To the Inspectors of the Maine State Prison. GENTLEMEN: Agreeably to your request, I cheerfully communie to you a brief account, as to the manner in which Chaplain iuties have been performed and received during the year. We have had two separate seasons for religious worship, each Lord's day, (except in two or three instances.) The first commencng at eight o'clock, A. M., the other at three or half past three, P. M. This arrangement gives to the officers the privilege of attending religious worship in their respective societies. The manner of conducting worship is in accordance with the custom in most of our public religious meetings, viz: reading the scriptures, prayers, singing, sermon, &c. In regard to order and attention, I am happy state, that it will compare with any assembly whatever; and it has often given me much pleasure to hear expressions of gratification and surprise, voluntarily made by those who have officiated there, either by exchange or otherwise, in reference thereto. As to hopeful conversions, it is not my privilege to give the cheering intelligence I could wish, yet we have encouragement to hope, the Lord may yet bless the convicts in the Maine State Prison, as he has the Massachusetts State Prison. However, I am not without hope, that some few at least, have seen and felt their lost and perishing condition as sinners, and have been enabled to flee unto, and put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Sa viour of the lost. And it is to be hoped that when the time comes, that they may go to their relatives, or mingle in society, they will be found no longer a curse to their friends and the world. Very many of them, I find, are, while conversing with them, ready to give assurances that they are determined to reform, yet the experience of past years painfully reminds us, that we have much cause to fear as to their sincerity; however, we have good evidence to believe, that some cases of true conversion have taken place in our State Prison in years gone by; persons are to be found in the State, who are respectable and useful members of churches, who date their reformation while in Prison. In regard to the Sabbath School, or Bible class, the number is not large who will voluntarily attach themselves to a class, (and we have considered it somewhat useless to compel them,) we have not exceeded two classes. The Clerk of the Prison taking charge of one class, and sometimes of both, thereby affording me an opportunity of personal religious conversation with such of the convicts as may wish. And I have often been gratified to see with what apparent pleasure they embrace the opportunity. As far as I have been able to learn, they all consider it a very great privilege to be let out of their cells, (especially in cold weather) and go into a warm and comfortable room; it gives them both exercise and warmth, which they cannot but need-and the present arrangement of two services, and attending them when we do, gives the best division of time from Saturday to Monday. Hoping that every attention will be paid to their temporal and spiritual condition that humanity and christianity would dictate, and earnestly praying that our Heavenly Father would bless his word preached to their souls' salvation, I remain your humble servant, JOB WASHBURN, Chaplain of the Maine State Prison. Thomaston, December 24, 1842. To the Inspectors of the Maine State Prison. GENTLEMEN: In complying with your wishes, I respectfully Report, that the number of sick in the Hospital, January 28, 1842, was three. I am happy to state that there have been no deaths the past year. The prevailing sickness during the year, has been colds, rheumatism, inflammation of the lungs, &c., owing to the dampness of the cells, and the want of good air. The number of sick in the Hospital at the commencement of the year 1843, is two. The bad construction of the Hospital is such, that it is impossible for the sick to receive that attention that they need. Respectfully submitted. DANIEL ROSE, Physician and Surgeon Maine State Prison. |