The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-08-06
FLOWER SUNDAY
BEST IN HISTORY
Nine Hundred Inmates At
tend the Services
A SPLENDID SERMON
And Fine Music Precede
Giving of Flowers. Ward
ems Wolfer and Reed
Address Meeting

number of visitors who attended our
Sunday services, any who came
with doubt in their minds as to
the wisdom exercised by the good
women of the Womens Christian
Temperance Union who annually
bring good cheer to the inmates of
this institution; surely the satisfac-
ton and gladness which showed in
the face of every man as he left the
Auditorium was sufficient to dispel
that doubt.
1t was our Flower Sunday, one of
the rare days each year that the in
mates look forward to with enthusi-
astic pleasure; and to say that it was
the most notable and successful we
have ever had is merely stating a
positive fact. The largest number
of inmates ever assembled at a re-
ligious service in the state of MIN
nesota was present-nine hundred
of them, and in addition. the largest
out-pouring of visitors we have ever
had.
The stage of the Auditorium was
tastefully and artistically decorated
with ferns and plants from our green
house; and chairs arranged for the
members of the w. 9. T. u. who
were present in large numbers.
Rev. G. E. Benson, presided. and
after the usual opening exercises,
introduced Mrs. William Logue of
St. Paul; who sang Hear Us Oh
Father; rendering the beautiful Sc
lection splendidly.
Hymn No. 443, Holy Spirit,
Teacher Thou" was then sung by
the choirs and congregation; after.
which Mrs. Kate Kercher of Brook
side. Minn., read the Scriptural les
son from the 18th chapter of Acts,
the first eighteen verses. This was
followed by an invocation by Rev.
Benson.
The State Prison Orchestra, un-
der the direction of Prof. Albert
Schmidt rendered Hearts and
Flowers" by Czbulka. in a manner
thoroughly appreciated by visitors
and inmates alike; and Mrs. Logue
again favored us with one of the
sweetest selections it has ever been
our good fortune to listen to: /
Shall See Him Face to Face"
The Sermon
Rev. Benson then introduced
Miss Rozette Hendrix. state presi-
dent of the Women's Christian Tenn
perance Union, who delivered a
masterful sermon; taking for her
text, the 18th chapter of Acts; 18th
verse:
"Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes,
the chief ruler of the synagogue, aud beat
him before the judgment seat. And
Gallo cared for none of these things"
The speaker very eloquently pic
tured Pau}'s trials and the handi-
caps he had to overcome everywhere
he went, and how he mastered them
all; bringing unsympathetic listen
ers into the great army of Christ's
followers. She described the life of
Christ, and took her hearers with
Him, step by step. from the manger
at Bethlehem, on and on through
the thirty-tive years of His eventful
life. up to the cross. She spoke
feelingly of His prosecutions and
His forgiveness of His prosecutors:
citing His plea for them at the last
when He cried. Father forgive
them, for they know not what they
do"
Who can look upon this picture,
asked the speaker, without feeling
hate for themselves for their own
unforgiving spirit?" She described
the great onward movement that has
steadily brought men TO more fully
realize that each is indeed his broth
er's keeper; and drew vivid COM
: parison of what the earth would be
were the teachings of Christ elm
mated and the human fellowship of
man forever removed.
Miss Hendrix was listened to
throughout with marked attention
and her sermon was most thoroughly
enjoyed by all. At the conclusion
of her address. Rev. Benson express
ed the thanks of the inmates and the
officials to the ladies for their pres
ence and the good cheer they brought
to us.
AT this point in the services,
Warden Wolfer advanced to the