Rev. Dr. H. H. Hart, of Chicago, criticized the paper, about delegates sent from the Y. M. C. A. and W. C. T. U.; the young clergy and Brotherhood men visiting prisons for the purpose of reforming prisoners, he claimed that very many were not real themselves, and we could not look for any success.
Rev. David J. Starr, Chaplain of Ohio State Penitentiary, in answering Mr. Hart said, that to find instances where actual injury was done by preaching, one need not go to the prisons, we see it on the outside, at revival meetings and other places. However that should not discourage any one from trying to induce men to lead better lives through the Gospel of Christ. What we need is less preaching and more hard work of sympathy.
Hon. Frederick Howard Wines, LL.D., of Washington, D. C., spoke about the recent book by Dr. McKim, “Heredity and Human Progress.” The drastic remedies of crime, are they Christian? He personally considered it not worthy of being chosen as a special topic of the Association. The fundamental weakness of Dr. McKim’s position is his preconceived notions. Let each one look that book over, you are not likely to read it all.
Chaplain J. F. Orwick, Jackson, Mich., read a paper about the observance of Prison Sunday (the fourth Sunday in October). He lamented that in so few churches it was observed, except in Chicago, where 300 sermons were preached last year.
Oren C. Painter, Treasurer of The Prisoners Aid Association, Baltimore, Md., spoke of their annual report, that last year 1,577 men and women were discharged from Baltimore Prison; and that they aided 564 discharged prisoners, furnished 4,644 meals and 1,502 night’s lodgings to men and women.
Mrs. Deborah C. Leeds made some brief remarks about reform.
Professor Charles R. Henderson, Chicago, claimed that if the people did not wake up and realize the necessity to reform themselves, how shall we expect to reform other men and women of like nature.
MONDAY, EVENING, SEPTEMBER 24TH.
ADDRESS—HON. SAMUEL J. BARROWS, MEMBER INTERNATIONAL PENITENTIARY COMMISSION, “THE INTERNATIONAL PENITENTIARY CONGRESS” BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, LAST YEAR.
The remarks were of great value to people interested in prison work and the care of prisoners. He made comparison between the management of prisons in this country, and some of the European countries, mentioning incidentally that in some of the prisons of Europe, methods were in vogue which were no longer thought of in this country.