Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-18
BROTHER BAKNss.
He Makes a Clean sweep Of the
House Of Correction.

Rev. George 0. Barnes writes tn,
Stanford (Ky.) Journal from ludian-
apolis September II:
l omitted in my last to tell you Of
the best meeting we have had in In.
d~ianapolis. Of course it was in the
p~euitentiary. You know my hobby,
So smile if you like. 1t was q glorious
meeting all the same. AS | wrote be-
fore, Indiana has two penitentiaries ct
opposite extremes of the State -Jeher-
sonville on the Ohio river and Miehi-
gan City on Lake Michigan. At the
Capital there is a well conducted fe-
male "refornatory," containing 200
inmates, and there the services | am
writing about we're held. / cannot
speak too highly Of the excellent
management of this institution.
"Aunty Smith" the efficient head Of
the establishment has that wonderful
mixture of frmness, common sense,
kindness of heart, and best Of all,
piety, that is seldom found in a single
personality. Two of her assistants
are higher life" Christians, who have
the good OF the reformatory inmates
at heart, and labor for something more
than salary. l speak of these because
they r attendants on our meetings,
and personally known. The Others
are, l doubt not, good and competent.
About one-third Of the prisoners are
criminals, the others girls and chit
dren, the latter numbering twenty or
thirty, at a guess. Our congregation
was gathered in the neat chapel ofthe
establishment, and were at once i'm
pressed with the large proportion of
good faces that confronted us. A
single look at our congregation was
enough to awaken prOfoundest pitv
and sympathy, and if ever we sang and
preached for souls we did it that day
Only one day like it, and that was the
memorable Sunday in the Frankfort
penitentiary. After nearly an hours
sermon, we gave the invitation to con
fess. A row of side seats was first
filed with coniessOrs, and then a
they came forward very rapidly
the chairs were, without design, bur
arranged for them, facing
the congregation. As row after row
was placed, the number of non. coufes-
sors dwindled until. after a little
sxhortation, the last one came forward,
and for the second time 10 our expe-
the eDtiIe congregation was
Won. A "oleau sweep for Jesus.
the Lord And now their faces
we're all turned in exactly the opposite
from their position when I'll
began to address them. The Lor
enabled me to make a Doiut Of this, i
sxhorting to a tlorougn change of life, |
living as saved ones.
1t was a very indescribable scene.
one never, never 10 be for
Aeain the dear Lord was
lreseut to heal all that had need Of
lealing.' Imagine our jOyl One hun
lred and seventy four confessed the
lear name. This was really the turo-
Dg point Of the I1diauaDolis meeting
Alter that break down the progress
was ste4dy and uninterrupted, if not
rs rapid as ippatieace demanded.
The afternoon meetipgs continue
full of interest, aud many sep over
into Canaan daily. VIZ occupy the
DasementOftb Meridian street church
IN the afternoon and Park Theater at
To date there have been 395
confessions Of Jesus for the souls
or restoration. 80 anointed
for bodily healing aud 45S confessions
Of Christians for an advance 10 the
life.