The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-04-16
CHRISTIAN WOMEN.
WORK BEING DONE BY THE
CANTON w. c. t. U.
History of How the First visits TO the
Jail, Infirmary and workhouse
Were Made Many Years Ago
The work Accom- pIisbed.

The Work Accomplished.
The following is a report of the presi-
dent Of the w. @. 4. u, on the work in
the jail, county inarmary and work
house;
The work began at the Jail In 1888
We called on'Mr. Lee, who was sheriff at
that time, and he referred us to the com.
missloners, who referred us to Mr.. Lee
again, who gave us permission TO hold
servicesin the jail once week, and on
Wednesday Of each week, religious SER
vices have been held there from that time
to the present date, and the steady SOW
ing of good seed has brought forth an
abundant harvest in the conversion Of
souls who have not even heard of the
Savior in years, except in blasphemous
way. Letters have come from the peni
tentiary telling Of the good done in the
Stark county jail.
Papers, tracts, Bibles and testaments
have been given TO the inmates; and one
day in the year the jail is visited by the
W. G. T. u. ladies', and flowers are
given to the prisoners, to which are at
tached Scripture texts; the flowers are re-
ceived with gratitude ,and we are made
to feel that the little we can do, is truly
appreciated by the unfortunate men.
The superintendents of this department
of the work are Mrs Highway, Mrs.
Waite and Mrs. Taylor.
The work at the inflrmary began in
1884. At that time the wife Of the
/ presiding elder of the NJ, r. chucrh, Mrs.
Wilson, and myself, called at the in
frmary and asked Mr.. Pontius, the
superintendent, If we could hold services
there, aud he replied that he had asked
the ministers of the city to hold services,
but that they seemed to forget 1t at
times, and that we would be welcome
to come and hold services once q month,
and that arrangement has been complied
with from that time to this. On the
first Sunday of each month the inmates
are invited to attend religious service
sometimes It is prayer meeting, and
sometimes minister accompanies the
ladies and sermon is delivered to an ap-
preciative audience; one of the inmates
remarking to me at one time that he
was glad to see that the ladies Of the
W. G. T. U. were doing missionary work
at home instead of China. The work is
very much appreciated by the inmates,
and as many of them have seen much
better times, and as this gives them a
taste Of the pleasures Of the past and the
ladies are patient in listening to their
"reminiscences of the past and in show
ing them that they thoroughly sympa-
thize with them in their sorrows, and
trying to do them good, their effrots are
meeting with the success that must
always follow willing, patient and faith
full work for the Master, and He who
has said: "Inasmuch as We have done il
unto the least of these my brethren, ye
have done 1t unto me-" alone knows the
abundance of the harvest.
On Christmas treat is given the in
mates by the W. G. Il. u, in the form Of
fruit and candy, and any little thing that
is especially needed by anyone here.
On Flower Mission day, each of the
inmates receives bouquet, tastefully ar
ranged, and the day is one that is antici
pated with joy by all. The bouquets are
given those who are able to be out, while
they are at the dining table, and those
for the sick aud insane are taken to theii
rooms. The superintendents of this
work are Mrs. Ritterspaugh and Miss
Emma Bauhof.
The work of the w. G. T. U. at the
workhouse has been continued without
intermission since June, 1894. When the
work house W as finished, 1 called and
found they had fine chapel, and on in
quiry 1 found that they had no chaplain
so asked Mr.. Pontius If we could hold
religious services there, and he referred
me to the commissioners or board of di
reotors who gave me the permission tC
have services there every Sunday; since
which time we have had services eact
Sabbath. We frequently ask one OF tht
ministers of the different churches tt
conduct tho services, and as there are 81
many Of them, none of them have beer
called on more than twice, and the greater
number of them but once; the new-com
ers have never been called on for tina
work; the ones who have complied will
our request for help have seemed to do 81
cheerfully.
The first service was held on the 10tl
day Of June, A. D., 1894, and ON Flowe
Mission day the ladies made and took ou
sixty-two bouquets, with Scriptur
verses attached and numbered, .an'
the inmates were requested to bring tn
texts with them to the chapel, and whei
called for the number, the one possess
ing the number arose and read his text
I also called on some of the congregation
to Iecite verses, and the meeting was
very interesting one.
; Mr.. Best gives them the Sunday -sohoo
lesson every Saturday evening, and / an
sure 1t is doing much good. aske
the guard what the prisoners thought Q
the services and he said that they enjoye
every part very much, especially the sing
ing, and that they talked about 1t al
the week.
The attendance, and the attentlo