A Prison Sunday

To tlie revcrcml clergy !n thê State bl MJchignn : The Board of corrections and chsrities respectfolfy Irrfbrm the elerjty ot the State, that tlie natloaal prisou ttasooiatloa win lmlil its annual meting in Detroit commencing ( i.-tober 17th aud continuing four days. "The association is anxious that the meeting should be in uil respei thy one; throuh ir they hope that tlie association uiay be fairly set on rtafej a dirrctiug, or at least, guiding the prison affairs of the fountr.y." "Ex-President BLayes, the preeidenl ui association, will ba present, mul i good many gnvornors and ex-iovemor.." The board bope thai you will atttud the tueetlng and induce the atfendance pi others. 'l'hcy njg'o bijr leave to micgest thal ilic Siiiniay precedlnfor fbllo1 tbe meeting, sh.ill be made a p?hon Sundaj, ilisiDuiM s being dt'lirerod in the miciest of prisou manacement, i d I reform In tlicir widi' bearlngs. In tnakiiig th)s Bnggeadon they are followfng the lead of other Btates. A.coordg to the (tiitli C8Q8IU of the lUitrd States, 1880, there are coasteotly In the varions penal instltútloiis in tlie ü. S. nearlv 60,000 persons. And in jnveuile ruformatories nearly 12,000. In our State the average number of prisonen during the year ím at Ie ist 1,500, and in thë reformatories orer 600. Arainii the qwetüon tbat partkilarry interest thoae offioially nelatrd .r.-ons are: the jail sytein. dealing witli Jnvenile aud ür.st offebders, the tramp evil, the provinee of justices' emirts, the employment of prisoners, indeterniinate sentenees, the relatlon of the MMc to thu families of tboseUnprlsoni d, punUhments and rewards, ,iul provlsiona lor discharged prisoners. Ámong these an tainly matters th.it may rery proj erly be Introducid into tlie pulpit. The relution of the Citizen to the ciinünal classes as onc of interest, of benevolencc and religión, is little andentood. Fiom this comes nnicli of the diflScult) in prison reform. The. State board ask the co-operation of all eiliens in their elloi Is to malee our prtaona and reformatoriea in Michigan nfter the best modela in our own and forelgn lands. 'l'hey appeal to the clergy as leaders of thougbC, and as brought iuto contact wlth tlie people, more than any other class. The secretary ot this bftard will ftirnisi from the oiflee at Langtng luch printed infonnatlon as m:iy be in liis power, on application. ft. A. AxeiB, Gov. of Mioli i Kt. Key. Op.o. I). (ut.; hik. ( h'ni. John J. Wueelek, Levi L. IJAUBOun, Cohneliüs Van Loo, L C. STOBRS, Secretnry, Members of tbe Board.