Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-06

The Northwestern Convocation of the
Episcopal Church concluded its last ses-
sion at st. Lukes P. E. Church, on
the Island, last night. The last session
was devotional. Rev. Mr.. Brooking, Of
New Martinsyille, delivered an excel
lent sermon, which was addressed prin-
cipally TO church people.
Following MIR. Brooking Rev. B. NJ.
Spurn made an eloquent talk in relation
to work among the convicts az the State
penitentiary at Moundsville, and of the
home he has established at Glendale
for INDECENT eX-cOnyicts, who get out Of
the pen, and being broken down in
health and constitution, need charitable
attention. The name of this new in
stitution, which promises TO do world
OF good is Gods Providence Home.
Rev. Mr.. Spurn spoke conYincingly and
eioquently of the needs of the class of
people who are sent to prison more
because Of ignorance than wickedness
and who could be turned to better
life and reformation by a kindly and
Christian hand being extended to them
at the time they are in prison and when
the time arrives for them to leave its
walls and to go out among men again
and battle with the world. He said
that the prison was supposed to be an
institution of reformation, but intsead
Of the discipline and life at the peniten-
tiary at Moundsville tending to reform
them. it only inclined TO make them
harder and crush out their lives alto
gether. The speaker dwelt wildly up
on some of the miseries which are en-
dured in our State prison, and the
shortcomings on the part OF
the State. which fail to provide prop
erly for the accommodation OF the be-
ings whom they keep from liberty, lie
said the convicts were compelled To
stay in cells six feet long by four and
a half feet wide and six feet high, and
in this small inclosure, without ventila-
ton and with an oil lamp poisoning the
air, the convict passes the years OF his
sentence. The foul air of the prison
cell breeds an atmosphere that pro-
duces an incurable disease, and many
convicts leave the prison to die In
short time afterwards. Ii was this
class of men and women, particularly,
for whom the new home is intended,
and not for the able-bOdied who can go
out ard struggle for livelihood in the
usual pursuits. Rev. Mr.. Spurn is deep
" in earnest in his charitable WorF
and his ideas and purposes seem strictly
practical. He succeeds in forcitully I'M
pressing his hearers with the necessity
of them helping him to carry out the
plans of which he is so enthusiastic, ana
last night after the services were over
many remained to talk with him about
the new home at Glendale and offer him
assistance He read a list of many
household articles that were needed IN
the home and suggested to the audi
ence in a manner that will be readily
responded to- thar any contributors
would be gladly and thankfully accept
ed.
Ar the business meeting Of the minis
ters' convocation yesterday, Rev. MI
Woods and Rev. Mr.. Spurn, both OF
Moundsville. were reelected to the OIL
fees of dean and secretary and treas
urer respectively. the last two oIlces
being combined. The clergymen DIS
cussed matters elatlve to the work in
their various parishes and Of missionary
work out side Of their parishes. 1t was
decided to have the convocatlon three
times q year instead of twice a year.
The next meeting will be held at Wells
burg in the fall. The Northwestern
Convocation includes the Panhandle
counties and also those counties along
the Ohio River road as far as Parkers-
burg and on the 3. & o. as far as Man.
nington. The neighboring Ohio coun-
ties are also invited to become mem
bers of the ConvOcation. Those present
at this Convocation were Rev. Messrs.
Woods and Spurn, of Moundsvllle:
Hinkle. u Steubenville; Williams, or
Martins Ferry: Foster. Bellaire; Crisis
man. Wellsburg; Brooking, New Mar
tinsville; Birmingham and Young, OF
Wheeling