He reviewed the past work of the Chaplains’ Association, and said:
“That as they looked back he certainly felt very much had been gained
from the existence of this organization,” and that much more could
be done to aid the wardens and superintendents in the management of
prisons and reformatories. That criminality was not on the increase,
being lessened by public education, beginning in our public schools,
where there has been no backward step in the matter of discipline and
study of civil government.
To-day the cry is: “Use the preventative in the case of the discharged
prisoner.” Yes, but what is needed is to use the preventative
“education” at all times before he has cause to enter a prison gate.
The value of the parole, and possibly of the indeterminate sentence
when enthroned, requires that in person you lend a helping hand to such
a man to uplift him to better ways. The highest realization of our
hopes in this world we shall never see, when all the gloomy enclosures
of prison walls stand empty. Let there be earnest courage to walk and
work by the light now shining about us, for the Light of the world is
Jesus Christ.