The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 3, January 1864)Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons
History
The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy (New Series, No. 3, January 1864)
Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons
Charities -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Periodicals
A correspondence between the parent Society and its auxiliaries in the
interior of the State, or with independent associations laboring to the
same end and with similar means, would diffuse information that would
stimulate exertion and promote the great object of alleviating the
miseries of prisoners. Especially would such auxiliaries often assist
the agents and committees of the parent Society, by information as to
the character of prisoners, and aid in procuring employment for the
repentant vicious and criminal, who would strengthen their good
resolution by seeking occupation where the chance of meeting old
associates would be greatly diminished, and where temptations to a
recurrence to former faults would not abound. It is now believed that
the hopes of forming these auxiliaries will soon be realized. But there
has always been found some difficulty in the first steps towards an
organization. The willingness of many needs information to strengthen
resolve; and especially is it found that where there is to be a
concurrent action, there is great need of some representative of the
views and sentiments of the parent Society, to concentrate and direct
the efforts of those who, with the best motives and most earnest wishes
for success, pause upon the initiatory step, from distrust as to their
ability to organize and direct a society, or an apprehension that they
may lack the hearty co-operation of others no less philanthropic or
energetic than themselves.
We, perhaps, then shall need, at a proper time, some representative of
the parent Society specially deputed to stir up the public mind in the
direction of humanity in prisons, and to take advantage of the effects
of his labors to unite the exertions of the good in the form of
auxiliaries, that shall have their committees in every place of
imprisonment, doing the work of philanthropy by alleviating the miseries
of prisons and improving the moral condition of the prisoners. These
auxiliaries will aid the parent Society in influencing legislation
favorable to the cause of humanity, and, in proportion to their number
and to the character of their members, they will be felt and their power
acknowledged by the Representatives of the people, not in any attempt at
dictation, but in the mild, steady presentation and advocacy of measures
of amelioration that shall triumph by their inherent beauty and mercy,
influencing public sentiment and purifying legislative enactments.
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