The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-07-02
CHAUTAUQUA.
RED-LETTER DAY.
THE PRISON SECRETARY ADDRESSES THE

CLASSs
Not since the visit of Bishop Vincent-the
leader of the great Chautauqua movement-last
year has there been such amount Of enthusiasm
and cheer as that which was exhibited at the
meeting of the prison Chautauqua circle held in
the chapel of this institution last Sunday. For
the past two or three weeks. the secret move
ments of the Chautauquans subject of
keen inquiry to their fellow.conv lets; but to
learn what up going to happen was as
easily to be obtained pardon Communication
The bread vender. that worthy scion of King
O'Toole who worthily fills the vice.presidentia
chair, wendell his way from cell to cell with such
solemnty and with such halo of ethereality
roaming round his big honest countenance when
ever, in whispering accents he asked for
little information. either raised his eyes heaven.
ward or stuck his head in the bread basket but
said not word. Even the poor chaplain himself
whenever he attempted to gain admission into
the secret sessions that were being held was told
by the warden some of the officers that some
poor fellow in the hospital needed his help for
little while. 1t was finally announced that Mrs.
S. N. l. Henry. secretary of the prison Chautau.
qua classes. would be present at the meeting last
Sunday and address the members.
Precisely at 80 p. m. the members filed into
Miss Eva Foster, and Chaplain Albert awaited
them. without delay the business of the meeting
commenced. The minutes of the previous meet
ing read and approved after which each
member responded to the roll.call in neat and
appropriate quotation. One member from each
of the six classes read paper on the studies of
the current year; and although reports equally as
good have been submitted in the past, We must say
that those read last Sunday have not been excelled
The report from Glass A on the life and reign of
Queen Elizabeth, by one of the new members, is
worthy of special commentator. One of the
members read special paper on Harmony" and
another the beautiful poem from the pen of Mrs.
Henry which. appeared in THE MIRROR last
week. This being over. the great secret was un-
masked by a representative from class who rose
and said. that for the first time in the history of
the circle, the members were about ''criticising
the critic and respectfully requested the Rev.
Mr.. Albert to take a seat on the platform. when
he informed him that the members at their first
annual meeting held short time ago un.
animously decided that special vote of thanks
be accorded him for his great efforts on their be-
half during the year gone by, that at subsequent
meetings it assumed practical shape, and that the
hour had now come to formally present them. He
then read the resolutions of thanks, which were
neatly engrossed on parchment and encased in
white cardboard knotted with blue ribbon. The
Rev. Chaplain in few appropriate words ex-
pressed his gratitude for the kindness shown him
and the confidence the members had expressed in
him. Looking back at the past he had only to
repeat that he wished he had done more. He re-
Joiced at the progress the members had made in
their studies, which he hoped to see continuing
and increasing as time advanced. He then in.
troduced the distinguished visitor whose neat and
happy address pleased the members so much.
Mrs. Henry is a very attractive and pleasing
speaker, and we venture to say that seldom has
any of her discourses been listened to with
more delight or prove more fruitful than
tie one which she delivered on this occasion.
She expressed the great pleasure she felt at being
present at the meeting and seeing such body of
men banded together in such good work. 1t was
truly depressing to her at all times to find her
duties bringing her to such place this for she
saw so much good manhood going to waste She
wished that it might be that each one present
would go out to-day free, and by their lives prove
their manhood to the world. II am not going,v
she said, Ito talk to you about your studies, but
the question arises-What does educa mean
to men? 1t means that it must be threefold be.
cause we are threefold in our nature, physical.
mental and spiritual, and to be successful if
must cover all three of these points. Give man
full physical and mental training and he is but
monster and dangerous man if not guided by
the bright light of spirituality. She ventured to
say that many before her would not be here if
they had the advantages of good physical train.
ing cultured through the action of the mind and
the spirit. When listening to the numerous ex.
cellert quotations and papers delivered and read
she was wondering how many of them were
only theoretical and how many were heartfelt
The loftiness of them were truly great but easily
attainabe by walking in the footsteps of the Lord
Absolute purity is within reach of every man
here. Purity is not ignorance, but knowledge
OF good and evil" She urged upon her hearers
to conquer everything unholy that by and by thew
may walk out either on this green earth or into
the far Off Jerusalem. She asked any one present
who at any time got down hearted and discour
aged and felt that she could help him, to write to
her and she would gladly respond, and concluded
her remarks by appealing to the members when
they leave here to be men, to remember thew
were Chautauquans. and never by word or deed
oring discredit upon its fair name and fame.