The Meeker herald., 1899-02-11
PRISON SUNDAY.
Req1sst That the Last Sabbath in Oc-
t.bsr Be Given to Plsnalng for the
Welfare of Rfiaonara

Welfare of Prisonsss
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 cOndi-
tions existing in many of the jails of
the state and to wise measures for the
prevention of crime. Professor C. X.
Henderson. president Of the National
Conference of Charities and COrrec-
tl0n, said at the recent meeting of the
Prison Congress, in Indianapolis: 1T
seems to me that the great reforma-
tory ut Elmira needs much less
thought than the cOmmon-toO com
mon-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
his first small misdemeanOr. The po-
liceman who guards your home Mt
night when you are sleeping should
he selected with as great care as the
man who dispenses justice from the
highest tribunal in the land. Instead
OF brutes. tailors should first Of all he
human, even IL severe. They should
use discretion, so that the moral
wrecks shall not contaminate 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
TO all such officials. for men competent
to 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 en-
trance of youth upon ways of crime
In answer 1t must be said that now
as never before efforts are being made
I" 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 it,
At the same meeting Archbishop
Spur of West Virginia. speaking OF the
work the church could do in prison re-
form. said: 1.-The first step to take in
reforming is to reform Christian soci-
ETY.. which will help the prison reform
movement more than anything else
possibly could. The church Is not do
Ing It's duty because man is supremely
selfish Many a young man in the
West who came there pure and up
right has been ruined because his rel
atives 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
I" degradation. Churches should not
be closed six days in the week and
open one. They should be run on full
lime. seven days in the week, all the
time"
The Prisoners Aid Society was or
Eanized in January of the present
year at the earnest recommendation
of the State Conference of Charities
and Correction. Governor Alva Ad-
ans was Its 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
done quietly but most efficicIaly. and
the men in need OF work or friendly
hand have learned TO come to its Off
GERS with confidence. Rev. David 1T
ter, president; Lucy /. Harrington.
secretary.