Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-13
STATE HOUSE,
Interesting Report Of Chap
lain Of State Prison.
Cen. Harper Reports Shrinking
Of Veterans on Pension.L List.
Forest Commissioner Sends Out
Warning to Guides.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting Of Governor and
Council Will Be Held at 10 A. M.
Thursday, Feb. 20.

II have, during the year given at
tention to the routine work." states
Rev. Eugene v. Allen chaplain of the
Maine State prison at Thomaston, in
his annual report which was filed with
the Governor and Council, Thursday
This has been in part the ministering
to the spiritual needs of the men, do
ing what was possible for the mental
development of each, and striving to
render less monotonous an existence
necessarily hard"
Continuing Chaplain Allen says:
Carrying out this thought chapel
services have been held as usual, and
have been made as attractive as pos
sible Talks with the men On religious
themes have supplemented the chapel
services, and Bibles and religious lit
erature have been given to such as
would make use of them.
An abundance of good reading mat
ter has been provided. and men who
have been able to make use Of this
have received assistance in studies, so
that in not q few cases men have
learned to read the books from the
library. but some have now learned
to read and write their own letters.
For those who are unable to do this
the reading and writing of their let
ters is a part Of the routine work of
the chaplain, as is the reading of all
the letters written and received by
the men before they are forwarded,
: Other work has been taken up as
occasion and need seemed TO direct.
A ha
each Sunday afternoon In the corri-
doris of the prison in an attempt to
relieve somewhat the monotony of the
day. An appropriation made by the
last Legislature has made possible the
extending of this work, and OCCASION
ally an orchestra has been secured.
A phenograph is used on other days.
and men are allowed to sing such Sc
lections as are familiar. The results
from this change have seemed to justi-
fy the effort
During the summer the men were
allowed the privilege of the prison
yard each fair Saturday afternoon. The
change was something of an expert
ment. 1t was necessary that some
person assist in directing the games,
and, feeling deeply the Importance of
making this a success, L gave such
assistance as was possible each Sat
urday.
MANY of those who applied for pa
role needed assistance, some in filing
out the application blanks. others in
the correspondence required in secur-
ing the services of the first friend
and adviser and others in the explana-
ton of the conditions imposed by the
new law. This assistance have given
as required.
IT am receiving scores of letters
from paroled men and from men who
have completed their terms of i'm
prisonment, and have replied to each
as far as possible. In this have
tried to cheer and encourage men who
have none too easy time in finding
their place in the world after term
in the States prison. Thirty-nine men
have been paroled and thus far only
one has been returned. This is an ex-
cellent record. While it is certain that
this number will become larger. since
men are but human, I feel that a
helpful letter from the chaplain may
help some man in critical hour.
II have regarded this prison as my
parish or, rather. the prisoners as my
parishioners. / have tried to be a
friend and helper to each man as FAR
as possible. One year ago, pledged
to you, gentlemen, my best effort. l
have kept my pledge, my best has been
given. Tho same pledge repeat here.
.On the third Sunday of each month
the chapel service has been conducted
by Rev. FIR. Flynn Of Roekland, or
by his assistant, Rev. FIR. Murnane,
who have ministered to the spiritual
needs of those of the men who hold
their faith. My relations with these
gentlemen have been pleasant.
MAY be pardoned. If, in closing,
express my approval of the progressive
management Of the prison at the
present time. The treatment accord
ed to each man has regard for his
manhood, and furnishes. as l firmly
believe, the most helpful condition Tor
the reform OF erring men. Improve
ments in ventilation. larger cells, new
buildings, more land and the like may
be desirable, and in some items be
indispensable to the best work. But
of the treatment of the prisoners as
men 1 have no recommendation TO
make. The whole trend is In the right
direction"
According to the annual report OF Gen.
John Harper of Lewiston. State pension
agent. which was filed with the governor
and council Thursday during the past
year certificates were issued on account
of the Civil war to 7o7 soldiers, .lSlo
widows, seven mothers, IL sisters. 81
daughters, II sons and to one guardian
Of minor children, a total of 2S7s; and on
account of the Spanish war certihcates
were issued to Is soldiers, four widows,
three mothers. one sister. one father and
one guardian of minor children, total
Of 80. making on account of both wars
725 soldiers, 1924 widows. 10 mothers. lS
sisters, 81 daughters. II sons one father
and two guardians. an aggregate of 2Sl7.
An unusually large number of deaths
among those who were granted pensions
have been reported Out of the 261S per-
sons who have been placed on the roll 102
died during the year, 81 being widows. IS
soldiers, two mothers and one daughter.
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