The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-03-10
Society for
Friendless

An Account of the Good Work
Rev. James Parsons is Doing
In this State.
1t is not generally known that there
is IN this sta e society or organization
known as the Society for the Friend
less, of which the Rev. James Parsons
of st. Haul is State Superintendent. AS
yet complete organization has not
been effected in this state and the act
i've Work is performed by Mr.. Parsons.
His aim is to help those men and wo-
men, those boys and girls who have
strayed from the straight aud arrow |
path and have suffered punishment at
the hands of the State. There is, as
everyone knows, little sympathy for
parOled prisoner or q released convict. |
They are few indeed who are willing to
extend helping h a n d to the ex-
jail bird. 1t is Mr.. Parsons mission to
counsel and advise with such poor un-
fOrtunates, give them fresh start in
life, and, if possible, make them better
men and women-good and useful men,
bers of society. A noble work and de-
serving of the support and encourage
ment of every right thinking man and
woman, especially of those who profess
to walk in the footsteps of The Meek
and Lowly One who said: "He that is
without sin among you, let him first
cast stone" @
Mr.. Parsons made his first visit to
Princeton on Saturday; he came in on
the evening train and remained until
Wednesday morning. Sunday morn.
ing he talked in the Congregational
church, and in the evening he addressed
q union meeting at the NJ. E. church;
every seat was filled, and throughout
his 80 minutes discourse he command.
ed the closest attention of everyone in
the vast audience His subject was
How Criminals Are Made. He pref
aced his remarks by giving brief his
tory of the Society for the Friendless
and its objects. He told of his own
work in this state, especially Of his la
bors in ST. Paula Minneapolis, where
he was constantly engaged in assisting
the unfortunate OIL es in getting en-
plcyment, thus affording them an op-
p,rtunity of becoming selfrespecting,
selfsupporting men and women. He
went on to show that many man,
though not Inherently lai, in the heat
of passion or in all unguarded moment
commits crime against the laws of
the State for which lie is punished ty
imprisonment. When such man paid
the penalty and regained his liberty the
reverend speaker thought he ought to
be given chance in the world.
Mr.. Parsons made an earnest plea for
children; to see that they did not read
vile, trashy literature; to keep them off
the streets nights; not to permit them
fto hang around the railroad depot and
: postofiice.
In accordance with the views of the
ablest penologists of the country, Mr.
, Parsons expressed himself as being in
, favor of indeterminate sentences for
J crime. The hopelessly criminal should
be TIRE ated as the hopelessly insane and
restrained of their liberty for life, while
> those who gave promise of reforming
should be given chance.
' The discourse throughout abounded
in good common sense. Mr.. Parsons
: is logical and convincing andimpresses
3 one as being sincere and deeply inter
! ested in his work.
I'll On Monday Mr.. Parsons talked te
tie pupils at the high school and alst
+ to those at the Whittier school and gave
them m good fatherly advice
t Princeton Union.
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