Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-11-02
in the Illinois Pen
itiuGiarY.


We give from the Alton Courier the fol-
lowing interesting scene which took place
at the annual meeting of the Protestant
Episcopal Convention for that Diocese; =
The Convention adjourned at an early
hour, for the purpose of proceeding agree
ably to the polite invitation Of the Warden
10 the Penitentiary, in order TO be present
at the administration of the solemn rite of
confirmation TO number of convicls, who
have manifested deep repentance Of their
sins for some months past AS about one
half of these had never been baptized this
sacred ordinance was in the first place ad
minstered 10 twenty-three of them, by the
Rev. McMasters, the chaplain of the prison
under whose ministrations they have been
brought to a sense of their guilt; followed
by solemn exhortation from the same
gentleman, and another from the Rev. DR..
Arnett, of Milwaukee The candidates for
confrmation-seyenty in number-were
then desired TO kneel around the benches
upon which they sii at their meals; when
the Bishop proceeded to lay his hands, with
the customary invocation, upon each of them
successfully.
After the close of this truly effecting
ceremony, the Bishop addressed the recipi-
ents for the space of perhaps fifteen or
twenty minutes, in one of the most powerful
and eloquent exhortations to which it has
ever been our privilege to listen, and which
we are persuaded can never be forgotten by
any one who heard it, but Of which we feel
unable TO give even slight sketch. Suf-
ice'it TO observe, that the strong walls and
barred windows of the hall in which the
rite was performed-the kneeling prisoners
nearly all of whom were bathed in tears
the deep and sympathetic emotion visible in
the counteuances of the members of the
Convention and other spectators-the SOL
emn and earnest language of the Bishop,
and the deep tones of his voice, as he brief
ly alluded to the past lives the present con-
dition, and the future destiny of the per-
sons to whom be was speaking, altogether
formed a scene such as probably never be-
fore has been witnessed in the United States
perhaps in any other country; and which,
we think, cannot fail to make more salu-
tary impression, not only upon those most
interested in it, but also upon every behold
er.
After the final adjournment Of the Con-
ventiun, the Bishop accompanied with two
or three clergymen proceeded to the pene-
tentary, where he administered the SOL
emn rite of confirmation to four female
prisoners, who had previously manifested
deep and unfeigned contrition for their past
misdeeds, and an earnest desire to lead a
new and better life The services on this
occasion, we are informed, were not less
effecting and impressive than those held in
the same place on the proceeding day
perhaps, in some respects even more So
but as it was not in our power to be pres
ent, we cannot speak of them particulrly.
Those females, together with the males,
seventy in number, make seventy -four per-
sons, raised in in the course of few months
so far as fallible human judgment can per-
ceive, through the instrumentality of the
faithful preaching of the gospel in IFS sim
plicity, from the very lowest depths of NOR
al and personal degradation to the dignity Of
the children of God, members of Christ and
inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven.