SUMMARY OF THE WORK OF THE ACTING COMMITTEE.
With the exception of two months in the summer, meetings of the Acting Committee have been regularly held every month since the last number of The Journal was issued.
An important part of the work of the Society consists in the personal visitation of prisoners for the purpose of fostering in them higher ideals and bringing about their spiritual improvement. As will be seen in the General Secretary’s report, this work has continued to receive faithful attention.
A committee is at work revising the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society, and it is expected that their report will be made and adopted before the beginning of next year.
We desire to extend our sincere thanks to the generous friends of our cause, without whose contributions we could not carry on our work. During the last year it has been more difficult than usual to secure financial aid, doubtless in consequence of the recent depression in business. We hope that all our friends whose means will admit will continue their practical assistance.
At the meeting of the committee held June 18, 1908, the venerable Secretary, John J. Lytle, submitted his resignation, with the understanding that he would continue his duties as the Society’s Agent at the Eastern Penitentiary. The following resolution relative thereto was adopted at an adjourned stated meeting of the Acting Committee held June 29, 1908:
Whereas, our friend, John J. Lytle, having reached the eighty-fifth year of his age, asks to be released as Secretary of the Acting Committee, also as General Secretary,
Therefore be it resolved, that the Acting Committee, in acceding to his request, place on record its appreciation of the faithful performance of his duties in both these positions throughout the many years he has served the Committee. First elected as Secretary in 1852, afterward as General Secretary in 1886, John J. Lytle has served the Society officially for more than fifty-six years. During this long period he has constantly kept a single eye to the prisoners’ welfare and through storm or heat has stood ready to sacrifice himself on their behalf. We are still to have the benefit of his long experience as Secretary of the Society and as Prison Agent. May the freedom now gained from arduous secretarial duties so relieve him that he may, with the more vigor, prosecute the work at the Eastern State Penitentiary on behalf of the discharged prisoners, the phase of our work which he feels most deeply laid on his heart.
Albert H. Votaw was elected as Secretary of the Acting Committee to serve until the time of the next annual meeting.
The newly elected Secretary was subsequently authorized to make a systematic visitation of the County Prisons of Eastern Pennsylvania. His report of these visits will be found below.
On behalf of the Acting Committee.
Albert H. Votaw,
Secretary.