The Meeker herald., 1898-10-29
PRISON SUNDAY.
A Reqosst That the Last sabbath In Oc'
s.bsr Be Given to Planning for the
Welfare Of Prisoners


The Colorado Prisoners Aid Society
appeals to all the Ministers of the
state to observe the last Sabbath In
October as Prison Sunday.
The society desires especially that
attention shall be called to the conui-
tions existing in many OF the jails of
the state and to wise measures for the
prevention OF crime. Professor c. Il.
Henderson, president of the National
Conference of Charities and Correc-
lion, said at the recent meeting OF the
Prison Congress, In Indianapolis: 1t
seems to me that the great reforma-
tory at Elmira needs much less
thought than the cOmmon-too cOlu-
non-jails Of the country and the
Problems they represent. The Jail is
the great American home of tragedies
occurring every day, and too little at
tention is paid to the men who are
Charged with the care of them and the
Inmates in them. The public seems
TO think that any hard-fisted man of
strong mind and severe disposition is
the proper man to be given charge of
the common jail into which are
thrown at random the scum OF the
criminal world with the erring son of
tender parent. who has committed
bis first small misdemeanor. The po-
liCeman who guards your home Mt
night when you are sleeping should
he selected with rs great care as the
man who dispenses Justice from the
highest tribunal In the land. Instead
OF brutes, jailors should first of all be
human, even If severe. They should
use discretion, so that the moral
wrecks shall not contuminate the boy
or man who has fallen for the first
time and who may be easily reclaimed
The harder the material we have to
work on the softer should be the hand
which subdues it."
This society thoroughly endorses the
above sentiments and further believes
that civil service rules should apply
10 all such officials. for men competent
tc manage such an institution wisely
should feel their position secure.
1t has been charged that society
has provided punishments for crime.
but has neglected to prevent the ell
trance of youth upon ways of crime.
In answer II must be said that now
as never before efforts are being made
to care for those unfortunate boys
and girls. They are cared for in
homes public ana private. their minds
and hands are trained. but the work is
ench day growing in Importance and
each day should see more and more
interest taken in 1t.
AT the same meeting Archbishop
Spur of West Virginia. speaking of the
work the church could do in prison re-
form. said: The first step to take in
reforming IL to reform Christian soci-
ETY.. which will help the prison reform
movement more than anything else
possibly could. The church is not do
Ing its duty because man Is supremely
selfish. Many young man in the
West who came there pure and up
right has been ruined because his rel
ntives and parents in many cases neg
lected to write, and allowed him that
first opportunity to feel homesick and
then gradually sink down step by step
to degradation. Churches should not
be closed six days in the week and
open one. They should be run on full
:ime. seven days In the week, all the
time"
The Prisoners Aid Society was or
EaniZed in January of the present
year Mt the earnest recommendation
Of the State Conference Of Charities
and Correction. Governor Alva Ad-
ans was It's first contributor. and
among its members are many men and
women prominent in the charity work
of the state. in the ministry and on
bench and bar Its work has been
dcnf quietly but most etiicieraly. and
the men in need of work or friendly
hand have learned TO come to its Off
GERS with confidence. Rev. David Ut
ter, president; Lucy l. Harrington.
secretary.