The Portland daily press., 1884-09-18
BEHIND THE BARS.
Sunday Worship at Ihe Maine State Pris>
ON.
Rockland COMMENCEMENT


Rockland Courier Gazette)
Sunday morning was clear and pleasant.
The sun shone brightly. The trees with dew
silvered leaves rustled and swayed in the cool
breeze. All nature seemed speaking Of the
glory of God aud to invite one to His worship.
What change to leave the free outdoor air
and enter yon barred and boltsd structure. We
pass through the guard-room, down the stone
staircase, through the courtyard, into the
chapel OF the Maine State Prison. A few Wis
itors only are present, and before us range the
empty seats An officer takes his position
within the door and the steady tramp, tramp
OF approaching feet is heard. In single file
the prisoners enter and silently, orderly, tako
their seats. The warden aud his officers 90
cupy their positions, and the deputy warden,
from raised platform, watches the silent au-
dience, watches them continually, letting hia
eye wander from them not a moment. Out-
side, an armed sentinel PAGES up and down,
and the guards on the lofty wall stand ready at
moments warning TO shoot down il need be
fellow being, who by his crime against the
State has forfeited his liberty.
The service begins; the choir sings the open
ing hymn and the minister kneels in prayer,
Instantly every convict-what harsh word
rises to his feet and stands quietly attentive;
hoAo dsuu SnoIo q uodu 10 FoV6rontly Dent. Ouf-
ing the sermon not rustic is heard and every
face Is turned toward the speaker.
and deliver them who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bond.
age. For verify he took not on him the nature
OF angels; but he took on him the seed Of Alb
raham. For in that he himself hath
suffered being tempted, he is able to succor
them that are TEMPTED.
What an audience to preach the Word to.
The faces are not all the faces of crime. Many
BRIGHT intelligent countenance Is raised
toward the preacher. Yonder Is q mere boy,
and at his side an old, gray-headed man. Hers
is q young man near at hand. What pleas-
ant face. Surely he is not guilty of any evil
that should warrant his being incarcerated
here. Killed his motherl It does not seem
possible. And yonder slender and intelligent
looking man, he certainly is here for some
trivial offence. What? He also murderer
The most desperate man in the prison and tho
most dreaded? How little one can tell by o
mans face. Here are all kinds Of features.
the brutal, intelligent, coarse and refined, side
by side. But what an attentive audience. Not
the attention of necessity, but the attention OF
interest. See the play of feeling over that
mans thoughtful face, and the ill-sRppressed
sneer of his neighbor. But not a word Is losts
not motion of the speaker escapes their no-
tlce. The sermon is ended. With bowed
heads they receive the Observation-Disclosures
help Them, they need Gods blessing, and in
single tlle they slowly pass out into the sun
ngnt, across the yard, out of the sun into their
cells.
A small party of visitors slowly pass out OF
tie prison and down the sunny streets Of tha
quiet town, rejoicing in their liberty, but sub
dued and quoted by the sad scene Just Wit
messed.