The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-01-03

To answer inquiries often made, the
following facts are communicated
In 1871. an act was passed. appoint,
ing a Chaplain oflho prison. whose duty
it was, according to the provisions IF the
law, On every sabbath to perform in
the Prison such religious services, as arc
usually performed in the churches ccthis
State, and attend to instruc. the prison
era in their moral aud religious dutcs
and to visit the sick on all suitpble Dc.
casirns." Sec Gem Stat. chap. ll3
The chaplain performed the duties pre-
scribod, on the sabbath. prayed with the
prisoners daily, taught them in the sab.
bath school. TAUGHT those to read, who
could not, aided them in their opistolury
correspondence, aud in all suitable ways
exercised n pastoral supervision over
them This was in srcorlluce with the
usage in similar establishments in 9th.
or States.
In lS4S, an act was passed which pro-
vilel that the duties of the chaplain Of
the prison should be discharged by the
ministers Of Windsor or of the vicin.
ity, rather than By one man exclusive
ly devoted to that service.
1t mag b, asceriainei by an examina
ton Of the Nth and 10Th sections of
the | 9Th chapter of the Compiled Stat
uios, page 565, that the only change in
regard TO this Office from the provision.
Of this net Of ISL contemplated Ly tho
act Of 1913. was in substituting several
ministers for one to perform the duties
of chaplain. The law Of lslS requires
the same amount of service exac;cd by
the act of 1871.
From ,3iS, the service, or rather ;
small part Of what was performed by thu
regular chaplain, has been rendered b.
heeminslcrs Of Windsor. Instead o
rendering the service required both b.
the law Of 1871 aud 1913, they only hav
one service on the sabbath. They hav
had no daily prayers, nor sabbath schoo
nor systematic efforts to teach the pris
oners to read and, it is understood, hay
exercised very little pastoral suporyisio
, over the prisoners.
This service is very far from what tn
, law requires or the necessities of tn
. prisoners demand
In view Of these facts, by a mutui
r understanding with gentlemen in bot
C Houses Of the Assembly. at its receI
r session, an attempt was made in ii
r House of Representatives, by the pas
= age Of law, to restore the origin
!. chaplaincy, and to secure to the priso
crs the service prescribed aud rcquir,
by the statute. During 10 Tie oPpO'
ton Of u director Of the prison, ac,
lcaS a member Of The Ho0Se, 1eho Gcfl
:. he sail, as adriscd 6oth Jy Mr.. Harlo
, The superintendent of The prison, a.
the member from, Windsor. the measu
. Jailed.
- An effort was then made to secure t
: object contemplated 10 another way.
~ resolution was offered to the House, n
=, and referred by the House to the co
; mittee on the prison, providing for
r appropriation of $500, from the Ire
- y ury, annually, in addition to the amou
" now expended for the choplaincy, to
70 fray the expense of performing a mo-
ing as well as an evening service. j
~ the committee on the State Prison, W
SO had unanimously recommended the pa
e. ago of the bill restoring the regu
I'd chaplain, reported against the pass'
u, u, Of the resolution for this reason, !
e the arrangement contemplated by it v
N. carried into effect, ii would prevent
e, restoration of chaplain and the p
;s Torrance of that amount Of minister
he service for the prisoners required by |;
DR. which, 10 their opinion, was the least
a. acted by the duty and honor of
T. State. and the exigenoies Of the conyiC
10 tiH le seer, therefore, that