The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-06

man to crime than the feeling that everybody
expects him to commit it? Why, in human
nature, from the cradle to the grave, you can
see the terribly depressing results of such an
influence Let parents tell child that they
are sure it is going TO be naughty, that they
know 1T is going to do certain things, ana ies
them watch it with suspicion. That child
almost, without yolition, finds itself COM
PEELED, by the very perverseness OF human ma
ture, to perpetrate the naughtiness they e1-
pect; and TO every mind such unw1se parents
are themselves morally responsible Tor Inc
deed.
There are remedies am convinced to meet
the terrible need that faces us, and think as
put myself into the criminals place ana Try
and look at the subject from his standpo, d, H.
that can speak with some insight on the sup
lect You know that represent tine cnurCn
of the black sheep; hence speak teenngly,
and this is not with me mere conslderauoin .
OF existing evils. 1t is something thHt 10
born into my very heart, and has aroused the
most intense feelings of my nature -,
believe the first remedy is good, pure neIP
full influence, with hopeful love and 1alth,
brought TO bear upon the hearts ana HVes ol
criminals while they are in the penltenuary.
There you have the black sheep coraiied.
them to come to you, and other influences are
drawing them from you. When they are there
you have got them, and can bring right IN
huence to bear upon them why let SO mag
nificent an opportunity for helping them for
good and bringing purity, love and sympathy
TO bear upon them be so cruelty wasted! IL
prayers that they need. 1t is the real personal
Influence of goodness and purity that must be
brought to bear upon them. Then again, Whlle
in prison, their hands must De nLeo Win nelp-
full work which will not only keep them occu-
pied and hence out of the mlschlef that natur-
ally would breed in their minds and hearts
were they idle, but they must be so equipped
with a knowledge of useful employment. and
such employment as is adapted to their special
qualifications, bent or genious, that they may
have something worth looking forward to In
m a u in
their way in the hard difficulties which face
every man in the world who has, by the sweat
of his brow, to keep soul and body together.
Secondly, believe he must have chance on
leaving the penitentiary. Helping hands must
welcome him. Employers of labor must give
him chance, and public sentiment must be
made to see that it is an 1nhuman injustice to
brand human being and send him forth fol
life as scapegoat He must not be condemned
as unworthy OF trust until he has given proof
OF such unworthiness. Oh, II this principle
could only be grasped, accepted, and put into
practice what a day-dawn OF hope would burst
upon the criminals of our land.
The salvation Army-the church of the
black sheep'-is alive to this great need. We
firmly believe in the reformation, the saliva
ton of criminals. We have seen wonders
worked in the lives of thousands whom others
would have called hopeless. We engage, so fal
as it is within our power, to stand with loving
hopefulness at the prisoners side and say tC
him, while you have the desire to do better
while you prove that desire by your life-youl
past record shall be forgotten" We saw more
than that to him, Though your own pooI
efforts may be feeble, though your circum
stances, your temptations and your diffic cutie.
may seem overwhelming, we can tell you of
power that can enter your life and transform
1t, making of you a new man, so that ole
things may pass away and all things may be-
come new"
If we can get the necessary help and sym
pathy from the public to enlarge. our work in
this direction we will gladly undertake worl
within the prison walls, and also to take the
prisoners under our wing as they emerge once
more into the glare of daylight that is be
wlldering to their poor shame-clouded eye!
and to q freedom to which their mOnOtonous
prison step has not yet become accustomed
Our people understand this class; they car
bring q loving influence TO bear upon the
heart of the convict. The convict knows then
and believes in their sincerity. He feels tha
they come to him as comrades and brothers
not 10 pity and patroniZe, not to preach at OIL
and hope, and to give him that which so many
poor starved hearts have longed for in vain
the touch OF love and the word of true sym
pathy. IL has been an encouragement to me
10 receive the following kind expressions from
Governor James Budd:
"Your labor here for unfortunates is bearing
fruit, and your interest in prison reformation
has resulted in substantial efforts toward pro
curing positions for prisoners who, after ser
vice, desire to labor. The question of reforma
ton OF criminals is one OF the most inn ortant
we have to consider Knowing thai
no agency can reach this class of unfortunate.
so successfully as can your organization, l AN
willing to subscribe 500 toward a fund to BIZ
expended by you in aiding discharged prison
ers to procure labor in this State"
Mrs. DARLINGTON BOOTH,
On behalf of the prisoners of California
"What we propose to do to accomplish
the results so ably set forth by Mrs.
Booth" said Brigadier ]. ]. Kappel of the
Pacific Coast division, yesterday, lis to
get thoroughly acquainted with the pris-
oners in our weekly visits to the peniten-
tiary and the prisons of the State and in
order to bring this about we have ap.
pointed two sergeants in each town of i'm
portance to give the jails and prisons the
closest attention. There will be a man
and woman in each town to represent
the Army, and it will be their duty to get
as closely as possible to the hearts of the
unfortunate men who need spiritual anc
material assistance that they may reform
and become respected men.
I'VE will establish employment offices
IN every town of Importance, and as sooI
as prisoner is discharged the Army viii
prepare to take Immediate charge of hin
and find him employment before he car
get back to his old haunts and old associ
ates. We will be in constant touch with
the farms, mines, fruit-picking institution:
and all channels where men who desire i
can get something to do, and just as soor
as a man gets his freedom we will see tina
he has some legitimate employment to oc
cupy his mind and make him feel that h,
is not an outcast and knave in the sigh
of men.
"Altogether there are seventy agencies
accomplish much good there is no posi-
bic doubt. The matter deserves attention
and we are in the work heart and SOUL"