New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-10


the hest endowed when taugrt 70 believe in true
Messiah TO gsther hn remainder OF the Gentes into
the field When this work done, things viii BE-
changed ard the glcry OF God made apparent . AL the
world The present duty OF tire Church, thea, 10 10
send the Gospel TO MI the people OF the earth; AMI
though man cannot convert the soul tor that the 0par
alton OF God the seeds for its accomplishment would os
sown The Rev. speaker concluded by exporting hi
hearers aid in the work by their prayers and eon
buiiors.
The Duty Of Society 10 Crimuais ana DiS-
charged Convicts.
Rev. Mr.. SToRRs, of Brooklyn. deliv-
cred very eloquent Sermon upon the above subject
last evening the Church of the Messiah, Broadway
before numerous congregation The Rev. gentleman
took for his the last clause Of the 3a verse 2o
chapter OF Natthew-"I in prison and ye cams
unto me-" He commenced by taking general view Of
the duty of Christians TO those who have devased from
the paths OF recude and virtue There are two great
principles Of the Christian Characteristic first TO feed
the mind with the doctrines Of Christ; the second to
give food and clothing and comfort where they are
needed This Is true Christian charity. Ii Is to
save: The same sublime virtue which Is expressed
by Chris. in his mission By the careful labor OF
Chistsn men, Asylums have been established, etrears
and Institutions have been formed which have exerted
the moot beneficial Influences upon mankind. Chris
anty can point to what lnddelty Paganism cannot
show Asylums her trophies-her hed l. the world.
which emblazoned her banners The hrst class OF
criminals said the speaker, are those who have been
eptrapped by older villains There are such persons IN
all our prisons The second class is larger in number:
those who have been trained in vice from their youth
and who have had no education but IN sin. Those are
generally trained in cities or In the outskirts OF large
towns The child is thus made familiar with sin, and
its only thought Is to hide it, II is therefore not won
derul that they pursue sinful course aud become the
inmates OF prisons There not one OF those but wac
.kt rnf2 hal
he received proper training. In such souls there IL
always occasion for courage and hope. The WORST
and smallest class those who have had exam
Pies of parental piety but who are. notwith 'tand
ing depraved. OF such men doubtless there is small
hope although some even 2of them have been ssvej
against hope; and they may be reclaimed. Tney are
ike US, with human hearts, susceptible OF bssag I'M
pressed with sentiments OF Christianity Ii is clear thS
criminals cannot be relieved from punishment, when
that punishment is just but when the conviction Is IL
legal il becomes society to exert it's influence IN thts be-
half; and where the law under which they have been
convicted Is unjust it is obligatory Christianity TO
urge It's repeal but just law and advances
the of society 1t intended 10 educate the
criminal and the carefulles vigilance should be eNer
ced in the appointment OF those having charge OF tOe
unfcrtunstcs The speaker alluded to sympathy for
the criminal in consequences of the pain he was sen
undergo for real crime, pernicous anu en
ring bad influence; and in su5stantiatOn, advered
10 the Apostle Paul, who says: "If have been Of
fender and deserve death, refuse not 20 die" Our
Efforts should be to eave criminals, morally Ine
dtIOslt OF power, continued the speaker, Il
elv avs dangerous in the hands it is placed in,
ard in this connection he urged the necessity
OF appointing men as jail0rs whose example aud in
Buepcc would tend TO reform those over whom he eX
ercises the authority of master. This fuuctonary
stands before the prisoner sort OF representative OF
the society he has LEFT behind II cruel he engeniers
spirit OF revenge, and still keeps him criminal in
feeling. ii imbned with Christianity, the influence no
exerts viii be for the benefit of the criminal It H.
therefore, the duty OF society 10 that proper men
regardless of political considerations selected for
these stations by adopting this course the first step
IN tie way Of reformation will be gained The second
point dwe by the speaker was proximity TO crime.
criminal, he continued, put in conjunction with an
old offender, will tend to augment his appetite Tor crime
He becomes saturated with evil which IL Is hard or even
impossible to eradicate Solitary confinement for long
terms, with view of reformation he thought irnpracu
cable although he deprecated the custom OF convicts
mnglng together. The best mode would be to cOnfne
them solidarity say for one day a week, thus giving
them time TO think and contemplate. For short
terms he recommended solitary confinement.
Instruction in all useful branches OF industry he also
nmended and solitary confinement for short terms
would make books attractive, where elsewhere they
would have been spurned- all can here zee at glance
the opportunity for Christian instruction The crimi.
nal il sufieriog, and he knows tdegrsded and he Is
of it, but let the gospel be explained him Ia
plain terms and by proper men and he will proht by IT,
There is better place to reform under proper in
structons. The bonds which connect the criminal with
society are not broken by being imprisoned. He is
lost who shows evidences OF reformation, aud
exeriions must be made TO win him On hiscgress
from the prison walls Christians should meet him, and
extend to him helping band andad him TO indemp'oy
me nt and he will be inclined to pursue exemplary
course there after There are Cdrstan duties, a1d the
duties of society identical He recommended that
chaplans be appointed 10 all prisons and of any
which the criminal might choose In conclusion, the
Rev. gentlemanurged upon all Christians the duty of
contributing toward sustaining the Society for the Re-
fol nation of Discharged Convicts of which the late
Isaac j. Hopper had been the leading spirit Its exis
tence in this City has been center ohops especially
has it accomplished grea, and wise work in forming
Home for those who have served the term of conae-
ment The speaker then entered briefly into the Stats
tics of the Association which has since its organization
relieved nearly thousand persons the present state
OF whom, as far as ascertained, Is as follows:
DOing weh.. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 20
Hopeful. .......................4 40
Returned 20 prison. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES -
Cnhho"n lJI
This Society stands in need Of money, and liberal
by all phlanthropic persons urged
collection was then taken up, the doxology sung,
and the congregation separated.