The Washington times., 1894-10-29
HYMNS AND cLANKING CHAINS.
Religious Services in the Workhouse-pa-
thetic Story of Reformed Drunk

Religious Services in the Workhouse-Pa-
thetic Story of a Reformed Drunk.
ard-Prisoners' Lusty Singing.
While the bronze-throated church bells we're
calling the faithful to worship in the fine and
fashionable churches down town yesterday
afternoon, scene full Of pathos and sug-
gestiveness was being enacted in the grim
and gray old workhouse, away out on the
eastern outskirts OF Washington. A motely
congregation, clad in striped prison garb, was
filing down the long iron stairwaYs to the
lower rotunda, where 2 revival service was 70
be held by Central Union Mission workers.
The scene was picturesque one as the
prisoners came into the hallway, keeping
time to sacred march performed on the or
gan by Miss Jennie Kimball, whose father,
Judge Kimball, by strange coincidence, had
sentenced nearly. IL not ALL OF them to wear
the felon's garb for offenses ranging from
drunk and disorderly TO the moro serious one
of violating the excise laws. There were old
men in that odd congregation yesterday, with
whitened hair and bowed forms, as well as
beardess boys, some of whom had never
''served time" before. and were yet receiving
their first degree in crime from the sin-hard-
ened wretches about them
The colored prisoners appeared to be the
moro devout, and responded with such vol
ume of sound when the Gospel hymns were
sung, that the echoes were sent scurrving
away down through the unhallowed precincts
of potter's field, which lay TO the east covered
with malarious haze almost concealing the
long lines of wooden headboards, each mark
ing the last resting place Of some unfortunate
pauper.
CLAIMING OF CHAINS.
Not the least suggestive feature of this
novel religious service was the clanking Of
chains as the prisoners entered the rotunda
and seated themselves ON the long lines of
benches. These chains and maaacles, one of
the guards explained, were only placed on
those prisoners who had at some time escaped
from the institution or made an attempt to
escape.
Let US sing No. on the bulletin" an
nounced Capt. E. II. Ripley. and as Miss
Kimball touched the ivory keys of the organ,
200 prisoners, black and white. stood up and
made the welkin' ring as they thundered out
the verses Of the good, old Methodist refrain:
"Oh Jesus is rock in weary land,
A weary land, weary land;
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
A shelter In the time of storm"
After fervent prayer, Capt Ripley urged
his hearers to forsake the careless life they
had been leading and become good citizens.
He was followed by Mr.. E. N. Edwards.
''When 1 was a sinner" said the speaker,
''I thought 1 was having a big time, but.
friends, 1 am having bigger time now serv-
ing the Lord. Everything now is happiness
and peace"
Rev. C. H. Mytinger told his hearers that
God was everywhere, waiting and willing TO
save penitent sinners. He is here in this
prison-h house, and will remove that striped
suit from you, and make you decent, respecta-
bic, and honorable citizens if you will let
| him.
| Mr. Andrew Thompson. the converted Nor
wegian sailor, and one OF the most active OF
the mission workers among fallen humanity,
/ said:
''There are men in this prison who knew me