G.o.d'S VIOLATED RULE OF TREATING PENITENT CRIMINALS.

AN ESSAY.

If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him; he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.--EZEKIEL x.x.xiii.

15, 16.

In this pa.s.sage of Sacred Scripture, the manner in which G.o.d deals with his sinful creatures, when they repent, is very clearly and forcibly a.s.serted; and with equal clearness and force is it laid down as a law of universal and eternal obligation, that when a sinner turns from the evil of his way, and does that which is right, "none of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him." The meaning of this is, that the greatest sinners shall find mercy on their reformation, and that the sins of which a man has repented, shall never be thrown in his face, nor be improved in any way to his injury.

Such is the rule by which G.o.d is governed, and which he enjoins as a law upon his creatures; and I wish to inculcate its benevolent and sacred principle upon you, with reference to those who are coming up from the infamy of crime and the penalty of the law, with a determination to reform their lives and regain the confidence of their fellow men. I wish you to treat them as G.o.d does; not as if they had never sinned, but as if they had repented; and shew by your conduct, that you share in the delight of angels, when a lost sheep is found, and a prodigal returns. But before I proceed any farther, I will hear some objections which may arise, and take an impartial view of the ground I am going to occupy.

It will be said that those outcasts whose cause I am espousing, have rendered themselves infamous by crime; that they have disturbed the peace of society, trampled on the laws of G.o.d and man, and have been shut up in prison to keep them from further outrage upon the rights of community. I grant it. If you are a christian, what then?

It will also be said that but little dependence can be placed on the professions of this cla.s.s of sinners; that having transgressed _once_, they are likely to _repeat_ the crime; and that the next thing that is heard from them, they will be back again in their old place.--This is true, and the very conduct which grows out of this objection, is, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the sole cause of it.

Another--I could not believe it if I had not heard it myself--another objector will say--"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of G.o.d? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetors, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of G.o.d."--Alas! that such crimes should ever find a name among men! But the same divine authority which declared this, affirms also, that "_such were some of you_;" and if "_ye_ are _washed_, _sanctified_, and _justified_ in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our G.o.d," is there not hope for these also?

Having thus briefly noticed some objections which I had reason to antic.i.p.ate, I shall proceed with the subject before me; and I propose, in the first place, to state how repentant criminals _are_ treated by those who call themselves christians, and even by christian ministers, after they are released from prison.

In the second place, I shall shew how they _ought_ to be treated, according to the divine principle of the text.

And lastly, I shall glance at the good that would flow from such treatment not only to _them_, but to the _community_, and to the cause of _religion_.

I. I am to state how repentant criminals _are_ treated by those who call themselves _christians_, and even by christian _ministers_, after they are released from prison. In doing this, I shall confine myself to positive _facts_; and of these, I shall select only such as have come under my _own_ knowledge, or which were related to me by those who either _observed_ or _experienced_ them.

The first individual whom I shall cause to pa.s.s before you in connexion with the treatment which he has received from professing christians and christian ministers, is the Rev. J. Robbins, a man of uncommon powers of mind, and of unquestionable piety, and who has more divine seals to his commission, than many of his opposers.

While he was suffering for his sins within the dreary walls of a State prison, he was led to think on his ways and reform his life. At the expiration of his sentence, he was let out into the world, without money, and very thinly and uncomfortably clothed. In this situation, dest.i.tute of all things, and far from his friends, he went into the adjoining city of Boston, and went to work with a _hand-cart_. The weather was cold, and he was not able to obtain clothes enough to keep him warm.

In this forlorn and suffering condition, he applied to the Rev. Mr.

****, who had been Chaplain of the prison in which he had been confined, for some relief, or a.s.sistance to obtain employment. This Rev. gentleman was personally acquainted with him; knew that he had resolved on leading a christian life; and knew that he was at that time in need of a friend. What did he do for him? Why, he said--"Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding he gave him not those things which were needful to the body."

If these things are right, let it be known. If this is the christianity of the Bible, let it be avowed--let the preachers from their desks declare it, and bring the high standard of christian benevolence down to the muddy surface of their _practical_ ill.u.s.trations of it. Let there be harmony between doctrine and conduct. Either give us a _revision_ of the Scriptures, to accord with the morality of the church, or let its maxims as they now stand in capitals on all its pages, be copied in the every day and every where conduct of those who profess to be the _salt_ of the earth, and the _light_ of the world.

Here is a minister of the everlasting gospel; and in the person of one of his followers, he turns away the Saviour himself, "_hungry_, _naked_," and from "_prison_."--Rev. Sir, for just such conduct as you have been guilty of, in the instance alluded to, the Son of man will one day say to some,--"Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire!"

After some time Mr. Robbins obtained help from his distant friends, and was enabled to make a respectable appearance. But in the interim he learned by hard experience, that shivering and half-clad limbs can, even in the benevolent, philanthropic, and christian city of Boston, pa.s.s by the priest and the Levite, and range the streets, impurpled by the wintry blasts, uncompa.s.sionated and unrelieved.

As soon as circ.u.mstances would permit, he united in christian fellowship with a church, desiring in proper time to become a missionary to state prisons, to declare to the erring and degraded sons of crime the salvation of the gospel. In this view of his duty he appeared singular with some of the rulers of the church, and for this, or some other cause, he transferred his fellowship from the Congregationalists to the Episcopal Methodists.

On making this transfer, he applied to the church for license to exhort, for which he obtained ONE vote only. But as there was no _contra_ votes, his license was barely granted. Not a very _cordial_ reception this, and more sensitive minds than his, would have felt it; but nothing of this kind ever had an effect to deter him from going forward in the course of his duty; and after the usual time, he was licensed as a preacher.

He began now to think more seriously of turning his immediate attention to prisons. Explaining his views to the church, enough fell in with them to form a society, called "THE PRISON MISSIONARY SOCIETY," of which he was appointed Agent and Secretary. This Society was formed in Boston, and according to its plan, Mr. Robbins went out to form other similar societies in different places, till his views should be carried into effect by sending all the means of salvation to as many prisons as possible, and by finding employment for prisoners when they are released.

The design of this society was n.o.ble, and it ought to have been supported. Not like the "_Prison Discipline Society_," which tortures the prisoner while it can, and then throws him out, unprotected, unhelped, and friendless, on the scorn of mankind, to pursue from _necessity_, his old course, and be sent back again; _this_ society aimed to treat the prisoner as a human being, and to effect his reformation by the mild means of the gospel, while he is confined; and to go with him when set free, and prevent him from being compelled to sin again, by giving him clothes, money, and employment, and elevating him to the dignity of a citizen, and the respect of mankind.

Such an enterprise as this would have done honor to a Howard, and in the hands of Dwight, it would have lived. But in the aristocracy of our religious a.s.sociations, _enterprises_ and _children_ are treated alike. The son of a great man is respected, wise or foolish, but the children of the poor must hew wood and draw water, though able to measure minds with Newton and Locke.

How many societies were formed, I know not, nor can I tell why the enterprise was abandoned. The probable cause was, that none but Mr.

Robbins felt much interest in it, and not able to do all himself, it fell through for want of adequate support.

In the conduct of this Society, there was an act of injustice to Mr.

Robbins which, in my view of it, deserves reprehension. He had formed many societies, had collected some money, and had promised that a minute report of all his doings should be made to the public, so that every contributor might know that the contributions had been applied to the proper object. This report ought to have been made, both to save his veracity and to vindicate his honesty, both of which have suffered, and, in many places, have been completely compromised by the non-fulfilment of his official promise. If, however, _he_ is satisfied, _I_ shall not complain.

While engaged as the agent of this Society, Mr. Robbins spent one year in Concord, N. H. and officiated as Chaplain to the State prison.

Whether his labors were well directed in that sphere of usefulness or not; how much or how little good was effected; whether his conduct was approved or condemned by the authority of the prison, I am not prepared to say. My opinion, however, is decidedly in his favor. I believe from what I learned on the spot--from the prisoners and the public--that he was the very man for that place; and that he labored _indefatigably_, _intelligently_, and _efficiently_, for the spiritual good of his brethren in bondage. I believe, too, that he was unpopular with the keepers, and I regard this as an evidence in his favor, of the highest kind that the case admits of. Had they espoused his cause, and desired his continuance there as Chaplain, I should have doubted his fitness for that office. For it is not more certain that there are _prisoners_ and _keepers_, than that he who seeks the real and lasting good of the _former_, must find opposers and enemies among the _latter_. I make this statement with perfect fearlessness, in view of much personal observation and experience; in accordance with every principle of the philosophy of man; and from the history of prisons in every nation and age of the world.

At the expiration of his engagement in Concord, he visited Windsor, Vermont, and spent about six months as Chaplain of the prison there.

In that place his labors were abundantly blessed, and will tell on the happiness of many immortal spirits, in the kingdom of G.o.d for ever. I pen this with the most distinct, vivid, and impressive recollections; and in the emotion of my soul, I cannot help inquiring why he was so abruptly discharged from that field of promise? It was his desire to _stay_,--it was the desire of the _prisoners_ that he should stay,--the indications of _Providence_ said--"_stay_,"--he offered his services as a _gratuity_,--and his conduct was not by any one impeached.--Why then was he removed? I heard the Superintendent of the prison a.s.sure him, that his services as the Chaplain of the prison, had been perfectly satisfactory. What, then, I ask again, nerved that unsympathizing arm, that threw him out of employment and usefulness, at the commencement of winter, to freeze or starve, to live or die?

Let the truth be told, and tell it, you that can.

At the opening of the next spring, he thought of returning to Concord, and preaching again to the prisoners. He waited on the Governor with letters of recommendation, and laid a pet.i.tion before the Legislature to obtain the chaplaincy of the prison for the ensuing year; but he did not succeed. Why he failed, may be inferred from the following facts.--

The Methodists were at that time contemplating a settlement in Concord. The number that had espoused that faith was very limited, and without some help, they could not support a preacher; and the salary allowed to the chaplain of the prison would be a very important item in their calculations. But this could be obtained only by having a minister of their order appointed by the Legislature, which was then in session. But then Mr. R. was a Methodist. True, but he was not the man for that place; and he did not _wish_ to be, any farther than for the _prison_. _Why_ was he not the man for that place? Was he not a good preacher? had he not learning and talent adequate to the claims of the place? and was he not admitted to be pious? O yes; in all these respects he stood on no mean elevation. Why then was he not the man?

Why, he had been a sinner; and though his opposers told the Lord every time they prayed, that they had been the _chief_ of sinners themselves, they yet thanked G.o.d that they were not like this _publican_, and said to him--"Stand off--we are more holy."

This then is the sole reason why they set their faces against Mr.

R.--HE HAD BEEN A BAD MAN. Whom then would they have? and how could they obtain him? In the Methodist Church the preachers are the property of the bishops, and they can dispose of them as they please.

Accordingly the bishop was applied to, and a preacher was stationed in Concord for the coming year. This preacher was then recommended to the Legislature, and appointed chaplain of the prison, to the exclusion of the first applicant.

By how mean a motive is human nature capable of being influenced? In its idolatrous devotion to self, how reckless of consequences? By this act of pious selfishness, _fifty dollars_ were gained by the Methodist Society in Concord, and a man who was peculiarly fitted for usefulness in a certain sphere, and who was trying to move in that sphere, was thrown out of all employment, and compelled to abandon a benevolent enterprise, which had twined round every fibre of his heart.

Is this a fair specimen of religious conduct? Is this the meaning of that divine command which requires all men, and christians _especially_, to do as they would be done by? Is this "_not_ mentioning to the penitent sinner the sins that he hath committed?" Is this _brotherly love_? Is this the spirit of the prayer--"forgive _as_ WE _forgive_?" With such records as these in the books which will be opened in "that day for which all other days were made," who would be willing to go to judgment?

One circ.u.mstance more, and I shall have done, for the present, with Mr. R. It is a rule in the Methodist Church that a local preacher shall be ordained deacon, when he has been licensed to preach _four years_; but Mr. R. has been on trial more than six years, and is not, I believe, ordained yet, though he has been recommended for it. He has also applied several times, with the best of recommendations, to join the annual conference, but has always been rejected. Why? Not that he has _done_ any thing amiss, since he has been among them, but they fear he _will_! He is in good standing as a _local preacher_, but he must not ascend to the house of Lords, lest he _should_ do something, or through fear that he _has_ done something in days of yore, that might overshadow the dignity of their ill.u.s.trious body. Mary Magdalene could be in the society of Jesus; the thief on the cross could be with his Lord in Paradise; and the disciples could give the right hand of fellowship to Paul; but things have altered vastly since those times.

The servant who has been forgiven, takes his fellow servant by the _throat_ now-a-days. Should our Father in heaven act as some of his professed children on earth do, universal and eternal d.a.m.nation would be certain. This annual conference refuses to admit a man into its fellowship, whose life for many years has been that of a christian, and who lives in the confidence of all his numerous friends, for fear that it will be disgraced; and yet a similar body, under the same bishop, voted Rev. E. K. A. as pure as the morning dew-drop, when the public opinion had thrown upon his soul all the guilt of the fallen angels. _Proh pudor!_

So much for the Rev. Mr. R. and his connexion with the sympathies and charities of christians. Against those whose conduct I have condemned, I have no personal animosities to gratify; nor have I any particular feelings of extraordinary friendship for Mr. R., that would lead me to vindicate his conduct against truth and justice. I am his friend to the full extent of honourable and christian principles, but no farther. Were there any thing wrong in his conduct, I could see it as quick as any one, and our mutual rule has ever been, not to cover each other's faults. No one, I think, knows him better than I do, and unless his conduct appears to me very different from what it really is, he is certainly an injured man; and his wounds are the less excuseable, inasmuch as they were received in the house of his _friends_. My sole design is to state _facts_, which I mean to do _faithfully_, without reference to friend or foe. If I should err, it will be unintentional, and I shall be open to correction; if I am correct, I am not answerable for the inferences which may be drawn from my statements.

Another individual who has been _brothered_, and _kissed_, and _smitten in the fifth rib_, by the Joabs of modern christianity, I will introduce to your acquaintance under the t.i.tle of THE AUTHOR.

But before I enter upon those events which belong more immediately to my subject, it is due to many pious and very excellent individuals to record of them, that the author ever found in them a spirit becoming the christian, and principles of oral and religious conduct which demonstrate, that, as there were seven thousand in ancient Israel, who had not bowed to the image of Baal, so there are many in _modern_ Israel who are true to their profession. These he will delight to remember, and to cherish for them the warmest emotions of grat.i.tude, while life remains. They are of that number who make _actions_ the criterion of _character_, and who expect to be _judged_ according to their _works_; and who claim not to be esteemed _christians_ any farther then they _live_ like christians.

As soon as the author was released from his long and dreary confinement, he united with the church with a view to the ministry, and to spending his life in publishing salvation to prisons. To this course he had been urged by many of his particular friends, and prompted by his most sanguine feelings; and to his mind, there was but one objection against it. This objection grew out of the popular interpretation of St. Paul's language, that a minister must have a good report of them that are without; which is generally understood to exclude from the desk all those who have, in any way, rendered themselves infamous, however sincerely they may have repented, and however thoroughly they may have reformed. On this he balanced for some time; but when he reflected that John Bunyan and the American Fuller, had been useful in the ministry, after having a very _bad_ report of them who were without, he thought that he might be excused if he followed their steps. It occurred to him, also, that if Christ came into the world to save _sinners_--if the pious king of Israel came into the courts of his G.o.d, after washing his hands from the blood of _murder_, and bathing himself from the pollution of an _adulterous bed_--if the sacred orator of MAR'S HILL came to the ministry from off a sea of martyr's blood, which his _wicked hands had spilt_--if the preacher on the day of Pentecost had been the _Satan_ whom Jesus ordered to get behind him, and the _profane denier_ of his accused Master--if, in fine, he who was with Jesus in Paradise, in the _evening_, had been conducted, in the _morning_, from a _criminal's dungeon_ to the cross of an _ignominious death_; no good reason could be a.s.signed why a man might not leave a prisoner's cell, and take that course to usefulness which providence seemed to point out.

The objection thus obviated, and a sense of duty prompting him, he cheerfully followed in the opening of providence; and in the usual time, after the customary examination, he was admitted into the ministerial fellowship of the Methodist denomination, and licensed to preach the gospel.

He now began to feel as if he was in the bosom of none but true and christian friends. In the deep blue firmament of his future hopes, no cloud was seen; and the earth around him was rich with the fragrance and verdure of promise. But "disappointment smiled at hope's career,"

and blight beneath, and clouds above, soon taught him that a "brother will utterly supplant, and a neighbor walk with slanders"--that "they will deceive and not speak the truth."

During the first six months after his enlargement, he was frequently in company with some of those preachers who had officiated as chaplains at the prison; and from what he had heard them say in their sermons and prayers, he was expecting them to take some interest in his case, and give him some advice. But in this he expected too much.

Not one of them ever inquired what he was doing, nor offered any a.s.sistance to get him into business; nor did they ever mention the subject of _religion_ in his hearing. These were _negative friends_, for they did him no _good_. They were also _negative enemies_, for they did him no _harm_. And had _all_ his enemies been _negative_ ones, it would have been a very happy circ.u.mstance for him; but alas!

most of them have been _positive enemies_ to the extent of their power.

The first brother in the ministry who lifted up his heel against him, was Rev. R. L. H***. I would mention this man's name with some respect, knowing that the person he injured, feels that a great debt of grat.i.tude is not cancelled by any efforts which his enemy has made, to divide him from the esteem, respect, and confidence of the church.

The claims of grat.i.tude I know are lasting, and it must be painful to find one who has been a benefactor, become an enemy without any cause.

But such things _do_ happen, and this is an instance of it; and though the heart that bled retains no resentment, still I have a motive for rescuing this fact from oblivion, and preserving it in this connexion.

The fact is as follows.--

The author, after an absence of some months, returned to the vicinity in which Mr. H---- resided, and by the request of a friend, preached from a particular text. In the sermon he dropped some remarks, which were considered as outstripping the theological landmarks of the order, of which it pleased Mr. H. to take a most scrutinizing notice.

The sentiment objected to was, that the proportion of the saved over the lost, would be as _ten thousand_ to _one_. As this opinion was very harshly and unfairly treated, the author took it up in another discourse, and argued it at full length from the Scriptures. Mr. H.