The Irish standard., 1886-11-27
NATIONAL PRISON CONGRESS
Several Interesting Papers Read Before the
National Prison Congress at It's
Last Annual Session.

|
National Prison Congress at It's
Last Annual Session.
Mr.. MOYLAN, THE INSPECTOR
OF Penitentjaries in Canada Speaks Of the
Benefit Of Catholic Ohaplains in
Connection With Prisons.
| Thr National Prison Congress com
mencel its annual session III Atlanta
Ga. on the 9Th inst, and continued its
deliberations until Saturday. the 18th
A most interesting paper WAS read by
Justin Dixon, OF the New York Juve-
nile Reformatory. Indeed it was one
of the most valuable contributions to
the Congress, and was highly appre-
ciated.
When the subject of prison chap.
lains was under debate, Rev. f, II.
Wines, OF Springfield, H., d son Of the
late Rev. T.. c. Wines, Secretary Prison
Association, and founder Of the Ma
tional Prison Association, and Inter
national Congresses-with that liber-
allty which distinguished his excellent
father, called the attention Of the Con-
gress to the justice and necessity Of
having Catholic chaplains appointed
wherever there are Protestant chap.
lains in the prisons OF the country, and
to be placed Oh the same footing as to
salary, official recognition, etc., with
those officials. He said that the Ne
cessity for Catholic service for Catholic
prisoners is admitted almost every
where in the world. In this decidedly
Protestant country there is some
danger Of being unjust to those with
whose religious faith we do not agree.
In Catholic countries OF Europe he had
heen impressed with liberality on
this question which was in contrast
with views often enforced in this land
of boasted religious freedom. The
Catholic chaplain should be placed ex-
actiy on the same footing with Catholic
prisoners as the Protestant chaplain
has with Protestant prisoners.
MI Moylan, the Inspector of Peni-
tentiaries from Canada, 81 ated that the
most beneficial effects resulted from
the ministrations Of chaplains in the
penal institutions Of the Dominion, and
that the Government was alive to the
necessity of providing for the spiritual
wants of convicts Of every denomina-
tion, and, hence, in each penitentiary
there is {. Catholic as we'll as a Pro-
testant chaplain appointed and paid by
the State. This. he said: was done
from, the time Kingston Penitentiary
was opened. In England, up to COM
paratively recent period, and in Ire
land, too, there were no Catholic chap
lains appointed to the penal prisons or
common jails. An agitation was COM
menced by liberal-minded Protes!ants
all over Great Britain and Ireland, and
in public meetings and through the
press, system as tYrannical as it was
opposed to the spirit and progress Of
the age. was denounced. After years
Of discussion. i'll and out of Parliament,
but mainly after it had been we'll as
certained THAI the religious influences
which had been brought to bear upon
Catholic prisoners had no effect in re-
forming them. Catholic chapiains were
appointed and paid in the same manner
as the Protestant chaplains. The bene-
fetal effect Of this policy, MIR. Moylan
continued, has been felt in England
AND in Canada. It may be accepted as
a truism that Catholic, so long as in
his heart and conscience he adheres to
the faith in which he was brought up,
will never be made a better man by be-
ing compelled to attend any other form
of worship than his own. He may pre-
tend reformation, but he is serviens ad
oculos--an eye servant-a hypocrite at
heart If then: the members Of this
influential association desire, as be-
lieve they do, the true reformation Of
criminals, venture the liberty Of sug-
gesting the advisabilitY, nay the justice
OF considering the rights Of conscience
of the large number Of Catholics that
unhappily goes to make up the prison
population Of the United States. These
rights should be respected. The con-
vict, after sentence, becomes the ward
Of the State, and, as the State is tound,
in it's capacity of guardian, to provide
for the physical wants of its conyicts,
obligation to make suitable provision
for their moral and religious require
ments is equally strong and binding.
He was pleased that Mr.. Wines had in
troduced this question and had made an
appeal for liberality in the matter of
religious service.
We are gratifed, says the Boston
Pilot, that a matter which so materially
affects Catholic prisoners has. been
brought under the consideration Of the
National Prison Association. This Or
nooi1a+ion ia o0mnOend of thn loadinoy