in order that he may be properly classified and graded, as to his location and industry.

The study of each case is a matter of importance, as no two prisoners have exactly the same mental and physical capacity and temperament. Thus while they are under one general discipline each one is dealt with personally. Everything conspires to husband whatever remaining sparks of the better nature and nobler manhood the prisoner may possess. He is well housed, well fed with good, wholesome food, well clothed, and supplied with regular and healthful exercise in one of the industries. He is permitted to attend the regular religious services twice every Sabbath and receive religious and other books from the prison library, he is allowed to make money by over-time work, which is set to his credit, and to use it for himself, at the discretion of the warden, or to help support his family on the outside, otherwise he receives the entire amount when released. He is allowed one visit each month from his relatives or friends, and he has the privilege of seeing the warden or chaplain at any time.

The resident physician of the institution visits the prison and hospital daily.

Every effort is made to inspire hope in the heart of each prisoner, for without this even the good can scarcely retain their integrity, and the bad cannot possibly regain their virtue and retrieve their good character.

There is a daily court held each afternoon, the warden acting as judge, where all, charged with violating the rules of the prison, are brought, and a patient hearing is given by the warden to each individual case, so that the prisoner is acquitted, reprimanded, or punished upon the same day, before he retires to his cell.

Corporal punishment is the last means resorted to by the

warden.

The good results of industrial labor in the Maryland penitentiary is seen not only in keeping up the physical and mental health and strength of the prisoners, and in giving them a trade on release, whereby they can make a good living; but the overtime work gives them a little ready money, as a capital, with which to start the new life on the outside. During the past nine months, the convicts have earned for themselves $14,125.05, besides in these nine months making enough for the state to pay the entire expenses of the prison and a surplus of $14,527.23, to be turned over to the state treasury.

The moral and religious sentiments of the warden and the subordinate officers and their manifest faith in our work of love and mercy inspire the respect and confidence of the inmates in our reformatory efforts in their behalf. Hence we have given to us every possible assistance and encouragement. The large chapel, seated with 1600 opera chairs, with pipe organ in the gallery, a choir of convicts, taught and led by Prof. Heller, from the outside, is at once an inspiration to the audience and to the preacher, or chaplain. The prisoners join heartily in the singing and the entire service. At the conclusion of each morning service, any of the convicts are allowed to come to a quiet nook in the chapel, while the library books are being exchanged, and seek further light by a personal talk with the chaplain. These cases are followed up in their cells, and those converted are carefully instructed in the Law and the Gospel, until they become familiar with the things that a Christian ought to know, believe and do to be saved; then they are allowed to make a public profession of their faith in Christ by baptism and confirmation, in the presence of the entire congregation of convicts, and receive the sacraments of the Lord's Supper, together with those formerly received.

To illustrate this: On the first Sunday in January, 1902, I started a class preparing for baptism and confirmation at Easter. Each Sunday morning, in addition to my regular sermon, I delivered a brief address on a part, either of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism or the Lord's Supper. I distributed appropriate and helpful literature and publicly and privately exhorted and examined each of my class, as to his understanding and appreciation of these sacred truths. The Spirit of God was manifested in his convicting and converting power, and before the 30th of March arrived, I had a class of one hundred and forty who were ready to confess Christ.

On Easter Sunday morning Rev. John Timothy Stone, D.D., pastor of Brown Memorial Presbyterian church, assisted me in the baptism of thirty-five and the confirmation of 105, making 140 in all, who confessed Christ and took the Holy Sacrament, along with eighty of the convicts who were previously confirmed. Dr. Stone preached a most blessed and helpful Easter sermon, before the sacraments of baptism and the Holy Supper were administered. It was a most solemn and impressive service.

On release communicants may receive a letter commending them to any Christian pastor, or church.

The same humane spirit is manifested towards the prisoners and the same opportunities, as far as possible, are afforded to them in the various penal institutions of Maryland, limited, more or less, in the county jails.

THE TREATMENT OF PAROLE PRISONERS.

In addition to the prisoners in the penal institutions of Maryland, we have what is termed paroled prisoners. Under the act passed in the Maryland legislature, in 1894, through the influence and efforts of Mr. Goldsborough S. Griffith, president of the Maryland Prisoners' Aid Association, the judges of the courts are given the discretionary power of suspending sentence, instead of sentencing convicts at once, and placing them in whatever custody they may deem proper, and with the privilege of reforming them without incarceration, except when they break the terms of their parole. During the past three years there have been three hundred and fifty-four of these cases placed under the supervision of the Maryland Prisoners' Aid Association. We permit them to live at their homes, engage in the ordinary pursuits for a livelihood; but we have the privilege granted us, by the courts to visit their homes and places of employment, so as to be able to intelligently report to the court once a month, as to their conduct. We demand of them that they shall be continuously employed; if not, they must report daily to us, 'till we can secure employment for them. We also strictly demand of them that they shall attend a course of moral and religious lectures, delivered on Friday evenings at 8 o'clock, generally by the general agent of the Maryland Prisoners' Aid Association, who is chairman of the parole committee. This work was undertaken as an experiment, but it has passed out of the experimental period and proven to be a help and blessing to these prisoners and to society, far beyond the most sanguine expectations of its promoters. Of the 354, placed in our charge, only sixteen have broken the terms of their parole and have been sentenced to some reformatory or prison, while under our supervision.

What I have said in regard to the penal institutions and the treatment of prisoners in Maryland could also be said, with some variations, of the prisons in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and most of the other states, both regarding the buildings

and the treatment of the prisoners. Industrial labor, affording exercise to the inmates, secular and religious training, along with fair and impartial treatment to those incarcerated, is almost universal; it is generally conceded that to preserve the health, to strengthen the mind and to form the habit of industry is the best way to prepare the prisoners for freedom and self support, when released. It has taken centuries to dispel the deep darkness and gross ignorance on the subject of the treatment of prisoners and to bring about such treatment as they now receive and to foster such broad and humane principles as insure continued improvement. Well may we thank God for past achievements and take courage for the future, in the great study and work of prison reform.

MONDAY-MORNING SESSION.

WARDEN'S ASSOCIATION.

The Prison Congress was called to order in the Musical Fund Hall at 9:30 A. M. by PRESIDENT HENDERSON. Prayer was offered by the REV. DR. LOCKE.

WARDEN N. F. BOUCHER, of North Dakota, president of the Wardens' Association, was introduced and took charge of the session.

ADDRESS DELIVERED BY N. F. BOUCHER, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND WARDEN OF THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE PENITENTIARY.

Before proceeding with a short discussion of the subject, "Effects of Imprisonment", I desire to congratulate you upon the extremely pleasant and happy conditions under which we are again permitted to meet together as an organization in this City of Brotherly Love, for the purpose and in the hope of discovering some new ideas or plans, or improving old ones, which in their practical operation shall inure to the benefit of that part of the unfortunate and unhappy criminal class, which comes directly under our supervision and for whose present and future welfare we are in a large degree very properly held personally responsible.

Neither the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania nor this its greatest municipality in which we are assembled, needs our praise nor the seal of our approval to establish the fact that its record as to the management of its criminals and criminal affairs is a creditable one to those good and great men who have made it an enviable one to those on the outside who know its history.

On behalf of the National Wardens' Association I return earnest thanks for the privilege which is accorded us of being here and wish it to be distinctly understood that we do not come here to teach but to be taught; and with that idea in mind I will make a few remarks or suggestions on the subject above referred to, which may lead to discussions which will be to the advantage of some of us: