying up treasures in heaven.
All the prisoners listened TO the preacher with
fixed and respectful attention. 1t was interesting
and painful too, to see these pagans, from far
distant land, gazing a. the speaker and listening
10 his discourse which was in language wholly
tongues TO communicate to them the unsearcha-
bic riches of Christ!
After the services were ended and the county
prisoners had Withdrawn, Mr.. Gallaudet was re-
quested to try to explain to the African prisoners,
through the interpreter, some of the great truths
of revealed religion. Accordingly they all stood
in front of the platform, with the exception of
Jingua, who sat in chair in front of the group,
while Mr.. G. with Mr.. Ferry, the African inter
prefer, and one of the prisoners named Grah-bah-
wah who is from Gallinas, stood on his right and
left to communicate his thoughts to his attentive
audience. This speaks the Kissi dialect bet
ter even than Bowie, or rather Bahoo. Mr.. G.
expressed his thoughts to Mr. Ferry, he transla-
ted them into the Kissi dialect 10 the man above
named who made them known in the Mandingo
tongue, in q very animated manner, to his COM
rades Most of them listened with eager atten-
ton, and may indulge hope that many new
and invaluable ideasswere communicated to them
May the holy Spirit imprint them on the hearts
and consciences of these beniehted men? The
substance of what Mr.. G. said is as follows, each
sentence having been fully explained by itself
| 81 am your friend and wish to say few words
to you about God.
| 81 know about God, for have this book (show-
ing Bible,) which tells about him.
"God told good men many years ago to write
this book.
God tells us, in this book, that we have some
thing within us-the thinking part that will new
err die.
"When our bodies die, this thinking part will
90 up to meet God.
| eff we do what God tells US to do, in this book
we shall, when we die, be happy.
eff we are wicked he will not let US go to the
good place but to the bad place.
"This book tells me that God has a son-his
name is Jesus Chrst-that he sent him into the
world. He died here-and if we are sorry for
what we have done that is wicked, he will for
give us.
elf we pray to Cod and ask him to put good
III &c InUe
Christ when you pray-God will hear you al
though YOU know but little about him.
1--WE are your friends because God tells US in
this book that we ought to be So"
| While Mr.. Gallaudet was speaking, two or
three left the group went to the farther end of the
hall, lighted their pipes, and began to smoke.
Jingua soon perceived it, rose from his seat, went
to them, and struck their pipes out of their hands
and directed them to attend to the speaker. He
then returned and resumed his seat. What an in
strucve lesson is this to careless and ill-bred at
PENDANTS in christian assemblies
The Christian friends present then sung the
missionary hymn, From Greenland's icy mount
aims" &c, the whole audience standing. The
Africans listened to the singing with engagedness.
1t was truly an interesting scene, and one long
to be remembered by those who were present.
One of the African interpreters says that in his
country lne people ulu nOt WoTk one Qdy every
week. Mr.. Gailaudet has conversed with the
prisoners in the language Of signs, and believes
that several Of Them if not all, have some intelli-
gent ideas of Supreme Being, and the penal
consequences of transgresson. The court was
so fully persuaded of this that they received the
affidavit Of one of them. This man was asked in
prison if he knew what God would do with him
ifhe told lies. He replied in his own language,
pointing to a biscuit in his hand, "God did not
give me this to tell es."-What a rebuke is this
to ungrateful, disobedent and wicked men, who
lie steal and defraud in Christian land
Respectfully yours,
Enan, LEWIS TArPAN