When George Fox spoke of his unique experience of
communicating and maintaining a relationship with God outside of
the church, people took notice. Silent Worship. An Inner Light. When
two or more Friends gather. There is that of God in all of us. In basic
terms, these concepts were a significant departure from the teachings
of the time. As the crowds grew, so did this revolutionary movement.
More and more people were lead to give their own accounts and
revelations. Subsequently, given the puritanical era in which the early
Quakers lived and practiced their beliefs, many were taken to court,
imprisoned and many more were stripped of property or rights while
some were even put to death for refusing to denounce their faith and
method of silent worship. However severe the consequences and penalties,
it did not halt the multitude of individuals that followed over the
centuries. And now Quakers can be found around the world. Thankfully
present day Quakers, (Friends) are able to freely enter prisons
to minister to prisoners, among other numerous endeavors.
As one of those prisoners who have had the opportunity to attend
Quaker worship service (meeting), I can say firsthand that the
journey has been life changing. The experience for me began halfway
through the year 1995, some 14 years into this incarceration. At the
time I was confined at Patuxent, the maximum security prison in Jessup,
Maryland. On occasion I had attended the various religious programs
and services held there over the years but I never quite felt that it
completely quenched the thirst or expectation that I had. Catholic,
Protestant and Nondenominational services all provided varying
degrees of inspiration to most of those in attendance, but I just didn’t
get the message or meaning that I was searching for. And so the quest
for a deeper understanding continued. Eventually I was lead to attend
the Quaker services in Corridor N. There those Friends from Sandy
Spring provided information, guidance, and most importantly, a conducive
atmosphere. When I stopped looking all around for some type
of outward sign, and started looking inward, centering and listening,
then I began to have an entirely different religious experience. The
transformation wasn’t instantaneous but I instantly knew I was at the
right starting point.
As time passed I would still have challenges and struggles; after all I
remained imprisoned and caught in this huge DOC machine, but I
believed then as I do now that I had a better foundation upon which
to live. Some doors would unexpectedly be opened for me and I met
some remarkable people. And many of the most positive aspects of my
life can be traced back to that particular starting point.
In 1999 I was transferred from Jessup to MCI at Hagerstown.
No Friends or Quaker worship services were held here at the time despite
the prison’s long history. Members from Sandy Spring Friends
Meeting were able to visit and offer religious counsel, to which I remain
grateful.
Some five years later the Prison Ministry and Care Committee
at the Patapsco Friends Meeting in Ellicott City, MD., sought and
was granted approval by the prison administration to hold services
at MCIH. Despite the initial concerns of sustainability, distance and
time, the very first meeting for worship was held at MCIH in January
2005, under the care of PFM. Now the worship service is recognized
as South Mountain Friends Fellowship, meeting every seventh day
(Saturday) at 9:30 - 11:00 am. If you are one of the more than 2100
prisoners here at MCIH and are searching for a source of enlightenment,
send your information to the Chaplain’s Office requesting a
pass. What you are likely to find is not only a place of worship but the
genesis for an entirely new experience and way of life.
To all of the volunteers, religious clergy, counselors, mentors
and members of Meetings everywhere who enter these prisons and
jails - what you do is making a world of difference. With the U.S. prison
population increasing (now reported to be 1 in 100 persons in the U.S.
imprisoned), so are the needs. And although the rates of incarceration
have increased, imagine for a moment if there were not any advocates
speaking out to help curtail this rate or improve conditions within
the prisons. So on behalf of the many men, women, young adults, and
even children, thank you for being the Light, and bringing the Light
into these prisons and places of confinement.
