The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-16
Among the Striped Jackets.

A letter from Raleigh to the y. &.
Presbyterian. signed F. tells about
the Sunday school in the Penitentiary:
Last sunday was a season Of refresh
inc at the North Carolina Pcnitentiary
sunday school. The seven regular
teachers. enc Methodist Protestant. two
Baptists. and five Presbyterians. walked
out. and Just before Mr.. a. NJ. McPEee-
tiers, our superintendent, tapped the bell
for beginning the exercises. Col. w. J.
Hicks the warden. stepped torward and
addressed the teachers aud the school.
He said that they had taken Christmas
that day an had spent the morning III
reviewing the inmates of the Institution.
That he had called on that class to rise
who had not during the whole year in
fracted a rule of the prison. And
that" says Col. Hicks, lis a hard thing
TO do, and requires more than ordinary
strength, and more than human
| strength, and it would have done your
heart coed TO see what a large proper
| ton arose. | next called on those to
rise who had made a good beginning at
the first of the year but who had not
held out. Quite number arose. That
was encouraging, not that they had
| failed but that so many had made a start
and tried. There was still a number
left. Then | called on those who would
promise me for the next year to 90
| through it without breaking a rule, and
it would surely have done your souls
good to see them. They will do it. |
don't believe they will lie to me. | tell
them any man who will lie will steal.
and any man who will steal will com
NIT murder. That's the estimate | put
upon a lie. They will need, | know,
strength from on High and the guidance
Of the Holy Spirit. His work is going
on here. This has been accomplished
mainly through this Sunday school, and
l am truly grateful to you, teachers, for
your work in advancing this spiritual
interest. | cannot ask you to be more
jealous. for you come out here through
snow and rain and all ~weathers to do
thi. work. You have your reward al.
ready and l tell you there is a reward
in store that you do not look for. The
sparkling eyes and lively interest tell
me of the good work, and the blessing
will come when W. least expect it. anC
there is ii reward for all the faithful
not here, certainly in the eternity
Teachers, l thank you from my heart
The teachers testified it was a blessed
day for them and the school. Thi:
school has been going on about sever
years and has been conducted by teach
ers from the city of Raleigh. The In
ternational lessons are used. Atten
dance is voluntary, and about four-lifths
or ever a larger proportion of the pris
oners attend and manifest the deepes
interest in the lessons. The schOo
meets in the old wooden dining hall a
2p. M, and is divided into as man,
classes as there are teachers. TIL
teaching is done chiefly by reading, eX
planning and exhorting. Before Al
after the lesson there are prayers an
songs. They sing well. the leaders ar,
colored, AID they sing with spirit ant
melody.
On last Sunday Mr.. ~Schively, keepe
ofthe Federal cemetery, led them in sew
eral new songs. At 3 O'Clock a sermon
is preached, the ministers from Raleigh
officiating in turn.