Article April 20, 1918 ISSUE

Among the Churches

Current Notes

Represa, Cal.—Sunday, February 17, Virgil O. Strickler delivered a lecture at the Folsom State Prison at Represa, Sacramento County. Mr. Strickler was met at Tracy at six o'clock in the morning by a member of the prison committee that has charge of this work, which is under the auspices of First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Sacramento, and was driven from there by auto to Represa, a distance of nearly ninety miles, arriving at the prison at 10:10 A.M. By previous agreement, the regular baseball game and band concert were postponed on account of the lecture. On the previous Sunday morning, during the showing of moving pictures, the announcement of the lecture in due form was thrown upon the screen; and most, if not all, of the men knew the lecture was to be given.

Promptly on arriving at the prison, the lecturer, accompanied by sixteen students of Christian Science from Sacramento, and conducted by the captain of the guards, proceeded to the chapel, which was at once filled to the doors. It is needless to say that the men forgot their environment, forgot their seeming cares and troubles, as they eagerly listened to the lecturer's message of Truth and Love, and at the conclusion the applause was instantaneous, unanimous, and spontaneous. The lecturer afterward personally met and talked with the men, including, at his request, one man who less than a year ago was the most desperate and the most feared man in the prison, but who through Christian Science has become one of the most trusted. Not the least among the many incidents that encourage and inspire the committee, is the splendid manner in which the men who are out on parole or permanently have made good.

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