The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-08-18

Although heavy rain storm of the
afternoon delayed the arrival of the
Chicago operate Company, threatened
for some time the continuance of the
program, the formal Opening day" of
the chautauqua yesterday eXcelled in
Interest and attendance that of last
year
Promptly at $50 a. M, Rev. L. H.
Bunyan, superintendent, took charge
of the Sunday school and the morning
lesson was read and discussed. DIR.
Chas. w. Whitman, of Liberty, Ind,
delivered the first Sunday morning
sermon and at 7:15 in the evening de-
livered his instructive lecture on THE
Investment of Life" Social service is
the keynote of DR.. Whitman's life in
vestment, he said.
Talk On Prison Life.
Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth, known
in the prison circle where she spends
the greater part of her time, as Little
Mother of the prisons" and in the out
side world as leader of one of the
widest and most vital movements of
the age, that of reforming the convict,
Mrs. Booth is one of the ablest wom-
en- orators in America. She has beau
tiful voice and her nature thrills with
the love and good will which her mes
sage carries to her audinces. Her lee
ture for the afternoon was Lights and
Shadows of Prison Life" Mrs. Booth
spoke, in part, as follows:
Movement Started.
about seventeen years ago, as a
result of the work of convicts them
selves the Volunteer Prison League
was named and organized in prison l
assisted in this work. Some time later
Mr. Booth became the leader of the
''Volunteers of America" universaliZing
this movement for the uplift of the
convict. This movement does not rep
resent the Salvation Army. 1t is entire
ly different in purpose and in its meth
ods.
"The purpose of the volunteer Pris-
on League is to keep ip close touch
with the prisoner from the day he en-
ters prison until his discharge and
then to bring esm to one of the two
"Hope Halls" Where he has a chance
to get another start in life. This or
ganization is exclusively for the man,
behind the prison bars, the rule start
ing the minimum at one years i'm
prisonment. The population back of
the walls in Joliet, Sing Sing, Michi-
gan City, Columbus and other state
prisons made up of burglars, thieves,
forgers and murderers are we'll worth
saving believe that he can be saved.
1t makes no difference how long he
has been there, he has a heart the
same as you and l and once you give
him the chance and put him in the
surroundings of a good home he will
make good.
1.-The saying once thief-always a
thief is not true, the title "ex-convict"
should be abolished. There is a higher
hope beyond the prison walls. These
souls must be rescued. According to
spiritual belief they are worth redeem
ing.
j Parents To Blame.
'It is not the taint in the blood but
/ the suffering of childhood that drives
humans into the underworld of crime.
I Present living conditions in poverty
stricken homes with parents are res
ponsible for most of the crimes COM
mitted today. l am not theorist This
is practical every day common sense.
1.-The State has no right to profit by
/ the labor of prisoners. On the contrary
| the prisoners should be allowed to
earn his keep and make enough in
prison to support his unfortunate fam
! lily outside the walls or save enough
to put him on his feet when his SEN
tence is expired.
"The true secret of prison reform is
to go deep and far into the root of the
question. Education does not prevent
crimes, some of the most aducated are
behind prison walls; physical develop
ment does not prevent crimes, the
touch divine to the human heart makes
bad hearts good"
Commands High Salary.
Mrs. Booth commands the highest
price ever paid a woman lecturer in
! this country and the money thus earn
ed goes to support her two Hope Halls
homes for paroled and discharged pris-
! Gontinpad on Last Pagal