The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-05-04
THE PENTTENTZARY.

I'LL HEYLIEN IL Y.
We regret to find remarkable degree
of apathy in our part of the world with
regard to any effort for the reclamation
of criminals. The escape of single con-
Wet from prison excites apprehensions,
while the discharge of hundreds of pri-
soners from our jails and penitentiaries,
who have given no sign of reformation,
seems to be regarded as of little conse-
quence. 1t is matter of vast moment
to the well-being of society, that the con-
victs who have served out their term of
imprisonment should be thoroughly re-
formed and qualified to enter upon a
career of usefulness as respectable citizens.
A recent report in one of our secular
papers, gives very encouraging account
of the material prosperity of the Virginia
Penitentiary under its present manage
ment. 1t has never seemed to occur to
our authorities that any special reference
to the moral condition of our prisoners is
important.
tiary Sunday School Association, COM
posed of evangelical Christians Of every
denomination. was organised in our city.
No conflict of authority has ever arisen
and perfect harmony has existed between
the officers of the institution and this as
ISOLATION. The officers OF the Peniten-
tiary have been uniformly kind and
obliging, and have afforded every facility
to those engaged in the work of impart-
ing religious instruction to the convicts
The great American work of this age
on Prisons and Reformatory Institutions
appeared last year. 1t is entitled, "The
State of Prisons and of Child-Saving In
stitutions in the Civilised World, by E.
G. Wines, D. D., LII D., Honorary Pres
ident of the International Penitentiary
Congress of Stockholm" DR.. Wines is
well known as the author of valuable
work on the Laws of the Ancient He
brews," and the present volume is the
result of many years of investigation and
study. 1t is vast repository of facts,
relating to vital interest of society,
which in our day belongs more to the
domain of craftsmanship than to that OF
philanthropy" Much the larger por-
ton of the facts contained in this volume
is drawn from official communications
personally addressed to the author by the
various governments of the world. We
regret to find that the report from the
Virginia Penitentiary occupies so brief
space in this work and that the Legis-
lature of our State and the religious pub
lie have manifested so little interest in
the reformatory agencies now being
adopted throughout the civilised world.
DR.. Wines remarks: IT have not been
able to obtain any special information
from Virginia; and all 1 know is gath
cred from the annual report of the direc-
tors, warden, and medical officer of the
State Penitentiary for 1878. The report
is wholly devoted to business, which is OF
no general interest 1t makes no refer
ence to the moral condition of the Peni-
Tertiary neither does it state whether
it has any moral ends in view nor if it
has what they are, by what agencies they
are pursued, or what results are obtained
All it contains OIL this subject is in these
words: Messrs. Norman, Kepler, Mum
ford and other gentlemen Of the city con-
tinue their instructions in religious mat
ters with some good effect. >"