Article April 13, 1912 Issue

AMONG THE CHURCHES

One of the most remarkable religious congregations in Trenton is composed of ninety-eight inmates of the New Jersey state prison, who meet each Sunday afternoon. Members of the prison class seem to be greatly interested in this comparatively new prison service. They pay close attention to the reading of the Christian Science Lesson-Sermon, and many of them devote all their spare time to study of the subject. The members of the class are looked after personally, and the subject is discussed privately with any one interested. Books are provided for those desiring them, and Christian Science periodicals and other literature are sent to the prison, and in many other ways the welfare of the inmates is catered to.

When the class was first organized it had very few members, and some of them did not take it very seriously. Others among the convict population frequently joked at the expense of the new converts, working off the old joke that if the latter could make themselves believe that such was the case they would no longer be prisoners, but would in reality be walking about the world, free to come and go as they pleased. Of course, no one looked at the new religion class in that way, although even most of those attending were inclined to regard the services more in the light of a diversion than a means of spiritual and mental benefit. Later, however, the attitude of the men changed, and now all who attend seem to be deeply in earnes, while not a few of the others claim to be interested in the services.—Trenton Times.

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