New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-23
"A MAGNIFICENT REFORM"
New Conditions at Sing Sing Give
Hope for Convicts' Future.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t is a pity, great pity, for the
results may be serious and farreachng, that
the funny man" and the cartoOnist make
sport of the reform movement in Sing Sing
prison. had the privilege Of spending part
of last Sunday there, and saw nothing to
laugh at but much to make me profoundly
glad I saw that men, though criminals were
being treated as men, not as wild beasts to
be baited and Gagged; l saw that honor and
conscience were being helped and quickened
not crushed and broken; I saw that discipline
was maintained to a degree most remarkable
simply by an appeal to genuine manhood, and
saw that even among those whom we class
az degraded and dishonored enough of princi-
pie and character remained to give hope for
an honest, decent life in years to come
The congregation to which had the pleas
ure of bringing a message of comfort from
the blessed Gospel filled a large part of the
spacious chapel Attendance was voluntary
No one was forced to be present Nor were
there any guards in the chapel to keep order.
Yet more reverent, devout congregation
could not be desired. BY the world outside
that congregation would be classified as
crooks, pickpockets, thieves, burglars, forg-
ers, murderers, but saw only great com
pany of earnest, serious minded men, intent
on the service in which they were engaged
and eagerly listening to the message
brought.
The singing was worth going many miles
to hear During the prayer the Impressive
silence would be an example 10 many of our
city churches. The sermon was given a most
attentive hearing. No shutting of feet. No
playing with hymn books. No signs Of i'm
patience. On the contrary, every face was
intent on the preacher, and at the close OF
the service score, if not more, said kindly,
lapprecative things of the service and the
sermon.
Now, Mr.. Editor the point l am trying to
make is this: The men in that chapel were
on their honor; each man felt that he was
being trusted and trusted not merely for him
self, but with oversight of the others.
Hence there was no slouching either in or
out of the chapel. The men walked as men,
looked like men. acted as men.
Going through the prison after the service,
visiting every part of it and talking to scores
OF men, j found that h. honor" idea pre-
vailed everywhere. OF cS1rse, there are ex-
ceptions In community of LOO men, all
supposed to be criminals, supposition which
may well be questioned, naturally there are
some embittered and hardened, but il is safe
to say that fully nine-tenths of the men now
in prison at Sing Sing have had under the
present administration such quckening OF
honor and conscience and manhood as will
fit them for real usefulness in coming days.
Your reporter saw something funny in the
prison band escorting the opposing baseball
team along the road. 1t didn't impress me
as funny 1t grpped my throat It dimmed
my eyes. It stirred my soul. And I saw the
men play ball and | thanked God that on a
pleasant Sunday afternoon the horrible, un-
speakable dollhouse was almost empty and
the prison grounds occupied in such a way as
to promote health, peace, conscience and
honor.
Let US have no more of the funny man"
and the cartoonst. The work in Sing Sing
prison is too big for such treatment. AS a
reform it is simply magnificent.
J. WESLEY JOHNSTON,
Pastor Borough Park NJ. E. Church.
Brooklyn, April 81, 1915