New-York daily tribune., 1844-07-02
THE TRIBU N E.
Extraordinary Mode Of Reform.

suits show tne oInnlpOtent power Vi io'e, oi schu
inc sympathy in melting the heart and reforming
the character of the most degraded and vicious.
The following example from the eloquent Re.
port of HORACE MANN, Esq. shows how much
good may be accomplished by the pcrscverng
unremitting abors of single individual, stimu.
lated by pure and elevated philanthropy, COM
bned with sound judgment and habits of careful
discrimination, and may well excite the attention
of those who have influence with ou. public au-
thorities:
1.-THE Redemption Institute OF Mr.. J. II. Wiz
hcrn is situated four or five miles of the City
of Hamburger. II was opened for children of the
very lowest class-childrcn brought up in the
abodes of infamy, and taught not only by exam
ple but precept the vices of sensuaty, thieving
and yagabondry-ch children who had never known
the family tie, or who had known il only to sec
it violated. The thoughts of Mr. Wrhcrn were
strongly turned toward this subject while yet
student at the University, but want of means de-
tered him from engaging in 1t, until legacy left
by Mr. Jercken enabled him to make a begin.
ming in 1888 He has since devoted his life and
all his worldly goods to the work. 1t is his first
aim that the abandoned children whom he seeks
out on the highway, and in the haunts of vice
shall know and feel the blessings of domestic
Gie-that they shall he introduced into the bosom
of family-lor this he regards as Divine insll.
tuition, and therefore the birthright of every hu
man being. and the only atmosphere in which The
human affections can be adequately cultivated
His honse, then. must not be prison. or place OF
confinement The site chosen for hio xpcrimcn,
was one enclosed within high, strong walls and
fences His first act was to break down these
barriers, and to take all bolts and bars from the
doors and windows. He began with three boys
the worst description; and within three months
the number increased to twelve. They were taken
into the bosom of his famlly-hs mother was
their mother, and his sister their sister. They
were not punished for any past offences, but told
that all should be forgiven if they tried TO do
well in future The deienceleSs condition of the
premises was referred to, and they were assured
that no walls or bolts were TO Getaln thcm-that
one cord only should bnd them, and that the
cord of Love. The effect attested the all but
omnipoent power OF generosity and Affection
Children from seven or eight TO fifteen or sixteen
wears of age, in many OF whom early and loath
some vices had nearly obliterated the stamp o.
humanity, were transformed not only INTO useful
members of society, but into characters that en-
deared themselves to all within their sphere ~
acquaintance. The education given by Mr.. w
''>''
told in the beginning that labor was the price o.
living, and that they must earn their own bread
if they would secure comfortable home. III,
did not point them to ease and affiuencc, but It,
an honorable poverty, which they were taught
was not Itself an evil. Here were means and
materials for learning to support themselves; but
there was no rich fund other resources for their
maintenance. Charity had supplied the home to
which they were invited, their own industry must
supply the rest Mr.. Wirhern placed great rel
ance upon religious training; but this did not
consist in giving them dry and unintelligible dog
mas. He spoke to them of Christ, as the bene-
factor of mankind, who proved, by deeds of love.
his interest in the race,-who sought out tic
worst and most bepghted of men, to give them
instruction and relief, and who left it in charge ol
those who came after Him and wished to be call
ed His diciples to dolikewisc Is it strange that.
enforced by such a practical exemphfcation OF
Christian love as their beneiactor gave them III
his every day ife the story of Chrst's words and
deeds should have sunk deeply into their hearts
and melted them into tenderness and docility =
Such was the effect. The most rapid improve
ment ensued in the great majority ofthe children
and even those whom long habits of idlenoss and
yagabondry made it difficult 10 keep in the
straight path, had long seasons OF obedience and
was only an exception.
As the number of pupils increased Mr.. Wirher
saw that the size of the family would seriously
impair its domestic character To obviate this
he divided his company into families of twelve
and he has erected nine separate buildings, stu
ated in a semicrcle around his own, and near tC
it, in each of which dwells family of twelve
boys or of twelve girls, under the care of House
Father or House Mother, as the assistants alo
respectively called. Each of these is, to some
extent, an independent community, having an
individuality Of It's own. They cat and sleep in
their own dwellings,, and the children belonging
to each look up to their own particular father ol
mother as home-bred children to parent. The
general meeting every morning, at first IN the
chamber of Mr.. Wirhern's mother, but after
ward when the numbers increased in the chapel
and their frequent meetings at work or IN the
backgrounds form asufficicnt and in fact very
close bond of union IN the community.
Instruction is given in reading, writing, arith
metic, singing and drawing,-and in some in
stances in higher branches. Music is used as
one of the most efficient means for soitcniDg
stubborn wills, and calling forth tender feelings
and It's deprivation is one of the punlshments
for delinquency. An affecting narrative is re-
corded OF boy who ran away, but whom Mr.
w pursued found, and persuaded TO return. He
was brought back on Christmas eve, which was
always celebrated in the mothers chamber. The
children were engaged in singing the Christmas
HYMNS when he entered the room AT first The,
manifested strong disapprobation of his conduct
for he was boy to whose faults special ioroear
ance had been previously shown. They were
then told TO decide among themselves how n
should be punished. This brought them all Il
perfect silence, and after some whispering anC
consulting together, one who had formerly beer
guilty Of the same fault Of lngrattude under stl
less excusabe circumstances, burst out into pc
tition for forgiveness. All united in 1t, reached
out to him friendly hand, and the festival o
Christmas Eve was turned into rejoicing owe
the brother that was lost and was found. Tht
pardon was not in words merely, but in deeds
No reference TO the fact was afterward made
A day or two after he was sent away on an er
rand 10 the distance of half mile. He was sur
prlsed and affected by this mark of confidence