Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-27
LAST DAYS WORK
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between 9 and 10 O'Clock, and at that
hour found ninety-five people in them
drinking. There is need for deter.
mined and immediate action
Prison Work.
Rev. N. G. Boyer, chaplain of the
penitentiary at Anamosa, addressed
the convention briefly on the work
that is being accomplished by the
Christian Endeavor society in the pr-
son, preceding his remarks by reading
the following greeting from the prison
Endeavor society:
"The Prison Christian Endeavor so.
ciety hereby sends it's geeting thru
its chaplain and president, to the
Christian Endeavorers assembled in
Ottumwa, and hereby expresses its ap.
probation of the interest manifested
and the efforts put forth in behalf of
this society since it's organization.
The society realizes that it has, in
the Endeavorers of Iowa staunch
friends who will do what they can for
women behind the bars
"They hereby also express their
gratitude for what has been done for
them and the official recognition ac-
corded in the establishment of a
prison department and the appoint
ment of such an efficient superintend-
ent of that department, Miss Belle E.
Powers, whose efforts have been bless
ed to us of God in the awakening of
such widespread interest and such
beneficient results, That Gods bless
ing may rest upon this convention is
our prayer
Rev. Boyer then gave a number of
interesting statistics concerning the
prison work, including brief men
tion of the kind of material with which
they have to work. "a great many
people suppose" said Rev. Boyer,
.tthat only the lower classes or the ig-
norant are sent to the penitentiary.
This is not true, for there we have
men of all professions and men who
formerly occupied the highest bust
mess and social positions.
"a great many people have an idea
that the foreign population affords a
is also untrue, as it will be seen by
investigation that in the prison at An
amosa only 25 per cent of the inmates
sonal investigation of these matters,
and besides what | have previously
stated found that only a fraction ov-
er per cent were illiterate.
1.-THE saloon and it's attendant evils
are responsible for the downfall of Sc
per cent of those in the penitentiary
at Anamosa, and this number is in
creased in other states and districts.
1t is not always the drink alone that
has caused the downfall of many.
There are people who are naturally
crlminally inclined and by taking a
drink they are neryed to commit their
crime
Rev. Boyer closed his remarks by
relating briefly what is being done for
the inmates at Anamosa in the way OF
education and advancement in their
spiritual welfare. He said there is
need not only for education, but a
greater demand for regeneration.
Missionary Sermon Omitted.
Owing to the absence of Dora
d. Palmer, who was to have ad.
dressed the convention on the subject
of missionary work, that part of the
program was omitted, and the morn.
ing session closed by benediction by
Rev. d. p. Breed, of Grinnell
The convention adjourned in order
that the delegates might attend the
several denominational rallies, SEIZED
uled for this morning.
UNCONVENTIONAL Rallies.
The second part of the morning SEES
sion of the convention today was de-
voted to the UNCONVENTIONAL rallies
which were held in various churches
tllruout the city. The leaders of Jun
ior Endeavor work met in convention
at the parlors of the Y. NJ G. A. at
the same hour, at which time a help
full session conducted by the state SUI
perintendent, Mrs. Julia R. McQuil-
kin, of Waterloo, resulted.
Christian Rally.
The rally of the members of the
Christian denomination was held at
the First NJ e. church. and, in the alb
sence of DR.. Breeder, of Des Moines,
was led by Rev. D. f. Sellards, of
this city. A spirited song service pre-
coded the regular program, which
was opened by an address of welcome
by Rev. Misener, pastor of the West
Second Street Christian church.
He was followed by Rev. Clayton
Sanderson, of Charlton, who spoke
on the subject, "Our Place in Chris
tian Endeayor," in which the speaker
brought out the fact that while the
Christian church is third in contribu.
tions and number of societies in Chris.
tian Endeavor work. it is first in mem
bership in Iowa. "The church mem
bership," he said, 'is made up largely
of young people, and there are great
possibilities for the work in this de
nomination"