Frederic Rainer: The Founder Of Probation?
| DOI | 10.1177/026455050104800406 |
| Date | 01 December 2001 |
| Published date | 01 December 2001 |
| Author | Shani Cassady |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Reflections 1-p287-289 22/11/01 9:14 am Page 1
REFLECTIONS
Frederic Rainer: T h e
Founder Of Probation?
Using material taken almost exclusively from the Rainer Archive,
Shani Cassady reflects on the life and legacy of the “forgotten
philanthropist” whose actions may have sparked off the train of
events which eventually led to the establishment of the
Probation Service.
Throughout history, themes of piety, 5/- to the Church of England Temperance
i n d u s t r y, prudence and sobriety
Society (CETS) to arrest the inevitable
have been utilised in an attempt to divert
downward spiral of those ‘whose foot has
humanity from wrongdoing and towards a
once slipped’. Nevertheless, little is written
path of righteousness. The expectation has
about the man who is said to have taken
been that this will not only bring about
that first step, and few beyond the areas of
personal fulfilment and happiness, but also
probation know of his work. Indeed even a
ensure the miscreant’s eternal salvation. It
CETS publication celebrating its 60th
may be argued that over time these ideas
anniversary, only refers to a donation from
have been revised and reinvented, but their
“a working printer”.
enduring nature may also have ensured that
they have become permanently embedded
Biography
in the ‘social fabric’. In combination with a
Born in Windsor in 1836 to George, a
welfare ethic, they may, therefore, have
mason, and Susannah, a coffee shop
provided the framework around which
proprietor, Frederic was the last of their six
many responses to criminal behaviour have
children. Educated in the National Schools
been built.
and a member of the local parish church, he
As an indicator of philanthropic
found a mentor in Reverend Henry Ellison,
evolution, the Rainer Archive is proving to
whose daughter remembered Frederic as a
be an important collection. By revealing the
particular favourite of her father’s – “one of
e fforts of forgotten reformers such as
my father’s special protégés”. He left
Frederic Rainer we...
REFLECTIONS
Frederic Rainer: T h e
Founder Of Probation?
Using material taken almost exclusively from the Rainer Archive,
Shani Cassady reflects on the life and legacy of the “forgotten
philanthropist” whose actions may have sparked off the train of
events which eventually led to the establishment of the
Probation Service.
Throughout history, themes of piety, 5/- to the Church of England Temperance
i n d u s t r y, prudence and sobriety
Society (CETS) to arrest the inevitable
have been utilised in an attempt to divert
downward spiral of those ‘whose foot has
humanity from wrongdoing and towards a
once slipped’. Nevertheless, little is written
path of righteousness. The expectation has
about the man who is said to have taken
been that this will not only bring about
that first step, and few beyond the areas of
personal fulfilment and happiness, but also
probation know of his work. Indeed even a
ensure the miscreant’s eternal salvation. It
CETS publication celebrating its 60th
may be argued that over time these ideas
anniversary, only refers to a donation from
have been revised and reinvented, but their
“a working printer”.
enduring nature may also have ensured that
they have become permanently embedded
Biography
in the ‘social fabric’. In combination with a
Born in Windsor in 1836 to George, a
welfare ethic, they may, therefore, have
mason, and Susannah, a coffee shop
provided the framework around which
proprietor, Frederic was the last of their six
many responses to criminal behaviour have
children. Educated in the National Schools
been built.
and a member of the local parish church, he
As an indicator of philanthropic
found a mentor in Reverend Henry Ellison,
evolution, the Rainer Archive is proving to
whose daughter remembered Frederic as a
be an important collection. By revealing the
particular favourite of her father’s – “one of
e fforts of forgotten reformers such as
my father’s special protégés”. He left
Frederic Rainer we...
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