ORATORIO IN PRISON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3142, 11 February 1911, Page 3

ORATORIO IN PRISON.

THE MESSIAH” PERFORMED IN A LONDON. GAOL.

An audience of an unusual 'kind assembled in London on Sunday. December IBth, to hear the “Messiah.” The place was the chapel of Wormwood Serubbs Prison, and the audience was comprised of all the prisoners. As an experiment, a performance of the “Messiah,” by the Western District Choral Society, was substituted for the usual service. The prisoners, who numbered about 1000, were tol'cl to regard the performance as part of the service and not to annlaml the singers. Well disciplined though they were, obedience to this order was sometimes beyond them. A correspondent who was present says that their feelings more than once got the better of them, and a hum of content, a furtive stamping of feet, and even sobs wore evoked by a more than ordinary touching passage. We are told that when Miss Opponshaw sang “O, Thou ’That- 'lollest Good Tidings,” ’ “the prisoners hung on her words' with the greatest keenness, some of the men leaning forward as if not to 'miss a. unite of the sweet air.” Miss Eiiiilv Bren re, who had travelled from Sheffield to he present, sang “Come Unto Me,” with moving effect-. “Many a hand was • furtively raised to wipe away a tear. Not a .man stirred, bo deeply affected were the men that m many eases tears could be seen trickling down the faces of those, who, hardened perhans as they were could not resist the wonderful power and charm of the singers ic-'O • «slic Juki fiiiislicclj there was a. moment .s silence, and then the pent-up emotion broke out iq,to applaud It- lasted but a moment ; the men" quickly realised what they were doing and. without intervention by the warders, relapsed into silence. 'There was no further demonstration, but there was no slackening of attention Altogether the effect of the performance is described as extraordinai \, and it is believed that the innovation introduced by the Home- Secretary will lu> extended. Perhaps m time, oven secular concerts will be given in Eng!H, goals, as they are m American.