Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-09-29
npRlLSE I'VE I0Rn .
CINcINNArI. ONO. Semi. 2olh. lss.

! Our closing day in indianapolis viii
always be "red letter" one in memory .
Not for It's blue sky and balmy breszes, but
Cor its holy spiritual blessings. Lowering
and cloud laden above, sloppy mud under
foot, and comfortless Northwestern
wind, making an overcoat necessity, IL
about all can say Of the weather. For
the rest, at $50 A. NJ, Marie and met our
friends at the Union Depot, to take the
cars for Plainfeld, Hendricks county, 6f-
teen miles out on the Terre Haute road.
At that place Reformatory for boys IL es-
tablished. A farm Of $50 acres surrounds
a cluster Of suitable buildings, and 400
boys till the fruitful soil, and are taught
wholesome drill and kept sharply TO indus
trious habits. The Superintendent, Major
Charlton, is a noble christian gentleman, Of
grand physique, whose manly face does
ono good, just to look at. The Chaplain,
Mr.. Blake, is glorious christian alec, with
a full knowledge of the gospel, and serves
in this institution az a labor OF love-" not
caring for salary. With these advantages,
IL is not wonderful that "clean sweep" Of
the boys was made after gospel talk Of 30
or 40 minutes. 325 confessed the dear
Name Of Jesus, and the occasion was one
Of unmingled rejoicing. Gov. Porter, one
Of the noblest Of christian gentlemen, sat
on the platform, in company with his love-
ly wife, and gave the influence Of his pres
ence to the gospel preached, as Gov. Black
burn and his noble lady, did on former
occasion at the Frankfort penitentiary. The
drill in leaving the spacious chapel was
one OF the most perfect specimens OF
marching l ever saw.
After delightful dinner, with Mrs.
Charlton as hostess, we adjourned to an
immense Quaker meeting in the village,
where 1000 people were assembled in the
monster meeting house Of the Friends"
TO hear addresses from Gov. Porter and
others on Prison Reform. We had the
pleasure Of again sitting on the same
platform with Indiana's noble Govern or
and listening to an intensely interesting
address from him, that revealed the true
statesman, rs we'll a. the christian gentle
man. After him, several others, including
Bro. Barnes, spoke on the same topic. OF
course l only touched on the vital import
ance Of giving the prisoners the gospel.
Well ventilated cells, nutritious food, fair
work and good libraries would all be
comparatively in vain, unless the soul
wants were met. A gospel that told the
poor fellows that God had nothing what
ever against them was the 6rst want Of
man in the penitentiary.
The p. NJ. meeting in town was omitted
that / might 20 TO Plain6eld. At night
the theatre was full, notwithstanding the
weather, and our Jesus, as usual, kept the
best wine" until the close. 80 souls
made the great pass" and 80 the Indian
apolis meeting closed in fullest blessing.
PRAISE THE LORD.
Thursday morning we packed our scat
tered "things" and at p. NJ. we left on the
1. G. ST. l.. u G. for this city. Rain fall
ing, however, all the way, as u the devil
F1was sullen for having been robbed Of 30
much in Indianapolis. Dear Nath Wood
cock and Miss Lillsrd met US at the de-
pot, accompanied by sister Miller, who re-
ports for the Commercial so admirably, and
we felt welcomed, at once. Soon at the Glib
son House and delicious supper made US
forget the storm and darkness without, and
in due time a most comfortable bed Tiled
up all bodily requirements. Nath and
sister Lillard brought US to Cincinnati, as
the LORDS instruments, else we should
not have been here's They put heads and
hearts together, and going in different d.
rections raised enough money to run the
meeting the first week. Then they tele-
graphed to come. But for that dispatch
we would have gone to New York last
Thursday. The city papers tell most OF
your readers how the meeting is progress
ing here.
Sunday we wen. out to the House Of
Refuge and when the invitation to confess
the Savior was given, general rush en-
sued, which, to my astonishment was
checked by the "Directors," as contrary 10
i l..
sions might be taken in the seats as they
were. ayes that could he done" So !
commenced with the front seat. Every
boy confessed. Then the I'd, every boy
confessed. Then the Sd, every boy con-
fessed. When i had taken about 70 con-
LESSONS the directors" again interfered
and said that such thing couldn't be al
lowed. SO l desisted, and the poor boys
were fled out, and we came away, sick at
heart. The explanation was that the rules
could not be violated lest Roman Catho-
lies should insist on the same privileges
and Jews should be offended. | wrote the
President Of the Board Of Directors, in
answer to kind, apologize letter Of ex-
PLANTATION he sent me yesterday, that my
feeling was not personal one at all, but
only one Of distress for the boys, thus de-
prived Of the privilege Of confessing their
Savior. / also said that their conduct
seemed inconsistent to me, since the preju-
dices OF the Jews were not at all conciliat- |
ed, for they instructed the boys in the
New Testament, continually. If / had
been inducing the boys into some denom-
national church, the thing would have
been maniiestly improper, buta confession
Of Christ az Savior was a matter that any |
~. n ,Isoof 4
to for a moment. Regretting therefore,
the terrible mistake Of the Directors, who |
would have Jared the instantaneous bene-
FITS Of a confession Of Jesus, in the i'm.
proved morals Of their boys, thus deprived
Of the very thing that they most needed,
viz: an individual acceptance Of the Saw
ior, thanked the President for his courte-
Gus letter, and assured him again that j
had no personal pique to nourish, and was
only sorry for the inmates OF the House Of
Refuge. i believe every one OF the boys
and girls would have confessed had they
been permitted.
So much for the difference in these in
situations here and in Indiana. But at In
dianapolis, | think the ReformatOries are
exceptional. | have never seen any 70
we'll conducted. NY heart is warming 10
this Prison work, as the dear LORD bless
es me in il, and shows me how great is the
need. We were invited to visit the hun
dreds 10 the Work House next Sunday,
but whether the (aur pas at the Refuge
will cancel the invitation, remains TO be
seen. will go, If | can get access to
them, and save "a many az l can.
Cincinnati is full We are delightfully."-
lodged in the 4th story Of the Gibson. An
elevator annihilates stair mounting. We