Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of LoveWheaton, Elizabeth Ryder
Religion
Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of Love
Wheaton, Elizabeth Ryder
Evangelistic work; Prisons
For the instruction of children and others who have never visited one
of our large penitentiaries I insert the following sketch of such a
visit written by Mrs. F. M. Lambert, author of "Holy Maternity," which
was written for this work:
The prisons and buildings connected with them are enclosed by a
high stone wall. Of course there is a gate, or gates, opening
upon driveways leading into the yard where the shops are located.
The gate is securely locked and guarded, the guard having a
little room built on the wall over the gate. There is a main
entrance to the building through which criminals as well as
visitors enter. The officer closes and locks the large door
behind you upon entering. On Sabbath mornings many things are
seen and heard there. The officers come in and take up the work
of the day. The warden or deputy takes a large bunch of keys and
opens a side door that leads into the cell room, and the guards
follow him into the corridor. Soon is heard the rattling of the
keys, and the opening and closing of heavy doors, followed by the
tramp, tramp, of many feet. Passing out at a side door with the
officer, you may watch the men passing down to their breakfast in
the dining-room, which is on the ground floor of the chapel,
perhaps one hundred feet from the prison building.
Each guard marches with his company of men, from twenty to fifty
in number. They march in single file, each man with his right
hand resting upon the right shoulder of the man in front of him.
The officers wear dark blue uniforms, while the convicts are
dressed in suits made of heavy woolen goods, generally striped,
the stripes being black and white, a little over an inch wide,
even the caps being striped, and of the same material as the
suits.
You follow the officer across the yard, and notice the large
greenhouse with its beautiful plants, flowers and shrubs. But,
looking back, you see the great high wall of the prison, and
remember that the little spot in the prison yard and the sky
overhead is all the glimpse of the world that these poor men
get, and, no doubt, is all that some of them ever will get, for
some of them are shut in there for life.
[Illustration: PRISON CHAPEL AND DINING ROOM.]
THE CHAPEL SERVICE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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