The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-14
RELIGION AND THE CONVICT.
The Other Side Of the Question of
Christianity in Prison.

Deception is the vital principle in crime
EgOtism is prominent characteristic of
the criminal. This article will deal with
the prisoner as criminal, and does not
apply to those who are wrOngfully in pris-
on. in any other sense than its general ap-
plicatiOn to the human family.
My first statement can scarcely be said to
require proof; for to conceive of a thief
without assOciating with his predominant
characteristic. deception, is impossible.
Those crimes which can not be brought
under this general head of thieving. require
each separate consideration if we seek to
analyze them; but the basis of nearly all
crime is deception in some form. 1t may
be asserted that depravity precedes decep
ton; yet l think none will claim that de-
pravity is possible in a responsible being
without deception, and indeed. think it
may be said to be based upon deception.
However this may be. leave the reader to
accept or reject my first proposition. as its
rejection is not fatal to the argument l
shall make. Even if it be admitted that
deception is not the vital principle. it must be
allowed that it figures as a necessary ele-
ment in every mans character who is
guilty of crime. If not before the crime,
then after its commission to avoid detection:
after detection to avoid conviction; after
conviction, to gain all possible advantage
that will in any way modify the character
or lessen the amount Of punishment; after
sentence, to gain advantages while under
going imprisonment-it is chiefly of
Imprisonment l will speak. II it is adj
mitted that deception holds so prominent a
place in the character Of the criminal, it
follows as a natural law that the faculty
being developed and encouraged, is ever on
the alert to benefit self. That seltishness
exists to a great extent throughout the
world is admitted by all; that it exists to
such an extent in prison. that. as compared
with the outside world. what is usually
termed selfishness would be ordinary gen.
erosity, will not be denied by those who
know the prison and its life.
This is but natural, mans surroundings
govern his life to some extent. The sur
roundings of the prisoner are of such a
nature that he grows small, penurious. and
grossly selfish. Whatever of egotiSm he
MAY lack at the time of imprisonment, is
supplied in short order by these environ
ments. Prisoners are men, but they are
men who in some form are mentally dis
eased. 1t is manhood they lose, and not
faith in Gods justice and mercy; so. in
stead of religion, what is most needed in
the prison Of to-day, is manhood.
The prisoner is we'll calculated to deceive
persons with whom he comes in contact.
He is 50 thoroughly dishonest as to
ho 20 do n,Nd
ning-the companion of deception
is ever at his command That he MAY
play the hypocrite stands to reason. That
he DOES play the hypocrite is positive
fact that all must admit. just how prev
alent this hypocrisy is, do lot feel called
upon to say, but when our former chap
lain said. beware of the protesting relig
GUS convict" he only said what l would say
and what every man would say if he fully
understood the extent OF hypocrisy among
this class.
In the last issue of The MIRROR. a
writer says. will any man dare assert that
every man there is a hypOcrite?" This
question is asked in relation to the 225 men
in the Michigan state prison who attend
Sunday school, etc. 1t is unnecessary for
any one to affirm or deny. The principle
involved is: Should means be devised for
allowing prisoners to reap advantages in
prison from religious professions? Surely
the writer will not claim. Yes. Yet the
tone of his article would SO indicate. A
profession of religion, when such profess
sion results in positive advantage, in ma
terial sense, and when the subjects of such
professions are so we'll fitted for deception,
must strike the thinking man as an absur-
dity. If the prisoner is serving just SEN
tence and has ever been protesting chris
tian. he has proven, at least. that he has
lost his hold on christianity or he would not
be here. His hold on religion. whatever it
may have been, did not prevent him from
going astray; is there any just grounds for
allowing his professions to gain him advan-
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