The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-26
Six Dollars Per Year. I
Three Cents Per Copy.S

Six Dollars Per Year. - - -, al
Three Cents Per Cepy.S
next round of visiting and teaching, 1t was
cheering to witness the progress made.
The visits being continued day by day, in
few months numbers Of the prisoners
could read intelligibly. ~ u
The want Of Bibles being felt, renewed
application was made to the Governor,
who informed us that there was no appro-
priation by the State for this purpose, but
he would join us in an application to the
Virginia Bible Society for agratuitous sup
ply. This application was successful, and
we received 300 copies of the Bible and
so of the New Testament in large type
A copy was placed in each cell, where a
prisoner could read. Work having been
obtained for the prisoners, the cell
teaching became less effective. An appli-
cation was then made to the Governor for
permission to open Sabbath school. Our
request. was granted, and Superintendent
Pendleton joined in the opening exercises.
Volunteer teachers from among the prison.
ers were appointed with Bibles, &C., for
class books. Our progress was such that
we began to count our readers by the hum
dred.5 Visitors attending the school and
seeing the moral and literary improvement,
were induced to offer their services as
teachers. Thus our organization originated.
The school was regularly organized by
the appointment of officers and the adop-
ton Of rules and regulations on the Sd Of
March, 1870. twas decided at the meet
ing of the teachers on that day, that the
school should be conducted on the usual
plan adopted in the Evangelical churches of
this city. The order of exercises consisted of
hymns, prayer, reading the Scriptures, re-
citation in the classes one hour, and re-
ligious addresses or lectures. The services
in the school generally extended from 3 to
5 o'clock in the afternoon. 4 Is ,rasl ,vf 4
@ At the meeting Of the teachers on the
18th of March, 1870, the committee on
library reported, that there were on hand
476 volumes, mainly contributed by an
association in Philadelphia, besides num-
Der of school books. A donation Of 200
spelling books and readers from the Prison
Discipline Society Of Philadelphia, was
also reported hl.e aIrs1a dIg0z saT
AT the meeting on the 5th Of June,
1870, liberal contributions of books and
papers were reported as follows:
From the Presbyterian Committee of
Publication, Richmond, weekly contribu-
ton of 200 copies Of the Childr,ea's Friend,
an interesting Sabbath school journal,
adapted for use by all evangelical denomi-
nations. This paper has been regularly
distributed in the school during the past
two years. The number of copies already
distributed exceeds 10000. In some in
stances, these papers have been forwarded
by prisoners to their homes in distant por-
tons of the country, where they are CRATE
fully received and read with interest. y,
From the Baptist Home Mission Society
Of New Kork, forty hymn books were re-
ceived. ~ T5 .5sy z5ra
Since the organization of the School
about SIS copies of the Bible and New
Testament have been received from the Vir-
ginia Bible Society. ~ a,I5aisos MA
In january last, committee was ap-
pointed to solicit contributions for the pur-
chase Of hymn books. Each scholar was
thus furnished at an early day with hymn
book. go t1,.g ''1l,.l.,s,
The evidence before us Of Improvement
in mental culture and religious feeling, to.
gether with the accounts we hear from
some of the discharged prisoners encour-
ages US to greater efforts in behalf of the
| school. We are satisfied that a faithful
presentation Of gospel truth is the best in.
strumentality for the reformation OF crimi.
nails. Each convict reformed from the
error of his ways contributes to the protec.
ton of every good citizen and relieves him
| of burden which would otherwise in
crease. The annals of crime Throughout
our land show the Importance of reformar
tory as Of preventive measures for its re.
preston. Believing that reformed prison.
ers need a guiding hand after their dis
charge, when they are met by their ole
temptations peculiar to their condition, W.
would invoke, the aid of the benevolen
everywhere to lend a helping hand in thi'
good work. We invite the philanthropis
and, especially, christians to cooperate
with us in sustaining our Sabbath school
The following letter addressed to tn,
Superintendent of the school will presen
a sample of score of others written by
prisoners: ~.
RICHMOND, VA, March 18th, 1871.
! Dear Frie,ad-I will now give shor
sketch of my life while in confinement.
have now been in this prison three year
and six months. When / first came here
being ignorant of prison life, / was put I'M
cell with couple Of very bad boys an,
soon got worse, instead Of better; until
was meditating one day over a letter that
had received from my mother, asking m
to pray and trust in God. The though
then struck me, that l had been laugh
to say my prayers night and mornin
at my mothers knees, until | becam
large enough to stray away from be