The Washington times., 1895-04-24
jail BIRDS IRE PIHING
They Are Denied the Visits of
Christian Women.
BIBLE CAST INTO THE STREET
Ladies of st. Andrews Church Had Formed
Chapter of Hope to Visit the Jail-After
Many Years Ministration to the Inmates
They Were Notified to Cease Their Visits.
Christian People Aroused Over 1t.

The official locking of the doors of the
prisoners cells at the Jail against the gentle
and beautiful ministrations of kindly dis
posed ladies has been discussed freely and
fully in the Times, but there is no end to the
adverse comment, on this regulation, by the
Christian people of the city.
The question as to who is responsible is
not now the important one, but there is a
general desire that such q deprivation Of
the unfortunates of the common civIites,
TO say nothing OF the inestimable value of
woman's missionary work at the JAN
A lady Of St Andrews Church put a fine
point on the situation yesterday afternoon
when she said:
1.-The officials might just as well now
write on the dungeon doors the inscription.
AN hope abandon, We who enter here -"
There is ample testimony to be found, even
in the jail itself, OF the eager expectancy and
natural longing of the prisoners, and es-
pecially the females, for the visits of the
''mnistering angels" which have been de-
MED. One orthe most active agencies among
the fallen leaves in the jail was the Chap
d
Church. of which the Rev Mr. Perry is
rector. The leading spirit in this chapter
is its warden, Mrs. Carrie Morrison.
THEIR VISITS STOPPED.
Up to the past winter the members of her
society visited the Jail on Tuesdays. The
former warden of the jail and matron looked
with favor on their visits. and their surprise
was great when they were informed some
time after tine choice OF Mr.. Leonard that
their visits must cease.
Mrs. Morrison said yesterday that it was
with great reluctance that she could speak
OF work that like all charity was essen
TALLY private She, however, said that
during the former wardens term the So
ciety had accumulated quite little library
at the Jail. These books were intended
for the young women, and especially those
who We're confined in the same cell.
Many of the girls were intelligent and
practical good was accomplished by keep
ing their minds occupied with wholesome
literature. 1t preyented them from brood
ing over their sOrrows and misfortunes,
above all lessened the temptation aud OPP
portunity OF indulging in Objectionable
conversation"
People may have been surprised" she
said, but the fact is ttat when the regu-
lations began to be strictly enforced, we
were often locked in with the criminals
in order to perform our duty to them.
REMOVED THE BIBLE.
But there has been this great change.
After the information was given that we
would no longer be admitted, made one
visit there. 1 found that our library had
been removed into an attic, and the one
Bible, the only one l believe i'll the build
ing was also removed"
The value and extent of the work done
by the Chapter of Hope are remarkable
Eight women have been restored to Chris
tan life aud are now members OF the
church. In one case a woman was Te-
stored to a husband, and they are now
living happily toge ther. In another
voluntary marriage was brought about
between one of these young women and
former gentleman friend" Three other
women, after the prayers and teaching
OF these pious ladies, abandoned their house
of Ill fame, and are now living in respecta-
bic houses, aud are free from bondage.
Many other instances OF the good effects
of these visits might be enumerated, and
this is the work Of only one society But
the Bible has been prescribed, the only
copy in the jail having been kicked out
into the street; the books of consolation
and hope have heen relegated to the ear-
ret and, most of ALL those who ''go about
Going good must avoid the jail
REV. MR. PERRY's RBMAKs.
Mrs. Consel, whose ministrations have
been to the condemned, can no longer visit
these people. This lady not long ago
secured the pardon of one of the criminals
by President Cleveland, to whom she is
a visitor at times in this interest.
The Rev. Mr.. Perry said that when the
ladies Informed him of their exclusion
from their work he intended to interest
himselfpeEsonally tohave achange effected.
He, however, abandoned the matter when
he found that the warden OF the jail was
acting under the orders of the judges.
He regards the regulations as very unfor-
tunate, and said he would be willing to
assist in its modification. He knew, lie
said, of no agency more powerful with
the criminal classes than refined and gra-
cious women, who showed to those poor
people that some one still had in them the
interest of love and humanity
Warden Leonard emphatically denied
last night that the Chapter of Hope la
dies are now barred out of the Jail.
They were not allowed in the jail during
the smallpox scare" said he, ''but they
are welcome now. The Catholics and
the coIored Christians were at the Jail last
Sunday holding services as usual, but
not. however, with the prisoners in the
rotunda."