Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-05-01

SING SING, April llth, 1916.
Hon. ]. ". Edmunds, Chairman Of the Er-
ecutiue Committee Of The NeW York Prison
association.
Dear Sir: We had the "Home Branch" of
the Hutchinson Family with us yesterday.
They had been invited to visit and sing in
the Prisons, and came up on Saturday for
that purpose. Were you acquainted with
them, | should not have to tell you that the
simplicity and genuineness of their charac-
tiers add as much to the effect of their music
as characters less beautiful derive from it,
Such is the fact, and nowhere, as you are
well aware, would the peculiar force of this
charm be more keenly felt than among our
unfortunate prisoners.
They took part in the Sabbath services Of
both prisons. In the Chapel Of the Male
Prison, after a brief prayer, they sang the
beautiful piece entitled
"His love can ne'er be told )"
and it would have delighted you 10 see how
the sentiment lit up the hearts of that large
congregation. This was followed by the an
nouncemien of three deaths that had recent
ly occurred in the Prison. One of these as
you may already know, was a suicide. The
victim was a young Englishman, about %,
WHO udu lOI SOllC lllllG DtGIl IdDOlllB uluCl
depression of mind. He perpetrated the
deed by hanging himself with his towel,
made fast to the hook by which his bed was
suspended during the day.
The statement of these melancholy occur
rences by the Chaplain was followed by the
very beautiful and appropriate piece
GA brother is Dead"
sung by Mr.. Joshua Hutchinson. The most
perfect silence pervaded the audience, and,
as the tender, low-breathed strains were ut
tered, every syllable, though whispered in
the softest tone, was audible, and glistening
eyes and flushed brows in many parts Of the
house testified that neither crime nor its con-
sequences had yet utterly extinguished SYM
pathy or sensibility.
An eloquent and appropriate sermon by
Mr.. Redfeld, of Brooklin was followed by
the singing of the following piece, written
for the occasion by our excellent friend Oil
yer Johnson
LAY OF THE PRISONER.
The sigh of the Prisoner is heard by the Lord,
Though Man,in his pride, turn coldly away;
The Saviour of men with compassion is
stirred,
When sinners in blindness His will DISC
hey.
Solo and Chorus.
Pity, kind gentlemen, friends of humanity!
Cold is the world 10 the cries of Gods
Treat us with kindness, we friends of Chris
tianity
Give us your love-we ask nothing more.*
The tear of the prisoner is noted on high,
And God in his mercy deals kindly with
all;
Then why should proud Man leave his broth
er TO die,
Beneath the dark shade of the Prisons
cold wall?
Pity, &c.
The prayer of the Prisoner is answered a.
bove,
When humbly he pleads for forgiveness
and grace;
The greatest transgressor--O wonderful love
kepentant may find cen in Heaven a place.
Pity, &c.
o welcome to us in our dreary abode,
The voice of a brother, the face of a friend;
His word and his smile, how they Tighten
their load
The choicest of blessings on him shall de-
scend.
Solo and Chorus.
Pity, kind gentlemen, friends Of humanity!
Cold is the world, to the cries of Gods
poor
Treat us with kindness, ye friends OF
Christianity!
Give us your love-we ask nothing more.
You can better conceive than | can de-
scribe the effect of these appropriate lines,
sung as they were with genuineness OF feel
ing which rendered it difficult for the singers
to suppress their emotions sufficiently to car
ry the performance through. We no longer
looked upon glistening eyes and flushed IA
ces, but the silent tears coursed down many
a rugged and sin-stricken cheek, and the
swelled veins of many a furnished brow told
of the deep and long slumbering chord which
those sounds had r~e-awakCned in their bo-
SONS. l wished that those who regard their
fallen brethren as brute animals, worthy on
ly OF such treatment as must be offensive to
their Maker when inflicted even upon these.
could have witnessed that scene and felt its
sacred influences. If depraved and harden
*This Solo and Chorus will be reconniz-
ed as a parody on those of the well-known
Song OF the HutchinsOns-" Over the Noun.
tain, over the Moor"