The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-04

ment. Our prisons would have to be re-
duced in size
u know not when this happy state Of
affairs shall exist. but the time is COM
ing. By Gods help we will turn the
wiiiskey politicians out and put in men
who will dethrone the tWrant Whiskey
and denlolish his kingdom. The saloon
must go: The handwriting is on the
wall. God hath decrecd it,
an"E rthIy HELL"
The condition Of the Virginia State
the Rev. Robert Strange. D. D., in the
course of n sermon at st. Paul's Church
or Sunday night. DR.. Strange found an
opportunity for the attack when he Sc
lectnd as tie subject of his address,
Public Opinion" lie did not spare the
languidity OF the General Assembly OF
Virginia whose members, he declared, are
responsible for the pitiaDle condition OF
the inmates of the horrible hole, and he
looked to the humane citizens of the State
to prod into activity the Assembly and
have the suffering effectually relieved.
He said that instead of calling the pile
of bricks a penitcntiary. it should be
renamed ''VirSinia'S Earthly Hell.
DIR. Strange said his words were spoken
rpon facts personally collected a t the
pen.
DR.. Strange, in the course of the SER
mon. said:
THAT pcntcntiary is a crime against
our civilization: it is an aboHlnauon 10
all true men. The men who are put
there are criminals. it is true. but they
ought to be punished rs men and women,
not treated worse than beasts, or de-
graded below them. Think OF 1,4o0 men
living in place built for three hundred
Think of twenty-nine men sleeping in
small room with one barred window TO
the free air. and n transom opening BACK
into a corridor. Think of men devoured
by yernin and kept from sleep by these
tormenters after a hard day S work. Ihlntl
of men lighting and MASKING one an
others faces in their struggle only Tor
fresh air Think of the far-famed cruel
ties of Siberia, not suffering by COMPARE
son with the prison life of Nirginia's pen
iteutiarv. Think Of one of the worst
places on earth Icing here in Richmond
the capital of Virginia Think OF young
criminals, imprisoned for first offense-
with a probability of reforn-herded To-
rether with hardened convlcts and made,
in a few months. hopeless, maddened
haters OF their kind.
",nstead of the name penitcntiarS-a
Mace for men TO repent and reform--it
ought to be called .Virginia's Earthly
He'll ard over its doors should be m
scribed. .Ye who enter here leave all hope
behind.
..Who is responsible for this? Speciflcai-
" the members of the General Assembly
Of Virginia are responsible. More par
,icularlv still, each member is accounta-
l,,o 10 God and man who does not go our
there. see for himself and then aS1tate'
vote and move until all his influence is
exhausted.
Other Church. News.
The Executive Committee Of the Meth
odist Churches met yesterday ct Centen-
arv Methodist Church, With Mrs. L. T.
Michael in the chair. arrangements were
,oade to entertain the 125 delegates OF the
Home Mission Society of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, which will COIL
yene in this city on April 18th.
The welcome address will be made by
Mrs. w ]. Maybee. and that on behalf
of the churches by DR.. w Tudor. The
following ladies were appointed chair
man OF committees: entertainment. Miss
Helen G. Manson; Lunch, Mrs. w. O..
Miller: Aiusnc Mrs. w. Y. Tudor; Deco
ratiors. Mrs. Richardson; Press, Mrs. w.
]. Maybea and Mrs. ]. p. Murrell.
The chairIncn are asked to meet Friday.
March I.th, at ! o'clock. at Centenary
Church.
The beautifully impressive rite of con.
Cremation was administered Sunday at