Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-07
RELIGIOUS DIRECTOR OF
IS RECOGNIZED
DR.. Richard Vcnablc Lancaster to
Assume Prison Reform Duties
u ut Once.
GOVERNORS SANCTION ASKED
Virginia Takes Place Among Ranks
81 OF Those States Which Have
Entered Upon Task of Better
Conditions Among Prisoners.

~ Plans of the board of directors Of
1.-THE State Pcniten;iary for extensive
{ reforms there and in allied institu-
stions for the bet;crmcnt Of physical
and spiritual conditions among con-
sS7yicts were carried Il long step for
ward yesterday. when the board
formally recognized Rev. Richard
SsVenable Lancaster. ID. u. >rcsby-
tcrlan minister OF Goochland County.
as director of religious and educa
ttonnl activities.
DIR. Lancaster will begin work i'm
meutatcly, in tho effort to place Nir-
Einia AT once in the front rank of
those States which have entered uron
the task OF lifting 10 a higher plane
of though: those unfortunate mon
s and women who are paying the PEN
atty OF SHINING aGains: society. His
2 Office viii be at the State penitcn-
tiary. Work among the convic;s at
the farm and in the various camps
throughout Virginia will he under
. his immediate direction.
~. Governors Sanction Asked.
NJ NGovernor Davis is requested in the
kresolution passed yesterday hy
the board 20 issue a commission ia
sDr- Lancaster. giving official sanction
ito the position ne now occupies The
work undertaken by him VIII be car
$ried on - no expense 20 tho state
the i5;eTd norltnational Board OF.
Eeligieus Ac;iv.s!es III. STATE Lns5itu-
ations in Virginia. headed ny Rev. e
iSB, A-erGa,, having contacted to
1 bear this lG-:er.
~. The movement Eo- such an office
was given impetus by Governor Davis
Nat the las: session 81 The Icc!s!a:ure
AT his suggestion there WAS intro
duced AZ that time !. hill prov ding
for chaplain, 10 he paid out OF =
State appropriation. This measure.
j however. encountered objection. upon
( :
appropriate funds fo- that purpose.
and was allowed 20 die IN commit
tee With the objection came def
g mite promise that The various de-
sufficient money ~ pay all expense
incident to SUCH an office, The iatcr-
tdenominational board. gathering into
.itself all sorts Of Crecds, was tho out
sCome. DIR. Lancaster was appointed
upon the recommendation Of this
@body.
Nv Or. Lancaster Widely known
,s3 The director is a widely known
minister, who has had
varied experience as missionary. n
$of prison methods. He is i graduate
soft Hampton Sidney College. i is Or
K Jancastcr's purpose, not only 20 di-
erect the religious life of his charges
.ftional centers. that the convicts may
Live in an atinos sphere OF high think
8 Ing and high living.
~ Mr.. Arendall and DR.. !. r. Mastin
q secretary to the State Hoard of Chart
tics and Corrections and also sccrc.
tary to the Neutrality-suspicious.
Z board, were present yesterday nj the
meeting of the pcni;cntiarv board
= Colonel Leroy Hodges. aid to tn.
II Ex-Governor and chairman Of the board
v presided
8 In line with the view OF Colonc
SsIIodgcs and his colleagues, with re.
& best advice in placing the penal in.
slstitutions on Il better ;lll-round basis
I; for the benen; OF both the State anC
Its prisoners. the board will have
q some of the most prominent physi,
5Scians and surgeons in Virginia Il
meet with IL next Monday to discus:
y tho matter OF better medical anc
q sanitary conditions for the convicts
Committee Is Named.
ssSf DIR. Paulus y. Irving. president o
sSthe, Medical Society Of Virginia, ha:
Uniformed Colonel Hodges that ne hu,
Unnamed Drs. W i. Drcwry. Of Peters
gRobert G. Bryan. Mct;uirc Newton
sand ]. Shelton llorsloy. OF Richmond
ga committee To attend the mcctjut
Ion behalf Of that organization. Dr
sg1rving wrote that h" is in entir'
Ssympathy with the movement ana /!
stglad TO cooperate in any way pos
Il sible.
EXC n. DR.. Stuart McGWre. presidcn, o
the Medical CollcEt>'of Virginia. an'
sat least two mcnr1cr,- Of his faculiy
,Salso will he present and add their cf
Ssforts to the formulation OF plans 20
h better physical conditions Dr. In
nion G.. Williams State licalih Com
= missioner. has named Dr. Roy X
= FlannaGan, his assistant. to roprcscn
s,aEin at the conference. prs. II Il
J. Lecnard and West Will h" prcsc o.
sSbehalf OF Major W y P-umnCld. %
1.-THE United states I'nhI.r lIc7ltl