The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-03
FAVOR NAMING OF
PEN|TfhTIARY CHAPLAIN
Meth oaist Ministers Of City Asks That
Spiritual Needs Of Prisoners he
Properly Cared For.

The Methodist Preachers Meeting of
Richmond adopted the following re-
port of a special committee appointed
to the State Penitentiary:
Confined in the penitentiary and at
the State Farm are hundreds Of prison
ers The religious instruction OF these
men is limited to a sermon when
minister can preach. and to Sunday
School taught by few faithful men
AMI women. There il great need OF
some religious person coming In close
contact with these prisoners so as TO
advise with them and lead them into
a better life This cannot be done
BY any ono visiting occasionally. To
meet this need the state should pro-
vide chapla,D to the penitentiary
and farm, and a suitable man should
be selected by the properly constituted
authorities. In doing this Virginia will
be following the example of many
States in the linton, for many have
prison chapIains,
TN calling upon the State to give
attention TO the moral and religious
life Of the men confined. we do not
feel that there IL any violation what
ever OF the constitutional provision to
separate church and State. The men
who would be appointed would not
be there to teach the tenets Of any
sect or denomination represented by
any church, nor would he be there
because he WAS approved by any par
tieular denomination, nor yet would
he be excluded because he was a mem
her Of any denomination. He would be
there TO persuade men to be better. and
70 fear the God over us all.
For the government to employ
ehaplains IL a custom well established
both by the nation and the State, and
Is not called in question as opposed
70 the fullest religious liberty and
tire complete separation OF church and
state, The national government en-
plcys chsplains In each house If Con-
Srsss The army ard ray~ ans u.
chaplain. In Virginia the same custom
has Ions been In vogue. During he
DAYS Of the Ccnfederacy ve recall tie
noted men who were sepoia:af char
iains by the state and w-re paid out
OF the common fun9s - were the sol
diers. Today every regiment sas n,
chaplain, and he too Is paid by the
State when the regiment is called
Into service. For years the University
OF Virginia had a chaplain paid on.
OF the State funds, and this is true OF
other Institutions 1t is no. const.-
tent for the State of Virginia TO pro
vide for chapiains for her soldiers and
students and negiect tn. class which
above all Others nee Is the services of
religion. adviser: viz, the prisoners
confirmed in the peuitentiarS, and those
In camp.
Tn view of the above named facts
He call upon the board Of directors o.
the penttentiary to use wat pow or 10
vested in them to secure the services Of
some suitable man as chaplain TO the
rsnit@utfarw. VIZ ALSO recommend ira,
this Preachers Meeting appoint a com
mittee OF three 10 BRING this matter
10 the attention Of the ensuing con.
ference. and request II IN raxs suitable
resolutions asking The Legislature to
make special provision for permanent
chaplain to the prisoners u the state.
tn thase confined In the reaIt ZEN diary
TO those ar the farm. ana TO THOSE in
road camps when practicable - reach
them.
fsigncd)
W. AsRuRG CHRISTIAN.
J. X, J0LLfFF,
J. s BRAY,
Committee.