Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-11-28
Report OF the Chaplain OF the Ver-
mont State Prison.

chaplaincy for the past year have en-
braced the usual duties OF public worship
on the ssobath-one half day for the
males, and similar religious exercise
for the females. During that portion Of
the year In which II seemed practicable,
a weekly Bible Glass has been attended,
by divisions-so that all, who were dis
posed, have had the instruction CON-
monty given in such cases. BY the aid
OF lady In the use OF the melodeon that
belongs to the prison and with her voice,
an Interest In sacred music has been
inspired In choir of the men, and
degree OF skill in singing has been at
tanned by them which is truly laudable.
This, We have reason to think, has
helped TO make the worship of the Sab
bath delight 10 most OF the inmates
and TO augment the force of religious
truth upon men who have generally
been little accustomed to public wor-
ship.
During portion OF the year also,
class has been Instructed in the rudi-
ments OF reading, spelling and arithme-
tic, have also visited and conversed
with the inmates privately at their cells,
and endeavored, in such ways as could,
TO instruct and move them to the best
endeavors for manly conduct while here,
and christian reformation for all time to
come.
These services combined constitute an
amount Of labor equivalent to that OF
clergymen generally in parishes that
include even larger number of persons.
They have required for their performance
the whole of the Sabbath, besides hours
OF visiting and teaching in the week.
| The interest evinced by all concerned in
these efforts for their good has been such
as 70 afford great encouragement in my
labors.
In the month OF March, by the advice
| of cooperation Of the Directors and
Superintendent, undertook thorough
revision of the Library. The books
were found, almost without exception,
badly torn, defaced, and in varions ways
mutilsted; so that out OF some four
hundred volumes scarcely two hundred
could be found that were at all fit for
use, and hardly y single book could be
| reported entire. They were REMEMBERED
and relabeled, with necessary rules for
the Library attached. The debris were
exchanged for Bibles and Testaments.
One hundred new volumes Of a mis-
| Cellaneous character, selected with spec
| lal reference to the peculiar wants OF
the readers, were then added to the
Library, with good covers and neat
| printed labels and rules. In addition to
the expressed purpose Of rigid enforce
Bent OF the rules, kind appeal was
made to the men for care and honor in
the use Of these books. | am happy to
say that thus far, the care evinCad in
the use Of these volumes is highly COM
mendable, and this, in connexion with
the aVidity Of the perusal, proves be-
yond question that men occupying q
| convict's cell are yet capable Of worthy
endeavor and of approaching efforts for
their mental and moral improvement.
Of the general conduct Of the inmates
during the past year | may say, my be-
lief is that few institutions of a similar
kind can show better record. For
much OF the satisfaction l have expe-
rienced in my labors | am indebted to
Mr.. Pollard, the Superintendent and to
Mr., Stone, his deputy, and others on
duty, who have done me every courtesy
and given me all encouragement.
In conclusion, beg your indulgence
for naming q few things, which, as they
! have special relation to the ends OF the
chaplaincy, I ought to lay before you
|. The apartments of the female con-
victs are wholly unfit for the purposes
| Of confinement, although they are the
best the buildings afford. If the State
! really intended to complete the ruin of
those females Especially the young
which it sentences to the penitentiary,
it could not well devise more etfectusl
method than that which it now prac-
tices, by placing together in common
receptacle the old and young in years or
! in sins, the petty pilferer for the first
! offense and the incorrigible thief for
thoussndth,- fallen creature of many
| crimes, and the comparatively innocent
victim of single error.
| The females occupy that part of the
| buildings called the Old Prison." and
they remain together day and night
without q matron, having free inter
! course with each other at all times-the
consequences which are often painfully
evident here, and they cannot be
doubtful of the future. Whilst the
officers do the best they can I'M
der the circumstances, regard this
state of things as fraught with danger
to the discipline and safety of the in
mates-as ruinous to the remnant of
moral principle still existing in the
minds Of these females when they enter,
and as constituting obstacles to all ef-
forts inducing reformation, which are
little short of hopeless insuperability.
pray you, gentlemen, and, through
you, the Legislature and people Of Yer
mont, to devise remedy without delay
for this sorry case.
II. Explicit provision ought to be
made for the instruction Of those who
are unable TO read and write, in the ru-
diments OF these and other necessary
branches OF common learning.
This in some States, as in New Hamp.
shire and Connecticut, is made part OF
the specific duty Of the Chaplain, and it
is taken into the account in naming
sum for his COmpensation-an this APP
1aavg ~ cprra Htlr mi 81, H., - LII.