All history attests to the fact that "torture in every variety; chains, stripes, solitary confinement in darkness, dampness and idleness; promiscuous crowding of offenders of every degree of guilt in the same loathsome, pestilential, narrow vaults; insufficient and unwholesome food; filth, illness of the body and sickness of the soul, are among the cruelties which have been inflicted, in every age, on the doomed criminal-whether guilty or innocent, as a punishment for his offense."* Where were the sympathies, where the wisdom of the Christian world during these ages? Where was the spirit, where the example of the blessed Jesus?

It was not till the last century that society manifested sufficient interest in the class of men of whom I am speaking, to inquire into their condition, or even ask if it could not be bettered; and it was then aroused from its lethargy mainly by the efforts of a single man. There were, indeed, previous noble examples of attention to those who were sick and in prison. The names of Carlo Borromeo, Claudius Bernard and St. Vincent De Paul are all bright with deeds of humanity. But their good acts were confined mostly to particular localities. Not so with those of the immortal HOWARD, a man whose name will live in the hearts of the humane, so long as sin and suffering afflict our earth. He conceived that the whole system of criminal punishment was based on a wrong principle that the cruelty men endured in prison was not only unchristian but wrong in itself, and he went about the work of reform. From the year 1773 to 1790 -the year in which he died-he spent his whole time in visiting and inspecting prisons, first in England, 1reland and Scotland, and afterwards throughout Europe, and in endeavoring to ameliorate the condition of pris*Encyclopedia Americana, Vol. X. p. 342.

oners guilty of every degree of crime. In this sublime employment he chose to apply the fortune with which ho was favored; and when he disclosed to the world the sufferings and atrocities which everywhere prevailed in prisons, all Christendom was filled with horror and indignation. Thoughtful and Christian men were astonished at their own indifference; and even those who exercised control over prisons showed by the guilty consciousness with which they shrank from the revelations of the cruelties committed under their authority, that they felt themselves accountable for the most dreadful outrages and wrongs, notwithstanding they were supported by

custom.

CHAPTER II.

DEMANDS OF CHRISTIANITY.

What shall we do with the Criminal?-He belongs to the Body Politic-Christ the Head of every Man-Sentiments of Christians still destitute of Sympathy-No Patience for the Criminal Patience of Christ Patience of God-Story of Abraham and the Sinner-Imperfection of Humanity God the Common Father-We are all Members of the same Family-Christ came to Bless all, especially the Sinful and Unfortunate-We are taught to do FOR them, as well as WITH them.

But the

By the preceding chapter we get a glimpse of what was done with wicked men a little while ago. question returns what shall we do with them? They are still among us-the hardened criminal-the drunken vagrant the young in crime-the degraded female-and thousands of vagrant boys and girls, as we have seen, inhabiting filthy cellars and garrets in our large citiescandidates for the jail and penitentiary. These are all in our midst and are so many members-corrupt members, but none the less members-of the "body politic." What shall we do with them?

There are yet those in society who say, "they are worthless; cut them off and cast them away; the sooner we are rid of them the better." But is this Christian? Is it best? Would you sever the finger with a felon, or the foot containing a sore, so long as the surgeon gives promise of cure? Would not amputation weaken the body and through sympathy injure its circulations? The Sandwich Island savages once had a custom of killing their old men and women, because through age and weakness, they were a tax on the efforts and strength of the younger. But that was a heathen custom. We are

Christians. We are "all members one of another." Christ is the HEAD of EVERY man; he died for ALL, even for the most corrupt members of the great body of humanity! Why, then, should any man-any Christian, especially say, cut off these base members forever from all intercourse with humanity, truth, goodness and happiness-hang them on a gibbet-plunge them into dungeons-show them no pity-no mercy? Ah, Christian reader, do you not expect mercy at the hand of God? You have 66 no patience," you say, "with wickedness." No patience with those, even, who would strive, as Christ did, to better the condition of these perishing ones. "Why show sympathy for a thief?" you ask. "Why talk, and preach, and speculate about, and strive to bless those whom God has cursed? Why build magnificent prisons' for the comfort of such men? and expend millions to better their condition? This is all mock sympathy, and I can have no patience with it."

6

And

But would this be your feeling, this your declaration, if your father, or son, or brother were a convict? has it never occurred to you how easy it is for human nature to yield to temptation? and how possible it is for even you to become a criminal? Many professed ministers of Christ, who once scouted all kindness and sympathy for the wretched offender, are now inmates of our penitentiaries. "Who art thou, O man, that boasteth? Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."

Are you a Christian, and yet refuse to show mercy to those out of the way? Have you studied the history and teachings of your Master? Was he ever out of patience with the wretched criminal? Has he not instructed you to visit those who were in prison? and behold his sympathy for the miserable thieves as he hung upon the

cross.

Even in the midst of malediction he only blessed. You have no patience; and yet behold the patience of Jesus, and of God the Great Sovereign of the universe, "It is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish." When all had become wicked-all had gone out of the way—when "there was none good, no not one," God was not impatient, but he sent his only begotten and well beloved Son to die for the world as an example for man, and to commend his love to his great family.

"O, for grace our hearts to soften,

Teach us, Lord, like thee to love;
We forget, alas, too often,

What a friend we have above.

Hear the story of Abraham and the sinner, and learn a lesson of patience and humiliation :

"And it came to pass that Abraham sat in the door of his tent, about the going down of the sun. And behold, a man bent with age, came from the way of the wilderness, leaning on a staff. And Abraham arose and met him, and said unto him, turn in, I pray thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry all night; and thou shalt arise early in the morning and go on thy way. And the man said, nay, for I will abide under this tree. But Abraham pressed him greatly. So he arose and turned and they went into the tent. And Abraham baked unleavened bread and he did eat. And when Abraham saw that he blessed not God, he said unto him, Wherefore dost thou not worship the Most High God? And the man answered and said, I do not worship thy God but mine. And Abraham's zeal was enkindled against the man, and he arose and fell upon him and drove him forth with blows into the wilderness.