European Prison Discipline [pp. 772-781]

7European Prison Discipline.
A thorough investigation of the
most ancient custom of the Celtic
church, proves that it was in communion with the church of Rome. The
trivial differences between the two
churches regarded neither dogma,
nor morality, nor the essentials of the
Liturgy, of the Mass, or the Blessed
Sacrament. The supremacy of the
pope was recognized by all the Irish;
and the celibacy of the clergy observed as in the other Western churches. In the ceremonies of the Mass,
it is true, there were certain usages
and forms observed not Roman, as
was the case also in the churches of
Spain and Gaul. The rites of baptism in the Irish church were simpler than those of the Roman. The
difference mainly consisted in the
style of the tonsure and in the time
of celebrating the Easter festival.
The Irish and Britons did not keep
the reckoning of the Abbot Dionysius the Little, as he is styled, regarding Easter, and tenaciously
clung to the old Roman calculation.
Every departure from it seemed to
them contrary to the traditions of
their fathers. It was only in the year
716, and after hard and bitter fighting, that perfect union between Rome
and Ireland was effected in this particular.
The history of the Irish, as well as
of the British church, is of the greatest importance for Germans who want
to know the origin of Christianity in
their own land. But we shall develop this point in a second article.
EUROPEAN PRISON DISCIPLINE.
I.-NEWGATE.
WE take pleasure in offering to
American readers the following record of a visit to Newgate, as exhibiting the enlightened humanity shown
in the treatment of public criminals
in London. The guicde whom we
have selected as the interpreter of
Newgate's mysteries is an imaginary
personage. He expresses the impressions, thoughts, and comments of
several persons, not the convictions
of a single individual.
THIS way, sir, please. Yes, the
passages do seem gloomy, coming in
out of the sunny street, crowded with
free men hurrying to and fro on business. Here we are in the kitchen;
you see the good allowance of meat
and potatoes the prisoners have for
dinner four times a week; the other
three days they have a good strong
soup instead of meat; morning and
night a mess of oatmeal, and with
each meal halfa pound of bread. Yes,
they are well fed; better here, many
of them, than they would be outside.
Just look over your shoulder, sir.
Through that low iron door behind
you the condemned prisoners pass
out into the square to be hanged.
Why through the kitchen? Can't
say, sir. It has always been so and
that's all, I suppose. Do they take
it quietly for the most part? Whysometimes they give us a little trouble, but-yes, generally they bear it
pretty well, poor fellows!
More narrow passages, with grated
rooms like aviaries on each side.
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