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diff --git a/41720-0.txt b/41720-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6aeb269 --- /dev/null +++ b/41720-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,22568 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41720 *** + +[Illustration: _MOTHER WHEATON_] + + + + + PRISONS AND PRAYER + + OR + + A LABOR OF LOVE + + BY + + ELIZABETH R. WHEATON + + Prison Evangelist + + [Illustration: decoration] + + An account of nearly Twenty-two Years of Gospel Work, seeking + the lost, in Prisons, Reformatories, Stockades, Rescue + Homes, Saloons and Dives, and on the + Streets, Railway Trains, etc. + + [Illustration: decoration] + + "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall + doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with + him." Psa. 126:6. + + [Illustration: decoration] + + "For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave + me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye + clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I + was IN PRISON, and ye came unto + me."--Matthew 25: 35, 36. + + [Illustration: decoration] + + CHAS. M. KELLEY + Tabor, Iowa. + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1906, + + BY + CHAS. M. KELLEY. + + + + +DEDICATION. + + + To the + RAILROAD OFFICIALS who have so generously and cheerfully provided + me transportation; their EMPLOYEES, whose kindness has so many + times lightened the weariness of my journeys; the STATE and + PRISON OFFICIALS, who have heartily welcomed me and set before + me open doors; the THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS AND + OTHERS who have shown by word and deed their appreciation + of my efforts to help them to a better life; to the + many who have in any way ministered to my necessities + or offered an encouraging word by the way, + and to my SPIRITUAL CHILDREN, these pages are + cheerfully inscribed by + THE AUTHOR. + + +THE HARVEST TIME. + + The seed I have scattered in springtime with weeping, + And watered with tears and with dews from on high, + Another may shout while the harvester's reaping, + Shall gather my grain in the sweet by and by. + + CHORUS-- + + Over and over, yes, deeper and deeper, + My heart is pierced through with life's sorrowing cry, + But the tears of the sower and the songs of the reaper + Shall mingle together in joy by and by; + By and by, by and by, by and by, by and by, + Yes the tears of the sower and the songs of the reaper + Shall mingle together in joy by and by. + + Another may reap what in springtime I've planted, + Another rejoice in the fruit of my pain, + Not knowing my tears when in summer I fainted, + While toiling, sad-hearted, in sunshine and rain. + + The thorns will have choked and the summer sun blasted + The most of the seed which in springtime I've sown, + But the Lord who has watched while my weary toil lasted + Will give me a harvest for what I have done. + + --W. A. SPENCER + +Words and music copyright, John J. Hood, Philadelphia. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +DEAR READER: Over twenty years have passed since God called and +commissioned me to go to those that were bound. Within five years from +the time I entered upon the work, I had been enabled to preach the +gospel in every state and territory and had held meetings in nearly +every state-prison in the United States and in the prisons in Canada +and Mexico. My first trip to Europe was made in 1890. I have not only +held meetings in prison, but have endeavored to "preach the gospel to +every creature"--to those in authority, governors, prison and railroad +officials, and trainmen, as well as to those in churches, missions, +prisons, hospitals, alms-houses, dives, brothels, saloons and the +slums. In all places God has fulfilled His promise to be with me and +has given me evidence that my labor was not in vain in Him. + +When I was made to feel that the Lord required me to write of the +victories He had wrought and of the work yet waiting to be done I was +amazed and am still, though it is more than ten years since God first +told me to write for Him. Early left an orphan, my childhood was spent +in the country where I had to walk two miles across the fields and +through deep snows in order to get to school, and my life-work has +been crippled by my lack of education. How then can I write? Yet the +command of the Lord has been upon me and the cry of the needy has rung +in my ears. Words cannot describe the cruel wrongs, the awful +injustice, the scenes of desolation and degradation that have come to +my knowledge. Much has been done, much is being done; and yet, O how +much still needs to be done, in behalf of those in prison! Wrongs +that are indescribable still cry to God for vengeance in this our own +land. Cruelties that are beyond the power of language to describe +_still exist_, and the cry of the oppressed comes up to the ear of Him +who has declared "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." + +One reason I have for writing, is to show the great need of Holy Ghost +workers--those whose hearts God has touched--to carry the gospel to +those whose lives are darkened, blighted and blasted, and tell them of +a mighty deliverance from the bondage of sin, and of freedom in +Christ. + +Reader, if you could see the many inside prison walls going insane, +you would not wonder that, by the grace of God, I am determined to +prosecute my work as I have never done before, to save these poor +prisoners from despair, and to do with my might what my hands find to +do. + +I have kept no diary or journal and nearly all of ten years' +correspondence was destroyed at one time by fire. Hence I have written +largely from memory, and without any attempt to give an orderly and +connected account of my work. I have endeavored to put before you, +dear reader, such glimpses of the work and the field as would fairly +illustrate that which has been done and that which needs to be done. + +I ask for my imperfect work your kind consideration, and trust that +you will overlook my many mistakes and pray God's blessing to rest +upon the effort; and if I can only awaken in your hearts a deeper +compassion for lost girls and fallen men and the heart-broken friends +who mourn the loss of loved ones, I shall not have written in vain. + +In the selection, arrangement and preparation of manuscript, I have +been assisted by several friends who have been much interested in the +work, whose labor and patience can only be rewarded by Him whom we +serve. Among these are Brother and Sister Shaw, of Chicago, who have +so kindly given the introduction to the work, having full knowledge of +its contents and ability to judge of its merits. I will also mention +Brother and Sister Kelley, of Tabor, Iowa, who have rendered valuable +assistance. + +With many prayers and tears I send this work forth, hoping it may find +a place on your book-shelf and a corner in your heart, and that you +and I, dear reader, may meet where there are no prison walls, iron +bars, nor breaking hearts. And may there be gathered there with us at +Jesus' feet many of those whom we are striving to comfort and save, +while together we crown our Savior Lord of all, and through an endless +eternity worship Him who gave His life a ransom for the lost--"because +He loved them so." + + "MOTHER WHEATON." + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +This world is, to a large extent, a great prison house. Nearly all of +its inhabitants are prisoners surrounded by walls of sin and darkness. +Many are bound down by the curse of rum, others by the besetting sins +of lust, unholy temper, envy, revenge, malice, hatred, jealousy, +prejudice, pride, covetousness, or selfishness resulting from a carnal +mind. Out of the vast multitudes that are led captive by the devil at +his will, a few that have violated human law have been sentenced to +various prisons and reformatories. This book has much to say about the +men and women behind prison walls. It records the sad story of many +prisoners in a way that very few can read without being moved to tears +and that will awaken sympathy in the hardest hearts. It also tells of +the work of God among prisoners both in this and other countries. It +records some of the brightest of Christian experiences on record, +showing how many prisoners that have been slaves to worse than human +law and have lived in greater darkness than in the prison dungeon, +have been made free by being translated into the light that outshines +the noonday sun, and how they have been enabled to live noble, +Christian lives behind the bars. + +We are well acquainted with the author, having known her for several +years and having had the privilege of entertaining her in our home +more or less during that time. This acquaintance has enabled us to +know something of the burden that rests upon her soul for prisoners. +She has doubtless spent more time in the work, visited more prisons +and traveled farther than any other living prison worker. She has +visited practically all of the prisons of the United States and +Canada and most of them many times, and twice she has crossed the sea. +Her mission has been a mission of loving service, with but little +financial reward. But the Master who laid this work upon her heart has +given her rich reward for all her toil and privation and suffering, +for many have been converted through her instrumentality. Some have +gone to their reward. Many others, both in and out of prison, are +living honest, useful lives. + +Had this work been written only for the hasty reader who has but a few +hours at the most to give, much that it contains might better have +been omitted; but such as these can easily select from its pages that +which is most to their liking, while those who are deeply interested +in the work of soul-saving, as well as the prisoner whose spare hours +drag heavily and slowly, will here find food for study and +encouragement that will repay for many days of careful reading. + +In many respects, such a work as is here represented has never been +done by any other person. For these hundreds of pages give but a few +glimpses, as it were, of the work "Mother Wheaton" has done. We have +assisted her in gleaning from the many hundreds of letters still in +her possession (though much of her correspondence was destroyed by +fire) and in arranging and preparing matter for publication. We have +listened as with eyes filled with tears she has told us of the needs +of the work, and with every day thus spent we have become more deeply +interested in the work to which her life has been given. In a memorial +service it was said of the late Bishop William Taylor: "He was not an +organizer nor an administrator; not a statesman, in the ordinary use +of those terms. He was rather a great religious pioneer. He blazed +pathways through unknown moral wilds, and left the work of +organization mainly to those who might follow after." Such, in her +field of labor, has largely been the work of Mother Wheaton. + +No place has been far enough away, no stockade hard enough to reach, +no day warm enough or cold enough or stormy enough, no prison official +or stockade captain sufficiently abusive, to discourage her when she +felt that the Master bade her go forward. + +With a burning love for all the sinful and all the needy, she has gone +from north to south and from east to west, seeking the lost as one +seeks for hidden treasure. Through nights of weariness and days of +toil she has sought them and loved them and wept over them, man or +woman or child, as a mother weeps over and loves her own. She has +borne their burdens and shared their sorrows--ever bringing to them +the cheering word, the testimony or inspiring song, the faithful +warning, the earnest prayer, the plain gospel message, the hearty +hand-clasp, the loving "God bless you." + +We believe and pray that these pages may be greatly used of God to +reach thousands of hearts and stir up many to carry forward the work +so dear to her, when "Mother Wheaton" has crossed over to meet those +that are waiting to welcome her on the other side. + + Yours, in Jesus' love, + ETTA E. SHAW. + S. B. SHAW. + + Chicago, Ill., 1906. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + + BIOGRAPHY AND CALL TO THE WORK. + + Birth--Left an Orphan--Conversion--Marriage--Sorrow-- + Sanctification--Call to Prison Work--Family Reunion--Sketch + of My Life by My Brother 23 + + + CHAPTER II. + + LETTER TO MY PRISON CHILDREN. + + My Limited Education--Disappointments--A Friend in Jesus 38 + + + CHAPTER III. + + A PLEA FOR THE PRISONER. + + In the Shadow of the Wall (poem)--Letters to Prison Officers-- + Worth While (poem)--Prejudice--A Look into the Cell--Insane + Prisoners--All Prisoners Not Criminal--Prepared to Die 43 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + A BRIEF PEN PICTURE OF PRISON LIFE. + + The Buildings--Entrance--Chapel and Dining-room--Chapel + Service--The Cell-house--Workshops--Hospital 59 + + + CHAPTER V. + + LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION AND KIND WORDS FROM GOVERNORS, PRISON + OFFICIALS, ETC. + + From Governors--Prison Wardens--Chaplains 67 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + SOME OF MY PRISON BOYS. + + A Prisoner's Conversion as Shown by His Letters--A Talented + Young Man--Under Death Sentence--Commuted--Finally Pardoned-- + Letters--Sentenced for Life--His Letters--Faithful Inside and + Outside of Prison Walls 87 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + LETTERS FROM CO-WORKERS AND MY PRISON GIRLS. + + Letters from Sister Co-workers--From My Prison-bound Girls 117 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + INCIDENTS IN MY PRISON WORK. + + Letter from the Prisoners at Chester, Ill.--Extract of Chaplain's + Report--Suicide of a Prisoner--"I Have no Friends"--Letters + from Chaplain Starr--A Way Opened in Answer to Prayer--A Letter + from a Governor--A Woman Converted and Healed--A Change + Wrought--A Chaplain in My Audience--Impressed to Tarry-- + Encouragement by the Way--Cruel Neglect--Another Suicide--Just + Out of Prison--Dying in Prison--Does It Pay?--Saved and Preaching + the Gospel--In Solitary Confinement--Crape on the Door--In a + Police Station--Burned in His Cell--The Innocent in Bonds-- + Confessed Her Guilt--Under Sentence of Death--"The Religion + Mother Had" 135 + + + CHAPTER IX. + + CONVERSION OF DESPERATE PRISONERS PREVENTS A TERRIBLE MUTINY. + + Welcomed in Prison--An After-Service--Plan of the Mutiny--Havoc + of Sin--Letters 161 + + + CHAPTER X. + + REMARKABLE CONVERSION AND EXPERIENCE OF GEO. H. COLGROVE. + + His Own Story--Infidel Literature--Burglary and Murder--Life + Sentence--Conversion--Study of the Scriptures--Bible Class + Teacher--An Enemy Kindly Treated--A Pardon Refused--Second + Effort to Secure a Pardon--Letters--Final Illness and Triumphant + Death 169 + + + CHAPTER XI. + + WORK IN STOCKADES AND PRISON CAMPS IN SOUTHERN STATES. + + Race Question--Letters of Introduction and Recommendation--A + Stockade--Letter to a Governor--Reply of Prison Manager--Plea + for Women Convicts--Bloodhounds--Coal Mines--A Touching + Incident--First Meeting in a Prison Camp--Ride on Engine of + a Coal Train--First Railroad Pass--Ride on a Mule 187 + + + CHAPTER XII. + + STOCKADES AND PRISON CAMPS CONTINUED. + + Novel Conveyances--Assisting a Colored Minister--Through + Danger Alone--Prostrate Among Prisoners--A Meeting at Day + Dawn--Helping to Bury a Prisoner--Wreck of a Coal Train--Sugar + Camps--Ride in a Cart--In a Gambling Saloon--Condition of + Convicts--Unjustly Condemned--Need of Reform 212 + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + WORK IN FT. MADISON, IOWA, AND SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. + + My First Effort for Service in a Prison--Kindness of Officers + and Men--Letters from Officials--Work in Santa Fe, N. Mex.-- + Three Christian Men Pardoned--A Forty Years' Sentence--Kind + Words from Governor and Superintendent 241 + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + GONE HOME FROM THE SCAFFOLD. + + Special Mission to Doomed Men--Indifferent but Finally + Converted--Letters--Mother's Prayers--Claimed to Be Innocent-- + Hardened in Crime--Ten Men under Death Sentence--Conversion + of a Jewish Boy--Mysteriously Guided--In Long Expectation-- + Sentence Commuted--A Man Deceived--Interceded for a Boy--Went to + the Scaffold Singing--A Prominent Official--Recent Cases 254 + + + CHAPTER XV. + + WORK IN CHURCHES AND MISSIONS. + + Provided with Food in Answer to Prayer--A Great Revival--A + Man Saved from Suicide--Letters from Pastors and Others--Church + of the Redeemer in Baltimore--Successful Meetings--Young + Man Called to the Ministry--A Colored Woman Saved and + Preaching-- Incidents--Saved by a Hymn 294 + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + PREACHING THE GOSPEL ON RAILWAY TRAINS. + + Accidental Death of My Nephew--My First Trip by Rail--Experience + of a Railroad Man--Transportation--A Kind Conductor--Interesting + Services--Train Saved from Wreck--A Train in Danger--Impressed + to Leave the Train--Helped to Care for a Wounded + Man--Conductor's "God Bless You"--A Woman's Faith Encouraged-- + Riding in a Parlor Car--Favor to the Railroad Company 313 + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + STREET AND OPEN AIR. + + Poem--Permits to Hold Street Meetings--From a Missionary--My + First Street Meeting--A Wonderful Conversion--Became a + Preacher--The Blind Encouraged--Forbidden to Preach on the + Street--Thought They Saw a Ghost--Hurt by a Saloonkeeper--Warned + to Leave the City--In Jail 328 + + + RESCUE WORK. + + "A Mother's Plea" (poem)--A Plea for our Sisters--Drunken + Women and Men--Assaulted in a Dive--Attempts Suicide--A Girl + Saved--A Girl Rejected at a Rescue Home--Neglected by the + Churches--Visits to Hospitals--Kind Tributes--The Prodigal + Daughter (poem) 349 + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + WORK IN CANADA AND MEXICO. + + Street Meetings in Hamilton--In London, Ontario--A Girl + Rescued--In Kingston--Stoned in Quebec--Victory in Toronto-- + In Victoria, B. C.--Work in Mexico--A Bull Fight--Wept with + Condemned Men--Attacked by a Fierce Dog--Ministered to a + Sufferer 365 + + + CHAPTER XX. + + ACROSS THE SEA. + + On the Ocean--In a Foreign Land--Preaching in Glasgow--My + Life in Danger--A Song Stops a Row--Arrested for Singing-- + Tumult in a Dive--Mob of Drunken Women--Letter from + America--In Paisley--Return to America--Second Visit to + Europe--Experiences in London--Safe Return to America-- + Letter from Scotland 372 + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + TRAVEL AND TOIL. + + Two Nights' Service--One Weeks' Work--A Profitable Trip--Six + Weeks' Service--Recent Work--Another Trip 395 + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + LETTERS FROM PRISONERS. 431 + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + KIND WORDS FROM FRIENDS. + + From H. L. Hastings--Mrs. H. L. Hastings--E. E. Byrum, + Author and Editor--Mother of a Prisoner--Prisoner's + Daughter--An Editor--Ex-Prisoner--Miscellaneous 477 + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + SKETCHES FROM PRESS REPORTS. 491 + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + FURNISHED UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK. + + "Who Will Man the Life Boat?" (poem)--Adaptation Needed--The + Masses Not Reached--My Boy in India--Preaching the Gospel + in the Pesthouse--How the Lord Provides--Miscellaneous + Incidents 530 + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + SELECTIONS FROM MY SCRAPBOOK. + + Author of Flower Mission Day--Flower Day at the Prison--Lines + by a Prisoner--Take This Message to My Mother--Not Lonely + Now--Jesus Is Looking On--How God Calls Missionaries Out of + Prison Cells--Outside the Prison Walls--If We Knew--Little + Graves--The Mother's Warning--Harry's Remorse-- + Twenty-Thirty-Four--His Mother's Song--Perfect Peace--Sweet + Revenge--No Telephone in Heaven--A True Hero--Perfect Through + Faith--The Kid--Charged with Murder--Mother's Face--Only + Sixteen--The Dress Question 547 + + SONGS. + + 1. "Life's Railway to Heaven." + 2. "Meet Me There." + 3. "God Bless My Boy." + 4. "The Great Judgment Morning." + 5. "My Name in Mother's Prayer." + 6. "Over There." + 7. "This Way." + 8. "She's More to Be Pitied." + 9. "Some Mother's Child." + 10. "Tell My Dear Old Mother." + 11. "When the Death-bell Shall Toll." + 12. "The End of the Way." + + + APPENDIX. 596 + + The Personnel of Prison Management. By Warden C. E. Haddox. + Meditations of a Prisoner. + Discourse on "The Agony in the Garden." By a Prisoner. + Directory of Prisons and Reformatories. + + + ILLUSTRATIONS. + + Frontispiece + Ohio State Prison 27 + Family Group 34 + John Ryder 34 + Giving the Boys Counsel 42 + With Insane Prisoners 52 + Prisoners Marching 58 + Prison Chapel and Dining Room 60 + Corridor in Cell House 62 + New Federal Prison at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. 66 + The Old Tombs, New Tombs, New York 80 + Personal Work 86 + Administration Building, Mitchelville, Iowa 115 + Campus and Play-ground, Girls' Industrial School, Mitchelville, + Ia. 116 + A Chaplain's Residence 118 + Women's Prison, Allegheny, Pa. 121 + Group of Girls in an Industrial School 132 + Southern Illinois State Prison at Chester 134 + Interior of Chapel, Dining Apartment, and Row of Cells, + Chester, Ill. 160 + Geo. H. Colgrove 169 + Smelter and Work Shops, Chester, Ill. 186 + Woman Convict at Work in the Field 195 + Convicts Getting Out Coal 198 + Prison at Santa Fe, N. Mex. 240 + Church of the Redeemer, Baltimore, Md. 303 + A Railroad Engine 312 + Miss Josephine Cowgill 329 + Mother Prindle 361 + State Prison, Joliet, Ill. 394 + Prison at Deer Lodge, Mont. 397 + Criminal Insane Hospital, Chester, Ill. 408 + Prison at Huntsville, Tex. 410 + Group of Delegates at Prison Congress, 1904 414 + Industrial Reform School, Hutchinson, Kan. 416 + Industrial School, Whittier, Cal. 418 + Prisons at Jackson, Mich., Deer Lodge, Mont., and Folsom, Cal. 430 + A Ward in Prison Hospital 445 + Kitchen and Dining Room 455 + Drug Department in Prison Hospital 475 + Mother Wheaton 490 + Ruthena, India Famine Boy 535 + State Prison, Anamosa, Iowa 546 + + + + + "Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer + Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice + Rise like a fountain for me night and day. + For what are men better than sheep or goats + That nourish a blind life within the brain, + If, knowing God, they lift not the hands of prayer + Both for themselves and those who call them friend? + For so the whole round earth is every way + Bound by gold chains about the feet of God." + + --_Tennyson._ + + + + +PRISONS AND PRAYER + +OR + +A LABOR OF LOVE. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + Biography and Call to the Work. + + +I was born May 10, 1844, in Wayne County, Ohio. My parents, John and +Mary Van Nest Ryder, were honest, hard working people, and were +earnest Christians. One year after my birth, my father died, leaving +my mother with five little children--three boys and two girls. Mother +married again and had two children. The little girl was buried the day +before mother died. My half-brother, J. P. Thompson, still lives in +Ohio. Five years after my father's death my mother followed him to the +better land, and I, with the rest, was left an orphan. Well do I +remember the night my mother died. She was so troubled about leaving +her children alone in the world, but continued long in earnest prayer +until she had the assurance that God would care for them, and then she +sang the old-time hymn, + + "There is a fountain filled with blood, + Drawn from Immanuel's veins," + +and went shouting home to glory. What a lasting impression is made on +a child's heart by the life or death of a godly father or mother! + +By mother's death I was almost crazed with grief and could not be +comforted. At her grave I was separated from my brothers and sister, +and went to live with a family to whom mother had given me before her +death. Some time after this, the family moving away, I went to live +with my grandparents, under whose careful religious training I +remained until married. I received little education, as my +opportunities were very limited. + +From my earliest recollection I was deeply convicted of sin. This +conviction followed me until at the age of twelve years I gave my +heart to God and received the witness that I was His child. I united +with the people called Methodists and tried to walk in the light I +had, until God called me into His vineyard. + + + MARRIAGE. + +At the age of eighteen I was married to Mr. J. A. Wheaton. We lived +happily together, but in two years I was called to give up not only my +dear husband, but also our little baby boy. They were buried in one +grave, and I was again left alone in the world. O my breaking heart! I +was in despair! I did not know then God's wonderful comforting power +as I now do. I was scarcely more than a nominal Christian, a +fashionable proud woman, moving in high society, left to face the +battle of life alone. To try to drown my sorrow I rushed deeper into +society and fashion--only to be plunged into deeper despair. What I +suffered during those years is beyond the power of tongue or pen to +describe. My anguish of heart and mind were so great that at times +reason almost tottered on its throne. And had it not been for the +goodness and mercy of God in sending me timely aid through true +Christian friends, I should never have been able to have triumphed +over it all. + +Soon after I was converted, I felt the call of God to His service. I +longed to be a missionary. My heart especially went out to the +colored people and the Indians, and to the poor unfortunate ones of my +own sex. Their sufferings touched my heart, and it was this class with +which I did some of my first prison and missionary work in after +years. But in those days there was very little encouragement to a +woman to do such work. O how those who are called of God now should +appreciate their privileges! + +Though hindered and discouraged, this call did not leave me. I lived +in the church for years, always doing my part in church work. I was +proud and vain, but knew no better; yet I longed to be all the Lord's. + + + SANCTIFICATION. + +Several years after my conversion I heard of holiness or entire +consecration to God, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit for service. +After this, for about ten years, I was under conviction for a clean +heart, seeking for a while and then growing careless, receiving little +help from the formal professors around me. As I counted the cost, at +times it seemed too great. I knew it meant to give up fashionable +society, home, friends, reputation and all: and to take the way of the +lowly Nazarene. I heard at this time of a holiness meeting about forty +miles from home, which I attended. Here I heard the pure gospel +preached, and light shone upon my soul. I saw that none but the pure +in heart could see God in peace. After wrestling in prayer until about +three o'clock in the morning, I seemed held by an invisible power, +pure and holy, and was so filled with awe that I feared to speak or +move. Soon I heard a wonderful sound, soft, sweet and soothing, like +the rustle of angels' wings. Its holy influence pervaded my whole +being; a sound not of earth, but distinctly audible to both myself and +the sister who was in the same room! I listened enraptured. I feared +it was death, and my breath grew shorter and shorter. I did not move +nor open my eyes. Presently Jesus stood before me, and O the wonderful +look of love--so far above the love of mortals, so humble, meek and +pleading! In the tender voice of the Holy Spirit came these words: +"Can you give up all and follow me? Lay your weary, aching head upon +my breast. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Lo, I am with you +alway even unto the end of the world." I was enabled by the Holy +Spirit to say, "Yes, Lord Jesus." I knew it was Jesus. When I said +"Yes, Lord," the power of God fell upon me, soul and body, and I was +bathed in a sea of glory. When I had recovered from my rapture, Jesus +had vanished as silently as He came; but the blessing and power +remained. The sister whispered and asked, "Did you hear that sound?" +And then she told me that this was for my benefit. This occurred +November 11, 1883. That day the people looked at me and wondered, +seeing the great change God had wrought in me by His power. The night +following we had an all-night meeting. Again God spoke to me by His +Holy Spirit, saying, "Go and honor my Son's name, and I will go with +you." I prayed, "O Lord, if this is Thy voice, speak once more." The +same words came again. I obeyed and God did most wonderfully reveal +Himself to me. I knew I was called to His service and to work for lost +souls. + +[Illustration: STATE PRISON, COLUMBUS, OHIO.] + + + MY CALL TO PRISON WORK. + +The question is often asked me, "How did you become interested in this +work, and learn to understand the needs of the prisoner?" It was +through this call from God. None of my relatives or friends were ever +convicted of crime. When I was a young woman I attended the state fair +at Columbus, Ohio, and with a delegation visited the state-prison at +that place. While waiting for a guide to show us through the prison a +young man was brought in by an officer. I saw him searched, and later +as the heavy iron doors closed behind him with a clang, my sympathies +were aroused. While being shown through the prison I saw this young +man with his hair close cut, dressed in prisoners' garb, placed by the +side of hardened criminals. There my first interest was awakened to +try to make the burdens lighter for the prison-bound. As we were +leaving the prison I noticed some small articles which had been made +by the inmates in their spare moments. Among these I saw and was +especially impressed with a miniature statue of a prisoner dressed in +stripes, holding in one hand a ball and chain, the other hand shading +the eyes. Upon the pedestal of the statue were these words, "What +shall the harvest be?" I shall never forget the impression then made +upon my mind. It is still fresh in my memory. + +Years after this, shortly after my commission to preach the gospel, as +I was traveling one night to reach an appointment, stopping at a +station in Iowa to change cars, three prisoners in handcuffs, who were +being taken to the state-prison, were brought in. My heart was moved +with deep compassion for them. Many were curiously inspecting them, as +if they thought they had no tender feelings. Approaching these men, I +gave them my hand, saying, "I am sorry for you, but God can help you +in this hour of trial," and I tried to cheer them, and told them I +would sometime visit them in the prison if I could. I did not then +know I was so soon to enter upon my mission. But the burden of those +in prison kept coming heavier upon me. I told my friends I must go and + + + PREACH THE GOSPEL TO PRISONERS + +but they for a time thought me almost crazy. But as one of old, I +felt that "Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." So I gladly obeyed +the divine call and went forward. + +But I was not led into this work by any morbid sentimentalism or +enthusiasm. These would have worn off when the novelty was gone. No, +this work was given me of God, who Himself laid the burden of the +convict world upon my heart. Day and night there came up before me the +cry of despair from inside prison walls--the wail of woe from those in +dungeons whose hearts were breaking and whose minds were shattered and +whose souls were lost in despair, and the call came direct from the +mouth of the Lord, "Go and stand in the breach! Tell them of a +Savior's love--of a way of escape through the blood of Jesus Christ, +who is mighty to save and strong to deliver them from the snares of +the enemy that has sought to destroy them soul and body. Tell them +there is deliverance for the captive. Tell them there is consolation +in the gospel of Christ for those who are heart-broken and forsaken +and forgotten by all but an omnipotent God. Tell them that God lives +and rules and reigns in heaven and is able to save to the uttermost +and to comfort in their dying hours with the hope of eternal life +beyond this vale of tears." + +But how could I go? The Lord Himself showed me how to go and where to +go and that I was to leave results to Him and He would give the +increase--that He would multiply the bread and fish for the hungry +multitudes--He would feed the famished souls to whom He sent me, just +as when He walked this sin-cursed earth--that He was the same +yesterday, today and forever. I saw that my life must be entirely and +forever surrendered to the Lord for His service, and that my future +was to be left entirely in the hands of the Master whose I am and +whom I serve. + +Thus the call came day after day and night after night until I believe +I should have gone insane had I not then and there yielded my time and +talent, all I had or ever would have, to the service of Christ to go +just when and where He would have me go, do as He would have me do, +and trust Him for my support. I was shown that I would never come to +want. I was made to understand that these poor unfortunates in prison +were just as dear to God's heart as I was and that souls would be +required at my hands were I to fail to comply with the commission to +go and lift up the fallen and comfort the dying and relieve those +distressed in body and mind. I was made to know that there was power +in prayer and that God could save the very lowest criminal or the +worst woman on earth and by the transforming influence of the Holy +Spirit and the cleansing blood of Jesus, save, purify and sanctify and +lift them up even within the pearly gates of heaven; and that instead +of devils in human form, they could be made saints that could take up +the glad refrain unto Him that had redeemed them and washed them in +his own blood and made them kings and priests unto God. + +Yes, God called me. And His name shall be exalted through all eternity +for what He has done for me and through me during all these years. His +has been the hand that fed, clothed and supported me. Never has God +failed me in this pilgrim journey and He has supplied all my needs. My +heart goes out in gratitude and thanksgiving while I write, for all He +has done for me. O, the heights and depths, lengths and breadths of +His boundless love for lost humanity! How wonderfully has He led me! +How His guiding hand, His protecting care have been over me! Amid +discouragements, disappointments and misunderstandings God has given +me victory through the blood of our precious, loving Savior; and I +know that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask +or think. + +When I saw the criminal at the bar of justice, I was reminded that we +must all soon appear at the judgment bar of God. Then I saw that the +Lord wanted me to tell of a Mighty Deliverer from the sins of +intemperance, unbelief, skepticism, infidelity, covetousness, +licentiousness and hypocrisy. My eyes were opened to see that +thousands of poor helpless souls were drifting to their eternal doom +without God and without hope, and that ofttimes in their hours of most +desperate need there was no one to help, no one to point them to the +blessed Savior and to really snatch them as "brands from the burning." + +Then I took courage and said, "Yes, Lord, I will go and do my best to +help save them from destruction and an eternity in hell." Since then I +have spent more than twenty years of constant toil among the masses +and have reason to declare that God has given me success beyond what I +could have thought possible. + +Multitudes have been saved, representing all ranks and stations of +life. Many are today singing the songs of the redeemed with the +glorified hosts in the other world, who were counted by many to be +beyond redemption, already doomed and lost forever. + +For such I have taken courage and have pleaded before the Lord His +written Word, asking for their soul's salvation; and now they are +forever with the Lord. O faithless one, is there anything too hard for +the Lord? And has He not told us "All things are possible to him that +believeth" and "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out" +and that "if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us +our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"? During these +years that I have stepped out on His promises I have proved that His +word never fails. It is faith in the living God which brings results +in the salvation of immortal souls. Never have I doubted God's power +to save the vilest person, and now I want to tell, for His glory, just +a little of what God has wrought as well as show something of what +needs to be done. Bless the Lord, O my soul, for a faith prompted of +the Spirit that will not waver--a confidence in God which takes no +denial but cries "It must be done." In answer to such a faith, +criminals of the deepest dye have been awakened and saved and women of +the worst possible character have been converted and reformed and +purified, and some have been set apart for the service of God and have +done a mighty work. Others, as we have said, have gone to swell the +grand, triumphant strain around the throne of God, where angels and +archangels unite to make all heaven resound with the praises of our +King--among those of whom it is said, "These are they which came up +through great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them +white in the blood of the Lamb." After I see the King in His beauty, +clothed in majesty and glory and power, I want to look in the faces of +those whom God has used me to help, who have come up from inside +prison walls and from haunts of sin--yea, from the scaffold +itself--those who have died in the triumphs of a living faith, +victorious over death, hell and the grave. + +Since my call to the work of the Lord He has caused many homes to be +opened to me and has given me many very dear friends. Among those of +earlier years were dear Brother and Sister H. L. Hastings, of Boston, +who kindly gave me a home and cared for me in sickness and special +time of need. And in later years are those at the Missionary Training +Home at Tabor, Iowa, with whom I have made my headquarters since 1895. +I would specially mention Mrs. Hattie Worcester Kelley, who had a call +from God to assist me in prison work and traveled some with me until +her health failed; also Mrs. Georgia Worcester and her husband, and +her father, Elder Weavers, who is president of the Home; with their +faithful helpers in charge and assisting in the work, who have given +me a hearty welcome among them. + +It was here I became more directly interested in foreign missionary +work. I have at different times taken with me in my prison and slum +mission work several of the missionaries now in foreign lands. Among +these are Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Worcester, now in Africa, whom I +accompanied on their way as far as London; Grace Yarrett, recently +sailed for India, and a number of others. + + FAMILY REUNION AFTER A SEPARATION OF FIFTY-TWO YEARS. + +The following from a paper published in Elkhart, Ind., December, 1902, +under the above heading, will explain itself: + + J. M. Ryder of Indianapolis, Ind.; Emanuel Ryder of Bryan, O.; + Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton, prison evangelist, and Lida Ryder + Hoffman of this city met in a family reunion Dec. 8, after a + separation of fifty-two years, this being the first time in all + these years that the brothers and sisters, who were left orphans + in early childhood, have been together. * * * The brothers and + sisters sat for a group picture as a memento of the day, and left + for their different missions and homes, not likely to all meet + again this side of the great River. + +[Illustration: J. M. RYDER, MRS. E. RYDER WHEATON, EMANUEL RYDER, MRS. +LIDA RYDER HOFFMAN.] + +[Illustration: JOHN RYDER, DECEASED.] + +I also give the reader a sketch written by my brother and published +in his home paper at Bryan, O., some years since. + + Like Moses and the prophets of old; like Jesus and his disciples; + like Martin Luther and John Wesley, and a host of other great + lights who have been chosen at different times to be teachers and + leaders of the children of earth, so in like manner and like + purpose was Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton chosen. + + Her chief mission has been to the inmates of jails and + penitentiaries, reformatories and the lowly outcasts in the + houses of perdition, among people who never find room in the + pews. + + Unconnected with church or other organization, but aided by an + angel band, a Christ love, great charity, force of character that + knew not fear where duty called, she has worked for the uplifting + of the fallen. + + For twenty years she has toiled and struggled in her great life + work, giving her teachings, her songs and her prayers, shedding + tears of love and sympathy for the poor souls in the bondage of + sin. + + For twenty years she has traveled up and down her home land and + several foreign countries. + + The world her country, to do good her religion, giving her light, + her life, wherever the most needed; never stopping, except from + sickness or exhaustion from overwork; often meeting friends on + the long and rugged road who gave her sympathy, shelter and food; + at other times the floor her couch and but little to eat--but + whether good or bad conditions, always thankful. + + In her chosen work, in the past twenty years, no person has done + more good or has had so much influence in causing people to lead + better lives, to quit sinning, to get out of hell and enjoy the + happiness that follows from leading conscientious, truer lives. + + Her good intentions, her words of warning and sympathy, her sweet + soul songs of love, her prayers in angelic power, have moved the + people outside of the churches in the different avocations and + walks of life as they had never been moved before, the masses + perceiving by subtle agency that here was a person deserving + love, respect and honor. + + She had great influence with the employees of the different + railway companies, the good-will of the superintendents of many + of the great railway lines of the country, frequently getting + passes from New York City to San Francisco and return, a + distance of seven thousand miles, for herself and companion. + + She has spoken in more reformatories, jails and penitentiaries, + and, I believe, done more good, unconnected with any + organization, than any other in the twenty years. + + HER LIFE HISTORY. + + It is too long a story to attempt to go into details--to tell of + her trials, hardships and sickness; to tell of her individual + successes, as well as her successes when she has swayed great + bodies of people, moving the half of them to tears, causing them + to have higher thoughts, better motives, and to bless the hour + she was among them; or of how she entered the southern stockades + alone, even when warned by the Warden that her life might be + taken, and in ten minutes had the inmates as tractable as little + children, where the officials would not enter, except in a body + and thoroughly armed; how she stood her ground when menaced by + drunken western desperadoes; or of the times she divided her + raiment and her scant purse with the destitute, and the many + times she escaped great danger by being forewarned, etc. + + Bereft of both parents at the age of five years, and cared for by + cold and indifferent strangers, she misses the mother's love, + guidance, sympathy and protection. + + When she started out on her mission she left a good home with all + the substantials and many of the luxuries of life, with but + little education, without money or friends, alone to travel + unbeaten paths, to do a work that no one had ever tried before; + untrained in the great work she was to follow, but impelled by a + higher Spirit force she could not resist. "Do this work. I will + be with you to the end. When great troubles come, I will be your + shield and your helper. I will warn you of great danger. I will + protect your life. You will gather many sheaves, and, when you + are through with earth, have a high place in the heavenly abode." + + Whenever needed, the angel band assists her to say the right + words for the time and occasion, according to perceptions and + conceptions of the people addressed. + + She is gifted with a voice that is always musical, clear and + distinct, and of such compass that it can be heard a mile, or + down to the minor notes, but always with the pathos that touches + the tender chords of the soul. + + Now she is old, broken in health and strength. Soon she must lay + her weary body down, a willing sacrifice for the lowest children + of earth. + + And now with this brief outline of the work, the life and the + powerful soul magic of Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton, I close. + + Respectfully, + EMANUEL RYDER, + Brother of Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + A Letter to My Prison Children. + + +You, dear ones, are my especial care and have been for over twenty +long years; and your eternal good will continue in a sense to be first +in my thoughts while life lasts. + +My own childhood was lonely and desolate. As I have already told you, +my father died when I was one year old, and mother died when I was +only six. I was taken from my mother's grave by an old man who had, +with his wife, asked mother for me before she died. My stepfather went +to law with my grandfather, who was guardian for myself and sister, +for my father's fortune, and the suit was carried from one court to +another until all was gone and we little children were penniless. + +Sister and I were reared by our grandparents, and were given a very +limited education. We were taught to work as rigidly as if we were +paupers. The experience was hard but I can now see how good it was for +me in after years to know how to do all kinds of work and be able to +do with my might what my hands found to do. + +All my life I have known much of SORROW AND DISAPPOINTMENT. It has +seemed that I have never been allowed to keep long anything that I +loved. When I was a child, my pets would sicken and die, and the +friends that I loved best would either move away from me or die; and +my heart was being continually crushed and broken by these trials. + +I loved to learn and was passionately fond of music, but I was not +permitted to gratify my desires in either direction. Why all this was +true, I know not, unless it was that I might learn deeper lessons of +sympathy and compassion for others that are in trouble. + +Perhaps, dear ones, because of these very experiences I can feel more +deeply and tenderly for you and I want to tell you that amid all the +sorrows of earth I have found _one Friend_ that has never forgotten or +forsaken me and that has promised never to leave me. _And this same +Jesus loves you._ If you but give Him your hearts He will never fail +you. Though all the world should forsake and despise you, Jesus loves +you just the same. + +It is He that has put into my heart this love for you and your souls' +salvation that I cannot explain; this love that grows deeper and +stronger and that can only be made plain in the judgment. He has +taught me to feel for you when you are forsaken and forgotten, when +even friends turn away because you are doomed to the prison cell, the +stripes, and even the scaffold. + +Often you are misunderstood and misjudged, and sometimes you grow +bitter towards every one, and sometimes you censure your best friends. +I plead with you to look on the bright side. Think of all God has done +for you and how wonderful it is that He loves you with all your sins, +that He loves your precious, immortal souls. + +You are my children. For Jesus' sake, and yours, I am a homeless +wanderer on earth. I have given up home and friends and have gone into +the darkest places of earth, and have endured hardships and faced +danger of every kind. I have endured untold sorrow of mind and heart. +I have wept and prayed night and day, and for you I have sacrificed +all. + +But dear ones, notwithstanding all this, I am happy in the love of +Jesus. His love is everything to my heart. His love and sympathy is +enough for me, and I know that He is able to provide all that I need. +He has kept me nearly sixty years, and I am sure that He will not now +forsake me. + +Let this encourage you, dear prisoners, to know that God loves and +cares for you. When the way looks the darkest, when all hope fails, +when the last friend has forsaken you, then look up to Jesus and +believe His word. I know your trials are hard to bear. I think of you +as you leave the jail for the penitentiary with the handcuffs on and +the sheriff and the deputy guarding you so closely, and the world +against you. I think of you as the prison doors close behind you. I +think of you in your loneliness as the days and months and perhaps +years go by, and again I say, yes, I know your trials are hard to +bear. But look up through the dark clouds and remember that God lives +and that He loves you. In your little lonely prison cell He is with +you and is waiting to save you. Do not conceal your sins, for God's +Word says, "He that covereth his sin shall not prosper; but whoso +confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy." + +Let the past be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. If you trust Him, He +has promised to separate your sins as far from you as the east is from +the west. Do not rest until His Spirit tells you this is done. Then, +"forgetting the things that are behind," press forward to those things +that are before. + +Obey the rules. Show by your daily life that you intend to do right, +the very best you know. If those in authority over you seem to be +unkind or unjust, bear what comes as brave soldiers. Even inside of +prison walls you can win glorious victories over self and sin. + +There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. I seek to show +you the way to the kingdom of heaven, where there is no more +temptation, no sin, no sorrow, no pain; to the place where Jesus has +gone to prepare a home for those who love Him, follow Him and trust +Him. + +My heart yearns over you in your sad exile from wife, children, +mother, father, husband, brother, sister, friends. Truly the way of +the transgressor is hard. + +But, my prison children, I beg of you do not go from one prison to +another. Flee from sin. I do not and dare not smooth over your sins. +Prove yourselves worthy of the confidence of good people. Give God +your hearts and be true to Him and He will not forsake you. + +Some of you are doomed to the scaffold! How long, O Lord, how long +must such things be in a Christian land? O, that I had the power to +abolish capital punishment! But I will do all I can to help you +prepare for death. Jesus loves you. He was taken from prison and +executed as a criminal. He was innocent, yet He suffered death for a +guilty world. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without +sin. "And being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." +And though you pass through the valley of the shadow of death, if you +but trust Him, He will go with you and you need fear no evil. + +[Illustration: GIVING THE BOYS COUNSEL.] + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + A Plea for the Prisoner. + + + IN THE SHADOW OF THE WALL. + + BY OLLA F. BEARD. + + (The writer of this poem was a personal acquaintance and friend. + At the time the poem was written her father was warden of the + penitentiary at Fort Madison, Iowa, and she took great interest + in his work.--E. R. W.) + + Oh, those wond'rous gloomy walls! + What a chill their shadow calls + To creep and tingle through our veins! + Moving all our soul contains + Of pity for the woes within-- + Those who move within this pall, + Those who bear a load of sin, + In the shadow of that wall. + + Yes, you think their lot is hard; + So do all you can t'retard + Their sad downward course in time, + And save them from a greater crime. + But pause and come with me to view + Various pictures in the hall + Of the innocent and true, + In the shadow of this wall. + + There's a mother, good and true, + With a face of palest hue; + Eyes are dimmed and faint to-day, + With their brightness washed away + By the tears she's nightly shed; + Yet she does not fail to call + Blessings on her dear boy's head, + In the shadow of the wall. + + There's a father, too, bowed o'er + With age, and his head is hoar. + Ah! it surely broke his heart + With his honored name to part. + Now instead of his boy's arm, + A cane-stalk keeps him from a fall, + As he walks about his farm, + In the shadow of the wall. + + There's a wife, too, in the gloom, + Yet within her heart there's room + For the one whose name she bears; + She will share e'en now his cares. + Vows were said to God above, + And, tho' friends forget to call, + She will keep her vow of love, + In the shadow of the wall. + + There are children, bright and gay, + Now at school and now at play; + Why do playmates push them off, + Only at their tears to scoff? + Can innocence, then, guilty be? + Why are they shunned, each one and all? + Ah! these children e'en we see, + In the shadow of the wall. + + And O, for shame! to scorn some one + For the deed another's done; + For their road is hard at best; + They should never once have guessed, + From the things you do and say, + That you once those facts recall-- + How they're living day by day + In the shadow of the wall. + + But a word we'd say for him + Who inhabits those walls dim: + Shun him not; help if you can-- + Let him try to be a man. + When he's paid now for his sin, + Let not scorn bring other falls, + Just because he once has been + In the shadow of the walls. + + He has yet a heart, tho' scarred; + He has yet a soul, tho' marred; + And he has to live and try + Till his time shall come to die. + Sweet Charity, that suffereth long, + Let us now as guard install. + She will lead him from the wrong-- + From the shadow of the wall. + + We would not pet the sin and crime; + Let reproof fall in its time. + But reproof should have an end, + When the sinner tries to mend! + Give him every chance you can-- + Lend a helping hand to all; + Lead the woman or the man + From the shadow of the wall. + + + A LETTER TO PRISON OFFICERS. + +DEAR PRISON MANAGERS: You and I are trying to help the prisoners to a +better life. We want to elevate, to lift up these men and women to a +higher plane of existence. How are you to proceed? What are you to do, +is the question. How are you to command the respect of those under +you? Just where to draw the line, and how to enforce discipline? What +advantage will you give to the men who are striving to obey rules, and +do what is right? Something must be done, and done soon. The criminal +classes must be reached, reformed, saved and sent out of prison better +prepared to face the world and the temptations which will be thrust +upon them at every turn. Great responsibility rests upon you. Many of +you are doing nobly and accomplishing great good. + +There is hope for every prisoner. You can reach them by kindness. +Brutality will never accomplish anything in the way of prison reform. +By such a course a man is often turned out of prison a demon, a fiend +in human form, or an idiotic criminal. + +But to make him a good man, a noble creature, as God intended he +should be, he must have kindness shown him. Be _firm_ and _honorable_ +in all your dealings with the convict, for he has his rights, and they +should be respected if we are ever going to make the prison world +better. + +Let us ask God for help to know how to reach the manhood, the +womanhood, the better nature in the creature God has seen fit in His +wise providence to make just a little lower than the angels, in His +own likeness and image. He intended all should be free and equal, but +the people license the saloon, the gambling den and the brothel to +degrade their brothers and sisters. Some say these are necessary +evils! I say never, never! Let there be better conditions. + +There is hope for the sinner if we only get the Holy Spirit to teach +us how to reach him. I never go into the presence of convicts without +earnest prayer to God to give me wisdom, and the Holy Spirit to teach +and guide me what to say and sing, and how to reach their hearts. God +has given me what success I have had in helping the criminal classes, +in giving hope to the discouraged and in relieving the minds of some +who were partially deranged. Oh, this wholesale slaughter of men's +minds! It is horrible. It is heart-rending. And yet some go right on +committing the greatest crime against these men, by robbing them of +their reason which God intended them to enjoy as their birthright. + +Which is the greater crime, the whipping post and the lash with all +their attendant horrors and misery, or the iron rule that crushes out +all hope in the name of discipline? I believe in law and order, and +that men must be in subjection to rules and regulations. I always urge +upon them implicit obedience and subjection to the rules of the +prison. But these should be reasonable and humane. + +What you and I need is to know our man and then we will know how to +deal with him. Study human nature as well as the law, and study the +law of the all-wise God in the Bible and see if you will not have a +clear conscience as well as a clear brain to manage and control those +under your direction. + +I know prisons that are regulated entirely by kindness, and oh, the +blessed, restful, quieting influence there is there, and scarcely any +insane. All are satisfied with the treatment they receive and they are +willing to die for their officers. I know these things, for I am +behind the scenes. + +After long years of service as a prison missionary, in nearly all the +state prisons in all the states and territories, I find only an ever +increasing desire to be a worker together with Christ in reaching the +masses of prisoners who are incarcerated in our state, county and city +prisons. My success has largely been due to my sincere and intense +desire to lead them to a better life here and life eternal in heaven, +and to the victory gained over myself to never let anything or anybody +prevent my doing all I could for the prisoner, as if he were my own +child or brother. Again, my determination has been to give all a fair +trial and a liberal amount of confidence. Yes, we must place ourselves +in their condition; let our boy or brother, our mother or sister be in +prison, let us think how we would exercise every means we had in +reaching or relieving them. + +All prisoners are human, and yet, how few professors of religion show +interest in them. They are doubted at every turn. Daggers are driven +to hearts which are longing for a better life, a purer atmosphere, a +new creation. Poor souls! God pity them. O the hearts that cry out for +better things! the souls that are yearning for the good and true! O +the thousands of prisoners who may be diamonds in the rough, jewels +for whom Christ died. Souls, immortal souls are at stake. We must soon +meet these things at the judgment. O to be clear of the censure, the +rebuke, the reproof of God Almighty in the final day of accounts. + +O brother, sister, have we had charity that suffereth long and is +kind? Have we tried by example and precept to show the criminals that +we were really their friends and sincerely cared for their souls? How +long has the good Lord borne with us, and shall we not be in earnest +to save those who are not Christians, to encourage them to a better +life, to cheer up the dying convict, to show them there is a God in +Israel who hears and answers prayer, one who said, "Like as a father +pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him"? + + + WORTH WHILE. + + It is easy enough to be pleasant + When life flows by like a song, + But the man worth while is the one who will smile + When everything goes dead wrong. + For the test of the heart is trouble, + And it always comes with the years, + And the smile that is worth the praise of the earth + Is the smile that shines through tears. + + It is easy enough to be prudent + When nothing tempts you to stray; + When without or within no voice of sin + Is luring your soul away. + But it is only a negative virtue + Until it is tried by fire, + And the life that is worth the honor of earth + Is the one that resisteth desire. + + By the cynic, the sad, the fallen, + Who had no strength for the strife, + The world's highway is cumbered to-day; + They make up the item of life. + But the virtue that conquers passion, + And the sorrow that hides in a smile-- + It is these that are worth the homage of earth, + For we find them but once in a while. + + --ELLA WHEELER WILCOX. + + + PREJUDICE. + +I find but little difference between humanity in prison walls and the +humanity outside. Prisoners are our brothers and our sisters. We must +soon meet them all at the judgment. They are naturally supposed to be +guilty of crime of some kind. But they are not all criminals. Wicked +men, willing to shield themselves, oftentimes throw suspicion on +others, who are placed under arrest and convicted by circumstantial +evidence or false testimony. Others, of course, are of the worst types +of humanity. Some of them seem unworthy of the name of man or woman, +yet even these Christ died to save, and God is able to deliver them +and how shall His name be better glorified or His power be more +manifest, than in their transformation? + +Very many are so prejudiced against all those who are counted as +criminals that they believe them to be utterly incapable of any good +and are quick to believe that they see in them evidences of the +deepest depravity. + +A sad yet amusing illustration of this fact comes to my mind. Chaplain +H., of the Reformatory for Boys at Kearney, Nebraska, is an +honest-faced, true-hearted young man, full of zeal in the service of +God. At one time when I stopped at Kearney he called for me at the +train. As I looked at him he said, with a smile, "Did you think it was +one of the boys whom the superintendent had sent for you?" I replied, +"Yes; I did at first; you are so young, Mr. Chaplain;" and then he +related to me the following circumstances which I give as nearly as I +can in his own words: + + "At one time Prof. Mallalieu and myself had been to Lincoln on + business, and were returning together. We were quietly resting, + and I was sitting with closed eyes, meditating, when a lady + happened along and recognized the Superintendent, and said 'Have + you got a boy there, taking him to the Reform Schools?' + + "Considerably amused, he replied: 'Yes; this is a very bad + fellow; I have had a lot of trouble with him, and have just + recaptured him, and now I am watching to see that he doesn't make + his escape.' The woman leaned over and, scanning my face and + features, said: 'He has an awful bad look on his face; you can + see he is a criminal and needs to be under strict discipline.'" + +The dear young chaplain said, as he laughingly related this instance, +that he learned a lesson in human nature that day. That woman, who +imagined that she saw in the face of that young looking, honest, +devoted Christian young man evidences of guilt and depravity, was only +one among thousands who are led by prejudice when they imagine that +they are exercising great discernment. + + + A LOOK INTO THE CELL. + +Reader, could you and I walk together down the cell-house corridor in +almost any of our large prisons, at almost any hour of the night and +pause and listen to the sighs and smothered sobs and often to the deep +groans that might be heard welling up from hearts that are broken and +crushed by sorrow and remorse; could we, dear reader, cast one +sidelong glance in passing the rounds of the cell-house with the +guard, who, with muffled tread wends his ceaseless march throughout +the night, your heart, as well as mine, would be deeply moved. On +those stone floors, guarded by double locks and iron bars, as well as +by the living sentinel, you might see many a mother's boy kneeling in +silent prayer to his mother's God, and as he prays and communes with +his own thoughts, you might hear again the groans of anguish as the +poor unfortunate thinks of home and mother, wife and children, or +other loved ones. + +Then look with me into that poor man's cell, void of comfort, with +nothing that would remind you of home; a close narrow cell, a poor +hard cot, a straw pillow, if any, and kept under strict watch day and +night; left many times without one ray of hope, without a gleam of +sunshine or a kind word. I wonder there are not scores of insane men +in our state prisons for every one that we find, and there are many, +very many, who are either partially or entirely insane. I am convinced +that oftentimes men are crazy when the officers suppose they are only +obstinate and rebellious and mean. Often do I note insanity lurking in +the eyes and often as the prisoners file past me at the close of a +service and I clasp each one by the hand, as is my custom, among the +many who are so glad to have a kind word and a hand-clasp at parting I +notice those who are not sane by the peculiarity of the clasp of the +hand. Some have a clasp like a mad-man, others a limp, lifeless +hand-shake, with cold, clammy hands. Oh, what wisdom is needed to know +how to deal with these poor, helpless souls! I find many of them with +hearts as tender and sensibilities as acute as any I meet outside. + + + INSANE PRISONERS. + +While I was having a service for the criminal insane at Anamosa, +Iowa, state prison, a young man was very anxious to see me and tell me +something. As I waited to talk with him he said to me in _such a +pitiful way_, "Go and tell my dear mother I will try to help her. +Won't somebody help my poor mother?" This was the burden of his heart. +Poor boy! in his partial derangement his whole concern seemed to be +for her. He is only one among many! + +[Illustration: WITH INSANE PRISONERS AT ANAMOSA, IOWA.] + + + A TOUCHING INCIDENT. + +At one time I was on the train going north from Indianapolis. My +brother, J. M. Ryder, was with me. I was singing a hymn, and walking +to the end of the car as I sang I saw two men bound together by +handcuffs. One of them I supposed to be an officer. He was a fine +looking man, well dressed. It was a few days before Christmas, but I +noticed some holly-berries pinned to his coat. I remarked, "You have +holly-berries before Christmas day!" With tears rolling down his face +he answered, "My little girl pinned this on me. She said, 'Papa, you +will not be here when Christmas comes, and I will pin it on now before +you go.'" + +I said, "You are an officer, are you not?" + +"Oh, no!" he said, "I am a prisoner," and then he told me his sad +story. Money belonging to some one else, a relative, if I remember +rightly, had been left in his care. Under pressure of need he used +some of it, being confident that he could replace it before it was +needed; but the shortage was discovered, he was arrested, found guilty +and sentenced. With a broken heart he said, "I never will live to +serve out my sentence. This will surely kill me. I am not a thief, but +I was so sure I could replace the money before it was needed." + +Reader, think you this man was any more a criminal at heart than +thousands who move among men honored and respected? Who can question +that there are thousands who, perhaps, do not transgress the letter of +the law, yet more deliberately and wilfully wrong their fellow men +than this poor man? And this case is only one of many; and where shall +we draw the line? Oh, let us have fervent charity one for another. + +I am not biased in my judgment. I know sentimentalism is not +salvation. That can come only through true repentance and faith in God +and must be evidenced by restitution and good works; but if you could +see, as I have seen, the meetings in the prison guard-room between +husband and wife, mother and son, or between father and his wayward +boy, if you could see the tears and sobs as they meet and part, and +above all at the last parting before execution, I believe you would +never feel like criticising or being harsh in your judgment again. +Could you have gone with me during these twenty years, could you have +had the confidence of these prisoners as I have had it, you would +realize that they are, in very many cases, as truly open to conviction +and as easily reached as those outside of prison walls, and are they +not my children? Do I not know their faults? Do they not confess to me +their guilt? But back of all I see Jesus hanging on the cross of +Calvary, between two thieves, dying, and in His death agony, while the +blood is oozing from the print of the thorns upon His brow, while the +eyes are growing glassy in death, with the cold death sweat standing +out upon His face, I hear Him say to the penitent thief, "This day +shalt thou be with me in Paradise." And again, as He remembers all +those who have so cruelly wronged Him, he cries, "Father, forgive +them, for they know not what they do." If the Son of God gave Himself +for us, if with His dying breath He prayed for His persecutors, if He +who knew no sin and understood all hearts could say, "They know not +what they do," God help us to be willing to forgive those who have +transgressed the law either of God or man. + +These prisoners need a helping hand, need a friend with wisdom, tact +and judgment, one in whose heart there is the one thought above all +others of the need of their immortal souls, their eternal destiny. + +You and I, reader, must do our part in reforming a lost world, in +saving lost sinners. Then let us remember how good God has been to us +by keeping us out of prison, by keeping us out of the evil +surroundings and influences that might have brought us there. Let us +give the poor prisoners a fair show and fair play. Many of them long +for better things, for one more chance to prove themselves worthy of +the confidence and sympathy of their fellow men. After twenty years of +toil among those who are bound, I do bless God that He ever called me +to carry to those in prison the glad message of His love and seek by +love and faith and prayer to lift them up to better things. + + + PREPARED TO DIE. + +Once while holding services in a prison, there came to me a prisoner +saying, "Mother, I want to tell you I was saved since I saw you." +(Only a few days previous.) + +Then he told me that he was under sentence of death and that he was so +troubled that he cried to God to forgive his sins and pardon his +crime, and that God had forgiven him and that he was now prepared to +die. He said that when the Lord forgave him he was so happy that the +officers put an extra guard over him, thinking that he had suddenly +lost his mind. + +I exhorted him to maintain his faith in God and never doubt His saving +power; to walk softly before God; to keep humble and meek and pray +much. Truly there is pardon for every sinner who, in the depths of his +soul, repents of his sin. God's love and power are so great that He +will save to the uttermost all that come unto Him, not willing that +any should perish. + +Reader, perhaps you have not the opportunity to know these souls as I +know them, and so to help you understand them I give in other chapters +many extracts in their own words, taken here and there from the +thousands of letters I have received. I believe this will help you to +understand that hundreds, shut out from the companionship of their +fellow beings, are as easily moved by kindness, as capable of +gratitude, as easily won to repentance, as willing to give up sin, as +thousands of those outside, who perhaps have never been tempted as +they were tempted and have never fallen as they have fallen. In +quoting from these letters few changes have been made, except in +spelling, capitalization and punctuation. + + Some young souls are making, for a stated time, + This, their maiden effort, on the sea of crime. + Oh, Christians, teach them early what to me is plain; + Crime ever _has_ and ever _will_ result in lasting pain. + Do not be _too_ lenient, nor _too_ soon forgive, + Lest all _vice_ should flourish and no _virtue_ live. + Society demands it, the _guilty_ should atone-- + But take care you punish those, and those _alone_! + Keep them in your prison till by _virtue_ shown + They will know what _is_ and what is _not_ their own. + But let all be careful lest by _word_ or _act_ + Those who should _reform_ them from their _good_ subtract. + Rule them wisely, gently--by some _humane_ plan, + All their faults to conquer as best becomes a Man. + When your work is finished and their habits changed, + Give them honest labor, by the State arranged; + Show them honest labor _can_ a living gain, + While the _social outcast_ harvests _want_ and _shame_! + Treat them fairly, kindly; teach them all the true + Will be friendly with them while _the right_ they do. + Both principle and policy declare this course is wise; + Then why longer act the fool and wisdom's voice despise? + Crime never _can_ nor _will_ decrease until in _Wisdom's School_ + Men learn the noted lesson, "Right _through_ Law should Rule." + + --_H. P. McKnight._ + +[Illustration: PRISONERS MARCHING.] + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + A Brief Pen Picture of Prison Life. + + +For the instruction of children and others who have never visited one +of our large penitentiaries I insert the following sketch of such a +visit written by Mrs. F. M. Lambert, author of "Holy Maternity," which +was written for this work: + + The prisons and buildings connected with them are enclosed by a + high stone wall. Of course there is a gate, or gates, opening + upon driveways leading into the yard where the shops are located. + The gate is securely locked and guarded, the guard having a + little room built on the wall over the gate. There is a main + entrance to the building through which criminals as well as + visitors enter. The officer closes and locks the large door + behind you upon entering. On Sabbath mornings many things are + seen and heard there. The officers come in and take up the work + of the day. The warden or deputy takes a large bunch of keys and + opens a side door that leads into the cell room, and the guards + follow him into the corridor. Soon is heard the rattling of the + keys, and the opening and closing of heavy doors, followed by the + tramp, tramp, of many feet. Passing out at a side door with the + officer, you may watch the men passing down to their breakfast in + the dining-room, which is on the ground floor of the chapel, + perhaps one hundred feet from the prison building. + + Each guard marches with his company of men, from twenty to fifty + in number. They march in single file, each man with his right + hand resting upon the right shoulder of the man in front of him. + + The officers wear dark blue uniforms, while the convicts are + dressed in suits made of heavy woolen goods, generally striped, + the stripes being black and white, a little over an inch wide, + even the caps being striped, and of the same material as the + suits. + + You follow the officer across the yard, and notice the large + greenhouse with its beautiful plants, flowers and shrubs. But, + looking back, you see the great high wall of the prison, and + remember that the little spot in the prison yard and the sky + overhead is all the glimpse of the world that these poor men + get, and, no doubt, is all that some of them ever will get, for + some of them are shut in there for life. + +[Illustration: PRISON CHAPEL AND DINING ROOM.] + + + THE CHAPEL SERVICE. + + You follow the officer up the steps of stone into the entrance + hall, and watch the men pass out of the dining-room up the + stairway into the chapel; then you follow and are led to a seat + near the pulpit, facing the assemblage. Your eyes wander quickly + over that strange lot of from two hundred to five hundred men, + and, in some prisons, over a thousand constitute the audience. + When all are seated, the guards seat themselves on high stools + placed along the sides of the room, facing the rear door, while + the prisoners face the pulpit at the farther end of the room. + + Then the prison choir sings and the organ peals forth its + beautiful strains, the prisoners joining in the singing. You + cannot keep back the tears as you look into their faces and think + that only for sin they might be free. Verily, "the way of the + transgressor is hard." Prayer is offered, and the chaplain, and + those who have permission, talk from the written word of eternal + life. Invariably your eyes sweep over that strange audience, and + here and there you see a man, or perhaps a young boy, in tears, + and you know the tender chord in their hearts has been touched. + God grant it may be so! Several testify to hope in Christ. + + Services over, the prisoners are marched to their cells and + locked in. They must all attend the morning service, but are not + compelled to attend the Sunday school in the afternoon. Few + prisons conduct Sunday schools. In the afternoon, in company with + the chaplain and some of the guards, you may visit the cell + rooms, and are allowed to distribute papers and tracts, and speak + personally with each prisoner. + + THE CELL ROOM is a long room with a stone floor and whitewashed + walls, the cells running through the middle of its entire length. + The cells are narrow, little rooms, perhaps four feet wide and + six or seven feet long. They vary somewhat in size. They have + doors of strong bars of iron, and no windows. All the air + received must enter through this grated door in front. The back + of each cell joins with the back of the row of cells on the other + side, thus forming a double row facing in opposite directions. + + Rows of cells are built in tiers, one row above another, with a + narrow platform running along in front, with an iron railing. + + Each man's name, and the number of his cell, is placed over his + door. A wide corridor runs all around the main room, which admits + the circulation of air from the large grated windows. Sabbath is + rather a hard day for the men, for they had rather be at work + than locked in lonely cells, with only their own thoughts and + troubled consciences for company. + + Many of the men who are there for long terms have their cells + fixed very nicely, and one can usually tell those whose hearts + cling to home or friends. But there are some who seem to care for + nothing. One boy had his cell ornamented with festoons of + newspapers folded and torn into patterns representing lace + curtains. Another, a life convict, had his cell festooned with + colored tissue paper. This man was a trusty, who had the care of + the flowers and plants. In some prisons the cells are not + provided with Bibles, and some prisons have no chaplains. + + Some of the men are very expert at making beautiful things, such + as pin cushions, picture frames, hair-braided watch guards, + pen-holders, workboxes, toy chairs and many other things. One man + I saw was making designs for embossed rocking-chair backs; + another had his tools for repairing watches. + +[Illustration: CORRIDOR IN CELL HOUSE.] + + + THE WORKSHOPS. + + On Monday morning we may visit the workshops and see the men at + work. Here we see all kinds of work; farm implements, such as + hoes, rakes, pitchforks and many other things, probably all made + of iron. These tools pass through many hands before they are + complete. Each process is done by a separate set of men. For + instance, the hoes are made by some and sharpened by others. It + takes only a few seconds to sharpen a tool. As soon as this is + done it is passed on to others who polish it, and the handle is + inserted and painted. + + Some rooms are so warm from the many furnaces, and the red-hot + irons which are being beaten into shape, that a person can + scarcely stay long enough to see the work done, and is glad to + move on to cooler departments. The men seem to look well, but you + cannot help wondering how they ever work and endure the terrible + heat. They are not allowed to talk to each other, and are + continually under the guard's eye. Here and there one looks up + with a nod and a smile. + + Each man in the shops is given a certain amount of work to do, + and if he does any more than his allotted task, he is paid for + it. The amount is kept for him. But very few except long-timers + and experts can gain any time to do extra work. + + After going through all the shops we pass on to + + + THE HOSPITAL, + + which is in the rear of the chapel, and in the same building. + Here are sights that touch hearts. Some are dying with + consumption, and some with broken hearts. One poor boy's sunken + cheeks and thin, wasted hands especially touched me. Taking him + by the hand, I began to talk to him. He said: "No one cares for + _me_." "Yes, God cares for you and He loves you." "Why does He + let me stay here and die if He loves me?" "Have you a mother?" + "Yes, I have a good Christian mother, but she doesn't know I am + here." "May I write and tell her you are sick? I am sure she + wants to know about you?" "Oh, no; I had rather die all alone + than to have mother know I am here." + + So it is all through these places. For, though I have briefly + described one prison, they are all in a great measure alike, yet + vary in different states to some extent. All are not so clean + and neat as this one spoken of, and though a prison might be + lined with costly gems, it is still a prison, and without Jesus + in the heart it is only a living tomb to those confined therein. + Let none think that it is a pleasant place to be. One man may + want to be a Christian, or at least a moral man and a man of + cultured tastes, and such men find it doubly hard when they must + work side by side with the most degraded criminals. One may leave + the prison worse than when he went in. + + In these places children hide their ruined lives and breaking + hearts from their dearest earthly friends. No mother to smooth + the dying one's pillow, though small it may be! No sister or + brother to wipe away the bitter tears that _will_ fall; no father + to say good-bye. O mothers, let the memory of your boy's innocent + childhood fan all your tenderness and love into a flame that + would leap over the highest breastwork Satan could erect and take + your boy or girl back to your heart. If you have been a true + Christian and have done your duty faithfully, trust still in God. + What we need is faithful teaching among the unsaved, to warn them + against their danger, before they get into such awful places. + +[Illustration: NEW FEDERAL PRISON AT FT. LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.] + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + Letters of Introduction and Kind Words from Governors, Prison + Officials, Etc. + + +From the great number of letters which I have received, of the +character indicated by the title of this chapter, I give a few which +may be of interest to the reader. These will suffice to show the +general interest of those in positions of honor and trust and their +willingness to share a part in the work I have tried to perform for +humanity, by making it possible for me to prosecute and carry it on. +Many letters of like topic have been lost or destroyed, and, space +being limited, I hope those who have done a like part may not feel +slighted. The true records are kept by the recording angel, and every +one shall receive a just reward. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one +of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." + +Such letters received in the Southern states will be found in the +chapters on work in Stockades and Prison Camps. Also some relating to +Street and Rescue work in the chapters on these respective topics. I +should like very much to give some personal letters from railway +officials, expressing their appreciation and interest in the work, but +I have refrained lest by such some might be caused some annoyance. To +them much gratitude and credit is due, from all who have received +encouragement or spiritual benefit through my feeble efforts made in +the name of Jesus. + + + FROM GOVERNORS. + + Executive Department, + Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 4, 1891. + + Hon. J. B. Patten, Warden, + Jeffersonville, Ind. + + Dear Sir: + + This will be presented to you by Mrs. Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton, an + evangelist whose work is especially among prisoners. I hope it + will suit your pleasure and convenience to extend to her the + privilege of addressing the prisoners of your institution. + + Yours truly, + I. J. CHASE, Governor... + + * * * * * + + Executive Department, + Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 3, 1893. + + Capt. Jas. B. Patten, + Warden Prison South, + Jeffersonville, Ind. + + Dear Sir: + + This will be presented to you by Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, a prison + evangelist of long experience and considerable reputation. She + comes with the highest recommendations of her work from prisons + heretofore visited. She desires to conduct services in your + chapel, and I trust you will afford her every reasonable facility + for so doing. + + Very respectfully, + CLAUDE MATTHEWS. + + * * * * * + + Governor's Office. + + Topeka, Aug. 5, 1893. + + Hon. S. W. Chase, + Lansing, Kans. + + Dear Sir: + + This will introduce to you Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton, a prison + evangelist, who comes to us very highly recommended. + + She is desirous of holding service, or taking part, at least, in + the prison. + + Any favors shown her will be appreciated by + + FRED J. CLOSE, Private Sec'y. + + * * * * * + + Dear Chase: + + I have just come in, and take pleasure in endorsing the above + letter. I bespeak for this lady a full opportunity to address the + prisoners, as I have no doubt but that the service will be + productive of good. + + Yours, + L. D. LEWELLING, Governor. + + * * * * * + + Executive Office. + State of Idaho. + + Boise City, Dec. 19, 1895. + + To Whom It May Concern: + + This will introduce Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton, a lady who is + devoted to prison work. Any favors shown her will be gratefully + appreciated. + + Respectfully, + W. J. MCCONNELL, Governor. + + * * * * * + + Executive Chamber. + + Lincoln, Nebraska, Oct. 10, 1896. + + Warden Leidigh: + + My Dear L.:-- + + This will introduce to you Mrs. Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton, who is + interested in prison reform work and in visiting prisons for the + purpose of holding suitable services on the Sabbath day. Kindly + extend such courtesies as you can, and make the necessary + announcements so that she can conduct services in the chapel, and + much oblige, + + Very truly yours, + SILAS A. HOLCOMB, Governor. + + * * * * * + + Executive Chamber. + + Carson City, Nevada, Dec. 13, 1902. + + Mrs. Henderson: + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, the bearer of this, desires to do some + charitable work at the prison and she desires to have services + there tomorrow, as Mr. Henderson is not there. She is coming down + with Mr. Harris and will explain her mission to you. + + Yours truly, + R. SADLER, Governor. + + + PRISON OFFICIALS. + + Sheriff's Office. + Suffolk County. + + Boston, Oct. 24, 1885. + + Mr. Bradley: + + Let the bearer visit the jail and see any person she desires to. + + J. B. O'BRIEN, Sheriff. + + * * * * * + + North Carolina State Penitentiary. + + Raleigh, N. C., Nov. 14, 1885. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + My Dear Friend: Your postal just to hand, and in reply I am glad + to say my daughter is much better than when you were in Raleigh, + but she is still very far from being well. The general health of + the prisoners is very good at this time. I shall be very glad to + have you at our prison as you pass on your way south. We have all + of the convicts in the prison every Sabbath, and I shall be very + much pleased for you to have service for us. We can arrange for + the service on any Sabbath morning or evening, as may be most + desirable or convenient to you. + + I regret that I did not meet you when you were here last. May the + good Lord bless you very abundantly in your Christian work. + + Your Friend, + W. J. HICKS, Architect and Warden. + + * * * * * + + Warden's Office, + Nebraska State Penitentiary. + + Nobesville, Nebr., April 11, 1886. + + R. J. McClaughry, + Warden Penitentiary, + Joliet, Ill. + + Dear Sir: + + This will introduce to your favorable notice Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, + Prison Evangelist. Mrs. Wheaton is highly recommended by some of + the most prominent persons, and any favors that you can show her + will be in a good cause. + + Very respectfully, + C. F. NOBES, Warden. + + * * * * * + + San Francisco, Aug. 18, 1888. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + Dear Madam: I have just received yours of the 17th inst., and in + reply will say that you have always been welcome to visit the + jail and enjoy every privilege granted to others of your sex. + + Mr. G.'s mother has not been allowed to enter his cell for some + time past. The utmost freedom consistent with our rules of order + is given to all those employed in the good work in which you are + so earnestly engaged. Should you find it convenient to visit the + institution again prior to leaving our State, we will be pleased + to admit you, and should you prevail on the sheriff to allow the + special favor you seek, we will gladly comply with the order. + + Respectfully yours, + JOHN ROGERS, Chief Jailer. + + * * * * * + + Dakota Penitentiary North. + + Bismarck, Dak., Oct. 27, 1888. + + Hon. D. S. Glidden, + Warden Penitentiary, + Sioux Falls, Dak. + + Dear Sir: + + This will introduce to you Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton and Miss + Mary M----, Prison Evangelists. + + They paid us a visit several days ago. While they came without + introduction, I welcomed them and gave them opportunity to + examine the prison; also called officers and prisoners together + in the evening and held services. We were well repaid for our + time and trouble. They left a lasting and good impression. I + think that you will like their singing and prison talk. I bespeak + for them a cordial greeting. Fraternally yours, + + DAN WILLIAMS, Warden. + + * * * * * + + Warden's Office, + Penitentiary at Anamosa. + + Anamosa, Iowa, Dec. 2, 1888. + + This is to certify that Elizabeth R. Wheaton this day held + religious services in the prison chapel at this prison, which + were very interesting and instructive, and were highly + appreciated by both convicts and officials. I am convinced that + much good will result from the meeting. Mrs. Wheaton is very + earnest in her remarks, and her singing is charming. I can + heartily commend her to all prison officials whom she may choose + to visit. + + Very truly, + MARQUIS BARR, Warden. + + * * * * * + + Ohio Penitentiary, Warden's Office. + + Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1889. + + To Prison Officers: + + This will introduce Mrs. Wheaton, who has been at our prison and + worked among the boys. There is none who will command more + respect and no more earnest worker than Mrs. Wheaton. She will do + good Christian work wherever she goes. + + Respectfully, + W. B. PENNINGTON, + Deputy Warden, Ohio Penitentiary. + + * * * * * + + Huntsville, Tex., Sept. 20, 1904. + + Mother Wheaton, + Tabor Iowa. + + My Dear Madam: Your favor of the 4th instant came duly to hand, + and we certainly appreciate your kind remembrance. + + I made the men a talk last Sunday in the Chapel and told them of + your kindly words sent them by you through me, and I know they + all appreciated it. May God bless you in your good work, and + grant that your days may be long; that you may be able to turn + many poor, wayward men and women from their evil ways. + + With my very kindest regards, I beg to remain, madam, + + Yours most sincerely, + + T. H. BROWN, Asst. Superintendent. + + Dict. T. H. B. + + * * * * * + + Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Aug. 31, 1891. + + To My Brethren--Wardens: + + Gentlemen: Having observed the work of Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton + as a prison evangelist, I most cheerfully recommend her to your + kind consideration and co-operation. Her presence is a + benediction, and her work is in no sense subversive of good + discipline, but, on the other hand, is most healthful and + helpful. + + Fraternally yours, + THEO. D. KANOUSE, + Warden of South Dakota Penitentiary. + + * * * * * + + Warden's Office. + The Anamosa Penitentiary. + + Anamosa, Iowa, Oct. 8, 1894. + + To all who entertain an interest in our common humanity: + + We deem it only just and proper to express our endorsement of the + labors and influence of Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton among the + inmates of prisons. + + Her visits to this prison have invariably been attended with good + results, and she leaves within these walls a fragrant and + wholesome influence. + + Most respectfully, + P. W. MADDEN, Warden. + J. M. CROCKER, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Southern Illinois Penitentiary. + + Chester, Ill., Menard P. O., Oct. 22, 1893. + + Dr. V. S. Benson, Asylum for Criminal Insane, + + My Dear Doctor: + + This will introduce Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, a prison evangelist who + wishes to hold open air services at your place. I am deeply + impressed with her earnestness and eloquence, and feel that she + has done us good down here. + Yours truly, + + J. D. BAKER, Warden. + + * * * * * + + Superintendent's Office. + Virginia Penitentiary. + + Richmond Va., June 8, 1893. + + To Whom It May Concern: + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, evangelist, whose mission is among + prisoners, has visited and held meetings at this institution + which have made a decided impression upon the convicts, and I + heartily recommend her to the favor of prison officials and + other good people. + + Very truly yours, + B. W. LYNN, Supt. + + * * * * * + + Colorado State Penitentiary. + + Canon City, Colo., April 11, 1904. + + To Whom It May Concern: + + I wish to say that Mother Wheaton, who has from time to time + visited the Colorado State Penitentiary, has been the means, I + believe, of accomplishing much good with the inmates of this + institution. Her earnest efforts and kind, motherly advice have + instilled in the hearts of the prisoners an apparent desire to be + better men. I certainly most earnestly commend her to the kindly + care of those whom she may meet. + + JOHN CLEGHORN, + Warden Colorado State Penitentiary. + + * * * * * + + South Dakota Penitentiary. + + Sioux Falls, S. D., March 12, 1904. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, + 612 E St., Elkhart, Ind. + + Dear Madam: + + I take this opportunity of thanking you for the visit made to + this institution some time ago. Your work among the prisoners has + had good effect in more ways than one. A number of the inmates + have told me that your encouraging and Christian talk to them has + helped them and that they are trying to live Christian lives and + that by the help of God they expect this to be their last term in + prison. + + Hoping that you may be able to visit this institution again, I + am, + + Yours truly, + O. S. SWENSON, Warden. + + * * * * * + + South Dakota Penitentiary. + + Sioux Falls, S. D., June 5, 1905. + + To Whom It May Concern: + + This is to certify that Mother Wheaton, the bearer of this + letter, has visited the South Dakota Penitentiary in the capacity + of a missionary. I am glad of the opportunity to say that she is + doing much good to those unfortunate enough to be placed in an + institution of this kind and I heartily commend her work. + + Very respectfully, + H. T. PARMLEY, Warden. + + * * * * * + + Nebraska State Penitentiary. + + Lancaster, Neb., May 22, 1905. + + Mother Wheaton's visits to this institution always seem to cheer + up the inmates and make most of them look forward to better + things. They feel that she has a mother's heart for all. + + A. D. BEEMER, Warden. + + * * * * * + + Office of the Commissioners of the + District of Columbia. + + Washington, Aug. 19, 1893. + + Mr. W. H. Stoutenburgh, + Intendant Washington Asylum. + + Dear Sir: + + The commissioners direct me to ask that you will give the bearer, + Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, a hearing, and such favorable + action as you properly may with respect to the object of her + visit, which is to arrange for the holding of religious exercises + at the asylum. + + Very truly, + W. TINDALL, Secretary. + + + PERSONAL LETTERS. + + Kansas State Penitentiary. + + Lansing, Kan., Oct. 17, 1894. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + Dear Sister: + + I am in receipt of your card and am glad to hear of your good + success. I enclose you a money order for eight dollars and + seventy-five cents, of which fifty cents comes from the deputy + warden, and the balance from prisoners. You will remember that I + gave you one dollar and twenty-five cents, making a total of ten + dollars. + + Excuse me for being so particular, but money drawn from the + prisoners goes on record, so would like your receipt to show for + it. + + Wife and children are well. + + Fraternally, + F. A. BRIGGS, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Kentucky Branch Penitentiary. + + Eddyville, Ky., Nov. 13, 1897. + + Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton. + Dear Sister: + + I suppose you remember your visit to our prison; the boys often + speak of you. We would be glad to have you visit us again + whenever it would be convenient. I will soon have to submit my + annual report and I write you that I may get a statement from you + that I may embody in the report. I herewith enclose statement; if + you will sign and return to me I will be very thankful. I have + forgotten the lady's name who was with you. If you could get a + like statement from her for me I would be glad to embody it also. + In my report I will speak of your visit in a way that will + introduce you into other parts of the United States. + + Hoping to hear from you soon, I am, + + Yours most respectfully, + D. F. KERR, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Missouri State Penitentiary. + Office of Warden. + + Jefferson City, Nov. 22, 1897. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Your card duly received and we were all glad to hear from you, D. + especially. Enclosed you will find a letter from her which she is + very anxious for you to answer. Mrs. Pike and I both ordered + books from Mr. McKnight at Columbus and are perfectly delighted + with them. Mrs. Spahr has ordered one too. We are all about as + usual, some three or four sick. We have fifty-two women at + present. Hope you are well and prospering in the Lord's work. + Will be pleased to hear from you often. With much love, + + I am sincerely yours, + BELLE MAGEE, + Matron State Penitentiary. + + * * * * * + + Pittsburg, Kan., April 18, 1898. + + My Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Your kind letter just received. God bless you for your kind, + sympathetic heart. I have often thought of and prayed for you. I + still feel that God will open the way for me to re-enter the + prison work. I am trusting Him. He is my all and in all. + + I hear occasionally from the boys at Fort Madison. God has used + you marvelously. May you be spared long to tell to those around + what a dear Saviour you have found. + + Your son in the gospel, + C. S. LASLETT, + Former Chaplain Fort Madison, Iowa. + + Eph. 3:18-21. + + * * * * * + + Anamosa Penitentiary. + + Anamosa, Iowa, Oct. 5, 1899. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + At last we have your handkerchiefs finished, and can send to you. + The girls did not get those tiny slippers finished in time to + have them at the turnkey's office the evening before you went + away, so will enclose them now. They are very small, but we know + you will appreciate the motive rather than the result. + + They are all doing nicely and I feel quite encouraged with the + present outlook. + + I trust that you are better and that your general health may + remain good for years of usefulness yet in life. + + With best wishes from myself and my father, the Deputy Warden, + + I am sincerely yours, + MRS. ANGIE M. WATERMAN, Matron. + + * * * * * + + Kansas State Penitentiary. + + Lansing, Kan., Oct. 5, 1899. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Your card of yesterday reached me today, but too late to attend + your service at the Home, which I would have been pleased to do. + Accompanied by our daughter we went to Kansas City, Mo., Monday + evening for a short visit and returned home yesterday noon. I + examined eight new prisoners just before starting and upon my + return found sixteen more. Then two more today. Twenty-six in all + this week! So I have been very busy. + + Your handkerchief was found in Chapel and my sexton and night + watch want you to know that you have found "two honest boys in + the pen." I send it enclosed. + + Are you going to remain here over another Sunday, and if so, will + you be out again or do you go to the Military Prison? + + The little book to Baby Esther, the poem and a tract, came this + evening, for which please accept grateful thanks. May the blessed + Lord greatly bless you in your noble work. May He comfort, + strengthen and keep you. + + Sincerely yours in Jesus, + R. A. HOFFMAN, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Iowa Soldiers' Home. + Marshalltown, Iowa, July 18, 1901. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + Dear Sister. Your card came, after a little delay, duly to hand. + + We regret very much your being sick and especially with that + dreaded disease, the smallpox. There has not been a case of it at + the Home and not any in town that I know of. + + Our family is well. Matters at the Home in usual shape. + Thirty-four of the boys have died since January 1, and so we are + being mustered out, because of service no longer needed. It will + be a wonderful relief to us all to be invited to that "house not + made with hands, eternal in the heavens." + + Your visit here was well received, much enjoyed and very + profitable. Your coming again will be hailed with delight. + + Very truly, your brother, + JESSE COLE, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Michigan State Prison. + + Jackson, Mich., Sept. 9, 1903. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + The work still progresses nicely. Many of the men speak in the + highest terms of the services you held here and wish to hear you + again and those who pray often remember you in their prayers. + + We are very thankful to you for your interest in the inmates of + Jackson Prison. God bless you in your mission of love. We send + the sincere wish and offer the earnest prayer that God may make + your book a strong influence in the upbuilding of Christian life + and character. + + Sincerely, + FRANK MCALPINE, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Rusk, Tex., April 7, 1904. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + Dear Sister: Your kind postal was read to "The Boys" last Sunday + and I was requested to answer it. They enjoyed your words of love + and sympathy very much. The "old timers" remember you well, and + the new men know you through the old ones. + + John B. Reagan is Assistant Superintendent, J. H. Meeks, Warden + or, as he is called here, Underkeeper; J. H. Walker, Assistant + Financial Agent, and I am Chaplain. + + We would like so much for you to visit us. If you make + arrangements to come let me know and I will meet you at the + depot. + + Yours in the work, + J. L. DAWSON. + + * * * * * + +Accompanying the following tribute from Bro. Munro, chaplain of the +Mission to the "Tombs" Prison in New York City, we give cuts of the +old "Tombs" where I have held services a number of times, and of the +"New Tombs" which has not been occupied a great while. Also a short +extract taken from the annual report of the chaplain. + + +[Illustration: THE OLD TOMBS] + +[Illustration: THE NEW TOMBS] + + Gospel Mission to the Tombs. + Rev. J. J. Munro, Chaplain. + + New York City, June 24, 1904. + + Dear Sister Wheaton, + Prison Evangelist, + Chicago, Ill. + + I am glad to hear that you are writing a book on prison labors. + You certainly have had much experience in that line. I trust your + book will have a wide circulation in which the marvels of God's + free grace to men and women behind the bars will be fully seen. + + I take much pleasure in commending your prison labors for the + Master. For when you came to the Tombs it gave me great joy to + hear you speak to the prisoners. And your earnest words for lost + souls will not be soon forgotten. Success to you and may God's + richest blessing be with you. + + In the Master's name, + JOHN J. MUNRO. + + EXTRACT. + + "Crime among boys and young men has increased greatly during the + last few years. I cannot account for this except on the ground of + a noticeable increase in the social high pressure. + + "The temptations today are greater than ever and swamp the young + men by the hundreds before they reach their majority. I meet + these boys in prison--white and colored--and talk to them. I find + out their needs and try to help them. + + "Nowhere in the wide world can the power of sin be more clearly + seen than in the Tombs Prison. It is a wreckage pool where hulks + and derelicts that have been abandoned in the ocean of life come + to a standstill. What an army of fallen humanity! They can go no + further. When they realize their condition they weep, groan and + bitterly lament over their misspent lives. Can these men be + transformed by the power of the Gospel? These moral and physical + wrecks, with bleared eyes, sunken and emaciated cheeks and many + other marks of sin. What a besotted multitude! Yet the Gospel of + Jesus can reach them. 'He can save to the uttermost all that come + unto God through Him.'" + + * * * * * + + Nebraska State Penitentiary. + A. D. Beemer, Warden. + + Lancaster, Neb., May 22, 1905. + + To Whom It May Concern: + + I have lately become acquainted with Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, + familiarly known as "Mother Wheaton," the prison evangelist, and + I take pleasure in recommending her and endorsing her work among + those who are detained in prisons and jails. + + Her manifest Christian spirit, sympathy with the unfortunate and + condemned ones, sincere humility, all entitle her to the esteem + and confidence of all, and I believe her work productive of much + good. + + Signed, P. C. JOHNSON, + Chaplain of Nebraska Penitentiary, + Lancaster, Neb. + + * * * * * + + Huntsville, Tex., Aug. 8, 1904. + + To Whom It May Concern: + + This is to certify that Sister Elizabeth R. Wheaton, prison + evangelist, has visited our prison and held a profitable service. + She is a consecrated woman and has her heart in the work. Would + to God that we had more such women. May the Lord raise them up + and help these poor unfortunate men who are confined within + prison walls. All the prisoners who know her love her and call + her mother. May the Lord in his mercy preserve her and give her + many souls for her labor. + + W. T. MCDONALD, + Chaplain Penitentiary. + + * * * * * + + Charlestown, Mass., Oct. 30, 1885. + + Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + I am sorry I had no opportunity to see you before you left. I + trust we may see you on your way to the south. Mrs. Chapman + informed me last evening of your whereabouts and the Warden + wished me to convey his regards to you and say that he should + like to see you here again, if convenient or consistent with your + plans, on Sunday next (Nov. 1). + + Accompanying this please find some notes from different + prisoners. The Warden would be glad to have you here some + Saturday P.M. in order that you should be in the yard, at liberty + with all the men, that you might speak with them at your freedom + or pleasure personally. I trust that the divine light is flooding + your spirit and I pray it may do so forever. + + I hope that Christ is ever a satisfying portion to you and that + your comforts in Him are numberless and rich. + + May God Almighty fill you with himself. + + Respectfully, + J. W. F. BARNES, + Chaplain Mass. State Prison. + + P. S. Also find herewith a paper drawn up by one prisoner and + signed by thirty-three others. + + J. W. F. B. + + * * * * * + + Charlestown, Mass., June 4, 1887. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: + + Things here seem to be getting on to the praise of Jehovah. I had + a good, long letter from Sister B. this morning. It is most + blessed to feel that Jesus abides in the ship and commands the + winds and sea as well. Praise his glorious name! + + What a blessing it is to be on the altar in God's service, ready + to go or stay; ready to labor or to rest; to bear burdens or be + free. + + I trust that the fullest rays of the Sun Divine may warm your + heart and make your life fruitful. + + God be with you richly in all things. + + With best of wishes, + J. W. F. BARNES, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Massachusetts State Prison. + Charlestown, Feb. 13, 1896. + + Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + Your postal to the Warden concerning ---- was put into my hands. + This is the first moment I have had to devote to an answer. He is + in the city working. He has made excellent friends. He stands + well in the church he has joined; is connected with a very large + Bible class of young men and frequently has to be its teacher. He + is active in the church, but closely confined to his work. + + We are in fair condition, comparatively, in the prison. We have + tonight, 761 prisoners. I send you one of our reports with this. + + A. is still keeping a Rescue Mission and doing well. + + I presume you are still after the welfare of the prisoners. I + have been very ill since I saw you, but am able to be at my work + again. Our little prayer meeting on Saturday P. M. still goes on + doing good. The Lord is with us in the enlightening and building + up of souls. + + Such work as you used to do has been left out of the prison life + and no one is allowed now to go into the chapel on Sundays. Once + each month I take in some people to help us sing in our praise + service. The same people every time, however. Pray for us. + + Sincerely yours, + J. W. F. BARNES, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Massachusetts State Prison. + + Charlestown, June 14, 1899. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: + + Yours came on Monday last. I was glad to hear from you, and to + get the enclosures in your letter. They are good--very good--for + my work and my own life. I heartily reciprocate all your good + wishes for me and pray that you may be preserved from all evil. + + We have had some blessed conversions here and one or two of our + men have gone to their reward in great peace and joy. + + F. is doing well and much loved in his work for Christ. He is at + same address I sent you before. + + Truly yours in the work, + J. W. F. BARNES, Chaplain. + +[Illustration: PERSONAL WORK.] + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + Some of My Prison Boys. + + +The writer of the following letters was one of the most remarkably +conscientious persons I ever knew. As a prisoner, he was very highly +respected by the officers. His chaplain has ever remained his sincere +friend and counselor. Years have passed since he left prison life and +he still remains an earnest Christian and an honorable member of +society. No one but his pastor, employer and former friends know his +past history. + +He was converted in prison during services I held in 1884 or 1885. He +presented me some years ago with a book of poems of his own writing. +Not being able to carry them with me, I have lost trace of them. +Otherwise would be glad to furnish some of them to my readers. + + * * * * * + + To Mrs. Wheaton, My Dear Mother in the Lord: + + I call you by this name because I am young and have lost my + mother in the flesh, and I am writing this letter because, as you + have given up all for Jesus' sake, you only can help me as I + wish. You can pray for me as a mother prays for a son. I am + twenty-four years old, have an eighteen years' sentence, have + served four years of it and expect to serve the whole of it for I + have no influential friends to help me. + + I had not been here a year until I realized what eighteen years + of prison life meant--the deprivation of all earthly pleasures, + and the wasting away of youthful hopes and ambitions in vain + regret. Grief, misery and despair overwhelmed me every night, and + every night I wished that I were dead. A great struggle was going + on in my soul. A struggle for either life or death, and, thank + God, life had the victory. + + I am now a Christian. A night of revelation came to me in which + God, as Judge, and Jesus, as Saviour, revealed to me--the one, + the power and glory; the other, the love of God. + + But my way is not like the peaceful flow of a river, but like a + stream of cascades. By leaps I draw nearer to God. In the + meantime I do not keep the image of Jesus before me. Pray, dear + mother, this special prayer for me, that my faith may be + constant; that self shall no more come between it and Jesus; that + surroundings shall not weaken it; that youth shall not neglect + it. Jesus has stamped my soul with his blood. It can never be + effaced, but my soul does not thrill as often as I wish with the + joy of right-doing. Belief in Jesus permeates my whole being. Why + do I sometimes stray from his love? Repentance is doubly grievous + then, and repent I must. My conscience compels me. The prayers of + a saintly woman will be heard. You will pray for me for Jesus' + sake. + + Yours in the Lord, + SIGNED. + + * * * * * + + Thanksgiving Day, 1885. + + Dear Mother in the Lord: + + With what mingled emotions of joy, gratitude and love, I read + your faith inspiring letter. I did not expect it, for one Sunday + in the chapel the Chaplain read one from you addressed to us all + in general. He also told us something about your way--what a + lonely, weary way. What a sorrow yours has been! Can we poor + mortals ever forget our sorrow? Does it not rise to the surface + at times and overwhelm us, so that nothing but the soothing + presence of Jesus can comfort us? "I will not leave you + comfortless; I will come to you." + + A common saying here is: "I don't believe in a man coming to + prison to reform." Ah! little they know what reform is, for where + on earth does one need the Spirit that reforms more than in + prison? Our poets tell us that prisons are the types of hell. I + bless God for bringing me to this prison. Out of its depths I + cried and He heard me, nor do I pray to be free from its thrall. + Indeed I do pray for His will to be done in me and beseech Him to + keep me here until He calls me to Himself, rather than I should + go free again and forget Him. That I never can. Though I fell to + the lowest depths, I could never forget Him. Dear Mother, we + will meet Him--Jesus--in Heaven. Oh! I do not want the pleasures + of this life! I do want to be, like you, His humble follower. How + I wish I could be near you always that your faith might ever + increase my own. I need, very much I need, the pure and tender + influence of a holy praying "mother." My own mother had a loving + heart, but neither she nor my father did I ever see praying. My + precious Saviour was never revealed to me from the lips of + either. What would have become of me had God deferred this + discipline? Would I not have gone on in sin until too late, even + had I been sent here for a short term of years? My only thought + would be for them to end, that I might pursue again the delusive + hopes of sin. + + I fully realize my position here. I see the providence of God + that makes it a blessing. + + I would tell you the way Jesus came to me, or rather how I came + to Him. When first I came here I did not think of what was in + store for me--eighteen years of prison life. I was wild and + thoughtless. The strangeness of the place helped to divert my + mind, but the solitude of my cell at night forced me to look into + the future. At length my fate dawned upon me. Oh! it was + terrible! During the day I would try to forget the thoughts of + the night by being more wild than ever, but the night brought the + ordeal again and it was driving me to despair. I longed to be + dead, but one night the thought came: "Suppose you were dead, + what then? Would you be at rest?" I say thought, but if ever the + Holy Spirit spoke to the soul of man, it spoke to mine that + night. In an instant I saw the enormity of my sins and the + punishment in store for me. In terror I cried: "O, what shall I + do? Oh, I cannot die! I cannot meet this doom!" Need I say that + my cry was not in vain? No, the spirit of Jesus taught me of + Himself that night, and the Chaplain showed me some words in the + gospel of John. I never read the Bible before, but there were + Christ's words, and those words I now read often. The Psalms and + St. John contain for me the Way of Life. + + I do not forget you in my feeble prayers morning and night, and I + hope you will be indeed my "Mother" for Jesus' sake. Amen. + + * * * * * + + June 16, 1890. + + My Dear Friend and Spiritual Mother: + + I thank you very much for your kind letter, which I received + today. I pray that you may die in the harness, leaving your work + to just pass over the river into Heaven. + + Have you heard that our dear Chaplain's helpmeet has recently + taken this journey? The Chaplain takes it just as one would + expect he would, calmly, with faith unabated, rather increased, + for he said to me the day after the funeral: "The peace of God in + my heart passeth understanding." This evidence of real trust in + God's mercy, and that He is and heaven is, has been the means of + bringing me nearer to God. + + I am reading a book by "H. W. S." entitled "Frank: the Record of + a Happy Life." It is very inspiring. I have been convinced for + some time that the higher Christian life was a reality, and had + experienced its blessings. But I lived upon the experience, + drawing my strength from it and not God, consequently I soon got + back to where I was before. But the Holy Spirit has of late been + urging me to seek it again, so that I have consecrated myself + anew to the Lord, and he has blessed me wonderfully, taking away + the irritable feeling that certain trials were sure to bring me. + I forget self and think only of doing good to those who before I + felt like shunning. It makes me very humble in my happiness. Dear + Mother, I am sure you have enjoyed this blessed experience of + living moment by moment to God, being kept by Him from all sin + and the power of temptation. + + I have read that many Christians do not believe that the blood of + Christ cleanseth from all sin. This appears very strange to me. I + don't see how they can be so blind. When this blessed thought was + shown me I could not help believing it, it seemed so plain, and + was really needful for us to have in order to live up to the + commands of the gospel. + + Tuesday P. M., 17th. + + They are celebrating the Battle of Bunker Hill today. We have had + our holiday and are now in our rooms for the rest of the day. It + is a perfect summer day, mild, with a refreshing breeze floating + through the windows. My bird hangs above me chirping, enjoying + himself, while the murmur of voices in the guard room, with now + and then the joyous shout of a baby, make me feel like shutting + my eyes and imagining myself far away from these stones and bars. + + I firmly believe that an educated Christian who is wholly + consecrated shall be used by the Lord where an uneducated one + would not. You know it was to Paul, the highly educated, that was + intrusted the greatest work of the Apostles, viz: To convert the + heathen world. In Athens, the center of intellectual life, he + preached, quoting to them from their own poets and converting + certain philosophers of whom was Dionysius, one of the city's + judges. Intellectual ability is a talent which the Lord requires + us to use for His kingdom. We need never fear for education, + "While near the school the church spire stands," as the Quaker + poet, Whittier, puts it. + + Our prayer meeting is growing both in numbers and in interest. We + hold an election of officers today. I resigned the leadership + owing to my duties in the library being such that I could not + attend regularly. I, however, accepted the place of chairman of + the standing committee. The Warden has allowed the teachers of + the night school to organize a society for the purpose of general + culture. Last Friday the constitution and by-laws were submitted + for approval. Next Friday the election of officers will be held. + I have been embarrassed by several members asking me to accept + the position of president. I know that I am not qualified for the + position, but they think otherwise and are persistent. These, and + other tokens of regard and respect for me by my fellow prisoners, + I am very grateful for. + + It makes me feel, too, that my Christian life here has not been + without results among them. They respect my scruples--something I + hardly think people outside are in the habit of doing. You will + understand that I look upon all this as the Lord's doings, and + feel no self-praise over it. To Him be all the praise for giving + me the courage and strength to let my light shine before the men + in this prison. O! it is good to be on the Lord's side, to let + Him order my way. I pray that I may never have a will of my own + in this respect. I feel so perfectly willing to remain here and + serve Him in my feeble way, only praying that if a larger + opportunity comes to me I shall not be found wanting, only + believing that with the opportunity will come added strength and + power from on high. The Holy Spirit has so witnessed to my + spirit that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that + diligently seek Him, and that Jesus is my Saviour, that the bare + thought of being unfaithful brings intense pain to my soul. No, I + can never be happy away from my Saviour. With His faith filling + my being, His peace shall abide with me. + + I pray daily for my spiritual "Mother," that the Lord shall bless + her in all heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that the Holy Spirit + shall rest upon you, giving you the word of truth to speak to the + lost souls in all the places you go to. + + With much love, I remain + + Your son and brother in the Lord, + ---- ----. + + * * * * * + + Oct. 23, 1894. + + My Dear Mother: + + I have been waiting to hear from you so I could write and let you + know of the good news that has come to me. I am no longer in + prison. I have been let out on parole. This means that I am still + a prisoner, but am given larger liberty. I shall not be allowed + to leave this city nor engage in mission work, that is to give my + whole time to it. I have to report to the secretary of the Board + of Prison Commissioners every month. When I get a room I am going + to devote the most of my spare time to study. I go to a mission + at the North End, but have no regular church connections. I have + been living with Mr. ---- since coming out, but will leave him + within a week. He has been a good friend to me. He has been so + ill all this year that he has been to the prison only a few + times. + + I am happy in my new life. The Lord is blessing me wonderfully. + There is no other life worth living here below but following in + the way of the Lord. + + With much love, I remain + + Your son in the Lord, + ---- ----. + + A TALENTED YOUNG MAN. + +Soon after entering upon prison work, I found in one of our eastern +prisons the writer of the following letters and articles. He was at +that time young, gifted, scholarly and very prepossessing in +appearance. His penmanship was beautiful, perhaps the most so I have +ever seen, but he had fallen under evil influences and the very gift +that should have been used for a better purpose proved a curse and at +the time I first saw him he was under sentence for forgery. He seemed +to be clearly converted in a meeting I held in the prison and proved +faithful during the remainder of his term. But after he went out into +the world I lost trace of him. He was only one among thousands who +need sympathy and help and encouragement. I trust that, if living, he +is still true to himself and to God. Some of his letters follow, also +the discourse on the Agony in the Garden in the form of a letter found +in the appendix is of his writing. + + Oct. 29, 1885. + + To Mrs. ---- Wheaton. + + Madame: Not being able to shake hands, and having thus been + deprived of the pleasure of verbally telling you what we had to + say, we now have recourse to our pen. Our hearts have heard, + understood and treasured your words of last Sunday. + + Dear Lady, yours is a special task. In your field of labor are + gathered crowds unnumbered, inert, inanimate, forming, as it + were, a great desert, a Dead Sea uninhabited by any living thing. + There lies a small world to be reconquered; such are the men who + are to be reclaimed. How act upon them? How move their hearts? + How gain mastery over them? In these questions lies the secret of + the future. + + Holiness in your heart and the omnipotent hand of Jesus in yours + cannot fail to bring about the reformation of a host of + criminals. He will save them. Oh! climb the heights, display the + brilliancy of those universal truths in whose presence every + being gifted with reason and accessible to reflection feels + compelled to bend the knee. Deeds, examples, striking evidence + and incontestable proofs of abnegation, devotedness, charity and + sacrifices are required. These are the sermons that awaken souls + from their torpor; these the weapons that triumph over the + world, however criminal, careless, frivolous and hardened it may + be. + + SIGNED. + + * * * * * + + December 1, 1885. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, + Somewhere in America. + + Let me begin this letter by saying something very true concerning + + RUM. + + Let thy devotees extol thee, + And thy wondrous virtues sum; + But the worst of names I'll call thee, + O, thou hydra monster, Rum! + + Pimple-maker, visage-bloater, + Health-corrupter, idler's mate; + Mischief breeder, vice promoter, + Credit spoiler, devil's bait. + + Almshouse builder, pauper maker, + Trust betrayer, sorrow's source; + Pocket emptier, Sabbath breaker, + Conscience stifler, guilt's resource. + + Nerve enfeebler, system shatterer, + Thirst increaser, vagrant thief; + Cough producer, treacherous flatterer, + Mud bedauber, mock relief. + + Business hinderer, spleen instiller, + Woe begetter, friendship's bane; + Anger heater, Bridewell filler, + Debt involver, toper's chain. + + Memory drowner, honor wrecker, + Judgment warper, blue-faced quack; + Feud beginner, rags bedecker, + Strife enkindler, fortune's wreck. + + Summer's cooler, winter's warmer, + Blood polluter, specious snare; + Mob collector, man transformer, + Bond undoer, gambler's fare. + + Speech bewrangler, headlong bringer, + Vitals burner, deadly fire; + Riot mover, firebrand flinger, + Discord kindler, misery's sire. + + Sinews robber, worth depriver, + Strength subduer, hideous foe; + Reason thwarter, fraud contriver, + Money waster, nations' woe. + + Vile seducer, joy dispeller, + Peace disturber, blackguard guest; + Sloth implanter, liver sweller, + Brain distracter, hateful pest. + + Wit destroyer, joy impairer, + Scandal dealer, foul-mouthed scourge; + Senses blunter, youth ensnarer, + Crime inventor, ruin's verge. + + Virtue blaster, base deceiver, + Spite displayer, sot's delight; + Noise exciter, stomach heaver, + Falsehood spreader, scorpion's bite. + + Quarrel plotter, rage discharger, + Giant conqueror, wasteful sway; + Chin carbuncler, tongue enlarger, + Malice venter, death's broadway. + + Household scatterer, high-hope dasher, + Death's forerunner, hell's dire brink; + Ravenous murderer, windpipe slasher, + Drunkard's lodging, meat and drink! + + The rum vender's power is something enormous. We do not delude + ourselves into thinking that the fight for national prohibition + will be easily won. In many respects the liquor dealers will + prove an enemy harder to vanquish than the slave dealers were. + For slavery was an institution with a local habitation. It was + restricted to certain well-defined limits. The whole world knew + where it was and what it was doing. But rum is everywhere. Its + upholders are woven into the warp and woof of society in every + city and hamlet. It has a thousand heads, and it can hide them in + times of danger with wonderful facility. Slavery was bold, brazen + and defiant. It could be nothing else. But the liquor dealers, + with equal bravado and strength, are enabled to resort to the + cunning and subtlety of the serpent, when bravado is imprudent. + + Then the liquor dealer's influence over his victims does not end + with control of the bodies. His slaves are his allies. He owns + them, many of them, body and soul for such a cause. They will + fight for rum and vote for rum as persistently as the saloonist + himself. These facts may as well be appreciated. When it comes to + defiant antagonism, when temperance men boldly array themselves + in professed opposition to the traffic in alcohol, the struggle + will be severe. But it is certain there will come no time in the + future when it will be less severe. The liquor power is _a + rapidly growing power_. God knows it is strong enough now, but it + becomes stronger with each passing day. + + Are we willing that such a class of men not only hold such an + enormous power, but add to it indefinitely? In the census for + 1880 the capital employed in the manufacture of liquor was over + one hundred and eighteen million of dollars, and the number of + persons employed in the manufactories and in saloons aggregated + over one hundred thousand. No nation can afford to leave such + power in the hands of such men. It is suicidal. + + Having _said my say_ about "Old Devil" and his "Clerks" I guess + I'll write a _little_ letter to + + My Dear Sister: + + Your good, kind letter was duly received. We sincerely thank you. + When meeting with savages who don't treat you respectfully please + ever remember that in M---- everybody who knows you or about you + loves you. Mrs. D. told me to write to Mrs. Wheaton because "_she + is a lovely Christian_." + + "O taste and see that the Lord is good." Psa. 34:8. + + That is the right way to find out that He is good. We may think + He is good, we may have some idea that He is so--but to know it, + and to know how very good the Lord is, we must taste his + goodness. He alone is good. He is goodness itself; and because He + is this, He wants us to taste, to enjoy Him. + + Good men and women, and good children, will one day be like the + angels in heaven; and they begin to be such already in this + world. If it were not for them, if they were not here to be the + bearers of peace and happiness, the ministers of mercy and of + love, to wretchedness and woe, to the weary and the bowed down, + how wretched would this world be! A thousand blessings upon you, + beloved sisters, who, from the goodness of your great big heart, + endeavor to do good to others. It is through such holy and + devoted daughters of our thrice holy King and Father as Sister + Elizabeth that we taste and see how good the Lord is. + + "You see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own + hand." Galatians 6:11. "I thank my God, making mention of thee + always in my prayers." Philemon, 4. + + "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing + that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy + Ghost." Romans 15:13. + + "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them + which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." + Hebrews 13:3. + + We salute thee, sister. + + Your real brother in Jesus, + L. J. + + * * * * * + + Charlestown, Mass., Oct. 18, 1886. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + Dear Sister--John 17:20, 21: "Everyone members one of another." + "If one suffer all suffer." I do not know that the relation and + consequent influence of member upon member can be better + illustrated than by the connection of the body, mind and spirit, + and the power that any one of the three has over the other two. + + The mind depends upon the body to carry out its desires, and the + mind is in constant subjection to the body in health and in + sickness. The body is controlled by the mind as the ship is + directed in her course by the man at the helm. The spirit looks + out through the eyes of the body and is entranced with the scene + of beauty, or is crushed with the sorrow with which it is seized, + according as we look upon a thing of beauty or the eye rests upon + things withered and dead. + + The life and experience of every man attest the fact that thought + and emotion, and the body in which the organs of thought and + feeling are placed, are inter-related in such a way and to such + an extent that the mind and body control, to a very great extent, + the activity of each other. The wise man, looking at the inner + life and the outer manifestation of it, from a little different + point of view, expresses it thus: "As a man thinketh in his heart + so is he. The spirit of a man will sustain his _infirmity_, but a + wounded or broken spirit who can bear?" Says a writer in the Laws + of Health: "If a man thinks he is an invalid he is one; if he + thinks himself incompetent he is incompetent, and so through the + whole list." By faith in Christ, as true and confiding as the + trust of a child; by boldness at the throne of grace; by firmness + in resisting temptation, and by resolution in the performance of + every duty we are able to maintain the connection we have formed + with Christ, the head of the body; to bear the fruit of the vine; + to suffer with each other; to be honored with the members of the + body, and to rejoice with those who rejoice. + + As the connection of the body, mind, moral nature and spirit is + such as to give one part influence over the other parts and the + power to modify their health and action, so the relation which is + formed with the household of faith, when we come into Christ, is + to be honored by striving for the faith of the gospel and by an + effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. + + If one in Christ now, this oneness can be maintained among the + brotherhood in but one way, and that is by being one with Christ + and God in purpose, plan and effort for the salvation of men and + by striving together for _the faith_ of the gospel. The unity of + God's people cannot be maintained by erecting standards of our + own--by making our own opinions bonds of fellowship and tests of + soundness--by prescribing this and forbidding that. The unity is + to be maintained by striving together for _the faith_ of the + gospel. The same thing is true with reference to the multitudes + who are following Christ as they have learned him. The unity of + all these distracted bodies is not to be brought about by any + effort to form a union, but by an effort on the part of each one + to grow up into Christ, the living Head; by all agreeing to + disagree in their opinions; and by all striving together for _the + faith_ of the gospel. This lesson is to be taught the world by + the disciples of Christ, and if we do not teach the lesson + aright, we may expect, and we ought to receive the question: What + do ye more than others? + + When we are growing in favor with God and man; when we are + increasing in the knowledge of divine things; when our lives are + hid with Christ in God; when we are appropriating the spiritual + food which God has furnished; when we are proving to the world + that we have passed from death unto life; when we are loving each + other with pure hearts fervently; when we are continuing + steadfast in the apostles' doctrines and in the fellowship, in + the breaking of bread and in prayers, we are giving to the world + and to professed Christians everywhere a living demonstration + that we are striving together for the faith of the gospel. + + "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that + bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good + tidings of good that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, + Thy God reigneth!" + + Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be + in health, even as thy soul prospereth. III John 2. + + Yours in His love, + L. J. + + + UNDER DEATH SENTENCE. + +In 1887, I found the writer of the following letters, with nine other +men, under sentence of death in the prison at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. +Before his cell door stood his wife and four little children. They all +seemed heart-broken and I was deeply impressed with the sad, touching +scene. After talking with them and praying for them, I was led to +believe that the man was innocent of the crime for which he and +another young man had been condemned. The evidence against them was +purely circumstantial. The other man was afterward given his liberty, +but this one was held, as many believed, for want of money to hire +lawyers to properly plead his case. I still believe him to be an +innocent man. + +I left the state a short time before the day set for the execution, +but prayed the Lord to let his life be spared if he was innocent. Some +time after I learned that he, with several others, had been given a +life sentence in the Ohio penitentiary. I went to the President and +Attorney General in Washington, D. C., several times, trying, if +possible, to secure his pardon. They were kind and courteous and after +looking up the evidence would have granted him a pardon if the judge +who had passed the sentence would request it, but he refused to do so +and finally died. Then all hope seemed gone. The wife died of a broken +heart. The children all died and the dear old parents, broken-hearted, +lingered on, hoping against hope, until now they, too, may have passed +away. But the poor man lingered in prison, with health, hope, friends, +youth, all gone; forgotten by the world, waiting for death to end his +misery. I say hope gone; I mean, hope for freedom here. His hope of +heaven proved an anchor to his sorrowing heart. He proved himself a +consistent Christian and a good, quiet, obedient prisoner. A letter +from Chaplain Starr, Columbus, Ohio, tells me that he had been finally +pardoned and was released January 4, 1904. + +I find in my possession two papers received from Washington regarding +his case of which I give the reader verbatim copies: + + * * * * * + + Department of Justice. + Washington. + + Case of M----, Western District of Arkansas. + Offense--Murder. + Sentence--To be hanged. + Petition for pardon filed March 11, 1899. + Commuted to life imprisonment on June 7, 1899. + + JAMES F. REED, ESQ., + U. S. Dist. Atty., Western Dist. of Ark., + Fort Smith, Ark. + + * * * * * + + Department of Justice. + + Washington, D. C., March 8, 1895. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, + 902 H. Street, N. E. + + Sir: The papers in the above case have been referred, in + accordance with Department practice, to the United States + Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas for his + consideration, and he has reported adversely thereon, being of + the opinion that the case is not one in which executive clemency + should be exercised, trial judge concurring. + + In the absence of a counter showing, the report of the United + States Attorney will be considered as disposing of the case. + + By direction of the Attorney General. + + Very respectfully, + WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, + Attorney in Charge of Pardons. + + * * * * * + + Fort Smith, Ark., Feb. 20, 1889. + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + Yours at hand. It found a small portion of us praying to God for + aid. We keep up our prayer meeting. There is but three of us who + attend regular. It is myself and Mr. M. and T. We want to do all + we can to save our souls. I am one who is to be executed on the + 19th and I am ready to go if God says for me to go. I am sure to + meet you in Heaven where there is no unjust court. I want you to + pray for me in good faith, for the prayers of the righteous are + powerful and I want you to remember the day I am to die and pray + for my soul to go to God where I can see everlasting enjoyment. + + I am sad, sister. It hurts my heart to think I have been a good, + affectionate man on earth and now I must die for the wicked world + or man's evil. I forgive all and will die an innocent man. "God + receive my soul" is my prayer. + + Brother and sister B. came and prayed for us last week. Write me + again and I will give you all the news. + + Yours truly, + M----. + + I had to stop writing to get to prayer meeting and I tell you, we + had a good time. It does me good to get to say a word for Jesus, + in jail or out. I am as happy as anyone could be in prison, I am + sure. I am blessed with a sure love of God who can save or + destroy. We don't have preaching very often in here. There are + ten in here who are found guilty of murder. It is no wonder + people think they can't get justice. I am sure it is on account + of so many bad people being in the territory and around it. + + I am thankful I am even spared to see a few more days and to let + me have more time to try for justice. I am doing all I can and so + are my friends and relatives. I have a good father and mother to + pray for me day and night and am sure there is many a prayer gone + to Jesus in my behalf. + + Hoping to hear from you soon, I say good-bye. I am, + + Yours very truly, M----. + + * * * * * + + Fort Smith, Arkansas, March 13, 1889. + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + Yours at hand. It found me well and still pleading to God to + prepare my soul to meet my fate on the 19th of April. It is an + awful day for me to think of. I do hope and pray to God I won't + be put to death in such a cruel manner. I don't deserve such a + death, or any punishment at all for the accused crime. I don't + fear death, but I don't want to disgrace so many good people as + it will be a disgrace on all my relatives and me as clear of + murder as a child, and I don't believe God will allow me to be + put to death without a cause, but if God tells me to go on the + scaffold I will obey Him. + + I had a dear brother come to see me this week, and when he left + me it just looked like it was the last sight of the dear brother, + although he said, "I will come to see you again before ----," + then he choked down and went away. He meant, "Before you are + executed." It would do my dear old parents an awful sight of good + to get a letter from you, stating what I said in regard to a + future home. I do wish you would write them. + + We keep up our prayer meeting as regular as the time comes, + except we are hindered by a good cause. Seldom we miss our + meeting and prayers together. I am sorry to say there is only + three of us and I am all the doomed one of the three. I want you + when you are visiting prisons in Texas to inquire for a man by + the name of John H., as I have heard he was arrested in Texas + somewhere and was in jail. This is the same name as the man we + are accused of killing, and it may be the same man. I wrote to + Paris, Texas, but he was not there. If you find him let me know + at once. You can ask him if he ever knew Henry M. and William W. + He might deny us, so you can give me a description and I can tell + if it is him. Ask him of what nationality he is. + + God bless you all and send me relief at the last hour. Amen. I + am, + + Your true and affectionate brother in Christ, + M----. + + * * * * * + + Fort Smith, Arkansas, April 11, 1889. + + Mrs. Wheaton, + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + Your kind and welcome letter at hand. I hope you are being + blessed by our Almighty God. I am sure you are worthy of great + praise in well-doing. I am very sorry to inform you I am not + pardoned yet, but I thank God I have been respited till June 29. + It was thankful news for me and I am sure it is the power of our + God who wants justice done in everything here on earth. Oh, what + a great promise Jesus has promised us all if we will humble + ourselves and get low down at his feet! I am one that wants to + bow as low as I am required. I am a servant for Jesus as long as + I remain in this sinful world. + + I am so glad my dear old pa wrote you. I don't get any letters + from him. I suppose he writes so pitiful to me the jailer won't + let me have his letters. I do not know any other cause. I receive + letters from my brothers and sisters regular. I thank you for the + letter father sent you. My misfortune is an awful burden on their + poor, old and feeble hearts, but I pray God to stay them and help + them to bear their sorrows and I am sure He will do so. + + Mr. W., my partner, is granted a free pardon and the President + did not have time to investigate the evidence in my behalf, so he + respited me for further investigation. Several of the senators + are taking an anxious part for me and it is thought I will get a + pardon. I trust in God I will be set free and can be able to help + catch sinners for Jesus; I am sure I am willing. + + I am sorry to inform you Brother M. was convicted of a brutal + murder as the evidence shows. I hope he is not guilty, but we + must not say. + + It is a sad place here. Brother George B. and Brother T. have + gone back in the world. There is nothing done for Brother George + yet and his time is short. + + The President refused to do anything for M., that one-armed + colored man, so he must meet his Jesus on the 19th of this month. + There is three more, but the President has not ruled on their + cases yet. I don't know whether they will be hung or not. I hope + not. God help them all. + + I want you to please write me. It does me good to read a letter + from you. Write soon. + + M----. + + * * * * * + + Fort Smith, Ark., May 1, 1889. + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + Yours at hand. It found us all in good health, and for myself, I + am looking to Jesus. We still keep up our prayer meeting. It is + a great comfort for me to get to tell Jesus how I feel and to + hear the other brothers pray and talk for Him. Of course I know + it is hard for me and some others to bear this punishment, yet I + feel the kindness of our kind Saviour in my poor, sad heart. I + only ask God to save my life and I am willing to spend the rest + of my days in his service. I can only trust God that all will + come out right. + + I will tell you of the dear ones who were hung on the 19th. It + was J. M. and A. Both were colored men. M. had the Catholic + priest pray for him and he said he was going to heaven. He was + very moody and pale; but he seemed to know his doom. Poor fellow! + God pity us all, for we have souls to save. A. joined the + Methodist church and was baptized the same day he was hung. He + was the bravest soldier I ever heard of. He smiled and said, + "Good-bye, Henry." I had to shed tears to see and feel the nerves + quivering when he and I both knew that it was death caused the + quivering of his pulse. Poor boys! They are better off than I am, + if they had made their peace with God. + + Brother M. was convicted and is sentenced to be hung July 17. + There is five to be hung on that day. One colored man and one + Indian woman and one Indian man and F. C. and Brother M. Myself + and George B. got a respite. His is till June 21 and mine till + June 29. W. got a free pardon and I am held on the same evidence. + It is because I was poor and did not send a man to plead for me + at Washington, but people think I will come out all right yet. I + leave it all to God, who can do me justice without money. + + For the sake of each poor unfortunate soul you may chance to + meet, I ask God to be near you and show and tell you a word to + say to the poor condemned ones--a comforting word for their + souls' sake. Joy and peace be with you. You have my prayers, as + weak as they are. Jesus be with us all. Amen. + + Write me soon. + + M----. + + * * * * * + + Ft. Smith, Ark., May 20, 1889. + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + Yours at hand. It found us all well but Mr. T. He has been + complaining, but he is better now. We were blessed with Mr. and + Mrs. B. to sing and pray for us this morning and it was a great + comfort to us all. She was refused at first, but after she came + in and told us we sent her to Mr. C. and he told her to "sing and + pray for those men as much as she wanted to." It is queer for a + living being to not want the distressed to find relief, but it + seems as though there was but little mercy shown us here, and, + dear sister, I am sure there are some good hearts in here and God + surely will not allow them to be put to death. Yet it has been + done, and it can be done again, and I am not trusting in a single + word or act of man. I am reading my Bible and asking God to open + my heart to all faith and charity and reveal all the required + secrets to my heart so I can become one of his children in faith + and be sanctified in Him. I am so glad you wrote me. It does me + good to hear from you. Write soon, as I can only stay here till + June 21. Good-bye. + + M----. + + * * * * * + + Columbus, Ohio, March 30, 1890. + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + Yours found me in some better health than I was when you last saw + me. I am so glad you will continue to write me. Like all other + persecuted souls, I sometimes think I have no friends. But it + cannot be so in my case. + + I do not faint or shudder at the idea of dying in prison. It is + just as near heaven from this prison as it would be if I was at + home in the tender care of dear parents and brothers and sisters. + Yet I cannot say I am as happy here as there at home. I am not. I + feel sure my time is short in this world. I have a hard time. I + am in a sea of tears daily. Oh, it is so hard to be bound and + shut out from a free world, but this is all for some purpose, + unknown to me at present, but by the help of God, I my burden + will bear. + + "I'll praise my Maker while I've breath, + And when my voice is lost in death, + Praise shall my nobler powers employ + In that Eternal World of joy." + + "Lord, remember me for good, + Passing through this mortal veil; + Show me the atoning blood + When my strength and spirit fall. + Give my sorrowing soul to see + Jesus crucified for me." + + "May God be your helper and bless you," is my prayer continually. + + I do not aim to impress on your mind that I am punished by the + prison laws, for I am not. I haven't had a bit of trouble with + any one since I came into this institution. I have to work hard + and I do more than I ought to, but I am afraid I won't please my + superiors in power over me. I put in many a sleepless night from + weariness of my daily labors. But I could not stand any + punishment, so I had better over-do myself than to be over-done. + My sorrow is now as much as I can bear. I am in need of all good + praying people's prayers, so I ask you and your friends to pray + for me. + + I am honored with all the attire of a first-grade-prison man. I + have the red stripes you told me to get and my mustache. The boys + you know are well. + + M----. + + * * * * * + + Columbus, Ohio. + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + Blessed be our God! He has saved us thus far and has given us an + ark to carry us over Jordan, safe to Eternity. We, as fallen men, + sometimes err in thinking we are not under God's protection, but + I say we are. Jesus came, not to bring saints, but sinners to + repentance. It is not the righteous that are called, but sinners. + There is only one way and that is by Jesus Christ, and that is to + humble ourselves to all that is right. Life has yet many + opportunities for serving God and his Church. Hitherto the Lord + has brought me and still in his loving hands I will cheerfully, + hopefully rest and trust till the shadows of earth shall be + changed for the sunlight of eternity, when my heavenly home is + reached, to be blessed forever with the Lord. + + Sister, Brother M. says "God bless you," and you have his + prayers. Bro. F. C. says he hopes to see you soon. Bro. B. is all + right as far as I know. They all say write to them. Bro. T. has + forgotten his pledge. May God soften his heart again to say "Thy + will be done." + + I close by asking you to write soon. God bless you and all + co-workers. + + Good-bye, M. ----. + + + SENTENCED FOR LIFE. + +Early in my prison work I found in one of our penitentiaries a man +sentenced for life who claimed to have acted only with the motive of +self-defense. That man is still confined in prison, though he is one +of the best of prisoners and has given evidence of being a good, +Christian man, worthy of pardon. I wrote to the governor once in his +behalf, but too late to avail anything, as his term of office was just +expiring. While that poor man has been held there, pardons have been +granted to Chinamen, Spaniards and other foreigners who were wicked +and guilty, yet this Christian man has been kept in confinement all +these long years, until there is only one other besides himself who is +now left of the prisoners who were there on my first visit. The other +has gone insane and I have feared that the one of whom I write would +lose his mind also. His article on the need of prison reform entitled +"Meditations of a Prisoner," found in another chapter, will, I +believe, commend itself to every fair-minded reader. + +I give a few selections from his letters. I feel sure he should be a +free man. O the indifference of those who have the power to free such +worthy cases and will not! May God give power to the faint and grace +to the afflicted and let us pray God to show the governors of our land +to whom to give pardon and freedom and from whom to withhold. + + * * * * * + + State Prison, December 21, 1902. + + Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + Your kind and welcome letter received and I was very glad to hear + from you and I do hope you will soon be strong again. The world + needs many Mother Wheatons, so it can ill afford to lose you, but + if the Lord calls you home we must all submit, for He does all + things for the best. + + I was much surprised to see by your letter that you had written + to Governor S. in my behalf. From my heart I thank you, dear + Sister, and may God bless you for your kindly interest in me. But + Governor S. will leave the office tomorrow and the newly-elected + Governor will take his seat. It is too bad that you have gone to + all that trouble for nothing. But the fact that you did so will + always be most gratefully remembered by myself and Charles G. He + also wants me to send his kind regards and thanks for your good + will to him. + + When you have your book ready please send me one. Could you say + about when it will be ready? I suppose you would like to know how + we spent Christmas. It was spent in the dining-room, but we had a + nice dinner and were kindly remembered by the Warden and Chaplain + and everything was very nice and pleasant. + + I will close with kind regards and best wishes, and may God bless + you. + + Sincerely yours in the Master's service, + + E. + + * * * * * + + State Prison, Aug. 19, 1903. + + Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + I have just received your welcome letter and was very glad to + hear from you, also to know that you were well. It is a wonder + you never get tired of traveling so much. When I think of how you + are constantly battling for the right in the interest of lost + sinners as we are it brings forth the thought in my mind--does it + pay? If one only looks at the general result he can but say--it + does not pay that one pure life should be worn out in the cause + when so few are made to see the error of their ways and turn to + the path of truth and right along the way of righteousness. + + But again, if one life is truly brought into the light and a soul + saved, then we must admit it pays. And I know that your + pilgrimage of mercy brings forth good, for all who know you speak + kindly of you. Well, if a little spark of love is kindled in the + heart of the most hardened by the kindly deeds of another, who + can tell how great that spark may become? So let us not weary of + well doing but press on, hoping for the best and accepting the + worst in true Christian resignation. + + I gave your message of love to all the men here. All were glad to + hear from you. O, my dear friend, I am so often troubled in heart + by the attitude of some people. Certainly I have been very + sinful. I have fully realized all that was wrong in my life. It + has been my endeavor to cast it all out of my life and to build + on a foundation of righteousness and faith in its place. I have + been blessed in my effort by the help of many who I feel have a + personal interest in me. At the same time no man has been more + inhumanly treated by those who profess to be Christians than I + have been and am. + + Yes, my friend, we are commanded to pray for such people. This I + have done for nine years, but the persecution still goes on. May + God forgive them. + + Now, a few words about the prison. Everything is changed here. We + have all new officers and guards, also another Governor. The + Chinese cook you spoke to was pardoned last January. I was + denied. + + I am, with love, your sincere friend, + + E. + + * * * * * + + January 24, 1904. + + Dear Sister: + + Your welcome letter duly received and I was glad to hear from you + and to know that you were well. + + Well, sister, I am again denied a pardon. Guess I must die here. + Well, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." Still the lack + of a Christian spirit is felt as rendered to me. You remember the + Chinaman who was cook for the Warden? Well, he was pardoned, + likewise several Indians and many others who were without faith, + but Christians--oh, well, prison is a good place for them it + seems. + + With kind love and best wishes to you, I remain, + + Yours in His service, + E. + + * * * * * + + State Prison, Feb. 29, 1904. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton: + + Yours received and I was glad to hear from you. I am getting + along very nicely, but the heart is often sad. Oh, I was so much + disappointed, and while I was almost heart broken over it I have + also felt sorry for the friends that stood by me. Why, just think + of it--there are five members on the Board of Pardon, and they + all voted against me! So you see it is not the Governor alone who + is against me, but every one of them. + + My dear friend, I don't think you would be able to do anything + for me. The Lord is strong certainly, but the ones who have my + freedom in their power leave the commands of the Lord out of the + question. Read the 18th chapter of Matthew, from the 21st verse + to the last of the chapter, and you will see what I mean. + + Now, dear sister, may God help, bless and comfort you in this + seemingly cold world of ours, is the prayer of your friend, + + E. + + + FAITHFUL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF PRISON WALLS. + +Another case with which I was very much impressed in the early days of +my missionary work was that of a young man of rare ability, gifted and +sensible, who was spending a term in one of our United States prisons. +He was converted and began working for God among the other prisoners. +After faithfully serving his time, he left the prison with good +prospects. He was taken into an office and did exceedingly good +service for the company, also for God and souls,--his past being known +only to his pastor, employers and prison officials. After several +years he married a most estimable lady who was doing missionary work. +They prospered well. He was promoted from one position to another. For +nineteen years he has lived a devoted Christian. All who know him +honor and respect him. His wife has recently passed over to the +kingdom of heaven. He is still living a true and noble life and he is +only one of many who have served time inside of prison walls, who are +living for God outside and for Heaven at last. I quote a few extracts +from letters received from him during the time of his incarceration. + + * * * * * + + In Prison, January 12, 1885. + + My Dear Friend: + + Your kind note was received and I was very much pleased to hear + from you, but was pained that you should think for a moment that + I was forgetting you. Since you left us we have had several very + earnest and interesting meetings--the fruit of your presence and + labor among us. Praise God, He can find his way inside prison + walls as well as outside. He is no respector of person. Many men, + not before confessing Christ or even anxious sinners, have stood + up manfully for prayers and may God give them grace to accept and + believe. It is very simple, my dear sister, is it not? How I wish + that all could see it! It only means total surrender to Him, to + give up the old longings and desires and trust Him from day to + day. Then comes the "perfect peace" which is vouchsafed to them + whose mind is stayed on God. Of course, you will see us again. + Our dear Chaplain and Warden are doing everything possible for + the spiritual welfare of all the men. The Warden dignified our + first meeting by giving us his personal religious experience at + the commencement of the service, and he is willing and anxious to + encourage in every way possible the religious sentiment now + prevailing. As for our Chaplain, I do not believe there is his + equal. I who am so closely associated with him can truly testify + to his untiring zeal in behalf of all of us. If ever there was a + living man, free from any selfish or worldly motives, I believe + it is he. The moral tone has been increasing ever since he came + among us. I shall not feel at all slighted if you save your + strength and time by not writing to me. Just send me some little + message by F. or any others (for I see them all daily), and I + shall be just as well pleased. It is not because I do not like to + have you write me, but I had rather spare you, or help you. + + If you will let me know the address of that dear lady at Raleigh + whom you stayed with, I will gladly make her something and would + like very much to make something for any other of the dear + friends who are good to you on your pilgrimage of love and mercy. + Shall not forget to make something for your brother. May God + bless and keep you and make his face to shine upon you for many + years yet to come, and may we finally meet in heaven where there + shall be no more parting and sorrow. + + Your loving brother in Christ, + + C. W. + + * * * * * + + August 8, 1886. + + My Dear Friend: + + Do you think we have forgotten you? Why, no indeed! We think and + speak of you almost daily, but you are moving so that we hardly + know where to locate you. A day or two ago L., who is my friend, + got a postal card from you, and as he cannot write, by permission + just now and I have the privilege to do so, I drop these few + lines for him as well as for myself. + + How glad we are to know the Lord has prospered your work. How + literally is the promise of Christ fulfilled, "Lo, I am with you + alway, even unto the end of the world." It seems so wonderful + that all people are opening their doors to Christian workers, the + doors which a few years ago were closed and to be opened only + through the power of God, who, as Daniel said, would "set up a + kingdom which shall never be destroyed," but it shall break in + pieces and consume all these kingdoms and shall stand forever. + Our Sabbath School is not in session this month but will renew + its course the first of September. We like our new Warden very + well. Our dear Chaplain is still with us and is quite well and + engaged as ever in his life work. His place would be very hard to + fill here. I have been reading this morning the 34th Psalm--"all + my fears," "all his troubles," "all his afflictions"--a + deliverance from all. "There is no want to them that fear Him." + This Psalm is full of comfort. Praise His name! We can find help + and comfort in any part of His holy Word. We all pray for God's + blessing upon you and your work and for the conversion and + salvation of all whom you minister unto. It does not seem too + great a thing to ask of the Lord. Both L. and F. send their love + to you and L. will write you soon. Also Mr. A. and Mr. R. and + many more send love and best wishes. I shall always consider you + my friend, and if in the Providence of God we shall never meet in + this world I hope to meet you with recognition in our eternal and + glorious home above. + + Truly your friend, + C. + + * * * * * + + January 29, 1890. + + My Dear Friend and Mother: + + Your letter received yesterday made me very happy. It was so good + of you to write so soon and send such a nice long letter, too. I + trust I am getting to value a letter from you as I ought, as I + realize more and more how your time is so zealously occupied and + needed. I have ever valued your letters for the help they gave + me, but I value them now for their scarcity. In the future, when + perhaps you may be no more, I shall esteem them among my most + valued treasures. Yet I may be called first! We know not the + hour, whether in youth, or old age, or in our prime when the + angel of death shall come to summon us to eternity. "Watch + therefore, be ye also ready," are words that I try to keep ever + in mind, or rather to keep my mind so stayed on Christ that + moment by moment He shall keep me saved so that I shall never + need to whip myself into keeping watch for my Lord. I am glad you + believe in and have the blood cleansing freedom from all sin. It + is an experience that meets with much opposition from worldly + Christians and from some whose good works follow them. These + latter really enjoy the experience, but are prejudiced at the + name given to it by others. I know that it meets with much + opposition. The "Christian Witness" comes to the prison every + week. It is an exponent of holiness and very interesting, as well + as spiritual. I have a magazine which contains a story of an + ex-convict which would do some good to those who think there is + no hope or reform for such an individual. I shall mail you the + magazine, and if you can read it do so and give it to others to + read. + + After a silence of several years my father has written me again. + You know he is living in C. and was formerly an instructor in the + State Prison at S. He is now old and broken in health, making him + incapable for steady work, so he is residing at a soldiers' home. + He expresses great anxiety in regard to my future, thinking me + friendless, etc. I have written him a long letter reviewing the + principal incidents of my prison life. How good God has been to + me and how my mind is at rest as regards the future because I + have left it in His hands. To find favor with my God is all I + desire. Having that, whatever my condition I shall be like St. + Paul, content. That is my view of a successful future or life. + Wealth, power, ability, all things that men aspire to in this + life, do not make or lead to success in my mind. Nothing but the + favor of God brings it to man, and that favor comes through the + "washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Oh, + I am so glad that I know this--even me! How can man doubt the + wondrous love of God when He is so patient to all who will but + look and see. Well, said someone, that they do not want to look + and see lest they should be healed and be saved. My poor old + father is a church-member, but I fear he knows nothing about Holy + Ghost religion, Jesus Christ's religion, pure and undefiled. I + want to do just right all of the time. I know my heart is right + because I hate sin and love righteousness. If the Lord has no + other work for me when I leave here, I would like to labor under + your guidance. When are you coming this way again? I would love + to greet you once more before I die. + + C. + * * * * * + + From every nodding flower, from every whispering breeze + From mountain's lofty height, from towering trees, + From softly twinkling star, from lightning's giddy flash, + From the softest twitter of a bird and thunder's awful crash, + From hills the ants may call their own, + From crested elders 'round their throne, + From babbling brook, from storm-lashed wave, + From nature smiling, nature grave, + From earth and air, from sky and sea, + There comes the self same voice to me, + Like softest note of cooing dove, + And sweetly whispers, "GOD IS LOVE." + + --_A Prisoner._ + +[Illustration: ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, MITCHELVILLE, IOWA.] + +[Illustration: CAMPUS AND PLAYGROUND, GIRLS' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, +MITCHELVILLE, IOWA.] + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + Letters from Co-workers, and Some of My Prison Girls. + + +In speaking of prisoners or of those within prison walls many think +only of men being found there. This is due doubtless to the few women +compared to the number of men found in these places. In my efforts to +do good to all, I have been especially mindful of those of my own sex, +and have ever endeavored to encourage and lift up my sisters who have +fallen victims to sin and misfortune. I give in this chapter a few +letters from sisters who are directly interested in the care and work +for the prison bound; also extracts from letters from a number of my +prison girls. The co-operation in my work and the kindness and +hospitality ever shown me by the sisters, matrons, wives of officers, +etc., are especially appreciated, and all these dear ones are often +remembered at the throne of divine grace. These too shall all share in +the fruit of the toil and labor in the final reckoning. Neither will +my girls whom I have tried to help, that have shown their appreciation +and have tried to serve the Lord, be forgotten. + +Women who are the victims of sin and are condemned by society and the +law, have as much right to be restored and encouraged when they amend +their ways, as have men. The following letters are, I believe, +sufficiently explanatory in themselves, and may be read with interest. + + * * * * * + + Huntsville, Texas, Aug. 19, 1904. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Mr. Baker, Superintendent of Prison, said he would like for you + to visit our prison once a year; they all were pleased with you. + Dear Mother, please pray for little George, that he may be truly + converted to God and take an interest in his studies. It seems + that he has no desire for them. My greatest aspiration is to live + to see him saved and have an education. How my heart goes out for + him! I feel that I won't be with him long. I sometimes think that + I had rather see him put away before I go, then I would know + where he was. When you go to the Faith Home pray for us that if + it be God's will that I may be relieved of afflictions and that + my husband may be able to do a great and lasting work for the + poor unfortunate men. Dear mother, I write you because I have + confidence in you. May God bless you. + + MRS. MARY MCDONALD. + + (Wife of Chaplain at Huntsville, Tex., a great sufferer.--E. R. + W.) + +[Illustration: CHAPLAIN'S RESIDENCE, HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS.] + + * * * * * + + My Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + Your letter to one of our boys was handed to me by him today. I + enjoyed reading it, and want to write you at once. I think V. was + very seriously impressed by your service here, although I have + not yet had an opportunity to talk with him as I have wanted to. + He was sick yesterday and not in school. Tomorrow I hope to see + him again. I am so glad that you had the opportunity of seeing + his parents. I know they will be greatly benefited spiritually by + your visit. I am sure our blessed Lord leads you, as you carry + peace and comfort wherever you go. Dear Mother, you comforted me. + I was impressed, as I have never been before, by the _power of + prayer_, and I know your prayers are heard and answered. This + text came to me _over and over_ while you were here, "The + effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I + felt instinctively that your prayers could help me. Oh, my + friends! I _appeal_ to you to pray for me. I may be here only + until April, but if God has work here which He wishes _me_ to do, + I know He will order it that I shall stay longer. But I do want + to be _filled_ with His Holy Spirit, that while I stay I may do + _everything_ that is possible to warn and encourage these poor + fallen brothers to seek a Savior's love and forgiveness. I _want_ + a power which I feel _might_ be mine, but it has not yet come. I + want to reach the boys and tell them of Christ's love, but I have + not the power of speech. I cannot convince them that _my_ Savior + is their Savior too. So often they say to me, "Well, I guess that + kind of a life is the best kind to lead after all, but I never + will make a start in a place of this kind." + + The next day after you left one boy said to me that he had never + before heard a talk that had impressed him as he was impressed + Tuesday. I believe he is seriously awakened. I think _three_ + others are, also, beside the one of whom I told you the day you + left. I think V. is one. + + There is a boy here who says he heard you in Kansas City eight or + nine years ago. He was not at service, but saw and recognized + you. He thought you would know him if you saw him. + + Yours in Christian love, + + FANNIE A. HOYT, + (Teacher and wife of Officer.) + + Buena Vista, Colo., Oct. 24, 1896. + + * * * * * + + Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 12, 1893. + + Dear Mrs. Gore: + + This will introduce to you Mrs. Wheaton and Mrs. ----, Prison + Evangelists. You will be so glad to meet them and they to meet + you and talk about our dear boys "shut in." + + God bless you. MRS. CHARLTON EDHOLM. + + Mrs. A. B. Gore, Oakland, Cal. + + * * * * * + + Anamosa, Ia., Nov. 20, 1893. + + Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + Anna H. has written you about the death of Emma S. She had a hard + cold, not so bad as some of the girls, however, when she left + here. We tried to persuade her to remain here over Sunday, where + it was warm, as it was very cold and stormy. She, however, + insisted upon going. We of course could not compel her to stay, + although we felt it was for the best. When she reached Algona she + was too sick to go into the country five miles where she was + going to stay. Tuesday morning she was taken out, and Thursday + afternoon died with La Grippe or Pneumonia. Several of the women + here have had La Grippe. All seem to be improving, as I insist + upon their taking excellent care of themselves. + + Now, Mrs. Wheaton, I hope you will write to Anna, also a letter + to all the girls that I can read to them. They will be glad to + think you have not forgotten them. Trusting that you are in good + health and that you see good results from your labors, I remain + your friend, + + JENNIE A. POWERS. + + * * * * * + + Jefferson City, Mo., Jan. 25, 1900. + + Dear Sister: + + Your card was received in due time. All glad to hear from you. + The quarantine is still on at the prison. No news there. No + visitors allowed. No baskets sent in, only money. Mr. Cook has + not missed a day at work since last winter. He was off twelve + days to visit his dear mother. She will soon pass to the other + side. Your card was filled with sadness. Be cheerful and rejoice, + for soon you will go to glory to praise Him forevermore. I will + write some to Sister Kelley. Write me a long letter. Chaplain P. + has been on the sick list. Everything going on nicely. Never had + a better warden than now in the last eighteen years that I have + known this prison. Hoping to hear of your good health, I am ever, + + CLARA COOK. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: WOMEN'S PRISON, ALLEGHENY CITY, PA.] + + Western Penitentiary, Allegheny, Pa., June 7, 1904. + + Mrs. Wheaton: + + I am glad to learn that you are about to embody your experiences + as a missionary to the inmates of the prisons and penitentiaries + of the various states in which you have labored in the name of + the Master. It has been no easy work. It has demanded much faith, + hope and charity on your part. You have gone with untiring zeal + to those who are despised and forsaken on account of their + criminal acts. + + In the spirit of our blessed Lord and in obedience to His command + you have gone year after year to the habitations of disgrace and + sorrow and carried the cheering and helpful promises and the + forgiving mercy of our dear Savior. + + You will have a rich reward from our Heavenly Father. I am sure + your words of gospel truth and your songs of praise have often + touched the hearts of the female prisoners under my care. The + most rebellious and hardened have felt and testified to the + gracious power of the gospel of love as you have uttered it + here. My hope and my prayer is that the Almighty Shepherd may + guide, keep and sustain you in this noble work of your life. + + SARAH J ARNER. + + Allegheny, Pa. + + * * * * * + + Allegheny City, Pa., Dec. 31, 1893. + + Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + I will try and answer your kind and welcome letter which came to + hand a few days ago. We were all very glad to hear from you. Our + dear sister, Mrs. Jones, is dead. The dear old lady who was up to + the workhouse with you when you were here. She was a dear friend + to all the girls here, but she has gone home. She can come to us + no more, but we can go to her. The last words she said when she + was here was good-bye, and that she would meet us all in heaven. + We have very nice meetings now and would like to have you with + us. We pray for you every day and we want you to pray for us that + we may see the right way and that we may go out of here with + light hearts and go about doing good. + + We had a nice Christmas. Our Warden treated us with turkey, and + we were all so glad that he was so kind to us. + + Well, we will begin a new year tomorrow, and I hope we will lead + a different life, a better life, for if we believe in Jesus He + will save us; yes, He will keep us through the dark valley. He + will go with us to the end, as He has promised, if we will put + our trust in Him. I have gained a great victory since you were + here. I have forgiven an enemy that I thought I never could + forgive. + + Well, I will close by sending you my love, and as I have only one + sheet of paper my friend will send this on to you. I remain, + + Your sincere friend, + Lucy F. + + * * * * * + + Allegheny City, Pa., Feb. 16, 1896. + + My Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + I am so glad to hear from you once more. I had been thinking of + you so much of late and I asked God to let me hear from you or + send you to us, and so you see He answered my prayer. I cannot + express how glad we all were to receive your kind and loving + letter. It was read to all and I do wish you could have peeked + in to see how quiet all were to listen to it, and our two + matrons, too, for they do love you. + + I was very sorry to hear of your being so sick, but God has + raised you up for He has work for you to do yet. I pray for you + every night and morning that He may strengthen you and keep you, + for you are to us like the rain is and the sunshine to the + flowers, for we know that you do love us poor unfortunate ones. + + Will you please send us the hymns called "Tell of the Unclouded + Day" and the one called "When the Pearly Gates Unfold"? Dear + Mother, pray for us all, but pray for me especially, for I am in + great sorrow and trials. Pray that God may raise me up friends + and that He may keep me. + + Good-bye, hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, yours in + Christ, + + LAURA M. + + * * * * * + + Allegheny City, Pa., Feb. 16, 1896. + + My Dear Mother: + + I wish I could tell you how much joy and happiness your letter + gave me. It came just at the time when I needed it most. I am + sick and feeble, suffering with spine and lung trouble, have not + been able to work for the last three weeks. Can go to my meals + and wait upon myself, and I have my Jesus with me. Oh, how He + comforts and helps make the rough places smooth, and in the + lonely hours of the night when the pain is almost beyond + endurance, I think of my Savior and what He suffered without sin, + and of what a weak coward I am to complain. + + Mother, we are some of us so impatient when we have pain, and I + am afraid I am one of those. Please pray for me that I may bear + mine with Christian fortitude. + + I hope it may please God to let me live to get out of this place + and have a home for myself and baby, and if my dear Mother + Wheaton would come and see me and rest herself for a few weeks, + would it not be nice? Mother, I am a widow with one child and + some means, but not much. Still I intend to use some of my money, + when I have control of it, to do good to others. I have suffered, + God has opened my eyes and showed me my sins and selfishness of + former years, and I thank Him for sparing me to see it in this + light. + + Many of the girls that were here when you last visited us have + gone out and a good many are going out this year. Pray for them. + I pray for you every night. God bless and keep you is the prayer + of your friend, + + L. R. T. No. 9722. + + * * * * * + + Allegheny City, Pa., Feb. 16, 1896. + + My Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Your very welcome and unexpected letter received. It is + impossible to tell you with what joy and heartfelt gladness we + all gathered together to hear it read. You do not know how often + your children speak together of you, of where you are and what + you are doing and what keeps you so long away from your Western + flock. It was so long since last we heard from you that we are + beginning to think our Heavenly Father had need of you and had + taken you home, but all praise to His name. He has spared you to + send us another loving, encouraging message, which we promptly + answer in love and sympathy, each one giving a word, although + only three different handwritings will be seen. Remember when + reading the words that twenty-five of your lone children are here + represented in your letter. + + You speak of wishing for your prison children when you were sick. + O, how gladly many of us would minister to your wants, to be + under the influence of your kind and loving advice, following in + your footsteps of love and life as it is in Christ Jesus our Lord + and Master. But though we are separated by so many miles, thanks + be to the Almighty we can feel the influence of your continued + prayers, and many of us are greatly encouraged to keep on + striving, knowing that the crowning day will come by and by. + + Each one says: "Ask Mother Wheaton when she is coming." Do not be + too long in coming, for some of your dear ones are leaving every + month during the spring, and we are anxious to receive your + blessing before entering the cold, heartless world of sin and + sorrow. Yet some of us will take Jesus with us, and in His name + begin life again. Pray for us all that our hearts may be fully + and entirely given over to God, with our hands in His hand, be + led to the mercy-seat. Yes, dear Mother, we shall, with God's + help, "strive to enter in at the straight gate." + + These are the names of those who send you special love and + requests for prayer: Emma M., Emma W., Pearl S. (who is very + sick), Laura M., Anna M., Ella A. + + With love and best wishes from our matrons, we close, hoping soon + to see you. + + Good-bye, God bless and keep you always and send you to us again. + All join in best wishes to you. + + * * * * * + + Allegheny City, Pa., Feb. 14, 1897. + + My Dear Mrs. E. R. Wheaton: + + Perhaps you will be surprised to get this letter, but I have + heard so much about you that I feel as though I was personally + acquainted with you, so I hope you are well, dear Mother, and + that you are doing work for the Master and that He will give you + a great many souls for your hire. + + O, I do want to see you. Indeed I would like to hear you sing and + pray. The girls all want to see and hear you. Pray for them. One + woman in here said that you were the only person that ever did + pray a prayer that touched her heart and brought tears to her + eyes. The old girls talk about you so much to the new ones that + they all love you, although they have not seen you. They tell + over and over of your love and sympathy and that you know how to + reach poor unfortunate souls. You know that they need kind words + and a loving smile to cheer up their broken hearts. + + Dear Mother, you know that a smile goes where a dollar cannot go, + for it goes to the heart and makes it so very happy. + + Good-bye, hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, + + Yours truly, + LINA S. + + * * * * * + + Allegheny City, Feb. 14, 1897. + + My Dear Mrs. Wheaton--Dear Mother: + + I will say dear, for you are dear to me. O, you do not know how I + have been longing to see you and once more hear you sing some of + your beautiful hymns. O! just to hear you pray once more in this + world. There are only eighteen women of us now, and when you were + here last time there were thirty-three. + + O, dear Mother, do make me a special subject of prayer that God + may keep me and guide me in the right way. I have been trying to + lead a Christian life for six years now. When all earthly + friends have forsaken me Jesus comes and speaks to me, and He + alone comforts me, and I thank God for a full and free salvation. + O bless His holy name! Hallelujah in the highest to God! + + Our matron, Miss S. J. Arner, sends you her best regards. I am + very sorry to tell you that Miss Osborn was called home by the + death of her sister; pray for her and for me, Laura M., No. 9351, + that God may spare my life that I may work for the Master when I + am a free woman. The two Morgan sisters send you their love. All + of the girls send love to you. Come on a week day and perhaps you + can get the widow's mite. + + Good-bye, I remain, yours in Christ, + + LAURA M. + + * * * * * + + Allegheny City, Pa., March 21, 1897. + + Dear Friend: + + I received your very kind and welcome letter and was very glad to + hear from you, and dear Mother Wheaton, your letter did me good + as I sit and hear it read to me. I shall try to keep it, and get + it read often to me, as it does comfort my broken heart. I am a + poor orphan girl. My mother died when I was about twelve years + old, and I have wandered on in sin and I have fallen by the + wayside. Will you pray for me that I may come to live just as you + do, my true, strong friend. I do wish I could see you today, to + hear you pray and sing. All of the girls wish to see you and hope + that you will come on some day through the week so that we can + write out a money order for you. Perhaps it may be only a couple + of dollars or three, but it will be like the widow's mite. + + I remain, yours truly, + + LINA S. + + * * * * * + + Allegheny, Pa., March 21, 1897. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + Dear Mother: We received your very kind and welcome letter. O, we + are so glad that you sent us a letter and some tracts. Mrs. S. J. + Arner, our matron, read the letter in the dining-room to all of + us and we did enjoy it so much. Indeed I feel that I had a visit + from a dear friend. I hope you are well and I pray for you that + God may strengthen you in your labors. You have done a great + work, but God has more for you to do yet before you shall pass + through the pearly gates of Heaven, for you have cheered so many + broken hearts. God sent you to cheer those in prisons. I was just + thinking today, O, how happy you will be in the end when Jesus + shall say unto you: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the + Kingdom prepared for you." And O, dear Mother, He will say to + you: "I was in prison and ye visited me." I am still looking unto + Jesus. He has been my only friend for these years in prison. He + keeps me day by day and makes me feel happy in prison. He causes + me to hear "songs in the night." Pray for me that God may keep me + and my children. + + I dreamed that I was sent to preach the gospel to some poor soul + and I have dreamed it three times over the same. First time I + said, "No, I cannot do it," and the Lord laid me on a bed of + sickness, and then I said, "Lord, I will go." I had no rest by + night or by day until I consented to go. + + All of the girls join me in love to you. We hope that these few + lines may find you well and happy, for you are always so happy + and bright. One of the old girls said that your face has such a + happy smile on it and a light shines over you while you talk to + them. Write soon. + + LAURA M. + + * * * * * + +This is an extract from a letter by an orphan girl, a type of many +other poor girls whose fates are equally as sad: + + Spokane Falls, ----, 1889. + + O if I was only free, the greatest pleasure of my life would be + to go with you and work for God. Your kindness has won my heart. + I have never had any one to be kind to me; I have known nothing + but sorrow all my life. My past is almost a blank. Dear, kind + sister, look on me with pity--a friendless, motherless girl. I am + alone in the world. I was drawn into this place through cruel + treatment. I have no money, and I am helpless. If God does not + have mercy on me, I do not know what will become of me. If I had + only a good, kind friend like you to guide me through life, I + would have been a far better woman than I am. If God will save me + I shall live in the future a life of honor and work for God. + + Pray for me. Tell me in what way I am going to help myself. O + sister, I am so troubled; sometimes I think I will end my + miserable existence. But I know if I should take my own life + that it would be a terrible sin; but how can I help thinking + such things in a place like this? No friends, no home, and no + money; sick at heart, sick in body, sick in mind. + + * * * * * + + Lancaster, Neb., Jan. 27, 1895. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Washington, D. C. + + Our Dear Friend: We received your kind letter of the 7th inst. We + were glad to hear from you and to know that you were enjoying + good health. Dear Mother, if we may address you thus, we were + very glad to hear our friend, Mrs. Beemer, spoken of so well, for + she is a friend never to be forgotten. And Mr. Beemer is just a + splendid warden, kind to everybody; and we ask you to pray that + they may be retained here for another time. Dear Mother, indeed + we will know how to appreciate our freedom in the future. Of + course you do not know our names, but I will give them in the + following words that each sends to you. Hattie and Edna send + their regards to you. Nannie says to pray for her. Annie sends + her best regards to you and wishes you well. Hattie R. sends love + and best wishes. Annie H. is the one who was sick when you were + here and sends love to you, and knows that God answered your + prayers that she might be restored to health. Effie joins in + sending love, and my prayer is that God may bless you and help + you in all your good work. So we close for this time, asking you + to pray for us poor unfortunate girls. + + We remain, your loving children, + + H., E., A., N., H., A. and EFFIE. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, March 27, 1899. + + Dear Friend and Mother: + + I know you are my friend and everybody's friend. I heard your + kind letter and cannot help writing to you. I cannot write very + good, so please excuse mistakes. Your letter found all the girls + well. I have often thought of you and wished that I could be a + Christian like you; but I am a poor sinner and have been all my + life. I never heard one word out of the Bible in my life till I + got in jail. I never had any Christian parents, and therefore I + am a deep sinner, but I want to do better. My conscience tells me + that I must try to be a better woman. I have been a very bad + girl, but I think my Savior will forgive me, if I repent in + time. Sometimes I nearly go crazy just thinking what a life I + have led. O if I would die now what would become of me? I want + you to pray for me, mother, for I do believe you can help me by + praying for me. + + I have not long in here now. My time expires on the 25th day of + December, 1899; pray that I will be a better girl. I want to go + home to my brother if I can when I leave here. I am tired of this + life. My soul is tired. O, I am so wicked! I have tried to pray + the best I knew and I got scared. Something seemed to bother me, + and I was afraid to go to sleep. Mother, why do I get scared? Is + it because I have sinned so much? But I will try again and again. + I am willing to do right and live an honest life, and I will or + die in the attempt. I have had a lot of trouble in my life and it + drove me to all my downfalls, but I can see that I am sending my + soul to everlasting torment, so I want to turn now and seek for + the Lord. Tell me how I can, mother. + + Mother, this is the best I can do; may God bless you in all your + undertakings. The matron was glad to hear from you and also the + girls. Pray for me. + + ANNA 4309. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., March 6, 1899. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: + + Thank God I received your kind and Christian letter last week. We + are getting along nicely with our meetings and I know and feel + that God is with us every day and especially the eleven that have + given their hearts to God and let His dear hand guide their every + footstep. + + Our dear Matron gave me your letter. I am as contented as can be. + I believe it God's will that I should be here, and His will be + done. I love our dear Heavenly Father with all my heart and soul + and I love all my sisters and brothers and I love my enemies and + I pray for them and ask God to bless them. + + I have ten months more and I hope you can come here again before + I go. Our Matron is with us in our meetings every Saturday. I + read my Bible and pray three times a day, and I have more + strength to perform my daily work, and I know our dear Savior + will not forsake me or leave me alone because I know Jesus loves + me now, and I know He will answer my prayers. + + I told you before it is my second term, but when I sit in my + little room reading my Bible I thank God for it, for I know it + was God's will that I should be here a second time, for there is + work for me to do here as well as when I am free, and He put me + here to show me He wanted me for one of His own dear humble + children and I know and feel it now. + + "Happy day, happy day, + When Jesus washed my sins away; + He taught me how to watch and pray, + And live rejoicing every day." + + And I want you to pray for us all that we may have more of God's + grace given to us day by day and help us to be humble and meek + and willing to be led by His loving hand and pray for us that God + will keep us from all temptation and sin and may we ever prove + faithful. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according unto the + multitude of Thy tender mercies. Blot out my transgressions." + Every word here is just as I feel in my heart. + + "I may not do much with all my care, + But I surely may bless a few; + The loving Jesus will give to me + Some work of love to do. + + "I may wipe the tears from some weeping eyes, + I may make the smile come again, + To a face that is weary and worn with care, + To a heart that is full of pain." + + MRS. J. G. + + * * * * * + + Anamosa, Iowa, Aug. 11, 1901. + + Elizabeth R. Wheaton, + Tabor, Iowa. + + Dear Mother: + + We received your kind and loving letter yesterday. Was more than + glad to hear from you, but sorry that you have been so sick; but + I praise God for His healing divine. We did not have the smallpox + in the prison. There were cases of them in town, but the warden + quarantined the prison and vaccinated every prisoner. Dear + mother, I am trying to get a parole. My petition is now before + the Governor with a thousand signers, besides several letters + from friends. I have had three good homes offered to me if the + Governor will only parole me. I desire so much to be where I can + live a better life and take care of my little boy and help my + parents, who are in very poor health. I do pray so much for a + better place and better companions, where I can do something for + my own and others. Dear Mother, will you pray for me? I always + remember what I promised you when you bid me good-bye; that was, + to pray for you every day. I am so glad we have a Savior who will + hear our prayers though we are behind prison walls and our + prayers are weak. + + With love and prayers, + + FROM D. F. TO MOTHER WHEATON. + + * * * * * + + Anamosa, Iowa, Oct. 6, 1903. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I thought I would write you a few lines. We are all well at + present. We cannot express how thankful we were for your visit to + us. We only wish you could have staid longer. Mrs. Waterman has + prayer and song service every morning. It is something wonderful. + We all wish so much to hear your voice. Mrs. Waterman spoke to us + about writing to you and I was only too glad to write and ask you + to pray for us all. I believe and know it will do good. I am + trying very hard to pray and be a good Christian. I will ask you + to pray for me. + + Respectfully yours, + G. Mc. + +[Illustration: GROUP OF GIRLS IN AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.] + +[Illustration: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS STATE PRISON AT CHESTER.] + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + Incidents in My Prison Work. + + + LETTER FROM THE PRISONERS AT CHESTER, ILL. + + Southern Illinois Penitentiary, + Menard, Ill., Nov. 27, 1902. + + Dear Mother: + + We are writing you from within these dark grim walls. Although we + are condemned as the outcasts of society and separated from + friends and loved ones and continually laboring under great + mental strain and worry, still there is no pain or sorrow great + enough to destroy our happiness in our thoughts of you. Your love + and thoughtfulness for us and our spiritual welfare is a + priceless jewel that all the wealth of the world cannot buy nor + sorrow rob us of. No, never. Although the world has condemned and + despised us, but we know that there is one--if only one--that + loves even the outcasts. + + Several of your boys have gone from here since you were among us. + Some have crossed to the beyond; others to blessed freedom. Still + a greater number are left here with fondest recollections of all + you have done for us, which is one of the greatest among our + causes for thanksgiving. It is hardly necessary to say, Remember + us. We all remain your sons until death. + + YOUR BOYS OF CHESTER, ILLINOIS. + +An extract from a report of the Chaplain of the Southern Illinois +Penitentiary will be of interest: + + Chester, Ill. + + To the Honorable Board of Commissioners, + Chester, Ill. + + Gentlemen: + + I take pleasure in making a report of my first year's work as + Chaplain. + + The regular chapel services have been held every Sunday at 9:40 + a. m. The chapel has been well filled at all regular services and + crowded on special occasions. The attendance at religious + services is voluntary, but most prisoners consider it a privilege + to attend. + + The words of encouragement I have received from prisoners in + conversation and by letter make me feel that good is being + accomplished. More than one hundred men have given me their names + as Christians or seekers of religion. + + I attend all calls made by the prisoners during the week and + visit one cell house each Sunday evening. + + My visits are so planned that I see each prisoner in his cell at + least twice a month and give him a chance to make his requests + known. + + The men have been urged to study the Bible and have been + furnished tracts and other helps in Bible study. I have been + astonished in making my rounds to find so many men reading the + Bible. One hundred and fifty new Bibles have been purchased + during the year. Six hundred Sunday-school quarterlies have been + furnished the prisoners each quarter during the year and they + have been urged to keep in touch with the outside world by + studying these lessons. The Sunday-school lesson is read every + Sunday as a scripture lesson and comments are made upon it. + + The sick in the hospital and the shut-in prisoners in the cell + houses are visited daily and are supplied with books and papers. + Some of them read a book each day. + + The Murphy Temperance Pledge has been furnished and more than + five hundred prisoners have signed the pledge. If the saloons + could be closed out poor-houses, jails and prisons would soon be + almost empty. + + Respectfully submitted, + W. N. RUTLEDGE, Chaplain. + + + SUICIDE OF A PRISONER. + +While on my way to the State Prison at Chester, Illinois, in the year +1888 (if I remember rightly) I was especially impressed by the sad +appearance of a fellow-passenger, a mother, accompanied by three +children. I was sure that she was in deep trouble. I said to my +helper, "Mary, that woman is going to the Penitentiary." She said, +"How do you know?" I answered. "I feel sure of it and I will convince +you that I am right." + +Having entered into conversation with the woman, I assisted her as I +found opportunity in caring for her children. When I asked her where +she was going, she said, "I am going to Chester." I said, "I, too, am +going to Chester and will gladly assist you in getting off with the +children." + +At the station we parted, but the next morning, which was the Sabbath, +as I passed through the guard-room of the State Prison I saw this +woman talking to her husband, who was a prisoner. She sat beside him +and he was holding one of the children and she had another in her +arms. The third was playing near by. All were too young to know of the +sorrow that had come to their home, or the shame that had fallen upon +them. They were with papa and mamma and felt safe and happy. Alas! how +little they knew how soon they were to be left fatherless! + +I passed on and was busy during the entire day for I had the liberty +of the prison and the privilege of working among the prisoners. So +busy was I that for the time being I had lost sight of that poor wife +and mother, but only the next morning the Chaplain called for me and +said, "Sister Wheaton, I have oh, such a sad task before me this +morning! I wish you would do it for me." I said, "Chaplain, I will +try. I am willing to do anything that I can to help you." And then he +said, "Do you remember the man and woman you saw yesterday in the +guard-room talking?" I said, "Yes; I remember them well; I met the +woman on the train on my way here." He replied, "Well, that man was so +heart-broken at the thought of parting with his wife and children that +he asked her to promise him that if he should die in the prison she +would have him brought home for burial. She promised him she would do +so and last night that poor man committed suicide in his cell and now +someone must go and tell that woman of her husband's death." I said, +"Chaplain, that is a hard thing to do, but I will try." He said, "I +wish you would,--being a woman you can comfort her better than I +could." Well, I went along the hall until I came to the door of the +room she occupied, for, she too, as well as myself, was a guest of the +kind warden's wife. I opened the door softly and looked in. In memory +I can see her yet as she sat with one child in her lap while the other +two little ones were playing around her knee. She was softly singing +some old country tune. As I looked my heart failed me. I turned away +in sorrow and returned to the Chaplain and said, "Chaplain, I cannot +do it. I cannot break that poor woman's heart. I just can't tell her," +and he said, "Then I will have to do it. Someone must tell her," and +so he broke the message as best he could. Never will I forget the +anguish of that poor woman's heart as she wept out her grief and +suffering! I tried to comfort her as best I could. I took the same +train with her as she started for home with her husband's body in the +baggage coach ahead. As best I could I ministered to her and those +poor helpless children as long as our journey carried us over the same +road and when I changed cars I tried to utter some words of comfort, +but oh, friends, what could I say, what could I do? Only the sympathy +of the loving Savior could reach her case and I left her, never to +meet her again on this side, but oh, may we not hope that in some way +God found a way to have mercy upon that poor, misjudged man and that +those loved ones may meet again where no mistakes will be made by +judge or jury? For many believed that poor man to be innocent of the +crime with which he was charged. If I remember rightly a barn had been +burned and he had been accused of setting it on fire and had been +convicted through purely circumstantial evidence. Brokenhearted over +his disgrace and the thought of again being separated from wife and +children, the poor man made a rope of the bed-clothing in his cell and +used it to take his own life. + + + "I HAVE NO FRIENDS." + +On the 4th of July, 1903, I was in the Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus. +Officers and chaplain were kind, as usual. After holding services in +the hospital, I held service with the men under death sentence; then +went to the prison-yard where all the others were having a holiday. +There the Chaplain assisted Sister Taylor and myself to hold services +in the open air. Many seemed glad to get the message of love in song +and prayer and preaching and many came to shake hands with us, while +singing the closing hymn. + +One poor old man, a foreigner, handed me a little package about as +large as a walnut. The paper was soiled from contact with his hand +that warm day. The poor man in tears said, "Good-bye," and I forgot +all about the little package till on the train that night going east, +where I found it in my pocket and found inside a silk handkerchief and +a 25 cent silver piece. On the paper was written his name and number +and these words, "I have no friends." I wept over that small token of +love as I do not often weep over a gift. I have that little +handkerchief safe. It seems sacred to me. How I felt repaid for my +hard day's toil. + +That night while I was holding services on the train the conductor +said, "Mother, I don't see how you stand so much hardship;" I said, +"Conductor, I had even forgotten that I had had neither dinner or +supper today." + +I think I know something of what Jesus meant when He said to His +disciples after ministering to a needy soul, "I have meat to eat that +ye know not of." + +Chaplain Starr in one of the following letters refers to the open air +service on July 4th; also to some of the men under death sentence with +whom I had labored. The Indian woman to whose death and burial he +refers is the same one who is mentioned in the letters of W. H. M. in +another place. + + Columbus, Ohio, July 11, 1903. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + My Dear Sister: Your letter received this morning was a very + pleasant surprise. We have now an additional man in the Annex. + There are three men sentenced to electrocution in September and + October. What change may come we do not know. I gave them your + letter; they will read it over by themselves, and the tracts + also. They still say that your visit with them on the Fourth of + July did them much good. I have also delivered your letter to D., + and with it a letter from myself, giving him encouragement and + offering to render him any friendly assistance. The old Indian + woman, Elsie J., whom I think you have several times seen in the + female prison, died on the 9th, and we gave her a Christian + burial yesterday. She was converted and baptized some time ago. I + am glad that you are preserved and sustained in your great work + as prison evangelist. If D., and N., and W. write to you I will + forward the letters to your address. With kind wishes and + regards, I am, + + Your brother, + + D. J. STARR, Chaplain, O. P. + + Your talk in the yard on the Fourth of July did good. + + * * * * * + + Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 26, 1903. + + Dear Sister: Your recent postal came duly to hand. I received + your letter in July from the South and wrote you a reply, but + have kept it until the present time, not knowing where to mail it + so it would reach you. I will now send it in this letter, so that + you will see that I have not forgotten you and answered your + letter at the time. You inquire concerning the men in the Annex; + we have now six men in the Annex. One of them has been granted a + new trial and some others are expecting to get new trials. They + do not take any great interest in religion, but yet they read the + Bible some and talk about it. I will tell them of your interest + in them and assure them that they are not forgotten in your + prayers. + + Sincerely yours, + + D. J. STARR, Chaplain, O. P. + + * * * * * + + Ohio Penitentiary, Feb. 22, 1904. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + Dear Sister: I have just received your letter from Washington, D. + C., inquiring about the men in our prison death cell. + + There are ten there now and two have been taken out for new + trials. If these are sent back we shall have twelve. The largest + number, until this list, ever in the Annex was nine. + + Murders, as well as other crimes of violence to person and + property, are on the increase and society is trying to protect + its life--without much security, so far. + + Perhaps three of the men are Scripturally penitent, three others + interested and four indifferent to religion--so far as we can + see. The men have Bibles, religious song books and papers, + library books and religious letters from relatives. They are not + allowed to correspond without especially good reasons for permits + to do so. I hold a little meeting and Bible study with those who + care for it almost daily at 2 p. m., at which time you might help + us with your prayers. + + Sentiment is not salvation. The trouble, both in the prison and + out of it, is, men will not seek after God. Yes, I am busy and + ought to be busy about my Master's business, and so are you. + + With best wishes, I am, + + Respectfully yours, + + D. J. STARR, Chaplain. + + + WAY OPENED IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. + +I had for many years prayed for an opportunity to preach in one of the +largest state prisons. Again and again I had been refused by both the +warden and chaplain. But at last through a new governor of the state I +was permitted to enter this prison for religious services. + +Calling at the office of the governor and asking permission to go to +the prison and assist in the services, he said, "Certainly, we shall +be glad to have you. There will be no difficulty, as we have new +officers. You can preach in the prison." Before I had left the +Governor's private office the warden of the prison being present spoke +and said, "Certainly, they would be very glad to have you take part +with them." I asked if I should not see the chaplain, but the warden +said he would be all right, and be pleased. But I insisted that it was +only courtesy to see the chaplain. And asking the governor to please +write a note to him, he did so and remarked that the state carriage +was waiting at the door and I should be driven to the chaplain's +house. + +Arriving at his home I was met by his little daughter who carried my +card to her father and he soon came into the room asking what I +wanted. "I should like, if you please, to take part with you in the +services at the prison chapel tomorrow (Sunday) as I have been some +years in prison work," I replied. "No indeed," he answered, "I cannot +allow a woman to speak in my meetings. I will never permit any woman +to take my pulpit." I made no reply, but that the state carriage was +waiting for me and I must go, but said to him, "Here is a letter from +the governor. Will you kindly look at it before I leave?" He took the +message and noting its contents he changed color and seemed confused; +saying, "I never did allow a woman to speak in my meetings. But seeing +the governor's request and your years of experience, I will allow you +to come in the morning and conduct the women's meetings." The +governor's letter read as follows: + + Executive Department, Oct. 24, 1891. + + Dr. O. W. G., + Chaplain of Penitentiary. + + Dear Sir: + + The bearer, Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, is a prison evangelist of + national reputation and experience, who brings letters of strong + recommendation from wardens of the prisons she has visited, and I + commend her to your kind consideration. She has expressed a + willingness, if not a desire, to participate in your services + tomorrow afternoon in the chapel and I trust you will afford her + every facility for so doing. + + Respectfully, + + DAVID R. FRANCES. + + + A WOMAN CONVERTED AND HEALED. + +I went praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. While I was +speaking I was impressed to step down the aisle and lay my hand upon +the head of a vicious looking colored woman. I afterward learned that +she was a life time prisoner and a very dangerous woman. Instantly the +power of God fell upon her and she was wonderfully converted then and +there, and to the best of my knowledge is still true to God. The other +women seeing this, their leader in sin (for so she was) so changed, +were subdued and convicted of their sins. The meeting closed with +victory for God. The chaplain was convinced and said, "You have won +the worst woman in the prison. You have the hearts of all the +prisoners now, for her influence is great. You come and preach to the +men this afternoon. I am convinced." Years have come and gone. +Governors, wardens and chaplains have been changed; but God does not +change, and the doors of that prison are still open to me, and God +always blesses every service. + +Some years later upon visiting this prison again we found this poor +colored woman much afflicted and walking on crutches. The sister with +me and I prayed for her, and she was instantly healed, throwing her +crutches aside at once. The matron then gave her the key to go down +and unlock the outside door for us, having so much confidence in her. +She received a pardon from the governor later. + +Another woman in the same prison was also prayed for and was instantly +healed by the Lord, of a large tumor, and ran and praised God for what +He had done for her. + + + A CHANGE WROUGHT. + +For some years another prison was closed to me. Why, I never knew. I +prayed that the doors of that prison might be opened to me. When the +Lord sent me back there I found such a change as I had never before +witnessed in the same length of time. There was a good Christian +chaplain, one of the best of wardens, and good deputies. Every +prisoner was in an improved state of mind and morals, and all in +harmony and glad to obey the rules of the prison. I was treated with +courtesy and kindness, and was given all the time in the services, and +was entertained. When I left I was conveyed to the depot with ladies +as escorts, and a "trusty" as driver. Such are the wonderful workings +of God through faith and prayer. The meetings in this state prison +were owned and blessed of the Lord. The Holy Spirit led and all seemed +to enjoy and appreciate them. The chaplain said, "How much good was +accomplished!" All were united in harmony and God was glorified. + + + A CHAPLAIN IN MY AUDIENCE. + +At another time, arriving at a certain city where there was a state's +prison, I met in the depot a young lady wearing a Salvation Army +bonnet. She was crying at not being met by friends as she had +expected, and I asked her to go with me. She gladly did so and I +proceeded to the prison to ask permission to hold services for the +prisoners on the next day which would be the Sabbath. Obtaining the +consent of the chaplain I waited till the time for the service on +Sabbath morning and returned. The guard refusing to admit me, I sent +for the chaplain. When he came he also refused me, saying he could not +permit me to hold the service, as he thought I belonged to the +Salvation Army. A friend suggested that I should go to the Governor at +his residence, saying that he was a kind man. I did so, and was very +kindly received. Having listened to my request he said, "Yes, you may +have your meeting in the prison,"--he having heard of my work before. +He wrote a card for me to carry with me, and I took it and returned to +the prison. The preacher and the Sisters of Charity had all gone to +the women's department. The men were out in the large yard. I called, +"Boys, come on, we are going to have a meeting." How they hurried pell +mell to the chapel! And such a meeting! The power of God fell. Just +then the chaplain entered, much surprised of course, and I said, +"Chaplain, I am permitted through the kindness of the Governor to hold +this service. Will you please be seated?" Had a most glorious meeting, +closing with results altogether satisfactory to the chaplain. + + + IMPRESSED TO TARRY. + +While holding a meeting in a certain city, I was impressed day after +day to tarry. I did not know why. I wanted to go, but still the Lord +impressed me to wait. One evening a cry was heard, "A man is shot." +Immediately the Spirit impressed me, "That is what I detained you here +for." I rushed out into the night, and inquired where the man had been +carried. They told me to the hotel. I went immediately, got admittance +to his room and found him in a dying condition, with no one that knew +God to pray for him. And there by the bedside of the dying man, some +mother's boy,--dying without God and without hope in the world,--I +tried to point him to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the +world, hoping that the Lord would give him a chance at the eleventh +hour to seek salvation, and I believe God heard my prayer for this +soul. + + + ENCOURAGEMENT BY THE WAY. + +In the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago one night, after addressing +the audience and singing the Gospel to the people, I gave an +invitation to all who desired to lead a new life and serve the Lord to +come forward and publicly confess Christ and repent of their sins. +Instantly a fine looking young man rose in the rear of the hall, +hurried to the front and grasped my hand, saying that he saw me three +weeks before in the Deer Lodge, Montana, State Prison. He said that +three days before, he was released and had come to Chicago, and +passing along the street he heard me singing a favorite hymn at the +open air meeting before services in the hall, and was attracted in. +With hand raised, he promised to be a Christian and live for God and +meet me in Heaven. He said he had my Bible that I gave to the matron +of the prison, who, when he was leaving, gave it to him. "Cast thy +bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." Many +others gave themselves to the Lord that night but this was one of my +prison boys, and I was his mother, in that sense, as my life has been +consecrated to God for that special line of work. + +The day following, on my way east, I was compelled to stay over night +at a way station where we were to change cars. As I left the train I +heard, as usual, the call of cab-men but passed on into the waiting +room. Several followed me, but one took me by the hand and addressing +me familiarly said, "Get into my cab, mother, it is all right; I'll +take you where you wish to go." Mother Prindle, who was with me said, +"Do you know Mother Wheaton?" He replied, "I have read about her," +but the look in his kind eyes told me it was one of my boys from +prison. He was now settled in life, a good man, with a wife and two +children. He escorted us to the jail where I desired to hold services, +then to the home of a minister, and from there to our lodging house. + +I bless God, and will through all eternity, that the dear Lord ever +called me to work in the prisons as well as in other lines of +Christian work. There are many all over this land now serving God, +leading good, honest lives, a blessing to their country and an honor +to God's cause, who were found in prisons and slums, discouraged and +having given up all hope of ever being anything but miserable and +wretched. They are now serving the blessed Christ who came to seek and +to save that which was lost, and destroy the works of the devil, not +willing that any should perish, but rather that all should be saved. O +reader, many are the lives we might rescue from the ranks of the enemy +if we were more in earnest and lived in close touch with God, and more +under the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. + +Once in a meeting I was attending, the minister in charge took another +young preacher by the hand, and said: "I want you to preach for us." +The one addressed came to the front of the platform and said: "Yes, I +will; but first I want to say I was once in an insane prison, an awful +place. No one will ever know all we had to suffer there. I was insane +through drink--no one could help me. I was sin-hardened and +hard-hearted, but this Mother (pointing to myself) came to our +criminal prison and sang and prayed and talked to us, and was kind to +us, and my heart was melted, and I wept--something I could not, would +not do until then. Her kindness won me, and I was saved, truly +sanctified, and I have been preaching the Gospel for four years." + + + A CASE OF CRUEL NEGLECT. + +At the best, life in prison is hard. How much worse when cruelty and +neglect are added to the necessary restrictions that are placed upon +those in confinement. I knew of one young colored man in prison in the +south who was compelled to endure the winter weather without proper +clothing or covering. His one blanket was so short that his feet were +so badly frozen they had to be amputated. Think you that such things +as these do not cry to God for vengeance? + + + ANOTHER SUICIDE. + +Well do I remember a promising young man, who, when I was preaching in +a prison in a southern state, began trembling and ran back into his +cell and called for an officer to bring me to him. I found that he was +quite weak from a bullet wound he had received in a drunken row in a +saloon, he having killed a man in the fight. He was a young man with +bright prospects before him, but bad company and a love for strong +drink had wrought his ruin. He told me of his uncle who was a +minister, a prominent evangelist. I was much surprised that a nephew +of so popular a minister should be in state's prison for such an awful +crime, crushed with shame and remorse. Could it be possible? His +mother was a rich lady. + +This young man either because of his wealth and position, or because +of his good conduct in prison, or both, was given privileges and often +sent outside the prison grounds. Often I plead with him to come to +Christ. But one day the old demon of drink had overcome him and having +secretly obtained some liquor, while at a game of cards he shot +himself. Let us throw the mantle of charity over that blighted life, +and leave him in the hands of a just God. Who will be willing to +answer at the bar of God for that soul? "Woe unto him that giveth his +neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken +also."--Hab. 2:15. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." + + + JUST OUT OF PRISON. + + "O the wrongs that we may righten, + O the skies that we may brighten, + O the hearts that we may lighten-- + Helping just a little!" + +While traveling on the train one day, the brakeman said to me: "There +is an ex-convict in the smoking-car." "All right, I will go in and see +him," I said. I went and took him by the hand as he sat alone in the +rear seat of the car, sad and dejected, with no money, no friends, no +home. His mother had died while he was incarcerated in prison; home +broken up, nowhere to go. How glad I was to take this poor soul upon +my heart, and intercede for him in silent prayer; and then have him +come into the other coach and share my lunch. At parting he promised +me he would live a temperate life, and serve God the best he knew. I +believe the dear Lord had me travel on that train to meet that poor +unfortunate and help and strengthen his faith in Christianity, by +showing him attention outside as well as inside the prison walls. How +often a soul is saved from a downfall by a word in season; a kind +hand-clasp, a "God bless you; cheer up, look up, better days are +coming," etc. When hope is well-nigh gone, and friends have forsaken, +and all has failed; yet we can always tell such that "God never +fails." + + + DYING IN PRISON. + +One day as I was alone in a gloomy prison a poor boy called to me and +said, "Write to my mother, but don't tell her where you found me. +Please don't tell her, for it would kill her. She never could live and +know her boy was in prison." On the dirty floor, lying on a pile of +still dirtier straw I found this poor prison boy dying. I fell on my +knees and poured out my heart to God in his behalf. + + "That head had been pillowed on tenderest breast, + That form had been wept o'er, those lips had been pressed, + That soul had been prayed for in tones sweet and mild; + For her sake deal gently with some mother's child." + +Do not tell me that it does not pay to labor and pray with these dear +lost ones. For if I can be the means of rescuing but one soul from +eternal punishment, thank God, it pays me. + + + WILL IT PAY? + +Some gentlemen were once looking at a large building erected for +newsboys, that they might be brought under religious and refining +influences. One of the spectators asked a large contributor to the +benevolent institution this question: "Now you are erecting this +building at a cost of many thousands of dollars, and I admire your +motives, but suppose that after all this great expense only one boy +was saved here--would you still think it paid for time, labor and +money expended?" The man answered quickly and earnestly, "Yes, sir; if +it was my boy." The most precious thing in the sight of God is a soul. +For the redemption of every soul on earth was paid the precious blood +of the Lamb of God. Count it not then a light thing in His sight for +one to be saved or lost. For "There is joy in the presence of the +angels of God over one sinner that repenteth--more than over ninety +and nine just persons who need no repentance." Hundreds have been +saved under my observation and instrumentality both inside and outside +of prison walls, and my motto has been, "Throw out the lifeline across +the dark wave." + + + SAVED AND PREACHING THE GOSPEL. + +Upon a warm July day, starting to walk out from Bismarck, N. D., to +what I took to be the state's prison, but which proved to be a large +water reservoir, being overcome by the heat I fell, and crawling to a +shade I lay down with my Bible under my head. After a time I saw some +distance away some persons driving in an open hack and signaled to +them till they saw me and came to me. They drove me to the home of the +warden of the prison where I was kindly received by the warden's wife +and made comfortable. Late that night I held service in the prison +corridors. This was in 1885, and in 1901 I was leading a meeting in a +mission in Portland, Oregon, and asked all who had something special +for which to praise the Lord to speak. A brother arose and said: + + "I want to thank the Lord tonight for the privilege of hearing + 'Mother' Wheaton preach outside of prison walls. I have heard her + in many a prison. Years ago, one night at 9 o'clock, when all the + prisoners had been locked in their cells, the officers unlocked + the doors to let this sister sing some hymns and hold services in + the corridors. One hymn that especially touched my heart was + 'Throw out the life line.' I was an opium fiend, a morphine + fiend, a whisky fiend, and an all around bad man, and was ready + to despair. But God touched my heart and saved me and called me + to the ministry. At this time I was with my other sins a deserter + from the United States army. When my time expired I went and + gave myself up and was sentenced to five years more in prison. + But God had mercy on me and in seven months I was pardoned out. + Since that time I have lived an honest life, and for eight years + have preached the gospel." + +This man was married to a Christian woman and has done much to rescue +men from the pit from which he had been taken, and is still preaching. + + + IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. + +One Sunday I sang perhaps thirty hymns and preached seven times to +prisoners in solitary confinement, where I dare not see them or clasp +their hands as I do in other prisons. There are hundreds there, and as +I sang in all the prison wards or corridors many different hymns, the +dear souls cheered and responded with their clear voices as best they +could to show their sincere appreciation of my efforts to brighten +their lonely prison life. Each was "some mother's boy." Reader, is +there not a sympathetic chord in your heart for these poor +unfortunates? + + + CRAPE ON THE DOOR. + +I once felt impressed to go to a certain prison and hold services. +Arriving at the place early in the morning, I thought I would go to +the prison first before I would telephone for a cousin who often +helped me in the singing. When I arrived at the prison, the chaplain +said, "Mother Wheaton, the Lord sent you to help me. To-day I have a +funeral service of a prisoner, something we have never had at this +prison." I did not telephone then for my cousin, as the services were +arranged. I worked all day in the prison, holding services with both +men and women prisoners, visited the hospital, and went to the city +jail at 5 p. m. and held services, and then went to my relative's home +and was greatly shocked to find crape hanging on the door. I found my +cousin cold in death. Relatives asked me, "Who told you?" I said, "God +impressed me to come at this time." And I went with them to the grave +of my dear cousin, and kneeling beside the open grave, I promised to +faithfully do God's holy will, and meet the departed one in Heaven. + + + IN A POLICE STATION. + +In 1903, while I was in San Francisco, I was impressed to go to the +police station about nine o'clock one night. I found, on arriving, an +ambulance bringing in prisoners, among them a woman who was arrested +for drunkenness. I talked and prayed with her. Hearing a noise like +one in distress, I walked on through the corridors and I found a young +soldier who was badly wounded in one eye and the head. He was standing +alone in his cell in great pain. The bandage had been torn off, and +the blood was running down his face, though his wounds had evidently +been dressed by a physician before coming there. He was crying from +the pain, and was under the influence of drink. I wiped the blood off +his face, and put the bandage on his eye again. Then I knelt in prayer +with him. I left the city on an early train, and never saw him again, +but I believe God heard and answered my prayer for his salvation. + + + BURNED IN HIS CELL. + +I went into one of our western cities to hold services at the jail. On +the way from the depot I stopped at a store, where a young clerk told +me of a horrible crime that had been committed in the jail. That the +prisoners had been trying to make their escape, and one young prisoner +had revealed the plot to the jailer, and thus saved his life. The +prison wall had been "worked" in a cunning manner, and the prisoners +were about to escape, when this poor boy informed the jailer of what +was being done. The other three prisoners were so enraged that they +threw coal oil over the boy, set fire to his clothing, and he was +burned alive in the cell. I was grieved at hearing this, and felt that +I could see them punished severely. They were in an underground prison +for safe-keeping until the wall could be repaired. The officers were +afraid to let me go in, but I told them I was not afraid, and went +down the stairs ahead of the officers. I saw only one dim candle +burning, and called for a light. A lamp was brought, and I went boldly +into the presence of those criminals. I sat down and thought of the +awfulness of it all. So, as I wept, I sang "Some Mother's Boy," and +they cried like their hearts were breaking. I went over to them, where +they were sitting together on an old bunk, and we cried together. They +were humble and convicted, and it was love that did it all--God's love +which showed them that though their sins were as scarlet, they shall +be white as snow, though red like crimson they shall be as wool. God +heard prayer for them and I trust they were forgiven. + + + THE INNOCENT IN BONDS. + +In a certain state prison the officer called my attention to a man and +said, "That man is innocent of the crime he was sentenced for." "Then +why do you keep him here?" I asked. "Because he serves for his friend, +willingly allowing the guilt to be placed upon himself rather than see +this friend who was really guilty suffer." On leaving the prison I +came upon this man with an officer on the train, and had the pleasure +of talking to the man and hearing his story. I referred him to Psalms +15:1, 2, 4. "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell +in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, +and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that sweareth to his own +hurt, and changeth not." He was being taken to another court for +trial. + + + CONFESSED HER GUILT. + +A woman in a prison was convicted of sin under my preaching, and sent +for me to come to her cell, where she gave me such an account of her +crimes that I was shocked, and yet was powerless to liberate an +innocent man that she said was in ---- state's prison for a crime she +committed. She asked me to go and tell him for her that she was the +guilty one, and try to have him freed, but wanted the matter kept +secret. Now that she was under conviction of her sins, she could not +rest. I went to the state prison she named, found the man, and told +him her story. His agony was pitiful to behold. He said, "O how I +loved my wife and baby. I am an innocent man. How can I live my +sentence out in this way? Nothing to live for." Such bitterness as he +held toward that wicked woman, for her crime and duplicity! I left him +in an agony of grief. And yet there are so many who are serving as +unjustly for others' crimes! This woman had killed the wife thinking +she herself would then get the husband. + + + UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH. + +Going into the presence of two condemned men on our national holiday, +the chaplain remarked, "I wish you could reach these men's hearts. You +have often helped others in this prison who were under death +sentence." I prayed in silence for wisdom, and as I walked into their +presence, I said, "I have come to sing to you and have a little visit +with you, but if you prefer to be alone, I will go away." They said +they would be glad to have me stay. I sang several songs, and before +I had spoken of religion, I was made glad to see tears in their eyes, +and then we knelt in prayer, and I prayed God to pardon their sins and +make them pure in His sight. + +I do not believe in capital punishment. Lord hasten the day when the +crime of putting men to death legally shall be done away with. It does +not stop crime. I thank God that one noble warden gave up his +honorable position and salary, rather than take the lives of any more +men. I wish God would raise up men all over our land who in like +manner would be brave enough to refuse to sacrifice human lives +because the law licenses them to do so. When I see wicked men so +anxious to see poor, helpless men executed, I think of that +authoritative utterance, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the +Lord." Jesus said, "He that hateth his brother is a murderer." There +is a day of reckoning coming. + + + THE RELIGION MOTHER HAD. + +Many times prisoners have said to me when speaking to them, "That's +the kind of religion mother had. You remind me of my own dear old +mother;" and many, even statesmen, and the attendants in the capitol, +and in the President's mansion, have said to me with uncovered heads, +and tears in their eyes, "That is the kind of religion mother had. I +wish I was as good as she was." I find the crying need to-day in all +stations of life; from the palace to the dungeon, is real, genuine, +heartfelt, common-sense salvation, not to be cranks and fanatics, not +to be one-sided or half-way professors of religion; but to have the +Holy Ghost in our hearts and lives, and a burning desire to help every +one into the Kingdom of Heaven. Being "all things to all men" that we +might win some wandering souls to Christ. + +O the joy of knowing that you are doing just what God wants you to +do--winning souls for His Kingdom, from all walks of life; often in +houses of ill-fame souls are truly saved and reformed. Often in +saloons men and women are impressed by the straightforward message of +love brought them. You say, "No use to try." O thou of little faith, +wherefore did'st thou doubt? I have much encouragement among the +criminal classes, for they are despised and rejected by earthly +friends. + +I might give many more instances, but this is probably sufficient. Let +no one think for a moment that these poor unfortunates have no tender +feeling, no remorse because of sin. They see their shame and feel the +separation from home and loved ones. There must be places to confine +criminals and protect the lives and property of other people, but we +must remember that behind all the guilt there are precious souls that +live through all eternity. + +Sin is treacherous, the human heart deceitful above all things and +desperately wicked; perhaps under unfavorable conditions the heart of +the most moral man or woman may generate the evil of the human nature +and cause it to show its corruption in crime. All that saves some +people now from the felon's cell, or gambler's hell, is that they hold +the propensity of their corrupt hearts in with bit and bridle. And +thousands tread the earth in freedom, who, if justice could find them +out and fasten their guilt upon them, would be in the prison stripes +and iron cells. So be not so ready to cry "Crucify him!" "Stone her!" +until you can look into your own heart and see that it is pure and +clean. + + + CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. + + Thank God! that I have lived to see the time + When the great truth begins at last to find + An utterance from the deep heart of mankind, + Earnest and clear, that ALL REVENGE IS CRIME! + That man is holier than a creed--that all + Restraint upon him must consult his good, + Hope's sunshine linger on his prison wall, + And Love look in upon his solitude. + The beautiful lesson which our Saviour taught + Through long, dark centuries its way hath wrought + Into the common mind and popular thought; + And words, to which by Galilee's lake shore, + The humble fishers listened with hushed oar, + Have found an echo in the general heart, + And of the public faith become a living part. + * * * * * * * + + No more the ghastly sacrifices smoke + Through the green arches of the Druid's oak; + And ye of milder faith, with your high claim + Of prophet-utterance in the Holiest name, + Will ye become the Druids of _our_ time! + Set up your scaffold-altars in our land, + And, consecrators of Law's darkest crime, + Urge to its loathsome work the hangman's hand? + Beware--lest human nature, roused at last, + From its peeled shoulder your encumbrance cast, + And, sick to loathing of your cry for blood, + Rank ye with those who led their victims round + The Celt's red altar and the Indian's mound, + Abhorred of Earth and Heaven--a pagan brotherhood! + + --JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. + +[Illustration: INTERIOR OF CHAPEL-DINING APARTMENT AND ROW OF CELLS, +CHESTER, ILL.] + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + Conversion of Desperate Prisoners Prevents a Terrible Mutiny. + + +During the fall of 1888, I was deeply impressed that I should visit +the state prison at Waupun, Wis. Following the guidance of the Spirit, +I reached the place, after a long journey, on the evening of November +third. A dear Christian girl was with me. It was a lovely moonlight +night and as we came to the prison, the yard was plainly visible +through the heavy iron grating. My companion called my attention to +its beauty but my heart was heavy and I could only reply, "Sister, +pray! O do pray! There is something awfully wrong here--some danger +pending--something terrible!" + +The officers of the prison welcomed me heartily and the chaplain said: +"I am glad you have come and shall be pleased to have you take the +service tomorrow morning." (It was Saturday.) His wife entertained us +during our stay and after taking us to their own rooms he said: +"There's a man here who is a terror to both the officers and +prisoners. All are afraid of him. Neither kindness or punishment seems +to affect him. I wish you could do something to help him." My reply +was: "I cannot do anything, but God can." And earnestly did I look to +God for help. + +The next morning a heavy burden still rested upon my heart and I +prayed God to go before me to that prison chapel and lead the meeting +Himself and give me the right message. Nor did I plead in vain, for +many souls were that day deeply convicted of sin and some were +blessedly saved as was clearly manifested a little later. + +After the sermon my friend and myself sang a hymn and this was greatly +used by the Spirit in connection with the sermon in reaching the very +depths of hearts. It was the custom to hold an after meeting for +thirty minutes, but those who wished to remain were expected to secure +cards or tickets, granting permission, on the previous day. That +Sunday the chaplain said: "All who wish to remain to this service can +do so without a card, as these ladies are here." + +A hardened looking criminal (whom I afterward learned to be the one to +whom the chaplain had referred the night before) arose to retire with +a few others. I went to him at once and took him by the hand and urged +him to stay, but he said: "No, they don't want me here. This meeting +is for good people and I am too bad to stay." But I pleaded: "No, you +stay--we want you to stay. I want you to stay." And then he said: +"Well, I'll stay for your sake," and sat down. The meeting progressed +under the power of the Lord and many arose to say that they had been +very wicked but were sorry; and if God could and would forgive them +they would lead a different life and be good men. Some told how their +dear old mothers were good and had prayed for them and that they +wanted us to pray for them and they would serve the Lord. + +I noticed that many of the men as they arose glanced furtively at the +man to whom I have referred and that he sat looking at each one as he +spoke and evidently had great influence over the other prisoners. At +last he arose and said, "Men, don't be afraid of me. If there is any +good in this religion you are talking about, go ahead and get it. I'll +stand by you and nobody shall say before me, 'There's your praying +man' or 'There's your hypocrite.' I can't be good--I'm too far +gone--but I'll stand by the men who are going to do right." All were +evidently deeply impressed by his words. As he sat down I went to him +and taking him by the hand, I said, "God loves you and He wants to +save you and to help you to live for a better world than this." Again +he insisted, "I'm too far gone! It's too late for me to try to do +right! There's no hope for me," but still I pleaded with him to return +unto the Lord--that there was still mercy and pardon for even him--and +that he would yield to the Holy Spirit's pleading and become a +Christian. He was evidently very deeply convicted of sin and soon +arose and with deep feeling he said, "Men, you know what I have +been--watch me from today and see what I will be;" and as he sat down, +the prisoners cheered. + +Fearful as to what the outcome might be and somewhat doubting his +sincerity, the chaplain quickly closed the service and ordered the men +to their cells. They obediently left the chapel, but truly God had +wondrously wrought that day in the hearts of many of the most noted +and hardened criminals. In the afternoon we went, in company with the +chaplain, from cell to cell singing, talking, and praying with the +men. The chaplain took me to the cell of the man who had given so much +trouble--a man who had taken several lives, and there he gave his +heart to God and was converted. + + + PLAN OF THE MUTINY. + +After all the prisoners had been locked in the cells and the officers +had gone to their homes or rooms, only a few guards remaining on duty, +he sent for the warden to come to his cell and requested to be taken +out into the prison yard. At first the warden refused to do so because +of his being known to be such a dangerous character. Still he +insisted, saying that he had something to show him. The warden, who +had been an army officer and was a very brave man, was only partially +convinced but finally consented saying: "I'm not afraid of you--one +wrong move and you're a dead man. I have had enough trouble with you. +I will take you into the yard, but beware!" + +Well armed, he marched the man into the yard. There the prisoner led +him to the extreme end, and taking away some dry leaves and boards he +said to the warden, "Look in." The warden did so and, O, what a sight +met his eyes! There, in a hole, were knives, guns, and other weapons! +Staggering back he exclaimed, "My ----, where did you get those +things?" "It don't matter where I got them," replied the prisoner, +"but take me back to my cell and then take away these weapons. I +intended to liberate the prison tomorrow morning and would have done +so if that woman had not come and preached here today. I am a changed +man now." + +How he got those weapons was a mystery, but he had been long years +planning an escape, and had chosen some of the most daring of his +fellow prisoners (both those inside and others who had gone out) to +aid him! Whether he could have succeeded or not, doubtless many lives +either of officers or prisoners or of both would have been lost had +the attempt been made. But God wrought so mightily that instead of +lives being lost precious souls were saved. Several were converted +that day who are still living noble Christian lives. Others may be,--I +leave that with God. I do not know whether the leader is still living +or not, but have heard that he was dead. At any rate he served his +long sentence and claimed to be still a Christian when he left the +prison. + + + HAVOC OF SIN. + +Among the many who were converted during that Sunday morning service +in 1888, was a very amiable, intelligent, refined-appearing young man, +still in his teens, who was serving under life sentence. He was a real +"mother's boy," so young and so small that after his conversion I used +to call him my little son. He belonged to one of the best families of +the state. His father was a physician and a classmate and friend of +the governor. For the sake of his broken-hearted parents, as well as +his own, and being satisfied that he was really innocent of the crime +of which he had been convicted, I began to pray earnestly for his +release. But the case dragged on and though he was pardoned some years +later, it was not until after his father died broken-hearted and the +mother's health had failed under her weight of sorrow and an aunt had +gone insane. + +During his imprisonment I at one time visited his poor mother in her +home. Oh! what havoc sin had wrought! What sorrow! For though I +believe him entirely innocent of the crime for which he was condemned, +his conviction was the result of his being led astray by evil +influences and associates. + +Oh, that I could warn young men of the dangers of bad company, and +that I could warn parents of the dangers of discouraging their +children in waiting upon and serving God. + +When this boy was quite young, he wanted to become a Christian and +engage in work for souls, but his parents thought it would be a +disgrace, as they were aristocratic, but alas! what snares had the +enemy set for him, from which he might have entirely escaped, if they +had encouraged him to be true to God. + +I received many letters from him while he was in prison and quote from +two of them. We have not heard from him for years but trust that if +alive he is still living for God and Heaven. + + Waupun, Wis., July 7, 1895. + + Dear Mother, "In His Name": + + Since my last letter to you several things of interest have + transpired. My attorney went to see the governor and then came to + see me. We went over some evidence, and at last I convinced them + that I alone can untangle the skein of false evidence. + + I located a Mrs. N. and she gave an affidavit which would have + cleared me at my trial. She said she felt that she had been the + cause of all my suffering, but that she went to LaCrosse at the + time of my trial and was met at the train by a detective, who + told her if she wanted to keep out of serious trouble to take the + first train out of the city, and she did so. I expect to soon + have another witness to corroborate her statement. Then if I can + locate the sister of the deceased and get her evidence I will + have a sure case against those who perjured themselves to send me + here. + + Yes, I have placed all my life in God's hands and have begun my + work here; but, being a convict, I am much hindered. Therefore, + in order to do a more abundant and faithful service, I desire my + freedom. If I get it, I will try and enter the Moody Institute + and take a course of training for the work. Mrs. K. is anxious to + have me do so. + + Our chaplain will preside over our Christian Endeavor Society. I + recently sent out my report to be read at the Boston convention + in session the 10th inst., and I ventured, in the light of all + events, to place the following motto over our penitentiary: + "Wisconsin Prison for Christ" for the coming year, and by the + time of the next convention, I hope to be out to represent the + Christian Endeavor boys. + + Brother H. told me of a song you sing. "Some Mother's Child" is + the song. Will says it is simply sublime and I ought to have it. + Such songs turn the mind back to home and to the memory of fond + parents and loved ones. Such pieces are always very sacred to me. + + God bless you and spare you for many years to come, that you may + continue to be a Mother to the prisoners of earth. Write me when + you can. + + I am your loving little son, "In His Name," + + ALBERT. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., Nov. 27, 1895. + + My Dear Mother: + + Your excellent letter duly at hand. Both Brother Colgrove and I + were surprised, for we had concluded that God in His infinite + love and wisdom had carried you home. + + I am at work here in the official building, in the office of our + dear chaplain. Brother Colgrove is in the hospital across the + hall from our office. I have talked with the chaplain about your + coming, and he says to tell you to come and stay two weeks. He + would like to have you spend two Sundays, and in the meantime we + will no doubt, under the present warden, be able to secure the + evenings during the week for a series of revival meetings. + + Lovingly your son in the work, + + ALBERT. + + * * * * * + + Guilt comes not, thundering on the wings of time, + With vice-distorted feature and the leer of crime, + But like enchanting vision from a pagan dream, + Or softly echoed cadence of a whispering stream, + She steals upon us gently, with ever-changing art, + And usurps an empire--the waiting human heart! + Her outward form is beauty, her voice with Passion tense, + She only craves the privilege to gratify each sense; + All apparent pleasures 'round her path are spread, + But, alas! you seize the flower to find its fragrance fled; + But still pursuing, row with bated breath, + You clasp her to your bosom and--embrace a death! + Then, conscience stricken, you the wreck survey, + And with shuddering horror--humbly kneel to pray; + While the pitying angels on their pinions bear + The ever sacred burden of repentant prayer, + And almighty love descending reasserts control, + And mercy in the guise of grace has won a human _soul_. + + --_A Prisoner._ + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + Remarkable Conversion and Experience of George H. Colgrove. + + +Among the others who were saved that fourth day of November, 1888, at +Waupun, Wis., was the very remarkable case of Geo. H. Colgrove. Years +afterwards the chaplain said of him, "I regard him as an ideal--one of +whom you would expect this report: 'If ever there was a good Christian +man on earth he is one.'" At one time he had three Bible classes in +prison each week--one in English and two in German--and was the means +of the accomplishment of much good in the conversion of prisoners. + +[Illustration: GEO. H. COLGROVE.] + + + HIS OWN STORY. + +The story of his life and conversion is given, as nearly as possible, +in his own words, but as found in two different statements--some +particulars being given in one that were not in the other--in order to +make the account as complete as I can. + + It is very difficult for one in prison, especially, to write of + themselves without giving to strangers the impression of either + vanity and conceit on the one hand or of craft and deception on + the other. Therefore, it is with considerable hesitation that I + write. Yet my greet indebtedness to "Mother" Wheaton, who was + chosen of God as the agent through whom His wondrous work should + be made manifest to the world in my salvation, as also of many + others, has at last led me to make the following statement: + + Just on the verge of manhood, at the age of nineteen, I obtained + some _infidel literature_ of the mild stamp, yet scholarly and + persuasive withal, containing no harsh criticism of Christian + people and principles. This aroused my interest and admiration + and led to my obtaining more of a like nature, until under their + combined influence my youthful mind was entirely surrendered to + such doubts and disbelief as they advocated. + + This was the pivotal point in my early life from which I started + down the deceitful road that leads from peace, happiness and + honor into the depths of sorrow, infamy and despair. Having thus + imbibed the subtle poison of infidelity, I soon became blinded + and indifferent to the rights of my fellowmen and to the enormity + of violating divine law. + + BURGLARY AND MURDER. + + From this low plane of morality it was easy to enter the path of + crime; and this I did, following the precarious calling of + burglary for five years. This dark way ended in the midnight + gloom of a murderer. Detection, arrest and conviction followed in + rapid succession, soon bringing down upon me the crushing weight + of a "life sentence." So that on a cold wintry night the officers + of the law delivered me within the portals of a living tomb. + + Four dark, hopeless, weary years succeeded. Yet the Lord in His + great mercy had not forgotten me; and when all the world deserted + me, then He in His loving kindness took me up and His favor was + manifested through the instrumentality of "Mother" Wheaton. + + During the early years of my incarceration no words could portray + my intense and bitter hatred of Christianity and anything + pertaining thereto. Feeling that I had sold my soul to the prince + of darkness, it enraged me to be reminded of a better life, or a + possible Heaven. + + Burning with the fires of hatred and revenge toward those whom I + knew had unjustly deceived and wronged me, my only desire was to + escape from here even long enough to rush upon my enemies and + hurl their souls into eternity, and then follow them immediately + if need be. I continually planned and schemed for the + accomplishment of this purpose, and had a plan of escape well + defined and was making arrangements to put it into execution, + when one bright and beautiful Sunday morning it was announced + that a lady preacher was going to hold services in the chapel + that day. + + Though I did not often attend church, yet on this occasion I + swore some big round oaths that I would go up and hear the lady + talk. + + That was the morning of November 4, 1888. The beautiful sun that + shines alike on mansion and cottage, palace and prison, shone as + though a special degree of radiance had been granted to light a + benighted soul on its way out of darkness into light. But I + entered the chapel with cold indifference, drawn only by + curiosity--at least so far as I knew; but results proved that God + was leading. I awaited developments; _and they came_. Our prison + chaplain introduced "Mother" Wheaton, whom I had never seen + before, and announced the services as "entirely in her hands." + She gave us a short, earnest, impressive address; then she and + the sister who came with her sang "Meet me there." + + During the singing I heard an accompanying strain, low and + inexpressibly sweet, the like of which I had never heard nor + imagined. + + The two sounds harmonized, yet were distinct, but oh, how lovely! + Words fail to convey the most distant idea of their soothing and + attractive power. + + The thought flashed through my mind, "That is delicious music to + fall upon ears that have listened to the sound of murderous + guns." + + Suddenly and with all the vividness of continuous lightning + dispelling dense darkness, revealing all surrounding objects + distinctly, the awful depth and blackness of my iniquitous career + blazed up before my mental view, like a clear and definite + painting of each act in my wicked life--portrayed on canvas by a + master hand and set in clearest rays of the noonday sun. And at + the same time there was given an assurance of forgiveness, if + accepted then. + + Surprise, consternation and intense fear came with this + revelation of myself to myself, as my depraved spiritual + condition was, for the first time, fully realized. Also as + distinctly and positively it was granted me to know that _my last + opportunity_ for divine favor was before me. Accept and be saved + or reject and be _eternally lost_! Such was the alternative. + + Although every nerve thrilled in rebellion against Christianity + and a thousand obstacles seemed to intervene, rendering a change + in my course of life impossible, yet I dared not refuse that + stern, terrific ultimatum, "_Your last opportunity_," and before + its mighty mandate my proud, headstrong, sin-burdened soul + _surrendered unto Jesus of Nazareth_. + + I wished to fly from the room, but could not. I felt frightened + at the power which was mastering me, and thought in a confused + way of the ridicule which would be heaped upon me, of my intended + escape, and of revenge upon my foes. Ah! what? Revenge? No, no + revenge now. No, no. That was all gone. The evil desire had thus + suddenly been removed without my knowledge, and in its stead + there reigned in my heart and in the depths of my soul a feeling + of forgiveness and peace, both between them and myself and + between myself and my God. + + I said, "Surely the Lord has visited me this day; for I came in + here a devil in human form, and now my dark sins are forgiven and + I am free. Glory to God!" + + The chaplain and warden were nearly thunderstruck to learn that + the low, miserable, worthless wretch, the hopeless vagabond, + Colgrove, had been brought to the foot of the cross; still they + must have entertained but little hope of my remaining in the + straight and narrow path that leadeth unto life. How could they? + They had not heard that strange music which had floated in on my + soul. They could not feel the awakening which was permeating and + ringing through the corridors of my heart, nor could they + perceive the realizing sense of divine favor which was so clear + to my own consciousness. + + That very week it was impressed on my mind that I must at once + commence the study of the Holy Scriptures for work in the cause + of God and devote the remainder of my life to leading my + fellowmen, and especially prisoners, into the light of Calvary. I + said, "What will it all amount to--I a friendless prisoner, + doomed for life?" An answering whisper came, "Friendless, with + Jesus for your friend? Study the Word." So in blindness, with + fear and trembling, doubts and misgivings, I took from my shelf + in the prison cell the neglected, despised and dust-covered Bible + and commenced studying the Word to the best of my ability, with + none but God to direct or assist me except a hasty explanation + now and then from the chaplain as he passed on his hurried rounds + through the cell rooms. + + I immediately destroyed the implements of destruction and escape + which I had made during two years previous to my conversion. + Instead of dirks and saws, my hands now grasped the Bible and the + cross; and thanks be unto Jesus of Nazareth, they still retain + their hold, and I believe with ever increasing strength. + + The way thus far has been rendered more pleasant by the hand of + the Lord than I then thought possible amid such dark + surroundings. With an ever realizing sense of my unworthiness I + have been kindly led in the way of life and am eleven years + nearer my eternal Home; while in my soul there is the "peace of + God which passeth all understanding" which is an additional + evidence of the faithful care and guidance of Jehovah. During the + last decade the motto of my life has been, as through future + years it shall ever be (Isaiah 26:4): "Trust ye in the Lord + forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." + + I know not whether earthly freedom will ever be mine, but I do + know that, if it is His holy and righteous will, it will be given + me; and I know that it matters little, for earthly joys must soon + fade away, and down at the close of the earthly journey Jesus is + waiting for me. And with my weak and faltering hand laid in His + strong and mighty one I shall walk through the dark waters of the + Jordan of death, and with Him kindly leading His rescued child we + shall enter with joy and eternal thanksgiving the beautiful "city + whose maker and builder is God." + +The following extracts from letters written me at different times +after his conversion will, I believe, interest the reader: + + Waupun, Wis., Sept. 5, 1891. + + Mrs. E. Wheaton: + + Dear Christian Friend: No news received since you were here has + afforded me so much pleasure as the announcement of your return. + + It was through your earnest work that I was converted. When you + came here before there was, I presume, no more sinful, hopeless, + hardened, miserable wretch inside these walls than myself. When I + entered the prison chapel that Sabbath morning, November 4, 1888, + I for one came to observe, sneer and laugh. But while you were + singing that glorious anthem, "Meet Me There," power from above + opened my spiritual vision to see the horrible condition of my + soul, and so enabled me to realize my great need of divine favor. + I thank God and will bless His holy name forever that in His + infinite wisdom and kindness He brought me inside these walls and + sent you, His chosen instrument, to lead my wandering + sin-darkened soul into the path that leadeth unto life eternal. + + Amid the trials, cares and vexations of the passing days I often + look up to the blue vault of heaven's dome and rejoice at the + thought that the flying moments and hastening hours are bringing + me nearer, ever nearer to the blessed hour when I shall meet + Jesus face to face and clasp His rescuing hand, never from Him to + part. Ah, never to part! Thanks unto God most high. + + May the Lord ever bless you, my dear spiritual Mother. Good-bye. + + G. H. C. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., Oct. 29, 1891. + + My Dear Spiritual Mother: + + Your kind letter most gladly received. I am surprised that our + boys do not write more frequently to you. They often inquire as + to your whereabouts and health and ever have a good word for you + and your work. Even many who do not care for their soul's + salvation speak favorably of Mrs. Wheaton. + + God knows how much your letters cheer me and brighten the prison + gloom. After twenty years of infidelity, with all its direful + train of evils, leading on from bad to worse, the prison gate + threw its protective barrier between society and one who had + become almost a devil in human form, thus showing that a just God + had taken account of my iniquitous course and had said, "Thus far + and no farther." Then followed four years of hopeless misery, + borne with the sullen stolidity of despair, while in thought, + intent and purpose I sank lower and lower into the horrible + cesspool of criminality, and farther and farther away from God. + Then, in His infinite mercy, He sent you with the message of + salvation, which He crowned with His invincible power of + conviction and a realization of my lost and hopeless condition. + + My prayers shall ever be with you, dear sister, and if I might + send a message by you to all the prisoners from the pine-shadowed + shores of Maine to the far Alaskan mountains it would be this: + "Ye captives, look aloft to the Star of Bethlehem, and whatever + betide, do not fail to grasp the hand stretched out to you from + Calvary." Hoping to hear from you soon and praying God to ever + bless you I remain, + + Yours for God and humanity, + G. H. COLGROVE. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., Sept. 4, 1892. + + My Dear Mother: + + How many, many times I have thanked our kind Father above and + praised His Holy Name for sending you to our prison gate on that + November night in 1888. Three years and ten months ago today the + radiant light of Calvary, fresh from the throne of the Infinite, + came, through your ministrations, down into the dark recesses of + my sin-burdened heart and crime-laden soul, while mingled with + the music of the sweet hymn you and your companion were singing + the heavenly strains of an angelic accompaniment so entrancingly + and irresistibly soothing and lovely that my hardened heart + melted like frost before the noonday sun. + + Can you believe that I stayed to that after-meeting when every + nerve in my body thrilled to get up and run out of the chapel? + Yes, I desired to flee; yet an irresistible power restrained me. + I know now it was Satan urging me to flee away from there; for + he, of course, readily understood that he was in danger of losing + an active member from his minions of evil. But thanks be unto + Jehovah, who ruleth over all, Satan failed. God and His servant + held the field and a soul was redeemed from death. Glory to God + forever and ever. Amen. + + The years from that time have been so pleasant and bright, though + spent where sorrow, misery and gloom were on every hand, as I + journey on to our beautiful home everlasting, which Jesus has + gone to prepare. + + "Filled with delight, my raptured soul + Would here no longer stay, + Though Jordan's waves around me roll + Fearless I launch away." + + "When peace like a river attends on my way + Where sorrows like sea billows roll, + Whatever my lot, thou halt taught me to say + It is well, it is well, with my soul." + + "When we've been there ten thousand years, + Bright shining as the sun, + We've no less days to sing his praise + Than when we first begun." + + Yes, since your first visit here my bark of life has been + "standing away" on her new course over the sea of life, and she + is now nearly four years nearer the heavenly harbor, where + destructive gales of temptation will never sweep the white sails + of purity from the "masts of purpose," nor break the "yard arms" + of effort, nor rolling breakers of iniquity dash her upon the + rocky shore of eternal ruin. + + Mother, please give my kindest wishes to all who are helping you + in the great work which Jesus established while on earth and + which He left for us to continue until the resounding trump and + advancing angel hosts proclaim His return to our earth to claim + His own and crown the redeemed. When the sullen and long silent + graves shall release their victims and the long absent fleet of + the lower ocean shall again whiten the seas with their snowy + sails and bring their passengers and crews to join the vast + congregation assembled before the judgment seat of Christ. + + Ever yours, + G. H. C. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., Jan. 14, 1895. + + Dear Mother: + + Your kind and most welcome letter very gladly received. It is + ever one of my chief pleasures to hear from you. + + There was a man here by the name of William L., who led a very + godless life, being extremely profane. During the past summer he + was transferred to the prison hospital. On September 4 I was + placed in charge of the sick ward as assistant steward, and I + found this man L. in here when I took charge of this department. + He had been a bitter enemy of mine for several years, as he was + utterly opposed to Christianity, and he tried to utterly + disregard me. I continued to treat him kindly, which was, of + course, a Christian duty which we owe to our Heavenly Father, and + in a short time he grew into the habit of calling on me for + favors, and as he sank lower I spent the night with him. One + evening he spoke of you and said: "Oh! I wish I could hear + 'Mother' Wheaton sing one of her sweet hymns." + + During three days and nights he continued to speak of you. The + last day on which he mentioned you was in the morning about 8 + o'clock. While sitting in his chair beside the bed he said very + earnestly and emphatically: "I would give a dollar to hear + 'Mother' Wheaton sing one of her sweet hymns just now--right + here and now." + + About midnight that night he sat in his bed looking upward for + some time in silence and then dropped his head in a most dejected + manner and in mournful tone exclaimed, "No, no, no." The intense + sadness of his manner made my heart ache for him. After that hour + he appeared to have given up all hope. The death chill came on + while he was in the rocking chair, and he asked me to assist him + into bed and send for the prison physician. He expressed himself + well satisfied with the treatment he had had while sick, and + then, seeing it was too hard work for him to talk, he relapsed + into silence, while I offered a silent prayer for the departing + soul. + + I write this explanation because of the intense desire he had to + see you and hear you sing once more. + + The Christian Endeavor still exists by the power and blessing of + God, and my Bible class is continuing and some good has been + accomplished through its instrumentality. + + Rev. B. has left us. Our new spiritual guide and counselor is + Rev. Simerville, an earnest Christian, whose influence bids fair + to lead many hitherto careless ones to turn their footsteps in + the straight and narrow path that leads to life. The beacon light + to Calvary cheers us on every day to our eternal home. Meet me + there. Good-bye, Mother. God bless you now and ever. + + G. H. COLGROVE. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., Nov. 28, 1895. + + Dearest Mother: + + Your kind and welcome letter gladly received. Brother Albert + wrote you yesterday and I sincerely hope the invitation extended + to you by the chaplain and contained in Albert's letter, will be + promptly acted upon and that we shall soon behold your face among + us once more and again hear the songs of Zion fall from your + lips. + + Albert is librarian and the chaplain's assistant, while this + child is assistant steward at the hospital; thus we shall be able + to meet you frequently if you will spend a couple of weeks with + us, and a forty-day month can be used to good advantage in Waupun + and visiting among the bad boys like us, and your many good + friends in this locality. + + The Lord has given us a Christian man for warden and I can tell + you, dear Mother, we find that the warden, the chaplain and the + Lord God Almighty make a strong combination. If "Mother Wheaton" + will come and join them the quartette will be complete and this + prison can receive such a baptism of grace that his satanic + majesty will hate the very name of Waupun. + + God's blessing ever be yours and hoping to meet you once more + this side the golden gate, + + I am your spiritual son, + G. H. COLGROVE. + +The following short extract is from a letter to a brother who had +become interested in Brother Colgrove and had written him: + + Waupun, Wis., April 30, 1897. + + Mr. H----, Dear Christian Brother. + + Your kind letter received, and I most sincerely hope it may be + preliminary to a long continued and beneficial correspondence. It + will ever be a pleasure to hear from you, so please write when + convenient, and I will do as well as my adverse surroundings will + permit. + + I am pleased to learn of the continued successful work of dear + "Mother Wheaton," and it is a source of great encouragement to me + to meet and converse with Sister Kelley. We shall undoubtedly + have her for a spiritual leader when our toil-worn "Mother" has + been summoned to her rest and reward by the great Master. + + Please write soon and often to + + Your friend, + G. H. COLGROVE. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., Oct. 25, 1897. + + Dear Mother: + + Your kind and most welcome letter gladly received and the + unexpected photo was a very delightful surprise. A thousand + thanks. I have many, many times wished I had a picture of the one + whom God selected as my helper to lead me from the dark valley of + despair in which I was then dwelling up into the radiant light of + Calvary. + + November 4th next will complete nine years of the homeward + journey since Jesus set my face Zionward, so we are nine years + nearer the heavenly shore and from the watch tower of the golden + city the beacon light beams bright and fair, welcoming us into + the port of peace. Our duties are pressing, time is flying, the + whistle and signal bells are sounding, and I must close for this + time. + + Kindly and sincerely yours, + G. H. COLGROVE. + +In 1897, as indicated in the two following letters especial effort was +made to secure Brother Colgrove's pardon, which I believe would have +been successful but for lack of wisdom on the part of some of his +friends. As it was Brother C. was doomed to spend the remainder of his +life in bondage. + + Waupun, Wis., Oct. 10, 1897. + + Dear Mother: + + When you were here you offered to call on the Governor of + Wisconsin in my behalf. I thank you a thousand times for that + kindness. + + Since you were here I have been promoted to the position of + prison librarian. That places me in the Chaplain's office, and it + is the position occupied by the Washburn banker when you were + here. + + I have received a letter from Mrs. Worcester in Natal, South + Africa, lately. It was just thirty-five days in coming through. + It was intensely interesting. One of our boys died last night and + two life members have died since you were here. One was a + Christian. + + Dear Mother, the enclosed card shows date, locality and offense. + I have been here over twelve years, and have a clear prison + record. My Christian work you are well versed in, as you were + God's chosen instrument for my conversion. Nine years of + Christian life on Nov. 4th next. + + If possible please inform me when you will be in Madison, and may + our Heavenly Father bless you, and crown your effort with + success. My papers are all in the executive chambers at Madison. + I have recommendations from many parties, and from my trial + judge, Hon. A. Scott Sloan. My jury did not support my + application, but the judge did. He is now dead, but he gave me a + splendid letter, and it should be just as effective. I shall have + to ask you to wait for your reward, until freedom comes to me, + and then you will not be forgotten. I hope Sister Kelley can + accompany you on your Madison trip. + + I received a letter from your friend Miss Josephine Cowgill, + Jerusalem, with several cards of Palestine flowers; those that + grew in Mount Olivet I have framed and they are hanging in our + office. + + I am on duty from 5 a. m. to 9 p. m. + + Sincerely and kindly yours, + G. H. COLGROVE. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., Nov. 7, 1897. + + Dear Mother: + + Inclosed please find copy of letter just received from Executive + Clerk. It will be useful perhaps as a reference when you reach + Madison. The entire recommendation from my judge is there as is + stated herein. My judge is now deceased. A letter received today + from ex-Chaplain T. J. Brown, now of Lancaster, Wisconsin, + informs me that he will gladly meet you at Madison, and assist + you in any way possible. One of our officers is also making + arrangements with a Madison party to join you at that time. So we + seem well favored and I regard it as indicative of divine favor, + for all the present participants are Christians and we may + therefore hope for especial favor from our heavenly Father. + + The Lord be with you in all your ways. As ever, + + Sincerely yours, + G. H. COLGROVE. + +The enclosed letter read as follows: + + Executive Chamber, Madison, Wis., Nov. 4, 1897. + + Mr. G. H. Colgrove, State Prison, Waupun. + + My Dear Sir: I have looked up the matter about which you wrote me + on Oct. 21st, and find there is a letter from Judge Sloan among + your papers. This letter says, among other things: "If it be true + that Mr. Colgrove has behaved himself well during his + imprisonment and has thoroughly reformed, I think he ought to be + pardoned." + + Yours truly, + WM. J. ANDERSON, Private Secretary. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., May 1, 1901. + + Dear Mother and Sister: + + Your kind letters of 24th ult, duly at hand, and as you wrote in + unison, I hope this companion letter will be acceptable. I am + pleased to learn that your book work is progressing and will soon + be launched upon the restless sea of activity, and accomplishing + good work under the divine blessing, leading souls into the light + that never shall fade while Eternity rolls its unending years. + Sorry that so much sickness and suffering has fallen to the lot + of each of you, but rejoice that it is passed and can not assail + you again in this world, and in the world to come "There shall be + no more pain; for the former things are passed away." There, the + cheeks which we here beheld pale with suffering and tear-stained + by sorrow, will be mantling with the rich glow of everlasting + health and radiant in the matchless loveliness of deathless + bloom. A refreshing rain has broken a long drouth here, and the + world looks lovely and sparkling in the golden sunlight this + beautiful May morning. As we behold the face of the earth + beautified by the hand of God, it is a source of regret that all + this harmony of nature, this smiling peace and bloom, is marred + and clouded by the dark stain which iniquity has brought into + this fair world; and the sad, stern fact confronts us, that "The + dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty." + But it is true. Peace in its entirety, and purity in divine + perfection, are fled from this world, and we cannot possess them + in full until we have passed beyond Jordan's cold wave and + through the dark portals which intervene between this + sin-darkened land and the glory crowned hills of Immanuel's Land. + But it is a soul-cheering fact that we are daily and hourly + nearing that blest clime where sin and sorrow can no more cast + the cloud of estrangement between us and the Divine Master who + arose triumphant over sin and death and in His eternal majesty + and power has gone to prepare for our home coming. + + Though our barque of life may be tossed by violent seas of + strife, and meet with disaster in various forms, so long as we + know that Jesus is awaiting us in the Harbor of Peace we are not + dismayed by the howling blast nor raging billows of earthly + storm, but relying on His unfailing promise we keep in mind the + coming greeting of the great Master and remember + + "By cool Siloam's shady rill + How fair the lily grows; + How sweet the breath beneath the hill + Of Sharon's dewy rose." + + Yes, Mother, I too am glad and thankful that the Lord sent you to + Waupun and into our chapel on that glorious autumn morning, Nov. + 4, 1888. Surely the good work then accomplished has not been + extinguished, although Satan has exerted himself to cast dark + clouds of misunderstanding, strife and contention over it all. + But the light of Calvary shines amid the gloom, the heavenly + sheen of the cross of Christ sheds a halo of undying and + imperishable glory over all, that like the pillar of fire that + led the hosts of Israel through the wilderness, will lead and + sustain each weary heart, until we arrive on Jordan's banks, and + raise the song of everlasting triumph, as we view our eternal + home. + + With kind regards to each, and best wishes for your happiness and + welfare, I remain, + + Sincerely and kindly yours, + G. H. COLGROVE. + +The following letter from a dear sister who is deeply interested in +prison work is inserted here because of its reference to Brother +Colgrove: + + Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 19, 1900. + + My Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I cannot tell you how very glad I was to hear from you; and to + know that you have been blest all along the way, is indeed good + news. Some one asked the question, "What is the best thing that + can be said of a friend?" Many answers were given, one good one + being "He rests me," but the best answer was "He inspires me." + This can be truly said of you. No one more than yourself inspires + me to live a true Christian life. I do want to be ready at all + times to serve Christ. + + "Just ready to do His bidding, + If only I do His will. + Then I will be ready to meet him + When shadows flee away + Ready to serve Him perfectly + When dawns eternal day." + + Last week we had another meeting at the Soldiers' Home. You + cannot imagine how we missed you. So many of the sick men + inquired for you. One said if you would only come back he would + shout for joy. Of course it made me very happy to know that they + had received such a blessing from your talk. This same man said + he had prayed for you every night. + + The young man that called for you to come out to see him in the + jail was sent to St. Cloud for two and a half years. The poor + colored man was sent to State's Prison at Stillwater for five + years. + + The strangest thing has happened since the last time Mrs. ----was + at Waupun. Mr. Colgrove's wife, whom he had not heard from for + twelve years, has been to see him. His young lady daughter, whom + he thought dead, is living. Is not that precious news? I am sure + Mr. Colgrove must be the happiest man inside of these walls just + now. Had a good letter from S. yesterday. + + I have Christmas cards for all of the women and some for the men + in the prison. Must say good bye. + + Your sincere friend and sister in Christ, + GERTRUDE M. + +From an editorial written by Brother Colgrove while editor of the +Christian Endeavor Department of the prison paper published at Waupun, +we clip the following: + + Perhaps our uninformed friends may infer that we advocate the + abolition of all punishment in penal institutions. Not at all, + brother; nothing so absurd. But we do claim and will maintain to + our dying hour that punishment should be judicious, and only when + the culprit will not heed any humane treatment nor be influenced + by admonition. + + When punishment and imposition are used at the mere caprice of + some low down scoundrel, instead of discretionary treatment, at + the behest of a man of sense, reason and upright principle, the + effect has ever been, and will ever be, to develop the worst + traits inherent in the nature of the individual whom the laws + have already pronounced unsafe, and when released, the + consequences of that development, are going to fall on some + innocent and unoffending member of the law-abiding class. When we + consider the vast amount of mischief which one criminal can + accomplish in an incredibly short space of time, have we not + cause to be thankful that all over our land are self-sacrificing + souls, brave men and women, who are determined in the face of all + opposition, ridicule and every evil, to use every possible means + within their power, to elevate and reform all of the criminal + class, who may by any means be led from the old path of sorrow + and misery to themselves and danger to the peace and well-being + of their brother men? + + Men and women who will place in the hand of the prisoner the + Bible, in exchange for the revolver, dagger and bottle? The + citizen in his quiet home, who is unacquainted with the prison + systems of the various forms which are being used in different + states, depends entirely upon the laws of the land to secure him + in the peaceful possession of his accumulated earnings. But + experience proves that human law alone and unassisted by higher + power _is not sufficient to guard the home from intrusion and + desecration by those who have no regard for right principles_. + The man who has criminal tendencies, and is not striving to + restrain them in conformity to divine law, will laugh the human + power to scorn, and trample the law of man under his feet + whenever there seems an opportunity of financial gain thereby. + _The man who has been led to observe and rightly regard the + divine law will have no occasion for inducement for infringing on + the laws of the land._ Therefore these reformers, both clergy and + laity, _are striking at the very root of crime, when they lift + the fallen out of the slough of vice and iniquity_, and _turn his + face toward the higher life and the city "whose maker and builder + is God."_ + +During the fall of 1903 I received several letters telling me that +Brother George Colgrove could live but a short time. In December, +1903, I visited again the prison at Waupun. I found Brother Colgrove +in the Prison Hospital, very weak in body, but peaceful and resting in +the Saviour's love. Once more he related to the young sister who was +with me the wonderful story of his conversion; and how for over +fifteen years he had been kept by the power of God, saved and filled +with love for God and souls. We knelt and prayed with him and sang his +favorite hymns and as I bade him farewell he said, "Sister, if we +never meet on earth again I will meet you in Heaven." + +That was our final parting. Brief notes from the chaplain and warden +informed me that Brother Colgrove died February 19, 1904, and that +funeral services (an unusual thing) were held in the prison chapel +February 21. The warden's letter contains this testimony. "He died a +Christian." + +Bless God for his sustaining grace that is sufficient even amid the +trials of a prison life and enabled this one of his children to prove +true to God for so many years, inside of prison walls! + +O how wonderful is the power of God to seek and to save that which was +lost! + +[Illustration: SMELTER AND WORK-SHOPS, CHESTER, ILL.] + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + Work in Stockades and Prison Camps in Southern States. + + +During the first years of my missionary work I was led to stay much of +the time in the South. I was learning lessons in patience, faith and +humility before God. The cross was very heavy. In many places I was +not allowed to stay with white people if I preached to the negroes. +THE RACE QUESTION ran high and the color line was very closely drawn. +In those days I could not understand why this should be. I was taught +in the word of God that all nations were made of one blood and that +God was the Father of us all. I was ignorant and the views of the +southern people were new to me. In many cases, perhaps, I offended +them when I might have avoided it. I knew no better and they often +thought me obstinate. But I was only obeying God the very best I knew +in trying to keep immortal souls out of hell, and I knew that I must +obey God though all the people should misunderstand and misjudge me. I +found nearly all of the prisoners of the South confined in Stockades +and Prison Camps. In many cases the prisons themselves were almost +empty. + +The following are from among the many letters of introduction and +recommendation, received while laboring in the southern states: + + * * * * * + + Montgomery, Ala., Dec. 30, 1884. + + Col. J. T. Milner, Superintendent. + + Dear Sir: This will be handed you by Mrs. Wheaton, who is a + prison missionary. She has been having religious exercises at + the various prisons in the state, and I respectfully request + that you will permit her to do so at New Castle. + + Yours truly, + R. H. DAWSON, + President Board of Inspectors of Prisons. + + * * * * * + + Raleigh, N. C., June 10, 1893. + Gulf, N. C., C. F. & Y. V. Railroad, Halifax farm (near Weldon); + Captain Bradshaw (near Weldon); Captain McMurray (near + Weldon, on canal); Captain McIver (near Tillery); Captain + Hamlet (near Tillery); Captain Lashley (near Castle Hayne). + + The superintendent desires that every courtesy be shown Mrs. + Wheaton and Mrs. ----, and that they be given opportunities to + talk to the prisoners. + + JNO. M. FLEMING, Warden. + + * * * * * + + Rusk, Texas, Jan. 9, 1888. + + Mr. George Egbart, Coling Camp. + + Dear Sir: This will introduce to you Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, + prison missionary, who is making a tour through southern prisons. + She passed the day with me yesterday in the prison. I was pleased + with her manner and with her talk to the men. She wants the + privilege of talking with your men today at the dinner hour. I + think you will be pleased with her. Please give her the necessary + attention and may God bless you, bless her effort, and bless the + men. + + J. C. WOOLAM, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA. + + Convict Bureau. + + Pratt Mines, Ala., Nov. 30, 1889. + + Mr. Thomas C. Dawson, Warden of State Prison, Wetumptka, Ala. + + Dear Tom: This letter will introduce to you Mrs. Elizabeth R. + Wheaton and Mrs. ----, two ladies who are devoting their lives to + the benefit of convicts all over the United States. + + These good ladies have done much good, and they should be treated + with every consideration. Give them rooms and access to your + convicts at both prisons. I hope a visit from them will result in + much good. + + Your Father, + R. H. DAWSON, + President Board of Inspectors. + + * * * * * + + Huntsville Penitentiary, Huntsville, Texas, Jan. 13, 1892. + + Capt. Abercrombie, Wynne Farm. + + Dear Sir: This will introduce to you Mrs. Wheaton, who wishes to + talk to your men in a body. Any courtesies shown her will be + appreciated by me. + + Yours truly, + J. G. SMITHER, Asst. Supt. + + * * * * * + + STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. + + Executive Department, Raleigh, June 9, 1893. + + Hon. A. Deazer, Supt. State's Prison. + + Dear Sir: This introduces Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, prison + evangelist. I have assured her that you will grant any request + she may make not in conflict with prison rules. + + Very respectfully yours, + ELIAS CARR, Governor. + + * * * * * + + STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. + + Executive Department, Raleigh, June 15, 1893. + + His Excellency, B. R. Tillman, Governor of South Carolina, + Columbia, S. C. + + Dear Sir: I have the honor and it gives me pleasure to state that + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton and Mrs. ----, prison evangelists, have + held religious services at the penitentiary farm and at the + penitentiary and have given satisfaction to the authorities in + both places, and it is thought that their services were + productive of great good. With highest esteem, I am, + + Very truly yours, + ELIAS CARR, Governor. + + * * * * * + + STATE OF ALABAMA. + + Executive Department, Montgomery, April 3, 1896. + + To all Wardens of Prisons within the State: + + Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, the bearer hereof, is a prison + evangelist, and well recommended as a good lady. She is desirous + of holding services in the prisons. Any courtesy shown her will + be proper and commendable. + + WILLIAM C. OAKES, Governor. + + * * * * * + + STATE OF GEORGIA. + + Penitentiary Department, Atlanta, Georgia, June 30, 1893. + + To the Captains in Charge of Convict Camps in Georgia: + + I desire that each of you extend to these ladies, Mrs. Wheaton + and Mrs. ---- any courtesies possible during their stay with you, + that they may be given opportunities to talk to the men and women + in your charge. I will particularly appreciate any kindness shown + them. The governor requests that they be shown courtesies. + + GEORGE H. JONES, Principal Keeper. + + * * * * * + + Penitentiary, Columbia, S. C., August 11, 1893. + + Mother Wheaton. + + Dear Madam: It affords me much pleasure to say that we were glad + to have you come down to the prison and visit other camps + connected therewith, and we believe that you have done lasting + good among the prisoners. + + Yours truly, + W. A. NEAL, Superintendent. + +Accompanying the above was a list of the convict camps connected with +the prison with the following order: + + The sergeant in charge of the above camps will please admit Mrs. + E. R. Wheaton and Mrs. ---- and allow them to hold religious + service at the camp with the convicts. + + W. A. NEAL. + + * * * * * + + STATE OF FLORIDA. + + Executive Department, Tallahassee, April 21, 1894. + + Messrs. West Bros., West Farm, Fla. + + Gentlemen: This will be presented by Mrs. Elizabeth Rider + Wheaton, prison evangelist, who is visiting the convict camps of + the state. Any courtesies and kindness extended to her will be + duly appreciated and reciprocated by, + + Yours very respectfully, + D. LANG, Private Secretary. + + * * * * * + + STATE OF GEORGIA. + + Penitentiary Department, Atlanta, Ga., March 21, 1896. + + To the Captains in Charge of Convict Camps in Georgia: + + I desire that each of you extend to Mrs. Wheaton and Mrs. ---- + any courtesies possible during their stay with you, that they may + have an opportunity to talk with the prisoners. Any kindness + shown them will be appreciated by this office. + + JAKE C. MOORE, Assistant Keeper Penitentiary. + + * * * * * + + Executive Department, Governor's Office, Jackson, Miss. + + Mr. J. J. Evans, Jr., Penitentiary. + + Dear Sir: Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, who is interested in reform + work, desires to talk to the convicts. Any courtesy shown her + will be highly appreciated. + + Very truly yours, + J. J. COMAN, Governor's Sec. + + + A STOCKADE. + +Many inquire of me what a stockade or prison camp is. I will here +explain. A man, or party of men, lease or hire from the state the +labor of a certain number of prisoners for a certain length of time. +They are "doing time," as the prisoners say, for the state. Both men +and women are thus leased out. Their labor is used in clearing up +land, working in cotton and sugar cane fields, in mines, in turpentine +camps, in building railroads, on brick-yards, in phosphate works or in +any place where a company can work together. Their food consists +mostly of swine's flesh and corn bread made with meal, water and salt. + +The stockades are large rough wooden buildings, erected by the lessee, +in which the prisoners are confined at night. The men are generally +chained by one ankle to a heavy chain which reaches through the center +of the building from one end to the other, being securely fastened to +strong posts. They usually sleep on the floor in the same clothing +worn through the day--which is generally very scant and poor; but +sometimes they may have a bunk and a rough dirty blanket. The stockade +is guarded by men with loaded guns, and besides this every camp is +abundantly supplied with great, strong bloodhounds. And woe to the +unfortunate criminal that must be tracked and caught by them! + +Each prison camp has its mode of punishment for those who break the +rules or fail to do as much as is allotted to them. The keepers of +past years were often very cruel in their treatment, and seemed to +enjoy the punishment which they inflicted upon those under their +control. These poor souls had no way of redress. If they should speak +of the cruelty, they would be treated far worse; the penalty for such +a complaint being a severe whipping. Oh, God, how long shall the cry +of the prisoner be heard? Lord Jesus, come quickly! + +Each camp has its officers, guards, etc., among whom is the whipping +boss. And God pity the man or woman who falls into his cruel hands. +There is a board of prison inspectors, the president of which travels +from place to place looking after the interests of all. The conditions +of the stockades are much improved since I first went among them years +ago. I have gone to the governors of different states and pleaded for +the betterment of conditions in the prisons. Especially have I asked +that the women might have better treatment and not be whipped so +brutally for slight offenses or violation of the rules which the +lessee is allowed to make. Upon one occasion I wrote the governor of a +certain state as follows: + + Washington, D. C., May 10, 18--. + + To His Excellency the Governer of ----. + + Dear Brother: I write in behalf of the prisoners in your state + prison at B. M. I find them greatly in need of food and clothing. + The sick prisoners are suffering with hunger. I held services + there one week ago today, and went into the kitchen myself to see + what there was for sixteen sick men and those who are supposed to + wait on them, and I found only one half gallon of milk a day for + all, one chicken, very poor bread, no vegetables, no fruits, and + no seasoning but salt. Who is to blame for this? I find you feed + those prisoners (miners and farmers) on seven cents a day. + + It is an outrage, a sin, a curse on this nation, the suffering + you men, you governors or officers, at least allow to exist in + prison walls. You permit those men in B. M. prison to be whipped + for not furnishing daily from three to five small car loads of + coal each, and feed them on food not sufficient to give them + strength to perform that amount of labor. God help you, my + friend! As you are the first officer of the state you should see + that this inhuman treatment is stopped. + + Forty men were whipped in one day on two occasions, and on an + average there are from six to eight every day. These men are not + murmuring, I gave them no chance to tell me of this. But the + officers and their wives told me. I saw with my own eyes. The + water in those mountains is very impure and many of the men have + died from mere neglect. Many more will die soon unless something + is done for their relief. Governor, for God's sake, please look + after the temporal interests of your prisoners. I would have come + to you face to face and talked these things over if possible. + Recently I have been to see governors of several of the different + states. They are not aware of the treatment of convicts in their + own states, but I have seen it all these years of my pilgrimage. + The awful suffering I see is just breaking my heart. Poor lost + men and women! Who is responsible for the sin and crime and + suffering? Largely the saloon. Men and women are born in sin and + conceived in iniquity; shut in for years and years for some + little crime, and subjected to the hardest labor, serving out + sentence in prison under whip and lash. It is inhuman and unjust. + What will God Almighty require of you and me in the day of + judgment, For surely we must meet it and answer for our + stewardship here on earth. May God help me to deal faithfully and + do my duty by all classes--to those in authority as well as those + in bondage. Now, understand me, I have no personal grievances to + bring to you. It is simply mismanagement and the desire to run + these prisons on as cheap a scale as possible, to save money for + the State and hold position; and something must be done soon. + + I told the men to be obedient and faithfully discharge their duty + as prisoners. In all my work in every state and territory, + Europe, Mexico and Canada, I have never had any trouble; and can + go again to all these prisons where I have held services. What + object have I? None, but the good of the souls and bodies of + those in bonds. They are my children, given me by the Lord, and I + feel as much compassion for them as you would for your child. All + the officers and people were kind to me and treated me with the + utmost respect. All I desire is that you obey God and cause this + starving and brutal treatment to cease. Please say nothing of + this letter but investigate for yourself and see if these things + are not so. Two meals a day (and very little then) for a sick man + is not enough. + + Yours for humanity, + MRS. E. R. WHEATON, Prison Evangelist. + +The following is an extract from the letter I received in reply to the +above, from the general manager of the prison mines referred to: + + ----, ----., ---- 22, 18--. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + Dear Madam: Your letter of recent date addressed to Gov. ---- was + referred to me. I regret exceedingly that you did not call at my + office on the occasion of your visit. While there is a great deal + of truth in your letter there is much that indicates that you + were innocently misled by statements of convicts. I know that you + must be a good woman, that your heart is in your work, and from + your wide experience, amply capable of advising and instructing + one like me. In undertaking the task of uniting to bring our + prison systems in this state to a humane basis, we have done more + than you can understand. Had you been familiar with the + conditions during the past thirty years under the lease system + you would realize that much has been accomplished even in the + short time we have been at work. I realize that more is yet to be + done. But "Rome was not built in a day." The public has got to be + educated as well as individuals in immediate charge. I hope + therefore you will be patient, and will be only too glad to see + and confer with you should you again visit us here. In the + meantime I beseech your earnest sympathy and prayers for proper + guidance in our work, for I assure you that it is one that + requires such moral support as only such as you can fully + understand and appreciate. With great respect, I am, + + Yours, etc., ----. + + + PLEA FOR WOMEN CONVICTS. + +In some instances women are made to do the farm work, work in brick +yards, and to do other kinds of hard work. At one place in the south +the women cultivated a thousand acres of cotton, doing other farming +and caring for the stockade, horses, mules, cows and hogs and having +only men to guard them. They were not allowed a woman matron to care +for them when they were sick or dying. I found them in rags and +tatters and looking almost like wild beasts. I went to the governor of +that state and pleaded with him for my own sex. I begged him to +protect the poor women from such cruel treatment and brutal +punishment. I asked him to have them taken in from the farm, where +they were clearing up the land and compelled to carry logs, to the +state prison at the Capitol which was nearly empty, and given proper +work and humane treatment. + +[Illustration: WOMAN CONVICT AT WORK.] + +Once upon my knees before a governor I begged him to take the women +from the stockades to the prison walls at the capital, and place them +under the care of a good matron and give them such work as women +should do. Also that they be properly clothed and fed and taught +morals and religion. I said, "For the sake of young men which you now +employ to control and guard these women, won't you do this?" (I had +found several young babes, born in this place.) He promised that he +would see that this was done. + +But a year later I found these women still in the fields laboring and +suffering as before. I again went to the governor. He was now so +changed I hardly knew him. I said to him, "Well, governor, I see the +affairs of state wear heavily upon you. You look ten years older than +you did a year ago when I was here. Why did you not fulfill your +promise to me about transferring those women from the stockades to the +prison here at the capital? I promised that I would not make public +the condition in which I found them if you would look after them. You +promised to have them treated better, but it is just the same now." He +was surprised at my knowledge of affairs and my firmness and tried to +excuse himself, and said that he had brought some of them away to the +prison. + +Upon one occasion in later years, in a place I had visited for some +years, I found that an old colored woman had been tied to a log and +severely whipped on the bare flesh. The other women could not bear to +see her so cruelly treated, and silently cried unto God to take the +cruel captain who had ordered her so punished out of the way. He did +so; for when I arrived there in a few days he was struck with death +and soon died. God did not allow him to compel the whipping of any +more women. + +I think that upon only one occasion was I ever treated other than +kindly and with respect by any governor. In this case I insisted that +the women prisoners, especially, should be more humanely treated. The +governor refused to take any action regarding the cruelties practiced +but said, "Go to the Principal Keeper." I replied, "I have just come +from the Principal Keeper and he sent me to you, Governor. These +captains are not permitted to strike one blow without a license from +you. It is by your permission that they whip and punish them." He was +evidently annoyed to think that I so well understood the condition of +the prisons and their management. It was now election time and he was +running for office for another term, and he dismissed me without +further ado. Many like him are saying: "Am I my brother's keeper?" +Yes, you and I dear reader, and those in authority will surely have to +answer in the great day of reckoning, if we neglect to alleviate the +sufferings of our fellowmen, when it is in our power to do so. There +are many kind men in office who really desire better conditions of +affairs, but are only servants of those who are higher in authority. +Truly the penalty for crime must be paid, but give all a chance to +reform and do right before God and man. Can we not let poor fallen +human beings see that we do care for them? And that there is hope in +Christ for them if they will repent and confess their sin to Him? Did +He not come "to seek and to save that which was lost?" + + + BLOOD HOUNDS. + +I never will forget my feelings when first the howls of the +bloodhounds sounded in my ears. I was in a stockade and there was a +noise such as I never heard before. I was on my knees praying and the +wife of the captain came in saying, "There has been an escape and the +guards and dogs are after the convict." I just lifted my heart to the +Lord in prayer for the poor unfortunate, hunted man. I never stopped +to think whether white or black; old or young; innocent or guilty; my +one cry was for the life and safety of my boy. + +Mothers you know how you would feel were it your boy. Well, I got +initiated in that part of prison management that day. I have one +thought above all others and that is to do God's will and obey Him and +help all in anyway I can into a good life here and a home in Heaven at +last; poor heart-sick, home-sick and sin-sick souls. The very thought +of the convict being helpless should appeal to our sympathy and God, +the Judge of all the universe, is going to call us to give an account +for our stewardship. Men and women must be governed but not by brute +force. We may overpower them, but do we conquer them? Have we won them +to a better life and to good citizenship? + +[Illustration: CONVICTS GETTING OUT COAL.] + + + COAL MINES. + +The prison stockades vary in number. Sometimes there may be thirty or +forty in one state, sometimes probably not half that many. It depends +upon the number of prisoners in the penitentiary and into how many +sections they are divided. When I was at Coal City, Ga., a number of +years ago, it was one of the most weird and desolate-looking places in +which I had ever found a stockade located. There were three stockades +on the summit of the mountain, and one at its base. At the last place +the men were mining coal. When I first went there they used a small +car that would hold eight passengers. Then this was abandoned and we +were obliged to ride on the engine, as they carried only coal cars for +shipping the coal that was mined by the prisoners. I was often in +great danger of my clothes taking fire as the fire blazed out of the +engine when the men were shoveling in the coal. The railroad +zig-zagged up the mountain, and once, a sister and myself were obliged +to ride on the coal-box, as the engine was packed with men and one +woman before we had arrived from the other train. I had to kneel down +and hold onto the side of the coal box with both hands, and as the +engine twisted and turned, I was in danger of falling, and it was +hundreds of feet down to the foot of the precipices in places where +our train crept along. All the way up the mountain I prayed God to +protect us. The train was run by prisoners, yet I always felt safe +with them. + + + A TOUCHING INCIDENT. + +"Lady, is you a preacher? Coz, if you is, I want you to come over to +my house 'long wid me and make a prayer, coz my mother is dead, and my +father is in prison over the stockade wall, and they are goin' to bury +my mother, and there ain't nobody to make a prayer, 'cept a colored +woman who was kind to my mother and loved her coz she was good. We +children ain't got nobody to care for us." + +It was just as I was leaving the railroad station near the Pratt Mine +prison stockade in Alabama that I was accosted as above. The speaker +was a small white boy with hands and face so black with coal dust that +one could hardly tell that he was white. The sadness of that child's +voice touched my heart, and I said, "Yes, surely I will be glad to go +with you, my child." + +Through the mountain forest the little boy had come in search of some +one to make a prayer over the dead mother who, while she was living, +had taught her children about Jesus. I found the cabin by his guiding +me along the mountain path through the underbrush. Such a sight as met +my eyes! A body covered with a ragged sheet, lying on a board held up +by a couple of rickety stools. Nothing was in the hut to make it look +like home. Two old crones sat by the stump fire in the large +fireplace, making free use of snuff and tobacco. It was a dirty little +one-roomed cabin. The funeral was to be at once, but the man who was +making the rough box which was to serve as a coffin was so slow that +we finally waited for the funeral till the next day. + +I went to the prison camp and found the husband and father of the +little boy, and obtained permission of the officials for him to attend +the funeral of his wife, providing that I should be responsible for +his return. Well, God understood it all and helped me there in that +wild country; for that was when the prison stockades were not what +they are today. Conditions are much changed since I first went with a +gospel message to those lonely prisoners and sin-bound souls. + + + MY FIRST MEETING IN A PRISON CAMP. + +That night I held my first service in a prison camp. The captain was +loth to allow me the privilege, but the Lord touched his heart and he +said that I might try. I had come a long distance on the train and had +taken little to eat for several days for those were days of much +fasting and prayer. The call of God was upon me. I must preach the +Gospel to these men. So now, I had but one thing to do, to wait alone +upon the Lord. I knelt before God in the little old wooden hut used as +an office, and cried to the Lord, "O Lord, help me! O Lord, help me! +Show me how to hold a meeting here!" Just after dark a guard came and +said, "We are ready for the meeting to begin. Come on." Imagine how I +felt when there alone before hundreds of men in rags and tatters, with +hands and faces so black and grimy with coal dust (this being in a +prison mining camp) that I could scarcely tell the white men from the +colored! The building was low and dirty, the men were seated on rude +benches, the guards standing with their guns in hand and many great +strong bloodhounds by their sides. The room was dimly lighted by three +smoky old lanterns hanging on the walls. I had conducted prayer +meetings in the church, led in temperance meetings, and labored with +church people in the cities, and had been a Sabbath school teacher for +years; but I had never before faced a congregation such as I now saw +before me. I knelt in silent prayer before stepping upon the rough old +box upon which I was to stand while I spoke. I arose and sang an +old-time hymn, and again knelt and offered prayer. I told God all +about why I was there. I sang another hymn, but could go no farther. +All eyes were fixed upon me, and I asked, "Is there one Christian +here? If so please raise your hand." I stood trembling and thought, +"Must I stand all alone here with no one to pray for me, or encourage +me in my labor for the Master?" At last one old colored man timidly +raised his hand, followed by another, and then another. How I thank +God even now for this--after all these years of toil as a prison +worker. Then, I was soon lost in the theme of Jesus and His love. I +seemed to see those rough prison miners as dear children once more in +the old home at mother's knee at night-fall listening to her "Now I +lay me down to sleep." As I closed, seeing that the Lord had spoken to +many hearts by His Holy Spirit, I asked who would kneel with me in +prayer and begin a new life. I think every prisoner bowed there before +God with the heavy prisoners' chains clanking as only such can do. The +sound is inexpressibly sad to me even now after so many years of labor +in prisons and the rattling of the great keys in the hand of the guard +and the sound of the heavy iron doors as they open and close, +receiving "some mother's boy," are still as affecting to me as in +those early days of my prison work. + +Many of these men on that night in humility and meekness sought and +confessed Christ as their Savior. I know not how many who knelt with +me there, I shall meet in heaven; but I know that God has said His +Word shall not return unto Him void. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, +bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, +bringing his sheaves with him." + +At the close of the service an officer informed me that his wife had +prepared to entertain me. I gladly accepted of the kind offer and went +to their humble home, greatly enjoying their hospitality, for I was +much exhausted and very weary with the long journey, the anxiety and +the labor of the day. These remained my faithful friends while I knew +them. I thank God for those who open their homes to the children of +the Lord. + +The next morning the lady said, "I will let my little girl go with you +to the funeral and to show you the way through the mountains to visit +the sick." So I went again to the miserable home of the poor little +ones who were left worse than orphans. How my heart was filled with +sorrow, seeing the lonely helpless children, two boys and a beautiful +little girl, with mother dead, and father in prison! I wondered what +their future might be. A few mountaineers' wives had assembled, but +there were not enough men present to lift the box that contained the +corpse into the old coal wagon. After the short, sad services, with my +assistance as a pall bearer the crude coffin was lifted into the +wagon, and I helped to steady it as we traveled over the rough +mountain road to the cemetery. I had double duty caring for this and +making sure that the husband and father did not attempt to escape; for +you know liberty is sweet. The Lord of hosts must have kept him true +to his promise, and I must say that I can always trust the poor +prisoners not to betray the confidence I place in them. At the grave I +sang the old hymn. "I would not live always" and we laid the faithful +wife and mother away to rest until the trumpet shall call the dead to +rise. + +What was the cause of the sad plight of this family? Sin. The saloon! +There had been a saloon fight, and some one was killed. Some one did +the deed. Oh, God! What a reckoning there will be in the end for those +who vote to license the saloon, as well as they who dispense the rum, +God will open the books and all shall be judged out of the things that +are written therein. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord +of hosts." This faithful wife and mother had spent all her living in +an attempt to secure the liberty of her husband. But failing in this, +she had come with her children to live in that dreary place, hoping to +be able to lead him to a better life, finally dying in want, and of a +broken heart. After the funeral I pleaded with the little girl to go +with me. But she true to her trust, true to her dead mother's loyalty, +said, "Never will I leave my poor father with no one to care for him. +Mother never would, I never will. I will go to see him and tell him of +Jesus." + +Wearied with toil and the journeying from place to place to visit the +sick to whom the little girl from the camp had guided me, I returned +in the evening with her to her home and then to the camp. Thinking to +lie down and take some rest, and kneeling to pray, I was impressed +that I must visit the other stockade some two or three miles away. I +knew it was the voice of God and said, "Yes." The lady strongly +pleading that I must not go, that it was dangerous, said I could not +go alone, that I would lose my way, etc. The husband also said one's +life was in danger, that several men were found dead in those +mountains and no one knew who killed them, etc., and pleaded with me +not to go. But I said, "If God sends me, He will see that I am not +harmed. He will not forsake me." Soon I started on my way, and +presently met the two little boys whose mother had just been buried. I +asked if one of them would not show me the way to the other camp, and +the older one kindly did so. With my little guide we hurried down that +rough mountain side, we being compelled to carry stones to build a +bridge across a stream of water, and finally came within sight of the +camp. Upon insisting that God had sent me, and that I had held +services in the other camp, the captain (overseer) invited me into his +home. I had not expected such kindness, but thanking the Lord I +accepted it as from Him. They kindly brought us food, but I would not +eat, and gave it all to the little boy who was so hungry, and praying +for him he started homeward. Here also we had a wonderful meeting. Men +with broken hearts wept with longing for a mother's sympathy and a +Savior's love. Some came to Christ and were saved, and I believe that +I shall meet some of them in the great home gathering bye and bye in +heaven. + +Early the following morning, I was told that the engine which was to +take me on my way was ready to start with its train of coal cars for +the station some ten miles distant; but that I would have time to +visit the hospital department where many were lying sick. I hurried +through the prison yard, filled with hogs and bloodhounds, to the +hospital, where I sang a song and prayed. I was turning to go when a +guard came running and said, "The whole train is waiting for you, +hurry up." As I was hurrying out a door opened and a woman called, "Do +come and see my son, he is dying. Do come and pray for him." I ran in +saying, "The train may go; I dare not refuse the request." I grasped +the dying boy's hand firmly and said, "Take hold on God as I take hold +of your hand. He will not forsake you. He will save you; look and +live." I offered a short prayer and ran down to the engine, which +still waited. There was something seeming so dismal in its sound in +those lonely regions. I had to ride on the engine, as there was +nothing but coal flats on this train. I was helped on and we were off. +The sun was just rising over the mountain and the heavy fog was +beginning to rise, and oh, such a blessing I received as we sped along +the winding way! I shall never forget the gloomy sight I left behind +me there. The poor prison-bound men marching out to the mines with +their lanterns on their caps and with their picks and shovels. They +never seemed so dear to me, and I began to see more clearly than ever +that God had a special work for me to do. I saw the value of a soul +bought with the precious blood of Christ. I saw, too, the need of +fully consecrated Christian workers. As we wound around the mountain +side I knew I had been obedient to my God, and His Spirit bore witness +with my spirit that He accepted my weak efforts. + + + DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. + +I was not always kindly received as mentioned in some instances. We +are not carried to heaven upon flowery beds of ease. I have many times +been refused the privilege even of singing a hymn in a prison. My +singing has often been blessed as a means of touching hearts, and +through it souls have been converted and are still true to God. I went +to visit another prison mining camp or stockade, in a very lonely +region where few people lived. I arrived upon a dark, gloomy night; +there was no depot and not a house near. There I was alone, yet not +alone, for God was with me. A young mulatto man who proved to be an +ex-convict, had come to the train with a lantern, and I asked him to +kindly show me the way to the home of the captain of the camp. I found +the officer had gone in search of a prisoner who had made his escape, +and his wife refused to take any one in in her husband's absence. She +said I should go to another officer some distance away. Ascending the +steps to the large house my heart sank within me, for I felt that I +should be turned away again in the night. The officer himself came to +the door to answer my call. Telling him my mission, I asked to stay +with them till morning. His wife would not consent to entertain me, +and I answered, "Where shall I go? I am alone, and a Christian woman +sent of God to help people in prison to a better life." He replied, +"There's a boarding house a mile away down the mountain," and the door +was shut. I asked my guide, "Is there not one Christian here in these +mountains?" He said, "Only one, a poor old colored man, that's been in +prison, and he lives up the mountain with his daughter, a young +woman." Crying as I went along holding to the brush with one hand, we +finally reached the hut at the top of the mountain. I told the young +woman my story and asked if I might stay with her for the night. She +answered, "No, my father is away and I cannot take in a stranger +without his consent." "Then I must stay out on the mountain alone all +night." She seemed sorry for me, and said I should wait till her +father came. I had not to wait long till he came, and kindly consented +for me to stay. I was weary and hungry from my long journey. I saw the +old colored man open the basket he had brought home with him. It +contained some cold food given him where he was employed. He asked me +to share his lunch, but I refused, as I believed he needed all he had. + +How thankful I was for shelter in that poor hut that night, though +sleeping by my side was that poor unfortunate colored girl with a babe +in her arms that cried all the night. There were cracks in the hut +through which you could see the stars. What a change the Lord had +wrought in the once proud woman that I had been! I remembered that +Jesus said, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but +the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." And "The disciple is +not above his master." I spent the night in prayer and God heard my +cries for the poor convicts who were cruelly starved and beaten by the +drunken guards and captain who seemed to bitterly hate all who were so +helplessly bound under them. This is a strong statement but I will +meet it at the Judgment. + +In the morning one woman who had turned me from her door sent to find +out what had become of me. She said she would give the young woman who +had sheltered me a present for not leaving me out on the mountain +alone. I had prayed earnestly that God would convict her for her lack +of hospitality. Upon going to the officer to learn when I could have +a meeting with the prisoners, he unkindly turned me away saying that I +should _never_ have a meeting there, and that I might as well go. + +Well, I did go; traveling eighty miles back to the capital, +Montgomery, Alabama, to see the Governor. I knew the Lord had sent me, +and how could I meet Him at the Judgment and tell Him I had failed? I +knew, too, that Satan had hindered. I asked for the Governor but was +told that the President of the Board of Prison Inspectors was the +proper person for me to see about the matter. He was sent for and soon +came. He was a very kind old gentleman and sat down and asked me what +I wished. When I had related the facts he said, "Who dare refuse you +holding meetings in that prison camp? You go back there and hold your +meeting. I'll write him a letter and let him hear from me." I said, +"But he will say he did not receive your letter." He then said he +would write a letter for me to present to him. But, how should I get +back to the camp? After selling my trunk and such articles of clothing +as I could spare, I yet did not have enough money to pay railway fare. + + + MY FIRST FREE PASS. + +Trusting the Lord to in some way provide means for me to get back to +the camp, I went to the janitress of the depot, an intelligent +mulatto, and told her of my need, as she had previously assisted me in +securing half-fare rates on the railroad, she having known the +officials since their childhood. She insisted that I should go to the +office of the general manager of the L. & N. R. R. and ask for a +half-fare rate to the prison camp at New Castle, Ala. Oh, how I +dreaded to go to that office! But tremblingly and prayerfully I went, +and presenting to him the letter which I was to carry with me to the +camp, I told him my desires. Upon reading this letter he handed me +what I supposed was a half-fare permit. I humbly thanked him and +returned to my lodging. After making preparation to start early in the +morning on my journey, before retiring for the night I knelt by my +bedside to thank God for the permit. Thinking I would see just how it +read before I prayed, I took it up and began reading, "Pass Mrs. +_Elizabeth R. Wheaton_ From _Montgomery_ to _Birmingham, Ala., Prison, +Missionary_." What! Did my eyes deceive me, or was it a mistake. No. +It was a free pass, and the following note was enclosed to the +Superintendent at the other end of the route regarding a return pass +if I should ask for it: + + Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co., + Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 15, 1885. + + L. Hage, Esq., Supt., Birmingham, Ala. + + Dear Sir: This lady, Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, bears credentials + showing her to be a prison missionary. Any courtesy you may + extend to her, in the way of pass, will be properly applied. + + Yours truly, + M. S. BELKNAP, Supt. + +Oh, how I did thank God for this manifestation of His goodness to +me--doing above that which I could ask or think! Mr. Belknap, that +kind R. R. officer, has been dead many years, and perhaps is forgotten +by some who knew him better than I, but I shall never forget his +unexpected kindness to me. Since then, through the goodness of God and +the favor and confidence of the railroad officials, I have received +transportation throughout the country, to carry the Gospel of Jesus to +men and women of every class. + +Upon my return to the prison camp I asked for the officer and told him +I had come to hold meeting for the prisoners. I suppose he had +received word from the Governor's office, as he so readily consented, +asking at what hour I would like to have the service. I thought best +to wait till the following day (Sunday) for the services, that I might +have sufficient time for my work. The Lord came in mighty power that +Sabbath day as I sang the old time hymns, and asked God to forgive and +help those precious souls. The Spirit gave me utterance and carried +the truth to the hearts of the hearers. Sobs and groans were heard +from men in tears who sought forgiveness and gave God their hearts. At +the close I took each one by the hand and exhorted them to be faithful +to God. I afterwards visited the sick and talked and prayed with them, +exhorting them to seek a home in heaven where sin can never come, and +where God wipes away all tears. How true the words, + + "Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, + Feelings lie buried that grace can restore; + Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, + Chords that were broken will vibrate once more." + +One Sunday morning I was going to a prison camp to hold meeting. There +was no way to get there excepting to walk through the deep mud. There +were a couple of boys going towards the stockade leading an old mule. +I said, "O, boys, CAN'T I RIDE THAT MULE?" "Certainly," they said. It +was with difficulty that I mounted the novel conveyance, and that I +remained on the mule's back. For some reason, I was filled with +apprehension. I had an impression that there was danger. I asked the +boys if they would not lead the animal, but they kept a good distance +from it, saying that they wanted to keep out of the mud. + +When we reached the camp and the officers came out and helped me to +dismount, they looked at me in great astonishment, and one of them +said, "What a narrow escape you have made! I only wonder that you got +here alive. It is a wonder that old mule didn't kill you. I wonder +that the boys let you take it!" I learned that the animal was so +utterly uncontrollable and vicious that they could only use him on a +dump cart to carry the prisoners' dinner or something of the sort and +then he would sometimes kick the cart all to pieces. + +I raised my heart in thanksgiving to God, knowing that He who stopped +the lion's mouth and held the flames of the fiery furnace had in some +way kept this ugly creature from doing me any harm and saved my life. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + Work in Stockades and Prison Camps--Continued. + + +I once had a novel experience in a prison lumber camp. I was being +entertained at the home of the superintendent of the camp and was to +hold service with the prisoners at twilight. The superintendent came +to the parlor and asked if I was ready for the service. We had not far +to go, but I was unable to walk the distance; so a carriage, drawn by +some of the prisoners, had been brought to the gate for me. I answered +that I was ready, but as I was waiting he again asked if I was ready +and why I was waiting. I replied that I was waiting for the horses. He +answered, "You come on, the horses will be all right." I had learned +to obey the officers, so followed on down through the beautiful yard +of flowers and reluctantly stepped into the carriage. Instantly four +prisoners took hold of the carriage and we were off. The men seemed +glad to assist me and I was so thankful to them. God bless them! I do +not think a queen with all her body-guard could have felt more secure +or have been more appreciated, than I, there surrounded by my dear +prison boys. After the service I was conveyed in the same manner back +to the home of the superintendent. + +At another time, desiring to visit a certain prison camp, I found +there was no way to reach it but to ride on a flat car with the men +going from their work. I was glad to go with them and have a chance to +speak a word of kindness and sing some hymns that might cheer them on +the way. + +In the pineries of Florida the stockade prisoners are engaged in +taking the sap from the pine trees. The camps are located some miles +apart, and in going from one to another the forests are so dense that +we were compelled to go in a two-wheeled donkey-cart. We encountered +great dangers, there being many poisonous reptiles and alligators in +the lakes and rivers which we had to pass. + + + ASSISTING A COLORED MINISTER. + +I arrived one Sunday morning at a stockade where hundreds of men and +some women were kept. I went to the keeper, or captain, as he was +called, and asked for the privilege of holding a gospel service with +the prisoners under his charge. He not only refused me, but was +abusive, cursing me and ordering me away. Of course I was much +grieved, as I felt the Lord had sent me there to preach the gospel. I +was greatly surprised that an official should use such language to a +lady, and without provocation. Weeping, I asked if I might sing for +the women prisoners. Again, with oaths, he refused me. But Brother +Frank Joseph, a colored preacher who knew me, was there to hold +religious services by permission of the governor, and he came and +invited me to assist him. Of course the captain could say nothing +against it and I went with him. But when he asked me to conduct the +service I could not at the first sing, preach or pray for weeping, but +I told him I would pray God to give them a kinder officer for I knew +the one they had was a cruel man. God used even my weakness and my +tears to touch their hearts and we had a blessed meeting. + +After service I had a chance to talk to the women prisoners. We wept +together and oh how thankful they were that there was one woman who +would try to help them and make their burdens lighter. They told me +how terribly they were treated and said they would be beaten if the +captain knew of their telling me of it. How glad I was to carry the +message of Jesus' love to them in their distress. Before I left they +said they wished they had something to give me, and some gave small +tokens of their regards. It was all they had to give and when they +urged me I accepted them as from the Lord, feeling that He would in +some way reward them and bless their offering as He did the widow's +mite. + + + THROUGH DANGER ALONE. + +Desiring to reach another stockade some miles distant I asked the +captain if he could not supply me with conveyance and a guide, but he +refused. I determined, however, to find the other prison and started +on foot alone. The prison women told me that it was very dangerous +because of fierce dogs and cross cattle in the mountains; but feeling +that God wanted me to go I knew no such thing as fail. After walking +some distance I sank down with exhaustion under a big tree and wept +out my heart to God for guidance, protection and success. I arose +feeling strengthened and comforted and soon came to a farm house and +asked a young man who stood in the garden if he could direct me to the +prison camp. "Yes, come in, lady, you look so tired and faint and my +mother will give you something to eat and we will show you the way," +was the kind reply I received. I stopped and rested a while but would +neither eat nor drink as I had given myself to fasting and prayer that +my way might be opened for services in the camp to which I was going. +After a long walk we found the stockade and knowing the young man who +was with me, the officers gave their consent for me to hold a service. +After I had been singing and talking to the prisoners a while suddenly +my strength failed me. I had only time to say, "Will you sing?" Then +I saw and heard nothing more. I HAD FALLEN PROSTRATE among those +chained prisoners. When I came to myself I heard singing from inside +the walls, such singing as could only come from truly broken-hearted, +repentant souls. I had been carried outside and the poor prison women +were caring for me. A good old colored sister was holding me close to +her and pleading with God to restore me. I heard her say, "She's a +woman like we is--and she's given her life for us." They were doing +all they knew and were crying around me. I said, "Please carry me back +into the prison." When they had done so I asked, "How many of you +prisoners will kneel with me in prayer and give your hearts to God, +take Him as your Savior and start today for heaven? God loves you, +Jesus died for you! And if you will come to Him and confess your sins +He will save you." Every one knelt before God, and many with prayers +and broken sobs cried out their hearts to Him who is not willing that +any should perish, but that all should have eternal life. I expect to +meet many of them in heaven; for He is able to save to the uttermost +all that will come unto God by Him--and able also to keep them from +falling. + +The following day, traveling from this prison to another stockade, +sitting near me in the car was an aged gentleman who on seeing my +Bible asked me where I was going. When I had told him, he asked me the +nature of my work and how the prisoners were treated in these places; +also how I was received by the officials of the prisons generally. +Thinking to only entertain a kind old country gentleman, I told him +many things which I probably should not have been so free to mention +had I known who he was. He asked me many questions about the +stockades. I told him that I had never been so cruelly treated as at +a camp on the previous day. "Where," he inquired, "Who did such a +thing?" In answer to his inquiry I told him who it was. Little did I +know that this was God's way of revealing sin. + + + A MEETING AT DAY DAWN. + +Reaching the small station at the foot of the mountain; we had to take +a box car only large enough for six persons. The old gentleman was one +of the passengers also. Going to the house of the captain at the top +of the mountain (such a lonely place), he thought it impossible to +have a meeting with the men, as he said they were so wicked and +unruly, etc., but finally said I might do so at day-break the next +morning. He was very careful, saying, "These men are so wicked and +cruel that never could a woman stand before them." I wept and prayed +most of the night and cried, "Oh God, can you let me fail now?" In +those early years of my labor I traveled much alone but later I +usually had a sister accompany me, or sometimes a sister and her +husband. + +Out in the prison yard at break of day I found hundreds of men all +ready to go down into the coal mines. I wondered how to gain their +attention and make them all hear my voice. I asked to have the men +drawn closer together, as they stood in the prison yard. This being +done, I sang a hymn. Oh how I do praise God for the gift of song! I +forgot my weird surroundings and the rough appearance of the men and +their dangerous looks. I saw them as little boys in the old home far +away and then as human souls, hurrying into the presence of God and I +felt that I stood between them and the Judgment. Conceive, if you can, +how this company must have looked to me, bound in companies of perhaps +fifty in a "gang," to a long strong chain to which was fastened a +number of shorter chains; these short chains being fastened to the +men's ankles. + +God enabled me to deliver His message and eternity alone will reveal +the results of the seed scattered there that morning. After shaking +hands with the men I was introduced to the old gentleman whom I had +met on the train the day before. To my surprise he proved to be the +President of the Board of Prison Inspectors of the state. I saw him no +more after that time, but a year later I visited the prison of which I +had told him. I saw at the depot a young colored man nicely dressed, +but I knew by his clothes that he was one of the prison boys. He had +come to get the morning paper for the warden. I walked with him to the +prison, and on the way asked him how they all were at the camp. "All +so nicely, thank you," he replied. "Who is your captain now?" I asked. +"Has there been any change since I was here last year?" "O yes, ma'am, +soon after you was here ma'am, just as soon as Massa (meaning the +President of the Board) could find a good man to take de place ob de +ole captun what treated de men so bad and 'bused you so, he sent him +away." "Oh, is that so?" I said. "Yes, an' we's got a good time now to +what we had befo' God sent you heah ma'am. He certainly did send you +heah ma'am dat time." So I had only suffered these indignities that +these abused ones might have better officers and treatment. The new +captain received me very kindly and giving me a seat said my breakfast +would be ready as soon as the prison women could prepare it for me. +Well, surely the Lord had been at work. Such a change all around! We +had a grand meeting and much good was accomplished, the captain +furnished a buggy to take me to the next camp and bring me back to the +depot. + + + HELPING TO BURY A PRISONER. + +After visiting the hospital department of a stockade where I had never +been before, I saw the guards nailing up a long, apparently heavy, +box. I said to them, "What have you in that box?" One replied, "A +man--a dead man." Soon after I heard an officer say to a guard, "Send +five prisoners to go with me to bury that box." I arose from where I +had been praying, and hurried out and asked permission to accompany +the men with the box, but was refused--the officer saying they had no +guard to spare to assist me up the mountain side. "Oh, just please let +me go," I said. "I do not need any one to help me to climb the +mountain. Please, won't you let me go?" He then consented, and I did +not wait for either bonnet or help; but with my shawl over my head I +hurried out after the men bearing the corpse. On we went up the +mountain side, until we came to a very steep place, and the poor weak +prisoners began to tremble under the heavy burden, along in front of +the guard who had his gun in hand. I knew if one should fall, the +guard might suppose he was trying to escape from him, and fire at him +and kill him. + +I took up a stick in my left hand to steady myself and placing my +right arm under the end of the box added my strength to that of the +tired men. When we reached the summit of the mountain we found the +grave already dug, but it was much too short for the box. I was almost +exhausted and came near falling. The grave being too short, they were +going to leave the corpse until morning and then return and bury it. +But I said, "Boys, you dig the grave longer and I will sing for you +while you work." I sang an old time hymn, and they lowered the box, by +pounding and jumping upon it and then hurriedly shoveled in the dirt. +Then I said, "Let us pray." And there in that dreary place I prayed +for the poor men who had performed this sad rite and for the guard. I +forgot my surroundings. I thought only of "SOME MOTHER'S BOY," who +perhaps died with a broken heart without a mother's care, now lying in +an unknown grave far away from home. Perhaps she had prayed for him +and God had sent me to pray over the lonely grave. There we left him +where all his mistakes should be forgotten. He may have sought and +found pardon in God. Who can tell? The stars were now shining and the +stillness filled me with awe. The men hurried down the mountain side +to the prison, leaving me behind in the dim starlight. I found my way +to the stockade, but found the door locked and with great difficulty I +made them hear me and was admitted. At about nine o'clock the +prisoners were brought together to have a meeting. The guard +ridiculed. The prisoners wondered at seeing a woman preaching. How I +trembled! Oh, for some one to share my burden! I asked, "Is there one +Christian here among you prisoners?" as I shook hands with them and +some of them pointing out an old colored woman, said, "She's a +Christian." I clasped her hand, hardened by work, and said, "Will you +pray for me, sister?" "Yes," she said, "Yes, I will, honey." + +God was there to touch and tender those hearts. They were unused to +meetings of this character, and perhaps had never heard of a woman +preaching. I well knew that unless God undertook for me the meeting +would be a failure. There seemed to be no way to reach these hard +hearts. The men and women stared at me. Suddenly I thought of the +great danger I was in, and the risk I had to run in getting back to +the village that night. I saw the head of a young prison boy droop +over on a man's shoulder, too sleepy to listen longer. Then I heard +and saw no more, but fell unconscious to the floor. The weariness from +the day's labor proved too much for my strength. But God used my +weakness to reach these hearts and when I regained consciousness, men +and women with tears, sobs and prayers, were crying to God for mercy +and forgiveness--pleading for help to be better men and women. I hope +I shall meet many of them in heaven "when the roll is called up +yonder" for they truly seemed to bring forth fruit meet for +repentance. + +The following day was spent among the sick and dying in the village. I +had asked the privilege in the morning to go with the train men to the +prison pest house where the sick prisoners were, but was refused by +the train crew, some of them ridiculing me and my work. I had only +kindly asked them the privilege, and then exhorted them to come to +Christ. I then told them I feared the next message would be judgment +from God. God bless the railroad men if some of them do make mistakes! +My heart goes out for them as they are always in much danger. I make +it a rule of my life to always pray for every train on which I travel +with its crew and passengers. And hitherto God has been my help. Bless +His holy name! + + + WRECK OF A COAL TRAIN. + +When I had returned to the boarding house in the evening I lay down to +rest. Many striking things occurred in this place. As I lay resting, +dishes were rattling and children were crying in adjoining rooms, my +room door leading into the open hall was standing open, and in came a +drove of little pigs. I looked up to see what it was, and one had +walked up to the fireplace where was burning a low fire, and stood +warming its nose. But they soon grew tired of indoor life and all +quickly scampered out as they had come in. They had seemed as much at +home there as myself. Amid this confusion I fell asleep. How long I +slept I do not know. I was awakened by heart-rending cries from men +and women. I sprang up and throwing a shawl over my head, I ran out in +the rain to see what I could do to help, for I knew some one was in +great agony. What I saw I shall never forget. The coal train and its +crew that had gone out in the morning had come in. THE ENGINE WAS +DITCHED in a terrible manner and men were crushed in the wreck. Women +were screaming as they ran to see if their loved ones were among the +victims. I met the same men I had warned in the morning carrying on a +board the fireman badly cut and bruised. I said, "Men, I gave you the +warning this morning. You rejected my counsel and I thought judgment +would come, but I little thought it would come so soon." They carried +the wounded man to an old baggage car. People were so excited they did +not know what to do. Here I was to learn a lesson in surgery. I found +an old pail and brought some water. Some bystanders gave me their +handkerchiefs and I proceeded to wash the blood from the poor wounded +head and limb, which was much crushed, and helped the doctor to bind +up the wounds. Soon there came a call for help from the scene of the +disaster. A messenger came running, saying, "Come quick! there is a +man dying whom we found under the engine." It was very dark, but I +hurried along through the mud and rain after the doctor to the scene +of suffering. They had carried him into the nearest hut, and he was +lying upon the floor unconscious. Kneeling beside him I raised his +head upon my hand. Consciousness returned. I cried, "Jesus can save +you even now; He loves you. He will forgive you now, only believe on +Him." He replied, "I do believe He does save me just now." Glory to +God! He is a present help in time of need; a friend that sticketh +closer than a brother. Dear reader, it is better to be saved before +the crash comes. The man was suffering terribly. The women, thinking +they must do something, had poured turpentine into the wounds thinking +it was camphor. We washed the wounds and I assisted the physician in +setting the broken limbs. God wonderfully helped me there to practice +what I preached, and I found what it means to love my neighbor as +myself. These railroad men were my neighbors, and they were suffering +and in a dying condition. One of the poor men cried piteously for his +mother. I traveled on the train on which one of the wounded men was +taken to the city where his mother lived and helped to care for him on +the way. We were delayed at that camp for two days. I will never +forget those days of service and suffering. + + + THE SUGAR CAMPS. + +At one time, I went into the Sugar Refining Stockades in Texas. +Leaving the train, we had to walk a long distance to the first camp. +The superintendent was angry at us for coming, and ordered us to go to +the next camp. He said there were women at the other stockade and that +he would not let us have any meeting, any way, with his men. We asked +him if he would please send a boy to carry our luggage, and he +refused, so we started on alone, to walk a long way. When we arrived +at the second camp we found only one guard and a couple of prisoners +working, and no women within miles. When the guard saw the situation, +he seemed sorry for us, and we were allowed to rest and wait until +the return of the prisoners, who were at work at a distance on +railroad repairs. In the meantime he sent a man to another stockade +some miles away, and the captain's wife there agreed to entertain us, +for which we were thankful. We had a meeting after the men came to +camp, and the guards came to us and said that the women at the camp +mentioned before had sent word that they would not keep us over night. +What _could_ we do? Finally I said, "Can you take us to the depot?" +They answered that they had no conveyance but AN OLD MULE AND A CART. +I said, "That is all right." So they got the mule and cart and helped +us in, and handed us our luggage. Then they sent a colored boy to go +before the mule with a lantern, and another followed after. In this +way we went on until we reached the little country depot, which was +all dark. One of the prisoners, who went with us, lighted the lantern +inside, and we called to the ticket agent, who had retired, asking him +to please check our luggage to San Antonio. This he refused to do, so +I said, "We are Christian women and will give you almost any price, if +your wife will allow us to stay with her until morning." He was angry, +still refusing to get up to check our luggage. He said he was not paid +for night work. We could not have gotten on the car had it not been +for a gentleman, going on the same train, who had his servant help us. +We went to San Antonio before we could get a place to rest and it was +then morning, but God blessed us in holding services in the prison +there that day. I never reported the agent who was so rude to us, as I +was sorry for him, for I was told he was a cripple, and I thought he +needed his work to provide for his family. + + + IN A GAMBLING SALOON. + +From Knoxville, Tenn., I went one night to the coal mine region. I +asked the landlord at the hotel for some one to show me a way to the +stockade some distance, and he sent his chore boy with me. We had a +long walk, and returned after meeting at night. It was late and as we +came down the mountain side I saw a light at a little distance, and I +said, "Where is that light?" He said, "That is the wickedest place; +they kill people there." Without waiting to consider the danger I +might be in, I said, "Wait here for me," and I hastened up the valley +and into the place, which I found to be a gambling saloon. Then, +without waiting, I poured out to them the Gospel message which burned +in my heart, I fell on my knees and prayed to God to save them from +the destruction to which they were going. Then I rushed out into the +darkness again, and found the boy waiting with the lantern and we went +on our way. I was thoroughly alarmed next day when I realized the risk +I had taken in going into such a place, but God has wrought mightily +for me all these years and preserved me from harm. As I write I feel +near home and heaven. Jesus is there. Soon I shall be with Him. + + + CONDITION OF CONVICTS. + +I wish that some who whine so much in church about taking up the cross +could see the inside of those stockades as I saw them--see the +suffering that existed, the sorrowful, heart-broken prisoners with no +ray of hope, no one to care about them; everything poor, scarcely +enough to keep them alive; the poorest of places to sleep; men +fastened to a large post in the middle of the stockade by a heavy +chain, compelled to wear their clothing till it would decay on them, +often so ragged that they could not hide their nakedness, and guarded +by bloodhounds and armed men. It was not proper under other +circumstances for a woman to see men in such conditions, but they had +souls to be saved or lost, and the Lord had commissioned me to go to +these men and tell them that Jesus loved them and wanted to save and +deliver them from the power of the devil who got them into such +places. + + + UNJUSTLY CONDEMNED. + +Judges often sentence men and women to years of hard labor in prison +for the slightest offenses. An old colored man employed in a store +took a box of cigars, but regretting the act, returned them confessing +his wrong, and asked forgiveness. He was arrested and sentenced to +twenty-five years in the stockade; one year for each cigar. Another +colored man was found on the street at night carrying five ears of +corn. He was sentenced to prison for five years. He with others was +working where the earth caved in and killed him. Who will answer in +the day of Judgment for that man's life and death? Yes, and his soul? +Were I to here relate some things I know to be true, awful in the +extreme, they would not be believed. Let us have the laws of God +enforced. Let those who may be anxious to punish wrong and have men +condemned upon circumstantial evidence, look into their own hearts and +lives and see if they have been free from condemnation. I do not want +to condemn judges nor jurymen, for they are not all to blame. A man or +woman should never be condemned until known to be guilty. People are +often prejudiced, and without proper investigation many are condemned +to punishment for crimes of which they are innocent. The cries of such +are come up before the Lord and He will hear and answer prayer. At one +time there were forty stockades in one state and about four thousand +prisoners in one state. Let us help those that are down. + +In many stockades I found men and women living together promiscuously +and children being born in the camp. The poor creatures were subjected +to all kinds of abuse and suffering, the women in great need of better +quarters, better food, and care. Ofttimes they were afraid for their +very lives. Many were killed outright; in one place where they were +far out in the coal mines many were brutally whipped and ill-treated. +I went to the Lord in prayer, and then to the state authorities and +the Governor went out with men and opened the graves of many, who had +died in camps. One of the officers was imprisoned for ten years; +another made his escape; others were dealt with more or less severely. +I had been out there myself, getting on the engine to ride out to the +stockade, and requested to see the prisoners after their day's work +was done, and as they came up from the mines they were so ragged that +I was compelled to turn my back as they passed. I got permission to +hold a Gospel meeting. After it was over, I requested the captain to +let one of his men take us to the next house, a distance of a mile or +more from the camp. When we knocked asking permission to stay for the +night, and telling who we were, the woman of the house said, "You had +better go and preach to those prison guards, who are killing off the +poor prisoners." She said she could not stand it to hear such awful +cries as reached her ears even at that distance from the stockade. She +told the guard just what she thought of the brutality shown the +prisoners and convicts. He said he was not to blame. He seemed to be a +kind young man. + +In one place I found one old colored man who was condemned to death. +He was filthy and dirty and had nothing to lie on but a heap of straw; +he was hungry and his cell was dark and damp. My heart ached to see +him so shamefully abused. Even condemned men have rights and they +should be respected; it is enough for them to know that they are to +die a horrible death, without having all kinds of abuse heaped upon +them; yet I have seen this in many prisons. How is it that friends are +so often denied the privilege of seeing those that are under death +sentence or those who are sick and dying? Let the truth be told and +let there be some one to investigate these things. I believe that +those who are most against prisoners, are those who are not familiar +with the conditions. Let good discipline be maintained, but let +prisoners never be brutally treated, simply because they are powerless +to help themselves. I find many things going on that are not right, +but I have never made complaint to the governors of the states, unless +compelled to do so, because of cases of extreme cruelty. + + + NEED OF REFORM. + +There is great need of reformation in the management of prisons, and +especially in the prison lease system and management of women +prisoners in the south. Oh, the shocking sights that have greeted me +on almost every hand! There is nothing more heart-rending to me than +the terrible, brutal treatment of helpless humanity. These prisoners +are entirely at the mercy of officers who are oftentimes void of +feeling, coarse and vulgar in the extreme. To get positions and make +money is the aim of many of today. The poor unfortunates shut up in +prisons and asylums are in many cases most shamefully mistreated. They +are supposed to be there for the purpose of reformation or treatment, +but were it not for the grace of God in my soul, I never could endure +the torture and anguish resulting from the sufferings I find among +these poor helpless men and women. I am not supposed to know the +conditions in these places, but twenty years of experience going +inside these walls have opened my eyes and I get behind the scenes. +There is a time of settling up of accounts and there will be a final +reckoning day at the judgment bar of God, for what was done in this +life, and how many will be weighed in the balance and found wanting! + +The following paper by Clarissa Olds Keeler was written to Brother S. +B. Shaw and read at the meeting of the National Convocation for Prayer +at St. Louis, Mo., May, 1903, and will serve to convey some idea of +conditions as they have existed in some parts of our land; though we +are glad to say that they are somewhat improved, in many places at +least. + + "LET THE SIGHING OF THE PRISONER COME BEFORE THEE." + + "Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the + prayer that is made in this place."--2 Chron. 7:15. + + When attending the Christian Workers' Convention in New York in + 1887 a man from Tennessee also attending the convention, said to + me, "I wonder the Christian people do not take up the work of + alleviating the sufferings of prisoners in the Southern States." + For years he had been an eye witness to treatment which he + described as "most atrocious," and the condition of the convicts, + especially those hired to contractors to work in coal mines, as + one of "starvation, fear and disgusting filth." Since these words + were spoken to me I have spared no pains to inform myself about + this new and most revolting form of slavery, and I can find no + words more applicable than these: "This is a people robbed and + spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid + in prison houses; they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a + spoil and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to + this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?" (Isaiah + 42:22, 23.) + + Each one of the twelve convict leasing states has had its own + bloody record which has been written down in God's book. + Influential politicians, United States Senators from both north + and south, members of state legislatures, private citizens, + heartless corporations, have all shared in the money coined out + of the bodies and blood of convicts in our southern states. + + But it is not my purpose now to go over the past. Wherever the + convict lease system has been introduced "Its presence has," as a + Georgian once said, "been marked by a trail of blood." The + accounts of this ghastly institution are too revolting to + present. + + But I want to call the attention of the Christian people to the + present condition of convicts, most of whom are colored, and many + of whom are guilty of but trifling offences and some of them none + at all. + + A man in Buncome County, North Carolina, wrote to the _Asheville + Gazette_, under date of March 15, 1903: "Where are we at and + where is the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals + that they or the Christian world have never heard the cries from + the poor unfortunate prisoners in the buck and the ringing of the + cruel blood stained lash? I have seen white men beaten until + their persons were blue and blood oozing from the lash from the + captain's hands in the Buncome chain-gang. And negroes--there is + no use talking." These prisoners, the writer says, have been + guilty of some misdemeanor and being poor and unable to pay a + fine are "sent to the road prison and there the lash is + administered on the naked back contrary to the spirit of the + constitution in abolishing imprisonment for debt and the lash at + the whipping-post." + + Now I would suggest that a society be formed for the prevention + of cruelty to prisoners. While the good people are praying for + the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on other lands may they not + forget that we need a baptism of fire right here in our own land. + + Our Saviour's last act of mercy and forgiving love was shown + toward a prisoner and shall we imitate His example, or shall we + not? His last command was: "Go ye into all the world and preach + the gospel to _every creature_." How many inmates of our prisons + have the gospel presented to them? When we all meet at the + judgment, as meet we must, how many will be there from the + mining pits and prison pens who can say truthfully, "No man cared + for my soul!" Neither do we care for the bodies of these + unfortunates; and as proof of this I will give you a few extracts + from papers of recent date. + + When the National Conference of Charities and Corrections was + holding its session in Atlanta the first of the present month, + some of the delegates were invited to visit the city prison + stockade where misdemeanor convicts are housed at night. This was + done "just for the amusement of the delegates." Hear what Mr. + Timothy Nicholson of Indiana, a delegate, said about his visit to + this "school of crime." He says: "I found in one room one hundred + and sixty prisoners, white men and women, black men and women and + even children, both black and white, male and female, all mixed + together indiscriminately. I was surprised and shocked to find + such a condition of affairs in a civilized country. It is simply + a shame and disgrace to civilization." The delegates declared the + place "inhuman and degrading." Yet this does not fully represent + the awful pen picture that might be given of this class of + prisoners in the county chain gangs all over the state. + + The following extracts are taken from an account given by an + Atlanta correspondent of the _Washington Post_ written under date + of May 5, 1903. "Revelations made to the Ware County grand jury + in regard to the horrors of the Georgia convict camps reached + Governor Terrell today. Hon. E---- M----, one of the leading + members of the Georgia House of Representatives, is involved in + the findings of the grand jury. + + "According to the report M---- and his brother operate an + extensive camp in Lowndes County. Witnesses before the grand jury + testified that in the M---- camp the brutalities are such that it + is revolting to describe them. For the slightest offence, it is + alleged, prisoners are stripped and chained and unmercifully + lashed by the whipping bosses. It is also alleged that the M---- + brothers go into counties adjoining Lowndes, pay the fines of + misdemeanor convicts, carry such convicts to their Ware County + (convict) camp and there keep them in serviture long after the + term for which the criminals were sentenced have expired. + + "The grand jury claims that at least twenty citizens of Ware + County are held as slaves in M----'s camp although their terms + expired over a year ago. There men are kept in stockade about + which armed guards march in order to prevent an escape, and men + thus illegally detained who escaped have been chased by + bloodhounds and recaptured." + + Official reports show that this class of convicts are guilty of + but trifling offences and some are vagrants. (For further + particulars see _Atlanta Journal_ May 5 and 11, 1903.) + + The penitentiary convicts of Georgia are worked in coal mines and + are subject to the same treatment. An experienced penologist said + recently concerning convicts worked in the mines: "In the rooms + of the mines are perpetrated practices too horrible to mention. + They become the nesting places of a bestiality that in many cases + lead the liberated convict into that crime to punish which the + mob, the rope and the stake are ever ready." (See Atlanta + Constitution, May 14, 1903.) + + Under the heading "Convict Camp Horrors," the editor of the + Memphis, Tennessee, _Commercial Appeal_ says in his paper, dated + April 11, 1903, concerning the facts recently brought out by the + legislative investigating committee: "The stories coming from + Brushy Mountain mines, with side lights from the state's convict + system, generally, furnish painful reading to the people of + Tennessee. When human beings who through fault or fortune's + untowardness are condemned to helpless and unresisting servitude + and who are subjected to torments and tortures, floggings and + flaggellations which are merciful only where they terminated in + speedy death, humanity is outraged and a sort of savagery in the + public cries out for speedy vengeance." Continuing the editor + says: + + "Convicts have been whipped to death. Convicts have been whipped + into physical helplessness. Convicts have been whipped + sufficiently to keep them in bed for months and injure them + permanently. Torturing them in the prison or in the mine recesses + is a sin against high heaven." These are some of the facts + brought to light by the prison investigating committee. + + The average number of prisoners worked in the Brushy Mountain + mines is about seven hundred and fifty. These convicts, which + form but a part of the number of the state's convicts, and who + were so inhumanly treated, earned last year for the state, clear + of all expenses, the sum of one hundred and ninety-five + thousand, seven hundred dollars. (See Nashville American, March + 30, 1903.) + + Recent developments also show that many innocent men are + kidnapped and worked and treated as convicts; especially is this + done in Alabama. Women and children share the same fate. During + the recent investigation into the enforced slavery of negroes in + Alabama by the United States Secret Service, among the abuses + which were unearthed was the whipping to death of a negro woman. + "This woman accused of being rebellious was laid across a log and + given one hundred lashes. Still showing a rebellious spirit her + hands were tied, and the rope was thrown over the limb of a tree + and pulled up so as to make it barely possible for her feet to + reach the ground. The woman, it is said, died two days later." + (See Washington Times, May 29, 1903.) + + The system of peonage slavery has been practiced for years in + Alabama and Georgia. One of the most successful plans practiced + is to bring a negro before a magistrate on a flimsy charge. As + the matter has been arranged beforehand, the negro is convicted, + and having no money to pay his fine, a white man offers to + advance him money provided the negro will make a labor contract + with him for the money and trouble he has taken to keep the negro + out of jail. He is taken away and begins what is usually a long + term of cruel servitude, frequently whipped unmercifully, and + every moment watched by armed guards ready to shoot him down at + any attempt to escape. + + Among the evils which have grown out of the prison contract + system, the number of which is legion, is that of turning out men + and women, boys and girls, thoroughly educated in these schools + of crime. They are thrown upon the world homeless and friendless + to poison and destroy those with whom they come in contact. Many + soon find their way back into prison, and some end their lives + upon the gallows. + + We sometimes on a Sabbath morning hear the President of the + United States prayed for, but what minister ever prays for the + poor parish behind prison bars? + + When the book is opened and we hear the words: "I was sick and in + prison, and ye visited me not," what are we going to answer? + + 1415 A. St., S. E., Washington, D. C. CLARISSA OLDS KEELER. + +For about four years at times Mrs. M. A. Perry, of Washington, D C., +traveled with me. In answer to my request for a brief report of the +work during that time I received a lengthy letter, from which I +extract the following: + + Dear Sister Wheaton: + +I praise God for the privilege of adding a few words for your book. +May the blessing of God rest upon it. To the readers I will say: I +first met Mrs. Wheaton in Boston, in February, 1893, in the home of H. +L. Hastings, the well-known publisher, where she was a guest. She had +then spent ten years in prison and other evangelistic work. I had +visited a jail and stationhouses, but never a penitentiary. We first +went to the Boston and Maine Railway office. Sister Wheaton said: "You +pray while I go and ask for a pass to go to the Thomaston, Maine, +prison." In about ten minutes she returned with the desired +transportation. By the kindness of the railroad officials from ocean +to ocean they have helped to forward the work of God. Many earnest +prayers are offered by Mrs. Wheaton for these men. We never boarded a +train without asking our Heavenly Father to bless the train men from +the engineer to the flagman. Many times we have spoken to conductors +who have said, "No one ever talks to railroad men about their souls." + +At Thomaston we had to wait until Sunday morning to enter the prison. +If ever the Lord Jesus Christ revealed Himself in a prison chapel He +was in the midst that Sabbath day. While "Mother Wheaton" preached, I +prayed for her and the presence of the Holy Spirit was so manifest +that every man expressed a desire to serve God. The result of that +day's work for the Master will not be known until we meet when Jesus +will reward his servants. + +We next went to the jail in Bangor, Maine, and God blessed the work +there in the salvation of souls. Then we went to the prison in +Wethersfield, Connecticut, and from there to the Vermont State Prison +at Windsor. But I cannot tell about them all! But wherever we went I +saw that the prisoners, both men and women, greeted "Mother Wheaton" +with a heartfelt welcome. + +We went to the prisons of New York state--to Auburn, Sing Sing, the +Troy jail and on to Buffalo. We visited the penitentiaries in +Philadelphia and Baltimore, and the workhouses of Maryland and the +District of Columbia. We met in these places many precious souls whom +the Lord gave his life to redeem and many of them were Christians. The +blood of Jesus is all powerful to reach any man or woman who will +repent and forsake sin and believe in Him. We have great reason to +praise God for the power of the Holy Spirit to reach the hardest +hearts. But O, there are behind the bars and "in the shadow of the +walls" loving and tender hearts. O, that professors of religion would +wake up to the fact that when Jesus, the King of Glory, shall come He +will say, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my +brethren ye have done it unto me." + +May God by his presence and power reveal to the managers of penal +institutions in every land and nation that Jesus Christ is the friend +of sinners in every condition. I believe the dear Lord Himself has put +such love for prisoners in the heart of our sister Wheaton that she is +willing to take a mother's place--no matter when she sees them. In +riding along on the trains sometimes we came to prisoners (leased out +to hard labor) in the most unexpected places. We were soon off the +train to look after these men who were marched from the camp or +stockade. + +I must speak of some of the experiences we had in the prisons, +stockades and prison farms of the southern states. We were, in most +cases, courteously received and entertained by the wardens and their +families. God bless the men who have done what they could! But O, how +I have been shocked at things we saw in these places, many of which I +cannot write. I wish I could give some idea of how glad the poor +manacled prisoners were to see their white-haired "mother" come again. +I believe the seed sown shall not be lost. + +The women on the farms are required to roll logs, clear land and do +all kinds of drudgery. + +We went to the camps, the phosphate mines, saw-mills, coal mines, and +the turpentine camps. Sometimes we rode for miles in wagons. I think +Mother Wheaton never felt that any place was too dangerous or too out +of the way for her to go in order to say a word of comfort and to +encourage hearts. We sometimes rode on the engine up the mountains to +camps where hundreds of prisoners were working. We saw men with iron +rings around their necks and a chain and ball attached, some with +chains around their waists and running down to their ankles with a +ring attached. + +I want to speak especially of a visit to one of the state farms where +all the prisoners, with two exceptions, were colored women. + +When we arrived at the station there was no vehicle in sight but a +buggy and mule which a little boy was driving. She asked him to take +us to the women's prison, which he kindly did. When we got there +between seventy and eighty women were at dinner, sitting on the ground +under the trees with their little tin pails which held boiled bacon +and cowpeas, with a piece of corn bread in their hands. They had +worked from sunrise. How they welcomed "Mother Wheaton"! Many of them +were in tears as she began to sing. She asked how many of them had +seen her before. Many hands went up and they told where and when they +had seen her in the past. How they shook her hand and said, "O, 'deed +I is glad to see you once more, honey." But soon they had to go back +to the field till dark. After all had their supper we went to the +stockade where they were to sleep, to hold a service. Such singing I +never heard. Then "Mother Wheaton" preached, prayed and sang. If ever +God answered prayer He surely did for those poor women and in place of +that stockade there is now a new prison house with things reasonably +comfortable. + +We went to other farms, stockades and prisons. I do thank God for the +privilege of going into these places where "Mother Wheaton" was the +first white woman to visit or to pray and sing. Regardless of danger +in approaching these out-of-the-way places, her love for God and for +those who were despised and downtrodden, carried her through untold +hardships. We were at times in danger of bloodhounds, alligators and +venomous reptiles. + +I am sure that through her intercession with governors and wardens and +superintendents "Mother Wheaton's" work has proved a blessing to +thousands of prisoners. I have seen the results of her work in many of +the states. Her preaching and singing have been used of God, but above +all I knew that the hours of prevailing prayer have been a still +greater power for good. In answer to prayer God has opened doors and +done many wonderful things whereof we are glad. + +Again we went to the South to visit prisons and stockades where we had +been in former years. Great changes had been made. There was much +improvement in their condition. I hope the time may soon come when +only the law of love and kindness shall prevail. + +We held street meetings in many places. One night after holding one of +these open-air services we boarded a train. A man and wife came on the +train. She told us that her husband had attended the street meeting +and was under such conviction for sin that he could not rest. There on +the train, while we knelt in the aisle of the car, he was converted to +God and went on his way rejoicing, while we went to visit a +penitentiary where hundreds of men and women needed the same work of +grace wrought in their hearts. + +Often we saw answers to prayer in the healing of prisoners who were +sick. God's Word is true. He says He is no respecter of persons, and +He is able to do more than we can ask or think. May God bless every +soul for whom we have prayed. + +Sister Wheaton and myself have spent many long hours at a time +together pleading for the men and women behind the bars. It means much +to be divinely called to this work. + +Oh! how many with broken hearts lie in the lonely cells every night! +May God help everyone who reads these pages to remember that there is +one MOTHER of all the prisoners who weeps and prays in sympathy with +them. I wish every mother and wife, or sister, who has a precious one +"in the shadow of the walls," would pray for "Mother Wheaton," that +she may be helped of God in preaching the Word, and that God's +blessing may rest upon her for her kind loving words and the +hand-clasp that reaches so many hearts. Pray that health and strength +may be given her as she comes in and goes out among these erring ones. + +I know she has been through deep waters and great sorrows. Her life +has been one of self-sacrifice in behalf of the unfortunate. May God +bless and help her and give her the crown of righteousness that is +laid up for the faithful. + +One night after worship at the home of the warden with whom we were +stopping, Sister Wheaton was singing a hymn, when suddenly the warden +asked, "Sister Wheaton, will you come over into the prison-yard and +finish that hymn?" She replied she would gladly do so if he thought it +would do good. So we hastened to the prison-yard, some little distance +away, and quietly entered the enclosure, and she began singing. Her +clear, strong voice awakened the sleeping prisoners. The incident was +so unusual that some of them (as we were told afterward), negroes +especially, awaking suddenly, thought that the Judgment Day had come, +and tumbling out of bed, fell upon their knees and began praying for +God to have mercy upon them and save their souls; so God evidently +used the song to bring conviction to hearts. After the singing we +returned as quietly as we had come, trusting the results with God. + +[Illustration: NEW MEXICO PRISON, SANTA FE, N. M.] + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + Work in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Santa Fe, New Mexico + + +Soon after starting out in my work, when changing cars in an Iowa town +I saw a crowd of people who were curiously gazing upon three young men +who were handcuffed, and bound together being taken to the state's +prison at Fort Madison. I went up to them, shook hands, and said, "I +am sorry for you. Don't be discouraged. Cheer up. Give God your +hearts. Obey the rules. Do the best you can and God will do the rest." +They seemed cheered and relieved seeing I neither feared nor shunned +them. I inquired their names and told them I would try to see them in +prison, but did not know how soon. + +A few weeks later I went to Fort Madison and obtained permission of +the Chaplain, W. C. Gunn, to hold a meeting the following Sunday. This +was my first effort to hold divine service in a prison. Then I +inquired for the three young men I had seen when on their way there, +but could find no record of them. I assured the Chaplain they were +there and observing the prisoners closely I saw one of them at work. +As our eyes met, I saw a look of distress on his face. He recognized +me and was afraid I would tell who he was. He had given a ficticious +name--as had also the others. + +But before Sunday came I began to think: "What if I should make a +mistake and could think of nothing to say when I come before all those +hundreds of prisoners?" And then there were the officers in their +suits of blue with brass buttons! It all seemed too much for me, and, +like Jonah, I took ship and ran away. + +That night I started by steamer for Mobile, Alabama--but God knew I +did not mean to disobey and He let me work among the stockades in the +south until I got boldness to enter other prisons. After a year or +more I returned to Fort Madison and was granted the privilege offered +me before and from that time to this I have always been made welcome +there and have had many blessed seasons within these walls. There is +no place where I have been more kindly received by both officers and +prisoners than at Fort Madison. Chaplain Gunn and wife were always +true and loyal friends. 'Tis now several years since he crossed over +to the better shore. I shall ever remember with deep gratitude the +kindness of himself and family. Chaplain Jessup and wife, and Warden +Jones and wife, as well as other officials, have been especially kind +and courteous. To the prisoners at Fort Madison, also, I must give the +credit of contributing freely from their small savings to my +necessities. While I would gladly mention all who have especially +befriended me I feel that this tribute is due to the officers and men +of Fort Madison. That it is deserved may be easily seen by the +following communications and selections from letters which I find +among my papers: + + Warden's Office, Iowa Penitentiary, + Fort Madison, Iowa, August 3, 1889. + + The bearer, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, a devoted Christian woman, + has for years been visiting the prisons and jails of this country + seeking to do good to their inmates. I think she should be kindly + received and encouraged by prison authorities. I do not think any + one has ever spoken to the convicts in this prison with better + effect and I am sure that no one who has ever addressed them will + be longer or more kindly remembered by them than Mrs. Wheaton. I + heartily commend her and her good work to those engaged in + prison management and to good people everywhere as most deserving + of their aid and encouragement. It affords me all the more + pleasure to give Mrs. Wheaton this testimonial because it was + unsolicited and because of the unobtrusive way in which she goes + about doing good. + + G. W. GROSLEY, Warden. + + * * * * * + + Ft. Madison, Iowa, Oct. 5, 1893. + + Rev. J. M. Croker, Chaplain State Prison, Anamosa, Ia. + + My Dear Brother: This will introduce to you our dear sister, Mrs. + Wheaton, the prison missionary, who would like to address the + prisoners. Any favors shown her will be duly appreciated. + + Yours truly, W. C. GUNN, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Fort Madison, Iowa, June 4, 1897. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Tabor, Iowa. + + My Dear Mother: I will first ask your pardon for not answering + your letter sooner. But I am always so busy the last days of the + month, also the first days, as I have all the time of the + contract men to make up to send to the contractors, also have my + monthly report to the governor, and as we give the boys a holiday + Monday I think you would readily see I have had my hands full. + + I sometimes think it is more than I can stand. I want to do right + by the men but it is so hard at times to tell just what is right. + I sincerely thank you for your kind interest in me. And may our + great and good God always be with you is the wish of your true + friend. + + J. R. JONES, Deputy Warden. + + * * * * * + + Fort Madison, Iowa, Sept. 6, 1899. + + Mrs. Wheaton: Enclosed please find draft for ----, the poor boys' + free-will offering in appreciation of your kindness in visiting + them. You are thought more of by them than any one else + living--even their relatives. Please sign the enclosed receipt, + and send it back to me, that I may have something to show what + became of the money. Thanking you for your visit. + + Yours truly, + W. C. GUNN, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + Fort Madison, Iowa, Feb. 13, 1901. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Tabor, Ia. + + My Dear Sister: Enclosed find draft for ---- from + prisoners--entirely a free will offering, given without other + solicitation than what you heard me say when you were here. + Please excuse delay in forwarding, partly due to uncertainty as + to your whereabouts. Perhaps you will write me a short message + for the men, who will be glad to hear from you. With best wishes + and prayers for your welfare and success in your work, I am, Very + sincerely yours, + + A. H. JESSUP, Chaplain. + + * * * * * + + My acquaintance with Mrs. Wheaton began four years ago, at the + first Sunday service I held as chaplain of this prison. Standing + by my office window before the men had come into the chapel, I + saw a motherly-appearing lady enter the prison, escorted by the + assistant deputy. A few moments later we met on the chapel + platform, and I was introduced to "Mother Wheaton," the woman who + for many years had, in prisons and jails, all over the country, + sought to quicken in the prisoners' bosom a new life, and lead to + the Savior those who all their lives have been rejecting Him. It + was my first service with the men, as I have said, and I felt + constrained to preach as I had come prepared to do, although on + subsequent visits I have gladly granted all the time to Mother + Wheaton. After I had preached, Mrs. Wheaton talked, and sang, and + prayed, and many of the men were visibly affected, some to tears, + by her earnest pleading. Later she went to my office and met a + boy who was soon going out, and prayed and talked with him in a + manner that must have made him determine to strive for a better + manhood. Our prison has received several visits from Mother + Wheaton since then, and always, I believe, with lasting good to + the men, over many of whom she has exerted an influence for good. + Earnest, apt and ready in speech, always seeming to live close to + God, and to hold instant communion with Him, and consecrated soul + and body, time and means, to her work--these perhaps account for + her useful service. That she has a ready sense of humor, too, is + perhaps one reason the "boys" listen to her so well. I recall one + incident. She had come down from Burlington, where she was + obliged to secure a pass on the railroad. The proper officer not + being at hand, she went from one to another, until at last one + was found with authority to issue a pass, but who did not know + her or her mission. "On what ground do you want a pass?" said the + railroad man. "I am working for God, and He owns the railroads," + was the unexpected reply. "But, madam, where are you going?" + gasped the official. Quick as a flash came the answer, "To + heaven!" But by this time the railroad man had recovered from his + surprise, and seemed equal to the emergency, and proved himself + to be a gentleman as well, for he said quietly: "If that is your + destination, madam, I am unable to accommodate you, for I regret + to say the place is not on our line; but if you want a pass to + any place on our road you can have it." In relating the incident + in the prison chapel Mother Wheaton added that she secured her + pass to Fort Madison, and that when she reached here she thought + she was next to heaven, for here she had first attempted her work + for souls, in State's Prisons, and here she believed many + precious trophies for the Master had been given her. + + I noticed on her last visit that while she seemed in usual + health, her hair was whiter, betokening the gathering years. I + could wish that now she who for so many years has not known the + blessing of home, might find a place in which to spend in rest + and communion with God, and helpful but gentle ministrations, the + balance of her life, until He whom she has followed in her + efforts to do good, may say: "Come up higher, thou blessed of my + Father. Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these my brethren + ye did it unto me." + + A. H. JESSUP, + Chaplain Iowa State Penitentiary. + + Fort Madison, Iowa, April 18, 1904. + + + WORK IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. + +Several interesting experiences have occurred in connection with my +visits to the prison at Santa Fe, New Mexico. At one time I found +there a good old Christian man, "a trusty," who had charge of the +Superintendent's horses, driving the family to town, etc., and had +much liberty given him. One day he sat in front of me, driving to +town, and I said to him, "I am going to pray to God to remove the +'stripes' from you." He said, "Pray for my release--I know God hears +prayer." I did so, as did also my good co-workers, returned +missionaries home from Africa on a visit. In three or four days the +warden gave him citizens' clothes; and soon after the governor gave +him his pardon. + +We were led to pray for a pardon for brother T. of the same prison, +and in three months he was a free man. At the time I had a sister with +me from Japan. On my return from the Pacific coast we again held +services in the prison at Santa Fe, and during the meeting I said, +"What do you want me to sing, boys?" One said, "Sing, 'Some Mother's +Boy.'" I did so, and in the morning, before I left the prison, the +officer said to me, "Here is two dollars a man sent in from the prison +for you." Upon inquiring the name of the prisoner I found it was J. L. +As they told me he was a good man, a Christian, and a good prisoner, I +took his case also to the Lord in prayer. Within three weeks he was +given a pardon by the governor. The three men mentioned were all +Christians. + +In none of these cases did I go to the governor, but just left all in +God's hands, and prayed if God was pleased to set these men free, that +He would impress the governor to give them their release. These cases +occurred at different times. I am sure that the hope of pardon has in +many cases saved the lives of prisoners, and also saved them from +insanity. + +I give below a letter received from Brother T., also quote from a +sketch of his life, as published by McAuley Water Street Mission, N. +Y., and sent me by himself; also letters from the Secretary of the +Christian Endeavor Society of the Santa Fe Prison, and very kind +letters from Governor Thornton, Superintendent H. O. Bursom, and +Brother S. H. Hadley, of Water Street Mission. + + May 26, 1903. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I suppose you will be surprised to hear from me. The last time I + saw you was in the Santa Fe Territorial Prison. You had a meeting + in the cell house. I was the trusty who went with you to the + depot. If you remember, you prayed for the removal of the number + from the back of No. 917 and that he would be freed; you also + told me you would pray that I would get out of prison. Your + prayers have been answered. I was pardoned last Christmas, and am + here working among the criminal classes as a missionary. You + remember of my having been converted before your visit to the + prison. It is a great blessing to me to spend the balance of my + life thus, who had been sent to prison for forty years, under + conviction and sentence for a crime of which I was perfectly + innocent, although I was a great sinner in other respects. + + Yours in the grand work, + E. U. T. + + + SENTENCED TO FORTY YEARS IN PRISON. + + On the night of July 6, 18----, I was playing the banjo in a + notorious gambling house in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It had been + my business for years and I liked the surroundings; they suited + me exactly; in fact, I have traveled from my home in the East, + from city to city, through all the slumdum of the western cities + playing my banjo; I thoroughly enjoyed it and the company which + it brought me. * * * I was arrested on suspicion and locked in + jail. I had no money, no friends and no character, and I began to + realize for the first time what my life was bringing me. I was + finally brought to trial and convicted on circumstantial + evidence, and sentenced to forty years in prison for a crime that + I knew nothing more about than the judge who sat upon the bench. + + Dear reader, can you enter into this story with me; can you form + an idea of my despair as I received practically a life sentence + for something which I did not do? My heart was hard and bitter + against myself and everybody else as I was taken to the + Territorial penitentiary at Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was in the + prime of life, only 28 years old, but, oh, what steps I had + already taken in the downward path that leadeth unto death. Every + evil habit had fastened itself upon me, and after I had taken my + place in the prison I almost went wild with terror and despair + when I realized what was before me. I was soon set to work with + pick and shovel digging out trenches on the grounds, and I tried + to do the work the best I could and be a good prisoner. I presume + I was, for a little time afterward I was placed in the library, + and had charge of the greenhouse as well. + + One Sunday afternoon in the chapel the speaker took for his text, + St. John, 3, 14th and 15th verses: "As Moses lifted up the + serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted + up;" + + "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have + everlasting life." + + The speaker dwelt at length on this actual occurrence and also + how God commanded Moses to erect a pole with the brass serpent, + and although there were there people dying by the thousands, + those that looked on that brazen serpent were healed. He brought + the application home to us prisoners--how the serpent of sin had + stung us so deeply and our only remedy was to look to Jesus + Christ, who was lifted up on the cross, and my hard heart began + to melt and a desire came to me to be healed of this terrible + serpent's bite. The speaker instructed us when we got back to our + cells to read this whole chapter, and when I got back to my cell + I took up the book and read, and I prayed to God to open my heart + so that I could understand what He wanted of me, and as I read + the blessed Holy Spirit came to my poor soul and showed me what a + sinful man I was, and I then and there became a child of God. + Great peace came to my soul, which at first I could scarcely + understand, but although still a prisoner and wearing the + stripes, I was a free man in Christ Jesus, and I rejoiced in my + new found life. After this, prison life was not so dreary as it + was before. + + Among the many different workers who came to the prison was Mr. + and Mrs. J. E. Wood, of Santa Fe; he is Mail Agent on the road. + He is a blessed man, and one who loves the prisoners. Another + person I would like to mention is the person known as "Mother + Wheaton." I think I should speak of a little circumstance that + happened to one prisoner who went by the number 917, and who wore + this number in great big cloth figures on his back; he drove + "Mother Wheaton" to town, as he was a "trusty," and she said that + she was going to pray that the Lord would take that number off + his back, and in a few days after that the Warden came in with a + new suit of clothes for him without the stripes or + number--citizen's clothes. She once said to me: "I am going to + pray to the Lord to get you out of here," reminding me of the + prayer she made for No. 917. "Mother Wheaton" prayed for my + release. On Christmas day, 1902, three months after the above + conversation took place, I was in the chapel of the prison in the + entertainment that was going on. Governor Otero sat in the + balcony. + + The custom is that someone shall receive a pardon on Christmas + day, and no one has any intimation who it is excepting the + Governor. I had not the slightest idea that I would be the lucky + man, and after the Assistant Superintendent asked that I play a + certain composition of my own, he requested me to step out and he + read the pardon; to my surprise my name was in the pardon, and, + oh, the joy that came to me when I began to realize that I was a + free man, but, dear reader, this pardon, great as it was, did not + compare with the joy that came in my soul as I realized that I + had received the pardon from my Redeemer, and that all my sins + were forgiven and all my past crimes blotted out. + + While in the prison I read an account in a paper of the + experience of S. H. Hadley, who was then in New York connected + with the Jerry McAuley Mission, and I was desirous of going to + New York to meet this man. I did so, and before I had been ten + minutes in his office he told me what already was filling my + soul, that I should be a worker for Christ and try to save those + who had fallen, and the down-trodden. I stepped out on the Lord's + promises with but very little knowledge, except the knowledge of + sins forgiven, and a big hope in my soul of eternal life, and a + love that I cannot express, without one dollar in my pocket, but + with the simple faith in Jesus. I am working every night and day + at every door that is open, and every one that I can open, where + I can tell the wonderful story of Jesus' love to sinners. Dear + reader, pray for me that God may wonderfully use me. + + "The dying thief rejoiced to see + The Fountain in his day, + And there I do, though vile as he, + Wash all my sins away." + + * * * * * + + New York, ---- 18, 1904. + + Dear Mother: + + It gives me much pleasure when I think of your going from prison + to prison telling the poor boys and girls behind the bars of + Jesus. It always gave me great joy when I heard that our dear + mother was going to speak to her boys at ---- Prison; because I + knew you were our friend. I wish to again thank you for the day + that you prayed that God would open the prison doors for me. God + answered your prayer, and after serving about seven years of a + forty years' sentence the prison doors were opened for me, and + God sent me to New York to labor for souls. He sent me to Mr. S. + H. Hadley, the present superintendent of the old McAuley Mission, + and he has been indeed a father to me. + + I am so thankful that God sent me to such a good man--one who + loves the lost sinner; and one who is willing to do anything in + his power to help the helpless. May God's richest blessings be + your portion is the prayer of your son in the Gospel. + + E. U. T. + + * * * * * + + McAuley Water Street Mission, + New York, Sept. 11, 1903. + + "Mother Wheaton," as the boys behind the prison-bars, yes, and + those who have by her prayers gone out from behind the + prison-bars, affectionately call her, is one of the unique, + missionary characters in this country. She travels all over this + land with but one object in view and that is to tell sinners of + the powerful, deathless love of Jesus and how no one can be too + bad for Him to save. She brings sunshine to many sorrowing hearts + and hope to thousands who never knew what hope was until they met + her. An ex-convict, who is one of my helpers now, was prayed out + of practically a life sentence by Mother Wheaton. + + I have seen her curled up in some seat in a day coach at three + o'clock in the morning on a Southern railroad because she had not + money enough to take a "sleeper" and had to travel all night or + lose an appointment to speak at some stockade or prison. + + God bless her book and speed it on. + + S. H. HADLEY. + + * * * * * + + Santa Fe, N. M., May 26, 1903. + + Elizabeth Wheaton, Prison Evangelist, + Los Angeles, Cal. + + Dear Friend in Christ: Yours of 23d received, and am happy to say + that Mr. Trout (No. 99) has been pardoned, and is now engaged in + bringing souls to Christ down on Water street in the McAuley + Mission, New York City, using his musical talents to further the + cause in which he is now devoting the rest of his life. I am sure + he would be more than pleased to hear from you. All the boys are + as well as could be expected, and a visit from you would be much + appreciated. + + The C. E. S. has increased by seventy, making a total of one + hundred and five. God bless you in all your efforts in the cause + of Christ is the wish of all. + + Respectfully, + P. M., sec. Prison C. E. S. + + * * * * * + + Santa Fe, N. M., July 28, 1903. + + Dear Mother: ... Your letter to Mr. J. W. L. came to hand in due + time. I wrote you at Tabor, Iowa, in regard to the God-given + gift, sweet liberty, which came to him on the twelfth of July. + God has answered your prayer sooner than he had expected. He left + the prison gates with full trust and confidence in the mercies of + the omnipotent power of God. He is now in W---- with his brother. + May God's benign countenance look down upon you and increase the + manifold blessing and grace that He has so richly endowed you + with. I will distribute the tracts and learn the song. All your + boys send their respects and wish to be remembered in your + prayers. + + Yours in Christ Jesus, + P. M., Sec. C. E. S. + + * * * * * + + New Mexico Penitentiary, Santa Fe, N. M., Sept. 19, 1903. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I was pleased to hear from you, and was exceedingly happy to know + that you are going to put your experiences and noble work of the + past amongst the unfortunates in prison into book form. + Certainly, dear mother, no one knows the heartaches and sorrows + of this class better than yourself. God has blest you in + preparing you for this work and sending you from prison to prison + to gather in the wavering souls from eternal destruction. + + God grant you many years more of service in the field where souls + are perishing and when your earthly career shall have closed, the + shining crown of eternal bliss in the presence of the King of + Heaven and Earth, will forever be your beacon light to make you + think of the ones below. Many, yea many unfortunates not yet born + will read from these same prison cells of the work of "Mother + Wheaton" in the prisons of our country. My every breath and + prayerful utterance is "God be with you till we meet again." + + As ever, one of your boys in Christ Jesus, + + PHILIP M., Sec. C. E. S. + + * * * * * + + TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO. + + Office of the Executive, Santa Fe, N. M., Oct., 1895. + + Judge E. V. Long, Las Vegas. + + Dear Sir: This will introduce to you Mrs. Wheaton, traveling in + the interests of the prisons and asylums. She may want to hold a + service at the asylum. If so please see that the opportunity is + afforded her. + + Yours respectfully, + W. T. THORNTON, Governor. + + * * * * * + + New Mexico Penitentiary, Sante Fe, N. M., Sept. 19, 1903. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton has been paying our institution visits on + various occasions for some years past, and during these visits + has done very much valuable work towards furthering the + discipline of the institution. Her words of comfort and wholesome + advice together with her teachings of Christianity has cheered + many a poor, unfortunate soul up to believing and hoping for a + better future; to realize that justice demands that some + punishment be meted out to wrong doers and violators of the laws + of the land; that such punishment is not eternal; that they can + receive consolation and comfort their conscience even inside of + the prison walls by resolving to be better men, by a closer + observance of the moral laws as dictated by their conscience, a + faithful compliance of their duties as men or women, and a strict + obedience to their overseers acting under the law and, above all, + an abiding faith in the Almighty God. + + Mrs. Wheaton has taught them to understand that they must not + only resolve but must demonstrate by their actions in every day + life a sincerity of purpose. + + The management feels very grateful indeed for the splendid work + so generously devoted in the interest of humanity, which I + consider also a most valuable assistance to the prison management + in maintaining discipline and turning out discharged prisoners as + better men and women, better equipped morally, physically and + spiritually to meet and solve the problem of living an honest and + upright life, earn and care for those who may be dependent upon + them. + + H. O. BURSOM, Superintendent. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + Gone Home from the Scaffold. + + "Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to + the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are + appointed to die."--Psalms 79:11. + + "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." + + +One of the most touching things, and to me the most important of all +this God-appointed work, has been my special mission to those who are +doomed to execution. + +If there ever is a time in our lives when we need a friend, it is when +we are sick, in trouble, or about to die. The last words of our loved +ones are very dear to us all. Nearly every home has at some time had a +call from the death angel. And looking through the bureau drawer, you +might see the little garments, shoes and playthings that used to be +our darlings' before they went away. Turn the leaves of the old Family +Bible and you will see hidden between its pages a lock of hair, +perhaps father's or mother's. We look up to Heaven through our +blinding tears, and cry out between our sobs: "Oh, God, help me to say +'Thy will be done.'" + +In looking over my packages of old letters from the departed ones who +have paid the penalty of a violated law, dying either in the electric +chair or on the scaffold, I find them coming to pieces, some so badly +worn I can scarcely read them. And I know the hands that penned them +are now returning back to dust. + +In order to show how God saves when they are truly penitent, even men +of this class, who are counted the worst of criminals, I will give an +account of a few instances which have come under my own observation, +and extracts from some of the letters I have received--written before +execution. And let us remember that our Savior declared that every sin +shall be forgiven to men, except the sin against the Holy Ghost. + + + INDIFFERENT BUT FINALLY CONVERTED. + +The first one who was converted under my ministry, before going to the +scaffold, was executed in August, 1885, in the state of Kentucky. On +going to jail I found this young man there with the sentence of death +upon him. The burden of his lost condition came upon my soul in great +power. I felt I should die unless he was saved, and cried mightily to +God for his conviction and conversion. I held several meetings there +and was entertained a part of the time by the sheriff's wife, who was +a Christian lady. She, too, was very anxious for this young man's +salvation. As I took the train to leave the place, his mother +accompanied me to the depot--crying and pleading, "Oh, pray for my +poor boy. It will surely kill me." The bitter wail of that mother's +heart seems to still ring in my ears. Letters from the sheriff's wife +came often, telling me of the boy's still seeming indifferent. But she +said that he often inquired about me and wanted to see me. + +I prayed for this soul almost incessantly for forty-five days, being +scarcely able to sleep at night; and he was finally converted. After +his conversion I received from him the following letters: + + ----, KY., August 5, 1885. + + My Dear Friend: + + I received your card this morning and was very glad to hear from + you indeed. Mrs. Wheaton, I feel my Savior in my heart. I know + that He will save my soul. I am praying to my God every hour in + the day. I am praying for God to place something in my heart to + tell the people when I go to the scaffold. I want to tell them + what my Savior has placed in my heart--the man that suffered and + died that I should have everlasting life. I wish you could be + with me once more on earth to sing and pray with me, but if not, + I will meet you on that other shore. My friend Charley is praying + and singing with me every day and night and says he will meet us + in the kingdom. They are all well here but Mrs. N. (the sheriff's + wife). She has been sick, but is better now. I would like to be + with you once more before I die, and if not, look out for me when + you reach that happy land. Good-by, good-by. Remember me in your + prayers. I have yet nine days to live. + + From your friend, + H---- F----. + + * * * * * + + ----, KY., August 12, 1885. + + My Dear Friend: + + I received your card tonight at my cell door. I seem to see you + now at the door of my cell, praying for me. The sheriff came in + this morning and put shackles on me. But I thank God that after + two days more I will be at rest. I have been praying to my Father + to teach me something to tell the world at my last hour. I would + like to tell everybody what my dear Savior has done for me. He + has given me what I asked Him for and He will go with me to the + scaffold. I will see you again, "In the fair and happy land, just + across on the evergreen shore." I am ready to go home to rest. I + have suffered enough in this world, so I will bid the world + good-by. I will have to bid you good-by for the present. I will + see you again. I will watch for you. Excuse me for not answering + you sooner. I am in my cell and it is very dark for me to write, + but I do my best. I fast and pray most all the time. Good-by once + more for a while. + + From your true friend, + H. F. + +Below is an extract from a letter written by the sheriff's wife to me +shortly after the execution took place: + + Dear Sister: + + I fulfill the promise I made to poor Henry the day he was + executed, to write you a letter and tell you all about him after + he was gone to that bright glory land. It would have done you + good to have seen him the last three days he lived. He was as + happy as he could be. He had a smile on his countenance all the + time and never broke down, no difference who of his friends came + to see him. He talked to his mother and brothers so nice and gave + them such good advice. He told his mother to not grieve after + him, but to rejoice, for he would be so much better off after he + was gone, for he knew that he would be at rest. And if they would + live and do right they could come to him. The people that were + here that day (and there were between four and five thousand) + were surprised to see the beautiful countenance he left the + prison with. He helped to sing that beautiful hymn, + + "And must I be to judgment brought, + And answer in that day + For every vain and idle thought + And every word I say?" + + with the chorus, + + "We are passing away," + + and he was heard distinctly by all. He clapped his hands while he + was singing; then he stepped on to the trap and was soon gone. He + had a prayer on his lips when the black cap was drawn over his + face, and said, "Good-by" to all his friends, and repeated, + "Good-by." He told me to tell you he expected to meet you in + heaven. His mother and brothers send their kindest regards to + you. May God bless you. + + Your sister in Christ, + S. N. + + MOTHER'S PRAYERS. + +The case of C---- was one of most intense interest to the public as +well as his immediate friends. For long months I wept and prayed for +this young man. He was hoping for a new trial. He was always glad to +see me and to have me sing for him. He was refined, educated, a member +of "one of the F. F. V.'s," as they say, yet doomed to die on the +scaffold. How my heart longed to see him saved--for Jesus, too, was +longing for his salvation. + +I was called to other fields of labor before the fatal day and was not +sure of his acceptance with God, but can but hope that his poor +mother's prayers and mine were heard in heaven and that that poor, +misguided youth whose every wish had before been gratified was +forgiven. We can but cast the mantle of charity over the case and +leave it with Him who wills not that any should perish but that all +should turn to Him and live. He wrote me the following: + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Prison Missionary: + + I appreciate very highly your kindness and sympathy and more so + your prayers. I trust we may all meet in a better land. Return my + thanks to Mrs. Gen T----. + + Respectfully, + T. J. C. + + Aug. 24, 1885. + + + CLAIMED TO BE INNOCENT. + +The following letter is from one who was executed in 1887. He declared +to the very last that he was innocent of the crime for which he was +convicted. He always maintained to me that the person he was supposed +to have murdered committed suicide under circumstances which threw +suspicion upon him. For myself, I do not believe in capital punishment +and certainly if it is ever justifiable it is not in any case that +leaves a possibility of doubt regarding the guilt of the accused. + +In spite of great hindrances, being in the place, I was led to visit +the jail. After having sung for some of the other prisoners an officer +came to me asking if I would go down below to visit a condemned man +who had heard me sing and requested that I would come to him. Of +course I went--though the opening to his cell was so small that I had +to stoop very low to get in. If I remember rightly he claimed to be +converted that day. I was obliged to leave the city soon after, but +heard from him several times before his execution. + + Petersburg, Va., April, 1887. + + My Dear Friend: I received your postal and will answer it at + once. I was very glad to hear from you, especially as you remind + me so much of my dear old mother--not exactly now, but as she was + about fifteen years ago. * * * + + Mrs. R. sang the same hymn for me that I heard you sing to those + in the room above me. She said she would, if she had the chance + before she left the city, write it for me and bring it to me, but + as she has not been here yet I fear she has left, so I will be + very glad if you will be so kind as to write it for me. It is + beautiful. + + I was very sorry you left so soon. I would have been so glad for + you to have been in town longer so you could have called at least + once more! But if I never see you on this earth it is comforting + to know we may meet in heaven. But, O God! had I received + justice, today I would be as free as the birds of the field. + There is a blessed hope in knowing while we are persecuted by + men, it is only the body they can persecute on this earth, the + soul is out of their reach. And before the flesh is cold in death + my soul will be soaring above in the realms of bliss to be + forever blessed! O forever! Forevermore! It is one of the most + consoling of all consolations for me to know that it is only the + condemnation of man and the so-called law of the land by which I + was convicted--not by--no, not by--the great Judge of all hearts + and not by justice at all. Only condemned by man--not by my God + and justice. But it is all in God's hands and He will repay, for + "Vengeance is mine," saith the Lord. Vengeance is not mine nor do + I wish to revenge any one. * * * "Revenge is sweet," is an old + adage, but not to me to get revenge and by so doing lose my own + soul, for what is the whole world to gain and lose your own soul? + I am charged with that of which I am not guilty, but my + protestation is in no way believed. Neither was the only pure + one who ever trod the soil of this earth. He was caught and + charged, accused, condemned--yes, more than that, was crucified. + Was he guilty? No--emphatically no. But his innocence could not + save him. Nor did mine do me any good in my trial at all. But, + thank God, it will do me good in the world to come, where I will + receive justice and I will not be in danger of prejudice as lies + and prejudice are the cause of my being in this lonely cell + today. * * * + + All the boys in the room over me request me to be remembered in + my letter to you kindly. Many thanks to you for those tracts you + sent me. I hope to be remembered in your daily appeals to our + Maker, in whose care I prayerfully submit myself and you to his + keeping in the future. God grant it and may we meet in heaven. + Hoping this will in no way offend you and that it may be answered + soon to one in solitude--yet not alone; condemned--yet not + guilty. + + Your brother in Christ, + W. R. P. + + + HARDENED IN CRIME. + +The case of the writer of the following communications (which were +written on postal cards) was one of note. He was supposed to be so +hardened in crime and so void of feeling that there was no hope for +him--that nothing could reach or save him. But I believed that God +loved him just as the Word teaches us, and I laid hold on the promises +of the Bible for his soul's salvation. I am sure that God never turns +a penitent soul away empty who comes to Him in faith, feeling that He +is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. "O ye of little faith, +wherefore didst thou doubt?" + +After the light of God broke in upon this poor man's soul he saw that +he was a wretched sinner, but that there was pardon and peace for all +who truly repent of their sins and who confess and forsake them. To +such God has given the promise of eternal life and that the blood of +Jesus Christ his Son shall cleanse their hearts from all sin. This man +was convinced of his need of a Savior and deeply convicted of sin and +we believe was made ready to meet God. He seemed very deeply thankful +to me for my untiring efforts in his behalf and surprised at my faith +and confidence in God for him, and through these He was brought by the +power of the Spirit unto repentance toward God and faith in our Lord +Jesus Christ. + + June 18, 1887. + + My Dear, Kind Friend: + + I received your welcome postal and it makes me happy to read it. + I am now ready to go to my fate. I pray every night and day for + God to forgive me. I put my whole trust in Him. Pray for me that + God will wash my sins away and receive me in heaven. As I expect + God to forgive me I forgive and love everybody. Think of me when + I am gone. I wish you could pray with me before I go on my long + journey, for I love to hear you pray. Good-bye. + + From your penitent brother in Christ. + A. T. + + * * * * * + + Jail, June 23, 1887. + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + My time on this earth is now very short (but seven days) and I am + now ready to go to my Father, whom I trust and pray will forgive + me my crime and receive me in his heavenly home. I pray every + hour in the day and, my dear sister, do the same for me that my + sins may be washed away in His blood. Pray that He may give me + everlasting life. O, if I could but live my life over again, how + I would pray and put all my trust in Him. Dear sister, this may + be the last time you may hear from me on this earth, but I hope + we may meet in heaven. Good-bye, God bless you and your noble + work. + + Yours waiting to go to his Savior, + A. T. + + May God forgive me. + + * * * * * + + L., Ky., June 25, 1887. + + Dear Sister in Christ: + + If you only knew how much a poor sinner like me needs the prayers + of such Christians and lovers of God and His Word as you are, you + would pray both night and day that He will receive me in his + heavenly home, where there is no sin or sorrow, but where all is + love and peace. I have now but five short days until all that is + of the world will be consigned to the tomb and I do so pray night + and day that Jesus will cleanse me of my sins. I think this will + be the last time you will hear from me on this earth and when I + go to eternity I do so praising God, forgiving my enemies, firm + in faith and the belief that my sins are washed away in the blood + of Jesus. Good-bye. May we meet in heaven. + + A. T. + +In 1888 I visited a county jail so crowded with prisoners that I +wondered how they could live in that poorly ventilated, filthy prison. +They had little to eat and evidently no one to care for them. There +were Indians, Mexicans, white and colored all together. There I found +TEN MEN UNDER DEATH SENTENCE; and I was convinced that several were +innocent of the charges laid against them--being condemned by +circumstantial evidence. Those ten condemned men were made the subject +of constant, earnest prayer. O, if judges and jurymen could only know +what eternal destinies hang upon their decisions, surely they would be +less ready to condemn on less than positive evidence. Several of the +ten were executed--among them the writer of the following letter: + + ----, April 2, 1888. + + My Dear Sister: + + We received your postal. I was so glad to receive it from those + who love my soul. I have not forgotten one word you left with me. + Jesus Christ is the subject of my day talk and night dreams. I + remember you when I get down on my knees to pray. I pray for the + Lord's will to be done with me as it is done in heaven. I have + forsaken the world for Jesus' sake. His love is shed abroad in my + heart. Myself and Brothers W. and A. (whose sentences have been + changed) are still serving God--also Brother S. I could not tell + you how it is with the other boys, but I talk to them every day. + Brothers W., A., and S. join with me in sending their love to + you. God bless you. I am your brother in Christ. + + ---- ---- + + * * * * * + + April 26, A. D. 1888. + + Sister Elizabeth R. Wheaton. My Dear Sister in Jesus Christ: + + My days have been numbered here on earth by man, but there is no + end to the number of days that my God has promised me in + heaven--no more a prisoner here on earth, but to live with our + Lord forevermore. Let not your heart be troubled about me, for + all is well! Yes, indeed, all is well. The love of Christ will + bear me home. Jesus Christ is in me and I am in Him. In God I + trust, in Him I die. I could not tell you how the case is with + the other boys, but I do know for myself I am ready at any time. + My dear sister, I have sent the lovely handkerchief you gave me + home to my old mother. I told mother who gave it to me and for + her to place it in my Bible and put it in her trunk and then I + said: "Here is a picture of mine and a lock of hair for my poor, + old mother and sisters and brothers." I leave a mother, four + sisters and two brothers. If you wish sometime to write to my + mother her address is ---- ----. Farewell until we meet again. I + am your brother in Jesus Christ, + + ---- ---- + + + CONVERSION OF A JEWISH BOY. + +In the same year, I found in one of the prisons of California, a young +Jew under sentence of death. While under the influence of drink, he +shot the girl he truly loved. He never realized it till he became +sober and found himself in prison. Naturally he was surprised and +greatly shocked. Wondering why he was there, and being told of his +crime, he was overwhelmed with grief, and remorse of conscience. Poor +boy! His was a sad ending. He was so grief-stricken! And yet the +courts were against him, and the world at large, for the sin was +pronounced murder in the first degree and he must die--_a boy in his +teens_. + +As I looked through the grating at the poor doomed boy, an old +gentleman spoke to me and said something very unkind about him. The +boy said, "That man is a _hypocrite_. But I like those hymns you sang. +_Won't you sing for me?_" So I sang for him, and he requested me not +to talk to him then. So I said, "Can I come and see you again?" "_Oh, +yes, come again, do."_ This poor boy was one of the lost ones, and +Jesus touched his heart while I sang, "Meet me there." This was from +that time on his favorite hymn, and I sang it for him just before he +went to the scaffold. + +I went back and forth from San Francisco to other places for six +weeks, but his case lay very heavy upon my heart. I knew that on the +14th of September he was to go, and that worse still, he was in danger +of eternal death. I pleaded and wept for him day and night, that he +might be brought to see his lost condition and his need of Christ and +yield to God. How I bless God that He hears and answers prayer! "If +any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall +ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death."--1 +John 5:16. + +Before his conversion I received from him the following letters, +beautifully and correctly written: + + San Francisco, Aug. 9, 1888. + + Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton: + + As to religion I do not profess any creed. I do not mean by the + above that I hate them--on the contrary, I love religion and hate + hypocrisy. I am not an atheist and must admit that I believe in a + true, just and most merciful God. I appreciate your visits very + much and hope you will call to see me as often as opportunity + and convenience will allow, so I now close this brief epistle by + sending kindest regards and best wishes. I am + + Respectfully, + ---- ----. + + "Condemned Cell." + + P. S.--Kind thanks for singing. + + * * * * * + + San Francisco, Sept. 7, 1888. + + Mrs. Wheaton: + + I am pleased that you called to see me and hope you will repeat + your visits. It grieves me to see you shed tears, and although I + say nothing, remember that "still water runs deep." I have faith + and believe in prayer, so I believe that the cause of a condemned + boy will be heard in heaven and will come to pass. I am not + allowed to shake hands, much less give my mother a comforting + kiss. I now end by thanking you very kindly for your kindness and + consideration to me. + + I am, respectfully, + ---- ----. + +I went, the day before the execution, to see him. No one was allowed +to go inside the doomed boy's cell, so I was compelled to submit to +the law. The sheriff said positively, "No, you cannot go inside." But +the chief jailer said, "I promised that this lady should go inside the +boy's cell before the execution, and I must keep my word. I will go in +with her." He opened the door and we went in. He was a grand man. +Myself and the sister who was with me prayed for the prisoner's +salvation. We sang and read and prayed, and at last the presence of +the Holy Spirit seemed to fill the gloomy little cell, and to touch +the poor boy kneeling there with the shackles on his limbs. (They +frequently put shackles on some days before the execution, and place +them in the "doomed cell.") We kept on praying and singing and at +last the light came into his heart, and God owned him as His child. + +On the morning of the execution, I went early to the prison; and as I +hurried along there met me a young Catholic priest, who was our mutual +friend, and very kind. He said, "_Come quickly, the boy wants you._ He +has called for you all night, and they could not find you, so they +came for me. I have been waiting for you." This priest had labored +with me to convince the poor boy that Jesus was the Christ and that He +alone could save him. I hurried on into the prison for my last +greeting on earth with the poor condemned boy. There was no loud +demonstration--he was going to die, and knew it; but he felt that he +was ready. He said to me: "I can hardly wait the hour to go home. I am +willing and ready to die. O sing for me my favorite songs. I wish you +could go with me to the scaffold, but that is against the law for +women to go to the execution in this state." Mothers could not endure +such things, but I feel, when permitted, as if I must stay till all is +over. + +I took a white silk handkerchief and gently folded it around the boy's +neck, and said, "I think the rope won't hurt so bad, and the pain +won't be so severe with this around your neck." I shall never forget +the grateful look on his face, as he smilingly thanked me. He was a +very refined young man, and only for whiskey he might be living yet. +As I bade him good-bye he said, "Please sing for me _once more_ before +I go." I sang and passed out among the crowds of people. I seemed to +be lifted above the things of earth--I was so thankful for his +salvation. Reader, do you know what it is to travail for a soul and +then count the hours and moments till you see them go over the river +of death, and by-and-by with the eye of faith see them enter the +pearly gates into the presence of Him who was crucified for them? + +After the execution I received the following kind letter from the +young priest to whom I have referred: + + San Francisco, Oct. 13, 1888. + + Dear Madam: + + It was with great pleasure I read your kind and welcome note. I + thank you very much for your pleasant remembrance and hope that + God will bless your efforts and sacrifices on behalf of the poor + prisoners. + + In regard to A., I can say that he was resigned to the last and + died well prepared, in my opinion. I was with him almost + constantly during the last twelve hours. I think his family + placed the silk handkerchief in the coffin with him. + + Please give my regards to your kind companion and say sometimes a + little prayer for me. I hope to see you soon in San Francisco and + have the pleasure of renewing my acquaintance. I have the honor + of remaining, + + Yours truly in Jesus Christ, + Rev. N---- F----. + + + MYSTERIOUSLY GUIDED. + +In April, 1891, I was in Kansas City, Mo. After waiting upon the Lord +for some days asking Him where He would have me go next I was +impressed to go to the depot and that there it would be shown me what +I must do. I did so, but even then was left for several hours in +uncertainty as to what train to take, as I had passes on four +different lines. I spent the time in earnest prayer. At last, toward +evening, I was led to take the Rock Island train for Chicago and +impressed that the Lord would show me when and where to stop. I had +two sisters and a little boy with me and they could not understand my +indecision. + +As our train hurried on during the night, I kept asking the Lord where +I should stop, and He made it very plain to me that I was to stop at +Ottawa, Ill. I knew no one there, and there was no state-prison there, +but the Lord showed me to go to the county jail and when I did so +found there were several men there soon to be executed. I was told +that no one was permitted to see them; but we went praying and the +Lord touched the hearts of the officers and we were permitted to hold +a service. We were much helped of the Holy Spirit and I believe some +of these condemned men were saved--at least they seemed to give +evidence of it. One of them afterwards wrote me two letters. These I +give to my readers. It is well to remember, however, that not many +such prisoners are accustomed to expressing their thoughts in writing +and hence their letters fail to express the depth of feeling clearly +shown in their words and manner when I am with them. Again all their +letters are to be read before they leave the prison, so they do not +open their hearts as freely when writing as when speaking with me +alone. + + La Salle County Jail, + Ottawa, Ill., April 28, 1891. + + Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + Dear Sister: We are doing very well. As for Mr. C. and myself, we + will do the best we can to reach that Beautiful home in the New + Jerusalem, for the Lord saith: "He that believeth and abideth in + Me shall have everlasting life." As you must have seen, our + belief is a little different from yours in some respects, but, + nevertheless, we are all working for that one place and that is + heaven. He that leaveth his sins behind him shall be saved. The + example of those who died for Christ, for the faith and for + virtue's sake are also continually placed before us that we may + learn to endure sufferings and even death rather than be + unfaithful to God and stain our conscience with sin. The + Christian's motto is, "Death before dishonor." Hoping that you + will continue to pray for us that we may be cleansed from sin and + be saved, we send you our sincere and hearty wishes for your + welfare. God bless you and keep you ever for your sincere effort + in our behalf. Hoping that we may meet in that beautiful place + where the penitent shall find rest, I remain yours in respect, + + CHARLIE ----. + + * * * * * + + La Salle County Jail, Ottawa, Ill., May 6, 1891. + + Dear Sister: + + I was glad to receive your letter and to hear that you are still + praying for us. Mr. F. has gone out, so there are just two of + us--me and Mr. C., who, I think, will get a new trial. He sends + his kind regards and is doing well. + + As for me, I am very close to the grave as I have only four more + days to live, but hope that it will be all for the best. I am + preparing myself for death as much as possible for so short a + time. My thoughts are not of the outside world, but of a higher + world, where there is no sin or trouble or care, but everylasting + life and happiness. I also hope that we may meet in that haven of + rest. I will do as you say, put my trust in God and believe in + Him. Life is very short at best, but we all have our cares and + troubles and must bear with them the best we can, as we are + helpless without the grace of God. Thanking you sincerely for + your kind efforts in our behalf, I remain your brother in all + sincerity. Farewell. + + Yours in respect, + CHARLIE ----. + + + IN LONG EXPECTATION. + +I first saw E. B---- in the jail in Wichita, Kansas. There were many +prisoners there at that time and especially in the Oklahoma ward. It +was soon after the opening up of Oklahoma territory and the rush for +claims. There was great excitement and many lost their lives. Some +were thrown from their horses and killed. Others died from exhaustion, +running as for life to get the property they so much coveted. There +were many things done that were wrong. Some are still lingering inside +prison walls for "defending their rights" as they thought. I do not +remember just what E.'s trouble was, but he was sentenced to death +and the day and the hour were set. I went often to the prison and sang +and prayed for the prisoners. They were my friends. I knew and loved +them as a mother would, and especially this young boy--the youngest of +them all. + +I went away to Europe and on my return I again visited the jail in +Wichita to hold a service. While singing the first hymn the jailer +came into the apartment where I was and said, "The Oklahoma boys have +heard you singing and want you to come at once to their ward. They did +not know you had returned from Scotland and are so anxious to see +you." And such a welcome as those dear boys and men gave me I had +received no where else since my return. Some were under death +sentences. O how my heart aches even now as I think of the tears they +shed and of their warm handclasp. Then I could only fall on my knees +and sob out my sorrow for them and my heartfelt thanks to God for the +warm welcome and as I wept and prayed I believe good was accomplished +and souls saved. Some are dead and gone. Others are in the asylum for +the criminal insane. A few were pardoned out. Eddie's case lingered. +While hoping for a commutation of sentence he wrote the following +letter: + + Wichita, May 3, 1891. + + Dear Friend: + + I received your kind letter. Was glad to hear you were well and + still at your post, working for others. I am still in my little + cell awaiting what comes and have not heard much yet regarding + commitment, but hope it may come in time. I am feeling as though + I have a heavy load on my shoulders for a boy, but I hope and + pray for the best to come. I want to see the light, if there is + any for me. I sometimes think that I am forgotten; and then again + I know better, for there is One who never forgets us. I have + read those nice tracts you sent me and they are all true. The + boys are all well and send their best respects to you and hope to + meet you again; and you know I do, for I feel the need of your + kindness and appreciate it highly. I know what a kind mother is. + I have a good Christian mother and father. Oh, if I were only + free again, so I could enjoy life with my dear mother! No one + knows how lonely I am. You are only one hundred miles from my + home in ----, Illinois. If you go there you could find them by + enquiring for them. They would be glad to see you, as I have told + them about your being here. I hope some day that you can come and + see me on the outside. What a happy boy I would be! If not, I + hope we may meet in that brighter home. I have been reading my + Bible and find relief. What a book it is, and the good that can + be gotten from it! I wish you success through life and that you + may save many a poor lost sinner. No one knows the good they can + do until they try. + + May God bless you, is my prayer. + EDDIE ----. + + + SENTENCE COMMUTED. + +Many of those acquainted with the case were anxious for his release +but met with little encouragement. I continued to pray earnestly that +at least his life might be spared. When the day appointed for his +execution came I was in a distant state some miles from a telegraph +office, but I sent a little boy to the office with a message telling +him that the Lord might even yet deliver him and if not would sustain +him in his dying moments. The same day a wire came for him from the +governor changing his sentence to imprisonment for life. He was +transferred to a northern prison, but only lived a few years. So far +as I could learn he lived and died a Christian, and I hope to see him +again by and by in heaven. + + + A MAN DECEIVED. + +At one time I held a service with the prisoners in the county jail in +Sedalia, Missouri. Among them was a poor old man awaiting execution. +He seemed unmoved, stolid, indifferent. I talked and prayed with him +and asked him about his soul's salvation. He said it was all right +with his soul and that he was saved. I knew the Lord showed me that he +was a deceived man and that the devil had deluded him into thinking he +was all right. I was faithful to my convictions, to my God and to his +soul. I said to him: "You are not prepared to face the scaffold and +death." He seemed indignant that I should doubt his word, but I left +him with the warning, "Prepare to meet thy God." + +I went to the wife of the sheriff, who was an excellent woman, and +found she too was very anxious about his soul. I told her of my burden +for him and asked for a room where I could wait on God in prayer and +she kindly furnished it. In an hour the old man sent word to the +sheriff to send for me to come and pray for him as he was not fit to +die. In company with others I went to him and the poor deceived old +man repented of his sins and confessed them to God and to us and was +blessedly saved and died in the full assurance of faith. His last +words were of his hope in Christ and of his acceptance with God. I +fully believe that the blood of Jesus--who died on the cross for +sinners and was the friend of sinners always--did cleanse his soul. +The sheriff's wife told me of his last words and that all was well. We +give a clipping from a Sedalia paper concerning the case. + + VISITORS EXCLUDED. + + WILLIAMSON WILL RECEIVE NO MORE VISITS--PREPARATION FOR THE + EXECUTION. + + Sheriff Ellis R. Smith has commenced to make his arrangements for + the execution of Thomas A. Williamson, and everything will be in + readiness before Saturday morning. The rope with which John Oscar + Turlington and Bill Price were hanged will be used, the sheriff + having received a telegram yesterday from Sheriff Mat S. Ayers, + of Saline county, stating that it had been forwarded to him by + express. On the day of execution the police force will assist the + county authorities in preserving order in the vicinity of the + jail building. + + No more visitors will be permitted to see and talk with + Williamson, except his spiritual advisers. This is in compliance + with the condemned man's wishes, which are contained in the + following note which he sent to Sheriff Smith yesterday: + + "Sheriff Smith: I would like a cell by myself the rest of my + time. You can put me any place. I will give you no trouble. My + mind is on God. I would like to be upstairs; it is lighter up + there. I will go where you put me. + + T. A. W." + +I received from him the following letters written after his +conversion. One of them reached me after his execution: + + Sedalia, Mo. + + Sister Elizabeth R. Wheaton: + + I am well this morning. I thank God for it. I hope this will find + you well. I prayed to God to watch over me through the night, and + He did. I feel happy. I will meet you across the river. We will + have a good time. May God keep you. I am going to heaven. I will + meet you in that bright land. I am glad to hear from you. + + THOS. A. + + * * * * * + + Sedalia, Mo., October 29, 1891. + + My True Mother: + + I got your letter right now. I read it and got on my knees and + prayed to God to have mercy on me. My sister, I have my mind on + Jesus all the time. I feel happy this morning. Mother, I will + meet you on the other shore. Mother S. (the sheriff's wife) is so + kind to me! My mind is on God so I can hardly write. I will pray + for you. + + THOS. A. + + + INTERCEDED FOR THE LIFE OF A BOY. + +I went to a city in 1898, where there were four under sentence of +death, and when I went into the jail found many waiting trial. Some +were going to state's prison. Others were to die on the scaffold. I +was especially impressed with the case of one boy who was under death +sentence. I held a service with the prisoners and talked personally to +those condemned to die. One man was wonderfully saved and I believe +went to heaven from the scaffold. I then went away to other states. +But I was so troubled I made inquiries and found that the young boy to +whom I referred _was not charged with being a murderer_, and was not +deserving of death. I plead to God if there was nothing the law could +find in him worthy of death, that his sentence might be commuted, and +the poor boy might live. Upon my return I went to the capital to see +the Governor, and asked him to grant the boy a life sentence in +prison. My request was granted, it was soon all settled and the boy's +life was spared. Yet the Deputy Sheriff was very angry at the Governor +for granting the commutation! + + + WENT TO THE SCAFFOLD SINGING. + +In May, 1899, another poor prisoner ended his life on the scaffold. +The Friday before, two died on the same gallows. I visited them the +day before the execution, talked and sang hymns (their favorites), and +then we three kneeled together in prayer in the little "condemned +cell." Kneeling between my boys, clasping each by the hand, we gave +ourselves to the blessed Savior, who said just before he expired on +the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." I +shall never forget that last prayer meeting with those unfortunate men +who had been led astray by evil surroundings and associations, forming +habits which finally sent them to early graves, by fearful deaths. +Yet, as we knelt there together, just we three and the blessed Holy +Spirit witnessing, we promised to meet in Heaven. Jesus met us there +and forgave them their sins, and joy filled our souls with love for +Him who gave Himself a ransom for us, not willing that any should +perish, but rather that all should have eternal life. How my heart +rejoiced to hear them say they were prepared to go, and the parting +was very sweet. A solemn hush filled the little cell--sweet peace +which only comes when souls have been redeemed, fell upon my heart, +and I was glad Jesus Himself did His own work for His own name's honor +and glory. They sang hymns and prayed all night before the execution. +They refused to eat, preferring to sing and pray till the last, and +went to the scaffold singing and praising God, and were still singing +when the drop fell, and they were gone from earth. + +My heart cried out for the living that May morning, as another one +went to the scaffold, "O God, save his soul! O God, forgive him all +his sins. The same scaffold, the same sin, and the same Jesus to blot +out all his transgressions." I believe God, where he says, Isa. 1:18, +"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: +though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool." If it were not +for the promises of God in His blessed Word, I should give up in +despair, sometimes, over those cases who have been so deceived by the +devil. Yet God is able to snatch them as brands from the burning. Jude +22-23 says, "And of some have compassion, making a difference: and +others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the +garment spotted by the flesh." Jesus said, "Whosoever will may come," +I believe His promises are "Yea and amen to all that believe." When I +see what saloons and other evils are doing to wreck lives and ruin +souls, I wonder how God on His throne can ever forgive such +premeditated, intentional sins. The keepers of these places sell +themselves to Satan to be used by him to defeat God's plan of saving +those who will come unto Him. O that all who claim to be Christians +would unite to overthrow the means that Satan uses to lead down to +eternal death so many precious souls! + +The case to which I shall now refer was one in many respects +especially touching. The condemned man had occupied _a prominent +official position_. The dear, noble wife never turned away from her +husband. Hers were the kind heart and hands that ministered to his +needs and cheered the long, gloomy hours of his imprisonment. She +stood by him in his trial and during those days of agony and suspense. +Then came the verdict "Guilty," and the sentence of death! Yet, though +her own heart was breaking as she thought of herself and her +beautiful, helpless children, she still sought to cheer and comfort as +best she could that poor condemned man whose heart was torn with +anguish when he realized that because of his sin that faithful loving +wife and those innocent children must be left disgraced and destitute. +What is to become of the little ones who are powerless to help +themselves and of the poor despised, rejected, forsaken mother, trying +to earn with her own hands by toiling night and day enough to feed and +clothe those helpless babes? O my God, will you not help me to provide +a home for such as these? For the sake of these heart-broken mothers +whose lives are doomed to be (only as helped by the grace of God) one +great unending sorrow--for the sake of the poor children so cruelly +robbed of their birthright--a father's good name and protection, these +who are worse than orphans, yet for whom nobody seems to care, help +me to do what I can--what thou dost require at my hands. This man was +brought up in a Christian home and but for the power of evil +associations with which he was brought in contact and the curse of the +legalized saloon, would today in all probability have been a respected +and honorable member of society. + +I first found him one Fourth of July. While others were spending the +holiday I went toiling through the heat to the prison and there I +found my reward. My soul was borne upward by the Holy Spirit as I sang +many songs of praise and tenderly led this poor man to the foot of the +cross where he was saved. His wife was there a part of the time. I +seem to see the parting even now of those dear ones! Well, God knows +it all. Had I never known a wife's and a mother's love I could not +have sympathized with them as I did. I thought--What if _my_ boy had +lived and come to such an end--and I wept with that faithful wife as +she took leave. O, sisters, there is a power in even a look of love +coming from a true heart. + +I give two letters received from the condemned man and one written me +by his wife. I omit the name of place and exact date and even the +initials, as so few years have passed and I do not wish to do anything +that might bring pain to the hearts of surviving friends. The family +was of the most cultured and respected. + + July, 1899. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: + + It was with the greatest pleasure that I read your card this + morning. I was wondering where you were; but I knew that if your + health permitted you, you were somewhere doing good to some poor + unfortunate. + + Yes, I am putting my entire trust in Jesus. He saves me from my + sins and when the cares and woes of this life come to disturb my + peace, I look unto the Savior and soon all is peace again. What + would I do in a place like this and under such circumstances did + not his gentle voice speak unto me and say, "Fear not, I will not + leave nor forsake you." My wife was down to see me last Monday, + and is coming today (Thursday). She wrote me that your songs and + prayer were still ringing in her ears--so you see that your good + work is not only felt by prisoners. I hope that you may be able + to go on with the good work that so much delights you and that + you may yet win many wandering souls and bring them into the fold + of God and that when your work on earth is ended you may rest + from your labors in the most beautiful palace in the city of + heaven. You may think that strange that I said "palace," but I + believe that heaven is a real and tangible city--the home of God, + from where He sends the Holy Ghost to dwell in the hearts of all + those who are willing to receive Him. + + I will now say good-by, and if I never again meet you on this + earth, I hope to meet you in heaven. + + I am yours most sincerely in the hope of heaven. + + ---- ----. + + * * * * * + + August, 1899. + + My Dear Mother, for such you seem to me, I will never while I am + on this earth cease to think of you. I have remembered your voice + since I first heard you sing and pray while in the cells of poor + W----and S----, the condemned men. I wished then that I could + have seen you, and I told the boys that you were certainly born + of God; and from that day I have desired to have your influence + and prayers. I am still trusting in the love, mercy and power of + the Savior to save my soul in the eternal world and to keep me + from sin while I am in this. I have no other hope, no other + desire than to serve my Master. I would want to attain to a state + of perfection here, if such were possible, but you know that the + cares of this life come in to rob us of the pleasure that we + would enjoy in the anticipation of heaven. But some day the dark + clouds that overshadow us and prevent us for a while from seeing + the Savior's smiling face will be rolled away. I am glad to tell + you that the sentence of R----, whose cell was next to mine, has + been commuted to life imprisonment. He and the man P---- send + their regards to you. P----'s sentence is respited until the + 17th of November, and in the meantime he hopes for a new trial. + + I will close, wishing you the choicest blessings of heaven, and I + am yours very sincerely, trusting in the hope of eternal life, + + Your brother in Christ, + ---- ----. + +The following from the _Star_ of ----, ----, explains itself. The men +are referred to in the above letter: + + BOTH TWICE CONVICTED OF THE CRIME OF MURDER. + + Everything is in readiness at the District jail for the double + execution which is to take place tomorrow, when S---- and W---- + will pay the penalty of their crimes. So far as outward + appearances are concerned, the condemned men are in a better + frame of mind than are most of the other prisoners in the big + brown-stone prison. Their spiritual advisers are with them most + of the time, and when they are absent the men pass the hours + reading religious books and praying. + + S---- and W---- have both been well-behaved prisoners and have + given the jail officials no trouble whatever. The former has been + particularly friendly with the guards and others, and today he + thanked several of them for past kindnesses. He also desired to + express his gratitude to his many friends for what they had done + for him, and said he desired to do so through the _Star_. S---- + has had many visitors during the entire time of his confinement + in jail, but more especially during recent weeks. Most of them + have been female relatives. They have been endeavoring to collect + funds enough to defray the expenses of a decent burial. In the + event of their being successful the body will be turned over to + them after the execution by the undertaker employed by the + government to prepare the bodies for burial. + + Monday afternoon, just before the prison doors were locked for + the day, the bell rang and the guard at the door admitted a woman + who handed in her card on which was printed: + + "Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, + "Prison Evangelist. + "No Home but Heaven." + + She had with her a number of tracts which she distributed to some + of the prisoners. Her religious work is all done in prisons, and + she makes a specialty of laboring with condemned men. She stated + to the guards that she had traveled about 2,000 miles to see + those in jail here before their execution. The warden admitted + her to the cells. She had W---- and S---- join her in prayer and + song in the latter's cell, and the men seemed greatly to + appreciate her hour's visit. She next saw E---- S----, who is to + die on the scaffold next week. He, too, appeared to enjoy her + call. + + ---- ---- + _Star_. + + * * * * * + + August, 1899. + + Mrs. Wheaton. + + My Dear Sister: I must write a few lines to you, in my husband's + letter, as you have shown yourself so kind to him, poor fellow. I + can see you now and hear you, in my fancy, singing those + beautiful pieces. Oh, how sad I felt on that Fourth of July as I + sat and listened, especially to the one called "Some Mother's + Child," as I looked upon my dear husband and thought of his + mother and how tenderly he had been reared by Christian parents, + and was always a good and thoughtful son and husband until by + reason of evil associations he fell into sin and kept going + further and further from God until at last he was led to do the + most dreadful of deeds. How I pity him! + + O how happy I once was! Had a pretty home and everything to + brighten it. But alas, they have vanished and now I feel alone, + without anything. Did I say "alone?" No, not so, for the God that + I have served and who has been with me these twenty years, is + still with me; and I feel to say, "Though he slay me, yet will I + trust him." I feel that he will open up a way for his children. + Now, my dear sister, I would love to see you again in this life + and talk with you, but if I never meet you here I trust I shall + meet you above, where your voice will be heard with the angels of + God. Please remember me to your lady helper. Would be glad to + hear from you at any time. Good-bye. + + Yours in love and the hope of heaven, + ---- ----. + +Two years later, while in the same city, a friend invited me to go to +an open-air service and after I had sung and spoken to those who were +gathered a dear lady clasped my hand and said: "I am so glad to see +you, mother--don't you know me?" As I failed to recognize her she +turned her careworn but lovely face so that the electric light shone +full upon her and said, "Don't you remember me now?" When I still +answered "No, I do not," the tears gathered in the dear eyes as she +said, "My husband never forgot your singing and your prayers before he +went away," and then it dawned upon me that she was the wife of the +man the people hung to gratify the saloon men's greed. She said: "I do +wish I could ask you home with me, but I have only a little hall room +for myself and children. I am keeping boarders to make a living for +myself and them." O how I wished for a home to which I could welcome +them, but I, too, am a pilgrim and a stranger, and all I could do was +to kiss the dear sister and commend her to the widow's God and her +dear ones to the Father of the fatherless. + +The letters following are from two brothers with whom I labored, and +who showed much appreciation of my efforts with them and professed to +be saved. I received a number of encouraging letters from them and +from others in the same place before they were taken away. We can not +always tell as to the sincerity of these poor men, or of their +responsibility, some of them doubtless are so nearly unbalanced in +mind, under such a strain, but we know the God of heaven before whom +we must all stand will judge righteously. + + October 18, 1903. + + My Dear Mother Wheaton: + + While my dear unfortunate brother, Mr. K., has given me space in + his letter, I just wish to congratulate you for the wonderful + good you did while here with us, as we have not forgotten your + topic, "Salvation," and often speak of you and hope you will + come again at your earliest convenience. Thank God there is some + of us have the Spirit of God with us. Bless His holy name! And I + for one can praise Him for the wonderful good He has done me, and + through His wonderful love I have been granted a stay of + execution, which was to take place the 21st of this month; for + God in heaven knows I am innocent of this crime, as is also my + brother. I am sorry to say I do not know much about the Bible, + but intend to learn more about His wonderful love to man, and + will serve Him to the end. Trusting that you will look upon us as + your children, I will close, hoping to hear from you again, + + Your unfortunate boy, + B. W. + + * * * * * + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Received your letter and was glad to hear from you. It brought + great joy to our bleeding hearts. We think of you and wish you + could talk and sing for us every day. Your kind, loving words + bring me near to God. When I leave this world I will go to my + heavenly Father, where there is everlasting life, and if we never + meet on earth, I will meet you in heaven. I shall never forget + you and the prayer you made for me. We felt bad when you could + not come back and tell us about our loving God. Pray for me that + I may walk daily with God. I remain as ever, + + Your dear boy, + A. W. + + Columbus, Ohio. + + + THREE YOUNG MEN. + +Some cases of special interest to me because of such recent +occurrence, are the three young men mentioned elsewhere and from whom +I received the following letters. I will first give a note very kindly +written me by the son of the warden, in answer to an inquiry about the +cases while they were awaiting some decision of the supreme court: + + Colorado State Penitentiary. + Canon City, Colo., December 7, 1904. + + Mother E. R. Wheaton. Tabor, Iowa. + + Dear Mother: I have not answered your postal on account of my + absence from the city, but I hope you will overlook the delay. + The fate of the four prisoners under sentence of death is still + undecided, as their case is in the hands of the Supreme Court. + There is some doubt as to the legality of the law and it is a + hard matter to tell what the outcome will be. No, my folks did + not attend the Prison Congress this year on account of my + sister's health. The boys at the prison often speak of you and + some have started to forget the past and try to do better in the + future on account of the good words you spoke to them. I hope you + will come to see us before my father goes out of office, but if + this is impossible, I pray that we may meet at some future time. + I remain, + + Yours respectfully, + Willard Cleghorn. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., May 3, 1904. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I have received your kind letter and postal and I am very glad to + know that you have not forgotten me. I have not forgotten you + either, nor never will. For it was no other than you who put me + on the right road to heaven, and I know that if I do all you told + me that I will meet you there. I am praying both day and night, + and I pray from my heart, and mean every word that I say, and I + know that my sorrow is more than I can bear without God's help. I + know that God has forgiven me all of my sins, and will save me + too. I do not care who laughs at me for praying and asking God + for help. There is nothing that can ever make me quit praying and + believing in God, for He has done me good already. + + With love and best wishes, and hoping to hear from you soon, + + Yours sincerely, + F. A. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., May 3, 1904. + + Dear Mrs. Wheaton. + + It is with pleasure that I answer your most kind and welcome + letter that brother A. and I received some time ago. We also + received a postal card this morning. I have neglected my promise + of writing, but hereafter will write more promptly. I have not + been feeling well, but am better now. I hope you will forgive me + this time. + + It does my heart good to know that you are praying for us. I feel + very grateful to you. Us boys pray and read the Holy Bible every + day. I am trusting to our Heavenly Father, for He makes right the + wrong. We are being treated most kindly by the warden and the + officers of the prison. + + I will close, as Brother A. wishes to say a few words. + + Hoping to hear from you again, I ever remain + + Your son in Christ, + C. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., May 17, 1904. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + My Dear Mother: I received your kind letter and was very much + pleased to hear from you, as all of us were. * * * + + When I saw and read your letter and those little tracts, they + certainly did take effect on me. As I read them and saw the + terrible mistake I had made, it caused the tears to fall. I am + trusting in God, but I can't come right out and tell you that I + am really saved, for I don't believe in deceiving you. But I do + believe that God has laid a hand on me, and I hope He will take a + stronger hold on me. I know you will think more of me for telling + you the candid facts. I have seen lots of people who would tell + that they were really saved, when they knew they were not. But + "God help my poor soul," is my regular prayer. I realize that I + need His help in my present circumstances. I still ask you to + pray for me that God will help me to look to Him. I try my best + to do what is right, and never go to sleep a night without + praying to Him to save my soul and spare me so that I may be of + some benefit to His cause, and I do fully believe that He will + answer my prayer, for when I pray I am sure I do it with all my + heart and soul. + + I am quite well at present, and hope that these few lines will + find you the same. May God bless you and protect you, is my daily + prayer. I hope to hear from you again soon. + + From one of yours, and I hope, the Lord's sons. + + Yours respectfully, + N. A. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., May 27, 1904. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I take pleasure in answering your most kind and welcome letter + received a few days ago. I am quite well at present. I am taking + things as easy as I can and waiting most patiently to know how I + will fare. I haven't forgot to pray and read the Bible, nor will + I as long as I live. I am trusting in the Lord, for He makes all + things right. I will close, hoping to hear from you again. + + Very sincerely yours, + C. P. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., May 27, 1904. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I take pleasure in answering your letter. You don't know how glad + I was to hear from you. This leaves me well and in good faith and + I am trusting in the Lord, for I know He will help me if I will + only be good and do His will. I pray and read my Bible every + night and day. Oh, if I ever do get my freedom I will make a man + of myself and do God's will and make my poor wife and mother and + father happy. I will never take a drop of whiskey or anything + again. So good-bye. We have heard nothing of our case yet. The + time seems so long. + + From yours sincerely, + F. A. + +The following are extracts from touching letters from the aged mother +and young wife of this young man: + + Kansas City, Mo., July 4, 1904. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + We received your card and were indeed glad to hear from you. Oh, + I am praying to God all the time to spare my baby's life. How can + I ever live if they take his life! Why do they want it? He did + not kill any one, although the deed he did almost breaks my + heart. F. never drank until he got with those people on Market + Street. They got him to smoking hop and drinking whiskey. My dear + and only child, will God and man have mercy on him? Oh, I thank + you for going to see my poor baby boy! God bless him and save his + life. + + I hope you can see the Governor and see if he will do something + for a mother to save her only child. I can hardly stand it. It + has done F. so much good for you to see him. He always speaks of + you when he writes home. Oh, I do hope the Governor will give you + some hopes, for if I could get any hopes of F. being spared it + would do me so much good! I pray day and night for my boy. He is + on my mind all the time. Hoping to hear from you soon, I am + + Sincerely yours, + MRS. A. + + * * * * * + + Kansas City, Mo., July 4, 1904. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton: + + Kind Friend: I was truly glad to hear from you and that you are + going to see my dear husband soon. I hope it will not be long + till I see him, for it seems like years since I have seen poor F. + I hope my loved one will come out better yet, for I can never + stand it. I hope and pray that F. will have a show for his life. + How short our young lives were together. F. was always kind to me + and it almost took my life when I was robbed of my darling + husband. I was an orphan girl. My dear mother died when I was + five years old. I had a hard time all my life till I was + eighteen, when I was married to F., last September. I was so + happy with him. He was a good boy and never drank till he met + with the Market Street gang and they got him to drinking and + smoking that hop. + + This is the Fourth of July and F.'s gray-haired mother and I are + here grieving over the loved one in prison. If a wife ever loved + a husband truly I love mine. I remain your friend, + + MRS. F. A. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., Sept. 22, 1904. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I was glad to hear from you, which I always am, for your letters + are full of kind words and it is a pleasure to read them in my + lonely cell and know there is one true friend who prays for me. + Kind words are few for me now when I am in need and going through + the most terrible and trying time of a lifetime. But I am living + in hopes and trusting God for my future, come what may. I surely + thank you for seeing the Governor in our behalf. + + My mother and wife are well. Their letter to you must have been + missent, for they wrote. This leaves me well. + + Yours sincerely, + F. A. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., March 26, 1905. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton: + + Dear Mother: I was very glad to hear from you as I did not know + what had become of you. Well, the law has been found good and the + death watch is over us. Poor ---- was hung the 6th. Our time + begins the 21st of May. Yes, I am trusting God and I know He has + heard my prayers, and whatever comes will be for the best. P---- + is getting better again they tell me. A---- is the same as ever. + I wrote to my mother today and told her I heard from you. + + Yours sincerely + F. A. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., April 12, 1905. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Los Angeles, Cal.: + + Dear Mother Wheaton: I was glad to hear from you. Your letters do + me so much good, they always give me new hope. Of course you + understand what I am going through, and at times hope seems + hopeless for the time seems so long to me in this dreary cell, + and to think if I had left that horrible liquor alone and stayed + away from bad company where I could have been to-night--free and + happy, at home with my wife and my poor old mother and father. + But as it is I am sad and lonely and my loved ones are far away, + heart-broken. But I believe my prayers will be answered yet, for + I know God has heard them. But, the Lord's will be done. I know + He will do what is best for me. + + Well, dear mother, the boys are well and send their best regards. + + Sincerely yours, + F. A. + + * * * * * + + Canon City, Colo., June 15, 1905. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I received your kind and welcome letter and was glad to hear from + you again. I will never have the pleasure of reading another + letter from you in this world, for I have been put back in a + horrible death cell again and the Board of Pardons and Governor + have refused to save me from the terrible death I am doomed for, + but I expect to meet you in heaven, dear mother, for I know God + has forgiven me all of my sins. I want to thank you again for all + you have done for me, for I know you have spent many a sleepless + night on account of me. I felt a great deal better after seeing + and praying with you the last time you were here than I had since + I've been in this trouble. I am glad things are most at an end + for I am very weary of these lonesome death cells. Of course I + don't want to die nor am I glad of it, for I have lots to live + for yet as you know, but the Lord's will be done. I know it will + be for the best. Well, I will close for this time. I am to be + hung in the next twenty-four hours, so good-bye, dear friend. + Think of me sometime in the future. + + From your son in Christ, + F. A. + + * * * * * + + Mother Wheaton: + + Dear Mother: We just received your loving letter last night and + was glad to hear from you. Oh, dear mother, my darling boy is + gone; never can I see his loving face in this cruel world. Oh, it + is terrible; it seems too hard for me to stand. Just think, my + only darling child. But I know he is in heaven. He died on the + 16th. We went to see him and he was so glad to see us. He kissed + his papa and all of us and said he wanted us not to grieve any + more than we could help.... His last words were "Good-bye, + mamma," with a smile and wave of his hand just like I was coming + back again. He said he would like to be buried close to home. + Poor, darling boy; he loved to be close to home and mamma in + life, but it is hard to think that he had to spend his last days + away from us, all on account of whiskey. + + Your friends as ever, + MRS. A. AND L. + + (The above was from the aged mother and the young wife.) + +Think you, dear reader, that these experiences are passed by lightly +when I must enter into the sorrows of these mothers and loved ones who +must give up their dear ones in this way? Only the grace and love of +God can sustain me and these dear bereaved ones in these trials. This +was one of my saddest experiences, as I was personally acquainted +with the parents and the dear young wife of one of these young men, +having been entertained at their home some days at a time during their +sorrow. This is only another example of what strong drink is doing in +our land. God pity those who in the least favor this traffic. + +I give below short extracts taken from _The Daily News_ of Denver +concerning these cases: + + "Not yet has the final word for F. A., C. P. and N. A., under + sentence of death, been said. + + "It is likely that it will not be said for at least a week or ten + days. The Board of Pardons adjourned late yesterday afternoon + without deciding the fate of the three boys.... + + "But, though the tragic element was lacking, there was present + throughout the meeting an undercurrent of deep human woe. The + mother of A. was there, clad in black, with a hopeless expression + on her face pitiful to see. Beside her at all times was the wife + of A., young, pretty in an indefinite sort of way, her blue eyes + holding ever before them the wreck of her shattered girlish + romance. Both women wept freely at times. + + "With the two women were a dozen of their women friends, whose + coming had been actuated by a mixture of curiosity and sympathy. + + + FRIEND OF ALL PRISONERS. + + "Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, friend of prisoners the world over, + was there too. She sat next Mrs. A., the elder, and wept + copiously in sympathy. 'Mother' Wheaton visited the boys at Canon + City, and she told the board the impression of her visit, how, + she was sure, they had repented of their deed and had their sins + forgiven. + + "She also pleaded for their lives on the ground of opposition to + capital punishment. She has been in state prison rescue work for + twenty-one years, and her silver hair, refined face and gentle + manner have brought comfort to criminals everywhere."--News, May + 6. + + + SESSION OF THE BOARD. + + The Board of Pardons met in special session at 10 o'clock + yesterday morning for the purpose of passing finally upon the + applications of the three boys for commutation of sentence from + death to imprisonment for life. + + Interest in the proceedings of the morning centered around four + women, two mothers, a sister and a wife of the condemned boys. + They were Mrs. J. A., bowed with the weight of her seventy years, + who had come all the way from Buffalo, N. Y., to be present at + the meeting; her daughter, Miss A., of Denver; Mrs. J. A. and + Mrs. F. A., mother and wife, respectively, of F. A. All four were + present throughout the hearing and made personal pleas to the + Board. + + After the hearing was concluded they went together into the outer + office of the executive chamber and sat huddled up in one corner + of the big room, their eyes fixed on the door which led to the + inner office where four men were deciding whether the boys they + loved should live or die. + + + HEARD THE BAD NEWS. + + When the news of the Board's action was conveyed by Secretary C. + E. Hagar to the four women waiting in the outer office, their + grief was pitiful in the extreme. Mrs. A. very nearly collapsed. + She clung to the arm of her daughter and moaned in heart-breaking + accents. The daughter, too, was almost overcome, but controlled + herself for her mother's sake. + + The mother and wife of F. A., while it was evident they were + suffering keenly, maintained an outward composure except for the + tears which welled from their eyes. They hurriedly left the + capitol building together. The young wife will go to the + penitentiary Friday to say a last good-bye to her husband. + + + PLEA OF ATTORNEY. + + W. E., attorney for A., made a wonderfully eloquent plea for his + client's life. It was logical, pathetic and at times scathing in + its denunciation of the methods used by the police to extort + confessions from the boys. He said these methods, in their + horrible brutality, were without parallel anywhere. + + "The only evidence upon which N. A. was convicted," he said, "was + the alleged confession wrung out of him by police brutality. This + confession was made after the prisoner had been 'sweated' and + intimidated. One ear had been almost torn off, he had been + cuffed, kicked and trampled upon, and then, under the influence + of threats, he made his alleged confession." + + + NEWS THAT SON IS TO HANG BROKEN TO AGED WOMAN BY HER DAUGHTER AND + CAUSES COLLAPSE. + + Sitting and staring with a blank look into space, at intervals + relieving the tension of her misery by low moans, and then again + ejaculating pitifully, "Oh, my boy! My poor, poor boy! Can I live + and know that you died upon the gallows?" Mrs. J. A. is now + hovering on the borderland of life at the home of her daughter in + Denver. + + It was not until noon yesterday that Mrs. A. was told that the + pardons board had refused to grant her son, N. A., a commutation + of sentence from death to life imprisonment. Up to that moment + when the terrible knowledge became hers she had a mother's hope + that the pardons board must save her boy. From the moment she + heard from her daughter's lips that the son and brother must die, + Mrs. A. has been verging upon a semi-comatose condition, and + under the constant care of a physician. + + She was illy prepared to hear the news yesterday, for she had + spent the night previous without closing her eyes in sleep. It + was not until 5 o'clock that slumber came to her mercifully, and + even then she merely slept in a fitful doze until 8 o'clock. + + + SUPPRESSED EMOTION. + + The serious phase of Mrs. A.'s condition, her physician regards, + is that with her it is all suppressed emotion. She does not cry + out or rave, but endures her intense suffering in quiet. It is + but seldom that tears come to her relief, and the only vent her + emotion has is in her low moans for her "poor boy." + + After the news was broken to her, Mrs. A. spent most of the day + in bed. Late last night she was still in the same condition, and + the gravest anxiety is felt by her relatives. + + Mrs. A. is 70 years old. She lives in Buffalo, N. Y., and made + the long trip of 1,500 miles to personally plead with the State + Board of Pardons for the life of her son. + + + TO TEST GALLOWS. + + Warden C. will today test the automatic scaffold upon which N. A. + and F. A. will be executed next week. He will see that + everything about the device is in perfect order and will make a + final test just prior to taking the first of the two to his + death. The execution house, where the men will be confined until + the final summons, is 28x30 feet. It contains three condemned + cells and across the hall from these are two large rooms. In the + center of one is a large iron plate and on this the condemned is + asked to stand after the noose and cap have been adjusted. The + weight of the man causes the plate to drop about an inch. This + closes the circuit of a current connecting with a bucket of water + which stands on a shelf in a closet in an adjoining room. By a + magnet arrangement a plug in the bottom of the bucket is pulled + and the water begins to flow out. As soon as the vessel is empty + an automatic connection releases a catch holding a bag of sand on + the end of the noose. + + The sand, being heavier than the man, falls, causing the body at + the other extremity of the rope to be jerked off the floor to the + height of three feet. The sandbag is in the room containing the + closet where the bucket is and the rope from the noose reaches + that room over a pulley and through a hole in the wall. + + The condemned man does not see any of the details of the + execution when he enters the death cell. The iron plate in the + floor and the noose around his neck are the only parts he can + see. He does not hear the dropping of the water nor the working + of any of the mechanism. + + The instant the man is jerked off his feet and suspended at the + end of the rope his neck is broken. The time intervening between + the pulling of the plug in the bucket and the falling of the sand + is usually about a minute. The suspense to the prisoner, however, + is not regarded as any more cruel than that experienced by a man + in the electrical chair or on the scaffold while he awaits the + fatal current or the springing of the trap. + + The hanging apparatus was invented by a convict fifteen years + ago.--_News_, May 20. + +As shown by foregoing letters these cases were continued till June 16. +Such is the suspense, sorrow of heart and grief through which many are +constantly passing in this world, all on account of sin. What are we +trying to do to lend a hand of relief? + +Such, dear reader, are a few of the many, many cases of this class +with which I have had to do in these more than twenty years of +ministry to those that are bound. Some were hardened criminals, others +innocent of the crime for which they were condemned and others no more +guilty than thousands that the world honors. For all, Christ died; and +many others beside these I have mentioned have given evidence of +saving faith in the blood that is able to cleanse the deepest stain +that sin has made. + +One case is just as near and dear to my mother heart as another and +yet how different in many respects are these condemned men--different +in their natural inclinations and unlike because of their different +circumstances in life. Among them are found the refined, the educated, +the gifted, the beautiful as well as the low, the ignorant, the +degraded. All must share the same fate. All are shown in the worst +possible light to a gaping, sensation-loving, curious world. Let us, +dear reader, take these cases home to our hearts as if they were our +very own and so learn to have that charity that suffereth long and is +kind. Even Moses and David took life, yet they were forgiven, and +Moses who in haste slew the Egyptian, became the prophet so +wonderfully used of God because of his meekness of spirit; and David +in his thankfulness declared, "This poor man cried and the Lord heard +him and delivered him out of all his troubles." + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + Work in Churches and Missions. + + +As stated in preface I have always as opportunity offered been ready +to preach the gospel to all men. In this chapter I speak very briefly +of some of the work done in churches and missions and give some +letters from pastors and friends referring to this part of my labors. + + + STRANGELY LED. + +I once had a young sister with me whom I had taken from Toronto, +Canada. I had told her mother I would return her safely and had given +her money to pay her fare home. As we returned through a field to the +city from the poor farm where I had held a service, I said to the +sister, "I am so hungry." She replied, "O wait till we get to heaven, +then we shall have of the twelve manner of fruit, and drink of the +water of life," and I was cheered and blest as I went along the way. +The Lord showed me to trust Him. When I reached my lodging-house I was +so weak and tired that I sat down to rest a few moments before +ascending the stairs to my room. The landlady sat by her well-filled +table after the boarders were all gone. She asked the servant for a +plate, and I watched her while she cut off a nice piece of turkey and +a piece of roast beef and then put some bread on the plate and handed +it to me. I was, O, so glad, but feared she was going to ask pay for +it, and I had only a dime. I asked, "How much is this?" and she +replied, "Nothing." I was so overcome with gratitude to God for His +goodness that I hastened to my room and thanked God for answering +prayer, in giving me food I needed to give me strength for the +meeting that afternoon on the street, and in the evening at the +colored people's church. At the close of the meeting in the evening +the preacher said: "The sister has given us a good sermon, and the +gospel must be carried, so come up and give us a good collection." The +people responded heartily and gave a very liberal collection, but +after the meeting the preacher handed me 25 cents, keeping the rest. I +felt very badly as I had prayed for money which I needed so much. I +must go to another city, and no money for traveling expenses. I had +been obliged to have some work done by the dentist which must be paid, +and no money, but I kept believing, yet no open heart or door. I +wondered why I was led to go to another place with no means provided. +When I had gotten the amount needed I left, heart-sick, lonely and +weary to go on alone in the work, and the sister to go home to Canada. +A few days later I was walking along the streets of Lynchburg, Va. I +met a man who said, "I am Rev. B---- from Chicago. I have met you +several times in your work. Sister Wheaton, won't you come with me to +church?" I said, "Where?" and he said, "To the First Baptist church." + +When we entered the beautiful new church building the evangelist +introduced me to the young pastor, who hurried by indifferently. He +then presented me to some fine looking ladies who also passed by on +the other side. When the evangelist had closed his sermon he said, +"Now, friends, this is the lady I told you about who has done more +good than we preachers. I know her, but she don't know me. Receive her +as a sister. She is worthy." When the service closed, one after +another came to speak to me and gave me their hand and invited me to +their homes. A gentleman and wife came up and said, "We claim you as +our guest." The husband said, "The carriage is at the door. I will +walk and you may ride with my wife." I was at a loss to know just +which invitation to accept, when the evangelist came up and said, +"These are the people for you to go with." I did so and the Lord went +with me. I was invited to preach that night and the Lord was there in +mighty convicting power. At the close of the meeting the evangelist +said, "Sister, how did it happen that I met you just as I did this +morning?" I said, "Brother B., things don't happen with me. The Lord +sent me to this place." + +The next day a young lady called at the house and inquired for me. I +went to the door and she handed me a small parcel saying, "Your +friends from the First Baptist church sent you this." Thanking her I +went inside and found it was fifteen dollars. + +I was the guest of one of the F. F. V.'s, so was welcomed everywhere. +Other churches and other preachers invited me to their pulpits. In a +few days Mrs. Col. O. asked me if I would conduct a meeting for women +only at the M. E. church if she would arrange for it. I was impressed +that the thought was of God and agreed to do so. The meeting was +appointed for Wednesday at 4 p. m. On the way to the church I was so +burdened with the responsibility of the meeting that I told the sister +(the kind friend who entertained me) that I could not talk, I must +pray the rest of the way to church. To my surprise the place became +crowded. I had expected perhaps a dozen women and no men; and here the +place was full of elegantly dressed ladies, and the pastor of the +church, Brother H., and a policeman were also present. I tried to +proceed with the service, but seemed unable to do so. After prayer and +singing, "How firm a foundation," I arose and said: "Is any one led of +the Spirit to give me a text. I have no message." A sister arose and +timidly said, "The 14th chapter of John." Well, the flood gates of +Heaven were opened to my soul. God spoke and waves of salvation rolled +over the church, and women, God bless them! arose and said, "I thought +I was a Christian until today, but I find I have never begun to serve +the Lord yet. I promise, by God's help, to begin anew today for +Heaven." The dear Lord touched proud hearts and melted them together +until the place was filled with the glory of God. The pastor and +people asked me to hold another meeting the following day for both men +and women. I said I would do so in the fear of the Lord, and the Lord +wonderfully blessed the services. Souls were brought in touch with God +and saved. I said to them, "Friends, begin a revival at once. God is +ready to work with you if you follow Him. My services are ended in +this church. The prisoners, my special care, need me, and the poor and +the colored people." I remained three weeks in that city, wonderfully +blessed of God. When I left there were over fifty dollars in my hand, +of free will offerings. I see why the Lord sent me to the city to +arouse the sleeping church members and preachers, both white and +colored, from their cold, lifeless spiritual condition. + +Soon after leaving Lynchburg I received the following letter from the +sister who planned the meeting, which greatly encouraged me: + + Lynchburg, May 2, 1887. + + My Dear Sister: + + I received your letter several days since. I am truly rejoiced to + know that you receive that peace and comfort which a child of God + knows to be her portion. + + My thoughts have followed you since your departure from our city + and prayers from many hearts have ascended to the throne for + your safety and success in the great work God has called you to + do. + + I have not known of a revival such as is now in progress at Dr. + Hannon's church. Men and women are flocking to the meetings, old + and young, to know what they must do to be saved. My son was + happily converted last Friday night. He had long been cold and + indifferent, but now all is joy and he works and speaks for God + with willingness. He is in solemn earnest now in working, praying + and speaking in the great congregation. Surely goodness and mercy + have followed me all the days of my life and I will dwell at the + feet of my Master forever. + + Though God has sent tears to my eyes and grief to my heart, + thanks to His dear name He has kept me from falling. I think you + left a good influence among the fallen women here. I have been + sent for to go to some since you left. I have sent this day a + request to the official board of my church to give me the use of + one room in the church where I can always meet them for the + purpose of hearing of their desires to lead a new life. In this + way my pastor can meet them and help me in this work. I await the + result. + + Your friend with sincere love and prayers, + Mrs. Lucy K. O. + +I went on my way, and some time after was in San Francisco, +California. Hearing one day, as I left the jail, of a holiness +convention, I was impressed to attend. When I arrived a testimony +meeting was in progress. I arose and began to sing, "Yes, I will stand +up for Jesus," and the minister in charge came down the aisle to me +and said: "Is this Sister Wheaton who held meetings in my church in +L----, Va.?" I said, "My name is Elizabeth Wheaton, and I held +meetings in that city. Are you Dr. H.?" and he said, "Yes." He +returned to the platform and told the people of my work in his church +and that about four hundred had been saved, and told the people to +receive me as a child of God. So homes were opened. The work of God +moved on. As I was a stranger in a strange city, I blessed God for +the leadings of the Holy Spirit in all my pilgrim way. I have not seen +Dr. H. since that time. He gave me a pressing invitation to his church +in San Francisco but work on other lines prevented my acceptance. + + + LETTERS FROM OTHER FRIENDS. + + Wetumpka, Ala., Jan. 12, 1885. + + My Dear Sister: + + It would be impossible for me to express in words the Christian + sympathy and love I have for you--one that has left all; yes, + all--denying yourself and taking up the cross of Jesus, carrying + the glad tidings of salvation to the despised, to the outcast, to + the poor in spirit and to the oppressed. I pray daily that the + good Lord may bless you. + + Dear sister, those in the world whose minds are carnal, cannot + understand your work, for your life is hidden in God, and cannot + be discerned in any other way but by the Spirit. Our crosses will + soon be over. Jesus will not let us suffer for Him long. He is + coming for us soon. Then "Be not weary in well-doing, for in due + season we shall reap, if we faint not." We are not the only + friends you have in Wetumpka. Long will you live in our memory. I + pray that the Lord may ever guide and lead you as He knows and + sees best. I am your brother in Christ, + + A. J. ROGERS, Pastor. + + * * * * * + + Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 2, 1897. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + We were so glad to hear from you. Our meeting closed on Sunday + evening, August 22, with twenty-eight persons asking the prayers + of the church. We are beginning special services three evenings + in the week. + + We are planning to begin another revival meeting about the middle + of October. Would be glad to have you with us. We are praying + that the dear Lord may so order it if it is His will. The Lord is + leading and we are expecting great things. + + Remember us kindly to Mrs. H. I hope you will write again, so + that we may be posted as to your movements. We are praying for + you. Do not forget us. Mrs. Cooper and Merrill wish to be + remembered to you. "The Lord bless and keep thee and cause His + face to shine upon thee." Good-bye for a little while. + + Fraternally, + M. C. COOPER, Pastor St. Paul's Church. + + * * * * * + + Fort Wayne, Ind., Sept. 29, 1897. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + Dear Sister in Christ: Your letter received and I must say I hold + it very sacred and dear. + + I think of you often, and not only I, but a large number of + others. We cannot tell the good you did while here, but God above + knows and He will reward you. Many have been more willing to do + their Christian duty. They seem to realize more fully what it + means to be a Christian. O there is so much in it! + + Dear sister, the Lord being willing, we are going to hold another + revival campaign, commencing Sunday, October 17. I am so anxious + I can hardly wait. I enjoy myself so much when I can be doing + work for my dear Lord and Master, who did so much for me. I wish + the Lord would see fit to send you this way during our revival, + and my prayers shall be to that end. It is God's work and you are + one of His workers. You have the constant prayer of St. Paul's + church, and we are sure that we have yours. May God's choicest + blessings rest upon and abide with you. "The Lord lift up His + countenance upon thee and give thee peace." + + LOUISE ROUX. + + * * * * * + + (From the _Gazette_, Fort Wayne, Ind.) + + MRS. WHEATON, FAMOUS PRISON EVANGELIST, "LED BY THE LORD HERE"--HER + FAITH IN THIS ABSOLUTE--OPENS INTERVIEW WITH PRAYER--LARGE AUDIENCES + HEAR HER. + + Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton is in town and last night and + yesterday afternoon addressed a large audience at the revival + services which Rev. Mr. Cooper, of St. Paul's M. E. church is + conducting in a tent situated near his church, on Walton avenue. + She reached this city Saturday evening over the Pennsylvania. + Having missed a train at Warsaw en route to visit a sister who + lives at Elkhart, she was directed, she said by the Lord, after + prayer, to come to Fort Wayne to spend the Sabbath. On the way + over her singing and praying on the train attracted attention to + her and a member of the Wayne Street Methodist Church, on + learning who she was, invited her and her sister, Mrs. Hoffman, + to spend the night at his home. She had heard, she said, of the + meetings that Mr. Cooper is conducting, and she said, with a + manner of absolute confidence, that she had been directed to + attend these meetings. Rev. Mr. Cooper said yesterday that the + meeting was in progress as she and her companion entered and that + he was impressed to speak to her. On learning her name he knew + her instantly by fame as the widely traveled and much beloved + prison evangelist. She was given a welcome and was at once asked + to participate in the services. At the night meeting there were a + thousand people, it is said, who listened enrapt to her prayers + and moving appeals to the sinner to accept the salvation in which + she so thoroughly believes. + + The prisoners at the jail were her first concern Sunday morning. + She told Mr. Cooper that after arising she turned to her Bible + for guidance and her eyes fell upon certain Scripture which + contained the word prison three times. She took this as evidence + that she should first visit the jail and thither she went. It is + quickly apprehended by those who come in contact with her that + she pauses not when directed, as she believes, to do a service in + the cause of the Master, but goes at once. She has no + questionings of faith. + + A Gazette reporter found her last night at the home of Mr. Bower, + No. 136 Walton avenue. Her physical appearance marks her as no + ordinary person. Her face beams with a kindly smile, being plump + and fresh with the vigor of apparent health, though gray hair + indicates her past the prime of life. She dresses modestly in + black and carries with her a satchel in which she keeps a + Testament, her pass holder and some tracts. Her handshake is a + model of firmness and heartiness, conveying the impress of + intense earnestness. Before permitting the interviewer to proceed + further than the salutations, Mrs. Wheaton kneeled and prayed for + the Lord's blessing upon the interview. This unconventional + prelude was novel in the experience of the reporter, but coming + from such a woman seemed perfectly in place. There is reverence + and piety proclaimed by her presence and no thought of + incongruity obtruded. The prayer took the range of ready + invocation and communion with the Lord, and as is probably the + evangelist's wont, the prisoner and the fallen woman were not + forgotten in her petition to the throne of grace. + + Mrs. Wheaton was not inclined to talk about herself. "What has + been done by me," she said, "was done of the Lord--His be the + glory. I was called to this work thirteen years ago, and I walk + by His guidance. I have never asked and could not accept a + salary. I have never had a collection taken for me. It is a + wonderful thing how He has led me. Here are some of the railroad + passes that have been given me." + + And here she unrolled a leathern holder full of passes from all + the leading roads. Some were "Account of Missionary Work" and + some "Account of Christian Work." It is evident that she has + traveled this country over, and her ministrations have also + extended to the old world. + + Mrs. Wheaton again attended the services last night, and moved + all by her stirring words. Many could not repress the tears. Her + address was not anchored to a formal text, but was a strong + appeal, nevertheless, to the sinner to repent. The audience was + slow to pass out after the meeting, being anxious to meet the + speaker. + +The following from Bro. Snyder and his estimable wife who are my very +dear friends and whose home is always open to me when I am in +Baltimore, are very much prized. They explain themselves. Their work +for God and souls is very exceptional: + + During the winter of 1894, Mother Wheaton was conducting a + service at the state prison, when one of our men expressed his + desire that she should attend our services. This was my first + introduction to this noble child of God, and since then she + seldom comes East without visiting our church; we all love her, + but she rarely stays over a day at one time, as her work calls + her away. + + In 1898, we induced her to remain with us a week. At this meeting + hundreds of people attended and many souls were saved. One of + the wealthiest ladies of the church received her pentecost and is + now one of our best workers. During the day Mother Wheaton would + visit the outcast of the city. I recall a case of an old colored + woman that we found in a miserable hovel, dying without Christ; + how, after preparing the room and then praying to Father for the + body, she seemed to be brought back to life by the prayers of + God's saint that she might be led to Christ, and after she gave + her life to Him we administered the Lord's supper. Mother Wheaton + has always been a blessing, whenever she has come to my church; + good people are made better, bad people made good. + +[Illustration: CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, BALTIMORE, M. D.] + + The church was dedicated to God by "Mother Wheaton" before it was + finished; while the building was in course of erection she paid + us a short visit; with the moon shining through the open windows, + mortar, bricks, etc., around us, she was prompted to take the + church to God in prayer. I will never forget the scene. Thousands + have been saved and many sanctified. The work is still spreading. + + * * * * * + + Baltimore, Md., January 19, 1901. + + Dear Mother: Your kind letter to your children received today. + Began special meetings Wednesday night, the 16th. The three + nights have been blessed and owned of Father. Those in and out of + the church saved. Thirty-three at the altar. + + You were mentioned last night in the meeting. I told them they + could look for you to come in at any time, as I believe Father is + going to send you. Never in my ministry did I feel more in + harmony with the divine Spirit. As I am writing I am thinking of + our citizenship in heaven. What a time we will have! + + How I longed for you to shout with me Wednesday night over the + conversion of a man 60 years of age, who never knew Christ. I + could not sleep, but praised the Father all that night. He had + his wife and daughter with him in church last night. + + Mrs. Snyder joins me in much love to you and Sister Taylor. As + ever, + + Your son in the Gospel, + J. K. SNYDER. + + * * * * * + + Baltimore, Md., October 20, 1902. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Your kind letter came today. Mrs. Snyder and Eddie often speak of + you; and once a day, at least, we pray for you. + + Yesterday several of the boys in the Sunday School formed a + committee, and without a word being spoken about you, came to me + and asked of you and wanted to know when they would have you with + us. + + Last week had fifteen born again; four last night. So you see + Father is still blessing your children. + + God bless you and keep you, is the prayer of your son, + + J. K. SNYDER. + + * * * * * + + 1737 North Broadway, Baltimore Md., June 23, 1903. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Your long expected letter received. Our dear heavenly Father + continues to bless us at home and at the church, souls saved and + believers sanctified. Glory! The Blood covers our sins. + + Eddie was glad to know you had not forgotten him. He is a great + help in the church; your prayers are not in vain. We remain + + Your children, + J. K. SNYDER AND WIFE. + + * * * * * + + (From the Whosoever Will Rescue Mission.) + + New Orleans, La., May 24, 1897. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + We are getting along nicely at the Mission. The Lord is blessing + our work and many souls are being saved. We have started a branch + mission further downtown. We call it "No. 2." + + We will never forget you, dear mother; your visit did us so much + good. The boys at the Mission often talk of you and Sister + Kelley. We would like to have you visit us again soon, the Lord + willing. Mother and all send kindest regards. Wife sends love to + you both. Pray for us. I remain + + Your brother in Jesus, + J. H. HAAG. + + * * * * * + + (From the Mission Worker, New Orleans.) + + PRISON EVANGELIST. + + "Mother Wheaton," the noted prison evangelist, arrived in the + city on the evening of February 21, and spent several nights + during her stay. This sister in Israel has visited nearly all if + not quite every state prison in the United States and some in + foreign countries, preaching to their inmates the glad tidings of + great joy. She is a forcible speaker and very deeply in earnest. + Her visit to this city was a pleasant one and resulted in much + good to many. + + During her stay here Mother Wheaton has been kept very busy about + her Master's business. She has visited about all the prisons and + eleemosynary institutions in the city, singing, praying and + exhorting the inmates to a better life. She has been at the + Mission every night, and we have had some wonderful meetings. + Sister J. H. Haag has been her almost constant companion and the + two have done splendid work. On her way from the Mission this + Mother in Israel has several times stopped in at saloons, and + talked to all present about their soul's welfare. She is + intrepid--absolutely without fear--and well she may be for she + leans upon the Everlasting Arm. + + We do not know how long she will stay with us, but probably for + some days, as she now has several invitations on hand. She will + go when and where the Lord leads her. Our prayer is that she may + be made the instrument of winning many souls to Christ that her + crown in glory may be studded with precious jewels. She says of + herself that she "has no home but heaven." + + * * * * * + + (From Pacific Garden Mission.) + + Chicago, October 6, 1903. + + My Dear Sister Wheaton, God's Chosen One: + + How I praise my heavenly Father for your life and that I ever + knew you, and for your unselfish mercy to the poor and neglected + classes. May you long be spared to "gather them in from the + fields of sin" is the prayer of + + Your sister in Christ, + SARAH D. CLARK, + Pacific Garden Mission. + + + SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS. + +During the early years of my mission work I arrived one day alone in a +Southern city. Went to the postoffice and was reading my mail when a +good old man stepped up and inquired who I was and where I stopped. I +told him I had just arrived. He said, "Come home with me. My wife has +a room and a home for good women like you." I was praying for an open +door. Did not know where I was going to stay over night, but was sure +God had sent me to that place. I found them kind, hospitable people. +He was an old-fashioned Methodist preacher already superannuated, and +he has long since gone to his reward. He sent for the pastor of their +church and arranged for me to hold a meeting. I went at the request of +the pastor to visit an old lady who was sick; thought best to have an +open air meeting on the street and invite people to the church that +night. During the service on the street I noticed a very well dressed, +fine looking young man. When I closed he came to me and taking my +hand asked me to call at his store a few doors away. I did so and he +gave me a fountain pen and seemed unusually interested in what I had +said. + +The meeting that night was led by the Holy Spirit; souls were saved, +Christians quickened into new spiritual life and power, and sinners +awakened. Other services were held in several of the churches. God was +honored and the Holy Spirit held right-of-way. Often I would have +services in the white people's church till 9 p. m., then hurry to the +colored people's church and preach and sing and pray till 11 o'clock. +Then at 5 in the morning would meet again, at the Methodist church, +such crowds of worshipers--devout, humble seekers after God. I left +the city just as the meetings were at their height. In the next world +when we all assemble together I expect to see many who were converted +at that series of meetings. + + + CALLED TO THE MINISTRY. + +The young man who seemed so interested in that first street service +came to all the meetings. He was clearly converted and was called to +the ministry. For some time he was a successful soul winner, +manifesting a pure spirit and a godly life; but he afterwards became +discouraged and went into business to support his family. In a letter +from him in later years I received the following words: + + "At the time I got your postal I was in serious meditation on + spiritual affairs and was fully considering re-entering the + Gospel ministry. I know I was called of the Lord through His Holy + Spirit to preach His everlasting gospel. Praise His holy name! He + gave me the seal of His approval in the witness of His Spirit and + the fruit of my labor in the salvation of souls. I know this of a + truth from experience. You cannot imagine how I long, Oh, so + intensely, to be again filled with His Spirit and to enter upon + His work in the salvation of souls. + + Lovingly yours, + I. H. N." + + + A COLORED WOMAN SAVED AND PREACHING. + +In the year 1886 I was holding meetings in Houston, Texas. Was in a +colored people's church one day, and was much perplexed as to how to +reach the people's hearts. I wept before the Lord in prayer. I did not +know it then, but God was working, using my zeal and grief to help +save a soul. Finally a woman who came to scoff and ridicule was +converted. She received a call to preach after vowing that women were +never called to preach. Well, the years rolled by and one night in +Oklahoma City I saw the Salvation Army gathering in a tent. I went in +and was invited to read the Word and lead the meeting. I did so, and +as the services were about to close a colored woman arose and said she +wished to state that she was saved, and told how she was also called +to preach by the Spirit of the Lord through what I said in that +meeting in Houston, Texas, so long before. She labored for years as an +evangelist and so far as I know is still preaching. In her +evangelistic work she has labored successfully in many of the states. + +At one time she wrote of her conversion as follows: + + "When I was seeking life in the Lord, I did not want to eat for + two weeks, and had no appetite, but I prayed on and the change + came and I felt brand new. I loved everybody--white and colored. + I seemed to have on a white garment, and that death had fallen + beneath my feet and had no more dominion over me. It seemed that + I had seen the Lord and He told me to go in peace and sin no + more, and I was one more happy soul. I wanted to tell everybody + what the Lord had done for my soul." + + + STRIKING EXPERIENCES. + +Once while holding meetings in Wichita, Kansas, I was greatly +troubled. I knew not why. I could neither preach nor sing. I did not +know what was wrong. Suddenly a large man rose and rushed from the +room taking his wife and children with him. He told me afterward that +he came with the avowed purpose of killing another man who was there. +And they both came there with the intention of killing each other. + +At the same mission a man came running in and said that a young +railroad man across the street in the jail was dying, having taken +poison. I went to the jail where the young man was lying on the floor +and kneeling beside him, took his hand and for two hours pleaded with +God to spare his life and save his soul. And the Lord answered prayer. +The doctors were amazed and perplexed, as they could not understand +how the man could live, as all their efforts had seemed to be +fruitless. It was simply one of God's miracles. + + + SAVED BY A HYMN. + +Passing along the street one night in Louisville, Ky., I saw standing +in a doorway a group of well-dressed young ladies, also a lady much +older. I spoke to them and asked for a drink of water and some favor +to further the conversation. When once in doors I saw a piano, and +said, "Which one of you ladies will play a piece on the piano? I love +music so much." A little boy four years old came in. They asked him to +tell me what he intended to be when he grew up. He said, "A preacher. +I am going to see my mamma in Heaven." He was their sister's boy. He +sang for me while one of his aunts played the piano. In his sweet, +lisping voice he sang, "I never will cease to love Him." I was +impressed to ask him to come to the mission where I was going to +preach that night, and sing that piece, and have the aunt play the +organ. Both consented to go with me and when I asked him the little +boy came on the platform and sang beautifully. His father had heard +of my desire to have the child sing, and had straggled into the +mission under the influence of strong drink. He was so convicted and +heart-broken he wept, and that four-year-old boy walked from the +platform down the aisle to that lonely, heart-sick father, who then +and there gave himself up to God, and was saved before he left the +hall, through the singing of a hymn! + + * * * * * + + God _will_ forgive each penitent whate'er his sin may be, + Whose heart is overflowing with _love_ for bond and free. + Oh, listen! brother, listen--'tis Jehovah's plan-- + And a _time is fixed_ to right the wrongs of Man.... + + --_Prison Poetry._ + +[Illustration: ARTHUR C. HOFFMAN, NEPHEW OF E. R. W., SITTING ON FRONT +OF ENGINE.] + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + Preaching the Gospel on Railway Trains. + + +The young man on the front of the engine in the foregoing illustration +was my sister's son. I give here an extract from the account of his +death June 7, 1890, as published at the time in the daily of +Huntington, Ind., where it occurred: + + + KILLED BY CARS. + + A. C. Hoffman, a switchman in the Chicago & Atlantic yards, was + run over and killed this morning. + + He was employed at night and about 5 o'clock this morning went to + the coal dock to run down two cars that had been unloaded there. + The track is very much inclined leading from the dock and it + requires that brakes be set very tight. When the cars started + down the track Hoffman ran from the rear end to the front of the + head car to set the brake, but in doing so stubbed his toe and + fell from the car to the middle of the track beneath. The car was + running rapidly and no sooner did he strike the track than a + brake beam of the car struck his right leg near the hip, + fracturing the bones and bruising it otherwise. That threw him + over and the flange of a wheel struck the lower part of his back, + tearing the flesh all off clear to his backbone, exposing it to + sight. + + Hoffman was picked up and taken to the Arlington house, where he + boarded, and Dr. L. Severance, the railroad surgeon summoned. He + did all in his power to make the injured man easy and alleviate + his pain, but it was out of the reach of medical skill to save + his life and at about 10 o'clock he died in awful agony. + + Hoffman's mother and brother live in Lincoln, Neb., where the + latter is a physician. He also has a sister in Elkhart county, + this state, all of whom have been telegraphed the sad news. + + He was a good switchman and more than ordinarily intelligent. + + It is a most distressing accident. The young man was here among + strangers and died surrounded by the friends of so short an + acquaintance but who did everything within human power to save + him or make his end one of peace. His injuries were fatal though + and nothing short of death would relieve him. + +"ALL ABOARD!" So shout the railroad men, year in and year out, daily, +hourly, their cry is to get on board the train. I often think if we +preachers and mission workers were as faithful in _our_ work to get +people on board the old ship Zion, how many to-day would be en route +for Heaven who are on the broad-gauge rapid transit to the bottomless +pit of destruction. Will we not arise and shine for God as we have +never done before? + +Over fifty years ago when I was a small child, I stood at a +flag-station waiting for the train. I was to go alone ON MY FIRST TRIP +by this wonderful mode of travel. It was just the grandest thing to +know I was really to ride on a railroad train--only four miles, yet I +often think of it after these twenty years of constant travel. Have I +ever had such a remarkable experience, going alone, too, and as there +was no station or ticket office, I was obliged to pay my fare on the +train. I had a silver 25-cent piece, and I sat down in the first empty +seat I came to and waited to see what next! Along came a tall man in +uniform and asked where I was going. I told him and handed him my +money. I remember yet how kindly that conductor looked at me, +hesitated a little and then handed me back my quarter, and let me ride +those four miles free. I have never forgotten that act of kindness on +the railroad, and during my pilgrimage I have been shown much kindness +by the railroad officials. + +My work among railroad men has been greatly owned and blessed of the +Lord. Many of them saying, "You are the only preacher that ever speaks +to us about our soul's salvation." They often say I remind them of +their mothers who were good Christians. + +The following by a railroad man will be of interest and profit to +all, and will doubtless have more weight with his class than anything +I could say here: + + + TO RAILROAD MEN. + + BY ONE OF THEM. + + Dear Boys: One time in my life these words came to me: "_Where + will you spend eternity?_" Then and there I turned my back on sin + and "set my face like a flint" toward God and heaven, and cried + to God for Jesus' sake to forgive me; and near the hour of + midnight while kneeling at my bedside I received the witness of + the Spirit that I was saved. Then and there I was "born again" + into newness of life. I was changed from a man of sin to a child + of God, and since then such wonderful joy and peace fills my soul + every minute of the time that I want to tell all of you about it. + + Brother, isn't there in your breast at times an awful aching + void? Aren't there times when after trying every pleasure and + amusement the world affords, you just quietly sit down all alone + before God, and realize that it is all in vain? These things + don't satisfy; and there down deep in your heart is a longing + that is never satisfied, a hungering for something that will give + you complete joy and peace, and soul rest. Brother, there is only + one thing that will give you this complete rest, and satisfy + every longing of your heart, and that is salvation from sin. + Jesus died on the cross that you might be free from sin and live + through all the ages of eternity with Him in heaven. "If we + forsake our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and + cleanse us from all unrighteousness." If we do the forsaking He + will do the forgiving, and then through His atoning blood we + become new creatures, and after we have received the clear + witness that we are adopted into the family of God and can truly + call Him Father, if we feel angry at times or have some desire + for the world and the things of it, we can come to Him again and + completely abandon ourselves to Him, our will, our life, our + desires, our time, our talents to be used for His glory, then He + will baptize us with the Holy Ghost and power so that it becomes + a pleasure to do right and all evil becomes distasteful to us. By + the power of the Holy Ghost He cleanses our hearts, and the + Comforter which is the Holy Ghost takes up His abode in us, + sanctifying us, causing us to live pure, holy lives. We railroad + men whose lives are in danger at all times should be prepared to + meet God, for one minute we are here and the next we may be + standing at the judgment bar of God to answer for deeds done here + on earth. Dear reader, are you prepared to do that? If not, make + this the time that you will settle this forever by giving your + heart to God, then if this little flame of life is snuffed out + you will be borne on angel's wings onward and upward through the + gates of pearl, over the golden paved streets of the New + Jerusalem up to the great white throne where you will see Jesus + in all His glory and majesty and hear Him say to you, "Well done, + enter thou into the joy of the Lord." + + Let me tell you, brother, when the Lord saved me and gave me such + sweet joy and peace I told Him that I would never use beer or + tobacco in any form, for I knew it was displeasing to Him, for He + says, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy + Ghost which is in you?" (1 Cor. 6:19). "If any man defile the + temple of God, him shall God destroy" (1 Cor. 3:17). "Cleanse + ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit" (2 Cor. + 7:1). + + And, brother, perhaps you are a slave to tobacco. Many times you + have felt that it was a dirty, useless, expensive habit, and you + get thoroughly disgusted with it, and perhaps you quit it for a + short time, and then how surprised and disgusted you feel because + you find what an awful hold it has got on you. It is worse than a + spell of sickness to try and quit it, and you soon take it up + again, realizing as you do so that you are harboring something + that is stronger than you are, appetite; and although you are a + strong, robust man you have to admit that it is your master. And + when you go home to meet your mother, wife, sister, you notice + them shrink away from the breath made foul by the poisonous + tobacco. And the times that it almost destroys the taste for + anything else, and you use all the more of it till the + disagreeable "heartburn" warns you that the deadly poisonous + nicotine is eating away at the lining of your stomach, and you + are more disgusted than ever, but you can't quit without + torturing yourself. + + Oh, how I loved my beer, plug of tobacco and pipe before I was + saved, but I quit them all--drinking, chewing, smoking, swearing + and all immoral habits, and I would have died before I would have + indulged in any one of them in the least; but the _desire_ was + still there; at times I wanted them. And seven days after I was + saved I was convicted for sanctification or a clean heart. There + were some Holy Ghost Christian people who told me there was a + place I could get in the higher or complete Christian life where + God through Jesus' blood shed without the gate (Heb. 13:12) would + cleanse my heart from everything that was displeasing to Him, and + would so fill it with love and the power of the Holy Ghost that I + would be _completely delivered from all desires that were wrong_, + from anger, malice, pride, love of the world, lust, jealousy, + etc., and take away the appetite for beer and tobacco. I found + God's Word taught it, and believed He was "strong to deliver," + and that it was God's will, even my sanctification (1 Thes. 4:3). + + And I cried to God to give me "a clean heart, and a right + spirit," and he answered my prayer. It was done instantly. I + arose from my knees with a sweet sense of complete deliverance, + and such joy and perfect peace filled my whole being that I + couldn't praise Jesus enough for it. From that moment I have not + had the least desire for those things any more than if I never + had tasted them, and the very smell of beer or tobacco makes me + sick. This is a wonderful, grand deliverance. Now I am as free as + the very air--saved, sanctified, and sweetly kept by the power of + God. + + Brother, this is for you if you are willing to give up the + foolishness of the world for Christ. The joy that we have in one + hour in the service of the Lord is far greater than all the + pleasure the world can give in a lifetime. This power of the Holy + Ghost within us, this abiding Comforter fills us with glad + sunshine all the time, and there is constantly a power like "a + wall of fire round about us" warding off all evil. + + Oh, it's glorious and grows better and brighter each day. + + "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! + Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! + Heir of salvation, purchased of God, + Born of His spirit, washed in His blood." + + Your fellow brakesman, in Jesus' name, + M. L. ODELL. + Cincinnati, Ohio. + + TRANSPORTATION. + +People sometimes ask me how I am able to get transportation on the +railroads. Well, in a few words, it is because I pray to the Lord to +have the way open to whatever place He wants me to go, and the +railroad men know me and of my work for suffering humanity, and are +glad to help me in it. + + + A KIND CONDUCTOR. + +On July 17, 1903, I was on my way from Washington, D. C., on an +important journey, and the conductor told me the train I was on did +not stop at Sherwood, and I wanted to know where I should stop to get +another train that would stop there. He told me at Defiance, and when +we reached there I got off the train. Just then the conductor looked +out and called for a porter to "put that lady back on the train." I +was bewildered at this. He again called "put that lady back on the +train." I said, "Isn't this Defiance?" "Yes, but I shall put you off +at Sherwood." Who told that conductor to telegraph to headquarters to +get a permit to stop the train for me? God did it! That conductor will +never know how much his act strengthened my faith in God. Dear reader, +do you ever think of the hardships and dangers through which these +railroad men must pass? We put ourselves in their care without praying +for them. I seldom enter a train without praying God to protect the +railroad men and passengers, and give them His blessing. He does hear +and answer prayer. How often the dear Lord has heard my cries for the +safety of the trains! + +Some of my + + + MOST INTERESTING GOSPEL SERVICES + +have been held on railway trains. As I was once leaving Chicago over +the C. & R. I. R. R. at night, a request was made that I should sing +for the passengers. I was conversing with Mrs. Colonel Clark of the +Pacific Garden Mission, Chicago. As she was to soon leave the train I +said I would sing when she had gone. I sang some hymns, and then a +gentleman requested that I should ask all in the car who were +Christians to raise their hands. I did so and quite a number responded +to this, and he then asked all who had raised their hands to give a +word of testimony. He was the first one to speak and said, "I am a +Christian. The last thing before I left my home for Chicago was to +gather my wife and four little children around me and commit them to +God's care and ask for my safe return. I have for years been a stock +dealer and frequently come to Chicago. There is a young man in our +neighborhood who is also a dealer in stock, but being unacquainted +with the ways of the city, he did not like to go alone and as I was a +Christian came with me. When there is an opportunity like this given, +if I did not honor God and show my colors this young man could have no +confidence in me. I speak for his special benefit." He closed with an +exhortation to the unsaved to prepare to meet God and requested me to +sing again. Then one after another arose and spoke. It reminded one of +AN OLD-FASHIONED METHODIST CLASS MEETING. Prayer, testimonies and +singing continued till after midnight. The young stock dealer and +others were saved. Toward morning I fell into a sound sleep. I do not +know how long I slept, but when I awoke the sun was high and our car +was standing alone on the track. A lady passenger spoke to me saying, +"How could you sleep during that wreck?" "What! has anything +happened?" I said. "Yes, a wreck," she replied. The engine and other +cars were gone and they were clearing up the wreck. I heard from that +meeting years afterwards. + +One night a meeting was held in the open air for the special benefit +of railroad men. I asked all who wanted to be saved to raise their +hands; then said, "Will you not give your hearts to God now?" One year +from that time while in meeting a man arose and said that he was in +the crowd that night, and raised his hand, and then at once looked to +God and was saved then and there. + + + TRAIN SAVED FROM WRECK IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. + +The Lord has often made known to me when the train was in danger. I +could see the plots laid by wicked men to wreck the train, and when I +have prayed, He, in answer to prayer, has delivered us from harm and +death. He says: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered," and "I +will never leave thee nor forsake thee." + +At one time I had been in old Mexico and changing cars at El Paso, +Texas, I found a heavy trainload of passengers on the way east. I was +impressed all night of impending peril. I could not sleep, and walked +the floor of the car in silent prayer. I went to the young sister with +me and said, "The train is in great danger, and something will happen +unless the Lord delivers us. The text comes to me so forcibly, 'What, +could ye not watch with me one hour?' Watch and pray!" That night six +train-robbers had determined to wreck and rob the train. They had +stolen six horses and gone to a lonely place uninhabited for miles +about. They bound and gagged the section foreman and his men, then +took the switch-key and threw the switch to wreck the train. When they +saw the train passing on they tried to hail it with their lanterns, +but by some mysterious power of God their lights were put out, so that +the engineer did not see them. Then they tried to board the train but +were unable to succeed. It was a most remarkable occurrence. They +either did not open the switch properly and the train set it back to +its place, or the hand of God closed the switch. The newspapers +published quite an account of this incident, from which source the +above concerning the robbers was obtained, as they were caught and +made confession. + + + A TRAIN IN DANGER. + +In July, 1889, I was on my way from St. Joseph, Missouri, to St. +Louis, having with me a man and his wife. About 1 o'clock in the +morning I awoke with awful fear upon me of some impending danger. I +told my friends that we must pray for God to save the train, and that +no power but God's could avert the coming disaster, whatever it might +be. Still the horror as of death was upon me, and later in the night +the train suddenly stopped. The train men ran out with their lanterns +and found that the engine had become uncoupled from the cars and just +in front of the engine was a pile of iron. The iron rails of the track +were set so that a wreck would have been the result if God had not +interposed. God thwarted the well-laid plans that had been made to +wreck and rob the train. This was in a lonely place where no help was +near, and the robbers would have the best of chances to rob the train. +On our return west a similar terror came upon me and I said, "Pray for +this train, or something will happen to it before we reach St. Joe." I +was terrified all day. Just as the train stopped at the depot our car +was wrecked. The front wheels of the car were turned around crosswise +of the track, tearing up the planks, rails and earth. Such a queer +looking wreck, and apparently no reason for it! Yet we had been +brought in safety to our journey's end and no one was injured. + + + IMPRESSED TO LEAVE THE TRAIN. + +At another time after preaching at Canon City prison in Colorado, we +had our baggage checked to Leadville in the same state. We held +meetings on the train and some were moved to tears. When the engine +whistled for Salida a dreadful feeling of fear and terror overtook me. +Something seemed to say to me, "_Get off the train_." I felt it was a +command from the Lord. I told the friends who were with me what the +words of the Lord were, and said that we must leave the train. We +hurriedly left the train without waiting for another warning. I looked +after the train as it moved away and said, "I wonder why I had to +leave that train. Perhaps not till the judgment will I know." We went +on the street and held an open air meeting, and some one invited us to +hold a service that night in a church. We did so, and God poured out +his Spirit on the people. After the meeting we went out and visited +the saloons, and spoke to many about their souls. At about 11 o'clock +at night we returned to the depot and I asked the agent what time the +next train would leave for Leadville. He said, "I don't know. The +train you got off from was terribly wrecked twelve miles up the road. +The east-bound train crashed into it, and I have sent out two wrecking +trains already." I told him of my presentiment of danger, and how God +had impressed me to leave that train. He asked me to come into the +office and explain my impressions and talk to him. We did so, and +about 3 o'clock in the morning the wrecked train backed down to the +depot where we were waiting and we again got aboard. I told the +passengers as they looked at me as I came into the car, "The Lord +warned me of the danger and impressed me to get off the train." I have +taken the Lord as my guide all these years and He has never forsaken +me. + + + A TELEGRAM RECEIVED. + +Waiting for a train where I changed cars I was invited to sit in the +ticket office, as the waiting room was uncomfortable. I was writing at +the agent's desk when he handed me a telegram, saying, "I think this +is intended for you, Mother." It was an announcement of the death of +one of my brothers, and was being sent to another town, having to be +transferred here, and the agent seeing my name handed it to me. I +could see the hand of God in this. + + + HELPED TO CARE FOR WOUNDED MAN. + +Once on my way from Burlington to Ft. Madison, Ia., I told the +conductor I was impressed to go on that special train. When we were +about a mile out of the city, the engine accidentally struck a man and +hurt him badly. The man was put into the baggage car and as there were +no seats, I stood behind him and held his head, and after we had gone +twelve miles, warm water was secured and I washed the blood from his +head and cared for him until we arrived at the station, when they took +him to the jail, there being no other place for him, and there I +helped the doctor dress his wounds. Then I knew why I was impressed to +go on that train. + + + CONDUCTOR'S GOD BLESS YOU. + +Once the conductor on a train said to me so kindly, as he assisted me +from the train, "God bless you; let your good work go on. I gave the +tracts you gave me to the trainmen--they needed them." How this +cheered me, for I had tried to preach to them on the train, and I +feared the scoffs or reproof of the railroad officials. How I do long +to help and encourage the railroad men--they are so loyal and +faithful, and have so much to contend with in their work. "Be not +overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." + + + A WOMAN'S FAITH ENCOURAGED. + +On the way from Philadelphia to New York I was one day led to pass +quietly through the car giving out tracts. After seating myself, a +lady came and asked if she might speak with me about the work I was +doing. She said, "If I only knew God could and would heal a person +whose mind was shattered, I would give all that I possess. I am +troubled about my daughter's grieving over the death of her husband." +I told her God never fails to perform his miracles when we fully +believe and accept God's way of healing the body and soul. She seemed +much blessed and encouraged and kindly invited me to her home. "As ye +go, preach." How glad she was to find some one who would tell her +about salvation. She was a wealthy lady, as I afterward learned. We +became fast friends and she learned of healing in answer to "the +prayer of faith." + + + RIDING IN PARLOR CAR. + +Leaving the Indian School in Indian Territory on one of the coldest +mornings I ever experienced, myself and sisters were driven by two +young Indian boys to a flag station. We were wrapped in warm blankets +and hurried to the railroad. We were in danger of freezing, as the +train was long delayed on account of the blizzard and snow drifts, and +we sought the only place of shelter--a freight car in which the +section foreman and his wife lived, where we shivered with the cold +until the train came in sight. + +We were compelled to stop in the parlor car (a luxury that I never +indulge in) as platforms of the other cars were too icy to pass from +one car to another while the train was in motion. We were much +blessed, and I began singing, and praising the Lord. When the train +came to a station, we arose to go into the other car, but a gentleman +passenger called to the conductor and said: "How much is the fare for +these ladies to remain in this car?" He and his companion paid the +amount required and we were permitted to ride in the parlor car to +Topeka, Kansas. + +My soul was so blessed that I felt I must go into the other cars and +hold services. We were invited to go to the diner with friends. When +we arrived at the station where dinner was served, one after another +of the passengers handed me some money. When we came in from dinner I +knelt down in the car, and was praying in silence, thanking God for +what He had given us, when I felt someone crush some paper in my +hands. I looked to see what it was and found it was a ten dollar bill, +given by the two gentlemen who had paid our fare in the parlor car. Of +course I was greatly surprised, and as Sister Taylor was kneeling by +my side, I said, "Sister, this must be in answer to your prayer. Did +you pray for money?" She said "Yes, I prayed for hours last night." I +said, "Why you should have been praying for souls." She answered, "I +knew you needed money, and no one was giving it to you." Thus God +hears and answers prayers and provides for the needs of his little +ones. + +I give below a letter received from one of the gentlemen who gave us +the ten dollars who was a prominent business man in Pittsburg, +Pennsylvania: + + Pittsburg, Pa., March 25, 1899. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Tabor, Iowa. + + My Dear Madam: Your card of the 18th duly received and I was glad + to hear from you and to have your good wishes, but was especially + grateful for your prayers, for I believe in prayer. Do you + realize how much a busy man needs the prayers of God's people? + + Brother M., my companion whom you met last fall in Indian + Territory, is well and I know will be glad to hear from you. I + will see him next week, D. V. + + If you pass through our city on your trip East, and I know of it, + would gladly call upon you. + + With best wishes for your welfare, and Mrs. Taylor's, too, I am, + + Very truly your friend, + T. M. N. + +The following brief extract is from a report of a service on the train +as we were in company with a number of delegates on their way to the +Convocation of Prayer at Baltimore, in January, 1903: + + We left Indianapolis at 3:05 p. m., Monday. After we started + Mother Wheaton, who was with us, started up a song, then went to + the front of the car, and standing in the aisle she began + preaching to the people. She moved down the aisle still + preaching, taking about ten minutes to come through the car. This + she did several times, then went through the dining and palace + cars. As she told of her prison work, how God could save + criminals, we could see tears come into the eyes of the + passengers. A U. S. marshal sitting near us became much affected, + and made inquiry of Brother S. B. Shaw who the woman was, and + said he knew what she said was true, and said he desired to be + saved. A wealthy Mexican on the train, whose wife had recently + died while he was on a trip to Europe, was also brought under + conviction, and would have Sister Wheaton take dinner in the + dining car; also had Sisters Wheaton and Shaw take a berth in the + sleeper at his expense. I must not forget to tell you that + Brother Shaw gave us an excellent talk standing in the aisle of + the car. + + + FAVOR THE R. R. CO. + +I sometimes have an opportunity to do a kindness for the R. R. Co., in +return for the many favors they do for me. At one time I reached the +railroad station at Fort Worth, Texas, before my train arrived. While +we were waiting for a Santa Fe train, an old lady who was evidently +not in her right mind and who had been sent by friends to go alone to +other friends who lived at a distance, of her own accord tried to +climb over one train to get to another and was injured. The injury was +caused by her own mental condition and through no fault of the +railroad men. + +Before she left us, I wrote a little message of love and put it into +her hand bag with my name and address on it. In a few days I received +the following letter from her attorneys. + + Fort Worth, Tex., November 21, 1898. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Tabor, Iowa. + + Dear Madam: We conclude from a kind and sympathetic letter you + wrote to Mrs. Harper, the old lady who fell from the platform at + the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway depot at Fort Worth, Tex., + on Friday night, the 11th day of November, that you likely saw + the old lady fall. And perhaps you can tell us how she came to + fall and who else saw her when she fell. Mrs. Harper has employed + us to sue the railroad company for said injuries. She claims that + she walked off of the platform where there were no railings and + fell between two freight cars left standing on the track, left so + far apart that she could see the railroad car she wanted to board + between said opening so left. Will you please write us all you + know about the matter, and who else saw it, if any one, and where + such person or persons live if you know. By doing so you will + greatly oblige, + + Yours truly, + WYNNE, MCCART & BOWLIN. + +In reply I assured them that it would be utterly unjust to bring suit +against the railroad company--giving them the facts as far and as +fully as I knew them. I learned later that this ended the contemplated +suit. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + Street and Open Air Work. + + + THE MASTER'S QUESTIONS. + + Have ye looked for my sheep in the desert, + For those who have missed their way? + Have ye been in the wild waste places, + Where the lost and wandering stray? + Have ye trodden the lonely highway, + The foul and the darksome street? + It may be ye'd see in the gloaming + The print of My wounded feet. + + Have ye wept with the broken-hearted + In their agony of woe? + Ye might hear Me whispering beside you + "'Tis the pathway I often go!" + My brethren, My friends, My disciples, + Can ye dare to follow me? + Then, wherever the Master dwelleth, + There shall the servant be! + +Many are the shocking sights and sad experiences I have witnessed in +street and slum work. I have endured hardships and privations, +suffered arrests and ridicule, and faced many dangers. But withal, the +glorious victories have been many and precious souls have been saved: + +I might give copies of many permits to hold open air services received +in the earlier years of my labors, but perhaps these would not be of +interest or profit, so I give only a few. + + + PERMIT TO PREACH ON BOSTON COMMON. + + CITY OF BOSTON, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. + + Under Chapter 42, Section 11, of the Revised Ordinances, + permission is hereby granted to Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, to + conduct preaching service on the Common on Sunday, October 27, + 1889, subject to the directions of the Superintendent of the + Common, who will assign a location. + + THOMAS NAST, Mayor. + + October 22, 1889. + + * * * * * + + STATE OF LOUISIANA, MAYORALTY OF NEW ORLEANS. + + City Hall, 11th day of December, 1886. + + Permission granted to Elizabeth Wheaton and Agnes Hill to preach + the gospel at such localities within the city of New Orleans as + they may select; provided that in so doing they are careful not + to interfere with the private rights of individuals or those of + corporations granted them under municipal ordinances or the + statutes of this state. By order of the Mayor. + + E. L. BOWER, Chief Clerk. + + * * * * * + + MAYOR'S OFFICE. + + Jacksonville, Fla., December 29, 1886. + + Permission is hereby granted E. Wheaton and associates to preach + the gospel within the city limits at such places as they may + select; provided the streets and sidewalks are not obstructed and + the rights of private property are not disturbed and there is no + violation of City ordinances or statutes of the State. + + P. MCQUAID, Mayor. + + * * * * * + + Galveston, Tex., Jan. 20, 1888. + + To Whom It May Concern: + + Permission is hereby granted to the bearer to hold religious + services on the streets anywhere within the corporate limits of + the city of Galveston, and the police authorities will lend such + protection as is necessary to enforce order at such meetings. + + R. L. FULTON, Mayor of Galveston. + + * * * * * + + Office of Chief of Police, + Denver, Colo., June 23, 1888. + + To any Police Officer: + + This woman has permission from the Mayor to hold services on the + street. + + M. HENNY, Chief of Police. + + * * * * * + + Sacramento, Cal., Aug. 24, 1888. + + Permission is hereby granted E. Wheaton and associates to preach + the gospel within the city limits at such places as they may + select, provided the streets and sidewalks are not obstructed and + rights of private property are not disturbed, and if not in + conflict or violation of the city ordinances. + + EUGENE J. GREGORY, Mayor. + + + FROM MISS JOSEPHINE COWGILL. + + Some Years a Missionary in Jerusalem. + +The following is contributed by a dear sister who has spent some years +as a missionary in Jerusalem, Palestine, and may be known to many of +our readers: + +[Illustration: MISS JOSEPHINE COWGILL.] + + Many years ago, while engaged in missionary work in the city of + New Orleans, La., I was one evening attracted by a large + gathering of people. In the midst was a woman kneeling on the + ground engaged in most earnest prayer. Many in the company were + of the worst class of people, yet they were quietly listening and + looking on with amazement. We were not accustomed to any one + praying on the streets in that manner. This was the first time I + had the privilege of meeting dear Sister E. R. Wheaton. I can + never forget the impressions made upon myself and others by her + prayers, exhortations and songs that evening. Standing near me in + that company was a woman who had charge of one of the worst + houses of prostitution in the city. Trembling and weeping she + said to me "I never heard anything like that before. That woman + makes me feel that I am an awful sinner, and yet she loves me." + That poor woman went to her house, sent for a Bible and read it + and spent the night in bitter repenting for her sins. She was + gloriously converted and then called her household together and + told them her experience and how the Lord had pardoned her sins + and made her happy in His love. She then exhorted them to + commence a new life; but if they would not, then they must leave + her house. + + While in New Orleans, Sister Wheaton and those in company with + her were busily and successfully engaged in mission work among + prisoners and others of the worst class. Some years afterward she + again visited that city and the Lord greatly blessed her work. + One night, on a store-box in front of a saloon, she preached to a + large crowd. The saloonkeeper became very uneasy and called a + policeman to "take her away." He came, but found it quite hard + work to get her down and to another place. The people wanted to + hear her. She sang a song, the chorus of which was, in part: + + "If to Jesus you are true, + There's a glory waits for you, + In the beautiful, the glad forever." + + Then with clasped hands she stood quietly gazing upward, with + tears rolling down her cheeks. Then with much feeling she said: + "I am homesick for heaven." I can never forget how those words + impressed me and others at that time. + + Some years after I again met Sister Wheaton in Los Angeles, + California, where her work was like it had been in New Orleans. + At one time, when she had kindly offered me the privilege of + going with her to some other points, I made inquiry about how I + should take my trunk. She replied: "Sister Josephine, pilgrims + for God do not need a trunk. One valise is enough." Many times I + have thought of that reply and the good it did me. I have never + known of a more earnest and self-sacrificing Christian worker + than Sister Wheaton. The results of her labors as she has gone + forth "weeping and bearing precious seeds," cannot be fully + known until with rejoicing she comes "bringing sheaves with her." + In loving remembrance of her, I am, + + Yours in His blessed service. + + JOSEPHINE COWGILL. + + Haifo, Palestine. + + + MY FIRST STREET MEETING. + +My first street meeting was in Washington, D. C., near the old +postoffice. I had spent the day in the jail, alms-house and hospitals. +I was then a stranger in the city. Some one asked me to go to a hall +where there was a little mission. We did so, and found they had gone +to the open air meeting. When we arrived the meeting was in progress, +one after another stepping out to testify or sing. No opportunity was +offered me to take any part in the meeting, as no woman was allowed to +testify. I looked to God in silent prayer to open some way for me to +speak to the people. At the close of their service I spoke, saying, +"The Lord has sent me with a message for you dear people, and now the +friends have closed their meeting and we will not detain them, as they +doubtless have other engagements." I began to sing and God filled my +soul with glory. The needs of those poor hungry souls rose before me, +as I sang and prayed, and the message of love came welling up in my +soul. I spoke to them of righteousness, the coming Judgment and +eternity. I had held meetings in many of the principal cities of +America, some in Europe and other countries. But that night God +anointed me for street preaching and for work in slums, dives and +saloons. + +Closing the meeting, I thought of being alone on the street at night +with scarcely any money and not knowing my way back to my lodging +place. I said, "Oh, Lord, you know all about it." Walking along I came +to the mission and stepping in I took a seat near the door. While I +sat praying, a brother rose and told the circumstances of the street +meeting I had held, and that one of the worst men in the city had been +converted through its instrumentality. The man had told the brother +that God had saved him and he was going home to write eight letters to +his people, some of them in this and some in the old country, to tell +them what great things God had done for him. God knew I was there and +sent the message to encourage me. After the service in the hall had +closed a young lady who proved to be the daughter of the landlady +where I had been staying, came to me and walked to her home with me. I +could not have found my way alone, not having their number, but God +cared for me. + +Some extracts are given from reports of the work which were published +at different points during the first few years of my labors: + + + CONVERTED TO CHRIST. + + THE CASE OF THE UNFORTUNATE WOMAN--CARD FROM MR. M. + + Editor Hawk-Eye: Last evening at about seven o'clock Mrs. + Wheaton, the prison evangelist, and another lady of the + evangelists and myself held a meeting on the levee. Mrs. Wheaton, + who spoke on the future consequence of sin with unusual + earnestness, had the effect of breaking down Mrs. A. into tears. + Mrs. Wheaton went up to her and spoke to her. In a few moments + the unfortunate woman broke into ecstasies of joy and commenced + to leap around in a circle. For ten minutes she kept up praising + God and leaping, when suddenly she leaped through the great crowd + around, some now being horrified, who, like many poor, + unfortunate people, never saw a sudden conversion. She ran up + Jefferson street, where she was arrested and locked up. + + Had the woman been rich or popular she would have been kindly + treated, but being one of the unfortunate women of our city she + was locked up in an unclean, old filthy cell, with a bunk for a + bed. The police were informed that the woman was converted and a + lady offered to take her home last night. But they kept her in + that terrible cell with inmates in adjoining cells using obscene + language. It is a sin and disgrace for the city fathers to + continue to have women locked up with men in the same line of + cells with such a horrifying stench and wooden bunks. The city + police are guilty of an outrageous act in confining the woman in + such a cell, when they ought to have given her better quarters, + as they had the opportunity. This morning she was brought out + before the police court; the woman still testified that she had + salvation before that court and crowd of people. But good came + out of it all as she witnessed a grand confession to the police + court and people who never heard the gospel. She was, by the + consent of Captain S., taken to Mrs. H.'s and is doing well and + is converted. Last evening's _Gazette_ stated that the woman went + crazy by attending the street meetings and would be examined + before the board of commissioners of insanity, which is every + word of it untrue. The woman is sane and was not before any + board. + + A. H. MERTZ, in Burlington _Hawk-Eye_, Jan. 19, 1887. + + + A WONDERFUL CONVERSION. + +In San Francisco a drunken girl came to my meeting on the street so +desperate and dangerous that even the police at times seemed afraid of +her. She seemed to be a veritable Magdalene. I was impressed with the +words, "Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie +buried that grace can restore." How could it be done? I dealt +faithfully with her and went away, returning to the city ten months +later. She came again to my meetings, once very drunk as she usually +was. I talked to her about her need of salvation and she was finally +convicted. She waited at the close of the meeting to speak with me, +but at first would not yield to God. Finally she sobered up and was +wonderfully converted. I took her to my room and cared for her, and as +she was a desperate character, and liable to do injury both to life +and property, the Rescue Home at San Francisco refused to take her, +so I took all the risks myself and took her to Helena, Montana, and +left her at the Rescue Home at that place. + +The following is an account of work in Seattle soon after this as +reported by a paper of that city: + + + THE PRISON EVANGELIST. + + MRS. ELIZABETH R. WHEATON CARRYING FORWARD HER MISSION + IN SEATTLE. + + About three o'clock yesterday afternoon two women, one quite + elderly and the other about 25 years of age, whose dress and + demeanor bespoke them to be missionaries, walked into the + sheriff's office and asked Jailer Leckie if they might hold a + short religious service in the county jail. The urbane jailor + replied that he thought "a little prayin' wouldn't do them coves + any harm," but they were eating and couldn't be interrupted for + ten or fifteen minutes. + + "Then we'll wait," said Mrs. Wheaton, laying her black shawl + aside and taking a seat, in which she was followed by her sister + evangelist. + + "Perhaps you would like to know who we are," said the elder of + the two women to a reporter who happened to be present. "Here is + my card," and she handed over a small piece of pasteboard on + which was printed with a rubber stamp, "Elizabeth R. Wheaton, + Prison Evangelist. Jesus is Coming Soon; Prepare to Meet Thy + God." + + "That will tell who I am," continued the evangelist.... + "Criminals and fallen women are the ones I try to reach. I would + rather try to save a murderer or fallen woman than your smooth, + respectable hypocrites, every time. Mary and I have just come + through from san Francisco." * * * + + At this moment Jailer Leckie announced that the prisoners were + through eating, and the two women went below to pray with them. + The younger woman held back, saying that she was afraid some of + her old associates might be there, but she was urged on by her + protector and a few minutes later the words of "Nearer My God to + Thee," from two female voices, came floating through the prison + bars. The prisoners gave them respectful hearing, and one or two + seemed to be affected by the earnest words of counsel that fell + from the lips of the evangelist. Later in the evening they held + street services for the benefit of the workingmen near the Armory + and relief tents. + + + BECAME A PREACHER. + +One of the worst women I ever knew was converted in the spring of 1885 +on the streets of Kansas City, Mo., where I was holding meetings. She +came to the meeting to abuse and ridicule me. She heard my voice, she +said, two blocks away, and became convicted. She came to where I was +standing on a box preaching. I asked if there was any one there who +would seek God and live a Christian life. I said if there was one +such, let them come and kneel with me by the box and I would pray for +them. She knelt there and cried mightily to God for mercy. But she +went away unsaved and prayed and wept day and night. She could neither +eat nor sleep. She saw herself a lost sinner. Her father had been a +minister of the Gospel, but had died when she was very young. She had +drifted to this wicked city in search of work, and you may know the +rest. For it is but the story of many a poor orphan girl in her +struggle for bread. She fell as thousands fall with none to pity or +care. She was driven from one sin to another, until at last disgraced +and filled with shame, she had tried twelve times to take her own +life. Thus I found her a miserable woman. She came again to the +meeting, this time alone, and was gloriously saved, and is still saved +so far as I know. She became a successful preacher of righteousness, +for she knew how to reach such as she had been. She became a terror to +evil doers, brave in danger, and hopeful before discouraging +obstacles. She has since told me she has saved many young girls' lives +and characters by taking them in and giving them food and shelter +when every other door except brothels and saloons was closed against +them. Bless God for the homes open to shelter and protect the +unfortunate girls. + + + THE BLIND ENCOURAGED. + +One day while traveling in Montana, I went into a smoking car to hold +a little Gospel meeting, singing and distributing tracts, when I found +a blind lady there who seemed to be alone and neglected. I spoke to +her kindly about her soul and invited her to go with me into the other +car. I said, "I am always glad to do anything I can to help a blind +person. My grandmother was blind several years before her death." She +accepted it all gratefully and seemed very sorry to part from me when +we changed cars. I exhorted her to a life of Christian service and to +meet me in Heaven. + +I never expected to meet her again, but some two years later I was +holding an open air meeting in California and a lady said, "Would you +allow me to testify?" and I said, "Certainly, if you are a Christian. +Would be glad to have you." When she began to speak she said: "This +lady don't know me, but I know her. We met once. Although I have never +seen her, as I am deprived of sight, yet I know her. I met with her on +the train one day," and she related the foregoing facts, stating that +my kindness had won her heart and she had never forgotten my advice, +and was now living a Christian life. + + + FORBIDDEN TO PREACH ON THE STREET. + +One night when I attempted to hold a street meeting in F----, +California--where I had been holding services for a few nights--the +marshal said he had forbidden me to preach and sing on the streets. A +gentleman looked up the law books and returned saying that it was not +contrary to the laws of that city at that time to hold a gospel +meeting on the street and that I could proceed, but the marshal came +and forbade me, very unkindly and impolitely. At this crisis a +gentleman came up and said that a saloon keeper down the street +requested me to come and hold a meeting in front of his place. I said: +"A gentleman has requested that we come and hold a meeting in front of +his business place. We will go there, please," but the marshal in a +very ungentlemanly way said I was not to hold a meeting on the street +any place in that city. + +I said we would go to a hall which had been opened for gospel +services. It was several blocks away and only a few of the immense +crowd would walk that distance. When I reached the place I sat down +behind the door and cried and thought, what shall I do? I was sure the +Lord wanted me to hold a meeting on the street. The blind lady +mentioned in the previous incident was in the congregation and began +to sing, "He is able to deliver thee," and I soon had the victory. The +same sister had attempted to sing on the street, as this was her only +means of supporting her old mother and sickly husband, and the marshal +came along and without any warning pushed her off the street. A couple +of strange gentlemen came and kindly led her to a place of safety. I +heard soon after this that this man became suddenly insane and it took +two men to hold him and take him to the jail and from there to the +insane asylum. + + + THOUGHT THEY SAW A GHOST. + +Once, in a city, another lady and myself were walking along a very +lonesome street late at night. When passing a large dark building she +remarked that it was a very dangerous gambling den. My heart burned +within me. I was seized with an impulse to go in that place of +iniquity and warn those men of their souls' danger. No sooner thought +than done! I was soon in the room which proved to be vacant, but I +could see light through the cracks of a closed door leading into the +next room. I passed quietly across the room and opened the door and +stood confronting a number of rough looking men who were seated at a +long gambling table. Without a word I crossed the room with noiseless +footsteps and dropping my Bible on the table and falling on my knees +before them began to cry to God in their behalf. The men seemed to +take an unexpected view of the situation, and rising simultaneously to +their feet, they rushed wildly from the room upsetting their chairs in +their haste, and I was left alone. The next day the report went out +that a ghost had been seen there the night before, and some of the men +vowed they would never touch a pack of cards again as long as they +lived--that money could not hire them to do it. Truly "The wicked flee +when no man pursueth." + + + HURT BY A SALOONKEEPER. + +While I was at Springfield, Ill., I was led one Sabbath to go to the +park to hold a gospel meeting, taking two sisters with me. We had a +good meeting, and returning to the city I asked the street car +conductor if there was another park where I could hold services. He +directed me to a place in another suburb. We went there, and in a +grove I saw some tables and men and women sitting at them, drinking. I +began to sing a hymn, thinking we were in a public park, when a man +rushed out of a house toward me, saying, "You shan't sing here." I +said, "Please let me finish this verse." He replied, "No, I won't +allow any one to sing here." I knelt in prayer. He did not say I +should not pray. The sisters were looking at him, and said he hurried +toward me in great anger. The sisters prayed to God to spare me. The +man jerked me and pushed me over, when some of the men at the tables +called out to him, "Let go of that woman. You don't know who she is. +We know her." The men in the meantime running to us, laid hold on the +saloonkeeper and took him away. I was very much hurt. I could not walk +alone. The park proved to be a beer garden. We went to the nearest +house and asked permission to rest till I should gain strength to +return to the city. The people where we stopped were very indignant, +and said the man had no license to sell liquor on Sunday, and was +violating the city ordinance. There were no arrests. The whisky men +must have their own way in this land of American liberty. They can +ruin lives, break up homes, blight the prospects of the best people on +earth and fill the prisons, almshouses, criminal insane asylums, +brothels, graves of paupers, and doom souls by the multitude, and who +cares? Who votes to put down the saloons? Who tries to save mothers' +girls as well as mothers' boys, husbands and wives? Even the parents +are overtaken by the demon of strong drink and sink into the most +depraved conditions in order to satisfy their craving for alcohol. O, +the awfulness of it all! Sisters, brothers, are you and I clear? Are +we doing our best to stop this horrible traffic in whisky and girls, +for one of these places can scarcely exist without the other. How many +girls and boys are sacrificed yearly to fill the saloonkeepers' +coffers and fill up hell? Think of these things. + + + WARNED TO LEAVE THE CITY. + +Upon entering a town in Mississippi I inquired of a woman if she could +direct me to a hotel, and she told me her sister and her husband kept +one and I would be made comfortable with them. + +We went to the hotel and left our luggage and went at once to hold an +open air meeting. The singing attracted a considerable crowd, and at +the close of the service many came to shake hands with me and thank me +for the meeting, among whom were a number of colored people, who +thanked the Lord in their characteristic way and asked me to preach +again which I agreed to do that night. + +As we turned our steps toward our hotel, we noticed a colored man +walking a short distance ahead of us who, when we were out of hearing +of the crowd, turned and said to us: "You women don't intend to hold +another meeting on the street to-night?" and I said, "Certainly, I +shall obey God." He said, "You have shaken hands with the colored +people and the white people are angry, and they will mob you. I came +along here for the purpose of warning you. If they saw me talking with +you my life would be in danger." I told him I was not afraid, thanked +him and told him I would do as the Lord led. + +On reaching our hotel the landlord asked if I intended to hold another +meeting on the street that night, and I told him I did. He said that +the townspeople had forbidden me to hold another service and that I +would have to leave his hotel at once, because I had shaken hands with +the colored people. We told him we had made the appointment and we +should keep our word. He went to his wife and told her to go and tell +those women to leave the house and take the train, as we had +associated with the colored people and the white people would not +allow us to remain in town. She replied that we had paid our money and +our money was as good as anybody's, and that we were respectable, +honest women and she was going to treat us as such. + +When we went down the street we heard a noise as of a mob, and we went +praying the Lord to show us what to do, and He showed us our life was +in danger and to step one side into the colored people's church where +God's presence was revealed in mighty power and souls were convicted +and converted. + +In the morning two colored women called upon me, saying they had come +to warn me and assist me to the train. One of them said that two +nights before she had a terrible dream about a woman coming to preach +on the streets and was so impressed that she sent her husband four +miles to see if there was anything in it. This was the man that warned +us that night. When he went home and told her what he had seen and +heard, she dreamed again and the Lord told her to come and help us out +of town, as the people would take my life. They carried our luggage +and showed us to the train and got us safely on board, and with a "God +bless you, Honey, we's prayin' for you," they were gone, and we went +on our way with thankful hearts for our Lord's protecting care. + + + IN JAIL. + +I have several times been arrested for holding services in the open +air, but have been taken to prison but twice--once in Glasgow, +Scotland, as related elsewhere, and once in Belleville, Illinois. + +In 1889, Sister Anna Kinne wrote me from Belleville that they were +holding meetings at that place, but had seen but little stir, that it +seemed to be a hard field, and that she believed the Lord wanted me to +come and help them in the meetings. I was, at the time, in +Mississippi, but after praying over the matter I felt that I should +go to Belleville in answer to her request. + +The first Sabbath after reaching there I tried to hold services in the +open air, but was stopped by policemen. I tried again with the same +results. Then I went to the mayor, but was refused permission to hold +any such meetings. When I asked him if he would take the +responsibility on the day of judgment, he said, "Yes." I then went to +the jail and held services, and the sheriff kindly inquired about my +work and showed considerable interest, and took down some notes. I +then asked him for permission to hold meetings on the court house +steps. This was readily granted, and I took Sister Kinne with me. The +marshal of the town had bitterly opposed my work, and while we were +singing he very rudely and unceremoniously came and took me by the arm +and dragged me down from the steps. + +I told him that the sheriff had given me permission to hold services, +but he was very angry and refused to let me go on. + +I said to those who had gathered, "We will have no open air meeting, +but come to Buchanan Hall to-night, and we will have a meeting there." + +I think it was the following night that I was impressed just before +the opening of our services, to sing a hymn, standing in the mission +door. I spoke to Sister Kinne of this and she said, "God bless you, +Sister Wheaton, I will pray for you." + +I went quietly down to the door and was standing there singing an +old-time hymn, when out of the darkness there came two policemen. +Without saying a word they took hold of me and dragged me along the +street. I had no bonnet on, and my shawl was dragging along in the +mud. I said, "Please let me get my shawl, and will you please let me +ask one of the ladies at the mission to go with me?" But they refused +and seemed glad to think that I was being disgraced. As I met two or +three Christian people, one of them spoke kindly to me and I replied +that I was suffering for Jesus' sake. "You seem to be well acquainted +with the men," one of the policemen said. "No," I said, "only with a +few Christians." + +When we arrived at police headquarters they gave in the report that I +was on the street holding a meeting and was having a row, etc., which +was, of course, utterly false. + +I was, of course, surprised at the treatment I was receiving. I opened +my Bible, which I still held, and began reading in silence. The +officer said, "Are you making all of this ado and trouble?" I replied, +"I was standing in our mission door singing." He said, "Will you give +bail for your good behavior?" I said, "I have no money for bail." Then +he asked me if I had no friends. I told him I was a stranger in the +city. "Then," he said, "I will have to send you to jail, or what will +you do?" I said I did not know. He then told another policeman to take +me to the jail across the square, and only a few blocks away. This +policeman said to some boys who were standing outside, "You boys stay +here, we do not want a mob." But the marshal said, "Go along boys. She +wants notoriety--give it to her." And so I went to the jail with a mob +crying after me. + +Arriving at the jail the kind jailor was shocked to see me in the +officer's charge, and said, "You are not a prisoner?" I said, "Yes, I +was singing in our mission door, but they arrested me." His wife came +in and kindly said, "Come into the parlor, and I will make ready for +you the spare bedroom." I was, of course, surprised and deeply +touched. "No, indeed," I said, "I am a prisoner. Take me into the +cell with the other women." Her little daughter came in and knelt down +by my side and kissed my hand, saying how very sorry she was for me. +It was on a Christmas eve, and the child was going to the Christmas +tree. + +Soon the sheriff came in in a hurry and said, "You are a free woman!" +He, finding I had been arrested, had notified friends who had given +bail and secured my release. Not understanding the sheriff, I said, +"No, I am here in disgrace, and I want you to put me in the woman's +cell." But he insisted that I was free. Then I said, "They have put me +here in disgrace, and I want some one to come and take me to our +mission, as it is dark." They then sent for someone to come for me, +and such a shout as went up when I again entered the mission hall. One +good old Christian friend said, "I told you that if she was a woman of +God, and I knew she was, she would return to the hall before the +meeting was over." + +It seems that a reporter who was at the police station at the time of +my arrest and heard the abuse of the officers had hurried to the +sheriff's office, and he, as I have said, had secured my release. + +We give here a verbatim copy of the paper signed by friends, the +original of which I still have in my possession. Somehow the case was +dismissed, and I was never brought to trial: + + + VERBATIM COPY OF A RECOGNIZANCE. + + (12th, 24th, 1899.) + + State of Illinois, St. Clair County, ss. + + This day personaly appeared before the undersigned, William + Bornmann, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said + County, Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, James West and Wm. Meyer, and jointly + and severally acknowledged themselves to owe and be indebted unto + the People of the State of Illinois, in the sum of Twenty-five + Dollars, to be levied on their goods and chattels, lands and + tenements, if default be made in the premises and conditions + below, to-wit: + + Whereas, The above bounden, Elizabeth R. Wheaton, was, on the + 24th day of December, A. D. 1889, arrested for violation of the + city ordinance, was adjudged and required by said Justice of the + Peace to give bonds, as required by the statute in such cases, + made and provided, for her appearance to answer to said charge. + Now the conditions of this recognizance is such that if the above + bounden, Elizabeth R. Wheaton, shall personally appear and be + before me, in Belleville, on the 27th day of December, A. D. + 1889, at 9 a. m., and from day to day, and from term to term, and + from day to day of each term hereafter, until discharged by order + of said Court, then and there to answer to the said People of the + State of Illinois on said charge of violation of the city + ordinance and then and there answer and abide the order and + judgment of said Court, and thence not depart the same without + lawful permission, then and in that case this recognizance is to + become void; otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue. + + As witness our hands and seals, this 24th day of December, A. D. + 1889. + + Taken, entered into, acknowledged and approved before me, this + 24th day of December, 1899. + + WM. BORNMANN, J. P. + Wilhelm Meyer, [L. S.] + Jas. A. West, [L. S.] + +This occurrence caused a great deal of excitement at the time. Some +time after I met one of the editors of one of the principal papers of +the town, and he stated that a serious calamity had overtaken all +those who were active in the opposing and persecuting me, and +mentioned some who had died and others upon whom God's judgments +seemed to have fallen. + +The following was taken from a paper published at Belleville: + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, a well known prison evangelist who has + labored in nearly all of the principal prisons of the United + States, was arrested Tuesday evening by Policemen S. and S., + while she was engaged in conducting a song service, standing in + the door at the entrance to Buchanan Hall, where a series of + meetings are being held by two other evangelists, Mr. and Mrs. S. + D. Kinne. The officers, on arriving on the scene, ordered Mrs. + Wheaton to stop singing, but as she paid no attention to their + command, she was at once arrested and hurried off to the police + station, where she was questioned by the captain of police and + the city marshal, and a little later she was removed to the + county jail, but through the courtesy of the jailor she was not + locked up in a cell. A complaint of disturbing the peace was made + against her before Justice B., and a hearing was fixed for + tomorrow before him, and a bond for her appearance was duly + executed; but while these formal proceedings were being attended + to Sheriff R., having heard of Mrs. Wheaton's incarceration in + the county jail, repaired to the institution, immediately ordered + her release, as there was no authority for holding her there, and + when the officer from Justice B.'s court arrived with the bail + bond for Mrs. Wheaton's signature, he was chagrined to find that + the lady had been released by order of the sheriff. No further + attempt was made to arrest her, and it is probable that the + matter will be dropped. Mrs. Wheaton is an elderly lady and is + deeply devoted to Christian work, especially among the + unfortunates confined in jails and prisons, and she has a large + number of testimonials as to her character and work from prison + officials, railway managers and others in all parts of the + country. Many prominent citizens expressed themselves yesterday + as deeply regretting the action of the officers in arresting Mrs. + Wheaton. The same lady, by written permission of Sheriff R., + attempted to hold religious services from the court house steps + on Sunday evening last, but she was forced to desist by the city + marshal. Mrs. Wheaton applied to Mayor B. recently for permission + to hold open-air religious meetings on the streets, but was + denied the privilege on the ground that considerable disorder had + been occasioned some months ago by the holding of such meetings + by members of the Salvation Army, who held forth in Belleville + for a time. The action of the mayor in refusing to allow the + evangelist to hold open-air meetings, and the arrest of Mrs. + Wheaton while engaged in conducting a song service in the door + of Buchanan Hall, where the revival services are held, is + causing a great deal of severe criticism, owing to the toleration + of the parading of the principal streets by brass bands on + Sundays, as well as other days, to draw audiences for minstrel + shows, etc., the gathering of crowds on the public square by + street fakirs, patent medicine peddlers, quack doctors and + others, who deal out rough jokes, etc., in tones loud enough to + be heard blocks away. + + Belleville, Dec. 26, 1888. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + Rescue Work. + + + A Mother's Plea for Her Fallen Daughter. + + So tenderly reared in the pure country air, + So innocent, gracious and true, + A sweet loving daughter, so gentle and fair. + Of the great wicked world naught she knew, + She roamed on the hillside and plucked the sweet flowers, + Nor far from my sight did she stray, + Till a shy cunning charmer invaded her bowers, + And stole my loved treasure away. + + With words fair and lovely he won her young heart, + Then wooed her far from the home nest, + Then hastily pressed to the city's great mart, + My darling he tore from my breast; + So simple, confiding, ne'er dreaming of harm. + She laid her young life at his feet, + And the foul, venomed viper pierced her heart with a thorn, + And left her to die in the street. + + All wounded and bleeding and covered with shame, + And knowing not wither to go, + In the haunts of the vilest she cringed her away, + To hide her disgrace and her woe; + Could I know she had gone from this cold, cruel world, + My grief would be easy to bear, + But to satiate vile passions her life-blood is sold, + And my broken heart pleads in my prayer. + + Oh, bring back my darling, a poor bruised thing, + The victim of Satan's deceit, + O tell her I love her, though cursed by the fiend + That crushed her to hell 'neath his feet. + O pity my daughter, my poor fallen one, + Ye who have daughters so fair, + And shield not the monster who spoiled my loved one + And drove my poor heart to despair. + + Chicago, Ill. + + --MARY WEEMS CHAPMAN. + +For some years I have been quite intimately associated with friends +who have, perhaps, the largest Rescue Home in the world. I am told +that they have taken in more girls than any other Home of the kind. +Over 1,250 girls have there been confined and never have they lost +one of these young mothers by death. But, oh, it is a sad sight to see +them, day after day carrying their load of sorrow in their hearts. +Often when I am there, as I manifest toward them my love and sympathy, +they tell me their story of woe sad as was the cry of Eve when +banished from the presence of God. She yielded to Satan's devices +because she believed the voice of Satan rather than the voice of God. +She became an outcast--and so our sisters are still being deceived by +the devil in human form and become outcasts from all that is good. +Some of them have been won by a mess of pottage, a mere bauble or a +gewgaw. Others have the promise of love--that which every human heart +craves. These believe, trust, yield and are ruined and some of them +are so young! so ignorant! Then there are some who have been basely +betrayed or brutally forced and then left to bear alone their shame +and disgrace--for, alas! the "traffic in girls" is not an imaginary +thing, but an awful reality. + +O that the good people of our fair land would awaken and see that +justice is done in behalf of the helpless and innocent! Prevention is +better than cure. Let us guard the children and put down every +influence that would tend to demoralize either our boys or girls! But +in the meantime, let us do all within our power to lift up the fallen +and win back those who have gone astray and share the burden and +sorrow of those who suffer through no fault of their own. + +Those who have been daring in sin often make the most gifted, +consecrated and valiant workers for God and souls when truly and fully +saved. I bless the Lord for the privilege of seeking and finding some +of these "diamonds in the rough." I have known many Christian workers +who had once been criminals or fallen, but who had been rescued by +some one who had a knowledge of human nature and a heart filled with +the love of God who told them of the love of Christ and His wonderful +power to save. O when we all meet in the great Hereafter what a time +of rejoicing there will be among the rescuers and the rescued. + + + DRUNKEN WOMEN AND MEN. + +I find hundreds of men and women, many young women, in drunkenness and +crime, and the most open daring sins. In one of the largest drinking +dens in the world I asked the proprietor if I might sing a hymn, and +he gave his consent. I was obliged to go down stairs and through many +rooms and hallways and then up a dark stairway to the platform where +the orchestra was playing. When they ceased I sang a hymn which +touched their hearts and they cheered the singing. I offered a prayer +and they all seemed to appreciate it. There were hundreds of _men_ +only, drinking, miners and others. Then I went where there were both +men and women drinking, and sang and prayed with them. At near +midnight, while I was engaged in prayer, one of the poor, unfortunate +girls clasped my hand and put a piece of silver in it, and stood +holding my hand till I rose. She cried and spoke of her desire to be +good. She was reminded of her old home and her mother. The proprietor +then told me I must leave, as he found he would lose her from his den. +He said he was once a Christian himself, and on coming west, saw the +money to be made in that kind of business, and fell, and went deep in +sin, leading others down with himself. + + + ASSAULTED IN A DIVE. + +While in San Pedro, California, I went, one night, into a saloon to +invite the men to a gospel meeting at the mission on the same block, +and the keeper sprang up from his gambling table, where he was engaged +with several others in a game of some kind, and rushing towards me, +violently grabbed me by the arms, and then with both hands clutching +me, rushed me to the door, using vile and insulting epithets to me as +he went. At the door a lady said, "This is a public house; you dare +not throw people out who have done you no harm." He finally released +his Satanic grasp upon me. I had only spoken a few kindly words to two +young men standing at the bar in the act of raising their glasses to +their lips. I had just said, "Don't drink it, boys, please don't," +when the assault was made. As the saloonist rushed at me, I said, +"Don't touch me, please; I will go out." But he seemed fiendishly +happy in injuring and insulting a helpless old woman, who only wished +to do them all good, and see them saved in Heaven at last. The only +excuse he ever made was that he thought I was Carrie Nation. +Commenting on this occurrence, a Los Angeles paper contained the +following item: + + San Pedro, March 29.--"Mother" Wheaton, a well known prison + evangelist, was roughly assaulted by John Wilkins, a Front street + saloonkeeper, shortly after seven o'clock last evening. Mrs. + Wheaton was preaching to a large gathering in front of Wilkins' + joint, and hearing loud cursing within, the aged reformer + entered, intending to invite the blasphemers to Peniel Mission, + where services are held every evening. She had scarcely passed + inside the doors of the dive, when Wilkins rushed forward, seized + her and thrust her backward. At the same time he applied vile + epithets to her, shouting angrily: "Get out of here, woman, and + be quick about it!" + + So badly was Mrs. Wheaton injured that she was unable to return + to the mission without assistance. She is confined to her bed and + is suffering severe pains from the shock. + + Wilkins explained today that he mistook Mrs. Wheaton for Carrie + Nation, whom the former resembles. No arrests have been made. + +In a city where I had been preaching the Gospel, a messenger came +stating that a young girl had cut her throat. It was an extremely hot +day and I had to walk a long distance across the city. Arriving at the +house they told me that no one was allowed to go in. But I went right +in and everybody stood back. Kneeling down by the poor girl I took her +hand already growing cold in death. Poor child! Like thousands of +others, she had been disappointed in life. The one who had plighted +his troth had broken her heart, and rather than bear her shame she +preferred death. Then and there I had the privilege of pointing this +beautiful girl to Christ who said, "Neither do I condemn thee. Go and +sin no more," and He who never turns anyone away heard and answered +prayer. + +One day I held a meeting in the Crittenden Home for Fallen Girls, in +Washington. They all seemed so glad to hear me. (There were thirty +girls.) They were deeply moved. After the meeting closed I took each +by the hand and exhorted them to live pure and holy lives. And with +tears in their eyes they promised to try and serve the Lord. One dear +little girl in a short dress (fourteen years old), clung to me crying, +and said Jesus had saved her just then, in the meeting, and she would +be a good girl and live for Heaven. I clasped her to my heart and +thought what Jesus said about him who offends "one of these little +ones." Some heartless wretch had ruined the girl and left her to die +alone. "Vengeance is _mine_, _I_ will repay, saith the Lord." + + + A GIRL SAVED. + +Trying to rescue a girl in a low dive in New York city in 1890, as I +entered the den the keeper, a large, strong man, sprang up and struck +me a blow. The girl caught his arm and cried out, "Don't strike her, +she is a lady." But he thrust me out, and I said to her, "Fly for your +life--out at the back door." I ran around the saloon and caught her +away from an angry mob and with the help of the sisters with me, +almost carried her six blocks to the Crittenden Home, and there she +was reformed and converted. + + + A GIRL REJECTED AT RESCUE HOME. + +In Ft. Worth, Texas, I once found in the jail a poor girl who was a +very desperate character. She had been at the Rescue Home several +times, and she was so very wicked that they refused to have her there +again. They said it was of no use trying to reclaim her. I well +remember the night that the Lord sent me to the jail to hold a +meeting. The service was held after dark, as the prisoners were +compelled to work during the day. I was intensely grieved and very +much burdened over the case of this poor girl. So intelligent, yet so +sinful! In my grief, I fell upon the floor weeping over her lost +condition. + +A sister who was with me, and on her way then to India, prayed for me +as well as for the poor prisoners, and the lost girl. The meeting +closed, and the next day we left the city, the sister going west, +while I started north. + +After we left Ft. Worth, my heart was still sad and greatly pained for +the poor lost girl I had seen in the jail and I wrote to the +superintendent of the Rescue Home and pleaded with her to try her just +once more--not only for my sake, but for the sake of Jesus. She did +so, and the result was that the girl was saved and began a life of +virtue and usefulness. + +A year or so later, I was again at Ft. Worth, and was holding +services in the Girls' Rescue Home. As they assembled for the meeting +I shook hands with each of them. I said of one of the girls to the +matron, "This girl looks like a good Christian--who is she?" The girl +herself replied, "Don't you know me, mother?" I said, "No." Then she +answered, "I am the girl you rescued from the prison;" and the matron +said that she was the best girl in the home. I went back after another +year, and she was the matron's assistant. Still later the +superintendent told me that she was a deaconess in New York, and was +doing a great work. This same lady told me how she had shortly before +come across my letter in which I begged her mother-in-law, who was the +former superintendent, to help the girl and give her just one more +chance! Oh, how wonderfully God had answered my prayers and the +yearning of my heart that night when the burden of her soul rested so +heavily upon me! + + + ROBBED BY HER OWN BROTHER. + +A lovely girl was once drugged by her deceiver and left to bear her +shame alone. She was led to a rescue home where she was cared for. +Sometime after the birth of her child, which she dearly loved, her +father died, and left her $1,000. She was induced by her brother to +come to the city where he was living, and give him the money, which he +and his wife used recklessly. They then moved, leaving the poor girl +sitting on the steps without money enough even to buy milk for her +babe. The poor girl was almost distracted with grief. I found her a +temporary home with Christian people and a little later secured +transportation for her to a rescue home in another city where she +could be kindly provided for. + +In that hour of despair, when I found her, she was almost ready to +yield to the enemy of her soul, through temptation of the same wretch +who had first effected her ruin. She could go hungry herself, she +said, but she could not see her babe suffer for want of food. + +Sisters, let us try by all possible means to befriend our own sex and +help all who are thrown in our way, heavenward. + + + NEGLECTED BY THE CHURCHES. + +I once went to a city where there are many churches and professors of +religion, and yet there in the Home for Fallen Girls, where I held +services I found the inmates neglected. I then went to the poorhouse +where over a hundred poor and crippled destitute people were so glad +to hear me sing hymns while they partook of their dinner. They seemed +to wonder who and what I was, yet, how glad they were when they +understood it was for the love of their souls Jesus had sent me to +tell them of His great love. Thank God for the privilege of going to +these places. God always finds a way when there seems to be no way. + +So I must say in concluding that of all those who have my sympathy and +my help, my prayers and my tears, prisoners, and all, the poor, +abandoned, forsaken girl, who has no one to share her sorrow and her +shame claims and receives my deepest sympathy and assistance. There is +no one on whom Jesus had more compassion and yet the croakers are +often the ones to send her to worse shame by their neglect and +cruelty. Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more." + + "She is more to be pitied than censured, + She is more to be loved than despised, + She is only a poor girl who has ventured + On life's rugged path ill-advised. + Don't scorn her with words fierce and bitter, + Don't laugh at her shame and downfall; + Just pause for a moment, consider + That a man was the cause of it all." + + + VISIT TO A HOSPITAL. + +One Sunday, years ago, I visited a hospital in a certain city and +found it in a most terrible condition. There were many sick, both men +and women, and how glad they were to see me! The public were not +permitted inside the grounds, but the superintendent being absent I +was admitted. The patients were suffering with hunger, and were in a +most filthy condition. + +I found both colored men and women in the same room and all covered +with body lice. One old colored woman was almost eaten alive with +vermin, and starving. They would not give her even a drink of water. I +gave her water and she drank a quart and begged for more. I asked her +if she would like to have me bring her something to eat. She said, +"Oh, yes, Honey." I said, "What can you eat?" She said, "A crust of +bread--I's so hungry, been hungry so long." + +My heart was sick at the sights and sounds of suffering and anguish. I +told the Lord about it. All night I cried and prayed. I got up early, +got a large, fat chicken, made soup, got provisions and a couple to +help me carry the things, and went to that miserable place. I got +access to the building with my food and all got a share. I never will +forget the looks on the faces of those starving sufferers, and the +tears coursing down their wan, pale cheeks, as I and dear Mary, my +helper, fed them. One poor old white brother said he was ashamed to +have us near him. + +I took along clothing for the poor old colored woman, and had to take +the scissors and cut the garment off from her, and put it in the +stove. I found the mattress decaying under her. + +I told the superintendent's wife I would be a witness against her in +the day of judgment for treating the patients so cruelly. She said she +did not have help. I said the state, county or city would send help, +that that was no excuse for their starving and cruelly treating those +sick helpless invalids. The old woman and the men told me they were +compelled to live there in that one room altogether. It was terrible! + +One man said he had killed vermin until he was so tired and weak he +could do no more. They said that seldom ever any one left that death +hole alive. The bodies were sold for dissection. + +I went early the next morning to the judge's office to relate my +experience and ask him if something could not be done to relieve the +suffering of the patients that I found there in such a filthy +condition and in such need of care and food and water. I told him I +did not see the superintendent, Mr. V. Just at that moment a dudish +young fellow in the room arose and said, "So you did not see V. when +you went there yesterday; you see him now, don't you?" He was very +angry and said I got inside by his absence, and that he would do so +and so. The judge said angrily, "Woman, you talk too much." I said, "I +have not begun to talk yet." The two men hissed and told me to leave +the office. I had taken the precaution to take with me the sister who +was traveling with me at that time, also the young man who had helped +us to carry the clothes and provisions to the hospital the day before. +They could have corroborated my testimony but the judge was evidently +in league with the superintendent of the hospital and would not +listen. + +I went to a church in the place to a Woman's Missionary meeting and +got permission to speak to the ladies in public about the awful +conditions I found in their so-called hospital. They were surprised +and greatly incensed, and told their husbands, and so there was +awakened an interest that resulted in further investigation. Facts +were found as I had stated, only, if anything, worse. + +The outcome of these things being brought to light was that the old +shanties which served as a so-called hospital were replaced by good +buildings and kind caretakers took the place of the cruel +superintendent--who died some months later after a long illness. + + + ANOTHER VISIT TO A HOSPITAL. + +The following is a description of a visit to another hospital, as +published in a paper at Chattanooga, Tenn. This was also early in my +work. + + + A BAT CAVE. + + A SANITARIUM FOR CATS AND HOTEL FOR DOGS--CALLED BY COURTESY THE CITY + HOSPITAL OF CHATTANOOGA. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, the eloquent female evangelist, who has been + in the city for the past week carrying on a series of prayer + meetings in the jails and houses of ill fame, came into the + _Commercial_ office yesterday afternoon and gave a full and + detailed report of the neglected condition of the city hospital. + She says: + + "As I approached the building I could not convince myself that I + was really in sight of a hospital, for it reminded me more of a + stable than anything else I could conceive of. I approached the + gate and met a colored female mute who raised her hand in a + deprecating manner as if to warn me of some unseen danger that I + was about to come in contact with. I motioned the negro girl to + lead the way and followed her into a dreary looking house that I + had been told was really the only hospital of which Chattanooga + could boast. Just as I opened the door six big hounds sprang + from the different beds within the building and would have torn + me to pieces had not I hastily slammed the door and shut them in. + I applied to a poor cripple man who had the appearance of a + half-fed mendicant where to find the keeper and I was informed + that he was asleep, but if I would wait he (the cripple) would go + and wake him up, and in a few moments he returned accompanied by + a healthy looking man who seemed to care little whether I went in + or remained out of doors in the rain. + + "As I followed the keeper into the room six well fed hounds and + one emaciated looking man occupied the beds that were in the + rooms. + + "I have wandered from one end of the land to the other, I have + visited prison cells, opium joints, houses of ill-fame, + almshouses, reformatories and every dreary den from New York to + San Francisco, from Florida to Montreal, but with all the sights + with which I have been confronted I have never seen a more + cheerless abode and one so utterly void of comfort and + cleanliness as the one occupied by the poor, hungry invalid that + shared the beds of the well fed dogs. + + "The sick man said he was suffering for the want of food and had + been shamefully neglected since he was placed in charge of the + manager of this cheerless institution. Two inmates have died + within the past week and two are left to suffer. + + "The other inmate was a colored man who evidently has little more + of life's suffering to endure in this world. + + "In this room six cats occupied seats of prominence, two purring + on one bed and three others romping from place to place over the + apartment, while the sixth was helping himself to the sick man's + dinner. + + "The buildings are without warmth in the winter and have no means + of ventilation for summer. The confined air is contaminated with + the odor that rises from unemptied and neglected vessels that are + allowed to stand neglected from day to day. The keeper seems to + be utterly indifferent with regard to the ease or comfort of the + sick and it is very evident that while the city pays for food to + support the sick and suffering, the countless and useless dogs + and cats eat a large portion of the food which should be used + exclusively for the unfortunate inmates." + + Mrs. Wheaton has done much commendable work not only in + Chattanooga but from one end of the land to the other. She has + consecrated her time, wealth and character to the uplifting of + fallen people, and by her devotion to Christianity and her + liberality has won thousands of friends throughout the + country.--Chattanooga Paper. + + + WORDS OF CHEER FROM OTHER RESCUE WORKERS. + +The first of the following letters I carried with me on my second +visit to Europe, mentioned elsewhere: + + FLORENCE CRITTENTON HOME, + 21 and 23 Bleecker Street, New York. + + J. F. Shirey, 67 Farrington Road, East Coast, England. + + Dear Brother: This will introduce to you Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, + a prison evangelist. She is alone and unprotected in London. + Please make the way for her as best you can where she can speak + for God to the poor prisoners. She lives by faith and trusts Him + for all. + + God bless you. + + MOTHER PRINDLE. + +[Illustration: MOTHER PRINDLE.] + + * * * * * + + New York, October 16, 1903. + + My first acquaintance with Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton was made in the + Florence Crittenton Midnight Mission, New York City, in 1890. She + impressed me then and has ever since as one whom God has called + and endowed with special gifts for a grand and noble work. Her + one strong hold is faith in God. When under the power of the + Spirit she verily treads upon serpents and scorpions and all the + powers of darkness seem to flee before her. As a singing + evangelist for prison work, I do not know her equal. Her + preaching is in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power. + She gives the Lord's message with holy boldness, fraught with + tender love to the sinner, and blessed are the results. + + The midnight call given on train, when it was my privilege to be + with her, was an hour never to be forgotten. Many will rise up + and call her blessed in that great day who but for her favored + and wonderful ministry would have gone into outer darkness. God + bless her and her book. + + MOTHER PRINDLE. + +The following taken from "Beulah Home Record," Chicago, Ill., March 1, +1902, is explanatory in itself. Also the letter that follows: + + We have had with us for a time, as our honored guest, Mother + Wheaton, the Railroad Prison Evangelist. Like Jesus, the friend + of poor sinners, she goes up and down the land in state prisons + and homes where mothers' girls are sheltered, down into the coal + mines, into the great lumber camps, and on crowded railroad + trains, while speeding along, she preaches the everlasting gospel + of our Lord and Savior, and gives out tracts. Thus she goes as + God's flaming minister, sowing beside all waters, singing and + praying poor sin-sick, tempest-tossed souls into the kingdom of + God. Do you ask what is the secret of her success? It may be + found in the Psalms, 126:6--"She goeth forth weeping," she has a + burning love for souls. So you and I, dear reader, if we are to + succeed in winning souls, our hearts must be full of love for + them. We give Mother Wheaton a warm welcome to this great and + wicked city of Chicago and a hearty welcome always to Beulah + Home. + + * * * * * + + Berachah Home for Erring Girls, + 2719 Lawton Ave., St. Louis, Mo. + + We feel in Berachah Home that we shall not forget Mother Wheaton. + She came into the "Home" and our lives just as God was leading us + out in rescue work, and as she stood among us in our first "open + meeting," we felt, "Here is a strong, brave soldier of the + cross." We found hope and encouragement as she spoke to us of His + service, and the Spirit witnessed "This is of God," as she sang + one of her songs as only Mother Wheaton can sing them. We did not + see her again until in the Baltimore Convocation of Prayer, + January, 1904, when God again used her to bring Mrs. Chapman and + me to God's full thought for us there. She with others laid hands + on us, with prayer, setting us apart for the "work whereunto we + were called." May God bless her ministry to others, as He has to + us in Berachah Home. + + MRS. J. P. DUNCAN, Mgr. + MRS. B. G. CHAPMAN, Treas. + + + THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER. + + "To the home of his father returning, + The prodigal, weary and worn, + Is greeted with joy and thanksgiving, + As when on his first natal morn; + A 'robe' and a 'ring' are his portion, + The servants as suppliants bow; + He is clad in fine linen and purple, + In return for the penitent vow. + + "But ah! for the Prodigal Daughter, + Who has wandered away from her home; + Her feet must still press the dark valley + And through the wilderness roam; + Alone on the bleak, barren mountains-- + The mountains so dreary and cold-- + No hand is outstretched in fond pity + To welcome her back to the fold. + + "But thanks to the Shepherd, whose mercy + Still follows His sheep, tho' they stray; + The weakest, and e'en the forsaken + He bears in His bosom away; + And in the bright mansions of glory + Which the blood of His sacrifice won, + There is room for the Prodigal Daughter, + As well as the Prodigal Son!" + + We've a Home for Prodigal Daughters, + Our Saviour says gather them in; + Will you help rescue these dear ones-- + Who have fallen in paths of sin? + Your girl may be one of the "fallen," + And you long to see her return; + Oh, there's room for the Prodigal Daughter, + As well as the Prodigal Son. + + --Horace. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + Work in Canada and Mexico. + + +In my several visits to the prisons of Canada I have generally found +the officers very courteous. There are sometimes there, as here, +changes of administration, making the work of reaching the prisoners +more difficult. In the large prison at Toronto the officers were +especially kind and gave me the privilege of preaching the gospel to +the prisoners as often as I could attend chapel services. Much +interest was manifested and I trust good was accomplished. + + + MY SECOND EXPERIENCE IN STREET PREACHING + +was in Hamilton, Canada. There for weeks, night after night, rain or +shine, I sang and preached the gospel in the open air. I was +especially helped of the Lord and met with blessed success. + +In 1886, I took with me from Toronto, a dear young sister, who was +called of God to join me in my work. She went with me to Florida and +many other states. She afterward married an evangelist but died a few +years later, being true to God, so far as I know, to the last. + + + SERVICE WITH Y. M. C. A. + +During a visit to London, Canada, after visiting the prisons I went to +the hospital to visit the sick. While singing, a message came over the +telephone saying that the Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. requested me to +lead their meeting on Sunday afternoon. Would I come? I said, "Better +wait till I return to the city. I can't tell." The secretary had to +know at once, so he could announce it through the papers. So I +promised to go, as they had no speaker. I felt discouraged, as I +could think of no message suitable for that large, mixed audience, and +prayed for guidance. Sunday afternoon--still with no message in +mind--I started to the hall. As I walked along the street, praying, I +said, "Lord, give me at least a text to read." Just then I saw on the +ground a scrap of paper, the torn leaf of a Bible. I picked it up, +looked at it, and there my message, text and all, opened up to my +mental vision. I went into the pulpit depending entirely on God, and +the light broke in on my soul, and the power of God fell on the +people. I told them how I was depending alone on the Lord for the +words as He gave them to me. It was a victorious meeting. I leave +results with the Lord. + + + A GIRL RESCUED. + +In one of the Canadian cities I found in the jail a beautiful girl who +was very dissipated and unruly. The officers could not control her--no +one had any good influence over her. The Lord laid the burden of her +soul on my heart. I treated her with love and respect, and tried in +every way to win her for God. Finally, she realized that I loved her +soul, though no one else cared for her. Then she sought the Lord. She +was a Roman Catholic. I told her I would go to the House of the Good +Shepherd and speak to the Mother Superior, and see if they would not +take her in, as she had no home. She wept with joy at this, and told +me of a plan some wicked men had made to be at the jail when she was +discharged at 6 o'clock Saturday evening and take her to haunts of +sin. I hurried out to the Sisters early in the morning and found them +at mass, and waited, determined to save the poor girl from further +downfall, and drunkenness. The Sisters, seeing my anxiety and +sincerity, agreed to help me. Then I went to the officers of the jail +and got them to release the girl at noon. She was taken to another +city and thus saved. When the hour came for her release from the jail +in the evening, sure enough several men made their appearance and +watched and waited for her to come out. At last they began calling her +name. Then the officers went out and told them the girl had been +pardoned, and had left at noon for another city, with protectors. +Another brand had been plucked from the burning for the Master's +Kingdom. + + + SHUT OUT--OTHERS ADMITTED. + +At one time amidst great inconveniences I reached Kingston Prison. I +saw some of the officers Saturday night and they were kind and +willingly consented that I should have opportunity to hold or assist +in services the next day. The next morning I went to the prison +through a drenching rain--without an umbrella, arrived early and +waited for the chaplain. When he came, I told him my desire and what +the other officers had said. But he refused to even let me go inside +to listen to the service. When I asked his reason he said they would +not allow women in the prison. Yet while I had been waiting I had seen +several Catholic sisters enter. I have had similar experiences in our +own land. + + + STONED. + +One day as I was passing along the street in the quaint walled city of +Quebec, some boys threw stones at me, while an old man urged them on, +saying, "If it's Salvation Army ye are, ye should be killed." The Lord +have mercy upon them and upon all who oppose His work or His workers. +For ourselves we must not count these things strange. "It is enough +for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his +Lord." + + + AN INFIDEL DEFEATED. + +While in Toronto, Canada, I often went to the parks on Sabbath days +and held services--the mayor of the city, who was a devoted Christian, +often himself helping in these open-air services. One stand in the +park was usually occupied by the infidel element. They would hold the +place all day so that others could not have the privilege of doing +work for God--so as the place was public property upon which they had +no rightful claim I went early and so secured the place before them. +When their leader arrived the people were listening to the gospel in +song and testimony from worthy witnesses. He was very angry--said it +was his place to speak and he must have it, and ordered me to stop and +leave the stand, but I kept on with the service as God directed and he +went away a few steps and called for the people to follow him, and he +would address them. No one seemed inclined to go and a bystander told +him his followers were few and he had better desist from trying to +disturb a religious service. So we had the victory and God was honored +that day in the work which He sent his servants to do. + +Among my papers I have found the following letters of introduction +given me while in Canada by Hon. John Robson, Provincial Secretary: + + Provincial Secretary's Department, + Victoria, B. C., Oct. 5. + + Dear Brother: + + The bearers of this are prison evangelists of a very high and + deserving character, whom I asked to call upon you. If you could + get up a meeting at Y. M. C. A. rooms for them, it might do good. + + In haste yours, + JOHN ROBSON. + + * * * * * + + Provincial Secretary's Department, + Victoria, B. C., Oct. 5, 1888. + + Dear Mr. McBride: + + The ladies whom this will introduce to you are prison evangelists + who are desirous of doing some work in the penitentiary, and I + take the liberty of bespeaking for them a kind reception at your + hands. They enjoy a high reputation and are well deserving of + your kind attention. + + Very sincerely yours, + JOHN ROBSON. + + A. H. McBride, Esq., Warden Penitentiary. + + * * * * * + + Victoria, B. C. + + Mr. Robson bespeaks for Mrs. Wheaton and lady companion courteous + attention at the hands of the warden of the Victoria gaol. + + + WORK IN MEXICO. + +Not many years after engaging in special prison work I went into +Mexico and have since gone there quite frequently. As a rule the +people are ignorant and superstitious and consequently hard to reach +with the gospel. But though I was compelled to speak through an +interpreter it is surprising how soon they know if one is sincere and +earnest. In the prisons they are very poorly cared for, often having +to wait years for trial and sometimes dying of neglect. I am told that +natives of our own land if thrown into prison there fare worse than +others. + + + A BULL FIGHT. + +Once while in Mexico I found there was to be a bull fight not far from +the prison where I was to hold service. My heart was sad because of +the intense anxiety of the Mexicans to see the exhibition. They came +long distances and there were many very old people who seemed +impatient for the hour to arrive when Mexicans, bulls and horses +should be thrown helplessly together--that they might view the combat. +This cruel sport--so long a favorite pastime both in Spain and +Mexico--was at one time abolished but was afterward re-established out +of policy--in order to please the Mexicans. For me to describe this +kind of fiendish pastime would not glorify God, nor help the public, +but would have a tendency to brutality, being neither elevating nor +refining. But should we not, dear reader, try to do all in our power +to lead people to a higher plane of morals and send missionaries to +help people to know Jesus who satisfies every longing of the human +soul, and gives peace and rest here, and a home in Heaven through +eternity? + + + SIX UNDER DEATH SENTENCE. + +At another time I visited a prison in Mexico where there were six men +under death sentence. They could not understand me, but I knelt by +those great, strong men and wept and prayed to God who could carry the +message of love through my tears to their hard hearts and they were so +affected that we all wept together. I am sure they were remembered +that day by the God who sent me to show them _His_ love for the lost +and who gave me a love for the poor criminals that nothing can +destroy. + + + DIFFICULTIES. + +During my last trip into Mexico, 1902, I found the prisoners in one +place in a most deplorable condition. They were almost starving and +neglected in every way. I had considerable trouble in getting into the +prison on that day, as I could find no one to interpret for me. So we +went from one office to another trying to find some one to admit us to +the prison. As I entered one public office a fierce dog came rushing +at me from an adjoining room. I fled out of the door in dismay with +the dog and an old Mexican woman at my heels. I tried to make her +understand what we wanted and then hurried away. Finally we found a +fellow decorated beyond description with tinsel and other adornings +who furnished me an interpreter and admitted us to the prison. It was +very difficult to make the poor prisoners understand how deeply I felt +for them, but I could put my arms around the poor women who were there +and I could take their little babes in my arms and thus show my +sympathy, then telling the story of Jesus who said, "Father, forgive +them, for they know not what they do." + + + MINISTERED TO A SUFFERER. + +I found one poor wounded man who had just been brought into the prison +sitting on the ground with bloody clothing and matted hair. He was +weeping and tried so hard to explain something to me. The interpreter +was evidently slow to tell me what the poor sufferer wanted. I was +heart-sick to know what to do, as we had only a short time to stay and +I could not bear to leave him without in some way ministering to him. +But I thought of the fruit remaining in my handbag. I thrust an orange +into his bony hands. He grabbed it and with both hands thrust it to +his mouth eating peel and all. Poor man--he was evidently starving. +Reader I wish I could make clear to you the pitiful sight! The sequel +showed me why that was providentially left in my handbag. How thankful +I was to minister to that poor fellow's need in even a small degree. +How I longed to help them all. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + Across the Sea. + + +I had greatly desired to preach the gospel in other lands and held +myself ever ready to go at a moment's warning, anywhere the Lord +should lead, and had been given letters of introduction to prominent +people in Great Britain. In the year 1890 my mind was much exercised +about the regions beyond--and without time for preparation, with but +an hour's notice, the call came to go forward. I was in Philadelphia +walking along the street praying--"O Lord, where next--what wilt Thou +have me to do?" Looking up I saw the large posters of steamship lines +and the thought came to me, "Go and inquire the price of a ticket to +Europe." I obeyed the impulse and went in and talked with the +steamship agent of rates and the time of departure of the first +steamer. Then I left the office praying, O God, show me Thy will--make +Thy way very plain to me. Then I went back to the office, feeling that +I must get alone with the Lord. I asked the agent if I might go into a +rear office which was unoccupied, to pray. He very courteously +replied, "Certainly, madam." There I knelt before the Lord and +inquired if He wanted me to go at once--that very night--on the first +steamer, to Scotland. The answer came clearly: "Go, my child, nothing +doubting." I arose, went into the front office and explained to the +agent the nature of my mission work; and how for years I had obeyed +the leadings of the Holy Spirit and that I had a sister traveling with +me who was waiting at the depot for my return, to know where we would +go next. Told him I would buy two steerage tickets for Glasgow, +Scotland, if he would refund the money for the one in case the sister +was unwilling to go with me. To this he consented, so I purchased the +tickets and hurried to the railway station where I had left my friend. +I knew we had only a few moments to catch the train for New York in +order to reach the steamer Devonia for Glasgow. Hurriedly I said to +her, "Do you want to go to Europe?" "Oh, yes," she replied. "When?" I +asked. "Oh, some time," was the answer. Then I said, "I have two +tickets. It is now or never. If you wish to go I will take you, if +not, I will go alone and you can return the ticket and get the money +for yourself." She said, "I will go." So we rushed to the gate, caught +the train on the move, and reached New York in time to get aboard the +Devonia. + + + ON THE OCEAN. + +Leaving America's shores far behind us, we found ourselves doomed to a +stormy voyage, but with plenty of missionary work to do. There was, in +the steerage, much profanity, continual drunkenness of both men and +women, and card playing at all times only when the passengers were +sleeping or too sea-sick. While in mid-ocean we encountered a severe +storm which greatly delayed us. There were only six Christians on +board the steamer. I believe it was in answer to prayer that the ship +was saved from wreck. After thirteen days on the ocean, we saw the +shores of "Bonnie Scotland," and as we neared port there was great +rejoicing among the passengers--almost all of whom were going home. +But how different it was with me! I felt much as Paul did when he said +to the elders of the church at Ephesus, "And now, behold, I go bound +in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall +me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying +that bonds and afflictions abide me." Like him I felt that suffering +and persecution and perhaps imprisonment and death was before me in +that strange land, but Paul was enabled to say, "But none of these +things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I +might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have +received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of +God;" and with something of the same spirit I was enabled to say, as I +wept before Him, "Lord, I will be true--only give me Thy grace +sufficient for me." + + + IN A FOREIGN LAND. + +I was a stranger in a strange land with only a few shillings and +without any great degree of strength of body and, strange to say, for +one reason and another I never saw one of those to whom I carried +letters of introduction. How the Lord was teaching me not to lean on +the arm of flesh! In answer to a letter of inquiry written to one to +whom one letter was addressed, I received the following very kind +reply from her husband: + + 11 Walker St., + Edinburgh, Oct. 18, 1890. + + Dear Friend: + + Your letter of the 16th, with one from Miss Sisson, has just + reached me, forwarded from Crieff. Since Miss Sisson's letter was + written my dear wife has fallen asleep in Jesus and having left + Crieff I am in lodgings for the present in Edinburgh with my + sister and five children. + + I have been praying over the subject of your letter, but I do not + have any light on the matter nor am I likely, so far as I can + see, to be in Glasgow for some time. Yet if the Lord sent you to + Scotland He will certainly show you what He has for you to do. + "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own + understanding: in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall + direct thy paths." + + I enclose a one-pound note towards expenses. + + Yours in Christ, + G. W. OLDHAM. + +At the landing in Glasgow, I inquired of the policeman on duty and +secured a room with his family. Then I went in search of a meeting. +Found the car-fare a penny a mile and other customs quite different +from ours. The first meeting I found corresponded to our Y. M. C. A. +meetings. But our special mission was to the lost. + +That evening I received permission from the policeman to hold open-air +meetings. Going along the street a woman who was drunk spied me and +rushed after me beating me on the back. As I made no resistance other +drunken women joined their companion in sin and I would have had a +hard time of it had not the police protected me. These drunken women +thought that I belonged to the Salvation Army, as the bonnet I then +wore was quite similar to the one dear Mother Booth had worn and I was +often told that I looked like her. I was in Scotland when she passed +to her reward in the land where there are no slums, no sinners to +rescue, to weep over and save. Had I been near enough how gladly would +I have joined the great throng that gathered to show honor to her +memory! Nearly every night while in Glasgow found us on the streets +preaching, singing, and praying, with those who never went to +church--many of them not even to the Salvation Army or missions. In +many respects we found worse conditions than in our home-land. The +public houses were always filled at night with men and often their +whole families--drinking all kinds of intoxicants--women with infants +in their arms as well as others drinking with men at the bar. And the +most beautiful girls to be found were secured by the keepers of these +houses to stand behind the bar and sell the drinks. + +The prisons, my special burden, I found very difficult of access for +missionary work. I found that women were not expected, there, to do +that kind of work. Yet I fasted and prayed and wept before the Lord, +pleading that the prison doors might be opened to me and at last I was +successful in gaining admission to some of them. After some delay I +was admitted to Duke Street jail, in Glasgow, and there held several +services. It is a large prison, filled with the baser sort and those +whom the public houses had been licensed to make drunkards--to cause +to reel and stagger and abuse and kill when unconscious of what they +were doing. The Lord's presence was revealed in our services there and +souls got help from God, and I hope to meet many of them in heaven. We +visited the poor in their homes, different penal institutions--all of +the missions and Salvation Army Corps and many of the churches. While +time lasts we will find much to do to help those around us. + + + MY LIFE IN DANGER. + +Oftentimes my life was in danger when visiting the saloons, which are +there called public houses--the keepers being called publicans. Often +the keepers of brothels and other places of sin drew revolvers on +me--threatening me with death if I did not leave, as they did not want +to lose their customers and their money--which they were sure to do if +souls were converted there, but the Lord always delivered me when +death stared me in the face. One day I went into a public house where +a woman kept a dive. She at once got very angry, demanded my business, +and ordered me to leave her place. She clutched me with a fiendish +grip, and pushed me out of the door, but purposely fastened one of my +arms in the door as she slammed it shut. I prayed God to release me +and with the help of the sister who was with me we got the door open +enough to release my arm. I am sorry to have reason to say that, as a +rule, I find the women who are in charge of brothels and saloons +harder to deal with than the men. A woman of judgment and tact when +fully saved can, in many cases, do more good than men from the fact +that she can go where very few men could go without being looked upon +with suspicion. What need, then, that we should be emptied of self and +filled with the Holy Spirit, all given up to the Lord in order that we +can work successfully for God and souls. + +One Saturday night, while in Glasgow, I preached in a church. Great +crowds had turned out in the city spending their week's wages. There +was much drinking of both men and women. At the church was given a +"Penny Tea," consisting of a cup of tea and a biscuit, thus drawing +the crowds--and afterwards having some one preach to them. + + + A SONG STOPS A ROW. + +When the services had closed, we were returning to our lodging and +were attracted by a great crowd of people engaged in a row and a +fight. I soon saw there was danger of bloodshed and stepping out in +the street I began to sing an old time hymn. This drew the attention +of many and they came running to hear. Then I talked to them of Jesus +and His love, and we went on our way and held another service on +another street. Then, coming to the quarters of a company of firemen, +I asked if I might hold a service with them some time. One of them +replied, "Yes, why not now?" It was then 10 o'clock and raining. I +stepped into the street and began singing. Across the way there was a +dance hall with dancing going on upon the three floors of the hall. As +I sang, the windows of the hall were lowered with a crash, perhaps to +keep out the rain--perhaps to keep out the sound of my voice. + +As we proceeded with the service a policeman soon appeared and ordered +me to stop. I told him I was not violating any ordinance of the city +and only holding the service at the request of these firemen. He was +angry and threatened to arrest us. He soon returned with two other +officers, and while the sister who was with me was speaking, he took +her by the arm and led her down the muddy street. I began singing, "He +is able to deliver thee." The other two policemen took me by the arms +and forced me through the deep mud in the street quite a long distance +to the jail. Before being placed in the cell I was asked the cause of +our arrest. I replied, "For holding open-air service on the street, +and there is no law in Scotland to forbid us from doing so." We were +placed in a room under guard to await the decision. We could hear the +shrieks of men and women delirious from drink. + +I was asked who we were, and replied, "We have come from America to +preach the gospel." After cross-questioning and severely reprimanding +me they asked if I would hold my peace if they would let me go. I +answered, "I do not wish to disregard your request, but I must obey +God, for that is why I am here. And according to your law it is no +crime to hold open-air services; and it is a custom with the +churches." "Then we will put you into the cell." Another said, "No, we +cannot do that for this offense." Then he said I should be gone. I +said, "Will you not send an officer to show us the way to our lodging, +as you have arrested us without a cause and it is late at night?" But +they refused to send a guide. I asked if they would give me the name +of the policeman who arrested us, and told them the matter was not yet +ended; that they did not know with whom they were dealing. At first +they refused to give me the names asked for; but I said I should stay +till they did so, and I prevailed. When we had started to try to find +our way to our lodging place, we met a lady who kindly directed us to +the street and number. + +On Monday a sister who had been preaching among the policemen for some +years, called to see me--having heard of my arrest and treatment. She +was much surprised and said she could have those policemen all +discharged for their conduct toward me. I said, "No, do not do that; I +only want to see them and talk to them about their souls' salvation." +"Then," she replied, "I will have them come and ask your forgiveness." +As she started away, I handed her some recommendations and railroad +passes I had had in America and letters of introduction to parties in +that land. Glancing over them she exclaimed, "Is it possible? A lady +with such a recommend! These letters are addressed to some of the best +people in Great Britain. Will you trust me with these till I return?" +"Certainly," I replied. She returned in due time, saying the policemen +would come and make an apology. I was very glad, for I felt then that +I could tell them it was the love of Christ for the lost ones of earth +that constrained me to speak on the streets. Many ladies called during +the day to give me their sympathy and show their interest. The +policeman who caused the arrest came and asked me to forgive him. He +bowed with us in prayer, and sobs shook his heavy frame while his +tears fell like rain. He said, "It is like mother used to talk, and it +is the same kind of religion she had in olden times." I believe that +man found Christ his Savior that day. He told us of his wife sick at +home and two "wee bairns," and as he could get no girl at home, he had +overworked; and on that Saturday night had taken too much liquor in +order to keep him awake. + +He invited me to call upon his family. This I did the following day, +and found it as he had said. The two other men that had a part in +arresting us came the following day. One of them seemed very penitent +when I talked to them, and both humbly begged my pardon for their +conduct toward me. + +While in Glasgow I was invited by General Evans, of the Gospel Army, +to conduct special services for ten nights at their hall--commonly +known as the Globe Theater. We copy the following from an editorial of +the General's published in his paper while we were there: + + "Hearing of these evangelists we decided to invite them to Globe + Theater, and truly we can say God has visited his people. They do + not believe in forms and ceremonies like us formal Scotch + Christians, but speak as they are moved by the Holy Ghost. They + live by faith and do not ask for money or collections; however, + they seem to get on very well, and I never yet heard them + grumbling about having too little. They take whatever is given + them as from the Lord, and give Him their sincere thanks + accordingly. They have spent over a week speaking and singing + every night in our meetings, and not a few have been impressed by + the earnest words of our sisters. Some of the professors have had + their short-comings pretty well threshed out, the writer coming + in for his share. Our meetings have been well attended and I + believe a really good work has been begun in our midst. The elder + lady carries about with her a book full of newspaper clippings + and numerous testimonials about her work in America. Her special + field is in the prisons and among the unfortunates. She takes no + stock in sensational worship, but there is always a great + sensation wherever she puts in an appearance.... In closing I may + say that our heaven-bound sisters have had some severe trials + since leaving their native shores. Eternity alone will reveal the + amount they have endured for the Master's sake. Before they had + been many hours in Glasgow they were marched off to jail for + preaching at a street corner, and gathering a crowd. I trust + this epistle will open up our cold, hard hearts and that we may + receive our sisters as is our duty as a Christian community." + + + TUMULT IN A DIVE. + +"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold the devil +shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried; * * * Be thou +faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life."--Rev. 2:10. + +One Sunday night, as I was on my way going from the meeting, being in +company with General Evans and his wife and the sister who traveled +with me, I saw a public house open and went in and began to speak to +the men and women. I had only talked a few minutes when the proprietor +came in and asked, "Are you a customer here?" I replied, "No, I am +only speaking to these people about their souls." He said, "Now you +leave, or I'll make you." He ran into a back room, and coming out he +passed me quickly, running to the door and blowing a long blast on a +police whistle. This aroused the people and brought to the scene +several policemen and hundreds of people of all classes in general +fright. A man rushed in and catching me by the arm cried, "Come out of +this place, quick, or you'll be killed. You are in danger. You don't +know where you are! This is the Gallow Gate; the worst place in +Glasgow." I said to him, "Let me alone, I am obeying God." But as the +policemen closed in around me there was a cry raised, "It is Jack the +Ripper in disguise." The excitement in those days was intense all over +Europe. Jack the Ripper was a fiend in human form that was killing +women continually in the most horrifying manner and in cold blood. You +might see on a bulletin board in the city that a murder would be +committed on such a day and hour and these threats would be carried +out. Yet he defied the detectives and police. Large rewards were +offered for his capture. I saw that my life was in danger unless I +could convince them of their mistake, of which I now saw the cause. I +was dressed differently from them. I had on a long black cloak and had +thrown my black shawl over my head concealing my bonnet, and carried a +bag on my arm which contained my recommendations, railway passes, etc. +I said: "You are mistaken, gentlemen, I am not Jack the Ripper" +(removing my shawl), "I am a missionary from America; and preaching at +the Globe Theater every night. Come and hear me there. There is no +cause for this tumult." The General and his wife having come in, we +passed out, the mob following us several blocks with shouts and +screams giving me some blows as we went. But God delivered us from +their cruel hands. + + + A MOB OF DRUNKEN WOMEN. + +Another night when returning from the Globe Theater in company with +General and Mrs. Evans we heard a great noise up the street and soon +discovered that it was made by a mob of some kind. On their coming +nearer, we found it was an immense crowd of drunken fallen girls. The +General said: "Hide yourselves quick! There is no telling what they +might do." The policemen had slunk away--not caring to try to make any +arrests, as there were so many of them and they were so violent. Poor +souls! They were some mothers' girls who perhaps had learned to love +the taste of strong drink before they saw the light and were bound by +both inherited and acquired appetite. I was told that on an average +there were four drunken women in Glasgow for every drunken man. Such a +statement seems beyond belief, but during our stay we saw much to +indicate that it was true. What could the harvest be? + +While in Scotland I received a very precious letter of encouragement +and sympathy from Col. Geo. R. Clarke and wife of Pacific Garden +Mission, Chicago. I give it here and the reader can easily realize how +comforting it proved to me. + + Chicago, October 29, 1890. + + My Dear Sister Wheaton: + + We received yours written from Glasgow last night. I am sorry + they treat you so badly there. But that is the way nice appearing + people treated our blessed Lord when on earth, and the way they + would treat Him now should He come to earth in the flesh. But it + is blessed to us, said Jesus, when men persecute us. We have a + right then to rejoice as He told us. + + The Lord will stand by you as He did by Paul. He "will never + leave you nor forsake you." So you can boldly say: "The Lord is + my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." + + The Lord's work is prospering at our Mission and we are much + encouraged in it. We have large meetings and many precious souls + for Christ every night. + + We have started a noonday prayer-meeting for both sexes. The Lord + is greatly blessing the meetings. We have souls converted there + right along at every meeting. + + We will pray for you and may the dear Lord greatly bless you in + your work and labor of love which you do in His name. + + We have only a little time left now to wait for Him. The signs + are thickening and He will soon rush into view and then we shall + hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou + in to the joy of thy Lord." Praise His dear name. Glory to God! + Hallelujah!!! What a meeting that will be! It will be our time to + laugh then, but our persecutors will weep and wail. May God be + merciful to them now and give them repentance before that awful + day. + + Don't be in a hurry to die and go to heaven. You are more needed + by the Lord down here just now than in heaven. There are no + sinners there to whom to preach His gospel and He tells us to "Go + and preach" not "go to heaven." He will take us all home in His + own good time. Let us patiently wait for Him and "occupy until + He comes." With much Christian love we are yours in Christ. + + COL. AND MRS. GEO. R. CLARKE. + + + IN PAISLEY. + +I was summoned by telegram to go on to Paisley, Scotland, to hold +services for the Gospel Army in that place. We went immediately. Found +the city well informed of our coming by large striking posters which +read: "Hear the American Prison Evangelists--Be sure to hear these +ladies who have preached on the ruins of the Johnstown horror! Who +have visited all the prisons of note in America--led murderers to the +scaffold," etc. I was not accustomed to such sensational advertising +and tore down the posters I came across and chided with the General +for advertising us in such a way. He kindly explained that it was +customary in their work in order to arrest the attention of the people +and arouse interest in our meetings. Perhaps he was right but it was +something of a trial to me to be brought before the people in that +way. + +We found much to do in Paisley, not only in the night services but on +the streets, in the homes of refuge and in homes. Found twelve hundred +girls employed in the Coats Thread Works and eight hundred girls in +Clark's Thread Works. Found great poverty among the laboring classes, +as there was much dissipation among both men and women. + +Just before leaving Paisley I was called to go and hold services in +the Refuge for Fallen Women. During the services there did not seem to +be much feeling concerning their soul's salvation. It seemed I could +not reach them. At last, near the close of the meeting, I said: +"Girls, I am going away to my own land. I will never see you on earth +again. Will you not try and live so you will meet me in heaven? If +so, raise your hands." Not one hand was raised. Then I said, "Girls, +won't you pray?" No sign yet. "Girls, shall I pray for you when far +away? If so, raise your hands?" Not a hand went up. I was almost +discouraged. Could I leave that great crowd of lost women to go on in +their awful career without at least one manifesting a desire for a +better life? How could I meet them at the Judgment? At last I said: +"Girls, I leave to-morrow for America. I am all alone. Only this young +woman with me. How many of you will pray for _us_ as we cross the +ocean again to go to our own land? If any one will pray for us, won't +you raise your hand?" _Every hand went up_, and God's Holy Spirit +crept unawares into their hearts--so long unused to prayer, and the +spell of evil was broken, and God reached them. O the melting, tender +spirit which filled the room! And that company, I believe, gave God +their hearts. In learning to pray for us, their sisters, they found +God, and I trust to meet many, if not all, of those dear souls in +heaven. Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more." +And then the confessions, the tears, the promises! Bless God, His word +will not return void. + +Shortly after my arrival in America I received the following letter, +which explains itself, from the matron of this Home: + + Female Refuge, Paisley, Scotland, March 23, 1891. + + Mrs. Wheaton. + + Dear Friend: Glad I was to know that you had in God's good + Providence arrived safe at home among your dear ones, and rejoice + also with you that the work is prospering in your hand. + + I have been called upon to part here with dear ones since I saw + you, but they are gone before me only a little while. My + assistants are all with me yet, and with myself had much pleasure + in your card. We often talk of you and your young friend that + accompanied you. I do hope she is still with you. We have now a + household of thirty inmates, many giving proof of a new life + being theirs for time and eternity. With our united kind regards, + I am + + Yours truly in the Lord's work, + ANNIE J. BLUE. + +I have already mentioned the fact that I found it difficult to gain +admittance to the prisons of Scotland. I waited in Edinburgh for days, +on expense, seeking opportunity to hold at least one service in the +large prison there. While waiting I held services in the jail and +missions and open air. Our meetings in the open air were largely +attended, not only by the working classes, but also by others who +would stop and listen, being attracted, at first, by the singing which +usually drew large crowds. We were much blessed in these services and +especially in the slums where large numbers of neglected children +gathered around us, ragged and dirty, but with hearts glad to learn to +sing with us. + + + RETURN TO AMERICA. + +Various circumstances combined that seemed to require my return to +America and after nearly two months of constant toil in Glasgow, +Edinburgh, and Paisley, we hurried to Liverpool and November 15 took +shipping for New York on the steamship Wisconsin. On this return +voyage we encountered another fearful storm in which many ships went +down. + +The storm raged about four days. Men and women were in great fear; +some weeping, some screaming, some praying, and some cursing. Among +all that multitude there were only four Christians; only four souls +ready to face eternity! + +But our God is a very present help in time of trouble. There in that +terrible hour, I was conscious of His presence and I knew that He was +able to deliver us. When the storm had abated, with a heart full of +gratitude and thanksgiving, I tried to sing, but could only utter +softly the words of one old-time hymn: + + "How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord." + +So wonderfully did God deliver us that in spite of that fearful storm +we reached New York harbor after being only twelve days at sea. + +On board these steamers a religious service is held every Lord's day, +but it is usually led by the captain who is often an ungodly man. Many +seemed to ease their guilty consciences by observing this form of +religion. But my heart was often left more hungry and sad by a service +which seemed to me mere form if not a farce and mockery. + +During this return trip I supposed I was about out of money, and was +somewhat tempted to doubt the promises, and I prayed much for +guidance. When almost ready to land I took from my purse my small +stock to have the steward get it changed for U. S. money, and to my +glad surprise I found in another part of the purse a pound note. I +could not tell how it came to be there. So I felt reproved for my lack +of faith. + +Among my old papers I find a touching letter written by a dear young +sister to whom I became much attached while in Scotland. Had it not +been that her family were largely dependent upon her she would have +gone with me in my work. I give the following extract: + + Glasgow, Nov. 17, 1890. + + My Dear Sister in Jesus: + + I received your card Saturday night; and was very much surprised + to learn that you had gone so suddenly. But not our will but + God's will be done. Dear sister, I hope you and Nellie will have + a safe passage across the ocean and may the dear Savior be very + present to both of you. You have His blessed promise, "Fear them + not; for I am with thee." + + Mrs. P---- and the husband were asking very kindly after you. Mr. + L---- could scarcely credit that you had gone home so suddenly. + Several others also in the hall wish you a special blessing in + your effort to win souls for the Master, who will reward you in + His own time. + + Dear sister, you do not know and you will never know until you + are within the Pearly Gates, how many precious souls have been + brought to the knowledge of the truth through you. + + May the dear Lord make us truly Holy Ghost workers and may we + have a desire to point sinners to Jesus--the all-sufficient + one--the author and finisher of our salvation. Glory to God! May + we be more and more like Jesus, humble, meek and mild, loving one + another as the Lord has also loved us. May we be clean, empty + vessels for the Master's use. Dear Jesus, do strip us of + everything that would hinder the blessing and would keep our joy + from being full. Write soon; and if we do not meet again on + earth, with God's help we will meet in heaven, Praise God! + + Your loving sister in Jesus, + RACHEL SMITH. + + + SECOND VISIT TO EUROPE. + +In the year 1896 the Lord made plain to me that it was His will that I +should again go to Europe. While in Washington, D. C., I was led to +return to Iowa, and there found that a band of missionaries who were +ready to start for Africa had been praying that I might come and go +with them as far as New York. When they saw me alight at their door, +they shouted and praised the Lord. When I asked them the reason they +said because God had answered prayer--that they had prayed God to send +me to see them off for Africa. + +While we were holding a few meetings in Philadelphia I felt directed +to go on with them as far as London, so purchased my ticket with +theirs, taking steerage passage across the ocean for the third time. +Immediately after getting my ticket there came upon me a wonderful +outpouring of the Spirit and an assurance that was unmistakable that I +was in divine order. When I told those young missionaries I was going +with them as far as London they told me they had been praying that I +might be led to do that very thing. After a safe voyage we reached +Southampton in seven days. + +One Sabbath afternoon in London when we were holding an open-air +meeting on the street, God opened the flood-gates of Heaven, and I +with others sang and preached under the power of the Holy Spirit. A +Christian came and said, "Sister Wheaton, there is a preacher here who +wants to speak to you." I refused to go, as there were drunkards and +toughs on their knees under conviction of sin. I thought he was a +preacher who wanted to criticise my methods. They called me again, and +I went to see what was wanted. I found a fine-looking, well-dressed +man much past middle age under awful conviction of sin. He was a +backslider, and had stopped in passing, being attracted by a hymn I +was singing--one his mother used to sing. Yet he was unwilling to +yield himself to God. Some of those in the company had talked with him +and begged him to kneel. At last his stubborn will was broken, and he +knelt there on that London street and confessed his sins to God. When +he arose from his knees he said he had been on his way with a dagger +then in his coat sleeve, to commit suicide, but was attracted by that +song his mother used to sing, and could go no further. Thus by the +power of the Holy Ghost that Presiding Elder was saved on the streets +through faithful, honest trust in God, where the preacher and the +drunkard knelt side by side in the dust. I hope to meet them in +Heaven, and trust that all found peace with God. The word says, "Go +out in the streets and lanes of the city, and in the hedges and +highways." "Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost," not +the righteous but sinners. He came to save. How often people are +waiting for Christians, who profess to have salvation, to speak to +them, and how glad they are to receive the message if delivered in +love. + +I was located for a time at Woolwich, near the London Arsenal. There +were stationed thousands of soldiers and they were often found in the +public houses under the influence of drink. I would plead with them to +quit sinning, turn to God, and seek salvation. Often tears were shed, +and resolves made to serve the Lord. There are many incidents of souls +being saved on the streets, in the slums and public houses, but space +forbids my going into details, but suffice it to say that I have been +given many proofs of God's love and mercy from among the thousands who +have heard the gospel in those far-off lands, as well as in our home +land. Then let us encourage our missionaries everywhere to press on +until the Master says, "It is enough, come up higher." + +I was much pained, while in England, to see so many young women there, +as in Scotland, selling beer and other strong drink to customers in +the public houses; beautiful girls selling their souls to the tempter +to be lost forever unless in some way rescued before it is too late. + +During this second visit to Europe I was often stopped on the street +and asked to sing to the people, which I frequently did, regardless of +remarks or criticisms, and the Lord blessed my singing to the good of +many souls. While in London, night after night I would sing and preach +the gospel to people who longed for salvation, but knew not how to +get saved. How often we neglect an opportunity to do good. Years after +some of our missionaries returning from Africa, passing through +London, heard the people calling to them, "Where is that old lady who +sang for us?" So we labor not in vain. In due season we shall reap if +we faint not. + +After spending several weeks in England (most of the time in London) I +saw that precious band of young missionaries take the steamer for +Africa. The next day I embarked for home at Southampton. Soon after +starting we sighted the vessel on which they sailed and I could +distinguish some of them waving their handkerchiefs in farewell. One +of them died in Africa ten months later. By and by we shall meet again +in the Kingdom of heaven, each one, I trust, bringing with us sheaves +to lay at Jesus' feet. + +During the return voyage the sea was stormy at times, yet the voyage +was made safely, and on Sabbath morning, the day after my arrival in +New York, I went to the Tombs prison to hold services. I was very +tired, and after the services I was so faint I prayed for the Lord to +open the way for me to have some refreshments, as I was to preach in +the afternoon at a Rescue Mission. There were many elegantly dressed +lady visitors at that meeting, but they all passed out and left me +alone, when a young, humble-looking man came to me and said, "We are +very poor, and are able to afford but one meal a day, and not a full +meal at that, but it would be such a blessing to my wife and myself if +you would come and share it with us." My heart was touched that this +stranger should offer to share the little they had, when others never +thought of my needs. I did not go with him, although I thanked him; it +was so far to his home, but God will reward him. For Jesus said, "I +was a stranger and ye took me in, hungry and ye fed me; I was in +prison and ye came unto me, sick and ye visited me." + + Behold a homeless wanderer, poor and thinly clad, + To biting cold a victim, with hunger almost mad, + Entering yonder mansion, dares to boldly steal + What none should e'er deny a dog--the pittance of a meal! + See the greedy sleuth-hounds of the outraged law + Wage against this robber an unrelenting war; + While _Christian_ judge and jury, with ready wit, declare + His crime an awful outrage, that merits prison fare! + But he who rears his costly domes + O'er wreck and ruin of human homes, + Plants in the breast a raging thirst + And leaves his victims doubly cursed, + Can roll in luxury, loll in pride + And, with _the law_, his gain divide! + Tho' every dime he pays the state + A thousand cost in wakened hate! + + --_Geo. W. H. Harrison._ + + + Learn that in many a loathsome cell + A prisoned genius or a saint may dwell, + Whose power, developed by an act of love, + May lead a million to the Courts above. + Shall it be yours to touch that vibrant chord + And share the honor of the great reward? + What heaven endorses that alone can stand; + All else is stubble, built on shifting sand. + + --_G. W. H. H._ + +[Illustration: STATE PRISON, JOLIET, ILL.] + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + Travel and Toil. + + + TWO NIGHTS' SERVICE. + +At one time when suffering from nervous prostration I was lovingly +cared for for some weeks in the home of dear brother H. L. Hastings, +of Boston. One night while there I said to him: "I must go to the city +tonight." He replied: "Sister Wheaton, have you prayed about it?" I +said, "Yes." He answered, "Go and pray again." I did so and returned +to his office, saying, "I must go to the city tonight." They were +having watchnight service in the city. Again he replied: "The night is +very cold and you are sick. Go and pray and find out the mind of God." +Again I went to my room to inquire diligently of the Lord and was sure +that the call of the Spirit was that I should go. Again I returned to +his office and told him I must go to the city that night. Once more he +replied: "Sister Wheaton, go and pray." As I wept before the Lord He +showed me the city given up to idolatry and sin and again I went to +Brother Hastings' office and said: "I must go to the city." He dropped +his pen and hurriedly said: "Wife and I will go with you." It was one +of the coldest nights Boston had known for years, but from one saloon +to another the Lord led us and from one watchnight meeting to another +until near midnight we entered a Mission hall. A fine-looking, +well-dressed young man from the platform hurried down and said to me: +"Mother, I am so glad to see you. Come on the platform and speak to +the people." I looked at the man and he said: "Don't you know me, +mother?" When I said "No," he answered: "Don't you know your boy?" I +looked at him--so beautiful in the service of God--and then he said: +"I was in prison and you came and prayed and sang for me. I was in the +hospital, and got saved there, and God is still blessing your boy." +Reader, did it pay? Yes, that night my heart rejoiced in my Savior for +all He had done for me and for my "children" in prison walls. For +seventeen years now this man has been a blessing in helping to save +others. + +Another watchnight I spent in St. Louis, Missouri. Feeling weary, I +was about to retire for the night, when the Lord showed me to go on +the street and do service for Him. So, doubting not, I pressed out for +a cold night's work in the slums. The sister who entertained me went +with me to the places of sin and also to six different watch-meetings, +at which we witnessed for the Master, leaving the results with the +Lord, who said: "And the books were opened, and another book was +opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of +those things which were written in the books, according to their +works." + + + ONE WEEK'S WORK. + +A few years since, on arriving in Omaha after returning from the East, +I telephoned the jailer at the county jail: "Can I have a meeting?" +"Yes," came the reply. There were a good many prisoners and we had a +good service. Sister Kelley, of Tabor, Iowa, was with me. Our singing +seemed much appreciated. Went from there to the city jail. Held +services there, and in the evening in a Rescue Mission. + +At midnight we boarded the train for Deer Lodge, Montana. En route our +train stopped for a couple of hours at Ogden, Utah, and while there we +visited the Florence Crittenton Rescue Home--where we were warmly +welcomed by both the matron and the girls and had a blessed service. +God bless them all! + +[Illustration: PRISON AT DEER LODGE, MONT.] + +We arrived at the State prison at Deer Lodge on Saturday, and had the +privilege of preaching to the many prisoners the following day. God +blessed me in speaking, both to the men and women. We sang many +old-time hymns and some new ones. Took each prisoner by the hand as +they passed out, visited the sick prisoners and went to two churches +that night, and visited the women prisoners on Monday morning, and had +real victory in prayer for them. Then bidding goodbye to all we left +for the prison at Boise City, Idaho, where we arrived Tuesday. +Telephoned the warden asking permission to hold service at the prison. +The privilege was granted and a team was sent for us. We found a large +number of prisoners and the officials kind, and had a good service of +an hour. Visited the poor, condemned men in their cells, prayed and +wept with them, and commended them to the great loving God who said: +"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though +they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." After seeing the +sick we left the prison; but my heart was greatly drawn out for those +men under death sentence. I felt that one of them (a foreigner) was +innocent. I was almost overcome with sorrow. They were my "children" +and I never would see them again in this world, and yet I was +powerless to help them! + +From Boise City we went to Salt Lake City. When we arrived at the +penitentiary there and mentioned our desire to hold a service the +warden's kind wife said: "The warden is in the city and they are under +contract and must get their work done immediately--but you lie down +and rest--you are worn out" (and I was). So I slept until I heard her +tender voice, saying, "Mrs. Wheaton, lunch is ready and the warden +says he will give you forty minutes after dinner in the chapel with +the men." I was so glad and said: "This is all through your kindness +and God will reward you." I found the men seated, waiting for me, in +the chapel and thankfully I improved that opportunity, knowing that +eternity would reveal the results of that service. I was permitted to +see the two men under death sentence and sing and pray with them, and +tell them of a Savior "mighty to save and strong to deliver;" then +with sad heart I left them--never to meet them again till the trumpet +should sound. Precious in God's sight were those poor, forsaken, +criminals! And, reader, as I write these lines down in the slums of +Chicago, I see opposite me the saloon open day and night luring men +and women inside, fitting them also for the prison and perhaps for the +scaffold! + +Leaving the prison at Salt Lake, we hurried to the county jail, held +services in two departments, and had a good time with the prisoners; +then left for the city jail. Did what work we could there in the +Lord's name and hurried to the depot, only stopping on the way to get +a little lunch for the long journey before us. Weary and faint we +reached the train just as it was leaving. Too weak to go further I got +in the first car, which proved to be a dining car. I said: "The boys +will allow me to sit here awhile," and I heard a voice saying: "Come +in, mother, sit down. You are welcome in my car and you must have +something to eat. You look tired and hungry"--and wasn't I? And when I +told him of my friend in another car he had me bring her also and gave +us both a good supper, and was I not thankful to God for that kind +welcome from the dining car conductor, who knew me? Surely God will +reward him. I hope to meet and know him in that land where we shall +never get weary and hungry. + +We arrived at Rawlins, Wyoming, at nine the next morning. We hurried +to the prison. It was Decoration Day and most of the guards were off +for a holiday--the men being locked in their cells. The warden kindly +said to us: "I wish I could let you talk to the men, but my officers +are gone and there is no one to guard them, and I am compelled to +remain at the office to see after business." I was sure God had sent +us, and said: "Will you permit us to see the men in their cells?" +After much deliberation he said: "I'll tell you what I will do, I'll +turn the men loose in the dining room if you think you can control +them, and let you have an hour to talk to them." I said, "Surely I can +manage those men--why, they are my children, sir," and so down the men +came from their cells and O such a meeting! I was at home and my +"boys" were on their honor and I talked to them as a mother and we +sang together hymns that they knew, and bless God He was guarding the +men, and I had nothing to do with the matter only to obey Him and tell +them the old, old story of the redeeming love of a Savior who died to +save us from our sins and give to us eternal life. As I grasped each +one by the hand at parting, I found the men quiet and peaceable, +humbly begging me to come again. Then I saw the heavy iron doors close +between us and knew I would probably never see them together again as +we were there, but looked forward to the great day in which, if he +would, each man could have a part in crowning Jesus Lord of lords and +King of kings. + +After having dinner with the few officers present in their own dining +room we hurried to the jail. There we were permitted to preach the +gospel to the prisoners and they received us gladly. As I left the +jailer expressed his appreciation of the visit, saying it was so good +of us to come to help the prisoners--especially the girls. + +Arriving at Lincoln, Nebraska, we attended the evening service of the +National Campmeeting then in progress there and the next morning went +to the prison. The warden kindly granted us the privilege of a gospel +service with the prisoners. After holding this service and visiting +the sick in the hospital we returned to the camp ground. Reached there +during a testimony service just in time to be invited by the leader to +sing a certain hymn. Instantly I was on my feet and soon on the +platform saying, "Yes, I will sing, but first I must sing, + + "The toils of the road will seem nothing + When we get to the end of the way." + +And shouts of praise went up to God all over that ground, for He +especially anointed me to sing that hymn. I felt every word of it, for +though weary and tired from the journey, I knew God had been with me +and had given victory all along the way. + +In this brief sketch I have failed to mention some services held in +missions and also special services on all the trains on which we +traveled--perhaps bringing to some their last warning. + +One night during this week's journey a crowd of drunken men boarded +the train. They were so abusive to me that I went outside the car +door. When I went in the next car I found the same kind dining car +conductor I have before mentioned. At his inquiry as to what was the +matter I just knelt and prayed and then told him how the drunken men +had acted. He said: "Come with me. This won't do. I will see that you +and your sister have a sleeper." He went with me into the other car, +and when the men saw the man in uniform with me they tried to be very +polite. They were under the influence of drink and in a sense not +responsible for their actions. Who is responsible? The saloon, the +brewery, the devil who uses these things to make men and women +oftentimes more like fiends than creatures made in the image and +likeness of God, and all who fail to use their influence against the +liquor traffic are responsible. + +From Lincoln we went to Omaha where we parted feeling that the days +had been spent for God and souls--the dear sister to return to her +work in the missionary training home at Tabor, Iowa, I to hurry on to +Chicago, taking with me one of the sisters I met for the first time in +the slum mission work in Omaha a week previous. + +So we turned over that week's work to the Lord of the harvest, who +will see that the seed scattered along life's pathway shall bring +forth fruit unto eternal life. + + + A PROFITABLE TRIP. + +Walking along the street in Chicago on my way to the Cook County Jail +to see the "car-barn bandits" and one or two others under death +sentence, I was impressed that I must go to some State Prison for +Easter, only two days off. I stopped and prayed, inquiring of the Lord +where he would have me go. + +I had been east and just arrived in the city, weary and worn, but I +knew the voice of God was saying, "Go!" but where and by what route I +knew not. I stood still until the Lord made it plain to go +westward--to what place I need not know, but to go to the railroad +office and get transportation. When I entered the office the kind +official said, "What can I do for you, Mother?" At first I answered, +"I hardly know what to ask for, as it is not yet plain to me just +where to go;" but a little later I said to him, "I must go to Canon +City, Colorado." "All right," he said, and gave me transportation. It +was then too late, under ordinary circumstances, to visit the jail, +but I felt that I must see those condemned boys before their +execution, and I prayed that God would open my way and incline the +heart of the jailer, Mr. Whitman, to grant me the desired opportunity. +To my surprise I found Mr. Whitman on the street car. I told him that +I must leave the city at once for western prisons and asked if he +would kindly give me permission to see the condemned men who were in +his charge, before I left, as I could not return before the day set +for execution. He was very kind and answered, "Yes, I will send an +officer with you to see the boys." + +That hour will never be forgotten. Instead of tough, rough looking men +I found "mother's boys" in the prime of their young manhood. Kindly, +tenderly I talked to them, thinking to myself, what if it were my +boy, now safe in Heaven? O sisters, it seemed to me my heart would +break as I placed my hands on their heads, so soon to be cold in death +and commended them to the God who sent His only begotten Son, who, +when on the cross, said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what +they do!" I left the prison, praying that my message might not be in +vain. + +Upon leaving Chicago over the Santa Fe railroad on my way west, I +prayed earnestly for direction as to what prison I should visit on +Easter Sunday and was impressed to stop at Joliet. The warden, Mr. +Murphy, and his estimable wife were kind and hospitable, as they +always are, and the chaplain was willing that I should have a part in +the services on the Sabbath. God was present in power in all the +services. Many of the prisoners partook of the communion with their +teachers and chaplain. + +The Lord alone can reward the warden's wife for her special kindness +to me at this time, for I was taken sick from overwork and detained +over Monday. I then left at midnight for Topeka, Kansas, where the +Lord sent me to the railroad shops to hold services at the noon hour +while the men were resting after lunch. Our meeting with them was +signally owned and blessed of God. At its close I shook hands with +each of those hundreds of men and then went to the jail where the Lord +again graciously met with us. + +Reaching Pueblo on our way to Canon City we telephoned the +jailer--also the matron of the Rescue Home--and obtained permission to +hold services at each on our return. + +At Canon City the warden and his wife gave us a most kind and +courteous welcome and he granted the privilege of holding services for +the prisoners in the chapel, also at the hospital and cell houses. I +visited their night school. It was very interesting to see so many +teaching other prisoners. The most important part of my work at Canon +City, however, was seeing three young men who were under death +sentence. While I prayed day after day for them, they came to see +their true condition before God and, I believe, gave evidence of true +repentance. I hope to meet them all in Heaven. + +But oh, what a sad sight to see those young men in the prime of life, +sentenced to die; and all on account of strong drink. + +How pitifully they talked of home and mother and innocent childhood +days! Their hearts were melted and broken. Poor boys! far away from +home and friends, with few to care and many to cry out, "They deserve +to die"--never seeing the cause, the rum traffic. Why not stop that +which sends our young men by the thousands to a drunkard's or a +criminal's grave? When I bade these young men farewell they were +cheerful and confident that the Lord had forgiven them. + +Arriving at Pueblo on the return trip, we went to the Rescue Home +where we received a kind welcome; also held services in the prison +there. I forgot to mention services held in jail and almshouse while +in Canon City. + +At Denver we found friends who received us kindly. We held services in +their mission church. Also held service in the large jail in which I +conducted the first meeting ever held after it was built. + +Leaving Denver we went to Lincoln, Neb., to hold services in the State +Prison on the Sabbath. Found there my friends, Warden Beemer and wife, +who have always been so kind to me. Our meetings were crowned with +success and victory. Also did personal work, which is important. + +While I was there, two new prisoners were brought in. + +Left Monday for Omaha and went at once to the County Jail and held +meetings in the three different wards. God blessed His own word to the +good of souls! There, as elsewhere, I met some who knew me. From Omaha +I went to Chicago, where I spent some time in missions, etc. + + + SIX WEEKS' SERVICE. + +About July 1, 1904, I spent some time in St. Louis, visiting the +slums, dives and saloons, faithfully warning the multitudes I found in +sin. Left there for Jefferson City, where I held services in the State +Prison. We give here the following extract written by the sister who +accompanied me on this trip: + + + MY TRIP TO JEFFERSON CITY. + + I was glad to have the opportunity of visiting the prison in + Jefferson City with Mother Wheaton, who is one of our oldest and + most successful prison workers. + + We were off early Saturday morning, July 2, and arrived there at + 2:30 o'clock. We had dinner, then went to the prison. The guard + first took us to see the women. They were all seated at machines, + sewing very rapidly, and I was told I was not allowed to speak to + them. My heart ached and I could not keep back the tears as I + looked on the precious girls I had labored with in the jail at + St. Louis, some seven or eight of them. At 6 o'clock we had a + short meeting with a hundred and fifty shop girls. Many of them + were moved to tears, and we believe good was accomplished. Sunday + morning we had a good meeting in the jail, then at 2:30 went back + to the prison and gave the gospel to twenty-two hundred convicts. + It was a blessed time. I never saw such attention, and while + Mother Wheaton spoke and we sang "He Pardoned a Rebel Like Me," I + saw some of them wiping the tears from their eyes. These men are + not all hard-hearted. As I looked at them and heard almost all of + them join in with us and sing "We'll Never Say Good-Bye in + Heaven," somehow I lost sight of the stripes and prison walls + and bars, and thought how precious they are in God's sight, and + I believe many will be gathered to praise Him, who was pierced + for us all. After the meeting a young man asked permission to + speak to us; his face shone with the glory of God as he told how + he had been there five years, and had been saved two years and a + half and called to preach the gospel. He proved his earnestness + when Mother Wheaton asked if he would let her try to get him + pardoned, and he answered: "No, I am guilty, and I not only feel + it my duty to serve my time, but will make restitution as soon as + I am out. Then I shall give myself to the Lord's work." + +Returning to St. Louis I next went to Denver, Colo., to see Governor +Peabody in behalf of the three young men who were awaiting execution. +The governor was very kind and willing to do what was right. In Denver +I had services in the jail, also spoke at two meetings and preached at +night at a mission church. Next visited the State Reformatory for +Young Men at Buena Vista, Colo. Most of the officers and all the boys +attended the services. Leaving here in the evening arrived at Salt +Lake City next day about noon. I hurried to the State Prison and was +surprised to find a new warden, as the former warden had died. It +being a working day had only a short service with the prisoners, but +it was blessed of the Lord. Then visited the county and city jails, +holding three services. Leaving here, traveling all night, arrived the +next evening at Canon City, Colo. Hurrying to the State Prison we were +kindly received and permitted to hold services in the cell houses till +9 o'clock. The warden informed me that one of the boys under death +sentence had gone insane just the day before and could not be seen. +One of the other boys under sentence of death said the last thing that +this one had done was to write me a letter, of which I here insert an +extract: + + CANON CITY, COLO., July 12, 1904. + + Dear Mother Wheaton:-- + + It is with pleasure that I answer your welcome letter, which was + appreciated. We are waiting patiently to know the verdict. If it + is God's will that I must be taken out of this world, I will go, + but it is very hard, as I have done nothing worthy of death, but + they look at it different, I suppose. Whatever got me into such a + scrape I cannot tell. I have always worked hard for my living. + + Dear Mother, I have done as you requested. I commenced to read + the New Testament on the 28th of June and completed it on the + 10th of July. I never forget to read the Holy Bible and to pray. + + You wished to know if we boys had any work to do. It is beyond + the warden's power to let us work under the circumstances, though + he is very kind to us; also the other officials. We are allowed + all the reading matter we can use and have exercise each day. + + Dear Mother Wheaton, I hope that we will meet again on earth. If + not, I pray we may in heaven. And may our Heavenly Father protect + you in the work of His cause. I ever remain your son in Jesus. + + C----. P----. + +Leaving Canon City we hurry on, visiting next the State Prison at +Lincoln, Neb. There we found another poor man under death sentence, +who gladly listened while I taught him the way of life. Oh, the joy +that filled my soul as I told him of the Savior who would pardon all +his sins. After seeing the other prisoners who are always glad to see +true friends, we hastened on to Omaha, Neb. Here I held four services +in jails and Rescue Homes. When leaving Omaha as I was singing on the +train I found some ladies crying; one of them, grasping my hand, said, +"When you sang 'My Name in Mother's Prayer,' I thought how often my +mother, who is in the baggage coach, has prayed for me, and I will +never hear her pray again." I soon changed cars and bade farewell to +the sorrowing friends, hoping to meet them with that mother where +there is no death nor tears. + +[Illustration: CRIMINAL INSANE HOSPITAL, CHESTER, ILL.] + +Resting for a short time at Tabor, Iowa, I then went to St. Louis and +on to Chester, Ill., to hold services in the State Prison. We were +here four days and held services in the State Prison, jail, and +Criminal Insane Hospital, where there are more than one hundred +inmates. + +Once while holding services here one young man was saved and his mind +restored. He has now been preaching the Gospel for several years. "Is +there anything too hard for the Lord?" + +We next visited Gatesville, Texas, where is located the Reform School +for Boys. Obtained permission to see the boys and it fortunately being +a holiday I was allowed to hold services in both the white and colored +wards. The way the boys seemed to enjoy the meetings and to hear them +sing was encouraging. Leaving for Huntsville, Tex., we went to +different towns, holding services in jails and on the streets till +Saturday, when we arrived at Rusk, Texas, and were met by the +chaplain, Mr. Dawson, who treated us kindly and gave me the privilege +of holding meetings on the Sabbath. Had a very impressive service in +the afternoon in the prison yard where we gathered round a coffin to +pay the last tribute of love to a departed prisoner, after which we +held a meeting in the prison hospital. + +We next visited the State Prison at Huntsville, Texas, where we were +kindly given the entire time in chapel service, and also the privilege +of holding services in the different wards of the hospital. Here all +seemed encouraged and were much effected, the tears flowing freely +upon many of the pale faces. + +I received upon this visit the following kind tribute from the +Assistant Superintendent and Prison Physician: + + I was present at the services conducted by Mother Wheaton at the + Huntsville Penitentiary, on August 7, 1904, and noticed with much + satisfaction that her remarks and singing were very much + appreciated by the men, and many of them seemed very much + affected, and I think that the service will be conducive to much + good hereafter. + + T. H. BROWN, + Assistant Superintendent, in charge Huntsville Penitentiary. + +[Illustration: PRISON AT HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS.] + + Mother Wheaton visited the Huntsville Prison Hospital this + morning and I think her words of cheer and advice given to the + sick will be the means of doing great good. + + W. E. FOWLER, + Prison Physician. + +At the Woman's Prison, also located at Huntsville, we found over one +hundred women prisoners all working on the farm except the few white +women. We held meetings with these women in the afternoon and evening +for three days, which were blessed of the Lord. While I wept with +them I thought of the Scripture, "Weep with those that weep." Jesus +loved me and saved me and has put a real love in my heart for those +souls. + +The kind chaplain took us with his invalid wife on Sabbath afternoon +to visit the consumptives' prison a few miles from Huntsville. Here +the prisoners sick with consumption are located on a farm. Had a +blessed meeting with them. The weather being so warm my health would +not permit me to visit the several stockades in this state, where are +mines, sugar refineries or farms. + +Returning to St. Louis, Mo., worn and weary, we were kindly +entertained at the Berachah Home for Girls. Again we visited the +slums, missions, and dives. The sin during these fairs and expositions +is awful in the extreme. I have no time or desire to go to see the +sights, but am after souls. + +Next we went to Leavenworth, Kan.; was kindly given the hour for +service Sabbath morning, at the State Prison at Lansing, also a +service with the women prisoners. Also visited the Soldiers' Home, and +by the kindness of the superintendent was permitted to speak to the +aged soldiers. + +We then found a welcome in the home of Sister Two-good, who +accompanied us to the Old Ladies' Rest, where I held services in their +lovely new home. In the evening till after 10 o'clock we were speaking +to crowds on the streets who seldom attend church. + +Returning then to Tabor, Iowa, weary with this six weeks' constant +service, I was for some weeks unable to travel. One night when as I +thought, near death, I cried mightily to God and he heard my cry, +touched my body and healed me. After a few weeks' rest, yet scarcely +able to travel, I started again on my mission seeking the lost. + + + RECENT WORK. + +During these weeks of waiting the responsibility of finishing this +book then in preparation, and getting it to its readers bore heavily +upon me. Knowing that I could not attend to this and continue my work, +I was in answer to prayer assured that I should be relieved of the +burden of managing the publication, sale, and distribution of the +book. After much prayer about the matter I was relieved of this burden +in a very satisfactory manner, Bro. C. M. Kelley taking the management +of the same for the Lord. + +While yet weak in body, receiving indication from the Lord that I +should be about His work, I went on my way, taking with me a young +sister from the Training Home, who expects to devote her life's +service as a missionary in Japan, the Holy Spirit assuring her also +that she should accompany me on this trip. I leave it for her to write +the account of the following few weeks' work. + +I was blessed with an opportunity to travel a few weeks with "Mother +Wheaton" in her work in prisons, etc. Leaving the Home at Tabor, Ia., +September 28, 1904, we first visited the jail at Council Bluffs, where +Mother Wheaton held a Gospel service. A number of the prisoners asked +for prayer. We next went to Chicago, where on the Lord's day we +visited the county jail, where were about 540 men and a few women. +After their chapel service we were given access to the corridors where +we could talk to all. We also took part in several services at the +Beulah Rescue Homes, some missions, etc. + +On October 15, we were at Ft. Madison, Iowa, and visited the several +wards in the State Prison and sang and prayed with the sick. On +Sabbath Mother Wheaton conducted services in the chapel, also at the +county jail and the Santa Fe Railroad Hospital. + +We next attended the National Prison Congress in session at Quincy, +Ill. We here had opportunities to witness for God. Monday evening, by +invitation, Mother Wheaton spoke at the Soldiers' Home, where God +poured out His Spirit and melted the hearts of some who were steeped +in sin. The following morning we visited the hospital and prayed and +sang with the sick who seemed very glad to hear the good old-time +hymns. We then went to the jail where one woman accused of murder was +especially touched and broken up, seeing there was someone who loved +and cared for her. It is the love of Jesus that brings sinners to +repentance. The day following, October 18, we held service at the +Chaddick Boys' School which is under Deaconess' management. Here +Mother Wheaton spoke to ninety young boys. + +Provision was made for those in attendance at the Prison Congress to +take an excursion down the river, but instead of going with this +company we went to the House of Correction, where the superintendent +seemed glad to have Mother Wheaton speak to the prisoners, both men +and women, even calling in the men from their work. + +[Illustration: GROUP OF DELEGATES AT THE NATIONAL PRISON CONGRESS, +QUINCY, ILL., OCTOBER, 1904. + +Mrs. Wheaton in upper right hand corner.] + +October 19 we returned to Chicago. The next morning we took the train +for Marquette, Mich., on the shore of Lake Superior, where is located +a State Prison. Upon our arrival there we went to the chaplain, who +kindly gave permission to conduct the next Sabbath morning services. +We then visited the poor house, where we sang and prayed with those +who were lonely and sad, and knew nothing about Jesus. On Saturday it +was stormy, but Mother Wheaton held a service at the county jail, +which God blessed. The Lord's day, October 23, was a day long to be +remembered by many of the prisoners, who that day received a ray of +hope. The Spirit of God so anointed Mother Wheaton to speak that the +prisoners seemed to be held spellbound, with hearts open to receive +every word and song. In the afternoon we were given the privilege of +talking and singing in the corridors and speaking to the prisoners in +their cells. It was told us that these were the worst men in the +state, twenty-four of whom were serving life sentences. But God +touched their hearts, many being moved to tears. We left some of them +with new hopes, calling upon God for help and asking us to pray for +them. Mother Wheaton said they were all her own dear boys. + +Journeying eastward we held services in Indianapolis, Ind., also in +the State Prison at Columbus, Ohio, and in the Woman's Prison at +Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Sabbath morning, November 5, Mother Wheaton +spoke in the corridors of the State Prison in Philadelphia, and in the +afternoon at the House of Correction. Here the Lord wonderfully spoke +to the hearts of many young girls. Many men were moved upon by the +Spirit. The officers looked on with amazement to see how attentive +they all seemed to be. + +At Trenton, N. J., at the county jail God moved upon hearts and many +asked for prayer. + +At the State Prison at Trenton, N. J., we received a warm welcome and +Mother Wheaton was given opportunity to preach on the following Lord's +day in the chapel. We visited the woman's department and held a +service with them, all stopping their work and giving attention. God +melted the hearts of those women who have gone away from Him. Jesus' +blood is able to cleanse from every stain. + +After a few busy days of service in New York city we returned to +Trenton, for the service in the prison on the Sabbath. We then +returned westward by way of Baltimore and Washington, D. C. We next +held a service in the prison at Canton, Ohio, and then went to +Mansfield to the State Reformatory, where were nearly a thousand young +men. Here God wonderfully answered prayer. The superintendent and +chaplain were very kind, supplying us with such things as we had need +of. We arrived in Chicago November 20. Leaving there we went by way of +Marion and Anamosa, Iowa, where we held services. We arrived at Tabor +on Thanksgiving day, November 24, which was truly a thanksgiving day +with us, for the wonderful way in which God had answered prayer and +brought us safely through so many dangers and given us such glorious +victories in His blessed service. + + ROSA MINTLE. + +[Illustration: INDUSTRIAL REFORM SCHOOL, HUTCHINSON, KAN.] + +Leaving Tabor December 15, taking with me Sister Taylor, who for +several years has accompanied me at intervals in my work, silently +praying for me while I preach, sing or pray, I started for San +Francisco, California, via Santa Fe, New Mexico. We stopped at +Hutchison, Kansas, where is located the State Industrial Reform School +for Young Men. We net the wife of the superintendent of that +institution, who kindly took us to the school. I had held service +here with prisoners who were working on the buildings when they were +being erected. + +The officers arranged for a service in the chapel though it was a week +day and just before Christmas. The meeting was owned and blessed of +the Lord. Also at Santa Fe we were kindly entertained by the wife of +the superintendent of the prison, and the officers gave us a service +in the chapel and the prisoners, both men and women, privilege to +attend. About half the prisoners being Mexicans I had to speak to them +by the aid of an interpreter. This service was also signally owned of +the Lord. We also held special service with the women. + +We then left for the coast and had several services en route with the +passengers and railroad men; also with a hundred soldiers who were +going to their winter quarters. I had warned the soldiers about +drinking. It seemed so sad to see them drinking and gambling. Poor +boys, there seems to be no way of restraining them from strong drink +so long as they can get it. Some trouble arose between them and other +parties and one of the soldiers was badly cut in the throat. In a town +in California I held services in a number of saloons and dance halls. +It was Christmas day and I never saw more drinking among the people +and I never want to witness such again. Why will people indulge in +strong drink, when God has said no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom +of heaven? + +We arrived in San Francisco and found many open doors to preach the +Gospel. I visited the State Prison at San Quentin. The chaplain was +very kind, giving me privileges of the chapel services and a special +service with the women. This prison was first opened to me in 1898 in +direct answer to prayer. I also held services in the city prisons. + +We also visited the Federal Prison on Alcatraz Island, where we held +three services with the manifest blessing of God upon our souls. The +kindness of the officers and the appreciation shown by the prisoners +there will not be forgotten. I am sure God will reward those who are +kind to His children, and who assist His workers in any way. + +During the first four months of 1905 we found much to do for the Lord +in Los Angeles, San Pedro and other places in California, one of these +of special importance was the Reformatory at Whittier. + +[Illustration: INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, WHITTIER, CAL.] + +Early in May, having received a letter from one of the boys in +Colorado under sentence of death, I hastened to that state to see the +new governor in their behalf. I was kindly received and heard by the +governor, but as the Board of Pardons was to soon meet he declined to +make any promises. Tarrying several days for the board to meet, I met +with them and made a plea for the lives of the boys who had, under the +influence of drink, accidentally, as they claimed, taken life. + +They received a reprieve for four weeks, but the two who were adjudged +sane were executed June 16. I give elsewhere an extract from a letter +received from the mother of one of these boys shortly afterward. Also +an extract from a paper concerning the mother of the other. + +After returning to Iowa and remaining but a few days, accompanied by a +young sister from the Home, I returned to Colorado, visiting, en +route, the jail at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the State Prison at +Lincoln, Nebraska, where we held service on the Lord's day. We then +proceeded to Canon City to visit the condemned boys, and held services +in the corridors of the prison till late at night. We next went to +Buena Vista, where we held service in the State Reform School for +Boys, and in the jail. On our return east we stopped at a camp meeting +at Newton, Kansas, where the Lord blessed in the jail and in the work +on the street. Going next to Chicago we held service in the county +jail with about four hundred men. We next visited the prison at +Joliet, Illinois, but only had service in the prison hospital and +proceeded to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for services on the Lord's +day; then returned to Tabor, stopping in Omaha and holding a service +in the county jail. + +Taking with me the young sister whom I have elsewhere mentioned as +having first known as an orphan girl, now starting for India, I spent +a day at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where we talked and sang in a tent +meeting, on the street, and in the jail. The time set for the +missionary band to sail being near, we hurried westward, stopping at +but a few places till we reached Sacramento, where we had work to do +for souls in the prison and other places. We next visited the prison +at Salem, Oregon, and also made a short stay at Portland. Upon +reaching Tacoma we learned that the time of sailing had been put off a +week, so we improved the time seeking out the lost in mission work, +etc. + +The company of nine missionaries, including one child, boarded the +steamship "Minnesota," and by the kindness of the general +superintendent of the company we were permitted to spend a night +before sailing on board the vessel with them, which was a time very +much enjoyed in the Lord. The parting was not one of sadness, but of +sweet peace and calmness. As we looked into the faces of the dear ones +as they were being borne away we rejoiced that God has a few whom He +can trust to carry the precious Gospel to the heathen. As the vessel +bearing its precious burden sailed from our view, the little company +of anxious watchers kneeled down and committed the dear ones to Him +who has said that His children are as dear to Him as the apple of His +eye. We were afterward delighted to hear that they had a most +delightful voyage, reaching Yokohama, Japan, in eighteen days, just in +time to escape a very disastrous storm on the sea. + +As a sister had accompanied some of the missionaries to the coast and +was to return with me, assisting me in the work, we turned our +attention to the needs of the lost ones about us. I will let this +sister here give a brief sketch of our return trip, on which we trust +much good was done for souls: + + + RETURN FROM PACIFIC COAST. + +Mother Wheaton's companion to the coast, Sister Yarrett, having +sailed for India, it was my privilege to accompany her from Seattle to +Iowa. From the wharf, when we had committed the company of dear +missionaries to the Lord, we went to the rooms of the Y. W. C. A. and +held religious service while the young ladies had lunch. About two +hundred young women lunch in these rooms daily. At night Mother +Wheaton spoke at the Life Boat Mission with the anointing of the Holy +Spirit, and many hearts seemed touched. + +Early the next morning we left Seattle on board the S. S. Whatcom, en +route to Victoria, British Columbia. This was a most enjoyable trip to +me. At Victoria we had a very profitable service in the W. C. T. U. +Rescue Home, and the Lord especially blessed the visit and service. +Later we spent five days very profitably in Portland laboring in the +Exposition Camp Meeting, visiting the jails, saloons and slums, +preaching and singing the Gospel. + +We next went to Boise, Idaho, where we held services in the Soldiers' +Home and in the State Prison. Service with the women prisoners and +prayer with the men under death sentence were special features of our +visit to this place. We next spent a day in Rawlins, Wyoming, visiting +the state and county prisons, holding short but profitable services in +each. In the county jail here a raving maniac was quieted by Mother +Wheaton's singing. + +Another night and day's travel across the plains and beautiful country +and we were in Omaha, Nebraska. Here we spent several days, being +entertained in the Tinley Rescue Home. This indeed is a refuge for the +fallen. Our time here was well occupied in the jails, missions and +churches. Then we hurried on to Tabor. I to resume duties in the +school room, and Mother Wheaton, after a few days' rest, to continue +her pilgrimage seeking the wandering and the lost ones of earth till +she shall be called from toil to her reward which shall surely be one +worth gaining. + + EMMA H. HERR. + + + ANOTHER TRIP. + +After attending Prison Congress at Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 21 to 26, I +left for western prisons and other institutions. Held services at Old +Soldiers' Home, Grand Island, Nebraska, the 27th, then went to +Rawlings, Wyoming; held services on Sunday at the prison chapel with +all the prisoners, then at the county jail. Had great liberty in both +prisons. Left at night for Salt Lake City, Utah. Found open doors. +Held services at state prison jail on Monday afternoon; also in the +county jail, two services. Left that night for Ogden; held services in +the county jail and at Crittendon Rescue Home. Left for Deer Lodge, +Montana, where I was kindly received by the warden, Frank Conley, who +has ever proved one of the best of friends to me in my work in +prison--always arranging for services Sunday or week day and +entertaining myself and any one I brought with me, and never letting +me go away without something to help defray expenses along the way. +Sunday afternoon at Butte City held two services at the county jail; +took train at night for Walla Walla, Washington and arrived there at +3:30 a. m., and went to Chaplain Lacornu's home. After resting, prayer +and breakfast, we went to the state prison, where I held services with +the twelve women prisoners; then in the dining room, held services +with the men--about eight hundred prisoners. The Lord was present in +both services to own and bless and many were helped to a better life +and higher aims. Left there for county jail where we had profitable +service with men and women. + +Left that night for Portland, Oregon. Was kindly entertained by one +who has been preaching the gospel for nearly twenty years, who was +convicted in prison while I was preaching in the prison in Bismark, N. +D., one night after nine o'clock. He was converted and has done great +good in the work, both in prison and outside ever since. Much of his +success is due to his faithful Christian wife, who has ever been his +true friend and helpmeet. + +Called on Mrs. Smith, a prison missionary, who for years has done +mission work in Salem and Walla Walla prisons. Then left for Salem, +Oregon, where I held services with the prisoners in the jail on the +Sabbath day, also with the women prisoners on Saturday afternoon. Was +kindly received by the Superintendent of the prison and his family, +also by the Bible school in charge of Brother and Sister Ryan, where I +held services on Sunday night in the chapel with students and +citizens. Left Monday morning for the South. Stopped in Sacramento, +and went to the Rescue Home and held services for the girls while I +waited for the train to Carson City, Nevada. Changed cars at Reno and +waiting for neither rest or food hurried on to Carson City to see the +Governor and the Attorney General about prison work. Found four men +under sentence of death. I pleaded with the Governor for a commutation +of sentence. Governor Sparks asked me if I could meet with the Board +of Pardons and himself at 2 p. m., and gave me a letter to the warden +to allow me to see the condemned men and hold services with them--also +with all of the prisoners. The Governor also arranged for me to go to +the prison with one of the officers. Found the poor men heart broken +over their condition, and really sorry for their sin. They had all +been drinking, and among the four of them they had killed a young man, +and all were doomed to die. + +When I entered their prison with the death-watch I was overcome with +sorrow for the poor unfortunates who so soon would be in eternity, and +as I came in the door one of the prisoners said, "O, it is Mother +Wheaton." As I clasped his hand he said, "Mother, I knew you twenty +years ago." I said, "Where?" and he said, "In San Francisco." Reader, +you may try to sympathize or criticize at such a time, with them and +me, but you never will know what the suffering is until you have +passed through this ordeal of just standing alone with the good Lord +and the condemned, so soon to die that horrible death. You cannot +picture it, for death is awful to those not prepared to die--filled +with remorse of conscience and sorrow for the deed done while under +the influence of whiskey and possessed with the devil, which the +strong drink causes--and then to have no hope in this world or the +world to come, and alone with their conscience, the death-watch, +myself and our God. + +I knelt in prayer. First to ask wisdom of the blessed Christ who never +turned anyone away, and then, taking each one by the hand through the +iron bars, I was lost to this world and its opinions and criticisms. I +entered into their heart-sorrow, and at once took hold on God for the +salvation of their immortal souls. Quietly, but with strong faith in +God and the atoning blood of Jesus our Saviour, I believed for their +salvation. Human sympathy will not avail. It is the suffering and +death of Christ which avails in the face of death. And I believe, if +Jacob prevailed in prayer as a prince, it is our privilege to believe +God hears and answers prayer and saves to the uttermost the vilest +sinner who truly repents of his sins, and claims His promises. "Though +your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they +be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1:18. + +We wept and prayed together, and while I sang the good old hymns our +mothers knew and loved and sung for us in childhood, we took hold on +God by faith for their souls' salvation, and I believe God heard and +answered our prayers, that fifteenth day of November, 1905, in that +prison, and that those men that day were forgiven their sins. I know +God's Word is sure, and I depend daily on the Bible and its holy +teachings, and accept His promise, and receive the answer from God +that His pardon is sure. + +I told the men I had no hope for their lives to be spared--that the +Governor had not given me any encouragement for them, but had invited +me to meet with him and the Board of Pardons at 2 p. m., and see what +they would do in the case. I pleaded with them to let go all hope of a +life sentence, and prepare to die, for there was only one more day for +them to live--that I had nothing to give them of hope, only in the +precious blood of Jesus--that their days were numbered. + +O, the human heart is susceptible to suffering, and my suffering was +intense for them. I was weak and weary, having traveled two days and +two nights without rest. Yet I could not rest when there was so much +at stake for them. I abandoned myself to the Holy Ghost to guide me in +the service, and then as I took each hand, so soon to be cold in +death, I knew only God could save them. I shall not forget the parting +with those poor, unfortunate men, all in the prime of life and +strength of manhood. I will meet them again soon in the presence of +God. + +I was so weak in body that the officer kindly assisted me to the main +prison, where I was to hold services with all of the prisoners. It +was high noon, and the warden and officers urged me to take +refreshments. I said, "No, I am soon going to the judgment, and I want +to go with a clear conscience. How could I eat, when all these +prisoners need the gospel so much?" And they kindly gave me the +privilege of an hour's service. Then, after a hurried lunch, which was +both breakfast and dinner, the state carriage was ready to take me to +the Capitol to meet the Governor and Board of Pardons. But there was +no hope, the Board refused to commute the sentence, and all four were +executed November 17, for the death of one young man. Soon I must +stand together at the judgment bar of God, with those whose lives were +taken, one by the four under the influence of whiskey, which makes men +and women crazy and worse than brutes; licensed by the laws of our +land--the others by the men who, in their right minds, as executors of +the law, put to death the helpless victims who had truly repented of +their sins and promised to obey God and the rules, and live good +law-abiding citizens. + +I want it understood that I believe in law and its enforcement. I +sympathize with both the murdered and the murderers. I believe in +obeying God and His laws and enforcing discipline, and I assist the +officers of the state to maintain law and order, but I say, give +deliverance from the abominable saloon and all the evil that follows +in its wake. Give us judges, jurymen and officers, who, in every sense +try to banish and abolish the liquor traffic and the dens of sin, and +there will be no need of our state officers having to take life which +none can give. + +Leaving the Capitol after the decision was made by the Board of +Pardons and Governor, I went to the hotel to tell the two sisters of +one of the condemned men that all hope of their brother's life was +gone, and that they must prepare to face the awful sorrow of losing +their brother. That scene was O, so pitiful! The brother and these two +sisters were orphans. He was a good boy and supported the two sisters +after the parents had died, but he had fallen into bad company who had +led him astray. The sisters were heart broken. It seemed as if they +could not give up that dear brother who had done so much for them. I +helped them on the train, and went with them as far as Reno, Nevada, +and we parted to meet again after all the sorrow and mistakes of our +lives are forgotten and forgiven. + +After leaving them I held services for the Salvation Army friends and +on the street. Then left that night, though very weary, for the east. +After taking the train, I could see in my mind those poor condemned +men, waiting the few last hours until the law should have its way. +Eternity alone will reveal all hearts and lives. + +Arrived at Ogden, I went to the Crittendon Home, then on to the State +Industrial School for Boys and Young Men, and had a service in all the +cottages. Was with them two evenings. They all seemed cheered by the +old good songs and the services. Saying "Good-bye" to all in their +dining room at their daylight breakfast hour, I left them for the +east. + +I stopped at Columbus, Nebraska, a day, and at Omaha, where many +railroad friends and others met and greeted me kindly. Then hurried on +to Joliet, Illinois, State Prison, where dear Mrs. Murphy, wife of the +warden, gave me a warm welcome to her lovely home in the state prison. +Went with the chaplain to visit the hospital and spoke with the men at +the Sabbath School hour, and then to the women's prison, where I was +given the privilege of addressing all the female prisoners. Many were +much affected, and shed tears as I spoke or sang to them "My Name in +Mother's Prayer," "Is There Anyone Can Help Us" and "Old Time +Religion." Shook hands with most of the women, prayed and sang for a +sick girl in the prison hospital, and left for the jail. Spoke there, +then on to Chicago. After some days in the city, busy for the Lord, I +made a trip to Washington, D. C., and returned before the close of the +year, and proceeded to the Pacific coast early in the new year. + +O, how I praise the Lord for His grace and love, and the strength and +endurance He gives me to keep going to carry His messages of love and +good cheer to the lost ones in low and in high pursuits of life. + +Dear Reader: We must here close the account of our travel and toil in +the Master's vineyard, and we feel that it will all soon be over, and +the victory be won. When I shall have finished my course I want to be +able to say, like Paul of old, that "I have fought a good fight." I +want, too, to know that the crown is laid up for me as one of those +who have been faithful and that love the appearing of my Savior. + +Though but sixty-one years of age, the excessive toil, the wearisome +journeys, the heart-rending scenes and experiences for more than +one-third of my life, have told upon my once strong body until I am +now a physical wreck. Only in the strength of Jehovah and leaning upon +His everlasting arm am I able to pursue the calling He has given me. +"But the toils of the road will seem nothing when we get to the end of +the way." You and I shall meet again, on that great Judgment morning, +and must give an account to God. "Grace be with all them that love our +Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." + +[Illustration: PRISONS AT JACKSON, MICH., DEER LODGE, MONT., AND +FOLSOM, CAL.] + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + Letters from Prisoners. + + +The extracts from letters found in this chapter are gathered from my +correspondence with those within prison walls who have been encouraged +by the way and have received help; many of them having borne testimony +to a clear conversion and a life of service for the Lord, even within +prison walls. These will serve to show their appreciation of any +effort made in their behalf. They have been a source of great +encouragement to me in my work. + +I should like to give more of similar character, and all more in +detail, would space permit, but let these suffice as examples of the +thousands of letters I have received during these twenty years from my +"children." The names and that which might identify the individuals, I +have omitted; for many of them are now good citizens and some are +engaged in the work of the Lord. I have omitted many references to the +instrumentality which God has seen fit to use in carrying His message +of love to these souls, giving only what others thought were needed to +show the writers' appreciation and gratitude. I have ever dealt with +these, when present and by correspondence, as souls whom I must meet +at the Judgment. The honor and praise for what good may have been +accomplished belongs to Him whom I serve, and who has given me the +commission, "Go and preach the Gospel." + + Inman, Tenn. + + Dear Sister in the Lord: + + We write you a few lines praying that God will allow you to call + again and preach for us, for we believe that the Spirit of God + is with you. We need thy aid here. So, our dear sister in the + Lord, we do wish to hear you once more, so will come much good in + the name of the living God! + + THE PRISONERS. + + * * * * * + + Boise City Penitentiary, July 29, 1890. + + Elizabeth Wheaton, Portland, Oregon. + + Dear Madam: I am instructed to thank you in behalf of all of us + for your kind visit. We fully appreciate your labor, your + courage, and integrity; your singleness of heart and purpose, + your purity of motives; but above all do we appreciate your + sincerity. Your indefatigable efforts, even in your old age, to + reach the criminal, to lead him upward and onward to his true + destiny under so many disadvantages, without money and without + price, without the support of state or church, and, I may add, + without the support of public sentiment which appears to be + against you and us--all this, I say, inspires us with faith and + confidence in you. And when I am paying you this tribute, I am at + the same time aware that I am paying it to Him who came on earth + to seek and save us, for without Him you would not love us as you + do. + + Come again, say we all. + + PRISONERS. + + * * * * * + + Lancaster, Nebr., Oct. 25, 1903. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, + + Dear Mother: We, the undersigned, as a token of our appreciation + of your efforts in our behalf, respectfully request that you + accept our assurance of appreciation of to-day's services, and + especially the song service held in our cell-house, and best + wishes for your future success. + + Signed by 199 prisoners, each giving his number. + + * * * * * + + Bushy Mountain State Prison, + Petros, Tenn., May 4, 1896. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: We, the undersigned, unfortunate children, + assemble together to try to show you how grateful we are for the + devout interest you are taking in the welfare of our souls. We + hope and trust that the Lord will continue to be with you all + along your journey, trusting that if we don't meet again on + earth, that we may meet in Heaven. + + Pray for us. + + We enclose the following sums for each of us: + + W. J. 25 cents + W. S. 10 cents + C. R. R. 10 cents + + * * * * * + + Walla Walla, July 11, 1889. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, + + Dear Friend: Your postal received. You have the appreciation and + kind thoughts of many here for your kind remembrance of us all in + our secluded prison home. Aside from your own particular means + and the many other ways adopted by religious people to draw the + attention of the indifferent to the subject of their spiritual + welfare, the evident disinterested motive which characterizes + your extended labors, is of itself sufficient, to highly + recommend your kind endeavors to all fair-minded people, and to + give you a hearty welcome, from prisoners especially, wherever + you may find them. + + We would all, therefore, send you a kind word of encouragement + and Godspeed in your good work and _labor of love_, believing + that your gospel message is fully adapted to meet the spiritual + wants of the whole human family under whatever condition found. + + PRISONERS OF WALLA WALLA PENITENTIARY, Per F. S. + + * * * * * + + Richmond, Va., August 23, 1885. + + Dear Madam: I take much pleasure to introduce myself to you, and + stating to you how I first found rest for my sinful soul. I am a + stranger to you by name, but not by the love of Jesus Christ, and + I was highly delighted to hear you speak to us. It lifted up my + downhearted feeling and caused me to look around myself, and I do + truly hope that those words that you have spoken may be as seed + sowed in good ground, and take root and the future may tell. And + for myself, when I first came to this place I was a vile sinner + and thanks be to the good Lord that I have my soul awakened in + Christ Jesus, and if it had not been for this place I think that + I would have been a sinner until now, but now all my trust is in + the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. Although I have many crosses + and trials and temptations, my trust is in the Lord, and I truly + pray and trust the Lord that after awhile we shall all meet in + heaven where there will be no more parting. + + I trust you will be successful in this work of the Lord. I desire + your prayers. + + I am your humble servant, + H. T. + + * * * * * + + Massachusetts State Prison, October 25, 1885. + + Dear Madam: It is with much pleasure that I listened to your + address to-day. Please accept my thanks for the interest which + you take in the poor unfortunate prisoners. There are many + skeptic ones among us because we see so much hypocrisy. May God + bless you, and let me inform you that your motherly-like + appearance sank deep into the hearts of many. + + Our chaplain tries to do all the good he can, but no one knows + what a prisoner's life is but a prisoner. + + My poor mother used to pray like you. I will not forget your + earnest advice. I wish there were more like you, for then there + would be a true reform in prisons. These places ruin young men. O + it is not understood by those men who govern us even. Some of the + officers are not fit to be over young men. Every officer should + be a religious man, but we have few in accordance with the text: + "Love your neighbor as yourself." Many of them take God's name in + vain. + + I shall try to think much upon what you said, with God's help. + Please pray for an unfortunate one. May God bless you. + + J. J. + + * * * * * + + New York, Nov. 26, 1885. + + My Dear Friend: Your postal reached me this morning and I can + assure you it gave me pleasure to hear from you and see you had + not forgotten Ludlow Street Jail. Today is Thanksgiving Day, and + to us poor unfortunates I can assure you it is a gloomy one, but + we must give thanks to our Heavenly Father that we are not in a + worse place than this. I for one do pray to Him and thank Him for + His kindness and pray to Him to give us strength of mind to + resist all temptations. + + I cannot remember who you enquire about. I am the small man who + introduced you to my wife and sister the first time you called. + + We were treated today by our kind warden to a good Thanksgiving + dinner and I pray before another Thanksgiving Day that I may have + the pleasure of seeing you under more favorable circumstances. + May God be with you in your good work is the prayer of, + + Sincerely yours, + I. L., + Ludlow Street Jail, New York City. + + * * * * * + + Cell No. 35--Tombs, + New York City, Sunday, Nov. 1, 1885. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: Forgive me for calling you so as I cannot + rightly call you otherwise. Your prayer today came from your very + soul. I felt it deeply. It has entered into mine. I feel a new + man. You were a Godsend to me. Your words have given new life, + they have inspired me to live in the future a real Christian. I + feel so light of heart since you were here, that I cannot find + words adequate to properly express myself. I pray your good work + may be crowned with success. I feel now that I am again a child + of God. I shall pray and try to live as Jesus desires. I pray to + Him that He will give me all encouragement to lead a Christian + life and do His will only. O! how I have learned to love Jesus + through your inspiring words of comfort and goodness. + + I shall daily pray for your health and prosperity in Jesus. Do + likewise for me, and may we meet in Heaven. To this end I shall + ever pray and so sign myself, + + A brother in Jesus, + J. M. S. + + * * * * * + + New York, November 10, 1885. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: Many thanks for your kind visit today and + for the memorandum book and envelopes you brought me. + + I herewith reiterate every word and the combined meaning + contained in my letter to you of last Sabbath. You were a Godsend + to me from heaven. Formerly it was a hard task for me to stop to + think as I do now. Now I can pray so easy, and it seems to do me + so much good. Such a blessing I have never experienced + heretofore. With pleasure I give this evidence of the goodness of + our beloved and only Jesus. Him I shall worship daily, aye, at + all times and in all places. I think of nothing more grand and + noble than to believe in our Redeemer who offers His salvation + for our souls. He is my God and no other will I have but Him. I + love Him truly. In my prayers I have vowed to devote the rest of + my life for His good cause. I sincerely hope that many, through + you, may come out of darkness into light. God grant you good + health to do His good work here. I will pray for you and ask you + to do likewise for me, and others. + + I pray to God daily that He may give me renewed strength to keep + on in the good path which I have chosen, and may His spirit and + love be alike with you and me, is the wish of Your brother in + Christ Jesus. + + J. M. S., Cell 35, Tombs, New York City. + + * * * * * + + Charleston, January 4, 1886. + + My Dear and Much Esteemed Friend: As I sit here in the prison + tonight I ponder upon the kind and good advice you gave me, and my + heart of hearts goes out to you in gratitude. + + My past life has been a blank, in fact, an utter failure. But + since I saw you I have come to God in all simplicity and have + asked Him to give me a new spirit and pardon my past sins; and + since I have offered up this petition my heart seems lighter. How + often have I cried out in my despair, O I am weary of the + conflicts and strife of this life! weary with the constant + struggle for a higher and better life! And when I see the lives of + yourself and others--so Christlike, and hear you say mid darkest + shadows: "Not my will, but thine be done," then I think of the + rebellion in my heart and so oft find when I feel the path I am + treading leaves the sunshine all behind. + + As the way looks dark before me and the end I cannot see, + Oft I long to drop the burdens and from sorrow be set free, + But I know such thoughts are sinful; God knows best the way + That will lead from earth's dark shadows to the brighter realms + of day. + + Words cannot express the comfort I have received since I saw you. + I have prayed to God to help me every night and morning since and + as I sit and ponder upon the past and think of the wasted hours + that have drifted by, it puts me in mind of a song I learned when + I was a child. I will only write you a couple of verses to let you + see how true they are. + + "Oh, the wasted hours of life that have drifted by; + Oh, the good we might have done, lost without a sigh; + Love that we might have sowed by a single word, + Thoughts conceived but never penned, perished all unheard. + Take the proverb to thy heart, take and hold it fast-- + The mill will never grind with the water that is past. + + "Oh, love thy God and fellow men, thyself consider last, + For come it will when thou must count dark errors of the past, + And when the fight of life is o'er, and life recedes from view, + And heaven in all its glory shines midst the pure and good and true, + Then you will see more clearly the proverb deep and vast-- + The mill will never grind with water that is past." + + May God bless you for what you have done for me. You have saved me + from that downward road to ruin. May God bless you and permit you to + return to us once more. + + W., Charleston State Prison. + + * * * * * + + Nobesville, Neb., April 17, 1886. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, + + Kind Lady: I will, according to promise, drop you a few lines. I + am some better now than when you were here to see me. How glad I + am that I met you last Sunday! I have felt better ever since, and + I do believe that the good Father will answer your prayers. Don't + fail to pray for me, that, if it is God's will, He will heal me, + for God has got the same power that He had when He raised Christ + from the tomb. And pray that He will give me the guidance of His + loving Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth and at the last take + me to Heaven. + + There has not a day passed since you were here that I have not + thought of you and prayed for you. You did more good here than + you know. + + My candle is going out. + + Direct to JOHN W. C., Nobesville, Nebraska. + + * * * * * + + Charlestown, Mass., Jan. 10, 1886. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, + + To My Dear Sister in Christ: "Whosoever believeth in Him shall + not perish but have everlasting life." I believe and trust in + God. My faith and my belief grow stronger every day of my life. I + pray to God to keep me from evil, and to make me worthy of His + kingdom, that I may meet you there, for I am a better man for + knowing you. God bless you, my dear sister! My heart is full of + love for my God, and for my fellowman. I cannot find words to + express my feelings or to tell you how happy I am, and how + precious Christ is to my soul. It passes my understanding. But I + am satisfied, for I know that Christ has come into my heart to + dwell. There are no doubts, no fears, everything is well with me. + I thank God for it, and I want to see every one around me + enjoying this great gift which comes from God. O how it would + have rejoiced your soul to have been with us the last evening of + the old year. We had a prayer meeting. I am told that there were + one hundred and forty men in the chapel. Our warden was the first + to testify. Many acknowledged Christ to be precious to their + souls. There are many here that are feeling uncomfortable. They + will be at the feet of Jesus yet, crying for mercy. Pray for them. + Pray for us all. Only think of it, one hundred and forty prisoners + on their knees and their warden kneeling with them! O it was a + blessed sight! I never heard Chaplain Barnes pray as he did that + night. His whole soul went out to God. How he did plead with God + for the salvation of our souls. God bless the chaplain. God bless + everyone on the face of the earth, and may every one see as I see, + and enjoy what I am enjoying. In His paths there is peace, and + that in keeping of His commandments there is great reward. + + There is a young man here by the name of Charles B. He has formed + good resolutions with beginning of the new year. I tell him that + he cannot keep them without he gets divine help. I am praying for + him. Please make mention of him in your prayers, and with the + help of God we will have him at the feet of Jesus crying for + mercy. We had a prayer meeting last week and I am informed that + we are to have them often. How good it is of the warden! God + bless him. He is always looking for some way to benefit us. I + praise the Lord for it. + + I leave the prison this year. I hope that I may meet you again on + earth. If not permitted, I will live a life that shall make me + worthy of the kingdom and meet you there. I thank you for the + letter read this day to us by the chaplain. + + Your brother in Christ Jesus, + J. L. W. + + * * * * * + + Jeffersonville, Ind., May 22, 1887. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, + + My Dear Kind Lady: In answer to your request I address this note + to you trusting that this may be the commencement of life in a + different sphere to that which I have heretofore moved in, so do + not think that I am flattering if I tell you the truth. I have + traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the British + Possessions to the Gulf of Mexico. I have moved in all classes of + society and have been a close observer. I have made myself + acquainted with all kinds of religious sects from the Jewish + synagogues to Mormonism, Protestantism in all its various forms, + Catholicism, as well as Spiritualism, and I found so much + hypocrisy and inconsistency existing that I felt inclined to + believe Christianity a fraud, but I could see plainly that there + were in every church some few that I could feel were true + Christians. I could feel a secret convincing power almost + irresistible when in their society, but it always seemed strange + to me why more true converts were not made in proportion to the + great work done. + + It seems to me that the handling of God's cause should only be + entrusted to those that are godly--then the fruit will bear + witness to the quality and health of the tree. God will prosper + His own, but it is not natural that the Lord can or will prosper + one who is half God's and half Satan's. That is why I have + remained in the world. I am earnest in everything I do. It is my + nature, I cannot help it. Therefore, if I ever become a + Christian, bold and true and faithful, too, I'll be. + + I must refer to that now which I spoke of in the first of this + note. All the convicts in this prison have been moved by your + godly advice and teaching as this prison has never been moved + before, either by man or woman. You won the hearts of the hardest + criminals and a noticeable change for the better has taken place. + We all pray God to bless and protect you wherever His wisdom may + lead you, and even though this prayer comes from convicts, + perhaps God will hear us. Some of us have been convicted by man, + while God, being just, and our own consciences declare us + innocent. Those of us who are innocent and can suffer with + patience, what a virtue we possess. Such strength comes only of + God. + + I must close for want of room. Please answer if you have time. We + hope to see you soon again. + + Your humble servant, + H. McL., Box 340. + + * * * * * + + Tracy City, Tenn., Dec. 3, 1887. + + Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, + + Dear Friend: Your visit to this place was a great blessing. A + great many of the men often speak of you and say that by the help + of God they are going to live better the rest of their days. + + I will thank you for every paper or good book you may send to us. + The way that we do about papers and books is to place them among + our fellow prisoners. + + You have our prayers and best wishes and we hope you will come to + our prison again, as your work will be remembered here for years + to come. May God bless you all the way along. + + There have been deaths here since you were here. Neither of those + parties belonged to the church. Lots of the men spoke of the + great warning you gave before you left, what you said about the + last warning some of them would ever get, and sure enough it was + true. + + Yours in Christ, + W. A. M. + + * * * * * + + Carson City, Nev., Sept. 23, 1888. + + Dear Kind Friend: Through the kindness of the Warden, we received + your letter, with the song and accompanying texts, and I take the + liberty of answering it and thanking you for your kindness in + thus remembering us. I was seriously impressed by your kind words + of sympathy and exhortation when you came to the prison and I + should have liked to have spoken to you, but feared to trespass + too much on your time. I am here under a life sentence for the + crime of murder, committed during a fit of delirium resulting + from drink. I have been here three years. Hitherto my life has + been anything but a happy one. I was driven from home at the age + of ten years, after the death of my mother. Since then I have + associated with gamblers and men of that stamp, and the result of + my ill-directed course is my present unhappy condition. What I + have suffered, no one but myself will ever know. I would gladly + end my life, if my death could blot out the crimes for which I + suffer. I have one friend, who has taken an interest in me, and + who has written me several kind letters and I thank God for + letting me have one kind and faithful friend. She is weak in + body, but strong in mind, and a faithful servant of God. She has + advised me to give myself to God, and since you were here I have + resolved to try to do so. Peace of mind is what I want, but fear + I shall never attain it. I hope to hear from you again. Most of + my fellow prisoners have read your letter and all entertain the + greatest respect for you. Some to whom your kind words and + motherly advice have brought tender memories, desire to be + remembered to you. + + You are passing through ... , where I have lived and where I + spent the happiest of my boyhood days, but they are gone. I hope + you may meet some of my old companions and that they may be + benefited by your kind words. + + Your humble, grateful servant, + M. + + * * * * * + + Stillwater, Nov. 2, 1888. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: I was pleased beyond expression to receive + your letter. It came like a benediction. I shall never forget + you. The few words spoken have left an impress upon the tablets + of memory that time can not efface. You can tell the boys + wherever you see them in prison or out that Jesus is near--ever + near. Tell them that I know that no locks ever were made that can + lock the Saviour out. He came to me when I was, oh, so lonely, so + broken-hearted and despairing! You know just how it was I was + saved. + + I am innocent in the presence of God, and still I am here; but + never alone. Jesus is ever with me. Oh, how I wish every one in + the wide, wide world could know our Saviour! How true is the + fourteenth chapter of John, and especially the eighteenth verse: + "I will not leave you comfortless. I will come unto you." Never + in all my persecution and imprisonment has my Lord failed in that + promise. I am very hopeful. My innocence is recognized and I hope + soon to be at liberty. Had any one told me twelve months ago that + this was all for my good I should have laughed them to scorn; + but, thank God, I know it now. This life is but a few days at + most compared to the home beyond, and I can and do say, "God's + will be done." He can do no wrong, and right must prevail. God + bless and prosper you until you go home. + + Yours in His name, + H. R. + +[Illustration: A WARD IN PRISON HOSPITAL.] + + * * * * * + + Stillwater, Nov. 14, 1888. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: I received your letter and it came just + right to comfort me, for I am in the hospital. In prison--not + alone. In the hospital--not alone. Jesus is always with me. How I + love Jesus who died for me! My heart always turns to Him, and + when I heard I had to come to the hospital I just prayed to Jesus + and left it all to Him, and I am cheerful and happy and hopeful + even here. He is the Great Physician. + + I can do anything for Jesus' sake but I am in such a queer + position! Poor mother has been nearly killed and heart-broken + about this, and she claims my presence for a time at least if I + get out. Poor mother is nearly worn out but full of faith and + hope. May God bless you and be with you forever. + + Your son and brother in Christ, + H. R. + + * * * * * + + Little Rock, Ark., June 10, 1888. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + Dear Sister: I will take the liberty and let you and Sister M. + know who I am. My name is C. S. I guess you remember the coal + mines and that evening when I was singing with Sister M. in her + book. O I wish I had them songs! + + I am so happy in Christ. I am going home to my mother above. I + hope it will be very soon. That song + + "A Ruler once came to Jesus by night + To ask Him the way of salvation and light," + + made me a different man. + + O the happy thoughts of a home which Christ our Redeemer has + prepared for us and calls us to come to Him. "Come unto me all + that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." O, such + a Saviour! Pray for me and I hope we may meet above. I hope to + hear from you soon. + + From your servant, + C. S. + + * * * * * + + Little Rock, January 13, 1889. + + Mr. J. M. Ryder, + Indianapolis, Ind. + + I received your most welcome letter and thank you for the + information you have given me, but I haven't heard yet from your + sister. The last letter I got she said that she was going to + California. At that time she was at Salem, Oregon. Have you heard + from her yet? There are some boys and men here would like to hear + from her, for she came where some of us could not see the sun in + a week, and about 150 feet under the surface of the earth. That + was at a coal mine. + + We all hope and pray to God, our dear Redeemer, for her to come + back to us again. + + Please answer this for I am a convict and glad to hear from such + friends. In hope to hear soon, I remain, + + Yours sincerely, + C. S. + + * * * * * + + Germantown, Ark., Nov. 29, 1889. + + My Dear Sister: I am at Germantown at the present time working on + Mr. W. H. Ward's farm or plantation, and the Warden of the camp + and the guards are followers of Christ. There are several of the + boys with me which were at Coal Hill at the time you were there. + + O sister, God worked that all right, His name be praised. One of + the Coal Hill wardens got five years in the penitentiary. That is + God's work. + + God be with you and bless you is my daily prayer, that you will + keep strong and well to preach to the poor prisoners and pray for + them that they will "flee from the wrath to come." O sister it is + terrible to think and study over how the Book of Life tells us + about that everlasting torment, and how sweet it is to think that + there is a life eternal. + + Sister, there are three ways, "a broad road," "a narrow way" and + "a highway," that are thus brought to our attention in the + Scriptures. + + The broad road to destruction, the narrow way to life, the + highway to holiness. + + "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called + the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it + shall be for those, the wayfaring man, though fools shall not err + therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go + up thereon; it shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall + walk there." Isa. 35: 8, 9. Sister, am I right or wrong? + + The first great judgment (trial and sentence) was at the + beginning, in Eden, when the whole human race, as represented in + its head, Adam, stood on trial before God. The result of that + trial was the verdict--guilty, disobedient, unworthy of life; and + the penalty inflicted was _Death_. "Dying, thou shalt die," and + so "In Adam all die." But, dear sister, the sweet and dear + thought in "Christ we all shall live" is a great comfort to our + poor souls. Ours is a rugged, steep and narrow way, and were it + not that strength is furnished for each successive step of the + journey, we never could reach the goal, but our Captain's word is + encouraging: "Be of good courage, I have overcome"; "My grace is + sufficient for thee, and my strength is made perfect in + weakness." The difficulties of this way are to act as a + separating principle to sanctify and refine "a peculiar people," + to be "Heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ." In view + of these things, "let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that + we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need," + "while we fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of the crown + of life." Immortality, the divine nature. + + Sister, I hope that we may meet together here in this world once + more in life so we can talk about what Jesus has wrought, God + will be with you. I know He is with me. Sister, I gave myself to + Jesus and I feel more satisfied, and how sweet it is to have + Jesus with you. + + THE DAY IS AT HAND. + + "Poor, fainting pilgrim, still hold on thy way, + The dawn is near; + True, thou art weary now, but yon bright ray + Becomes more clear. + Bear up a little longer; wait for rest; + Yield not to slumber, though with toil oppressed. + The night of life is mournful, but look on the judgment near. + Soon will earth's shadowed scenes and forms be gone. + Yield not to fear. + The mountain's summit will, ere long, be gained + And the bright world of joy and peace attained. + Joyful through hope, thy motto still must be-- + The dawn is near. + What glories will that dawn unfurl to thee! + Be of good cheer. + Gird up thy loins, bind sandals on thy feet, + The way is dark and long, the end is sweet." + + I hope to hear soon from you, dear sister. Meet me in heaven. + Jesus is with me. Because He cometh to judge the earth, let the + heavens be glad and the earth rejoice. + + Your brother, + C. S. + + * * * * * + + Germantown, Jan. 27, 1890. + + Dear Sister: I received yours of the 28th. I am so glad that you + have not forgotten me, and the words which I heard you say, + although it is a long time since you said them at Coal Hill. + "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts + xvi., 31. Jails are dark, dull, damp, loathsome places even now; + but they were worse in the apostolic times. I imagine tonight we + are standing in the Philippian Dungeon. Do you not feel the + chill? Do you not hear the groan of those incarcerated ones who + for ten years have not seen the sunlight, and the deep sigh of + women who remember their father's house, and mourn over their + wasted estates? Listen again. It is enough. Oh, it is the cough + of the consumptive, or the struggle of one in a nightmare of a + great horror. You listen again, and hear a culprit, his chains + rattling as he rolls over in his dreams, and you say: "God pity + the prisoner." But there is another sound in that prison. It is a + song of joy and gladness. What a place to sing in. The music + comes winding through the corridors of the prison and in all dark + wards the whisper is heard: "What's that? What's that?" It was + the song of Silas and Paul in prison, and they cannot sleep. + Jesus went to prison then, and as you say He will and does come + nowadays also to visit the prisoners as they are shut up. God + will be and is our helper. I will not fear, He leadeth me in + pastures green. + + Your brother in Christ, + C. S. + + * * * * * + + Germantown, May 16, 1890. + + Dear Sister: Your letter of February 17th duly received, and glad + to hear from you. But, sister, I am so glad to have some + Christian friend to write to me in a place of temptation and + trouble. I know that Jesus is my rock and my salvation and a + shelter in a storm. Jesus is with me right now. He is waiting for + us every day and hour. O, how many will there be that will call + on Christ on that day, when the book of the Lord will be opened, + with the seven seals, and who will be able to open the seals? No + one is able to open it but the Lamb. Sister, this is my idea and + opinion about that Day: There will be a great big scale, with a + cross beam and Satan will be on one side of it and the people of + all trades will be weighed, and if Christ the Son of God and our + Redeemer is not there to balance them, what will become of them? + Won't they be thrown down in hell? + + Hoping and trusting faithfully that there be many of the poor + prisoners among the hundred and forty and four thousand with the + Lamb on Mount Zion, with the Father's name written in their + foreheads and the harpers will be harping with their harps and + singing the new song which no man could learn, but the hundred + and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. + O, what a day that will be! O that song is so true. O sinner give + your heart to God and you shall have a new hiding place that day. + O the rocks in the mountain shall all fade away and you shall + have a new hiding place that day. "O sinner turn, why will ye + die? God in mercy asks you why." + + O, I am so happy tonight! + + Your brother, + C. S. + + * * * * * + + Germantown, Ark., Dec. 18, 1890. + + Dear Sister: Your kind words gladly received, and may God bless + you and give you strength in your undertakings. + + Sister, forgive those wicked men who put you in prison for + preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, for He, the Lord, + said: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do," and + Silas and Paul in prison sang praises to the Lord our God and He + delivered them from the prison in which they lay, and the jailor + got saved. + + Oh! my dear sister, I trust and pray to the Lord that we could + safely say with Robert McChane, the ascended minister of + Scotland, who, seated on the banks of Galilee's Lake, wrote, in + his last sick days, and just before he crossed the Jordan (not + the Jordan that empties into the Lake of Gallilee, but the Jordan + that empties into the "sea of glass mingled with fire"), these + sweet words, fit to be played by human fingers on strings of + earthly lute, or by angelic fingers on seraphic harps: + + "It is not that the mild gazelle + Comes down to drink thy tide, + But He that was pierced to save from hell, + Oft wandered by thy side. + Graceful around thee the mountains meet + Thou calm, reposing sea; + But, ah! far more, the beautiful feet + Of Jesus walked o'er thee. + O Saviour! gone to God's right hand, + Yet the same Saviour still, + Graved on thy heart is this lovely strand + And every fragrant hill." + + O! is it not good to be with one's Lord and to think how sweet He + says in his Book of Books: "I am the way," and in danger He + speaks again: "Fear not, it is I." + + The Lord is with me for I do not have to work in the ranks any + more, and by His help I am assistant postmaster of this place. + + Until we leave, and that time will be Christmas, address your + next letter to Little Rock. + + That you may save many souls from everlasting torture is my + prayer every hour. My love to the poor sinful prisoners and to + you, my dear sister in Christ. + + A happy Christmas, and may God bless you to live and see many + more. + + I will sing now: + + "I was once far away from the Saviour" and + + "When Jesus shall gather the nations before Him at last to + appear." + + Oh! I am so happy! Goodnight, + + Ever, + S. + + * * * * * + + Wichita, Kansas. + + Dear Sister: + + This is to acknowledge yours of the 15th inst., and was glad to + hear that you have received my letter. Well, sister, we have our + regular meeting every Sunday, and I will never cease praying to + the Lord that He may help me to live my life, and that I can say, + like our great Brother said, that no man can measure the glories + which God has revealed to us. Glory to Thee, O God, glory to + Thee! * * * + + It is said that religionists make too much of the humanity of + Christ. I respond that they make too little. If some doctor or + surgeon of His day, standing under the cross, had caught one drop + of the blood on his hands and analyzed it, it would have been + found to have the same plasma, the same disk, the same fiber, the + same albumen. It was unmistakably human blood. It is a man that + hangs there. His bones are of the same material as ours. His + nerves are as sensitive as ours. If it were an angel being + despoiled, I would not feel it so much, for it belongs to a + different being. But my Saviour is a man and my whole sympathy is + aroused. Jesus our King is dying. Let couriers carry the swift + dispatch. His pains are worse; He is breathing a last groan; + through his body quivers the last anguish. The King is dying; the + King is dead! His royal blood is shed. + + I can imagine something of how the spikes felt; of how the + temples burned; what deathly sickness seized His heart; of how + mountain and city and mob swam away from His dying vision; + something of that cry for help that makes the blood of all ages + curdle with horror: "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" + * * * + + O! Jerusalem, my happy home, + When shall I come to thee; + When shall my sorrows have an end? + Thy joys, when shall I see? + Jerusalem, my happy home, + Would God that I were there! + Would God my tears were at an end, + Thy joys, that I might share. + + I am so glad that I can write to you. I never will cease praying + for you. + + I remain, your brother. + + C. H. Z. + + * * * * * + + Washington County Jail. + + Greenville, Miss., Jan. 29, 1889. + + My Dear Sisters: + + I cannot express my feelings when I read your kind letters. They + make me feel as though you were still at my prison door. I know I + am not the same boy that came to prison. I feel much better in + every way. I read my Bible instead of novels, and find more + pleasure in it. + + I expect to get out of prison soon, and when I do I want to write + you a long letter. Mr. McL. was to see me to-day, and read your + letters. He said he would also write you to-day. There is a great + change in him since you were here. + + All the boys send love. Direct me as before, care Geo. S. If I + get out I will work for him here. I am, as ever, + + Your true friend and brother, + J. F. D. + + * * * * * + + Penitentiary at Yuma, Ariz., May 19, 1889. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + Dear Friend: Your kind letter, written from Los Angeles, Cal., + has been received, after much delay. We are all glad to hear from + you, and thank you very much for your kind remembrance and the + good advice given to us in your letter, and when you spoke to us + here in the prison. Most all the boys hold you in kind + remembrance and often express their wishes to see you and hear + you talk again, and I sincerely hope it will be convenient for + you to call and see us in the near future. The short visit you + paid us awakened earnest thought in a number of the boys, and I + am confident a few more such visits would result in much good to + many of the inmates of this institution. + + Asking your prayers, I remain, + + Respectfully, + J. E. W. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM OF PRISON, DEER LODGE, + MONT.] + + Deer Lodge, July 15, 1889. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + Madam: I received your postal last Friday, and was very pleased + to hear from you and to know that although far away you still + hold us in kindly remembrance. There are so few who think of us + after the prison door has closed. The boys who were so fortunate + as to meet you, and even those who only heard of your good work, + wish to be remembered to you. So far as we are personally + concerned, there have been no changes, and we will very probably + go through the same routine day in and out until our several + times have expired. + + I can safely say that you have made a greater impression upon us + than any others we have been privileged to hear. In the + intercessions you make with the Ruler of All, we ask to be + remembered, and hope that you will receive all the returns of + good which your work so richly merits. If you can find time in + the future, you can give us no greater pleasure than writing us, + even if only so much as may be placed upon a postal. + + Yours very sincerely, + HERBERT A. M. (Librarian). + + * * * * * + + Cole City, Dade Co., Ga., July 5, 1890. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton: + + Yours of May 25th received yesterday in this camp and contents + duly noted. How it thrills the hearts of the boys to hear the + reading of a letter written by the hand of "Mother Wheaton," the + friend of the unfortunate ones. Dear Christian Mother, you can't + imagine the encouragement it gives to the boys here, especially + those who are trying to do right. Your work has been implanted + here so very deep that God cannot, according to His promise, + obliterate it, for He approves of all good works. You shall have + our prayers, and we desire to have your presence again when + possible. + + I intended to take your letter to Rattlesnake Camp No. 4 to read + to the boys up there, as Capt. Brock promised me I might go, but + for some reason, I know not what, I failed to get off, but I do + hope and believe the way will be opened for us prison-bound boys + who desire to do a work for Him to do it without fear. + + I received also enclosed in your letter a most interesting + pamphlet of "Capt. Ball's Experience," which is so grand. Also + another of the "Widow and the Judge." + + We have a very good Sunday school here now, and I am trying to + make it as interesting as I possibly can, and any books and + Sunday school papers and catechisms you can send us will be quite + a favor. That would have been my business at No. 4 Camp to-day, + if I could have gone, to organize a Sunday school. + + I must close by asking an interest in your prayers. Write often. + + Your friend and brother in Christ, + + J. W. S., Camp No. 3. + + * * * * * + + Eastern Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Dec. 15, 1890. + + Dear Madam: + + Your invitation given any of the prisoners who may wish to write, + I for one accept. I was greatly impressed with your words of + truth and the earnest, determined manner in which they were + spoken. I believe they proved an exception to the routine of + professed Christianity we are used to, and have set more than one + mind to thinking of their spiritual condition. I assure you they + were not without effect, and that you are engaged in a noble + work, of which I and others would be glad to hear more. + + True it is that in the world around us are many persons + struggling with poverty as great as ours, who are loaded with + cares and anxieties which seem to hinder them in the service of + God. There are many who cannot offer him a pure heart which has + never been stained by sin, yet in the grief for misspent time and + neglected grace would gladly atone for the past by fervent, + grateful love, casting themselves upon the mercy of the Saviour. + + I am an old soldier, have fought in the late war, but the + greatest battle I have yet to fight is with myself--the battle of + reformation. + + Almighty God, in His wondrous wisdom, has chosen His saints from + every rank of life--some poor and unknown to the world while they + are in it; others great and powerful; no two have been exactly + alike, even in their way of pleasing the Lord. + + The "boys" here are satisfied your mission was for good, and left + them knowing that for once they were not locked up within the + hearing of false professors. To say that "locks" would not be + necessary to hold a congregation within your hearing would be + well founded. For a great many others this could not be said. + + The boys from Block 9 send you their respects, and would be glad + to hear from you again; would be glad to hear that you received + this and that our appreciation of your service be accepted. + + Respectfully yours, + A 2552. + + * * * * * + + Washington County Jail. Greenville, Miss., Jan. 9, 1890. + + Dear Sister: + + Your postal of the 5th to hand. The boys are all glad to hear + from you. + + Mr. McL. was acquitted and was the proudest boy I ever saw. The + St. Louis boy also got free and went home to his mother. + + There has been a great change in the prisoners since you were + here. They are always praying and singing, and you are remembered + in every prayer. I don't think I am the same boy that came to + jail; I know my poor old mother will be proud of me when I see + her again. She lives in Mobile, Alabama, and it has been three + years since she saw me, but I am praying to meet her soon and be + a son to her, as I never was before. I feel like I could teach + young men some good lessons if I get out of this place. + + We received some reading matter from you a few days ago. Please + let me hear from you whenever you can spare the time to write. + All the boys join me in love and hope to hear from you again + soon. + + Your friend and brother, + J. D. (alias the Artist). + + * * * * * + + Penitentiary, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 14, 1901. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, + + Dear Madam: Your welcome and interesting letter to hand and + contents noted, being exceedingly pleased to hear from you. In + response would state, your letter, though a great surprise, has + been read by many of the inmates of this institution with great + interest, you being the only one, so far, who has shown enough + respect for us to address a few lines to us by mail. For this + kindly remembrance and respect, please accept our united thanks, + with the wish that as you are journeying along life's pathway you + may escape many of the annoyances which you have been subjected + to in the past, while dispensing the gospel tidings to a class of + unfortunates. After your departure from here, am pleased to + state, the "Boys" have taken a deeper interest in Jesus and His + works than ever before, and I verily believe that were you to + come again you would have no difficulty in bringing many of them + to the foot of the Cross. Bibles that have lain for months in + cells, covered with dust, have been taken up and read with + avidity, selecting texts as you suggested for future guidance, + and many are the prayers and kind words which ascend nightly to + the Throne of Grace in your behalf--prayers for your future + guidance and welfare, with health to sustain you in your glorious + work of reclaiming the erring and fallen. God speed the good work + along! We wish there were more like you, to bring a few kind and + cheering words to sustain us, while undergoing this isolation. + Your voice has lingered in our ears ever since you left, and many + of the boys here would like to secure, if they possibly could, a + copy of that wonderful song you sang for us, "Throw Out the + Life-line." If you would kindly forward a copy, as it is not in + our hymn-books, it would be very acceptable. + + You may rest assured, no firmer, truer or better friends are to + be found than those you possess in the Utah Penitentiary. Allow + us to hope that when comparing this institution with some of the + grander ones you may visit in the East, you will not speak + disparagingly of your boys out West, but remember there are as + many honest hearts beating beneath striped jackets here as you + will find anywhere, with none more willing to do you a favor. In + conclusion, accept our united and kindest regards. Hoping that + after your life's labors are finished on this earth, you may find + that "Haven of Rest," where it shall be said to you, "Well done, + thou good and faithful servant; enter ye into the kingdom of + Heaven," trusting these few lines may give you further + encouragement, and hoping to hear from you again, with united + thanks for past remembrance, I remain, + + Yours most respectfully, + M. M. + + * * * * * + + Baton Rouge, La., October 11, 1891. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + My Dear Sister: Yours addressed to the boys in prison here was + received, and I shall take the responsibility of answering your + letter, which is so full of the Word of God. + + Your songs I shall never forget. I wish you could come and pray + for us and sing those sweet songs to us every day. + + I have got a life sentence in this prison. I do not know whether + you remember me or not, but I remember you and always will, I + hope, and I pray to meet you in Heaven. Since I listened to the + songs you sang, I have felt that I was nearer Heaven than ever + before. Your few minutes with us in this prison helped me more + than all others that I ever heard preach the Word of God. Your + service enlightened me more. I feel better and I think that every + one in here will long remember your few minutes' talk with them + on that blessed Sunday morning. I shall constantly pray and try + to become as pure in heart as I think you are. Your home is + surely in Heaven, and I will endeavor to reach that home and + meet you there. Pray for me that I may become acceptable in the + sight of our Lord. + + I pray the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and + the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you. + + B. P. + + * * * * * + + Lancaster, Neb., Oct. 25, 1891. + + Our Dear Sister in the Lord: + + I received your kind note through our Brother Burge. I am + thankful for your words to us and for the encouragement I + received through you. I am trying to live a Christian life, to + follow the teachings of the words of God in the book He has + given. I am persuaded of myself I can do nothing, but by the help + of God and our Saviour I am able to resist temptations and sin. + The world looks down upon me from two standpoints--the one + because of my color, and the other because I try to serve the + living God through Christ our Lord. I feel that I am weak and + need much help, both from the Lord and from the brethren and + sisters. I need your prayers daily to help me in my surroundings + and trials. We are hated and mocked, but this does not move us. + My faith is strong and I will, through the grace of God, meet you + in Heaven. In my imagination I still hear those words that you + spoke to us, and I hope they will continue to ring in my ear. + + I do not fail to mention you in my prayer to God the Father, in + the name of our Lord and Master. + + Our chaplain has just returned from the prison congress and he + gave us a talk on prison reform. + + From your brother that is colored, that had a talk with you in + the warden's office. + + J. H. No. 1579. + + * * * * * + + West Virginia Penitentiary, Jan. 31, 1892. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: + + Your letter to "Boys in the Penitentiary" was received, and it + gave me pleasure to read it to them in the chapel, as also that + enclosed for the female prisoners; and after reading the latter + the officer in charge gave it to the sisters, and they can digest + its helpful contents in the quietude of their own apartments. + + At the very mention of a letter from you I could see many faces + light up with interest, and I am sure your earnest and faithful + appeals for recruits to the Master's cause on your visits to this + place will never be forgotten; also that many hearts feel to + thank you for the kindly and unabated interest that prompted your + letter of cheer and encouragement. God bless you with power by + His Spirit in your noble work. Twenty-six lifetime men are + confined here, and I am one of the number; but I am glad to tell + you that even here I have learned a freedom which is not + compassed by iron bars, and I am looking forward with confidence + when I will come into the full enjoyment of that inheritance + which is "incorruptible, undefiled and fadeth not away." Have + been here over thirteen years; converted twelve years and nine + months ago, and have been trying to do something for my Master + ever since, and I feel glad that He has wonderfully blessed and + kept me in His love. Pray for us that God will save the fallen. + + Yours in Christian love, + W. S. D. + + * * * * * + + Oregon State Penitentiary. + + Salem, Ore., April 3, 1892. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Your kind letter was handed to me by our Superintendent to-day, + and we were more than pleased to hear from you. May our Father in + Heaven protect and keep you for many years to come in the faithful + work of rescuing the souls of men who are so far astray that each + one saved seems like a miracle. Many a prayer has gone up from the + solitudes of our prison cells for Mother Wheaton's health and + success, and many of us in conversation have oft repeated, "God + bless Mother Wheaton!" But we have not lost sight of Jesus, always + our Friend. We have services every Sunday. Mother Smith (God bless + her!) comes once a month, and each Sunday our pulpit is occupied + by some minister from the city. Then some night during the week + our choir has rehearsal; so you see, we have plenty of opportunity + to worship and listen to the divine Word, and in consequence we + are very grateful to our kind officials, who earnestly look out + for our spiritual welfare, especially Mr. Downing, our good + Christian Superintendent, who would not rest easy if he thought + one of us was in want of anything that he could obtain for us that + would be for our good. We often think of the difference between + some other prisons and ours. "Oh, Father in Heaven, not as we + will, but as Thou wilt, but spread a little divine love in those + quarters where it is so much needed"--that is often our prayer. + + God bless you and protect you in your noble work, and may the + jewels in your crown be many, are the prayers of many of the + inmates of this institution, and when you come again many an + honest hand will unite with yours in our expression of love and + faithfulness for Him who died on Calvary, not in the arms of a + loving mother, but between two such men as many of us have been; + yet one of them dwells with Him in Paradise, which proves to a + certainty that He saves to the uttermost. God bless you again. + Write us often, and when you reach those pearly gates there will + be those to meet you who will say, "You showed me the way." + + Yours in Christ. + + WM. AND YOUR BOYS. + + * * * * * + + Lancaster, Neb., Aug. 20, 1892. + + Dear Sister in the Lord: + + Yours of the 5th at hand. I always rejoice to hear from you, or + to hear you speak, for your words are words of comfort, and are + after the doctrine of our Lord and Master and according to the + Scripture. It is a great comfort to me to hear or speak with + those that live in Christ Jesus. No I have no thought of turning + back to the poor and weak elements of this world. By the help of + the Lord I will press on to the ends that I may claim all the + promises, and I want to be found faithful in all good works, and + in doing good to those that have need. The promise you spoke of + can be found in Revelation, 14:12. You ask if I will seek to be + such. Yes, with all my heart. God, that knows all our hearts, + knows that my desire is to live and work for His sake and for His + glory. As for me, I am not worthy to be called His child, but + only a servant, because I have wasted my life in sin when I ought + to have served my God and Lord. But four years ago the Lord drew + me unto Him. I repented of my ways, gave my heart and soul to God + the Father, and Jesus our Lord. I received forgiveness of my + sins, and not many days after I received the promise of my Lord. + That was the promise of the Comforter, which came to me--even me. + And now shall I turn back? No, God helping me, I will endure all + things; for He is able to keep me in the hour of temptation. And + oh! His promises are so true to them that put their trust in Him. + In Isaiah, 41st chapter and 10th verse, and again in 1st Kings, + 19th chapter, 7th verse, we are told the journey is too great for + us without God's help. But if we accept the help we shall be + faithful to the end. And here is another promise that He will + help in time of need: "Lo! I am with you always, even unto the + end of the world." (Matt. 28:20.) + + He has promised to reward us according to our works. (Rev. + 22:12.) I have done nothing worthy of reward. But you have + labored and have kept the faith, and God will reward you for all + your trials and tribulations, and give you a crown that will + never fade. Yes, God helping me, I will meet you in Heaven, where + there is no more sorrow and no more weeping, but joy in our + Saviour. May God bless you. May He give you health and strength + to the end, is my prayer. Pray for me, for the prayer of the + righteous availeth much. + + Yours in Jesus, + P. B. + + * * * * * + + Ionia, Mich., October 21, 1894. + + Mrs. Wheaton. + + Dear Madam: I write to thank you for those pamphlets you sent me, + and I think I can say they did me good. At any rate, I am trying + to faithfully follow their suggestions. I practically devour any + of that kind of reading, for, thank God, I do hunger and thirst + after instruction in His word--I should like to have said + righteousness, but I don't--there! I cannot finish what I was + going to say, for a blessed thought has just come to me--that is, + Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for + righteousness. I not only believe God, but Jesus Christ also. So + I believe I may say I hunger and thirst after righteousness. + Anyhow, I pray every day to get nearer to God. You will be glad + to hear that I have decided to leave all and follow Him. I have + consecrated my life to His service. When I get out, wherever I + feel that He calls me, I shall go there, if it is to China. I am + praying for sanctification. I want to get so close to God as to + always be able to feel His presence. This is just two weeks since + you were here, and I started to serve God. Praise the Lord, I + think I am justified in saying that I am a new lad. + + I have given up tobacco and don't feel the need of it any more + than if I had never tasted it. I have given up profanity just as + easily. Now I want to read the Bible every day. Since you were + here I have read Corinthians I and II, Revelations, Proverbs, + Ecclesiastes, Ruth, and am now reading the Acts of the Apostles. + Before you came I had thought a little of being a Christian, but + had not taken any steps towards it, but you decided me, and I + thank you for it. + + I must close now or my paper will give out. Pray for me that I + may receive sanctification and have the indwelling of the Holy + Ghost. God bless you. + + I remain, yours sincerely and respectfully, + M. J. B. + + * * * * * + + Lancaster, Neb., Feb. 3, 1895. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. + + My Dear Sister in Christ: Yours was received with welcome and + thanksgiving to our Lord that comforts us through His Holy + Spirit. Yes, God has given me grace to overcome many temptations. + He is my whole trust and confidence, and I know He hears my + prayers, and He will open a door for you here. There are some + hungry souls here for the truth. I believe if you had been + permitted to have service, some would have been saved. About the + first of December there were some seeking quite sincerely. My + desire is that I might be found faithful to the end, and I ask + your prayers for me to Him who is able to save to the uttermost. + I am so glad you had the Spirit of God in your service in + Lincoln December 25. We had the follies of this world without + the Spirit of God. But the world knows its own and they please + not our Lord. And because we are not of the world, the world + hates us, and that without a cause. I have been praying for you + that God will give you the victory in all things. And now may the + peace and grace of God our Lord be with all His saints and them + that truly love Him. + + From your brother in Jesus, + P. B. B. + + * * * * * + + Cole City, Ga., April 26, 1896. + + Mrs. Wheaton. + + Dear Mother: I take the pleasure of writing you a few lines. + + I do hope that I can meet you and tell you the good you have done + me. God is the one and the only one I look to. I want to go to + Heaven and believe I will. I believe some day, if we do not meet + on earth again, that we will meet in Heaven. + + Poor and needy though I be, + God, my maker, cares for me; + Gives me clothing, shelter, food; + He will hear me when I pray. + He is with me night and day, + When I sleep and when I wake. + Keeps me safe for Jesus' sake, + He who reigns above the sky, + Once became as poor as I. + + He whose blood for me was shed, + Had not where to lay His head. + Though I labor here awhile, + He will bless me with His smile. + And when this short life is past, + I shall rest with Him at last. + + I hope and pray that you will have power and strength to obey the + Master's will. + + Good-bye, + P. McM. + + * * * * * + + Boise City, Idaho, May 11, 1896. + + Mrs. Wheaton. + + My Dear Mother in Christ: I hope you are well and enjoying the + love of the Lord. It is a great thing to be in a position to work + for the Lord Jesus. We are having good services now every Sunday, + and we have a good Bible class of our own. The Lord has + wonderfully blessed this place, and I hope to see many souls + saved. Praise God! All the boys send love and wish to see you, + and we all wish you success. God bless you in your good work. + + W. B. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., Feb. 26, 1897. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton and Mrs. Kelly, + + Dear Friends: Enclosed please find P. O. order for $6.66, which + is sent you with the best wishes of the inmates of this + institution, as a slight token of the appreciation which we have + of your efforts toward the uplifting of fallen beings like + ourselves, and the upbuilding of Christ's Kingdom. + + Although most of the contributions came from the C. E. members, + yet they were not confined strictly to them. + + It was a surprise to me, when in conversation with many of the + boys, during our short time of liberty on Washington's Birthday, + to find among them such a general feeling of friendliness and + respect toward you, even from those who usually scoff at + everything religious, and who are thoroughly hardened in sin and + crime. + + I am sure it will be gratifying to you to know that God so + blesses your efforts that even the most hardened ones can feel + the influence of His Holy Spirit in your ministrations. + + Rest assured that we shall always hold you in kindly + remembrance, and shall never cease to pray that God's richest + blessing may crown your efforts. + + While our contribution is very small, we know that you will + receive it remembering only the motive which prompts its + bestowal, which is the only method by which the value of a gift + can be determined. + + With renewed expression of our wishes and prayers for your + success, we are, + + Yours for Christ, + WAUPUN PRISON C. E. SOCIETY. + A. I. W., COR. SEC. + + P. S.--The enclosed order is sent in the chaplain's name, W. G. + Bancroft. + + * * * * * + + Eddyville, Ky., April 18, 1897. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + My Dear Christian Friend: It is with pleasure that I write you + these few lines to let you know that your visit to Eddyville was + not in vain. Many of my brothers here express their appreciation + of your visit. We have some earnest workers for the salvation of + men in this prison. We are praying for you that God will + strengthen you for His work. We hope to see you again soon, and + receive a message from Jesus, for we receive you as His + messenger. + + All my brothers send their thanks to you, for they say you seem + like a mother to them. Some of us have not seen our mothers for + thirteen or fourteen years, and only live in hope of seeing them + in heaven, when we can lay down these stripes and greet them + there. + + O my dear Christian friend, when I think of a wasted life and how + easy a poor frail being like myself is led off, it almost crushes + my heart, but thank God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth + from all sin, and that is my only hope. I want to meet you in + heaven and, by the grace of God, I'll be there. We will not be in + prison always. Jesus will come to claim his children soon. Those + who oppress us now will all have to stand before that just Judge + and give an account of what they have done to crush the hearts of + their fellowmen. May God forgive them, is my prayer, for they + know not what they do. + + I hope to hear from you soon. May God bless you in His service. + + Your friend in Christ, + L. P. + + * * * * * + + Laramie, Wyo., May 31, 1897. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + I got your letter some time ago and also the papers. Was real + glad to get them and to hear from you. I also get the paper + regularly, and when we are through reading it I send it to a + little boy in Montana that I used to know. We still continue our + Bible class and have several new members. We have changed the + time from Thursday until Sunday, on account of some of the boys + who work on the farm. + + I got a good letter from a friend in Kansas not long ago. He + tells me that my wife and little girls have joined the Christian + Church. The happiest days of my life were spent with them, and if + there is one of us four who has to be lost I hope it may be me. I + want your prayers for our Bible class and that God will make me a + better man; and especially for my wife and children I want your + prayers. It will be four years to-morrow since I have seen them. + + Some of the boys often speak of you, and I can assure you of a + welcome by us if you ever come this way again. May God bless you + and sustain you in this world for many years to come, is my + prayer. The text of the sermon we heard to-day was John 3:16. + + W. J. T. + + Luke 15:15. + + * * * * * + + Waupun, Wis., July 4, 1897. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + Madam: The privilege of writing is accorded me by the rules of + this institution, and as I have no friends to whom I write, I + will address this letter to you. I have not taken any great + interest in your work, but have heard you speak before you + visited this place last February, and under similar + circumstances. + + All are doing nicely here and are looking forward to the treat we + shall get to-morrow by being allowed the liberty of the yard, as + we celebrate the Fourth then. + + The Christian Endeavor Society is getting along nicely, I guess, + though I have not been present at their last two or three + meetings, but some of the boys seem to take considerable interest + in the work. + + The front yard is very pretty. All the flowers are in bloom and + nature seems to bless the convicts as well as those whose conduct + permits them to remain out in a cruel world. + + Flower Mission Day was observed here June 20th. Some ladies of + the W. C. T. U. distributed some flowers and spoke in the chapel. + Told us of the sufferings of Jennie Cassidy of Kentucky, the + originator of Flower Mission Day, invoked a divine blessing on + us, and sent us to our cells, feeling that our lot was not so bad + as others have had to endure. + + The prison is about the same, six hundred males and ten or twelve + females; some changes in the discipline; the lock-step is + dispensed with; we are allowed two books a week from the library, + and other changes which lighten our burden. + + Believing you will pardon this liberty I have taken, I am, + + Most respectfully, + + No. 6965. + + * * * * * + + Laramie, Wyoming, May, 1898. + + Dear Mother: + + Mr. ---- requests me to answer your kind and most welcome letter. + I was thinking of you this morning, and of your mission on earth, + and how you had spent your life in the service of the Lord, and + in trying to benefit others. We regard you as the Good Samaritan, + and pray that the Lord will bless you in your work wherever you + may go. The members of the Bible class unite in sending you their + love and best regards, and will be delighted to have you visit us + again. According to nature, your earthly mission will soon come + to a close, but your acts of kindness and deeds of mercy will + live on forever. Remember us in your prayers. It is written that + the prayers of the righteous avail much. Our class has increased + considerably since you were here. Some of the boys seem to be + very much in earnest and sincerely repent of their past conduct. + I hope to live the remainder of my life in the service of the + Lord, and I hope to meet you in a brighter and a better world, + where parting and sorrow are no more; where our tears are all + wiped away, and the light of the Lord shines forever. + + Sincerely yours, + F. P. 309. + + * * * * * + + Eddyville Prison, March 17, 1900. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, Prison Evangelist: + + Though it has been one year the 5th of February past since I + heard your kind, sweet, motherly voice, how glad and proud I am + to see you once again and hear your kind voice, full of a + mother's pity for her children. May God bless you, mother, in + your journey from prison to prison to teach fallen men that there + is a Jesus who loves them and will forgive their sins if they + only believe on Him. Thank God for His Son He sent into the world + to save sinners, for Jesus has pardoned all my sins, and I mean + to serve God for the remainder of my life. + + You are welcome--thrice welcome. If you did not love us you would + not come to visit us each year so faithfully. May God bless and + go with you wherever you may be or go. + + Though I have only about three weeks to serve here yet, I thank + God I will leave a saved boy through the blood of Jesus. Bless + His holy name! + + I highly appreciate your kind words and the advice you gave me. I + will take your advice. + + I will close by saying, "May God watch between me and thee." + Amen. My motto through life is, "In God I trust." + + I remain, + + Your son in Jesus, + F. P. K., Jr. + + * * * * * + + Yuma, Arizona, May 25, 1903. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: + + Our kind Superintendent handed me your letter of the 22d inst., + also the tracts you sent, which I distributed to those who I knew + would read and appreciate them. I also showed your letter to + several, and intended reading it, or having it read, during + church yesterday morning, but our minister was late, so I thought + best to wait till next Sunday. During the week I will pass it + around to as many as I can. All to whom I showed the letter + seemed glad to hear from you, and requested me to ask you to + remember them in your prayers, and said to tell you they hoped + you would be able to visit the prison again soon. + + I am sorry I haven't a more favorable report of Christian + progress in the prison; but Satan seems to hold the upper hand, + and there has been no conversion for some time, and there has + been quite a number of Christian boys sent out, and a great many + new men came in of late, which may account for the small + attendance at services. + + I hope the Lord will open the way for some good revivalist to + come to Yuma and stay for a while at least. This place needs a + real stirring up. + + I hope that the Lord will continue to bless you in your work for + Him among fallen men and women, and that you may lead many to + live better lives and be prepared for heaven. + + Your brother in Christ, + R. C. + + * * * * * + + Frankfort, Ky., October 8, 1903. + + Elizabeth R. Wheaton, Prison Evangelist. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: It is a matter of the deepest regret that I + am in prison, but I am very proud to have you call me one of your + boys. + + My dear mother was named Elizabeth. I was her pride and joy, but + rejoice to think that my fall did not occur until after her + death. + + It would please my sweet wife if you could write her a letter of + encouragement and good cheer. + + I hope that your latter years may be many, and am certain they + will be filled with the joy and blessedness which come to those + who are serving the Master in such a noble work as yours. + + Most respectfully yours, + H. E. Y. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: DRUG DEPARTMENT IN PRISON HOSPITAL.] + + Frankfort, Kentucky, November 15, 1903. + + Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, Tabor, Iowa. + + My Dear Mother Wheaton: Your visit to those who were confined to + their beds in our prison hospital October 6th was a great + blessing to them. Your gospel hymns gave them visions of angels + singing the praises of their Master, and your prayers carried + them before the great white throne for mercy and pardon. + + Prisoners need Christianity more than any other class of men, and + when they get the love of God in their hearts they immediately + become better prisoners, are more contented, and have more hope + for this life and the life to come. + + Surely your work is a noble one, and each song and prayer for + prisoners makes your heavenly reward more glorious. + + With many thanks for the kind words spoken to me, I remain, + + Most respectfully, + H. E. Y. + + * * * * * + + Jefferson City, Mo., Sept. 2, 1904. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Tabor, Iowa. + + Dear Mother in Jesus: I thought I would address you in behalf of + a Christian friend by the name of J., as he is sick. He requested + me to write to you, and as I would like to hear from a Christian + from the outside world, he said you would answer my letter. I am + trying to live a Christian life. When I was almost ready to give + up and go back to my sinful life, there was a bright light came + in my pathway to refresh my soul and to point out the dark places + wherein I stood. And this light was Brother J. When he talks to + any one it is in a loving way, and to talk to him five minutes + one can tell that he is one of God's true children. I enjoy + greatly to hear him talk of Jesus' love, for it does my soul + good. Have you any Christian papers and tracts that you would + please send to me? I would enjoy reading them greatly. + + I am your boy, saved in Christ Jesus. + + Geo. W. R. + + * * * * * + + Huntsville, Texas, Feb. 17, 1905. + + Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Yours to our chaplain, Dr. M., has just been handed to me, and it + affords me great pleasure to write you, for I often think of you, + and the good lady that was here with you, and I knew it would be + gratifying to you to know how sincerely the boys appreciate your + words of kindness and Christian advice for their spiritual + welfare. I have heard many of them speak of you, and it was + always with heartfelt wishes for your success and happiness. I + trust and pray that many lost souls will be brought to Christ + through your noble work in the meeting you mention. + + Through reading the Christian Herald I have been much impressed + with the need of missionary work in India. And I pray that Miss + Grace, who was with you here, will be abundantly blessed in her + undertaking. I assure you that we will all be glad to see you at + any time. God's richest blessings upon you. I beg to remain, + + Yours in Christ, + + W. H. S. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + Kind Words from Friends. + + +We give here a few letters from dear friends who have been especially +interested in the Master's work, some of whom have given me many words +of encouragement, or otherwise been helpful to me in advancing the +work of the gospel. + + + FROM H. L. HASTINGS AND WIFE. + + 47 Cornhill Place, Boston, Mass., January 27, 1886. + + Blessed Sister: + + Your card came duly. Glad to hear. Sorry you could not call. Mrs. + Hastings wanted to see you. Come to our house when you will. If + you go to New York, call on Miss Annie Delaney, Fruit and Bible + Mission, 416 E. 26th St., New York, opposite the Bellevue + Hospital--right in the middle of prisons and prisoners. Tell them + I sent you. Miss D. is superintendent and has lived with us and + can open doors there. + + I was at State Prison one night. Heard many good testimonies from + your friends there. Surely, your labors have been blessed. May + the Lord direct your way in all these things, and guide your + endeavors. How much you need the Heavenly Father's guidance. He + will guide you with His eye. Pray that you may know and do His + will, and pray for us that we may please Him in all things. Do + you need some tracts or papers? Let us know. + + Yours in the work, + + H. L. HASTINGS. + + * * * * * + + Goshen, Mass., March 9, 1900. + + My Dear Sister: + + I am very glad indeed to hear from you, and to know that you are + still alive and still at work. + + It was a great shock to me when Mr. Hastings left us. But the + Lord has been very good to me, and I feel that He means what He + says: "E'en down to old age I will never leave thee." "I'll + never, no, never, no, never forsake." This is a beautiful and a + comforting thought to me at this time. + + May God bless you, my sister, and keep you in health to do His + work, is the prayer of + + Your friend, + MRS. H. L. HASTINGS. + + (Per E. B.) + + * * * * * + + E. E. BYRUM, AUTHOR AND EDITOR. + + September 11, 1903. + + During the past few years I have been acquainted with Mrs. + Elizabeth R. Wheaton, and known of her earnestness and zeal in + behalf of the unfortunate prisoners of our land. For many years + her time has been almost wholly given to the work of relieving + the distressed and discouraged in their cells, and in prison + chapels. + + Her songs and words of encouragement, mingled with tears, have + caused the feelings of depression and sadness to flee away, and + those bowed down with sorrow to grasp a ray of hope and look + forward with renewed energy to a higher life, trusting in Him who + is able to keep. Many years of continued evangelistic work in the + penitentiaries and prisons of America have given her a wide range + of experiences of prison life, a description of which cannot fail + to be of intense interest to every reader. It was partially due + to her untiring zeal that I was moved to write the book entitled + "Behind the Prison Bars." Her written words will continue to warn + and comfort after her departure from this world to her home + beyond the cares of life. + + E. E. BYRUM. + + Moundsville, W. Va. + + + FROM MOTHER OF PRISONER. + + Chicago, March 4, 1900. + + Dear Friend: + + I was greatly surprised and glad to hear from you, for my son has + often spoken of you and has regretted that the quarantine has + kept you away. I feel very grateful to you for taking an interest + in my dear boy, for he is still very dear to me. + + You cannot imagine my feelings all these years, knowing he was + behind gloomy walls. My health has given way two or three times + on account of it. Like so many others, he thought he knew best, + and left a good home to go roving. The cause of his downfall is + due to bad company, but then, his time is up in October. I hope + to see him once more and keep him with me, for I am growing + old--am nearly sixty-two. + + I shall be very glad to welcome you to our home. + + If you should see my dear boy before you come to Chicago, tell + him I am waiting patiently until I see him. + + This letter hardly expresses my feelings, but, sleeping or + waking, my thoughts are nearly always with my absent boy. Once + more accept thanks from a broken-hearted mother. + + Mrs. M. E. F. + + + FROM A PRISONER'S DAUGHTER. + + Denver, Colo., Jan. 7, 1903. + + My Dear Mother Wheaton: + + Praise God for salvation this afternoon! I am glad I found your + address, for I have wanted to write to you for a long time and + tell you the result of your visit to R. State Prison, where you + talked with my precious father. + + He wrote me soon after you left and said you left him under awful + conviction. He confessed and forsook his sins and is now a man + saved by the blood that was shed on the cross for him. He said + that he was restless from the time you left until he found Jesus. + He told how you and a young lady talked and prayed with him, and + how, after he retired, he rolled and tossed in awful agony until + about eleven o'clock, when he cried to God for mercy. God heard + his cries and came to his release. O hallelujah! It just makes me + shout to read his letters now. I can tell by them that he is + really resting in Jesus. He before seldom wrote more than two + pages, and now he writes from fifteen to twenty-four. And oh, + such letters! I just can't help but cry for joy when I read them + and realize that my precious papa is serving the only true and + living God. I give God the glory and all of the honor for what + has been done; and I praise God for using you as an instrument + through whom He worked. Eternity alone can reveal the result. + + My heart is full of praises to Jesus my King this evening. He has + done so much for me lately. He blesses me in soul and body and + supplies all my needs. + + I may go to C. soon and try to do something for my father. Pray + that God may lead me and that the devil may not hinder in any + way, if God sees fit to release papa from prison. I am perfectly + resigned to God's will. + + Your sister for Jesus, + M. H. + + (This daughter was a successful Christian worker.) + + + FROM AN EDITOR. + + Ashburn, Ga., May 12, 1897. + + Dear Sister: + + Grace and peace be multiplied to you. I received your letter and + communication for "Holiness Advocate," which will appear in the + next issue. Always let me know where to find you. I would have + written sooner, but have been away to Macon, where I saw Sister + Perry. She has been here and visited the convict camps since you + were here. I have been visiting those camps pretty regularly + since you left here. You put it on me and I am trying to be + faithful. You asked me in your letter if you knew me. Yes, I met + you here. It was in front of my store. You held the street + service here at Ashburn, while waiting for the train, and I was + with you until the train left. Well, sister, I will never get + done praising God for ever meeting you. It marked a new epoch in + my experience. I want you to take my paper on your heart. Ask the + Holy Spirit to run it for me and the Father to supply financial + help. I am trusting Him for it. How glad the prisoners in the + camp will be to hear from you in this way. I will send up to both + the camps a bundle of the issue containing your letter. I want + you all to pray for the South, that a deeper work may be done in + the hearts of the Holiness people; that the missionary spirit may + get hold of us so that we will send out our sons and daughters to + tell of Jesus' love to a perishing, dying world. + + May the Lord bless you and use you in the future even more + powerfully than in the past. Come and see us when you can. + + Yours, bound for Heaven, + J. LAWRENCE, + Ed. Holiness Advocate. + + * * * * * + + Ashburn, Ga., August 25, 1898. + + Dear Sister Wheaton: + + Your letter came to us all right, and you have no idea what + gladness it brings to us all to hear from you, and yet + conviction. For it certainly convicts us for the little we are + doing when we see how the Lord is enabling you to put in full + time. Pray for me that I may be more zealous. Things are taking a + deeper move in the South. A great number of the Holiness people + are getting down for a real experience. We have been satisfied + long enough with a profession. So you may expect something from + the South in the near future. Men and women giving themselves for + the foreign field and for the home field, working in the slums + and in the prisons and wherever God may lead them. Love to all + the saints at Tabor. I have never met any of them, but I do love + them and the work they are doing. "Blessed be the tie that + binds." + + God bless you, and may you be preserved blameless unto His + coming. + + Yours in Jesus' love, + J. LAWRENCE. + + + FROM AN EX-PRISONER. + + Sioux City, Ia., Jan. 31, 1901. + + Mrs. Wheaton: I don't suppose you will remember me, but possibly + you may, as I think I was one of the most wretched in or out of + prison at that time. It was at Sioux Falls, So. Dak., between + three and four years ago, if I remember correctly. You visited + the prison and spoke to us in chapel, and later in the day you + and a lady with you, came around to the cells. I was in cell No. + 13. You shook hands with me and asked, "Are you a Christian?" I + replied, "No." Again you asked, "Have you ever been one?" "No." + "Will you meet me in Heaven?" you asked again, and I answered, "I + will try to." You spoke only a few words, saying, "Do not be + discouraged." These few words and that warm hand-shake helped me + very much. I was indeed much discouraged. Life seemed dark + indeed. I was serving an eleven years' sentence. I was under deep + conviction of sin. Not long after that the blessed Christ came + into my heart. I believed on His name and He saved my soul. Two + years ago last August I was pardoned from the prison. The 17th of + last March I became Superintendent of a Rescue Mission in Dakota, + and for ten months or nearly that I was there and the Lord + blessed our efforts by saving souls. I am now married. My wife + was converted in the mission last June. She is an accomplished + musician and singer and, the Lord being willing, we expect to go + out and preach the gospel among railroad men in the near future. + + I have often thought of you and your labor of love among + prisoners. May God bless and encourage you in the work, is my + earnest prayer. I heard that you were in Sioux Falls at the + prison a short time ago. I did not know it in time to see you. If + the prisoners only knew what joy and peace there is in the + service of Jesus, it seems to me they would yield their hearts to + Him. Again I wish you godspeed in your work. May you have many + precious jewels for the Master's crown. To Him belong the praise + and glory. + + Good-bye, and God bless you and the sister that was with you. + Never be discouraged. Jesus loves and uses you. + + Yours, in His service, + T. F. M. + + * * * * * + + Sioux Falls, S. Dak., Feb. 9, 1904. + + Mrs. E. R. Wheaton. + + Dear Sister: Your card of November was received. Hope you will + pardon me for not writing before. I am glad that you are still + trusting Jesus, and working in His vineyard. May God bless, + comfort, strengthen and keep you. + + Jesus is coming again, perhaps soon. It may be that we shall be + alive when He comes. If so we shall be caught up together with + the dead in Christ to meet Him in the air, so shall we ever be + with Him. Blessed be His name. (I Thess. 4-17.) I want to exalt + Him. I want my daily life to be a testimony of His power to save + and to keep. Many years of my life were spent in sin. Finally I + was tried, convicted and sentenced to state's prison for a long + term of years. God says: "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he + also reap, for He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh + reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the + Spirit reap life everlasting." (Galatians 6:7, 8.) God's word is + true. + + I found my mind giving away and my body a physical wreck. I read + the Bible and God showed me that I was a lost man. I tried to + destroy my life, but God in his love and mercy would not permit + it. I was in great darkness. I said to a friend, there is no hope + for me in this life or the life to come, but I did not know Jesus + Christ nor His saving power. God sent His ministers each Sunday + morning to preach the blessed gospel, and one Sunday morning He + sent "Mother Wheaton" to us. In the afternoon, I believe it was, + she visited us in our cells. I had quarreled with my cell-mate, + and he had left me. Mrs. Wheaton came and shook hands with me, + and asked if I was a Christian. I said, "No." Again she asked, + "Have you ever been a Christian?" I replied, "No." She said, + "Will you meet me in Heaven?" I said, "I will try." With a warm + hand-shake and a few words of encouragement, she left me. God + helped me to believe in Jesus Christ, and there came into my life + joy and peace such as I had never known before, even in my best + days on the outside. + + After my conversion I asked God if it was His will that I might + be pardoned out. He also heard and answered that prayer. God is + love. He loves the vilest sinner. To-day I have a loving + Christian wife and two lovely children. I have no desire for the + old life of drinking, gambling, etc., but my desire is to love + and serve God and help my fellowmen to find Jesus, who is mighty + to save and to keep. To Jesus belongs all praise and glory. If it + is his will, may He use this testimony to bring souls to Himself. + + T. F. M. + + * * * * * + + 4064 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., + October 25, 1899. + + My Dear Mrs. Wheaton: + + I thank you so much for your letter. I was greatly pleased in + reading it. I will be so glad to see you when you come. I + realize, as you say, that I have never fully let go of myself in + the Master's work, but I have given my life to Him, and if I know + my own heart, I am willing to be and do anything He shall choose + for me. I love to help lost ones, and if the Lord should use me + as He does you, I believe I should be the happiest person in the + world. Do pray for me, won't you, that the Lord may lead me into + all His will? Time is flying, and soon all of our opportunities + will be over and our Lord will take us to Himself. Pray that the + Lord will keep me busy serving Him. I love you and pray for you. + May you be kept rejoicing in hope even though you see nothing but + sin and sorrow around you. (Psalm 125:5, 6.) + + Lovingly yours, + TULA D. ELY. + + * * * * * + + Sapphire, N. C., August 15, 1901. + + My Dear Sister: + + I received your letter to-day. I have been thinking about you and + praying for you often, and see by your letter that God has made + all of your trials a blessing to you and know that God can make + up for any loss He lets us have. What a hard time you did have, + dear sister. I praise God for bringing you through it with such + joy. Sometimes it seems true He does with us like He did with + Job--just tells Satan he may do everything but take our lives, + and when our self-justification and friends are gone, He joins us + in with Himself and makes us powerful in His own power. He knows + whether we want Him, and if we do we will be taken through death + to self and put to hard tests. It seems sometimes as if He hides + His face to let us suffer and say, "Though He slay me yet will I + trust Him." I am glad you are with the people who hold you up in + prayer. We need one another's prayers in these times when Satan + has so many snares. Tula is well. She and Mildred send love. + + Affectionately and in Jesus, love, + CLARA D. ELY. + + * * * * * + + S----, Colo., June 24, 1903. + + Dear Mother in Christ: + + May this find you well and happy in the Lord Jesus. We have not + forgotten you and we never shall. Our gospel tent meeting at P. + was a blessed time. Souls were saved and sanctified. We give all + the glory to Jesus. We are holding meetings here in our tent. The + Lord is blessing the preaching of His Word. The Lord willing, we + will begin a meeting at Raton, New Mexico, the 2nd of August. We + would like to have you with us if it were the Lord's will. The + Lord is helping us while we are here to open a home for poor + girls. We have rented a five-room house and He is giving us + everything we need for the home. Glory to God for all things! + + My brother H. is with us in the gospel work. God is blessing him + in singing the gospel. Remember us all in prayer. May the Lord + give you many souls in your work. We both send love to you. + + Your children, + J. E. AND WIFE. + +The above is of especial interest to me though the reader may have to +read between the lines, as it were, to understand why it is so. The +writers are faithful and efficient workers in the Master's cause. + + + A TESTIMONIAL. + + Columbia, South Carolina. + + To Christian Women: + + Dear Sisters: We have long known the bearer, Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, + and can testify as to her arduous labors for the most needy + classes. It was our privilege to have her in our Home for one + week and we certainly received the Lord's blessing during that + time. We are working for Christ, but her labors are more + abundant, her trials far greater. As she goes forth without + commission or salary she must depend entirely upon God. He + usually supplies her through His people. Few of us could work + where and as she does, but we may lovingly minister to her + necessity and the dear Lord will surely bless in so doing. Yours + in Christ, + + MARIA JONES, + ELLA F. BRAINARD. + +The writer of the following sketch was an orphan girl making her home, +when I first met her, with some of my relatives in Iowa. She was +raised by her aunt and was kept in school and in society till she was +grown. Having been converted at the age of twelve years and engaging +some in Christian work, soon after my first acquaintance with her she +received a call from God to devote her life wholly to His service. +Being an orphan the Lord gave me a mother's love and care for her. She +went with me to the Missionary Training Home at Tabor, from whence she +went as a missionary to India. While at the Home she was faithful in +caring for orphan children, etc., and traveled with me some, staying +at one time several months as a worker in a rescue home in Chicago, +and later spending some time in evangelistic work. I have elsewhere +mentioned her trip with me to the Pacific coast on her way to India. + + It was my privilege in the fall of 1903 to travel with Mother + Wheaton in Gospel work in prisons, jails, missions, churches, + etc. God made her a blessing to many souls who needed a mother's + love and sympathy. She always lifts up Jesus, that souls might be + drawn unto Him and be saved. We first visited the Reformatory for + Girls at Mitchelville, Iowa. We were kindly received by the + Superintendent who had been a friend of Mother Wheaton's for + several years. He gave her the privilege of holding services in + the chapel with the several hundred girls. She also visited the + girls in their cottages, singing, praying and talking with them. + + We then visited the prisons at the following places: Moundsville, + W. Va.; Baltimore, Md.; Allegheny, Pa.; Columbus, Ohio; Waupun, + Wis.; Stillwater, Minn.; Frankfort, Ky.; Nashville and Brushy + Mountain, Tenn. + + In the hospital of the prison at Waupun we visited Mr. Colgrove, + a prisoner who was converted fifteen years previously when Mother + Wheaton was holding a service in the prison. He was a life + prisoner but he yielded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and + was saved. During these years he proved by his daily walk that he + was a Christian. He often conducted the devotional exercises, and + he had taught three Bible classes, two in German and one in + English, until his health failed. As I bade him goodbye he said, + "I will meet you in the better world if I never meet you here + again." He was in poor health and a few months later died a + triumphant death. + + The prison physicians gave permission to visit the sick, for they + know the words of comfort and songs of cheer by Mother Wheaton + will give them encouragement and a desire to live for the better + world. + + In a Gospel Mission I heard an ex-convict testify to how God had + saved him from a life of sin. He said that he knew "Mother + Wheaton" but perhaps she did not know him dressed as he was; for + when she had met him before he was behind prison bars. He praised + God for such a person who was willing to work among that class of + people. I am sure there is much good accomplished in the prisons + for individuals as Mother Wheaton stands at the door after + services and shakes hands with the hundreds of prisoners as they + pass out. Her "God bless you" is not soon forgotten. When her + work is ended and the rewards of the righteous are given, many + will arise and call her blessed. + + GRACE YARRETT. + +[Illustration: MOTHER WHEATON.] + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + Sketches from Press Reports. + + +My call being not only to the prison bound but to every creature, the +newspaper men have received their part of the Gospel message and were +often instrumental in heralding some truth to their readers whom I +have been unable to reach in person. I have often been interviewed by +reporters regarding my work for the Master and they frequently give +accounts of meetings held in the prisons, on the streets, etc., very +correctly, though sometimes in a humorous style and from that +standpoint of the onlookers or the prisoners. In this chapter I give a +few sketches from reports of my work clipped from the papers. + + + A LABOR OF LOVE. + + A WOMAN WHO LEFT A LUXURIOUS HOME TO SERVE THE UNFORTUNATE. + + MRS. WHEATON AMONG THE CRIMINALS AT THE PENITENTIARY. + + SHE VISITS THE HOSPITALS, JAIL AND WORK-HOUSE--AFFECTING SCENES WHILE + SHE PREACHED. + +A white-haird lady, clad in deep mourning, carrying a volume bound in +morocco, visited the penitentiary yesterday. This was Mrs. E. R. +Wheaton. In a few minutes she was delivering a sermon to the convicts. +She is a remarkable woman. Four years ago she left a luxurious home in +Ohio to preach the gospel to convicts, and since then has exhorted in +the penitentiaries of thirty-seven States. She visits hospitals and +the abodes of fallen women, also, and has ministered to the wants of +thousands of unfortunates. An _American_ reporter asked her how she +happened to be engaged in the work. + +"No member of my family was ever in a prison or afflicted as are those +to whom I speak," she exclaimed; "my evangelical work did not +originate in any morbid sympathy because of personal bereavement. I +simply felt called of God to preach his word to the people, and have +entered upon it for the remainder of my life. My heart and soul are in +it, and though I am far from my dear ones I am happy." + +She had been speaking to the convicts but a few minutes when the +effect of her words of exhortation was visible. At first the majority +were listless, but as she warmed to her cause they responded with +closer attention and in fifteen minutes every eye was fixed intently +upon the gentle, earnest woman, who sought to save their souls and +bring a divine light to their benighted lives. When she closed her +discourse and asked if any desired her prayers twenty hardened men of +crime, with tears in their eyes, raised their hands and three advanced +to the mourners' seat. With these she prayed and every word was +fraught with all the potent power with which the voice of woman in +prayer is capable. The three unfortunates were moved as men seldom are +and at the close of the meeting professed conversion. + +Mrs. Wheaton then visited the hospital department of the penitentiary, +after which she went to the jail, work-house and city hospital and at +each place delivered a discourse. To-day she will see fallen +women.--Nashville American, Nashville, Tenn., 1887. + + + A PRISON EVANGELIST. + + ELIZABETH R. WHEATON TALKS AT THE COUNTY JAIL. + +Elizabeth R. Wheaton, the celebrated prison evangelist, visited the +Buchanan county jail yesterday, and conducted a religious service of +forty minutes' length. The evangelist pointed out the errors of her +hearers and advised them to make early amends. The evangelist assured +the audience that all they needed to be saved was faith. Wife murderer +Bulling was one of the evangelist's most attentive hearers, and the +horse thieves, burglars and other criminals were among her closest +listeners. Sheriff Spratt thinks much good will result from Evangelist +Wheaton's visit to the bastile.--St. Joe, Mo., paper, Aug. 8, 1889. + + + PRISON EVANGELIST. + +Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, prison evangelist, held services in the +county jail this afternoon, lecturing and singing to the eleven +prisoners there. She told in few words and four songs the whole plan +of salvation, and it didn't take her but twenty minutes to do it. She +talked a little while and sang "I Will Tell the Wondrous Story," +following with a few words of comment her rich contralto voice burst +into "You Must Be Born Again," followed in the same way. Then "It Pays +to Serve the Lord," and "Parting to Meet no More," closing with a +short prayer. These songs coming in the order they do, tell the whole +story and make a very pretty one.--Unidentified. + + + EVANGELISTIC SERVICE AT PRISON. + +Elizabeth Wheaton, a noble Christian woman who has consecrated her +life to work in prisons, jails, reformatories, houses of correction, +houses of refuge and hospitals, visited our city Saturday, and after +presenting her credentials was given hearty permission to hold +services at the prison on Sunday, Father Murphy, the Catholic +chaplain, whose day it was to officiate, kindly consenting to this +arrangement. Her manner would probably not be agreeable to an æsthetic +Christian audience in a fashionable, upholstered church, but she +knows how to reach the hearts of the men and boys who wear the +stripes, one of the prisoners, a Catholic, who has been behind the +bars for almost seventeen years, remarking that this was the best +service they had had there during his long term of imprisonment. No +one, be he Christian or pagan, could have listened to the service at +the prison chapel last Sunday without being convinced that there was +an opening for unselfish work among prisoners and that this lady was +pre-eminently fitted for such work. There is no mawkish sentimentality +about her, but an all absorbing zeal in the work of leading the +criminals, the erring, the lowly, the sick and the afflicted to Christ +and a better life. It is doubtful if there is an ordained minister in +the land who can do as much good in this field as this plain, +unpretentious, but thoroughly consecrated woman. She has now been +nearly five years in this work, and has visited nearly every prison in +the United States and Canada, a few in Mexico, and also the jails, +reformatories, houses of refuge and hospitals in all the prominent +cities through which she has passed. She has traveled almost 100,000 +miles and has never met with an accident. Wherever she goes she is +kindly received, non-Christians in fact treat her better than those +whose sympathy and co-operation she has a right to expect. Thus does +the world ever recognize and honor earnest, conscientious and capable +laborers in the cause of God and humanity. She never allows a +collection to be taken up in her behalf, though frequently invited to +speak in churches, but accepts such offerings as may come without +solicitation. Last Sunday, while she and the citizens in the audience +were retiring from the chapel, a Swedish servant girl, whose name is +unknown to the writer, took from her scanty purse a silver dollar and +gave it to Mrs. Wheaton. If the lesson of the story of the widow's +mite be true this humble girl's gift was greater than that of the +millionaire who gives thousands of dollars toward the erection of a +magnificent church edifice.--Stillwater, Minn., Messenger, Oct. 27, +1888. + + + MRS. WHEATON'S ELOQUENCE. + + CAUSES A SUFFERING WIFE TO FORGET HER BRUISES AND + FORGIVE HER CRUEL HUSBAND. + +The case of Henry Cooper was brought up before 'Squire F. yesterday +afternoon at 2 o'clock. + +Catharine Cooper stated that her husband had beat her brutally on last +Saturday afternoon and that this was not the first ill treatment she +had received at his hands. + +The court room was converted into a prayer meeting and Mrs. Wheaton's +prayers presented an affecting scene; before the trial was ended Mrs. +Cooper asked to withdraw her prosecution and was willing to forgive +her cruel husband. 'Squire F. ordered the prisoner to be taken to the +workhouse to work out the cost of the suit.--Chattanooga, Tenn., +paper. + + + FROM A PRISONER IN THE PRATT MINES STOCKADE, ALABAMA. + +To the Chronicle: + +Supposing a line or two from our prison, its surroundings, happenings, +etc., would be acceptable, prompts me to drop you this. + +The monotony of prison life is such that hardly anything transpires, +that would command the notice of a news reporter, or draw an article +from a newspaper correspondent. But, Mr. Editor, we had something to +take place here last night that beats anything we ever saw or heard +of. + +About the time all the convicts had finished eating the evening meal, +Captain P. J. Rogers announced that all should remain seated awhile, +to hear preaching. Now to hear preaching is no uncommon occurrence +here, Brother Rush preaches regularly for us, and occasionally other +ministers deliver discourses upon the importance of living the life of +a Christian, so when Capt. R. announced that we were about to have +preaching, no one experienced much motion of spirit. The minds of +those who gave the matter any thought were picturing in expectation, a +man, perhaps baldheaded, clad in a long priestly robe with Bible and +Hymn-book in hand, and of a solemn, or sanctimonious countenance, +others, perhaps, drew a different man in appearance, but none had +drawn the picture correctly. + +Imagine our surprise when instead of a man, a woman of mature age, +clad in the usual mourning apparel worn by the ladies, armed with +Bible and Hymn-book, mounted the rostrum, and announced that she was +going to preach to us. This announcement at once produced the most +profound and reverential silence imaginable--every eye was at once +riveted upon the face of the fair preacher, whose countenance wore a +pleasant smile and indicated an affectionate and amiable disposition, +and complete surprise or amazement was vivid upon the countenance of +her entire audience. The discourse was one worthy of the attention of +all who heard it--the sufferings of Jesus in and around Jerusalem--His +temptation and trial of toil and misery--His holy life--His triumphant +death and resurrection--His grand ascension to the realms of the +blessed, were eloquently delineated. The certainty of death--the +shortness of life--the never ending of the life beyond the grave were +theories eagerly pressed for reception upon the minds of her hearers. +Taking all in all, the discourse was well delivered and spiced with +enough enthusiasm to produce good effect. But, Mr. Editor, the idea +of a woman canvassing the world in behalf of the church is simply an +incident so unusual that quite a number of us here eagerly inquire, +what has become of the men? * * * * + +Elizabeth R. Wheaton, for such is the name of our distinguished +visitor, related among other things, that she was called and led by +the God of Glory to go all over the world and preach the gospel to the +lost children of men, that the prisons, saloons, dens of sin and +pollution were the places of her special care. The huts of the poor +and outcast were by her to be visited and that she did not ask for +money, that her Master had promised to provide all things for her and +did so daily. + + + SAW MOTHER WHEATON. + + THE NOTED PRISON EVANGELIST VISITED THE COUNTY JAIL PRISONERS TODAY. + +A kindly faced, white-haired old lady walked into the county jail this +morning and asked permission to address the prisoners. She was +"Mother" Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, the prison evangelist, who is known +from coast to coast. As soon as her identity was made known Turnkey +Reynolds and his corps of assistants did their utmost to assist the +generous old lady. She was shown through the building, and then +allowed to enter each ward. + +From 11 o'clock until long after the noon hour she remained with the +unfortunates, visiting them separately and then preaching to all. +Tears were in the eyes of many of these hardened criminals before she +had finished. + +"Mother" Wheaton was met at the jail entrance and asked to explain her +system of working. "It is all done by faith," she said. "I have faith +in God, and that is sufficient. He will provide me with all that is +necessary to carry on this work." + +"Under whose guidance do you work?" was asked. + +"The Lord's, and His only," was the reply. + +"But are you not employed by some religious sect?" + +"No. I do this on my own responsibility, and for the glory of God. For +the past fifteen years this has been my life's work. I go where I +please and do as I please." + +"How far have you traveled?" + +"Thousands and thousands of miles. Last year I was in Europe and have +been all over America." + +For the past forty years "Mother" Wheaton has been a professed +believer in Christianity. Fifteen years ago she started in the work of +visiting prisons, and has been in every place of detention in any city +of note. She is received with the utmost courtesy both by the +officials and the prisoners. Many of the latter have met her at +different places, and most all the officials are acquainted with her +and her work.--A Detroit paper. + + + THE PRISON EVANGELIST. + + MRS. E. R. WHEATON DELIVERS AN ADDRESS AT THE PENITENTIARY CHAPEL + SUNDAY MORNING. + +The service at the penitentiary chapel Sunday was made memorable by +the presence and discourse of Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, the world-known +prison evangelist. Chaplain Winget conducted the services and offered +the invocation and in a few explanatory remarks introduced Mrs. +Wheaton. Mrs. Wheaton's hair is white as silver, but she still retains +her ever-youthful appearance and sprightly step. She sang in an +indescribably sweet, but powerful, voice "Some Mother's Child." At the +conclusion of the singing Mrs. Wheaton preached a wonderful discourse. +"I was on my way to Jerusalem," said she, "and had gotten as far as +London, England, when the Lord turned me back to my own country and to +my suffering boys in prison; and I said God bless my children, my +boys, for I am their mother. + +"Oh! how sad and discouraged many of you are, but if you will believe +in God and read your Bible you will be comforted. How can any man have +the heart not to believe the Bible and rest his case upon the bosom of +the good Lord who died for us? I thank God that the good old-time +religion still lives. The devil, my children, causes you all your +sufferings and sorrows. Exchange him for Jesus. He will keep you. +Forgive your enemies and submit yourself to the officers of the +prison. You must obey--it is the Lord's will. He has placed you here +for his own purpose, maybe for your soul's good and salvation. Jesus +says, 'Come to me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you +rest.' Have faith. I am so sorry when some of you do wrong for the +innocent must suffer with the guilty and society becomes stern with +you. God bless you all."--Columbus, Ohio, paper. + + + MRS. ELIZABETH RIDER WHEATON PREACHES TO UNFORTUNATES. + + VISITS THE BRIDEWELL AND HEARS THE COMPLAINT OF + ONE OF THE CITY'S CHARGES. + +"What's the use? What have I to hope for? Who cares for me? Who'll +help me? What can I do when my time expires? Everybody's hand will be +against me! A hopeless drunkard is past redemption." + +Tears came to the eyes of Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton yesterday +afternoon as she heard these words fall from the lips of a dejected +prisoner at the bridewell. The prison and train evangelist whose work +for fifteen years among convicts had brought her many such questions, +which she was unable to answer to the satisfaction of the prisoners, +spoke to the wretched man in tender tones, and told him of the +consolation offered by religion. + +"But," she said, turning to a reporter, "what can I do in one +conversation? It needs many. I'm going back to Chicago next week, and +I intend to devote considerable time to every prison and house of +refuge in the city. I haven't done any work in the city since the +anarchist execution." + +Mrs. Wheaton's methods of evangelizing are sometimes dramatic. For +instance, Mrs. Wheaton arrived in Chicago from St. Louis on a Wabash +train early yesterday morning. Night before last, while the train was +speeding along in the darkness, the occupants of the reclining chair +car were startled. + +"Look out!" cried a voice in shrill tones. "We're coming to a high +bridge. Before we reach it we pass over a curve. The rails may be all +right, the bridge may be safe; but who knows?" + +The passengers turned around in their seats. They looked frightened +and appeared anxious to know whether there was really an impending +danger. They saw only a woman whose face, softened by grief, bore +lines of pain and care. She was Mrs. Wheaton. + +"But the Christian is not afraid to die," she continued. "He welcomes +death as a release from care and a blessing." + +Then the evangelist preached a sermon, to which all listened with +attention. + +Although Mrs. Wheaton has visited every state in the Union many times +during her fifteen years of missionary work, she has been in a +sleeping car but once. Railroads give her passes. She has no +property, and, of course, can collect no money from convicts, though +occasionally she receives a contribution on trains. + +"The trouble of it all," said she after her talk with the man in the +bridewell, "is not in the prisons. It is after the convicts get out. +For that, humanity is to blame. Prisoners have not much hope, and some +of them accept religion in a tentative sort of way. + +"When they are released they are hounded by the police, marked by all +citizens as ostracized men, unable to get employment, and, in fact, +the second termers tell me they are reduced almost to the necessity of +choosing between starvation and stealing. Those whose conversion is +real do neither, because no man need ever starve in this country, but +the weak go under and are brought back to jail. What the world needs +is more Christian charity. We should forgive, as our Saviour did, +seventy times seven." + +In addition to her charm as a speaker, Mrs. Wheaton is a singer of no +mean ability. She is not a believer in men who accept religion for the +sake of business and put on a sanctimonious air. The view that she +takes of life meets with favor among the convicts, and she sings a +song called "The Twin Ballots," which illustrates her opinion on the +temperance question. The song is about two rum votes that sanctioned +the license plan, "but one was cast by a cunning brewer and one by a +Sunday-school man." + +The evangelist left last night for Pittsburg, but will return next +week. She said she wished to impress upon people the fact that +converted prisoners are not hypocrites, although the guards often +suspect insincerity and treat a converted man worse than any other, +because they think he is seeking to curry favor.--A Chicago paper. + + + A DISGRACEFUL PROCEEDING. + +Thursday afternoon, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, the noted prison +evangelist, accompanied by a sister, asked permission from a +policeman, which was granted, to hold a street meeting for religious +purposes. + +After singing some hymns, which, from their superior rendition, +attracted a large crowd, Mrs. Wheaton, an elderly lady who has devoted +seven years of her time entirely to prison evangelical work, began an +earnest exhortation to sinners. After preaching for a few minutes +Officer C. came up and said that the mayor had ordered him to put a +stop to the proceedings. + +Mrs. Wheaton said she would do her duty without fear of man and +continued for a moment longer. Then the party knelt on the snow and +began to pray for the mayor and the policeman. While they were praying +the officer came up closely followed by Mayor J., and roughly pushed +Mrs. Wheaton over. The mayor with fire in his eye as well as his +complexion, spoke in a very rude manner to the ladies, practically +endorsing the rough treatment already accorded the party. + +Mrs. Wheaton showed _The Dispatch_ credentials from very high sources +and a very bulky bundle of railroad passes which gave substantial +evidence of the manner in which she and her work are regarded +elsewhere. + +She has traveled over the United States and Mexico, and parts of +Europe, and it remained for a Leadville mayor to break the record and +treat her with indignity. She was very much shocked and grieved and +said she felt deeply sorry for Leadville, which she had often heard +spoken of as a wicked city. + +_The Dispatch_ is free to say that Mayor J. acted without adequate +provocation and displayed an unnecessary exercise of authority. If the +services had been prolonged to any great extent he might have sent a +request to have them discontinued, but there was no occasion for any +such arbitrary exhibition of power as was made. + +Far greater blockades with less meritorious objects have existed +without protest in Leadville. A medicine faker who pays a few dollars +license can yell and sing and make night hideous for hours and it is +all right, but a humble evangelical missionary, whose sincerity and +good intentions are not doubted, however persons may differ concerning +the methods, is unceremoniously made to move on. If the authorities +displayed as much zeal in suppressing vice as they do in shutting off +missionaries, Leadville would be a model city. + +The prison evangelists, after having been ordered off Harrison avenue, +visited both city and county jails, where they were kindly received +and permitted by the officers to hold services among the prisoners. It +is said that this is the first religious service held in the Leadville +jails.--Leadville, Colo., Dispatch, March, 1891. + + + DISGRACEFUL. + +Last night, when the ladies who have been conducting religious +services in the park, were preparing to close, some miscreant in human +form threw a small torpedo at them and struck Mrs. Wheaton above the +right eye. It did not produce any serious injury, but was very painful +at the time, and may terminate worse than at first supposed. This act +evidently issued from some low, depraved fiend whom the darkness of +the hour shielded from justice. The ladies departed from the city this +morning, and the exact result of the disgraceful episode cannot be +learned. As soon as it was done some man in the crowd offered $100 +reward for the identification of the party who did the dastardly +trick, but of course no one knew who the miscreant was except he +himself.--Jacksonville, Ill., paper, June 26, 1887. + + + THE PRISON EVANGELIST. + +"Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, prison evangelist, Chicago, Ill. Meet me in +heaven. No home but heaven." This is what is printed on the card of a +remarkable woman who visited the penitentiary and talked to the +convicts at 11 o'clock on Sunday. This woman has been engaged in this +work for about nine years, and she has visited nearly every prison and +jail in the United States, Canada and Mexico. She is the Moody of the +convict world. She asks for no money. She gives her services free, and +trusts to Providence for her support. "The Lord provides," she says. +She has held services in a different state or territorial prison the +past five Sundays, from Stillwater, Minn. (where Cole Younger is +confined and assists in and sometimes leads religious services), to +Salem, Oregon. Mrs. Wheaton also visits reform schools. She is one of +the chief advocates of the reformatory system being adopted in some of +the Eastern prisons whereby convicts of different classes are graded +and kept separate, wear different uniforms, etc., and are also let out +on furloughs on trial or probation. Mrs. Wheaton devotes her whole +time to prison work. She certainly accomplishes some good from all +this effort. She was a Methodist before taking up this life work, but +now holds to no sect.--Salem, Oregon, paper, Nov. 16, 1891. + + + A NOBLE WORK. + +Among the evangelistic workers who go out among the people seeking the +low and degraded and trying to lift them up to be better men and +women, Elizabeth R. Wheaton is one of the chosen few who is well +adapted to this work. She asks no pay and receives none, but with +noble purpose and with heart and mind fully in the work which has been +given her, she travels from Maine to California and from British +Columbia to the Gulf of Mexico. + +Her work is chiefly among the state prisons, county jails and reform +schools. Here she meets a class of people schooled in vice and who +have been kept face to face with the different evils all their lives; +these are the people whom she seeks to save. + +Mrs. Wheaton has just returned from a successful trip through Mexico +and the South and is now on her way to Walla Walla, Portland and +British Columbia. She stopped off here to visit our penitentiary and +jail. Through the kindness of the warden she held a song service last +Sunday at the State penitentiary, and the amount of good which she did +was shown by the eager attention of the convicts, and the tear-stained +faces of some who, when the good old-fashioned hymns were sung, +thought of their far-away homes and mothers. Sunday evening she held +services at the jail and on the street, both of which were much +appreciated.--Unidentified. + + + GOSPEL FOR THE PRISONERS. + + THE INMATES OF ATLANTA'S PRISONS HEARD PREACHING YESTERDAY. + +The prisoners at police headquarters, at the jail and at the city +stockade listened to the gospel of Christ yesterday. + +Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, the famous prison evangelist, of +Washington, held services at all these places. Her talks were of the +most interesting character and evidently made deep impressions upon +her hearers. + +The service at the jail was held in the morning, the one at the +stockade in the afternoon, and the one at the police station at night. + +Mrs. Wheaton is perhaps the most famous evangelist of her kind in the +country. She makes a specialty of this work and follows it closely +week after week. She has preached to convicts and prisoners in every +state in the Union, frequently traveling as far as 700 miles between +Sundays in order to make an appointment. She has letters of +introduction from the governors of many states, and free passes on +railroads. She is here with the Christian Workers, but is not a +delegate.--Atlanta, Ga., paper, Nov. 14, 1893. + + + PRISON EVANGELISTS. + + THE INMATES OF THE COUNTY JAIL TREATED TO A SERMON. + +Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, the prison evangelist, who has been +traveling over the United States for ten years past, and two sisters +from Washington, D. C., and Kansas City, arrived in the city this +morning and held religious service in the county jail. The twenty-four +inmates of the bastile were much pleased with the service. + +Mrs. Wheaton and her companions held services yesterday at the +prison at Lansing, Kan., where 900 convicts are confined. Lately +they have come from the convict camp of South Carolina and Mrs. +Wheaton can tell many tales of the sufferings endured by the +prisoners there.--Unidentified. + + + THE NEWS AT LEAVENWORTH. + + MOTHER WHEATON, PRISON EVANGELIST, VISITS THE UNITED + STATES PRISON. + +Religious services at the federal penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth +yesterday were somewhat out of the usual order. Mother Wheaton, the +prison evangelist, late of Washington, D. C., now of Iowa, preached to +the convicts at the morning hour. Her address was a most effective +one and men all through the audience were moved to tears. At the close +of the service she stood at the chapel door and shook the hand of each +prisoner as he went out. + +Her head is white with age, yet she has visited the prisons of the +United States and many in Europe, bearing messages of hope and cheer +to the condemned. She is not alone a woman of ready speech, but is a +sweet singer as well. Her life is dedicated to her work, and many is +the unfortunate who has cause to bless the visit of Mother Wheaton. +Mrs. T., of this city, accompanied her to the prison.--Leavenworth, +Kan., paper. + + + JAIL SERVICE. + +The inmates of the county jail were honored yesterday by a visit from +that well known prison evangelist, Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, who was +accompanied by a Mrs. S., of Kansas. Mrs. Wheaton conducted religious +services and her talk had a deep effect upon murderer Williamson, the +old man being visibly moved. + +Mrs. Wheaton has made the visiting of prisons, condemned men and +fallen women her life work, and in the course of her travels during +the past seven years has visited Europe, the British provinces, Mexico +and the United States. As an example of her earnest efforts it may be +mentioned that during the past thirteen Sundays she has visited and +held services in fourteen different state penitentiaries. Mrs. Wheaton +is a lady of striking appearance. She has a motherly countenance and a +magnetism which attracts the closest attention to what she says. Her +discourse yesterday was eloquent, yet at times plain and pointed to +severity. Mrs. Wheaton left yesterday on the afternoon train for the +Pacific coast.--Sedalia, Mo., paper, November, 1891. + + + PREACHED TO CONVICTS. + +Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, the noted evangelist, and Mrs. Perry, +who are engaged in preaching and working among the prisons, visited +the Virginia penitentiary yesterday and held services in each chapel. +Their exhortations and singing were of a high order and produced a +powerful effect among the prisoners. Many of them made a profession of +faith. Mrs. Wheaton has preached in most of the penitentiaries of the +United States. She has also traveled and preached in Canada and Mexico +as well as in the Old World. The ladies are being entertained by +Superintendent Lynn and will remain in the city several days. + + + POLICE STATION SERVICES. + + MRS. ELIZABETH RIDER WHEATON TALKS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FORCE. + +Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, the evangelist, was at the police +station last night at roll call and held a short service for the +benefit of the members of the police force. She delivered an +interesting address to the officers and offered a prayer, after which +she led them in a song. The officers expressed themselves as having +been greatly benefited by the service, and the evangelist was invited +to call again.--Unidentified. + + + SERVICES AT THE WORKHOUSE. + +"Mother" Wheaton, the prison evangelist, who was mentioned last Monday +as holding meetings in Island Park the day before, called at the +police station this morning to ask permission to talk and sing to the +prisoners confined in the workhouse. The permission was granted. The +lady has traveled extensively in her evangelistic work, making flying +trips all over the United States especially. Within the last thirty +days she has talked to prisoners at Walla Walla, Tacoma and in other +northwestern cities. While in this city she is the guest of her +sister, Mrs. Huffman, of Kenwood.--Elkhart (Ind.) Paper. + + + A STRANGE LIFE OF DEVOTION IN NEGLECTED FIELDS. + +The prisoners in the Dade coal mines made the acquaintance yesterday +of two women--two religious tramps, if you please, using the word +literally--whose adventures in evangelizing are probably without +parallel. + +They are Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, the famous prison evangelist, +and her temporary assistant, Mrs. P. + +Mrs. Wheaton has for ten years been preaching in prisons, convict +camps, houses of ill-fame and the like, not only in the United States, +but in Canada, Mexico and Europe. One, upon meeting her, would +naturally be very uncertain as to where one might or might not meet +next this spirit-led traveler--recognizing which uncertainty, perhaps, +she has printed upon her cards, in lieu of an earthly address: + +"Meet me in heaven." + +The two women visited the jail Thursday, becoming very much interested +in the case of P. S., it seems, on account of his relationship to Rev. +S. J. Mrs. Wheaton spoke of P. as a "beautiful black-eyed young +married man." + +They took part in the Christian alliance meeting Friday afternoon at +51 James street, at which over thirty people were present. + +They will hold special services at the coal mine convict camps to-day, +returning to Atlanta within a few days. They carry this letter--an +"open sesame" to every prison and camp in Georgia: + + "Atlanta, Ga., June 30.--To the captain in charge of convict + camps in Georgia: I desire that each of you extend to these + ladies, Mrs. Wheaton and Mrs. ----, any courtesies possible + during their stay with you; that they may be given opportunities + to talk to the men and women in your charge. I will particularly + appreciate any kindness shown them. The governor also requests + that they be shown courtesies." + +It is signed by George H. Jones, the principal keeper. "Courtesies," +by the way, is spelled "curtisys" in the letter, but it's official, +and "it goes." + +Return to Atlanta--that is to say they will return unless the spirit +moves Mrs. Wheaton to go on from Chattanooga to St. Louis, or +Montreal, or Berlin, or somewhere else. + +Coming to Atlanta on the Richmond and Danville, Mrs. Wheaton was moved +to hold services in the smoking car. Just as the train was rolling out +of Calhoun, S. C., Mrs. Wheaton spied some convicts at work. + +Convicts! + +Instantly she decided to stop over. She and Mrs. P. bundled up their +wraps and packages and got off after the train had started. They knew +nobody there. They had no money--that is, "not enough to count." +Somehow or other they got transportation to and from the station, and +supper, and to other works, and arranged a meeting. It was a glorious +meeting, they say. + +Mrs. Wheaton's faith--and railroad passes, she adds laughingly--have +kept her going for ten years. + +She traveled 5,000 miles between one Sunday and the second Sunday +afterwards, collecting only fifty cents on the way. + +The Lord will provide, she knows. + +The faith that removes mountains is here in reality. + +Always on the go--never stopping but a day or two in one +place--meeting men to be hanged the next day--praying with fallen +women--interceding with governors for human life--blindly following, +without regard to time or distance, the mysterious dictates of what +she calls "the Spirit." + +She is so well known now throughout the United States--having been +engaged in this work for ten years--that she is rarely refused a +railroad pass. She has letters of commendation from governors and +prison authorities. * * * + +Mrs. Wheaton's services in the jails and convict camps are unique, +remarkable for their fervency and impromptu character. Singing plays +an important part. * * * + +Mrs. Wheaton has made many wonderful conversions in the slums and +prisons, and has seen many famous criminals in their last hours. + +She is the guest in Atlanta of Mrs. J. H. Murphy, at 267 East Cain +street.--Atlanta (Ga.) Herald, July 2, 1893. + + + PREACHING ON THE STREETS. + +Thursday evening the sound of an alto voice singing a familiar hymn on +Sandy street, near Murphy's corner, soon gathered a crowd, when a +lady, whose hair was beginning to silver with gray, mounted a box and +preached to the mixed assemblage a sermon, after which the singing was +resumed, the meeting concluding with a fervent and earnest prayer. A +reporter called at the hotel and learned that the lady was Mrs. +Elizabeth R. Wheaton, a prison evangelist. Heretofore she has had a +"sister" to travel with her. She showed the reporter stacks of letters +from the wardens of various state penitentiaries, commending her, and +praising the work she has done in this specialty. She has preserved +files of newspaper criticisms, many of which are complimentary of the +work she has done, and some from the secular press making light of her +work. + +That she is in earnest no one who considers that she has given up home +and friends and roamed all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and +in part of Europe to preach to unappreciative street crowds, prison +convicts, etc., can doubt. And whatever may be said of the method, as +was illustrated on the streets here last night, there are many +reached with a sermon that have not perhaps heard one for +months.--Unidentified. + + + PRAYER SERVICE IN JAIL. + +Through the efforts of Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, the prison evangelist, the +county jail was turned into a house of prayer last evening, and for an +hour or more the walls of the building resounded with the shouts of +prayer and praise of this earnest woman. + +During the afternoon Mrs. Wheaton called on Gregory, the horsethief +and desperado, and was the first to bring to the surface in his case +any signs of remorse or sentiment of any kind. When the gray-haired +and motherly woman took the hand of the confessed thief and ex-convict +in hers and prayed for him great tears flowed down his cheeks and he +was affected as none of the other prisoners had been. Gregory said he +had known Mrs. Wheaton for fourteen years. She does not remember him, +but says it is not unlikely that he has seen her if he has been in the +several prisons in which it is said he has served time, as she has +been visiting them all off and on in her work for a great many +years.--Council Bluffs, Iowa, Nonpareil, Jan. 19, 1900. + + + THEIR WORK IS IN PRISONS. + +Party of Evangelists Pay a Visit to the County Jail. + +Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, the prison evangelist, was in Butte for +a short time yesterday on her way west, and between trains conducted +services in the corridor of the county jail. + +In addition to being an earnest exhorter, Mrs. Wheaton, despite the +fact that she is well advanced in years, is the possessor of a fine +voice. When she sings in a prison the most hardened criminals never +fail to listen to her with great respect. During the services in the +jail yesterday clerks and court officers ceased from their duties and +with the people who had business in the building, blocked the passage +ways leading to the jail to listen to her. The other members of the +party also delivered exhortations and joined in the singing. The +farewell hymn, given in a clear soprano voice by Mrs. Wheaton, "God be +with you till we meet again," was especially sweet. Whether the +services made any lasting impression on the men behind the bars cannot +be known, but the fact remains that when they were over there was an +unusual quiet in the jail and the air seemed more wholesome. From +Butte she went to Deer Lodge to visit the penitentiary.--Butte, +Montana, paper, 1897. + + + STREET SERVICES. + +On Wednesday and Thursday our town was visited by two lady +missionaries or preachers of the gospel. They were perfect strangers +here and claimed that their mission was to try to open the eyes of +sinful people and beg them to come to Christ. They sang, prayed and +preached upon the streets, and at the colored church, having been +refused the use of some of the white churches. We know not whom these +persons are, or from where they came, but we do know that they were +very lady-like in their conduct, and there was a terrible earnestness +about their work. They preached pure gospel in the most Christ-like +manner that it was ever our privilege to hear--down upon their knees +in the streets, surrounded by a motley multitude, begging God in a +most pleading and fervent manner to save the sinners of this place, +and singing glorious praises to Him on this beautiful day of national +thanksgiving, was a spectacle that we had never expected to witness. +Whether or not this is proper in the eyes of the world we cannot say, +but if their work is earnest as it seems, they will be rewarded in +heaven.--Unidentified. + + + FOR PRISONERS. + + TOUCHING SCENES IN BANGOR JAIL.--GOOD DEEDS THAT + SHINE IN MORAL DARKNESS. + +Never were gospel hymns--words of comfort set to hopeful music, sang +more sweetly and earnestly, or with better effect than were the songs +of a plainly dressed woman of tranquil face and gentle manner in the +echoing corridors of Bangor jail Tuesday afternoon. + +This woman was Mrs. Elizabeth Rider Wheaton whose home is everywhere +in earth's saddest ways. She is a prison evangelist and her card bears +the simple admonition: "Prepare to Meet Thy God." + +She came lately to Maine, and arrived in Bangor Tuesday noon from +Belfast. On the train Mrs. Wheaton talked of Christian things, and she +sang hymns to the passengers--"Throw Out the Life Line" and other +well-remembered songs--in a way that reached the hearts of all. When +she got here she went for a few minutes to a low-priced hotel, and +thence to the county jail. The officials received her kindly, and the +prisoners, who, after their dinner of soup, had gone into the work +shop, were brought in to hear some of the kindest words and most +touching songs that they had listened to for many a day. + +Those innocent and comfortable Christians who have only heard hymns +sung in churches or chapels to well-dressed and presumably good +people can have no idea of the sweetly weird effect of gospel melodies +swelling in the vast and dismal spaces of a jail, while gathered +around are the very lost sheep that the shepherds of churches are +commanded to find. It is a reproachful picture from the realism of +blasted lives--a startling, chilling glimpse of the depth of +wretchedness, lighted up by a feeble ray from the goodness that yet +survives amid it all. + +Some old and hardened habitues of jails mock and sneer at the voices +raised in their behalf and scoff at the hands held out to lift them +up, but most men, in jail or out, treat women like this with silent +respect. It was so in the jail Tuesday. + +When the men had filed out to the broom shop again Mrs. Wheaton went +to a cell occupied by two elderly women and talked and sang to them. +The women, whose wickedness all lay in drink, seemed pleased and +affected. They thought this evangelist the kindest they had ever met. + +The evangelist may hold some meetings here before she leaves. She was +much pleased with her reception in Bangor, and would like to remain a +few days. She has letters of recommendation from the governors of +several states and from the officials of numerous prisons. She belongs +to no army or organization, but travels independently, doing what good +she can.--Bangor, Me., paper. + + + ELIZABETH R. WHEATON. + + THE NOTED PRISON EVANGELIST PAYS THE TRINIDAD JAILS A VISIT. + +Elizabeth R. Wheaton, the well-known prison evangelist, arrived in the +city Monday evening and yesterday visited the county and city jails, +where she talked and prayed with the poor unfortunates confined +therein. * * * More than one poor fellow has blessed the short hour +when her motherly presence and sweetly spoken words of comfort have +made his fate seem easier to bear, while repentant tears have filled +the eyes of many a hardened criminal when listening to her pleadings. +She approaches the most degraded with a familiar motherly air, which +at once wins their most profound respect and reverence. * * * + +Mrs. Wheaton expects to leave today for Pueblo where she will be +joined by a sister in the work, when they will continue their journey +together. She spoke very highly of the courteous treatment received +from the officers and of the cleanly condition of the jails.--Daily +Advertiser, Trinidad, Colo. + + + VISIT FROM MISSIONARIES. + +Elizabeth Rider Wheaton, better known as "Mother Wheaton," the prison +evangelist, and Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, of Tabor, Iowa, called at the +Institution Thursday afternoon on a missionary errand. Mother Wheaton +has spent fifteen years in evangelical work among the inmates of the +various prisons throughout the United States. Her friends among the +convicts are numbered by the thousands. We so rarely meet with any one +who really sympathizes with us in our misfortune that when these two +good women come inside the walls for no other purpose but to encourage +us to do better and give assurance of their love and good wishes, we +are made to feel that we are still human and may hope for a better +day. By reason of the chapel building undergoing repairs, it was +impossible for them to meet many of the boys or hold services.--A +Prison Paper. + + + A REMARKABLE SCENE. + + A WORK OF LOVE BY AN ELDERLY LADY.--THE SCENERY OF OAK CLIFF. + +Last night the moon shed its full luster slightly dimmed by thin +clouds. + +The crowd stood by a negro church at the point of the hill, just above +the creek banks at their intersection. The view from the top of the +hill was enchanting. + +The lady passed the crowd and stopped in the moonshine in front of the +church. Here she was joined by a party of three other ladies and two +men, whom she had preceded a little. Two of the ladies held babies in +their arms. + +In a strong and beautiful alto voice a song burst forth from the lips +of the elderly lady: "I Will Tell the Wondrous Story of the Christ Who +Died for Me." Her companions joined her in the song and the refrain +echoed far and near over the hillsides: "Of the Christ who died for +me." + +The inhabitants heard it. + +But this is the part of Oak Cliff inhabited by negroes. In response +they swarmed out as would have done the followers to the signal of +Roderick Dhu. + +Pretty soon the church was filled and a few white people were among +the audience drawn thither by the song. + +The services were begun with prayer by the elderly lady, whose hair, +when she had removed her bonnet, shone silvery gray. It was nothing +out of the usual order of prayers except that it was accompanied with +unusual fervor and simplicity being adapted to the circumstances. If +any had assembled through curiosity she prayed that their hearts would +be turned. + +Then came other singing and prayer by a good colored sister named +Cynthia Maria, who wore a white bonnet, and chanted her words, making +the scene a wierd one. + +Then the elderly lady rendered in beautiful solo, "Oh Christ, I am +lost forever. I am to confront an angry God," from which she began her +discourse, pleading to her colored hearers to open their hearts that +night. She said she had the old time religion. This announcement was +greeted with religious laughter from the congregation. The women had +not been allowed to preach and she thought that there were souls in +perdition on this account. People said that she had no business there +last night. She had business in glory and was going to help crown +Christ the Lord of Lords. For seven years she had been a pilgrim and +had traveled from ocean to ocean and from state to state without +receiving a salary or taking up a cent. There was the same God with +her who was with Daniel in the lions' den, and who led the Children of +Israel through the Red Sea. She had seen sore trouble, but there were +few who knew it. She had the old-time religion, and that was what her +hearers needed. She forsook home and country to go and preach the +gospel to convicts and fallen women and most of her friends had +forsaken her for this. She used to be proud. She had given up pride +and given up style. She was glad that God had called the meeting. She +did not know that she was to preach there until yesterday afternoon +when someone informed her that the colored people wanted her to +preach. She had visited the county jail last Sunday and prayed and +sang with the prisoners. Some of them had forgotten about the old-time +religion and requested her to sing the song having that title. + +Here the woman began that song joined by the congregation, a large +number of whom got happy. It required the efforts of several of the +colored portion of the congregation to hold down one sister who wore a +straw hat and got shouting happy and paid no attention to her +surroundings. + +After a short talk by Rev. B., colored, the congregation was +dismissed. + + + AT THE COLORED CHURCH. + + MRS. ELIZABETH R. WHEATON LECTURES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF + CONVERSION--SHE SAYS THE HARDEST PEOPLE TO CONVERT ARE PREACHERS. + +As a News reporter and a News special artist, guided by a friendly +star, wended their muddy way last night to the little negro church +upon the hill at Oak Cliff, they overtook two solemn looking figures +going up an incline. One of them proved to be the famous prison +evangelist, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton. This lady turned her face to +the News emissaries and inquired in a sweet silvery tone: + +"Going to church, brothers?" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Oh, God bless you, brothers, come on." + +A few minutes later the church was reached. The penitent sister with +the white bonnet, who was inspired on the previous night and started +to shouting, had already arrived, as also had the good sister who +called on the baseball man to run from the devil. What influence +drives those simple worshipers to shouting and to imitate flying, is a +question for the psychologists. Certain it is that the little and the +great are linked together in this life and perhaps the present is +linked to the future. Quien sabe. The meeting last night was free from +shouting, but fervid with emotion. On arriving in front of the church +Mrs. Wheaton turned her face to the pale moon, which had sailed high +in the heavens, and sang "Sweet are the tidings that greet the +pilgrims' ear." As she sung she gesticulated and her gray hair shone +like silver. She had not gone beyond the third line of the said +stirring hymn before the penitents inside of the church started to +sing a hymn and then the scene was as impressive as the music was +discordant. The hymns over, Mrs. Wheaton knelt on the wet ground and +prayed while Deacon Banks did likewise inside of the church. The +interjections were so many that he was forced to use short sentences. + +"Come one, come all, while it is day." + +"O, yes, Lord, we come, we'se a'comin'." + +"O Lord, put the move on and call us away." + +"O, yes, good Lord, we come." + +At this point Mrs. Wheaton entered and ascended the low pulpit from +which, for a moment, she silently surveyed the assembled multitude of +black faces. She was wreathed in smiles, looking like the sun of +righteousness shining on a dark, murky cloud of suffering humanity. + +"God grant," she observed, "that nobody goes down to the lake of +fire." "God grant it, ma-a-a-m." "Oh-oh-bo-bo." "Nobody knows de +trouble I see," and any number of exclamations each giving vent to an +exclamation suited to the feelings of the penitent. The mention of +fire seemed to cause a panic among the good colored people with a +single exception. He was a dude who did not deign to sit down, but +stood near the door seemingly watching the females. Only once did he +drop on his knees and that was when he discovered the News artist in +the act of tracing his outlines on the flyleaf of a prayer book. + +Mrs. Wheaton then lectured upon the importance of conversion. As she +proceeded, describing the fate of convicts and other sufferers, the +iron of the ways of the world seemed to enter her soul and she wept. +Nobody who hears her doubts her sincerity. She does not criticise the +fallen; she weeps for them. The folks in heaven do the same. Only once +last night did she criticise, and she said she did it for a benevolent +purpose, and as she did it (as indeed throughout her entire remarks) +the colored woman with the man's straw hat interlarded her remarks +with her own opinions rendered in a whanging, chanting voice. This was +how it ran: "The churches have got away from the old land marks [yes, +ma'am; deed they has, ma'am]. It is hard, hard work to reach preachers +[yes, ma'am; yes, ma'am]. The big white preachers and the colored +preachers are nearly just as bad [O Lord, yes; good Lord ye-e-s, +ma'am.] They put on plug hats, jewelry and the trickery of the devil. +If preachers would do their duty I would not have to visit the +penitentiaries. Oh, the hardest work I have is to preach to preachers. +[Dat's so, ma'am; dat's so!] How many of you are living in +lasciviousness, the sin that's hidden but that God sees? It is going +on in the churches among some of the preachers. [Ah, yes, ma'am: good +Lord! Deed'n 'tis, ma'am]. Ah! I have got to go to judgment and I will +tell you the truth. There are other sins, but I do not want to mention +them because I feel that you know all about them; but they won't be +hidden and unless you have a pure spirit and a clean heart you can +never see the face of God. Now say you will sin no more. [Several +voices in alto: A-a-a-men.] These white churches," proceeded Mrs. +Wheaton, "are a little worse than the colored churches, for there is a +little Holy Ghost left in the colored churches. Oh, how many of those +white church members are going down to hell! It grieves me to think +of it. I'm going to meet some of you in glory. After I get there the +first ones I want to see crowned are the poor convicts who have been +murdered on the scaffold after they had turned their faces to God, and +those poor convicts who have suffered, oh, you know not how much, how +much, without human sympathy." + +At this point a sad-looking man volunteered a hymn, during the singing +of which much of Mrs. Wheaton's remarks were drowned. Mrs. Wheaton +resumed: "It troubles my heart to see the people drifting down, down +to hell. I feel like getting down to the foot of the cross and crying +mercy. For the attractions of this world I have no use; I have no use +for newspaper puffs. [They's no good, ma'am: yes, ma'am.]" + +The way in which the penitents chimed in as Mrs. Wheaton proceeded +rendered it impossible to report her fully. The best that could be +done was to catch sentences on the fly. The stronger she appeared to +her colored listeners to seek for mercy the longer they sought it. +Their bodies were moved by their souls. Some swayed from side to side; +others placed their faces on their hands and wept; others wrung their +hands, and there was weeping and wailing. + +This was the state of affairs at the conclusion of the address. Just +then Deacon Banks started a hymn and a few others drifted off into +different familiar hymns, so that the music was varied. It was a +spontaneous outburst of songs of praise from away down in the bottom +of afflicted hearts which pays no attention to the measures of music. +The singing was awful. One female screeched and no two voices were in +harmony. + +At the conclusion of the hymn a deacon kneeling by a chair prayed, +striking the chair with his fists while a hundred voices accompanied +him. It was impossible to follow him throughout, but among other +things he said: "I know that hell is broad and eternity too long. Oh +King, King, Lord have mercy on us. Guide us by the still water's side +and give us new pastures. Bless this congregation in the hollow of thy +hand, amen." + +Mrs. Wheaton informed the News reporter that she will not go to +Galveston.--Dallas News. + + + PRISON WORKER VISITS TACOMA. + + "MOTHER" WHEATON CALLS AT COUNTY JAIL AND FEDERAL + PENITENTIARY.--KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD.-- + TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF HER LIFE DEVOTED + TO LABOR AMONG UNFORTUNATES + OF MANY NATIONS. + +"I trust in God and the railroad men." + +This is the explanation of her ability to carry on her work, expressed +by "Mother" Wheaton, the prison evangelist, who has an international +reputation for her work in the penitentiaries of the United States, +Canada, Mexico and Europe. Mother Wheaton is in Tacoma carrying on her +work among prisoners, work that has taken her into every penitentiary +in the United States and Canada. For over twenty-one years she has +carried the gospel to the men in stripes and to those who wear the +broad arrow of England's displeasure, and it is Mother Wheaton's boast +that during all that time she has never asked for a contribution or +received a cent of salary. + +Mother Wheaton came to Tacoma from her headquarters in Tabor, Ia., +accompanying Miss Grace Yarrette, a young woman who is going as a +missionary to India. + + + MANY YEARS IN PRISON WORK. + +There is no woman in the world, and perhaps no man, who has had the +prison experience of Mother Wheaton. The last twenty years of her life +have virtually been spent inside prison walls, and there is not many +in the country in which she is not a familiar figure. Long terms and +lifers all over the land know her. Frequently she inquires for some +prisoner whom death or the leniency of the law has released, whom she +has not seen or heard of for years. + +Dressed in a soft gray suit, with a gray bonnet, Mother Wheaton's +appearance is distinctly motherly, and her smile the personification +of kindness and tenderness further bears out the "Mother" by which she +is known to thousands of unfortunates. She is the guest of Mrs. Ellen +M. Bates, 1211 North Prospect street. She is at work from the time she +arises in the morning until services are over in the evening. While +her principal work is in the prisons and penitentiaries she takes part +in evangelical and religious work and finds time to visit rescue homes +where her advice is eagerly sought. + + + MANY EXPERIENCES. + +"Experiences?" Mother Wheaton exclaimed, when asked if her life had +not been productive of many events out of the ordinary run. +"Experiences, why I have had so many and such varied experiences that +they are all a jumble in my head. I have been in nearly every prison +in the land. I have consoled men who were but a few feet from the +gallows and I have held the hand of those unfortunates as they sank +into their last sleep in a cheerless prison hospital. + +"I have seen sights that made my blood run cold and then I have had +the joy of seeing the word of God prevail and the most case-hardened +sinners the human mind could conceive of have reformed before me. It +has been a curious mixture of sunshine and shadows, but after +twenty-one years I think I can say that the sunshine has predominated. +I put my trust in God for my work and I trust the railroad men for +transportation, and between the two I believe I have been fairly +successful." + + + ONCE TAKEN FOR CARRIE NATION. + +"I have spent nights in the toughest slums of New York, Chicago and +St. Louis, places where men by force of habit always carry their hand +near their hip pocket, and I have not always been welcomed. Sometimes +I have been roughly handled, yes, indeed. Why, one time I was mistaken +for Carrie Nation. Of course I don't look like Carrie Nation, and I +would never think of adopting smashing methods. I was holding services +in San Pedro, California, one night, and went into a saloon. There +were two bright looking young men standing at the bar and I asked them +to come with me. The owner of the saloon was sitting at a faro table +in the back end of the saloon, and as soon as he caught sight of me he +rushed at me and literally threw me out into the street. + +"When he learned afterwards who I was he was very sorry and avowed +that he would never have treated me in that manner had he not thought +that I was Carrie Nation and that I had a hatchet to chop up his +expensive bar fixtures." + + + OPPOSES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. + +"As sad an experience as I ever had in my life was my effort to save +the life of a young man who was condemned to hang in Colorado. I heard +of the case through the young man's mother, who was heart-broken. I +interceded with Governor Peabody and secured a reprieve for a year, +and when Governor McDonald took office he fixed the date for the +death of the young man. I tried to save him the second time, but +public sentiment demanded his death. I don't believe in capital +punishment. I have seen how a man can be punished in prison and I +don't believe in taking a life to avenge a life, for stripped of all +the specious arguments which surround capital punishment, it simmers +down to nothing more than revenge." + + + ESTABLISHES NEW RECORD. + +"I think I established a prison visiting record upon one trip. I +visited five penitentiaries in as many states in a week. I started at +Deer Lodge, Montana; from there I went to Boise, Idaho; then to +Rawlins, Wyo.; then to Salt Lake City, and from Salt Lake City to +Lincoln, Nebraska, all of which I call pretty fast traveling. I hold +meetings on the train, in depots, at water tanks, any place I can +gather a little knot of people together, and I could tell of some +queer conversions in out of the way places, the last places in the +world where you would expect the seed to sprout and bear fruit. + +"I was over to the federal prison on McNeil's Island Saturday, and +this morning I went to the county hospital. This afternoon I called at +the county jail. I will be here a day or so longer and then must start +East, as I have work to do in New York City. You see I will have to +stop at the prisons on the way back and I have to make allowances for +delays." + +Mother Wheaton has become interested in Grace Russell, the young woman +in the county jail, who is addicted to the use of morphine. Mother +Wheaton will try to secure a place for her in some home.--Tacoma, +Washington, paper of July 31, 1905. + +I give the following extract from a Baltimore paper published while I +was there attending the Convocation of Prayer in that city, January, +1903: + + + SPIRITUAL ADVISER OF FAMOUS CRIMINALS. + + WORK OF "MOTHER" WHEATON IN PRISONS ALL OVER THE LAND. + +For twenty years Mrs. Wheaton has been traveling throughout the United +States, Europe, Canada and Mexico, working among prisoners in hundreds +of prisons and penitentiaries. On a number of occasions she has +converted criminals under death sentence. She has preached in the +Maryland Penitentiary. + +Mrs. Wheaton came to Baltimore direct from Ohio, where she had been +holding prayer in the cells of the state prison with eight men +condemned to die. She was in San Francisco a number of years ago when +Alexander Goldenson killed his sweetheart, Mamie Kelly, and after +Goldenson had been tried, convicted and sentenced to death "Mother" +Wheaton prayed with him for forty days. The day of the execution, +September 14, 1888, he was converted through her instrumentality, and +just before walking to the gallows she tied her silk handkerchief +about the condemned man's neck. + + + IS NOT A STRANGER. + + OLD-TIMERS AT COUNTY JAIL GREET MRS. WHEATON AS LONG-TIME FRIEND. + +Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, of Tabor, Ia., famous in this and other +countries as a worker among the inmates of jails and penitentiaries, +yesterday morning went to the county jail and prayed and sang hymns +with the prisoners in the tanks. + +Although her time was very much circumscribed, Mrs. Wheaton shook +hands with most of the prisoners, many of whom had heard of her, and +some of whom had met her in other prisons. John King, awaiting his +transportation to Walla Walla, and one of the most admittedly +professional criminals in the jail, stated that he had met "Mother +Wheaton" several times before, both at Salem and at Walla Walla. + +Both he and J. H. Le Roy, another old-timer, had many anecdotes to +tell of her kindnesses in past years.--Paper of August 9, 1905. + + The above sketch was accompanied by a cut from protograph taken + by the reporter and a nicely finished photograph presented me. + From this photograph the cut was made that is inserted at the + beginning of this chapter.--E. R. W. + + + PRISONERS ON BENDED KNEE. + INMATES OF COUNTY JAIL BOW IN PRAYER WITH MOTHER + WHEATON. + +On bended knees and with low bowed heads nine prisoners at the county +jail reverently followed a prayer addressed to the throne of grace in +their behalf yesterday by Mother Wheaton, the noted prison evangelist. +Under the remarkable influence of the woman who came among them as a +messenger of soul-saving, every rough instinct of the men was quelled +and every scoffing word hushed on their lips. No more devout prayer +meeting was ever held in a sanctuary than that which took place in the +jail corridor. + +Mother Wheaton and a younger woman called upon the prisoners and sang +a song such as the men might have heard their mothers or sisters sing +in the long ago, when their feet had not strayed from youthful paths +of innocence. If there was any inclination to ridicule or make light +of the service at the start, it was entirely subdued inside of five +minutes. Mother Wheaton talked to the men and told of the work she has +been doing for twenty years among the inmates of jails and +penitentiaries. She declared that she and her assistant wanted to help +save them. + +There was no hesitation whatever when Mother Wheaton asked the +prisoners to get down on their knees. One and all, the nine assumed +the attitude of humble submission to the deity and remained in that +position until their patroness had finished her petition for the +pardoning of their sins. Some of the men were seen to blink +significantly and wipe their eyes with handkerchiefs. When the prayer +was done and another hymn rendered, the men joining in, hands were +shaken all around before the visitors departed. + +Mother Wheaton has been coming to the Council Bluffs jail for +several years. She was in the city on her way from Nevada to +Wisconsin.--_Council Bluffs Paper._ + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + Furnished unto Every Good Work. + + + Who will man the life-boat, who the storm will brave? + Many souls are drifting helpless on the wave; + See their hands uplifted; hear their bitter cry: + "Save us ere we perish, save us ere we die!" + + See! amid the breakers yonder vessel toss'd, + Onward to the rescue, haste, or all is lost; + Waves that dash around us cannot overwhelm, + While our faithful Pilot standeth at the helm. + + Darker yet, and darker grows the fearful night, + Sound the trump of mercy, flash the signal light; + Bear the joyful message o'er the raging wave, + Christ, the heavenly Pilot, comes the lost to save. + + Who will man the life-boat, who will launch away? + Who will help to rescue dying souls to-day? + Who will man the life-boat, who will breast the wave? + All its dangers braving, precious souls to save? + + --_Sel._ + +The dear Lord wants workers, both men and women, whom He can trust in +every line of Christian work, and what do Christians most need in +order to be successful soul-winners for God? + +First of all, it is to be born of the Spirit; then to be filled with +the Holy Spirit, whereby we are sealed unto God. Then the fruits of +the Spirit will be manifest in our lives. Of course, we should not +presume to go out as mission workers without a divine call from God. + +The first thing, then, is to know God and then to know ourselves as +utterly helpless without the cleansing power of the blood of Christ on +our own souls. Then the especial anointing for service in the vineyard +of the Lord. If to these be added a thorough knowledge of human +nature and a sincere desire for the salvation of souls, then the glory +of God will be revealed in us and we will be forgetful of self and +alive to the needs of others. We must see men and women lost, going +down to eternal death and must reach them at any cost and be willing +to gladly suffer the loss of all things that we might gain Christ and +win souls for Him. + +We should acquire from the Lord the gift of adaptation to any and all +kinds of work, people and places. We must see the people from their +own standpoint and then from God's standpoint and then have implicit +confidence in God and in the power of the blood of Jesus to cleanse +from all sin. We must be humble and meek and yet strong, through faith +in God and His promises. Is anything too hard for the Lord? And has He +not told us, "Greater works than these shall ye do because I go unto +my Father?" Is He not at the Father's right hand, interceding for us +and for the souls to whom He sends us? + +We must be all things to all men that we might win some. We must watch +for opportunities for service and be quick to use them when they are +given us. We must be ready to launch out into the deep at the Master's +command. We must have grace, not only to serve, but if need be, to +die, in order that souls might be saved--souls that are going to +destruction for the want of a kind word or a helping hand at just the +right time. I have often found them upon the verge of suicide. Men and +women in despair, both in prison and outside, were goaded into +desperation and the enemy of their souls was urging them to end it +all--that nobody cared, and God had forgotten them. + +How glad I have been to clasp their hand and tell them there was One +who cared; that He loved them still and I have seen the long pent-up +tears start from their eyes and hope has sprung up once more in their +desolate hearts. I hope to hear God say in the Day of Judgment of +some, "Here are the discouraged, the tempted and tried ones, who were +almost lost, but who were won through your faithfulness." To God be +all the glory. + +We must not seek our own ease. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, +would have died in agony, only that an angel came and ministered unto +Him, yet he prayed, "Not My will, but Thine be done." Such must be our +heartfelt cry and we must abandon ourselves to God's will in all +things and forgetting ourselves and the opinions of the World, seek to +please Him only. Then He will make even our enemies be at peace with +us. + +Multitudes all about us are going down to despair for want of true +love such as Jesus had when He said, "Father, forgive them, for they +know not what they do," and "Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no +more." + +Having this spirit, God has promised to furnish us unto every good +work. That is, every work to which He calls us. We each have our +responsibility to meet, our especial capability, our gift or talent. +Then let us adapt ourselves to the work which God has given us to +do--not ignoring the work of others, nor lording it over God's +heritage, but each abiding in the calling wherein we are called, +having charity for all, whether saints or sinners. Surely, with the +field so wide and the work so great, there is the greatest need for +love and the unity of the Spirit among all Christians. Why there are +so many divisions, I know not. I find true and earnest hearts among +all classes, all denominations and all nationalities. + +Jesus prayed, before He ascended on high, for his children, that they +all might be one as He and the Father were one--one in purpose and one +in heart. If we manifest this oneness, sinners will come flocking home +to God and souls will be saved and God will get all the glory. The +lack of oneness among God's people stands in the way of souls and the +poor and ignorant are at a loss as to what to think or believe. + +Surely, there was never greater need for Holy Ghost, Spirit-filled +Christian workers than now, when false doctrine is proclaimed on every +side and in every form. But let Christians unite, losing sight of +everything but God and souls and it will not be long until God will +fulfill his promise that a nation shall be born in a day. Oh, that +there might be a rallying of all of God's true children of every class +and nationality; that they might, with united forces, charge upon the +enemy and soon the world, which now seems to be at variance, would be +won for God and for our Christ. + +THE MASSES ARE NOT REACHED through the ordinary channels of the +churches. Look at the need of the Gospel being carried to the railroad +and street-car men, the soldiers, sailors, policemen, firemen, and +postmen. Are we seeking to reach the people? We must get the love of +God in our hearts to that degree that we will not only be willing to +suffer, but to die for them, and mean it--mean business, and fast and +pray and call mightily on God for help and direction, and look to Him +for results. Don't expect an easy time--don't let us expect to be +above our Master. Jesus had no place to lay His head. He went among +the despised, the poor, the fallen, the lowest of earth; and if He +were to return now, how many of us would He find filling the places +appointed us? + +The Lord is ready to do exceeding abundantly above all we can think or +ask, and will bless every unselfish effort on our part to help save a +lost world. When the end comes for you and me, dear one, let us have +our lamps trimmed and burning, ready to go in to the marriage supper +of the Lamb, which is to soon take place. + +God help us do our part, to be instant in season and out of season; to +keep free in our souls; to be filled with the spirit of Jesus; to be +ever ready with a kind word, a "God bless you," a silent prayer, a +warm hand-clasp. Let us be quick to follow the leadings of the Holy +Spirit, humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God. Let us take a +firmer hold on God and be ourselves in His hands. Let us see our own +responsibility as God sees it, and by His grace measure up to it. + +Then the hosts of hell shall not be able to prevail against us and God +will use us to his glory, and with hearts filled with love and +compassion, we will go forward and God will go with us and give us +victory. + + + MY BOY IN INDIA. + + Some years ago the Lord made plain to me that I should support a + famine orphan in India, and since that time He has enabled me to + give twenty dollars per year for the support of my adopted son, + John Ryder Wheaton, named for my brother, who departed this life + a few years ago, and for myself. I give his picture and a copy of + his first letter to me, translated by one of the missionaries; + also some letters from Brother and Sister Jarvis, in charge of + the Orphanage in Lahore, India. We ask the prayers of our readers + for this dear boy, and if God should lay it upon any of your + hearts to provide for one of these famine orphans, any money sent + to the Missionary Home in Tabor, Iowa, will be promptly + forwarded to any orphanage or missionary you may designate. God + has laid this boy upon my heart, and the tie is dearer, perhaps, + because I am alone in the world, having laid my only child in the + grave with my husband. My heart was touched when I received this + letter from John's own hand, and sometimes I long to see and know + him for myself. He is being trained for a missionary, and when my + labors are ended, I hope to see him coming home from India, + bringing his trophies with him--precious souls from his own + native land, and that there we may praise the Lord through all + eternity together. + + Lahore, Frontier Faith Mission, April 12, 1904.--Dear + Mama:--Salam, I am well by the grace of Lord Jesus Christ, and + hope you are well. Matter is this that I live here very happy, + few days ago that the fever and cough attacked me so I went to + the hospital, now I am well and do my duty. I learned the work of + Gardener. I pray every day. May God help me and make me His true + Christian and grant me abundant grace. I also hope that you do + pray for me. I pray for you. Here are all well. I am also with + other boys well. My compliment to you, + + Your son, + JOHN WHEATON, + Head Gardener. + +[Illustration: JOHN RYDER WHEATON, INDIA FAMINE BOY.] + + * * * * * + + Frontier Faith Mission and Orphanage, Lahore, N. India, Dec. 11, + 1901.--Dear Sister Wheaton--We have chosen for you a bright + little boy by the name of Ruthena, about ten years old. He is one + of our brightest little boys, one that bids fair to be something + for God. He is a shoemaker by trade and is doing well at it. We + are endeavoring to teach the boys trades, wanting them to be like + Paul where they can preach the Gospel while they make tents for a + living. Ruthena is a bright boy in every way and will be named + John Ryder as you wished. We do not have time to write often but + our hearts are with you. + + Yours for India's redemption, + LAURA E. JARVIS. + + * * * * * + + Lahore, N. India, Sept. 18, 1902.--My Dear Sister--Your dear boy + is healthy and well. He is such a help, and seems to know just + what to do at the right time. We feel that we can count on him at + all times. He is a precious Christian boy, and God is using him. + + God is blessing our precious children, and the work is going + forward. We are so glad to be on our own land. Our homes are only + temporary, but our faith is in God for the permanent ones. He + says no good thing will He withhold from them that walk + uprightly. + + Your Sister seeking the lost, + L. E. J. + + * * * * * + + Lahore, North India, August 20, 1903.--Dear Sister Wheaton--Your + kind offering of twenty dollars for the support of your boy, + John, is very thankfully received. The Lord bless and repay you. + Continue to pray for him, and for the rest of our great family. + God is hearing prayer for us. There are some slight fever cases + among the children. This is our sickly season. Unite in prayer + that our workers may keep well. We are all burdened because of + the lack of workers and much has to remain undone. + + Though burdened, we will stand at our post until Jesus comes. (R. + V.) Our faith is in God. So many young people at home seem to be + wasting their lives and talents, when they might be doing so much + for God in this land. + + Your brother seeking the lost, + ROBERT JARVIS. + + * * * * * + + Lahore, N. India, March 16, 1904. + + My Dear Sister Wheaton--Greetings in Jesus' name. "Lift up your + eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to + harvest." + + I write to tell you today that your boy John is quite poorly. He + has been having an attack of lung fever. I believe that in answer + to prayer God will raise him up. I felt he would have better care + in the hospital than we could give him, so we took him there, but + we go to see him frequently, and I will keep you posted as to how + he is doing. I know you are interested and are praying for him. + We thank you much for your interest, and all you are doing for + him. I hope you are keeping well and seeing souls saved. + + John was a real help in the garden outside of school hours. He + has always been a willing little worker. God bless you much, dear + Sister Wheaton, and use you greatly, is our prayer. + + Your sister, + L. E. JARVIS. + + * * * * * + + Lahore, N. India, April 12, 1904. + + My Dear Sister Wheaton--Greeting in Jesus' name. I am glad to + write you this time that John is all right again. I think his + sickness has drawn him closer to God. He is writing you a few + lines that I will translate for him and send it with this. + + Yours to be faithful, + L. E. JARVIS. + + + PREACHING IN THE PEST-HOUSE. + +Just why the dear Lord saw best to permit me to take the loathsome +disease of smallpox into my system, I know not; but I do know the same +God that made man and pronounced him very good, permitted Job and many +others of His people to suffer many things. Of one thing I am certain, +the Lord permitted me to preach the Gospel in the pest-house. No one +was allowed there but the physician of the Board of Health and those +in charge, and there were many lost ones there and no gospel services +for years and not even the superintendent and his family were allowed +to go to church. I had held meetings in almost every other place and I +now had opportunity to go there, this being the only way to get to +them. During the summer of 1901 I was taken very ill and the sixth +doctor pronounced the disease smallpox. There was no alternative but +to prepare for the hospital, which I did unaided. This was +remarkable; for I had been very near death, the suffering both +mentally and physically was so intense and the agony so great. Surely +God heard the prayers of His believing ones and raised me up to once +more go forth to glorify His name by preaching His gospel and singing +His praises. Bless His holy name! + +I was hedged in with God. He got the glory of my healing. I bless the +Lord that in answer to prayer He never let one person take the disease +from me that we knew of. When leaving the minister's home where I was +taken sick, I was shouting and praising the Lord. I told the mission +workers I was sure I could go to Heaven even from the pest-house, with +the smallpox. I told the young sister with me to bring the tracts for +service in the hospital. I had told her that morning that there would +be several doctors call and hold a consultation and pronounce the +disease smallpox and they would take me to the pest-house, and I +expected I would die there. I had such victory in my soul that I just +shouted and praised the Lord. + +In the hospital I was given the privilege of all the wards to sing and +pray and talk with the patients. Some were in a very dangerous +condition, and others convalescent. Others were trembling with fear, +having been exposed and quarantined here to protect the public from +contagion. Those were weeks of suffering, although full of service and +song. The hymns were listened to with the greatest delight even by +foreigners who could not understand our language. I often wonder why +professing Christians are not as careful about the spread of sin as +people are about the transmitting of disease. The same day I left the +hospital the Lord sent me out on a long journey to preach the gospel +on the train. As I was talking with the conductor, there was a sudden +stop and he ran to find the cause. Our engine had become disabled on a +bridge, and as a train was coming behind us, the trainmen ran to flag +the coming train before it should overtake us; but it was too late. I +dropped on my knees on the platform of the rear car and asked God to +spare our lives. I arose, took in the situation, went to my seat in +the center of the car and again knelt in prayer. I turned to look just +as the engine struck our car, raising it about five feet in the air, +crushing timbers and glass, and causing a panic among the passengers. +I was blest of God through it all, and went immediately to work +holding meetings while we waited some hours for help to come. I see so +plainly the hand of the Lord in all this. I might have left the train +when on the rear platform, but I felt impressed to stay with those on +board and call on God for help. Do you wonder that when all our lives +were spared I felt that as the Lord gave all on the ship into Paul's +hands, so in this case, as in many others, the wise Master gave me +those who traveled with me? "As thy days so shall thy strength be." "A +thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand, +but it shall not come nigh thee." + + + HOW THE LORD PROVIDES. + +One night in San Francisco while holding a meeting in the Old Adelphi +Theater, I was impressed to give a dollar to a sister who often sang +and exhorted in our service and who assisted me that night. At the +close of the meeting I handed her a silver dollar. She seemed much +surprised and said, "No, I should not take this from you." I told her +God showed me to give her that dollar and I must obey Him; so she took +the money. + +The next day, while waiting for the street car on a public +thoroughfare, I saw a man giving out ladies' fashion plates. I spoke +kindly to him and suggested how much more good he could do by giving +out tracts. He replied that that was the way he made his living--that +the firm paid him for his services. I told him that God would care for +him if he only trusted and served Him, but he evidently thought me +somewhat of a fanatic. Just then a well-dressed old gentleman spoke to +me and said, "Do you belong to the Salvation Army?" I said that I did +not and he then asked, "What is your work?" I answered, "I am a +missionary to the prisoners and lost girls." He handed me a dollar and +hurried on. The man with whom I had been speaking looked on surprised +and said, "Who was that man?" I said, "I do not know; I never saw him +before and may never see him again." He was evidently thinking, for I +had told him that God provided for me and would provide for him if he +would but work for Him, and God was giving him an object lesson. I +said, "I believe the Lord sent that man to convince you that what I +said was true for I never ask any person for money, but trust all to +Providence." + +Going on my way later in the day, outside the city where I changed +cars, I saw hurrying toward me the same man who had given me the +dollar in the morning. He said, "I have been thinking all day about +you and what you said and here is another dollar for you." I told him +how I felt God had used him to convince the fashion plate man, that if +we fully trust and serve the Lord He will provide for us. I have never +seen either of these men again since that day, but God sent me the two +dollars in place of the one dollar I had given that poor woman the +night before, in the meeting. + +The sequel was given me sometime after this when I again met that poor +sister. She said to me, "Sister Wheaton, I want to tell you about the +dollar you gave me that night in the meeting," and then she said: "I +had nothing in my house for my children to eat (there was a large +family of them), and husband was out of work. I had to wash next day +and had neither soap nor starch, and I had to go across the city to +pray for a sick woman, whose son had said that he would believe in God +and serve him if his mother were healed in answer to prayer. I had to +take that young man with me and pay his car fare and my own. The +mother was healed and the young man, being convinced, yielded himself +to God and was converted and became a Christian." And then she added, +"All this your dollar did, for I had prayed God to send me a dollar +that night and you obeyed God and see what was accomplished through +obedience to the God who hears the ravens when they cry and notes the +sparrow's fall." + +Then I related to her my experience to show how the Lord used a +stranger to return me double, or two dollars instead of one, and +perhaps saved two men--for God was evidently dealing both with the +stranger who gave me the money and with the one with whom I was +speaking on the street. + + + MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS. + +I was once called upon to minister to the needs of a woman who was +burned almost to death. I assisted the doctor as best I could to dress +the burns. I took the scissors and cut the loose flesh from her arm, +and held her while the doctor filed the rings from her hands. + +If I had not been previously convinced by the Scriptures of the folly +of wearing rings I think this awful sight would have been sufficient +to satisfy any doubts in my mind, as they cut so cruelly deep into the +charred and swollen flesh. She finally passed away to that land where +there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither +shall there be any more pain. + + * * * * * + +While being entertained at a certain place a few years ago, a caller +was announced one evening, to see "Mother Wheaton." Entering the +parlor a tall, handsome man, dressed in the uniform of a policeman, +advanced to greet me. I bowed politely, but perhaps a little +distantly, as I did not know him. He came forward and extended his +hand cordially, saying, "Don't you know me, Mother?" I said, "No, I do +not know you." He said "I sang in ----prison in the choir. I served a +term there and heard you sing and preach there. This is my daughter," +and he presented a nice looking young lady who was with him. He said +he now held a responsible position and was getting along nicely, and +invited me to come and visit his family. + + * * * * * + +While holding meetings in a little town in one of the southern states, +I was entertained at the home of a wealthy man who was accused of +crime. He had a beautiful wife and lovely children. I was greatly +troubled about his condition. I held meetings there in the home. I was +treated very kindly and cordially welcomed, but he would not yield to +God. I warned him faithfully, and plead with him to repent of his sins +and become a Christian. I told him that a terrible calamity awaited +him if he did not yield himself to the Lord. I went away believing it +was his last chance of salvation. Not long after that he laid in wait +to kill a man against whom he had had a grudge for some time; but the +other man seeing his intention, drew his revolver and fired in +self-defence. The man fell dead. He had had his last call. He had +rejected the Lord and was ushered into eternity without a moment's +warning. + + * * * * * + +One day years ago, in M----, Mississippi, I went on the street to hold +a meeting. A policeman came along and forbade me after I had begun to +sing, saying it was against the law to hold religious services on the +street. My spirit was grieved as I felt the Lord had a work for me to +do among the poor and lowly who were too poorly clad to attend church +services. A sister (a woman of God who entertained me) was with me. +She then proposed taking me to see a sick child, an infant. When we +reached the house we found the young parents weeping over their dying +child. My heart was touched with sympathy, and kneeling down I asked +Him who said, "Suffer little children to come unto me," to heal the +child for His glory. I believed His word where it says, "The prayer of +faith shall save the sick." My faith touched divinity, the child was +healed and the young parents, seeing the power of God manifested, were +converted, and gave their lives to God for His service. + +[Illustration: Height Out Arms Trunk Head Length Head Width Cheek +Width Ear Foot Length Finger L. Fore-arm Color of Eyes Marks & Scars + +BERTILLON MEASUREMENTS] + +[Illustration: PRISON AT ANAMOSA, IOWA. 1. FEMALE DEPARTMENT. 2. CELL +HOUSE. 3. MAIN ENTRANCE.] + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + Selections from My Scrap Book. + + +Many of the selections given in this chapter were written by prisoners +and given me by them. The others may not all be new to the reader, but +I have thought them of sufficient value to thus preserve, as they may +be reread with profit, and no doubt may be read here by many who have +not seen them elsewhere. Such will surely feel the time it takes to +read them well spent. + +Many of the songs I have sung are not in print here, as they are +familiar or may be found in popular books; others I thought might be +copyrighted and I do not know the owner, etc. I have not meant to use +any copyright selections without procuring the right to do so, but if +through mistake any have been used I shall be glad to make due +requital. + + + THE AUTHOR OF FLOWER MISSION DAY. + +I once visited this sister, a saint, meekly lying upon her bed, and +when I asked if she would like for Jesus to heal her, she said God +could use her better in that condition. + + E. R. W. + + Jennie Cassady was born in Louisville, Kentucky, June 9, 1840. + She came to earth through no royal line of ancestry. No booming + cannon and flying flags proclaimed the birth of a princess. No + jeweled hand beckoned her to a place of rank and title. Nothing + in babyhood or girlhood distinguished her above what is visible + in ten thousand homes to-day. But as she stepped over the + threshold into womanhood, there fell upon her a great calamity--a + cruel accident made her a cripple and an invalid for life. But in + her afflictions she arose to a sublimity and sweetness of soul + that has challenged the admiration of two continents. And out of + the awful shadows that fell upon her she has gathered up the + sunbeams of God's smiles and scattered them into the dark places + of earth. Out of that one little darkened room in Kentucky there + has gone forth an inspiration that has fired the heart of heroic + Christian womanhood. And out of the darkness that smote her + pathway leaped the lances of light that pierces the gloom of + prison walls. A gleam from that radiant life touches the poet's + fancy, and gives us these beautiful lines. + + J. M. CROCKER, + Prison Chaplain. + + + FLOWER DAY AT THE PRISON. + +Composed and read by F. L. Platt at the Iowa State Prison at Anamosa, + June 9th, 1894. + + In a cottage in Kentucky, + In the years that have gone by, + Was a woman, oh, so lonely, + She'd been given up to die. + + As she lay upon her sick bed, + Ere the spark of life had flown, + Neighbors called, and strangers also, + Whom before she had not known. + + They had heard of her misfortune, + Day and night she lingered there; + And to make her life more cheerful + Seemed to be their every care. + + Now they come, with noiseless footsteps, + As the rose is kissed with dew, + Each one bringing in some sunshine, + In "these flowers I've brought for you." + + As she looked into their faces, + Realizing death had come, + "Take these flowers," she said, "I'm dying," + They will brighten other homes. + + Take them, give them to the children + Who in orphans' homes are found, + Who have parents silent sleeping + Underneath some grassy mound. + + Take them, place them by the bedside + Of some one whose life is drear; + They will bring a ray of sunshine, + They will drive away a tear. + + Take them, bear them to the prison, + Where the trembling convict stands; + They'll encourage and they'll cheer him, + And they'll help him be a man. + + They will speak to him of Heaven, + Of a home with God above; + They'll dispel the gloom and heartache, + They'll recall a mother's love. + + They'll remind him of a sister, + With youth's bloom upon her brow, + With whom he used to gather flowers + When life was bright as yours is now. + + They'll recall some little sweetheart + In the early spring of life, + Who, when summer flowers were blooming, + He had asked to be his wife. + + Oh, that wife! may God's own blessing + Rest upon her loyal head; + Though he's caused her many a heartache, + She would love him were he dead. + + Then with all these sacred memories + Welling in these hearts of ours, + Who in all this land of sunshine + Could forbid this gift of flowers? + + Bring the flowers with sweetest perfume, + This is flower mission day; + Some forlorn, discouraged prisoner, + "You may rescue, you may save." + + Blest the home that knows no sorrow, + Blest that wife, whose tears are joy, + Blest that mother who in old age, + Can lean upon her darling boy. + + Men, look up, the clouds have gathered, + Some of them are silver-lined; + There's a day when all creation + Will be marshalled into line. + + When these prison walls are sundered; + When the grave gives up its dead, + All may march the streets of Heaven + Who by Jesus Christ are led. + + + LINES BY A PRISONER TO HIS WIFE. + +These lines were handed me by the author. I insert them here because +of their clear testimony to the saving grace of God and the love they +manifest for wife and children: + + Dearest wife, you know I love thee, + Deep as yonder sky; + Know that love can never fade, + Affection never die. + + Though in prison I am cast, + And cannot now return, + Yet on thee my love reclines, + For thee my heart will burn. + + God has made us one indeed, + In ways the world can never know. + One, like drops of water found + Within the pure white snow. + + God has made us one indeed; + Has joined us, hand and heart; + What God has joined together, wife, + Let no man put apart. + + As well might men uproot the earth + As by their scoff or scorn + Think to accomplish parting us + Because our hearts now mourn. + + Nay, dear wife, I feel for thee, + As ne'er I felt before, + Prizing thee with deeper strength + For pining sad and sore. + + While there you wait my glad release, + The day that sets me free, + Await my coming home to wife; + Yes, wife and children three. + + And I will come. Have patience, wife, + The time will wear away, + And day by day approaches near + That glad releasing day. + + With little baby in your arms, + Two others at your knee; + I know, dear wife, your heart is sad + And longs to see me free. + + To help you in your daily toil; + To earn for them their bread; + To clothe and help and comfort them, + And find a shelter for each head. + + But cheer up, wife, and so will I, + As mankind surely may, + Till darkness fade in morning light + That ushers in the day. + + And oh, what joy will visit us, + What peace in that glad hour; + Our home shall then renew its strength + In all its silent power. + + Here as I lay me down to sleep, + In my narrow little cell, + I think of the happy times we've spent + In the shady wooded dell. + + How we plucked the flowers beside our path, + And strolled along the stream, + Neither feeling aught of sorrow, + For life was like a pleasant dream. + + But alas, my dear one, all is changed; + And we are parted now for years; + But well we know that God will come + And wipe away our falling tears. + + Sin, dear wife, hast brought the change; + Sin has caused our grief and pain; + But now that I trust in Jesus + I will never fall again. + + In my very darkest moments + Would you know what comforts me? + 'Tis my living faith in Jesus, + In Him who died on Calvary. + + He died on the cross for you, dear wife, + His precious blood was shed for me; + All our sins on Him were laid + When they nailed Him to the tree. + + And now that blessed Saviour, + Who was born at Bethlehem, + Looks down from the heights of heaven + On the sinful souls of men. + + His thoughts are full of mercy, + His heart is filled with love. + He is pleading with the Father + That we might come above. + + So we will trust our Saviour, + And follow where He leads; + And say, in faith believing, + He'll provide for all our needs. + + So we'll walk close beside Him + And let Him take our hand; + As He points, with face all shining, + To that bright and happy land. + + And oft to others round us + The story we will tell, + How Jesus Christ saves sinners, + The heavenly hosts to swell. + + You will tell them, wife, how He found me, + Sinful and all cast down, + And how through love He raised me up + And promised me a crown. + + And when we see still others + Caught in Satan's snare, + We'll lead them on to Jesus, + And leave them in His care. + + And when He treats them gently, + As He treats both you and me, + Other sinners, looking on, + To His bosom soon will flee. + + For thus the world around us + For Christ could soon be won; + He'll end in glorious triumph + The work He has begun. + + All glory then to Jesus! + Sing praises to His name! + He saved lost sinners years gone by, + And today He'll do the same. + + In language very simple + I've told to you, dear wife, + My love to you, your love to me, + And the love of Jesus Christ. + + So we'll just keep on trusting + In the Saviour God has given; + And He will fill with peace + Our journey on to heaven. + + And we'll not forget the Father, + But give thanks for all He's done, + In giving us our Saviour, + In His own beloved Son. + + + WOMAN'S LOVE. + + TO MRS. WHEATON. + +These lines are most respectfully presented as a prisoner's tribute of +sincere respect: + + O, woman's love, past understanding! + So near to God's, so wondrous deep: + Deep as the depths of space; expanding + Till it blooms beyond death's mystic sleep + + Throughout the earth, the rich and lowly + It reigns supreme within her breast. + O, woman's love! through its beauty holy + She will win eternal rest. + + Born of woman, purest, dearest + Lily of fair Bethlehem, + Christ to her will be the nearest + In his bright home--Jerusalem. + + A fadeless flower in beauty blooming + 'Midst heaven's host of immortelles. + His peerless love her soul perfuming + She'll reign a queen mid arch angels + + J. W. L. + +Cole City, Ga., Sunday night, Nov. 17, 1889. + + + TAKE THIS MESSAGE TO MY MOTHER. + + (Written by a Prisoner in Jackson, Miss.) + + Take this message to my mother, + It will fill her heart with joy; + Tell her that her prayer is answered, + Christ has saved her wandering boy: + + Tho' through sin from home I've wandered, + And I almost broke her heart; + Tell her to be glad and cheerful, + Never from the Lord I'll part. + + CHORUS. + + Take this message to my mother, + It will fill her heart with joy; + Tell her that her prayer is answered, + Christ has saved her wandering boy. + + How she wept when last we parted, + How her heart did ache with pain + When she said: "Good-bye, God bless you, + We may never meet again." + + O my boy, just look to Jesus, + What a friend He is to all! + Only trust Him, He will save you-- + Can't you hear His sweet voice call? + + In this world of sin are many + Who have wandered far from God. + Will your mother's prayers be answered? + Listen, sinner, you, her boy. + + You have ofttimes heard this warning, + In your heart conviction's deep; + God is calling to the wanderer + Who asks mercy at his feet. + + + NOT LONELY NOW. + + I am not lonely, mother, now, + Though far from me you roam. + One dried my tears and smoothed my brow, + And stilled the sob and groan. + I am not lonely, mother, dear, + For Jesus dwells with me, e'en here. + + All day I feel Him by my side; + And when betimes would come + The Evil One, I quickly hide + Behind my Precious One. + Think you I'm lonely, mother, dear, + When Jesus thus is ever near? + + And when at night I think of thee, + As in my cell I sit, + Bright vision of thy form I see + By His own presence lit. + Can I be lonely, mother, dear, + When thy pure spirit is so near? + + Farewell, my darling mother-friend, + And if for aye, Oh! fare thee well! + Whate'er betide, unto the end, + Christ's love for me I'll gladly tell. + +The following was written by a young brother who, with his wife, were +with me for a time in my work. In thanking them for a kindness done me +I used the words, "Jesus is looking on," implying that He would reward +them. Only an hour or so afterward the young brother handed me these +lines, suggested by my words: + +Little did I think when I spoke the words that they would make so deep +an impression upon his mind. How little we realize what a word may +do. + + JESUS IS LOOKING ON. + + "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are + open unto their cry." Ps. 34. + + [TUNE, "ARE YOU WITHIN THE FOLD TONIGHT?"] + + 1. While traveling as a pilgrim + Across life's desert drear, + My feet ofttimes are weary, + Mine eyes oft drop a tear; + But when I look to Jesus, + All weariness is gone, + My heart then joys within me + To know He's looking on. + + CHORUS. + + Yes, He is ever looking on, + With anxious ear our cry to hear. + He hears each sigh, + He sees each tear; + He knows each heart "with sorrow riven," + He hears each word of joy or moan, + And whispers gently in our ear, + I'm looking, looking on. + + 2. When troubles rage around me, + And trials fiery come, + My thoughts are then directed + To my eternal home. + Though walking on the mountain, + Or on the verdant lawn, + This is the thought that cheers me, + He's always looking on. + + 3. When friends do turn against me, + And frown and persecute, + I'm then brought nearer Jesus, + Than when my foes are mute. + While Jesus walks beside me, + His arm I'll lean upon, + And ne'er forget the promise, + He's always looking on. + + 4. Take courage, brother pilgrim, + And let us journey on, + For soon life's many trials + Will all have passed and gone; + Then sweeping up to glory + We'll join the ransomed throng, + And sing God's endless praises, + While He is looking on. + + + HOW GOD CALLS MISSIONARIES OUT OF + PRISON CELLS. + + S. H. HADLEY. + + _Superintendent of the Old McAuley Mission._ + +Some of the best missionaries this world ever knew are men who have +been sentenced to long terms in prison. Wholly shut away from the +world and its dreadful temptations, God had a chance to speak to them. +Jerry McAuley was a wonderful example of this, and that drunken loafer +and thief was finally used so wonderfully by the Lord God that his +name has gone all over this world and has been an inspiration to +millions. He was sent to prison from the Fourth Ward of New York for +fifteen years at the age of nineteen. + +One Sunday morning in the chapel the speaker was old "Awful" Gardener, +an old-time ruffian and prize-fighter in New York, but God had got +hold of him and he had been wonderfully saved. With tears streaming +down his face, he told of the love of Christ, and he said, "Boys, I +ought to be wearing the stripes the same as you are, and I feel a deep +sympathy for you." + +He also quoted some verses from the Scriptures, and after the boys had +gone back to their cells Jerry found a Bible in the ventilator of his +cell, and, looking it over aimlessly, tried to find the text that +"Awful" Gardener had quoted, but instead he found that Christ came to +save sinners, and the Holy Spirit showed him his dreadful past life. +As the day grew into night, Jerry got down on his knees and began to +pray. He had never prayed before, but now he cried to God for help and +mercy. How long he was there he does not know, but some time during +the night a glorious light dispelled the deep darkness of his soul, +and he cried out, "Oh, praise God, I found Jesus, and He gives peace +to my soul." The unusual sound brought the keeper, who asked, "What is +the matter with you?" + +Jerry answered, "I found Jesus, that's what's the matter with me." + +He found some opportunities to breathe out the new-found hopes of his +soul and the love of Jesus to the prisoners about him. Soon a revival +broke out in the prison such as never had been seen before or since, +and Jerry was the center of it all. He was pardoned in 1864, but when +he got home he had no friends, no money, and he soon fell into bad +company, and got to be a worse scoundrel than he ever was before. It +was after this he became known as the dangerous East River pirate. He +was reclaimed in 1868, and although he fell five times after that +during the first eight or nine months, he was finally anchored to +Christ. + +Do you know that every drunkard uses tobacco? Jerry was no exception. +Some faithful friends said to him. "Jerry, give up your tobacco for +Jesus' sake," and he gave it up, and then he never fell afterward. + +He was afterward married to Maria, his faithful wife, who also was +redeemed from a drunkard's life, and in 1872 opened the world-renowned +McAuley Mission, at 316 Water Street, down on the East Side, nearly +under the Brooklyn Bridge. + +He stayed here ten years, and then opened the Cremorne Mission, +Thirty-second Street and Sixth Avenue, where he died in 1884, and had +the largest funeral of any private citizen who was ever buried in New +York. + +The writer succeeded Jerry McAuley down there, and the work is going +on night and day. Drunkards and thieves come in by the thousand, and, +thank God, many of them are saved unto life eternal. The writer is +also a convert of Jerry McAuley Mission.--_The Life Boat._ + + + OUTSIDE THE PRISON WALLS. + + Free, free at last he left the dreary jail, + And stepped into the dewy April night; + Once more he breathed, untainted, God's pure air, + And saw the evening star's sweet trembling light. + How strange! how strange! and yet how strangely dear + The old familiar turf beneath his feet! + How wonderful once more to be alone + Unwatched, unguarded, 'neath the sky's broad sweep. + + Free! free again--but O, so old and worn-- + So weary with his wasted, ruined life-- + Full twenty years the cell, his only home-- + Full twenty years with hopeless misery rife! + His thoughts sped backward till they reached that day + When he had entered that grim house, a boy-- + Naught but a boy in stature and in years, + But with a heart all bare of hope and joy. + + For in a dreadful moment, crazed with rum, + His hand had laid a fellow creature low, + And for that glass of brandy in his brain + Full twenty years of wretchedness and woe. + And now, a gray-haired man, he walked again + The very path his boyish feet had pressed + So many, many years ago; + And now he wandered lonely, seeking rest. + + Where should he go? Where now his footsteps turn? + No living soul was there to welcome him! + No friend of all his youthful days he knew + Would greet again this wanderer in sin. + Unconsciously, he sought his boyhood's home, + The low, white cottage he had held so dear; + 'Twas standing in its old accustomed place, + But strangers had dwelt there for many a year. + + Where next? The tears stood in his mournful eyes; + His breath came thick and fast--he could not stir, + But leaned upon the old familiar gate + With thoughts of mother--O, could he find her? + Where was she now--that mother, sweet and good, + Who tried with tears and prayers to save her boy, + Who knelt alone at midnight's solemn hour + And mourned for him who should have been her joy. + + His faltering steps at last he vaguely turned + Unto the silent churchyard near the sea, + And stood alone while pitying moonbeams spread + Around his form a veil of charity. + Alone with God in that still, solemn place, + Alone with hundreds of the silent dead, + The outcast stood with lowly, sin-sick heart, + The cold night dew upon his drooping head. + + At last he found her in a place apart, + Where moonbeams sparkled through the willow boughs, + And shone upon her simple headstone white + That marked the limit of her narrow house. + 'Twas but a snowy marble, simple, plain, + That bore her name, her age, and just below-- + "Died of a broken heart"--alas! he knew + The cause of all that life and death of woe. + + He flung himself face down upon the grass, + Alone between the living and the dead, + And wept and prayed beside the lonely grave + Until in sorrow's slumber sunk his head. + They found him in the morning, stiff and cold, + His hands clasped o'er his mother's lowly grave, + His head upon its turf, as though he thought + That turf the bosom his poor heart had craved. + + Upon his pallid cheeks the trace of tears + Showed in the glowing ray of morning's sun, + But o'er that face there shone a wondrous peace, + A smile of joy now all his life was done. + Men marveled that he looked so young again + Despite his crown of sorrow-silvered hair, + And tender-hearted women sighed and wept + And smiled to think that they had found him there. + Ah! God is good! with loving tenderness + He saw the sad, repentant soul alone + Weep out his sin upon his mother's grave, + And gently led the weary wanderer home. + This we believe: That now in Heaven's street + The mother and her son are reconciled, + And all the pain and sin of earth below + Are blotted out, and he is God's own child. + + --_Hattie F. Crocker, in Union Signal._ + + + IF WE KNEW. + + If we knew the heart's sad sighing + In the secret hour; + If we knew the bitter crying + O'er the tempter's power, + Slower would we be to censure, + Kinder in reproof; + From the erring, peradventure, + We would not stand aloof. + + If we knew the hard, stern struggle + Of the one who fell, + Toiling on 'mid grief and trouble + That none but God can tell, + Our thoughts, perhaps, would be kinder, + Our help more pitiful-- + Be of God's love a reminder + To the tempted soul. + + If we knew the fierce temptation, + Could we feel the pain + Of the deep humiliation, + The tears shed all in vain, + We, perchance, would be more gentle, + Our tones more tender be; + O'er his fault we'd draw the mantle + Of fervent charity. + + If we knew how dark and cheerless + Seem the coming years, + We might then appear more fearless + Of each other's cares. + Could our eyes pierce through the smiling + Of the face so calm, + See the bitter self-reviling, + We'd apply the balm. + + Did we walk a little nearer + To Jesus in the way, + Hear His voice a little clearer + We would know how to pray. + He has words of comfort given + That we to them should speak, + Ere the hopeless soul is driven + His faith with God to break. + + We shall know each other better, + The mists shall roll away; + Nevermore we'll feel the fetter + Of this toil-worn clay. + Only let us love each other, + 'Tis our Lord's command, + To each fainting friend or brother + Reach a helping hand. + + --_Anna L. Dreyer, of Missionary Training Home at Tabor, Iowa._ + + + LITTLE GRAVES. + +You have your little grave; I have mine. You have your sad memories; I +have mine. For, + + "There is no flock, however tended, + But one dead lamb is there; + There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, + But hath its vacant chair. + + "The air is full of farewells to the dying, + And weepings for the dead; + The heart of Rachel for her children crying + Will not be comforted." + +I have pleasant thoughts sometimes about these little graves. I think +what a safe place the little grave is. Temptations never come there. +Sins never pollute there. Tears, pains, disappointments, bereavements, +trials, cares, and snares, are all unknown in that silent resting +place. And then, Jesus has the keys, and he keeps our treasures +safely, and guards them securely. No mother's heart is anxious about a +child that is laid in the little grave. No prayers of anguish go up +for it as for those tossed by the storms of passion, sunk in the +whirlpool of vice, or lost in the wide wilderness of sorrow and of +sin. There is now no need of chiding, reproving, watching, and +restraining. The chief Shepherd bears the lamb on his own bosom, and +it is forever safe. + +The little grave is a sacred place. The Lord of glory has passed into +the sepulchre, and from it he has opened up the path of life. Hope +blooms there, and hearts-ease and amaranth blossom amid the shadows +that linger over it, and Jesus watches his treasures and counts his +jewels in the little graves. + +The little grave shall be opened by and by. The night is dark, but +there is a flush of morn upon the mountains, and a gleam of sunlight +glows along the distant hills. He who bears the keys of hell and of +death, shall come back to open the little graves, and call the +sleepers forth. Then cherub forms shall burst the silent tombs, and +these green hillocks shall bear their harvest for the garner of our +God.--Sel. + + + THE MOTHER'S WARNING. + + Touch it not--ye do not know, + Unless you've borne a fate like mine, + How deep a curse, how wild a woe, + Is lurking in that ruby wine. + Look on my cheek--'tis withered now; + It once was round and smooth as thine; + Look on my deeply furrowed brow-- + 'Tis all the work of treacherous wine. + I had two sons, two princely boys, + As noble men as God e'er gave; + I saw them fall from honor's joys + To fill a common drunkard's grave. + I had a daughter, young and fair, + As pure as ever woman bore. + Where is she? Did you ask me where? + Bend low, I'll tell the tale once more. + I saw that fairy child of mine + Linked to a kingly bridegroom's side; + Her heart was proud and light as thine, + Oh, would to God she then had died! + Not many moons had filled their horn, + While she upon his bosom slept; + 'Twas on a dark November morn, + She o'er a murdered husband wept; + Her drunken father dealt the blow-- + Her brain grew wild, her heart grew weak; + Was ever tale of deeper woe + A mother's lips had lived to speak? + She dwells in yonder darkened halls, + No ray of reason there does shine; + She on her murdered husband calls. + 'Twas done by wine, by cursed wine! + + --_Temperance Banner._ + + + HARRY'S REMORSE. + + It's curious, isn't it, chaplain, what a twelve months may bring? + Last year I was in Chicago, gambling and living in sin; + Was raking in pools at the races, and feeing the waiters with ten, + Was sipping mint juleps by twilight, while today I am in the pen. + + What led me to do it? What always leads a man to destruction and crime? + The prodigal son you have read of has altered somewhat in his time. + He spends his money as freely as the Biblical fellow of old, + And when it is gone he fancies the husks will turn into gold. + + Champagne, a box at the opera, high steps while fortune is flush; + The passionate kisses of women whose cheeks have forgotten to blush. + The old, old story, chaplain, of pleasure that ends in tears, + The froth that foams for an hour and the dregs that are tasted + for years. + + Last night as I sat here and pondered on the end of my evil ways, + There rose like a phantom before me the vision of boyhood days; + I thought of my old, old home, chaplain, of the schoolhouse that + stood on the hill, + Of the brook that ran through the meadow--I can hear its music still. + + And again I thought of my mother, of the mother who taught me to pray, + Whose love was a precious treasure that I heedlessly cast away; + And again I saw in my vision the fresh-lipped, careless boy, + To whom the future was boundless and the world but a mighty toy. + + I saw all this as I sat there, of my ruined and wasted life, + And the thoughts of my remorse were bitter, they pierced my heart + like a knife. + It takes some courage, chaplain, to laugh in the face of fate, + When the yearning ambition of manhood is blasted at twenty-eight. + + --_Composed and written by Harry S----while taking a retrospection + of the past._ + + + TWENTY--THIRTY-FOUR. + +The line of dingy-coated men stretched along the broad granite walk +and like a great gray serpent wound in and out among the wagon shops +and planing mills that filled the prison yard. + +Down beyond the foundry the beginning of the line, the head of the +serpent, was lost at the stairway leading to the second floor of a +long, narrow building in which whisk brooms were manufactured. + +An hour before, on the sounding of a brass gong at the front, the same +line had wound round the same corners into the building whence now it +crawled. There, the men had seated themselves on four-legged stools +before benches that stretched across the room in rows. Before each man +was set a tin plate of boiled meat; a heavy cup of black coffee, a +knife, a fork, and a thick bowl of steaming, odorous soup. + +During the meal other men, dressed like the hundreds who were sitting, +in suits of dull gray, with little round-crowned, peaked-visored caps +to match, moved in and out between the rows, distributing chunks of +fresh white bread from heavy baskets. Now and then one of the men +would shake his head and the waiter would pass him by, but usually a +dozen hands were thrust into a basket at once to clutch the regulation +"bit" of half a pound. The men ate ravenously, as if famished. + +Yet a silence that appalled hovered over the long bare dining-hall +where eight hundred men were being fed. There was no clatter of +knives and forks; there were no jests; they moved about as noiselessly +as ghosts. + +There were faces stamped with indelible marks of depravity and vice, +but now and then the "breadtossers" would see uplifted a pair of frank +blue eyes, in which burned the light of hope. Men were there who +dreamed of a day to come when all would be forgiven and forgotten; +when a hand would again be held out in welcome, and a kiss again be +pressed to quivering lips. Men there were of all kinds, of all +countenances, young and old; the waving, sunlit hair of youth side by +side with locks in which the snow was thickly sprinkled. All these men +were paying the penalty society imposes on proved criminals. + +And now, their dinner over, they were marching back to the shops and +mills of the prison, where days and weeks were spent at labor. Those +men employed in the wagon-works dropped out of the line when they came +opposite the entrance to their building. Those behind pushed forward +as their prison-mates disappeared, and never for more than ten seconds +was there a gap in the long, gray line. + +The whisk-broom factory occupied the second floor of the building at +the far end of the prison yard. On the ground floor men worked at +lathes, turning out the wooden handles to the brooms that were +finished, sorted and tied up-stairs. At the corner the line divided, +sixty-five of the men climbed the stairway to the second floor, the +other thirty entered the lathe-room below. + +A dozen men in blue uniforms marched beside the line on its way from +the mess-hall, six on each side, at two yards' distance. Their caps +bore "Guard" in gold letters, and each guard carried a short, heavy, +crooked cane of polished white hickory. On entering the work-room of +the second floor, the men assembled before a railed platform, upon +which a red-faced, coatless man stood behind a big desk. In cold, +metallic tones he called the numbers of the convicts who in turn +replied "Here!" when their numbers were spoken. + +"Twenty-thirty-four!" called the red-faced man. There was no response. + +"Twenty-thirty-four?" The red-faced man leaned over the desk and +glared down. Then a voice from somewhere on the left answered "Here!" + +"What was the matter with you the first time?" snapped the foreman. + +The man thus questioned removed his cap and took three steps toward +the platform. In feature the word "hard" would describe him. His head +was long, wide at the forehead, and yet narrow between the temples. +His eyes were small and close together. His nose was flat, and mouth +hardly more than a straight cut in the lower part of his face. The +lower jaw was square and heavy, and the ears protruded abnormally. A +trifle above medium height with a pair of drooping, twitching +shoulders, the man looked criminal. + +To the question he replied doggedly, "I answered the first time, sir, +but I guess you didn't hear me." + +The foreman gazed steadily at the man. Their eyes met. The foreman's +did not waver, but "2034" lowered his and fumbled nervously at his +cap. + +"All right," said the foreman, quickly, "but I guess you'd better +report to the warden as soon as you get through in here. Don't wait +for any piece-work. Go to him as soon as you have finished your task. +I'll tell him you're coming. He'll be waiting for you at the front +office." + +"Yes, sir." The convict did not raise his eyes. He stepped back into +the line. + +Then, at the clap of the foreman's hands, the men broke ranks, and +each walked away to his own bench or machine. Five minutes later, the +swish on the corn-wisps as they were separated and tied into rough +brooms, and the occasional tap of a hammer, were the only sounds in +that long room where sixty-five men toiled. + +Now and then one of the men would go to the platform where the foreman +sat bent over half a dozen little books, in which it was his duty to +record the number of "tasks" completed by each of the workmen "on his +contract"--a "task" in the prison vernacular being the work each man +is compelled to accomplish within a certain space of time. On the +approach of a workman the foreman would look up and a few whispered +words would pass between the two. Then the broom-maker would dart into +the stock room, adjoining the factory, where, upon receiving a written +requisition from the foreman, the officer in charge would give him the +material he needed in his work--a ball of twine, or a strip of plush +with which the handles of the brooms were decorated. + +At ten minutes past three, 2034 crossed to the platform. + +"What do you want?" asked the foreman, as he eyed keenly the man in +the gray suit. + +"A paper of small tacks," was the reply, quickly spoken. The order was +written, and as 2034 moved towards the door leading toward the +stock-room, the man on the platform asked in an undertone, "Anything +wrong, Bill?" + +"That's what I don't know, George," the foreman replied. "That man +Riley's been acting queer of late. I've got an idea there's something +up his sleeve. There's not a harder nut on the contract than that +fellow, and by the way he's been carrying on, sullen like and all +that, I'm fearing something's going to happen. You remember, don't +you? What, no? He's that Riley from Acorn. He came in two years ago on +a burglary job in Clive, where he shot a drug clerk that offered +objections to his carrying off all there was in the shop. They made it +manslaughter and he's in for fifteen years. There's another warrant +ready for him when he gets out, for a job done four years ago in +Kentucky. He's a bad one. A fellow like that is no good around this +shop." + +The guard smiled cynically at the foreman's suggestion that a convict +may be too bad even for prison surroundings. + +"But I've got my eye on him," continued the foreman. "I'm sending him +up to the warden this afternoon. Say, George, when you go back, will +you tell the warden Riley's coming up to call on him?" + +"Sure, Bill," was the smiling reply of the guard as he moved away. +Twenty-thirty-four had returned with a paper of tacks and gone +directly to his bench. + +It was a quarter of four by the foreman's watch when the door at the +head of the stairway opened and the warden entered, accompanied by two +friends whom he was showing through the "plant," as he preferred to +call the prison. + +"This is where the whisk-brooms are made," said the warden. "On the +floor below, which we just left, you will remember we saw the boys +turning out broom-handles. Well, here the brooms are tied and sewed +through by hand, over at those benches. In the room beyond, through +that door, we keep the stuff handy that is called for from time to +time. In a further room is stored the material used in the manufacture +of the brooms, the tin tips, the tacks, the twine, and about ten or +twelve tons of broom straw." + +As the warden ceased speaking, the foreman leaned across the desk and +tapped him on the shoulder. "Riley's coming up to see you this +afternoon. He's been acting queer--don't answer the call and the +like." + +The warden only nodded, and continued his explanation to the visitors. + +"Now," he said, moving towards the door of the stock-room, "if you +will come over here I'll show you our store-room. You see we have to +keep a lot of material on hand. Beyond this second room the stuff is +stored up, and is taken into the stock-room as it is wanted. Between +the rooms we have arranged these big sliding iron doors that, in case +of a fire, could be dropped, and thus, for a few minutes at least, cut +the flames off from any room but that in which they originated. You +see," pulling an iron lever which let the heavy iron sheet slide to +the floor, "that completes the wall." + +The visitor nodded. "Now, come on through the second room, and into +the third," there, ranged regularly on the floor were huge bales of +broom straw, and piled against the walls were boxes upon boxes of +tacks, velvet, ornamental bits of metal, and all the other separate +parts of the commercial whisk broom. + +The visitors examined the tacks and the tins and felt of the bales of +straw. + +"Very interesting," observed one of the men, as he drew his cigar case +from his pocket, and biting the tip from one of the cigars it +contained, struck a little wax match on the sole of his shoe. He held +the match in his hand till it had burned down, then threw it on the +floor, and followed the warden and the other visitor under the heavy +iron screen into the workingroom of the factory. + +The foreman was busy at his books and did not observe the little party +as it passed through on the other side of the broom-bins and out at +the big door. + +Two minutes later, 2034 happened to look out through the window across +his bench and he saw the warden with his friends crossing the prison +yards to the foundry. A guard just then sauntered into the room and +stopped at the first of the bins. He idly picked up one of the +finished brooms and examined it. His attention a moment later was +attracted by some one pulling at his coat from behind. He turned. + +"Why, Tommy, my boy, what is it?" + +The two soft brown eyes of a little boy were turned up to him. "I'm +looking for papa," replied the little fellow. "The foreman down-stairs +said he come up here. Uncle George is back in the house, and mamma +sent me out to find papa." + +The guard patted the little fellow's head. "And we'll find him, +Tommy," he said. He went over to the foreman's desk. "Bill, did the +warden come up here? Tommy is looking for him; his mother sent him +out." + +The foreman raised his eyes from his books. "Yes," he replied, "he +went in there, with a couple of gentlemen." + +The guard looked down at the little boy. "He's in the store-room," he +said, "you'll find him in there, Tommy." + +Then he turned and walked out of the shop. The child ran on into the +room beyond. His father was not there. The stock-keeper did not +observe the little boy as he tiptoed, in a childish way, past the +desk. Tommy passed on into the farther room. He knew he would find +his father in there, and he would crawl along between the tiers of +straw bales and take him by surprise. + +He had hardly passed when the stock-keeper, raising his head from the +list of material he was preparing, held his face and sniffed the air. +Quietly he rose from his revolving chair and went to the straw-room +door. He merely peered inside. Turning suddenly, he pressed upon the +lever near the door and the iron screen slid down into place, cutting +off the farther room. Then, snatching a few books that lay on his +desk, he slipped out into the shop, and at that door released the +second screen. As it fell into place with a slight crunching noise, +the foreman turned in his chair. The eyes of the two met. The +stock-keeper raised his hand and touched his lip with the first +finger. He crossed rapidly to the desk. + +"Get the men out! Get the men out!" he gasped. "The store-room is on +fire!" + +The foreman rapped on the table twice. Every man in that room turned +and faced the desk. + +"Work is over for today," said the foreman. His manner was ominously +calm, and the men looked at one another wonderingly. + +"Fall in!" + +At the order, the dingy gray suits formed in the same old serpent, and +the line moved rapidly through the door at the end of the room and +down the outside stairs. + +There, in front of the building, they were halted, and a guard +dispatched to find the warden. He was discovered in the foundry. "Fire +in the broom-shop!" whispered the guard. + +The warden's face paled. He dashed through the doorway, and one +minute later came around the corner of the building, just in time to +see the first signs of flames against the windows of the rear room +up-stairs. + +Within five seconds, a troop of fifteen guards had drawn the little +hand-engine from its house and hitched the hose to the hydrant nearest +the shop. From all the other buildings the men were being marched to +their cells. + +"These men!" hurriedly whispered the foreman to the warden. "What +shall I do with them?" + +"Get 'em inside as soon as you can! This won't last long, the front of +the building is cut off. It'll all be over in ten minutes." + +The foreman gave an order. At that instant a woman came running down +the prison yard. Reaching the warden's side, she fell against him +heavily. + +"Why, Harriet," he exclaimed, "what is the matter?" + +"Oh," she gasped, "Tommy! Tommy! Where is Tommy?" + +A guard at the end of the engine rail turned ashy white. He raised a +hand to his head, and with the other grasped the wheel to keep from +falling. Then he cried, "Mr. Jeffries, I--I believe Tommy is up there +in the stock-room. He went to look--" + +The warden clutched the man's arm. "Up there? Up there?" he cried. + +The sudden approach of the woman and the words that followed had +wrought so much confusion that the men had paid no attention to the +foreman's command, and he had even failed to notice their lack of +attention, in the excitement of that moment. + +"Great God!" cried the warden. "What can I do--what can I do? No one +can live up there!" + +There was a crash. One of the windows fell out. "Get a ladder!" some +one cried. A guard ran back toward the prison-house. Then, in the +midst of the hubbub, a man in a dingy gray suit stepped out a yard +from the line of convicts. His prison number was 2034. He touched his +little square cap. + +"If you'll give me permission, I think I can get up there," was all he +said. + +"You! you!" exclaimed the warden. "No, no; I will tell no man to do +it!" + +There was a second crash. Another window had fallen out, and now the +tongues of flame were lapping the outer walls above. + +The convict made no reply. With a bound he was at the end of the line +and dashing up the stairway. + +The warden's wife was on her knees, clinging to the hand of her +husband. In his eyes was a dead, cold look. A few men bit their lips, +and a faint shadow of a smile played about the mouths of others. They +all waited. A convict had broken a regulation--had run from the line! +He would be punished! Even as he had clambered up the stairs a guard +had cried, "shall I shoot?" + +The silence was broken by a shriek from the woman kneeling at the +warden's feet. "Look!" she cried, and pointed towards the last of the +up-stairs windows. + +There, surrounded by a halo of smoke, and hemmed in on all sides by +flames, stood a man in a dingy gray suit. One sleeve was on fire, but +he beat out the flames with his left hand. Those below heard him cry, +"I've got him!" Then the figure disappeared. Instantly it returned, +bearing something in its arms. It was the limp form of a child. + +All saw the man wrap smoking straw round the little body and tie +round that two strands of heavy twine. Then that precious burden was +lowered out of the window. The father rushed forward and held up his +hands to receive it. + +Another foot--he hugged the limp body of his boy to his breast! On the +ground a little way back lay a woman, as if dead. + +"Here's the ladder!" yelled the foreman, and that moment the eyes that +were still turned upon the window above where stood a man in a dingy +gray suit, witnessed a spectacle that will reappear before them again +and again in visions of the night. + +The coat the man wore was ablaze. Flames shot on either side of him +and above him. Just as the ladder was placed against the wall, a +crackling was heard--not the crackling of the fire. Then like a +thunderbolt, a crash occurred that caused even the men in their cells +to start. The roof caved in. + +In the prison yard that line of convicts saw 2034 reel and fall +backwards, and heard, as he fell, his last cry, "I'm a-comin', +warden!" + +He was a convicted criminal, and died in prison gray. But it would +seem not wonderful to the warden if, when that man's soul took flight, +the recording angel did write his name on the eternal Book of Record, +with a strange cabalistic sign, a ring around a cross--that stands for +"good behavior."--_The Youth's Companion._ + + + HIS MOTHER'S SONG. + + Beneath the hot midsummer sun + The men had marched all day; + And now beside a rippling stream + Upon the grass they lay. + Tiring of games and idle jest, + As swept the hours along, + They cried to one who mused apart, + "Come, friend, give us a song." + + "I fear I cannot please," he said; + "The only songs I know + Are those my mother used to sing + For me, long years ago." + "Sing one of those," a rough voice cried, + "There's none but true men here; + To every mother's son of us + A mother's songs are dear." + + Then sweetly rose the singer's voice + Amid unwonted calm, + "Am I a soldier of the Cross, + A follower of the Lamb? + And shall I fear to own His Cause?" + The very stream was stilled, + And hearts that never throbbed with fear + With tender thoughts were filled. + + Ended the song; the singer said, + As to his feet he rose, + "Thanks to you all, my friends, good-night, + God grant us sweet repose." + "Sing us one more," the captain begged, + The soldier bent his head, + Then glancing round, with smiling lips, + "You'll join with me?" he said. + + "We'll sing this old familiar air, + Sweet as the bugle call, + 'All hail the power of Jesus' name, + Let angels prostrate fall;'" + Ah! wondrous was the old tune's spell, + As on the soldier sang, + Man after man fell into line, + And loud the voices rang. + + The songs are done, the camp is still, + Naught but the stream is heard; + But ah! the depths of every soul + By those old hymns are stirred, + And up from many a bearded lip, + In whispers soft and low, + Rises the prayer that mother taught + Her boy long years ago. + + --_Safeguard._ + + + PERFECT PEACE. + +[Lines written by a lady on the steamship "Mongolia," near Malta. She +was en route from China, where she had been a missionary for seventeen +years, to her home in England. She gave the verses to Bishop Bowman, +who was on the steamer with her, and he sent them to his wife, not +knowing she had died a few days before he wrote his letter.--_A. +Lowry._] + + Lonely? No, not lonely + While Jesus stands by; + His presence always cheers me, + I know that He is nigh. + + Friendless? No, not friendless, + For Jesus is my friend; + I change, but He remaineth + The same unto the end. + + Tired? No, not tired, + While leaning on His breast; + My soul hath full enjoyment, + 'Tis His eternal rest. + + Saddened? No, not saddened + By darkest scenes of woe; + I should be, if I knew not + That Jesus loves me so. + + Helpless? Yes, so helpless, + But I am leaning hard + On the mighty arm of Jesus, + And He is keeping guard. + + Waiting? Oh, yes, waiting, + He bade me watch and wait; + I only wonder often + What makes my Lord so late. + + Joyful? Yes, so joyful, + With joy too deep for words; + A precious, sure possession, + The joy that is my Lord's. + + --_Divine Life._ + + + SWEET REVENGE. + +A few years ago while Robert Stewart was Governor of Missouri, a +steamboat man was brought in from the penitentiary for a pardon. He +was a large, powerful fellow, and when the governor looked at him he +seemed strangely affected. He scrutinized him long and closely. +Finally he signed the document that restored to the prisoner his +liberty. Before he handed it to him he said, "You will commit some +other crime and be in the penitentiary again, I fear." + +The man solemnly promised that he would not. The governor looked +doubtful, mused a few minutes and said, "You will go back on the river +and be a mate again, I suppose?" + +The man replied that he would. + +"Well, I want you to promise me one thing," resumed the governor. "I +want you to pledge your word that when you are mate again, you will +never take a billet of wood in your hand and drive a sick boy out of a +bunk to help you load your boat on a stormy night." + +The boatman said he would not, and inquired what he meant by asking +him such a question. + +The governor replied, "Because some day that boy may become a +governor, and you may want him to pardon you for a crime. One dark +stormy night many years ago you stopped your boat on the Mississippi +River to take on a load of wood. There was a boy on board working his +way from New Orleans to St. Louis, but he was very sick of fever and +was lying in a bunk. You had plenty of men to do the work but you went +to that boy with a stick of wood in your hand and drove him with blows +and curses out into the wretched night and kept him toiling like a +slave until the load was completed. I was that boy. Here is your +pardon. Never again be guilty of such brutality." + +The man, cowering and hiding his face, went out without a word. + +What a noble revenge that was, and what a lesson for a +bully.--_Success._ + + + NO TELEPHONE IN HEAVEN. + + "Now, I can wait on baby," the smiling merchant said, + As he stooped and softly toyed with the golden, curly head. + "I want oo to tall up mamma," came the answer full and free, + "Wif yo' telephone an' ast her when she's tummin' back to me. + + "Tell her I so lonesome 'at I don't know what to do, + An' papa cries so much I dess he must be lonesome, too; + Tell her to tum to baby, 'tause at night I dit so 'fraid, + Wif nobody here to tiss me, when the light bedins to fade. + + "All froo de day I wants her, for my dolly dot so tored + Fum the awful punchin' Buddy gave it wif his little sword; + An' ain't nobody to fix it, since mamma went away, + An' poor 'ittle lonesome dolly's dittin' thinner ever' day." + + "My child," the merchant murmured, as he stroked the anxious brow, + "There's no telephone connection where your mother lives at now." + "Ain't no telephone in Heaven?" and tears sprang to her eyes. + "I fought dat God had every'fing wif Him up in de skies." + + --_Atlanta Constitution._ + + + PERFECT THROUGH FAITH. + + God would not send you the darkness + If He felt you could bear the light, + But you would not cling to His guiding hand + If the way were always bright; + And you would not care to walk by faith + Could you always walk by sight. + + 'Tis true He has many an anguish + For your sorrowing heart to bear, + And many a cruel thorn-crown + For your tired head to wear; + He knows how few would reach home at all + If pain did not guide them there. + + If He sends you in blinding darkness, + And the furnace of seven-fold heat; + 'Tis the only way, believe me, + To keep you close to His feet; + For 'tis always so easy to wander + When our lives are glad and sweet. + + Then nestle your hand in our Father's + And sing if you can as you go; + Your song may cheer some one behind you + Whose courage is sinking low; + And, well if your lips do quiver, + God will love you better so. + + --_Selected._ + + + A TRUE HERO. + +Two men were sinking a shaft. It was dangerous business, for it was +necessary to blast the rock. It was their custom to cut the fuse with +a sharp knife. One man then entered the bucket and made a signal to be +hauled up. When the bucket again descended, the other man entered it, +and with one hand on the signal rope and the other holding the fire, +he touched the fuse, made the signal, and was rapidly drawn up before +the explosion took place. + +One day they left the knife above, and rather than ascend to procure +it, they cut the fuse with a sharp stone. It took fire. "The fuse is +on fire!" Both men leaped into the bucket, and made the signal; but +the windlass would haul up but one man at a time; only one could +escape. One of the men instantly leaped out, and said to the other, +"Up wi' ye; I'll be in heaven in a minute." With lightning speed the +bucket was drawn up, and the one man was saved. The explosion took +place. Men descended, expecting to find the mangled body of the other +miner; but the blast had loosened a mass of rock, and it lay +diagonally across him; and, with the exception of a few bruises and a +little scorching, he was unhurt. When asked why he urged his comrade +to escape, he gave a reason that sceptics would laugh at. If there is +any being on the face of the earth I pity, it is a sceptic. I would +not be called "a sceptic," today for all this world's wealth. They may +call it superstition or fanaticism, or whatever they choose. But what +did this hero say when asked, "Why did you insist on this other man's +ascending?" In his quaint dialect, he replied, "Because I knowed my +soul was safe; for I've give it in the hands of Him of whom it is +said, that 'faithfulness is the girdle of his reins,' and I knowed +that what I gied Him He'd never gie up. But t'other chap was an awful +wicked lad, and I wanted to gie him another chance." All the +infidelity in the world cannot produce such a signal act of heroism as +that.--_Selected._ + + + THE "KID." + +It was not a long procession or a pleasing one but it attracted much +attention. + +There was a policeman in the lead. Beside him walked a stockey, +bullnecked young fellow in a yellowish suit of loud plaid. His face +was bloody and his right wrist encircled by the bracelet of the +"twisters" which shackled him to his captor. The face of the policeman +was also bloody and his clothes were torn. Behind these two walked +three other patrolmen, each with a handcuffed prisoner. + +The "kid" and his "gang" had been caught in the act of robbing a +saloon, and the fight had been lively, although short. The prisoners +had been taken to the detectives' office, and photographed and +registered for the rogues' gallery. They were now on their way to +court, and thence, in all probability, to jail. + +At Broadway there was a jam of cars and heavy trucks, and the +procession had to wait. Nobody has been able to tell just what +happened, but they all agree as to the essential points. First the +bystanders saw a streak of yellow, which was the kid; then a streak of +blue which was the policeman. The prisoner had wrenched the twisters +from his captors' hand, and made a dash across the tracks. The +policeman, thinking, of course that he was trying to escape, had +followed. + +Then everybody saw a little child toddling along in the middle of the +track. A cable-car, with clanging bell, was bearing down upon it with +a speed which the gripman seemed powerless to check. The baby held up +its hands, and laughed at the sound of the gong. On the other side of +the street a woman was screaming and struggling in the arms of three +or four men who were trying to keep her from sacrificing her own life +to save that of her child. + +Then the kid stood there with the child safe in his arms, the steel +twisters hanging from his wrist. He set the baby down gently at his +feet, loosened the clasp of the chubby hand on his big red fist, and +quietly held out his wrist to the policeman to be handcuffed again. He +had one chance in a million for his life when he made that desperate +leap, but he had not hesitated the fraction of a second. + + + CHARGED WITH MURDER. + +"Prisoner at the bar, have you anything to say why sentence of death +should not be passed upon you?" + +A solemn hush fell over the crowded court-room, and every person +waited in almost breathless expectation for the answer to the judge's +question. + +"I have, your honor! I stand here convicted of the murder of my wife. +Witnesses have testified that I was a loafer, a drunkard and a wretch; +that I returned from one of my debauches and fired the shot that +killed the wife I had sworn to love, cherish and protect. While I have +no remembrance of committing the awful deed, I have no right to +condemn the verdict of the jury, for their verdict is in accordance +with the evidence. + +"But, may it please the court, I wish to show that I am not alone +responsible for the murder of my wife! The judge on this bench, the +jury in the box, the lawyers within this bar and most of the +witnesses, including the pastor of the church, are also guilty before +God and will have to stand with me before His judgment throne, where +we shall all be righteously judged. + +"If it had not been for the saloons of my town, I never would have +become a drunkard; my wife would not have been murdered; I would not +be here now, soon to be hurled into eternity. + +"For one year our town was without a saloon. For one year I was a +sober man. For one year my wife and children were happy and our little +home was a paradise. + +"I was one of those who signed remonstrances against re-opening the +saloons of our town. One-half of this jury, the prosecuting attorney +on this case, and the judge who sits on this bench, all voted for the +saloons. By their votes and influence the saloons were opened, and +they have made me what I am. + +"Think you that the Great Judge will hold me--the poor, weak, helpless +victim--alone responsible for the murder of my wife? Nay; I, in my +drunken, frenzied, irresponsible condition have murdered one; but you +have deliberately voted for the saloons which have murdered thousands, +and they are in full operation today with your consent. You legalized +the saloons that made me a drunkard and a murderer, and you are guilty +with me before God and man for the murder of my wife. + +"I will close by solemnly asking God to open your blind eyes to your +own individual responsibility, so that you will cease to give your +support to this hell-born traffic."--_Sel._ + + + MOTHER'S FACE. + + There's a feeling comes across me-- + Comes across me often now-- + And it deepest seems when trouble + Lays her finger on my brow; + O it is a deep, deep feeling, + Neither happiness nor pain! + 'Tis a mighty, soulful longing + To see mother's face again! + + 'Tis, I think, a natural feeling; + Worst of me, I can't control + Myself no more! It seems to stir + And thrill my very soul! + Try to laugh it off--but useless! + Oh! my tears will fall like rain + When I get this soulful longing + Just to see her face again! + + You won't know how much you love her + (Your old mother) till you roam + 'Way off where her voice can't reach you, + And with strangers make your home; + Then you'll know how big your heart is, + Think you never loved before, + When you get this mighty longing + Just to see her face once more. + + Mother! tender, loving soul! + Heaven bless her dear old face! + I'd give half my years remaining + Just to give her one embrace; + Or to shower love-warm kisses + On her lips, and cheeks, and brow, + And appease this mighty longing + That I get so often now! + + --_Sel._ + + + ONLY SIXTEEN. + + Only sixteen, so the papers say, + Yet there on the cold, stony ground he lay; + 'Tis the same sad story we hear every day. + He came to his death in the public highway. + Full of promise, talent and pride, + Yet the rum fiend conquered him--so he died. + Did not the angels weep o'er the scene? + For he died a drunkard and only sixteen. + Only sixteen. + + Oh! it were sad he must die all alone, + That of all his friends, not even one + Was there to list to his last faint moan, + Or point the suffering soul to the throne + Of grace. If, perchance, God's only Son + Would say, "Whosoever will may come."-- + But we hasten to draw a veil over the scene, + With his God we leave him--only sixteen. + Only sixteen. + + Rumseller, come view the work you have wrought! + Witness the suffering and pain you have brought + To the poor boy's friends; they loved him well, + And yet you dared the vile beverage to sell + That beclouded his brain, his reason dethroned, + And left him to die out there all alone. + What if 't were your son instead of another? + What if your wife were that poor boy's mother? + And he only sixteen. + + Ye freeholders who signed the petition to grant + The license to sell, do you think you will want + That record to meet in the last great day + When heaven and earth shall have passed away, + When the elements melting with fervent heat + Shall proclaim the triumph of right complete? + Will you wish to have his blood on your hands + When before the great throne you each shall stand? + And he only sixteen. + + Christian men! rouse ye to stand for the right, + To action and duty; into the light. + Come with your banners inscribed: "Death to rum." + Let your conscience speak, listen, then come; + Strike killing blows; hew to the line; + Make it a felony even to sign + A petition to license; you would do it I ween + If that were your son and he only sixteen, + Only sixteen. + + + THE DRESS QUESTION. + +One day, at Louisville, riding with Mrs. Wheaton to visit the sick +prisoners, she said, "Do you think it your duty to rebuke Christians +who wear jewelry?" I saw her question was a kindly reproof to me, and +said, "If the Lord wants me to give up the jewelry I have, He will +show me." "Yes, He will," she answered; "for I am praying for you." +The next morning the friend who was entertaining me told me her little +eleven-year-old daughter, Emma, just converted, said, "Mamma, I wish +you would read to me in the Bible where it says not to wear jewelry." +The mother read the verses. Then the child said, "Mamma, if the Lord +does not want me to wear jewelry, I don't want to;" and she brought +her little pin and ring to her mother. I took my Bible and read, +"Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the +hair and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it +be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even +the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God +of great price" (1 Peter ii, 3, 4); and, "In like manner also, that +women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and +sobriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array, but +(which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." (1 Tim. +ii, 9, 10.) Then I thought: "The child is right. The Bible means just +what it says." Then I recalled that Mrs. Wheaton had told me how she +went one day to visit a poor, sick girl, to whom she had talked of the +love of Christ until she was almost won. She went again with a wealthy +woman, who was decked with diamonds. As they entered the room, the +girl pointed to the jewels, and said: "O mother, mother! I have wanted +them all my life!" The rich woman tried to hide her diamonds, and Mrs. +Wheaton tried to turn the girl's attention again to the Savior, but in +vain. Her last thought was of the diamonds, and her last words, "I +have wanted them all my life!" + +Sitting there, with this incident fresh in my mind, I quietly slipped +off ring, watch, chain, cuff-buttons, and collar-stud; and gold, as an +adornment, was put away forever.--_Abbie C. Morrow, in Revival +Advocate, March 7, 1901._ + + + SONGS USED IN MY WORK. + + ROCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER. + + "Backward, turn backward, oh time in your flight, + Make me a child again just for tonight. + Mother, come back from that echoless shore, + Take me again to your arms as of yore; + Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care, + Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair; + Over my slumbers your loving watch keep, + Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep." + + + LIFE'S RAILWAY TO HEAVEN. + + Life is like a mountain railroad, + With an engineer that's brave; + We must make the run successful, + From the cradle to the grave; + Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels; + Never falter, never quail; + Keep your hand upon the throttle, + And your eye upon the rail. + + CHORUS: + + Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us + Till we reach that blissful shore; + Where the angels wait to join us + In Thy praise forevermore. + + You will roll up grades of trials; + You will cross the bridge of strife; + See that Christ is your conductor + On this lightning train of life; + Always mindful of obstructions; + Do your duty, never fail; + Keep your hand upon the throttle, + And your eye upon the rail. + + You will often find obstructions; + Look for storms of wind and rain; + On a fill, or curve, or trestle, + They will almost ditch your train; + Put your trust alone in Jesus; + Never falter, never fail; + Keep your hand upon the throttle, + And your eye upon the rail. + + As you roll across the trestle, + Spanning Jordan's swelling tide, + You behold the Union Depot + Into which your train will glide; + There you'll meet the Superintendent, + God the Father, God the Son + With the hearty, joyous plaudit, + Weary pilgrim, welcome home. + +_By permission of Charlie D Tillman, owner of copyright._ + + + MEET ME THERE. + + 1. On the happy golden shore, + Where the faithful part no more, + When the storms of life are o'er, + Meet me there. + Where the night dissolves away, + Into pure and perfect day, + I am going home to stay, + Meet me there. + + CHORUS: + + Meet me there, + Meet me there, + Where the tree of life is blooming + Meet me there. + When the storms of life are o'er, + On the happy golden shore, + Where the faithful part no more, + Meet me there. + + 2. Here our fondest hopes are vain, + Dearest links are rent in twain, + But in heav'n no throbs of pain, + Meet me there. + By the river sparkling bright, + In the city of delight + Where our faith is lost in sight, + Meet me there. + + 3. Where the harps of angels ring, + And the blest forever sing, + In the palace of the king, + Meet me there. + Where in sweet communion blend, + Heart with heart and friend with friend; + In a world that ne'er shall end, + Meet me there. + +_Words and music copyrighted by W. J. Kirkpatrick, Philadelphia._ + + + GOD BLESS MY BOY + + 1. When shining stars their vigils keep, + And all the world is hushed in sleep, + 'Tis then I breathe this pray'r so deep-- + God bless my boy tonight. + + CHORUS: + + God bless my boy, my wandering boy, + And keep his honor bright; + May he come home--no longer roam-- + God save my boy tonight. + + 2. I know not where his head may lie, + Perchance beneath the open sky; + But this I ween, God's watchful eye + Can see my boy tonight. + + 3. As pass the days, the months and years, + With all the change, the hopes and fears, + God make each step of duty clear, + And keep his honor bright. + + 4. And when at last his work is o'er, + And earthly toil shall be no more, + May angels guide him to the shore + Where there shall be no night. + + + THE GREAT JUDGMENT MORNING. + + Tune--"Kathleen Mavourneen." + + One cold Winter eve when the snow was fast falling + In a small, humble cottage a poor mother laid; + Although racked with pain she lay there contented + With Christ as her Friend and her peace with Him made. + + CHORUS: + + We shall all meet again on the great judgment morning, + The books will be opened, the roll will be called; + How sad it will be if forever we're parted, + And shut out of heaven for not loving God! + + That mother of yours has gone over death's river. + You promised you'd meet her as you knelt by her bed, + While the death sweat rolled from her and fell on the pillow; + Her memory still speaketh, although she is dead. + + You remember the kiss and the last words she uttered, + The arms that embraced you are mouldering away; + As you stood by her grave and dropped tears on her coffin, + With a vow that you'd meet her, you walked slowly away. + + My brother, my sister, get ready to meet her, + The life that you now live is ebbing away, + But the life that's to come lasts forever and ever, + May we meet ne'er to part on that great judgment day! + + + MY NAME IN MOTHER'S PRAYER. + + 'Twas in the days of careless youth + When life seemed fair and bright, + When ne'er a tear, nor scarce a fear + O'er cast my day or night. + 'Twas in the quiet even tide, + I passed her kneeling there, + When just one word I tho't I heard + My name, my name in mother's prayer. + + CHORUS. + + My name, my name in mother's prayer, + My name in mother's prayer! + There is just one word I tho't I heard + My name, my name in mother's prayer. + + I wandered on, but heeded not + God's oft repeated call, + To turn from sin and live for Him, + And trust to Him my all in all. + But when at last convinced of sin, + I sank in deep despair, + My soul awoke when memory spoke + My name, my name in mother's prayer. + + That kneeling form, those folded hands, + Have vanished in the dust; + But still for me for years shall be + The memory of her trust. + And when I cross dark Jordan's tide, + I'll meet her over there; + I'll praise the Lord, and bless the word, + That word, my name in mother's prayer! + + + OVER THERE. + + Come all ye scattered race, + And the Savior's love embrace; + You may see His smiling face + Yet with care; + He is on the giving hand, + Will you come at His command, + Will you with the angels stand + Over there? + + CHORUS. + + Over there, over there, + There's a land of pure delight + Over there, + We will lay our burdens down, + And at Jesus' feet sit down, + And we'll wear a starry crown, + Over there. + + Yes, He went to Calvary, + And they nailed Him to the tree, + That poor sinners such as we, + He might spare; + From the bitter pangs of death, + He does with His dying breath, + Seal an everlasting rest, + Over there. + + God has placed us on the field, + To the foe we will not yield, + On our tower we will stand, + By His care. + Wave the Christian's banner high, + Hold it up until we die, + And go home to live with God, + Over there. + + + THIS WAY. + + Our life is like a stormy sea, + Swept by the gales of sin and grief, + While on the windward and the lee, + Hangs heavy clouds of unbelief; + Out o'er the deep a call we hear, + Like harbor bell's inviting voice; + It tells the lost that hope is near, + And bids the trembling soul rejoice. + + CHORUS. + + This way, this way, O heart oppressed, + So long by storm and tempest driven, + This way, this way, lo here is rest, + Rings out the harbor bell of heaven. + + O tempted one, look up, be strong; + The promise of the Lord is sure, + That they shall sing the victor's song, + Who faithful to the end endure; + God's Holy Spirit comes to thee, + Of this abiding love to tell; + To blissful port, o'er stormy sea, + Calls heaven's inviting harbor bell. + + + MORE TO BE PITIED THAN CENSURED. + + There's an old concert hall on the bowery + Where were assembled together one night + A crowd of young fellows carousing, + To them life looked happy and bright. + At the very next table was seated + A girl that had fallen to shame; + How the fellows they laughed at her downfall, + When they heard an old woman exclaim: + + CHORUS. + + "She's more to be pitied than censured, + She is more to be loved than despised; + She is only a poor girl who ventured + On life's rugged path ill-advised. + Don't scorn her with words fierce and bitter, + Don't laugh at her shame and downfall, + Just pause for a moment--consider, + That sin was the cause of it all." + + There's an old-fashioned church 'round the corner, + Where the neighbors all gathered one day, + To listen to words from the parson, + For a soul that had just passed away. + 'Twas the same wayward girl from the bowery, + Who a life of adventure had led; + Did the parson then laugh at her downfall? + No, he prayed and wept as he said: + + + SOME MOTHER'S CHILD. + + At home or away, in the alley or street, + Wherever I chance in this wide world to meet + A girl that is thoughtless or a boy that is wild, + My heart echoes softly: It is some mother's child. + + CHORUS. + + Some mother's child, + Some mother's child, + My heart echoes softly: + It is some mother's child. + + And when I see those o'er whom long years have rolled, + Whose hearts have grown hardened, whose spirits are cold; + Be it woman all fallen, or man all defiled, + A voice whispers sadly: It is some mother's child. + + No matter how far from right she hath strayed; + No matter what inroad dishonor hath made; + No matter what elements cankered the pearl; + Though tarnished and sullied, she is some mother's girl. + + No matter how deep he is sunken in sin; + No matter how much he is shunned by his kin; + No matter how low is his standard of joy; + Though guilty and loathsome; he is some mother's boy. + + That head hath been pillowed on tenderest breast; + That form hath been wept o'er, those lips have been pressed; + That soul hath been prayed for in tones sweet and mild; + For her sake deal gently with some mother's child. + +_Used by permission of Charlie D. Tillman, owner of copyright._ + + + JUST TELL MY MOTHER. + + 'Twas in a Gospel Mission, in a distant western town, + The meeting there that night had just begun, + When in came a poor lost sinner who by sin had been cast down, + Thinking perhaps that he might have some fun; + But as he heard of Jesus' love, of pardon full and free, + He sought it and the wanderer ceased to roam. + And going to his room that night, his heart all filled with joy, + He wrote a letter to the folks at home. + + CHORUS. + + Just tell my dear old mother, my wandering days are o'er, + Just tell her that my sins are all forgiven, + Just tell her that if on earth we chance to meet no more, + Her prayers are answered and we'll meet in Heaven. + + His mother got the message as she lay at death's dark door, + Which told her of her boy so far away, + How his sins were all forgiven and wandering days were o'er, + And that his feet were on the narrow way. + Her heart was filled with gladness, as it had not been for years, + Her dear old face was all lit up with joy, + As on her dying pillow she said amid her tears, + God bless and keep my precious darling boy. + + Your mothers have prayed for you, my friends, for many and many a day, + Perhaps these days of life will soon be o'er, + Come, give your hearts to Jesus, get on the narrow way, + And meet her on that happy golden shore. + Oh, come just now while still there's room, and pardon free for all. + The Savior pleads, oh, do not longer roam. + And then with Jesus in your heart, you will send the message + To your dear mother, praying still for you at home. + + + SOON THE DEATH-BELL WILL TOLL. + + When the last Gospel message has been told in your ears, + And the last solemn warning has been given you in tears; + When hope shall escape from its place in your breast, + Oh, where will your poor weary soul find its rest? + + CHORUS. + + Soon the death-bell will toll--look after your soul; + O, sinner be ready, for the death-bell will toll. + + When the darkness of death shall compass you round, + When the friends you have loved are all standing around; + Unable to save you now from the tomb, + Unable to alter your terrible doom. + + When before the white throne of His Judgment you stand, + "What have you to answer?" the Judge will demand; + Oh, terrible moment to be standing alone, + When mercy forever and forever is gone. + + + THE END OF THE WAY. + +The following beautiful lines were written by a girl in Nova Scotia, +an invalid for many years: + + My life is a wearisome journey; + I'm sick of the dust and the heat; + The rays of the sun beat upon me, + The briars are wounding my feet. + But the city to which I am journeying + Will more than my trials repay; + All the toils of the road will seem nothing + When I get to the end of the way. + + There are so many hills to climb upward, + I often am longing for rest, + But He who appoints me the pathway + Knows what is needed and best. + I know in His word He has promised + That my strength shall be as my day; + And the toils of the road will seem nothing + When I get to the end of the way. + + He loves me too well to forsake me, + Or give me one trial too much; + All His people have been dearly purchased, + And Satan can never claim such. + By and by I shall see Him and praise Him, + In the city of unending day; + And the toils of the road will seem nothing + When I get to the end of the way. + + When the last feeble steps have been taken, + And the gates of the city appear, + And the beautiful songs of the angels + Float out on my listening ear; + When all that now seems so mysterious + Will be plain and clear as the day-- + Yes, the toils of the road will seem nothing + When I get to the end of the way. + + Though now I am footsore and weary, + I shall rest when I'm safely at home; + I know I'll receive a glad welcome, + For the Savior Himself has said "Come." + So, when I am weary in body, + And sinking in spirit I say, + All the toils of the road will seem nothing + When I get to the end of the way. + + Cooling fountains are there for the thirsty, + There are cordials for those who are faint: + There are robes that are whiter and purer + Than any that fancy can paint. + Then I'll try to press hopefully onward, + Thinking often through each weary day, + The toils of the road will seem nothing + When I get to the end of the way. + + + + + Appendix. + + +The matter which I have here appended I thought of too much value to +omit from this volume. The first article is explanatory in itself. The +second is by a prisoner whom I have known for many years. The third +(regarding Christ in Gethsemane) was written by a prisoner as a letter +to myself. I hope the reader may profit by the reading of each page. + + E. R. W. + + + THE PERSONNEL OF PRISON MANAGEMENT. + + Address of C. E. Haddox, warden of the West Virginia + penitentiary, to the National Prison Association, at its annual + session, Louisville, Ky., Congress of 1903: + +This is the age of industrial development. On every side we see +colossal enterprises undertaken and prosecuted to a successful and +profitable conclusion. + +Great railroad systems span the continent, carrying millions of +passengers and countless tons of freight, with safety, celerity and +dispatch, to the doors of factory, workshop, store and consumer. + +Immense industrial enterprises are constantly being projected, +consolidated and carried on in a manner to excite the admiration, +mayhap, the wonder and fear of mankind. + +Colossal financial transactions amaze the minds of those uninitiated +to the magnitude and the intricacies of such undertakings. + +The unexplored recesses of the earth are exploited in a manner and on +a scale heretofore undreamed of and unknown, and every department of +enterprise is carried on to a degree that distinctly stamps this +decade as the acme of industrial enterprise and achievements, the +golden age of industrial prosperity, and the acquirement of material +improvement and material gain. + +If it be asked why such strides have been made along industrial lines, +the answer is that it is due to ORGANIZATION AND SPECIALIZATION. + +The PERSONNEL of the management have devoted their lives, their talent +and their energies to the special work before them. They have been +drilled and educated along special lines; they have been deaf and +blind to outside matters not relevant to the work in hand, and by +close and careful study, by unceasing and constant labor, care and +effort, having evolved, projected and carried on these immense +enterprises. + +The National Prison Congress at its meeting this year is mindful of +the material progress of the country. + +This association is equally ambitious along the lines peculiar to +itself to obtain from the various penal institutions of the country +the highest and best results morally, educationally, reformatively, +and as an incident, punitively and financially. + +How shall we keep pace in penal improvements with the great material +progress of the outside world? + +The answer necessarily must be, that improvements in our department of +work must come, as they do elsewhere, by the investigation, the study, +the thought and the effort of those who are in actual control, of +those who are in a position to see, to observe and to know. + +In other words, the question as to whether prisons are to improve, +whether their work shall continue to be of a higher and nobler +character, whether we are finally and forever to break away from the +customs of the galleys of France, the prisons of Hawes in England, of +the Mamertine of Rome and of Rothenburg in Germany, will depend +utterly, entirely and absolutely upon the personnel of the prison +management of the country. + +Prof. Henderson, in his admirable address delivered at the +Philadelphia meeting in 1902, on "The Social Position of the Prison +Warden," says: "Some institutions have no marked qualities; they have +walls, cells, machinery, prisoners, punishments, but no distinct, +consistent and rational policy." + +Where this is true it means that the worst possible condition of +affairs exists. Such an institution has the dry rot. It is managed (or +rather mismanaged) by time servers, too careless to feel the high +responsibility devolving upon them, and too listless to acquaint +themselves with the many opportunities spread before them to improve +and keep pace with the onward march of progress. + +Such officers in their abuse, by inaction, of the opportunities +afforded them, commit "Crimes against criminals" and through them +against society. + +On the contrary institutions which have distinct features and +characteristics, have them as the result of the careful investigation, +the patient research and thought of those who are in responsible and +actual control, and these characteristics and features reflect the +wisdom and intelligence of those who have given their energies and +their lives to the special work before them. + + + THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. + +In the management of penal institutions a Board of Directors or of +Control is, ordinarily, the nominal head. + +By the laws of most states they are supposed to fix the administration +policy, to restrict and define the powers and duties of the officers +in actual and intimate control. + +In some institutions they meet a day or so each month, in most +institutions not so frequently. Their duties while at the institution +may or may not be largely perfunctory, and as they are generally +active business men at home in other channels, the day or two a month +or quarter is apt to be regarded by the unthoughtful as a respite or +surcease from other duties. The main duty of a Board of Directors or +of Control may be said to be the determining of the general policy +upon which the institution shall be conducted, and a cursory oversight +of the conduct of its affairs. + + + THE WARDEN. + +The warden or superintendent is the one official who can give tone, +expression and color to the institution. He is distinctly and +positively its actual managing head, and upon his intelligence, +interest, zeal, tact and discretion will depend, almost entirely, its +weal or its woe. + +He must be a man of intelligence, and be willing and anxious to +increase his fund of knowledge and information. + +He should be a profound student not only of the ordinary subjects that +attract the student, but of prison systems, of laws, business, +government, society as it exists, and of human nature in all its many +phases. + + + HE MUST BE AN ORGANIZER. + +No difference how elaborate a system may be found in any institution +of this kind, the warden will always be an intensely busy and greatly +occupied officer. + +If he would prevent chaos and confusion and obtain from every official +the highest and best work of which he is capable, he must organize +every department thoroughly. Every officer and every inmate must know +his exact duties, so far as it is possible to know them, and be made +responsible for those duties and the warden must be enabled to +appreciate a high order of talent and the accomplishment of good work, +and to locate the blame for omissions and short comings, and provide +for their correction. + +Thorough system in every detail will conserve the capacities of all +his subordinates and leave him in a measure free to observe the actual +conditions and to plan and to put into effect improvements along +moral, industrial, physical and financial lines. + + + HE MUST BE A FINANCIER. + +The financial question in every prison in the land is an extremely +important one. Funds for prisons are doled out grudgingly, and the +demand for absolutely necessary purposes is always far greater than +the supply. + +A warden performs no more important function than when he sees that +the funds of the institution are so used as to effect the highest +possible results, and that all the forces of the prison are so +energized and conserved as to permit, under ordinary conditions, a +satisfactory and proper earning and economizing power. With the many +demands made upon him for means for increasing the usefulness of his +institution, a high order of financial aptitude is an absolutely +necessary characteristic in a successful warden. + + + DISCIPLINE. + +Discipline in a prison is its first requisite. Nothing can be +accomplished until officers and convicts are under its sway and +control. + +The warden who would have control of those under him must himself at +all times, be under self control. + +The maxim "No one knows how to command who has not first learned how +to obey," is a trite and a true one. The population of a prison is +made up of a heterogeneous collection of people whose first instincts +have been and are, not to obey. + +To bring such people into habits of obedience and control requires the +highest type of skill, tact and discretion. Punishments and reward +must be so blended and combined as to effect the needful results with +the least possible friction, and in the most humane and rational +manner possible. + +No warden can afford to delegate the matter of enforcing discipline +entirely or partly, if at all, to another. His first duty to himself, +that he may know actual conditions as they exist, is to preside over +or assist in, the trial of offenders and to order discipline. + +Individual treatment is a necessity in our dealings with delinquents, +and a study of the many phases of delinquency is a prime requisite in +a successful warden's repertoire. + +Brainard F. Smith says: "Many a prisoner has been reformed--or, if not +reformed, made a better prisoner--by punishment." + +Will the warden have any higher duty to perform than to face his +delinquent delinquents and to order in merciful severity, rational +punishments for their short-comings? + +But a warden's disciplinary powers are apt to be taxed more severely +in another direction. The great problem ordinarily, is not so much the +discipline of convicts as that of subordinate officers. If subordinate +officers will obey the spirit and the letter of the rules, the convict +has the potential influence of a powerful example to aid him. "Like +master like man." + +In institutions where officers are appointed solely with reference to +their fitness, comparatively little trouble should be had in the +matter of proper official discipline. But where places are given to +heelers, ward-workers and political strikers, the matter of efficient +discipline is a question of grave concern to the warden. In the +absence of better material, however, he must address himself to +organizing what he has to the highest efficiency possible, and insist +and require a rigid regimen and adhere to his demands and requirements +with Spartan firmness. + + + THE PRISON SCHOOL. + +The educational work of a prison is of the highest, I may say, of the +first importance. The education of the hands to work comes naturally, +partly as an incident of the necessary work carried on in prison. + +Nearly all convicts are densely ignorant. The polished, scholarly, +shrewd criminal of whom we hear so much, and to whom the papers and +books give so much prominence, is the exception, not the rule, in +prison. + +If the prison is to have a reformatory feature, it must come very +largely through the school. Many prison schools are such only in name. +The work accomplished is very meager. The results are very +unsatisfactory. + +To no part of prison work should a warden address himself with more +ardor and determination than so to organize the prison school as to +make it the great positive factor in dispelling ignorance and its +attendant viciousness, and in quickening and enlivening the moral +sense in those whose moral judgment is exceedingly obtuse. + +The course of study in a prison school is necessarily a very +elementary one, and unless followed by a supplementary course of +reading and study, will be of little permanent and practical benefit. +Many prison libraries, largely the result of indiscriminate and +heterogeneous donations of all kinds of literature, good, bad and +indifferent, chiefly the latter, are not in a position to be a +positive force. + +Let the warden see that his library is so arranged, classified and +used as to be a source of information, profit, help and pleasure to +the inmates, and that a course of reading along rational lines is +laid out, encouraged, and, if possible, adhered to, in order that the +preliminary school course may not have been in vain. + + + COURAGE NEEDED. + +The warden must be a man of courage. I do not refer to the kind of +courage necessary to face a regiment of depraved and wicked men shorn +of their power and their stimulus to do evil, but that high moral +courage necessary to clean the Augean stables of abuses of customs, to +reverse policies of long standing that are nevertheless wrong in +principle and in practice, to fight against unjust, improper and +unwise legislative propositions concerning his institution; the kind +of courage that prompted the chaplain in Chas. Reade's "NEVER TOO LATE +TO MEND," to fight and destroy the iniquitous prison system of Keeper +Hawes and his minions; the courage that will keep to the fore-front a +persistent opposition to prostituting penitentiaries into eleemosynary +institutions and political cribs and feeding troughs for political +strikers. + +He must have the courage to weed out and eliminate useless barnacles +in the shape of incompetent and worthless employes, and substitute in +their stead men of capacity, character and intelligence, who are in +love with their work and believe in its dignity and usefulness; the +courage to face demagogues in their efforts to take from the prison +its educative, moral, reformatory and economic force, the right of the +unfortunate inmates to learn the gospel of labor under right and just +conditions. + + + OPTIMISM NECESSARY. + +The warden needs to be intensely optimistic. He must have a reserve +fund of enthusiasm. He must believe profoundly in the high character +of his office and educate others constantly to believe in it. The +ignorance of the great mass of the people as to the real function of +penitentiaries and the methods by which they are carried on is amazing +and mortifying to prison officials. + +A part of the warden's mission is to acquaint the outside world with +conditions as they exist inside, and to inspire the interest and +support of the general public in measures for bettering and improving +prison conditions. Legislative bodies especially, need to be brought +into closer relations and the law makers made to realize their duty to +the public and the convict in the enactment of wise, proper and +righteous legislation. + +Longfellow, in his beautiful poem, "THE BUILDING OF THE SHIP," tells +why the master builder achieved success. It was because + + "His heart was in the work and the heart + Giveth grace to every art." + +The warden's heart must be in his work. His whole soul must be +animated and permeated with an honest and sincere desire to bring +penology up to a higher and nobler standard. + +He must have a reserve force of enthusiasm that will not be daunted +and destroyed by temporary failures or the lapses of some discharged +or pardoned convicts, who, in spite of care and pains, will return to +their evil ways. The enthusiasm that can bear the harsh and ignorant +criticism and misrepresentations incident to his work; the enthusiasm +that in its contagion will inoculate directors, subordinate officers, +the press and the people with a desire for more light on penal +problems and a purpose to be governed by that light; the enthusiasm +that will beget great patience for the exacting, difficult and trying +problems before him; that will make him believe that "a convict saved +is a man made"; that will make him believe with the great English +novelist "It is never too late to mend," and that as infinite care and +pains finally brought Robinson, the twice convicted thief, up to the +estate of honest manhood, so, infinite care and pains should be +exerted with every man under his charge. + +Pessimism has no rightful place in a penitentiary. In the language of +Socrates, "Why should we who are never angry at an ill-conditioned +body, always be angry with an ill-conditioned soul?" + +The ignorant Hawes believed in the profitless crank, the black-hole, +the deprivation of food, of bed, of clothing, the tortures of the +waist jacket and the collar, and a sign over the door, "ABANDON HOPE +ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE." + +The twentieth century warden believes in the gospel of productive +labor, of education of hand, head and heart, in the deprivation of +privileges, largely as punishment, the segregation of the desperate +and nearly hopeless, the enlightenment of an all-powerful, all +potential, all influential example and the motto of Pope Clement, "It +is of little advantage to restrain criminals by punishment unless you +reform them with training and teaching." + + + THE CHAPLAIN. + +The chaplain occupies an extremely important but delicate position in +prison management. It is possible for him to be of vast influence and +power for good. + +The chaplain needs to be a man of large heart, aided by an abundance +of sound common sense. He needs to bear in mind constantly, in the +difficult and delicate work he is called upon to perform, that the +discipline of the prison must be upheld and enforced. + +Associate officers are frequently disturbed with the fear that the +chaplain's influence will subvert the discipline of the prison; that +the shrewd, unprincipled convicts by pouring into his ears their +imaginary tales of woe, may succeed in working him. + +The chaplain's first requirement, if he would succeed, is not to lose +sight of the majesty of the law and of the prison rules. + +The chaplain and the warden should go hand in hand, the one sustaining +the other. They need to have a perfect understanding, neither +mistrusting the other. Frequent conferences ought to enable them to +proceed along proper lines. The chaplain's opportunities are +limitless. I do not undertake to say what direction his duties shall +take him. That will be discussed fully in the Chaplain's Association. + +It is personal, individual work that counts in a prison. All the +chaplain's work should be thought out beforehand, be methodical, +premeditated, intentional, systematic and thorough. His chapel service +should be rational, of the proper length, with exercises, song service +and preaching service carefully chosen. There should be no room in a +prison service for the spectacular, the highly emotional and the +haphazard sermons and addresses of a chance visitor. A reasonably +rigid censorship ought to be exercised over the contributions of +outsiders to the chapel service. + +The influence of sight seers and idle visitors to prisons, always bad, +reaches the acme of its perniciousness in the chapel service, if +unrestrained and unguided by prison officials of experience and +firmness, who alone are in a position to know that sickly +sentimentality is the worst possible pabulum to offer men already too +eager to justify their evil deeds. + + + THE PHYSICIAN. + +A physician's duties in a prison are necessarily onerous, important +and difficult. Convicts are constantly claiming that they are unable +physically to do the work assigned them. No one can determine the +truthfulness of their statements except the physician, and to +determine whether the convict is really ill or exercising his usual +finesse to shirk his duties, requires keen judgment of human nature as +well as an accurate knowledge of his profession. + +The convict, housed and hemmed in, is peculiarly susceptible to +hallucinations and to thinking that he is afflicted with imaginary +ills. + +A physician needs a large fund of good judgment, will-power and common +sense to combat successfully with this class of people. How far he +should use some of the subterfuges supposed to be employed by +physicians in the outside world in dealing with people afflicted with +hypochondria, I am unable to say, but a certain amount of cheerfulness +coupled with firmness is undoubtedly of great value. + + + SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. + +The subordinate officers of a prison are very important factors in the +management of a prison. They come in actual, continual, personal +contact with the men. + +No difference how capable and zealous may be the warden and his +deputy, unless they have men of character, zeal, intelligence and +discretion to carry out their orders and wishes faithfully and well, +all their plans will come to naught. + +Guards, keepers and watchmen should be of good moral character. It is +useless to talk about reforming convicts unless they have continually +the benefit of good examples set before them. Precept amounts to +nothing unless re-enforced by good examples. + +They should be educated and intelligent. + +Their duties are largely discretionary, and in their contact with +convicts a high order of intelligence is necessary to know the right +thing to do. Strict integrity and truthfulness are prime requisites. +An officer's word should be beyond question and he should be +absolutely impartial in his dealings with his men. + +No special system will bring the highest results with any kind of men +behind it. Any system with men of character, conscience and capacity +will achieve great good. Any system with men of bad character, +ignorant, careless and indifferent, will fall to the ground. + +A common impression prevails that any one is good enough for a prison +guard, and if he is too old, too feeble and decrepit or too lazy for +other work, his political strikers will try to unload him on the +penitentiary authorities. + +Prison Directors, Wardens and all in authority should set their faces +resolutely against this erroneous and terribly harmful idea. Partisan +politics should not be a factor in the appointment or the retention of +any prison officer. All subordinates should be appointed under civil +service rules and be required to pass a civil service examination, and +after entering upon his duties be required to take up a course of +study on penological questions and problems and be otherwise carefully +schooled and drilled along the lines of their work. If time +demonstrates their unfitness for the position they should be summarily +removed. If they manifest an aptitude and an interest in their work +they should be encouraged, promoted and protected against removal for +partisan reasons. + +Whenever directors in banks are elected with reference to their +political proclivities and not with reference to their business +sagacity, it will be proper to select prison officials for the same +reason. + +Whenever great business firms discharge their managers because their +political views do not coincide with those of the owners, then and not +till then should prison officials step down and out for political +reasons. + +What would be thought of directors of a business enterprise or the +regents of a university who selected their business manager, their +teachers, with regard to their views on finance or on the tariff, or +who would remove a faithful, efficient and capable servant after years +of experience in his work, merely because he did not coincide with the +political views of the majority of his directors in a matter in no way +germane to his work? + +As Boards of Directors spend but a small percentage of their time at +the institutions they control, it necessarily takes them years to get +a clear insight into all the details of its work, and to make a change +just when, through the process of time, the director becomes fitted +for his work, is the height of unwisdom and folly. Boards of Charity +and Correction having charge of all the institutions in the State +would certainly be much more desirable. Such officers could devote +their entire time and attention to the work, and thus be able to give +all the institutions of the State uniform treatment and attention. +Boards of Directors or of Control should be appointed and reappointed +as long as they are efficient and manifest an interest in the work. + +And so with all other officers from the warden down, and each should +feel and know that faithfulness and efficiency is the only standard, +and that they would not be expected, required or permitted to weaken +their influence or their energies by undue or active participations in +political effort or political manipulations. + +The surest sign of unfitness for prison work and lack of interest in +the work is an undue activity in political caucuses and conventions. +The official practically advertises that he cannot hope to hold his +place on account of his efficiency, but expects to do so because of +his services as a political henchman. + + + THE DEMANDS OF THE AGE. + +As this age demands a high order of talent and effort in the +industrial, so it should demand and require great ability and power in +the penal world. + +The third of a century of the life of the National Prison Congress has +witnessed great progress in the domain over which it has advisory +power. Many problems pressing for solution demand the highest +functions of those in control. + +Do punishments deter men from crime? + +Do the universal customs of the times foster and beget much of the +crime committed? + +Does war beget murder elsewhere? + +Is social vengeance a failure, and are other means necessary to +prevent crime? + +Should not executives now clothed with power to terminate or shorten +sentences of imprisonment also have power to lengthen terms of +imprisonment or to change from a definite to an indefinite term +whenever they become in possession of facts regarding the convict's +previous life or present character, which were unknown to the +sentencing judge? + +Should not United States prisoners incarcerated in the various state +prisons have the restrictions of the indeterminate sentence and the +parole, thus securing a uniform system of treatment for all prisoners +and greatly promoting the discipline? + +Should we go back of the commission of crimes and ascertain if the +State itself is not committing a crime in imposing and permitting +conditions that beget crime? + +Should not the pardoning power be exercised frequently before the +convicted man ever reaches the prison at all? Could not many a man be +saved by being put on probation from the start, who otherwise would be +in great danger of being lost? + +Does the discipline of prisons have anything to do with the commission +of offenses by convicts when released? Does the enforced restraint +exerted to the very last moment of his release and then wholly +relaxed, cause the released convict to swing to the other extreme like +Jean Valjean, who after nineteen years of imprisonment for stealing a +loaf of bread and an attempt to escape, robbed his benefactor, the +Bishop, of his plate, and upon being forgiven robbed little Gervais of +his forty sou piece, but afterward got his bearings, attained his +balance and lived an honorable life? + +Should any prisoner ever be released at the prison door, or should he +not for his own sake as well as society's be required to live a period +on probation and under oversight, subject to return for violations; in +other words, should not paroles be, under proper restrictions, the +universal and only rule? + +To the solution of these and countless other problems let the highest +order of talent, the best combination of head, heart and brain be +summoned: let every prison be a school for study and investigation, +and be engineered and controlled by men of skill, drilled and educated +along these lines, and who are animated by a desire to contribute +their full share towards the upbuilding and uplifting of the race and +the amelioration of the woes that beset mankind. + + + MEDITATIONS OF A PRISONER. + + PREFACE. + + To any one who may read these lines I will say: Do not criticise; + I know you will find many mistakes, but I hope you will remember + they are written by one who has not had the advantage of an + education. My school days ended when I was nine years old. + Knowing this, I hope you will excuse mistakes. Respectfully + yours, + + E. S. K. + +I often wonder if the busy world ever gives a thought to the men +incarcerated in places made for the punishment of crime and +reformation of criminals, but often failing of reaching the desired +result. Why is this failure? It must be from defect in the law or +prison discipline. Some think perhaps the rigid enforcement of the law +in its severest way is right, and that the prisoner should be shown no +mercy. But this is wrong in every detail and should be just the +reverse, so far as consistent with good order and discipline. + +A judge in sentencing a prisoner should give a sentence consistent +with justice and mercy, regardless of public sentiment, considering +his own judgment, and not the possible consequences of his act on his +future. Until this is more generally practiced, I am afraid there will +be many too severe sentences passed on minor criminals and first +offenders, as now, which will work to the injury of the convicted +instead of his reformation. In my humble opinion, one year would give +the lesson desired to many a novice in crime who is now serving from +three to ten years. It should be remembered that short sentences give +a novice in crime a wholesome dread of the law and fear of prison +life, while custom and association with criminals tend to harden. The +cases of old offenders, require more severity as regards time of +confinement. Nor can we say to the jurors--or, rather, gentlemen of +the jury--be very careful of what you do. Don't treat the trust you +have in charge too lightly; give it all the consideration you are +masters of. Remember you have the liberty, and, perhaps the life, of +your fellowman at stake. Be very careful of what you do. Allow no +personal motive to interfere with your duty, for, if we believe in the +Bible, those who do so will answer in the hereafter for actions in +this life. Beware, then, of how you mete out justice to your +fellowman. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Weigh +well the evidence given against the prisoner. If you find that there +is a motive on the part of the witnesses to convict the prisoner being +tried, you may rest assured they will trifle with the truth. In such +cases a juror should try and put himself in the defendant's place and +try to assume his feelings and condition, as much as possible, and see +how he would act in a like case. If all jurors would do this, I think +they would give a just and true verdict in nearly all cases. But I +fear as things are now they let the press have too much weight with +the rendering of a just verdict, and it may be of what their friends +will say to them if they have a different opinion. Yet the man who +does such a thing is a coward, a devil incarnate, and unfit to be at +large. Such action may be the cause of making a criminal out of a so +far really honest man. May God forgive them who recklessly tamper +with the liberty of their fellowman. Some may think I am not for +punishment of crime. If so, they are wrong. I believe in punishment of +crime. But I believe in tempering justice with mercy. There should be +no lingering doubt in a person's mind when he gives his verdict +against the prisoner. It is a very easy thing to place a man in +prison, but oh! so hard to get him out. A lie sworn to and believed is +one of the hardest things in the world to get righted. And I know from +personal experience what it is. Though it seems hard to say a lie is +more readily believed against a person charged with a crime than the +truth, yet it seems easier to a great many to believe bad rather than +good of their neighbor. Yet, thank God, it is not so with all. We have +many noble and true Christians yet in this vale of tears--gentlemen +and ladies who practice what they say by many kindly acts to the poor, +unhappy men who are unfortunate enough to get behind prison bars. God +bless them for such acts. It does not hurt them, and gives to the +unhappy prisoner a little happiness--a ray of sunshine through the +clouds that surround him. Continue your noble work. You will be the +gainer in the end, from the knowledge that you have done in the Lord's +work, if in no other way. Oh, could you see the happiness beam from +the eyes of some of those here, after the call of some who take +friendly interest in them, you would know the good they are doing. +Others seem to say: Oh, well, I am forgotten by all. Poor heart; what +a sad lot. It would seem the sooner that death ended their misery the +better. But while there is life there is hope. I must say that many +ladies of C---- are very kind in giving up their own pleasures on +Sundays that prisoners in this prison may have some little change in +their life. The visiting chaplains always bring a choir with them, and +to them we give our heartfelt thanks, with a God bless you. I love to +read of the progress made in these penal institutions where reform is +practiced. I am sure the prisoners must take an interest in it all, +for it is all for their own good. The Stillwater prison and Elmira +prison must be models of neatness and good order, with a perfect +system of discipline. It would be well for all prisons to copy them. +If prisons are supposed to be erected for the purpose of reformation, +why not make them in reality what they are intended to be? Of course, +there are many different kinds of crime committed by men of different +temperaments, all of which are thoroughly understood, or as nearly as +possible. For example, take the greatest crime committed in the eyes +of the law--murder--which is often called murder when there is no +ground for it. The public outcry when one man is unfortunate enough to +take the life of another at a time when he may have every reason to +believe his own life is in the greatest danger. The cry is raised by +some one, possibly an eye-witness--Murder! It is taken up by the press +and conveyed to every one, and possibly a slight coloring given to it. +The people believe it all. The consequence is the public mind is +prejudiced against the prisoner, and it takes a great amount of proof +by the defendant to change that belief, and should he not be able to +produce this evidence, in spite of all he can say he is convicted of +the crime of murder, when in reality he is guilty of manslaughter, if +anything. For, no matter how truthful a man he may be known to be, his +word, unsustained by evidence, is not accepted; while, on the other +side, no matter how untruthful a witness be known to be, he is given +credit for the truth. What kind of a state of affairs is this? No +wonder we often hear the cry go up from some poor wounded or crushed +heart saying: O, God, is there no mercy left in man? Is humanity +wholly dead? Must death overtake me here? Shunned I am by all whom I +once called friends--wife, children, it may be a brother--but never by +a mother, God bless her. + +Let us take a look at this class of sufferers. What will we find them? +Idle? No. They are as a rule men attending to their work and +submitting to all the courtesies of life, only asking the same in +return. Surely, such cannot be very bad men, who, hearing the cry of +distress, respond at once to the appeal. I know some such to have a +heart as tender as a woman. Yet you will shut them up, it may be +forever. Don't understand me to say that murder is not committed. Of +course it is, and the law should deal with it accordingly. All true +men regret the taking of human life, even on the field of battle. How +much more so under other circumstances? And the causes are many which +make men do this; some of them hard to understand, may be. In many +cases of this kind they deserve punishment and should be punished. +But, for God's sake, let the punishment be consistent with justice and +mercy. If ten years is not sufficient punishment to make man control +himself in future, why not be merciful and kill him at once? For as we +hope for mercy, so must we show it to others. All other crimes should +be dealt with accordingly. Give a man a chance to reclaim himself. +Should he return to a life of crime in preference to an honest one, +the law has its remedy and can act accordingly. This is well worth a +trial, and by all means should be given one. But I hear some one who +never gave these things a thought say: How is this to be done? I will +answer, Very easily, if it receive the support of our legislative +body, by the recommendation of the state governor. Provide your +prisons with workshops of different kinds--provide them with schools, +and teach the prisoners how to make a living by some useful trade. +Give them a chance to improve themselves by an education. Make the +prison a place of reformation, one of improvement as well as +punishment, and instead of increasing crime you will reduce it, which +should be the aim of all having the good of their fellowman at heart, +and society will be the gainer. I would give a prisoner who would show +by his conduct a spirit of reform a parole after half of his time, +with conditions attached, as is done in the Minnesota state prison, so +that, should he fall back into his old way of living, he would be +returned to prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence. By this +means you to all intents and purposes hold a power over him, and he +will be very careful as to what he is about. This habit in time will +grow upon him and be the cause of making him a good citizen and +trustworthy member of society. To men serving life sentences I would, +on the recommendation of the prison warden, give a parole after +manslaughter sentence has been served. This is a class of men that +deserve some looking after by the kindly interest of humane persons. +Give them hope and encouragement. Do not leave them to their own +morbid thoughts; you cannot tell what drove them to an act they will +regret, whether in or out of prison. If hasty once, it is no reason to +suppose they will be so again. Why not, then, look after them? Let +some of you Christian people talk with them, and if you find they +ought to be assisted, help them. You know not what good you may do, +and without such aid a poor and friendless man in prison is without +hope. Will you, as Christians, let him die believing the word +Christianity a mockery? God forbid. I know there are many good +Christians that feel and mean what they say. But I am afraid that +many of the less courageous are deterred from doing all they would +like to do by the sneers of the hard, cruel world. But this should +only spur you on. If you feel you are right, push on; do not stop half +way. + +In connection with the parole law we should have our prisoners graded +as first, second and third class, giving to the second grade or class +advantages above the third, and to the first above the second, giving +them a motive to reform their ways while yet in prison, and their +partial liberty from the first class by parole. By this means you +instill into the prisoner a habit for good which in time will take +root and prove a blessing, not only to the prisoner, but also a source +of pleasure to those bringing it about. It must be expected that some +will fall again; but why should the many suffer for the few? I have +heard and read such sayings as this: The worst men are the best +behaved while in prison if there is anything to be gained by it. I +dispute this. No man can control or hide his real nature for any great +length of time. Nature is bound to come to the surface sooner or +later. The officers and guards of a prison should be men strict in the +enforcement of the prison rules, humane and just in all their actions, +men who by their own actions and deportment will gain and hold the +respect of those under their charge. They should reward the good as +well as punish the evil in men. It would, in my humble opinion, be +nothing but true justice to the prisoner to put the whole power of +pardoning, commuting and paroling prisoners in the hands of the +governor. I do not say a judge will not give justice where clemency is +asked. But it may be the case that a judge on the board of pardons has +sentenced the prisoner, and probably in some way became prejudiced +against the applicant, and it might be the cause of influencing his +vote; consequently, it would look like a piece of injustice to the +prisoner to allow that judge to sit on his case. I think it would be +well for a governor to make himself perfectly acquainted with all +pertaining to the mode of life of the prisoners, as much as possible. +It ought to be remembered that when the prison doors close on a man +your duty is only half done to yourself, the prisoner and society at +large. He needs looking after mentally, morally and physically. Do not +leave him to his own morbid thoughts, but help him to forget his +surroundings as much as possible. Give him hope, for without hope we +are lost to ourselves and the world. It is possible some will say they +ought to be; but it must be a very heartless person who makes this +remark. Remember, while you are walking about to-day, feeling +self-conscious of your own strength to resist any and everything in +the line of temptation, the time may come when you will lose control +of yourself; or, it may be, some one dear to you will fall. In such +cases, how many excuses you can find for yourself or him. Can you find +none for those now suffering for the same? I feel impelled by some +power to speak of those very people in a few lines. Perhaps it may +catch their eye. Why will you follow one to prison with hate, malice +and persecution, one who would not harm a single hair of your head, +one who never had or has a single bitter thought against you, one that +nightly asks God's protection to you and yours? And yet you persecute +him, or it may be them, with all the might you can. Is it not enough +that he has lost home, friends, wife, children and happiness at one +false move? Is it not enough that he is condemned to a living death, +hearing every hour of the day the clang of the iron bars that shut him +out from the world, that separate him from all he loves? I say to you, +is this not enough to satisfy the most bitter feelings of any avowed +enemy? It ought to be. Yes, this ought to satisfy you without trying +to obliterate the memory of the father from the child's heart and +without denying him the privilege of communicating with them; without +denying him the pleasure of doing something for them and of one day +seeing them, which is all he has left to live for. To all to whom +these lines refer, who read them, I will say, change all this. Ask +God's help to give you strength to do right. In time you will feel a +restful peace come to you, and it will make you content, if not happy. +Try this, and may God in his mercy show you the way. And to all +prisoners who may be suffering from the persecution of injustice by +others, I will say the same. Say with all your heart: God forgive +them, they know not what they do. And you will always find a comfort +in helping one another. For as we hope to be forgiven, so must we +forgive. What use in saying the Lord's prayer--Forgive us our +trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us? We must +consider well the meaning of those lines, and if we cannot or do not +comply with all they mean it is better for us not to use them. I thank +God from my heart, I can say I forgive all my enemies. I have nothing +but a kindly feeling for all mankind. I do not mean to say that I am +not ruffled at times, for I am; I would not be human if I were not. + +There is one class of men who come to prison that should command the +attention of our lawmakers--namely, married men. Not on their own +account, for they should pay the penalty of the law as well as +another, but on account of their families. It must be remembered that +when you take away the father and supporter of a family you leave them +without the means of support; and if the mother happens to be a sick +and weakly person, what is to become of them? + +To be sure, we have the orphans' home and the alms-house, but this is +only taxing more heavily the already over-burdened taxpayers of the +country. Then it would be a commendable act of the legislative bodies +to enact laws to provide for the improvement of such married men and +give the earnings of their labor to their families. This, to me, looks +reasonable and just, and easy of accomplishment, and should be acted +upon by all means. Let me draw you a picture from my imagination: We +will visit a family who are in easy circumstances these cold nights. +What do we see? Well-clad and well-fed children, a happy, contented +look rests upon the wife's and husband's faces. Why should it not be +so? They have plenty to eat and wear; a full bin of coal. Again, visit +one where the husband may be languishing behind the prison bars, but +of the same class. It is not so cheerful, but still no want is felt, +and the father and husband, although chafing at confinement, feels +that his family is not in want. This, of course, will be a consolation +to him. Now let us visit another house, where they have always lived +from hand to mouth. The father is gone. The mother and children, poor +souls, ill-clad, ill-fed, and, my God, it may be, no fire. What a +picture to contemplate. It makes me shudder to think of it. Now come +with me behind the prison bars and see the head of this family. +Knowing the want and needs of his family, and knowing how impossible +it is for him to alleviate their suffering, it is enough to drive a +man insane. But, on the other hand, if this man could earn something +for his family's support, it would relieve his mind of a heavy burden. +Think well of this, and in the name of God change the law that +certainly works contrary to what it was intended for. As it now +stands, you simply provide punishment for the criminals. In so doing +you cause untold suffering and shame to innocent ones. In God's name, +let it cease to be so. Now, then, for fear I may tire the reader, I +will close. Very respectfully, + + E. + + + CHRIST IN GETHSEMANE. + + ---- State Prison. + + January 18, 1886. + + Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, + Prison Evangelist. + + My Dearest Sister:-- + + "What might a single mind may wield, + With Truth for sword and Faith for shield, + And Hope to lead the way: + Thus all high triumphs are obtained, + From evil good--as God ordained + The night before the day!" + +"And being in an agony, He prayed."--St. Luke 22:44. + +When the last supper was over, and the last hymn had been sung, our +Lord and His Apostles--with the one traitor fatally absent from their +number--went out of the city gate, and down the steep valley of the +Kidron to the green slope of Olivet beyond it. Solemn and sad was that +last walk together; and a weight of mysterious awe sank like lead upon +the hearts of those few poor Galileans as in almost unbroken +silence,--through the deep hush of the Oriental night,--through the +dark shadows of the ancient olive-trees,--through the broken gleams of +the Paschal moonlight,--they followed Him, their Lord and Master, who, +with bowed head and sorrowing heart, walked before them to His willing +doom. + +That night they did not return as usual to Bethany, but stopped at the +little familiar garden of Gethsemane, or "the oilpress." Jesus knew +that the hour of His uttermost humiliation was near,--that from this +moment till the utterance of that great cry which broke His heart, +nothing remained for Him on earth, save all that the human frame can +tolerate of torturing pain, and all that the human soul can bear of +poignant anguish--till in that torment of body and desolation of soul, +even the high and radiant serenity of His divine spirit should suffer +a short but terrible eclipse. One thing alone remained before that +short hour began; a short space was left Him, and in that space He had +to brace His body, to nerve His soul, to calm His spirit by prayer and +solitude, until all that is evil in the power of evil should wreak its +worst upon His innocent and holy head. And He had to face that +hour,--to win that victory,--as all the darkest hours must be faced, +as all the hardest victories must be won--alone. It was not that He +was above the need of sympathy,--no noble soul is;--and perhaps the +noblest need it most. Though His friends did but sleep, while the +traitor toiled, yet it helped Him in His hour of darkness to feel at +least that they were near and that those were nearest who loved Him +most. "Stay here," He said to the little group, "while I go yonder and +pray." Leaving them to sleep, each wrapped in his outer garment on the +grass, He took Peter and James and John, the chosen of the chosen, and +went about a stone's-throw off. But soon even _their_ presence was +more than He could endure. A grief beyond utterance, a struggle beyond +endurance, a horror of great darkness, overmastered Him, as with the +sinking swoon of an anticipated death. He must be yet more alone, and +alone with God. Reluctantly He tore Himself away from their sustaining +tenderness, and amid the dark-brown trunks of those gnarled trees +withdrew from the moonlight into the deeper shade, where solitude +might be for Him the audience-chamber of His Heavenly Father. And +there, till slumber overpowered them, His three beloved Apostles were +conscious how dreadful was the paroxysm through which He passed. They +saw Him sometimes with head bowed upon His knees, sometimes lying on +His face in prostrate suffering upon the ground. And though amazement +and sore distress fell on them,--though the whole place seemed to be +haunted by Presences of good and evil struggling in mighty but silent +contest for the eternal victory,--yet, before they sank under the +oppression of troubled slumber, they knew that they had been the dim +witnesses of an unutterable agony, in which the drops of anguish which +dropped from His brow in that deathful struggle looked to them like +gouts of blood, and yet the burden of those broken murmurs in which He +pleaded with His Heavenly Father had been ever this, "If it be +possible,--yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt." + +What is the meaning, my beloved sister, of this scene for us? What was +the cause of this midnight hour? Do you think that it was the fear of +death, and that that was sufficient to shake to its utmost center the +pure and innocent soul of the Son of Man? Could not even a child see +how inconsistent such a fear would be with all that followed;--with +that heroic fortitude which fifteen consecutive hours of sleepless +agony could not disturb;--with that majestic silence which overawed +even the hard Roman into respect and fear;--with that sovereign +ascendency of soul which flung open the golden gate of Paradise to the +repentant malefactor, and breathed its compassionate forgiveness on +the apostate priest? Could He have been afraid of death, in whose +name, and in whose strength, and for whose sake alone, trembling old +men, and feeble maidens, and timid boys have faced it in its worst +form without a shudder or a sigh? My friend, the dread of the mere act +of dying is a cowardice so abject that the meanest passions of the +mind can master it, and many a coarse criminal has advanced to meet +his end with unflinching confidence and steady step. And Jesus knew, +if any have ever known, that it is as natural to die as to be +born,--that it is the great birthright of all who love God;--that it +is God who giveth His beloved sleep. The sting of death--and its only +sting--is sin; the victory of the grave--and its only victory--is +corruption. And Jesus knew no sin, saw no corruption. No, that which +stained His forehead with crimson drops was something far deadlier +than death. Though sinless He was suffering for sin. The burden and +the mystery of man's strange and revolting wickedness lay heavy on His +soul; and with holy lips He was draining the bitter cup into which sin +had infused its deadliest poison. Could perfect innocence endure +without a shudder all that is detestable in human ingratitude and +human rage? Should there be no recoil of horror in the bosom of +perfect love to see His own,--for whom he came,--absorbed in one +insane repulsion against infinite purity and tenderness and peace? It +was a willing agony, but it was agony; it was endured for our sakes; +the Son of God suffered that He might through suffering become perfect +in infinite sympathy as a Savior strong to save. + +And on all the full mysterious meaning of that agony and bloody sweat +it would be impossible now to dwell, but may we not for a short time +dwell with profit--may not every one whose heart--being free from the +fever of passion, and unfretted by the pettiness of pride--is calm and +meek and reverent enough to listen to the messages of God, even be +they spoken by the feeblest of human lips,--may we not all, I say, +learn something from this fragment of that thrilling story +that--"being in an agony, He prayed"? + + "The chosen three, on mountain height, + While Jesus bowed in prayer, + Beheld His vesture glow with light, + His face shine wondrous fair." + +To every one of us, I suppose, sooner or later the Gethsemane of life +must come. It may be the Gethsemane of struggle, and poverty and +care;--it may be the Gethsemane of long and weary sickness;--it may be +the Gethsemane of farewells that wring the heart by the deathbeds of +those we love;--it may be the Gethsemane of remorse, and of well-nigh +despair, for sins that we will not--but which we say we +cannot--overcome. Well, my dearest sister, in that Gethsemane--aye, +even in that Gethsemane of sin--no angel merely,--but Christ Himself +who bore the burden of our sins,--will, if we seek Him, come to +comfort us. He will, if being in agony, we pray. He can be touched, He +is touched, with the feeling of our infirmities. He, too, has trodden +the winepress of agony alone; He, too, has lain face downwards in the +night upon the ground; and the comfort which then came to Him He has +bequeathed to us--even the comfort, the help, the peace, the recovery, +the light, the hope, the faith, the sustaining arm, the healing +anodyne of prayer. It is indeed a natural comfort--and one to which +the Christian at least flies instinctively. When the water-floods +drown us,--when all God's waves and storms seem to be beating over our +souls,--when "Calamity comes like a deluge, and o'erfloods our crimes +till sin is hidden in sorrow"--oh, then, if we have not wholly +quenched all spiritual life within us, what can we do but fling +ourselves at the foot of those great altar stairs that slope through +darkness to God? Yes, being in an agony, we pray; and the talisman +against every agony is there. + +And herein lies the great mercy and love of God, that we may go to +Him in our agony even if we have never gone before. Oh, if prayer were +possible only for the always good and always true, possible only for +those who have never forsaken or forgotten God,--if it were not +possible for sinners and penitents and those who have gone +astray,--then of how infinitely less significance would it be for +sinful and fallen man! But our God is a God of Love, a God of Mercy. +He is very good to us. The soul may come bitter and disappointed, with +nothing left to offer Him but the dregs of a misspent life;--the soul +may come, like that sad Prodigal, weary and broken, and shivering, and +in rags; but if it only come--the merciful door is open still, and +while yet we are a great way off our Father will meet and forgive and +comfort us. And then what a change is there in our lives! They are +weak no longer; they are discontented no longer; they are the slaves +of sin no longer. You have seen the heavens gray with dull and +leaden-colored clouds, you have seen the earth chilly and comfortless +under its drifts of unmelting snow: but let the sun shine, and then +how rapidly does the sky resume its radiant blue, and the fields laugh +with green grass and vernal flower! So will it be with even a withered +and a wasted life when we return to God and suffer Him to send His +bright beams of light upon our heart. I do not mean that the pain or +misery under which we are suffering will necessarily be removed,--even +for Christ it was not so; but peace will come and strength will come +and resignation will come and hope will come,--and we shall feel able +to bear anything which God shall send, and though He slays us we still +shall seek Him, and even if the blackest cloud of anguish seem to +shroud His face from us, even on that cloud shall the rainbow shine. + +You do not think, my sister, that because God never rejects the prayer +of sinner or sufferer, that therefore we may go on sinning, trusting +to repent when we suffer. That would be a shameful abuse of God's +mercy and tenderness; it would be a frame of mind which would need +this solemn warning, that agony by no means always leads to prayer; +that it may come when prayer is possible no longer to the +long-hardened and long-prayerless soul. I know no hope so senseless, +so utterly frustrated by all experience, as the hope of what is called +deathbed repentance. Those who are familiar with many deathbeds will +tell you why. But prayer--God's blessed permission to us, to see Him +and to know Him, and to trust in Him--_that_ is granted us not for the +hours of death or agony alone, but for all life, almost from the very +cradle quite to the very grave. And it is a gift no less priceless for +its alleviation of sorrow than for its intensification of all innocent +joy. For him who would live a true life it is as necessary in +prosperity as in adversity,--in peace as in trouble,--in youth as in +old age. Here, too, Christ is our example. He lived, as we may live, +in the light of His Father's face. It was not only as the Man of +Sorrows, it was not only in the moonlit garden of His agony, or on the +darkening hills of His incessant toil, that prayer had refreshed His +soul; but often during those long unknown years in the little Galilean +village,--daily, and from childhood upwards, in sweet hours of peace, +kneeling amid the mountain lilies or on the cottage floor. Those +prayers are to the soul what the dew of God is to the flowers of the +field; the burning wind of the day may pass over them, and the stems +droop and the colors fade, but when the dew steals down at evening, +they will revive. Why should not that gracious dew fall even now and +always for all of us upon the fields of life? A life which has been +from the first a life of prayer,--a life which has thus from its +earliest days looked up consciously to its Father and its God,--will +always be a happy life. Time may fleet, and youth may fade,--as they +will, and there may be storm as well as sunshine in the earthly +career; yet it will inevitably be a happy career, and with a happiness +that cannot die. Yes, this is the lesson which I would that we all +might learn from the thought of Christ in the garden of +Gethsemane;--the lesson that Prayer may recall the sunshine even to +the dark and the frozen heart; but that there is no long winter, there +is no unbroken night, to that soul on which the Sun of Righteousness +has risen with healing in His wings. + +And that because true prayer is always heard. We read in the glorious +old Greek poet of prayers which, before they reached the portals of +heaven were scattered by the winds; and indeed there are some prayers +so deeply opposed to the will of God, so utterly alien to the true +interests of men, that nothing could happen better for us than that +God should refuse, nothing more terrible than that He should grant +them in anger. So that if we pray for any earthly blessing we may pray +for it solely "if it be God's will"; "if it be for our highest good," +but, for all the best things we may pray without misgiving, without +reservation, certain that if we ask God will grant them. Nay, even in +asking for them we may know that we have them,--for what we desire to +ask, and what we ask, we aim at, and what we aim at we shall attain. +No man ever yet asked to be, as the days pass by, more noble, and +sweet, and pure, and heavenly-minded,--no man ever yet prayed that the +evil spirits of hatred, and pride, and passion, and worldliness, might +be cast out of his soul,--without his petition being granted, and +granted to the letter. And with all other gifts God then gives us His +own self besides,--He makes us know Him, and love Him, and live in +Him. "Thou hast written well of me," said the Vision to the great +teacher of Aquinum, "what reward dost thou desire?" "Non aliam, nisi +te Domine"--"no other than Thyself, O Lord," was the meek and rapt +reply. And when all our restless, fretful, discontented longings are +reduced to this alone, the desire to see God's face;--when we have +none in Heaven but Him, and none upon earth whom we desire in +comparison of Him;--then we are indeed happy beyond the reach of any +evil thing, for then we have but one absorbing wish, and that wish +cannot be refused. Least of all can it be refused when it has pleased +God to afflict us. + +"Ye now have sorrow," said Christ, "but I will see you again, and your +heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Yes, when +God's children pass under the shadows of the Cross of Calvary they +know that through that shadow lies their passage to the Great White +Throne. For them Gethsemane is as Paradise. God fills it with sacred +presences; its solemn silence is broken by the music of tender +promises; its awful darkness softened and brightened by the sunlight +of heavenly faces, and the music of angel wings. + + "I am baptized into thy name, + O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! + Among thy seed a place I claim, + Among thy consecrated host; + Buried with Christ and dead to sin, + Thy Spirit now shall live within." + +"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be +the Savior of the world." + + Your Brother in Christ, + + L. J. + + + + + DIRECTORY + OF + PENITENTIARIES, STATE REFORM SCHOOLS, + STATE INDUSTRIAL REFORMATORIES, + ETC., OF THE UNITED STATES + AND CANADA. + + + UNITED STATES PRISONS. + +United States Penitentiary, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. + +United States Penitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia. + +United States Penitentiary, McNeil Island, Washington. + +United States jails in the Indian Territory: Vinita, Muskogee, South +McAlester and Ardmore. + +United States Jail, Fort Smith, Arkansas. + +United States Jail, Guthrie, Oklahoma. + +DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.--District Jail, Reform School, and Reform School +for Girls, Washington. + +There are several small United States jails in Alaska and within the +States occupying rented quarters. + + + STATE INSTITUTIONS. + +ALABAMA.--Penitentiary, Wetumpka; two prisons at Pratt Mines. Boys' +Industrial School, East Lake. + +ARIZONA.--Territorial Prison, Yuma. + +ARKANSAS.--Penitentiary, Little Rock. + +CALIFORNIA.--Prisons, Folsom and San Quentin. State Schools, Whittier +and Ione. + +COLORADO.--Penitentiary, Canon City. Reformatory, Buena Vista. Reform +School for Girls, Denver. Industrial School for Girls, Morrison. +Industrial School for Boys, Golden. + +CONNECTICUT.--Prison, Weathersfield. Reform School, Meridan. +Industrial School for Girls, Middletown. + +DELAWARE.--Ferris Industrial School and Industrial School for Girls, +Wilmington. + +FLORIDA.--Stockade Camps (13 in 1900). Prisoners farmed out, mining +phosphate. Reform School, Marianna. + +GEORGIA.--Woman's Prison, Milledgville. Stockades at mines and farms; +prisoners leased. + +IDAHO.--Penitentiary, Boise City. + +ILLINOIS.--Penitentiaries, Joliet, Chester. Reformatory, Pontiac. +Industrial School for Girls, South Evanston. Home for Female +Offenders, Geneva. Erring Woman's Refuge, Chicago. + +INDIANA.--Prisons, Jeffersonville, Michigan City. Woman's Prison, and +Reform School for Girls, Indianapolis. Reform School for Boys, +Plainfield. + +IOWA.--Penitentiaries, Fort Madison, Animosa. Industrial Schools: +Boys, Eldora; Girls, Mitchelville. + +KANSAS.--Penitentiary, Lansing. Reform School, Topeka. Industrial +Reformatory, Hutchinson. Industrial School for Girls, Beloit. + +KENTUCKY.--Penitentiaries, Frankfort, Eddyville. Reform School, +Lexington. Industrial School of Reform, Louisville. + +LOUISIANA.--Penitentiary, Baton Rouge. Boys' House of Refuge, New +Orleans. + +MAINE.--Prison, Thomaston. Reform School, South Portland. Industrial +School for Girls, Hallowell. + +MARYLAND.--Penitentiary, Baltimore. House of Refuge for Boys, Female +House of Refuge, and St. Mary's Industrial School, Baltimore. +Industrial Home for Colored Girls, Melvale. House of Reformation for +Colored Boys, Cheltenham. + +MASSACHUSETTS.--Prison, Charlestown. Reformatory, Concord. Reformatory +Prison for Women, Sherborn. Industrial School for Girls, Lancaster. +Lyman School for Boys, Westboro. State Primary School, Monson. + +MICHIGAN.--Prison, Jackson. Branch prison and House of Correction, +Marquette. House of Correction and Reformatory, Ionia. Industrial +School for Boys, Lansing. Industrial Home for Girls, Adrian. + +MINNESOTA.--Prison, Stillwater. Reformatory (for 16 to 30 years old), +St. Cloud. State Training School, Redwing. + +MISSISSIPPI.--Penitentiary, Jackson. Farms. + +MISSOURI.--Penitentiary, Jefferson City. Reform School for Boys, +Boonville. Industrial Home for Girls, Chillicothe. House of Refuge, +St. Louis. + +MONTANA.--Prisons, Deer Lodge, Billings. Reform School, Miles City. + +NEBRASKA.--Penitentiary, Lincoln. Industrial School for Boys, Kearney. +Industrial School for Girls, Geneva. + +NEVADA.--Prison, Carson City. + +NEW HAMPSHIRE.--Prison, Concord. Industrial School, Manchester. + +NEW JERSEY.--Prison and Industrial School for Girls, Trenton. Reform +School, Jamesburg. + +NEW MEXICO.--Penitentiary, Santa Fe. + +NEW YORK.--Prisons, Sing Sing, Auburn (also one for women). +Reformatories, Elmira; Ellensville; Bedford. Institutions also at New +York, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Hudson and Albion. + +NORTH CAROLINA.--Penitentiary, Raleigh. Prisoners mostly on State +Farms. + +NORTH DAKOTA.--Penitentiary, Bismark. + +OHIO.--Penitentiary, Columbus. Reformatory, Mansfield. Industrial +School, Boys, Lancaster; Girls, Delaware. House of Refuge, Cincinnati. + +OREGON.--Penitentiary, Reform School, Salem. + +PENNSYLVANIA.--Penitentiaries, Philadelphia, Allegheny. Industrial +Reformatory, Huntingdon. Reform School, Morganza. House of +Correction, Philadelphia. House of Refuge, Glen Mills. + +RHODE ISLAND.--Prison, Work House and House of Correction, +Sockanosset. School for Boys, and Oaklawn School for Girls, Howard. + +SOUTH CAROLINA.--Penitentiary, Columbia. State Farms. + +SOUTH DAKOTA.--Penitentiary, Sioux Falls. Reform School, Plankinton. + +TENNESSEE.--Penitentiaries, Nashville, Petros. Industrial School, +Nashville. + +TEXAS.--Penitentiaries, Huntsville, Rusk. House of Correction and +Reformatory, Gatesville. + +UTAH.--Penitentiary, Salt Lake City. Reform School, Ogden. + +VERMONT.--Prison, Windsor. House of Correction, Rutland. Industrial +School, Vergenes. + +VIRGINIA.--Penitentiary, Richmond. Laurel Industrial School, Glen +Allen. + +WASHINGTON.--Penitentiary, Walla Walla. Reform School, Chehalis. + +WEST VIRGINIA.--Penitentiary, Moundsville. Reform School for Boys, +Pruntytown. Girls' Industrial School, Salem. + +WISCONSIN.--Prison, Waupun. Reformatory, near Green Bay. Industrial +School for Boys, Waukesha. For Girls and Boys, Milwaukee. + +WYOMING.--Penitentiary, Rawlins. + + + PRISONS IN CANADA. + +Penitentiaries or Prisons, Kingston, Toronto, St. Vincent de Paul, +Dorchester, New Westminster, and Stony Mountain. + + * * * * * + +"_IT WILL STIR THE SOUL._" + +A NEW AND WONDERFUL BOOK. + +OLD-TIME RELIGION. + +BY REV. S. B. SHAW. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: Old Time Religion book cover] + +Including an account of the Greatest Revivals since Pentecostal Days, +and telling how to bring about an old time revival. Also recording +many remarkable answers to prayer. + + +MAKE MONEY AND DO GOOD + +By selling good books that the people want. The first edition of +10,000 copies of this new book is already selling rapidly and is doing +great good. It will attract both saint and sinner. Some of the old +time sermons that moved the multitudes toward God, like men slain in +battle, until their cries seemed to rend the very heavens, are +recorded in this book. The description of sin and depravity, of hell +and the judgment, by such men as Edwards, Bunyan, Fletcher, Whitfield, +Finney, Caughey, Finley, and many others, will waken the slumbering +conscience and reveal the wrath of God against sin and this evil +generation. + + +FROM TESTIMONIALS RECEIVED, WE SELECT A FEW. + + =Michigan Presbyterian:= "A mine of gold. Thoroughly practical. + Intensely interesting. It will stir the soul." + + =The Way of Faith:= "In this timely book the author discusses 'Old + Time Views of Sin and Depravity,' 'Old Time Conviction and + Repentance,' 'Old Time Conversion,' and so on through ten + chapters. Old time revivals are described and incidents related + which are calculated to thrill the reader and beget a longing + desire for the return of the Old Time Revival Power." + + =Bishop N. Castle:= "It surely has the old time swing. It is rich + in sentiment, thrilling, heart-inspiring. It certainly will have + a large sale." + + =The Free Methodist:= "An excellent compilation of facts in + connection with old time revivals and contains much solid truth + respecting old time repentance, conversion, and righteousness. + The author quotes from 'Fletcher's Appeal,' Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's + Progress,' James B. Finley, James Caughey, and other noted 'old + time' writers and evangelists. The work is full of interest and + can but do good. We bespeak for it a large sale." + + =Religious Telescope:= "'The Old-Time Religion,' by S. B. SHAW, is + a new book, which is a revelation of the awful corruption of sin + and of the mighty transforming power of the grace of God. Other + books by the same author have had a sale of nearly a HALF MILLION + copies, and we consider this book fully equal, if not superior, + to any of them." + +320 PAGES, 5 BY 8 INCHES. + +Price, per copy, post-paid: Cloth, $1.00; Paper, 35 cents. + +Be early in the field. Secure a copy of the book. It will be all the +outfit needed. Write us at once for terms to agents. + + S. B. SHAW, Publisher, + + 212 West Chicago Avenue, CHICAGO, ILL. + +[Illustration: Ad Page] + +RELIGIOUS BOOKS + +THAT STIR THE SOUL + + + +Books worth having. Books that record facts. Books that do good and +permanent good. Books that reveal heaven and hell. Books that melt +hearts to tears. Books that awaken conviction and WIN SOULS. Books +that people love NEXT TO THEIR BIBLES. See list below. + +HALF MILLION SOLD + +ALL BOOKS ARE UNIFORM IN SIZE. 5 x 8 INCHES + +=The Great Revival in Wales=, Shaw. Compiled, Concise, Complete. +Includes full account of Great Revival in Ireland in 1859. In great +demand 256 pages. + + Cloth 75c Paper 25c + +=Miracles in the Slums=, Rees. Timely, True, Touching, Rightly named. 40 +illustrations. Selling fast. 304 pages. Cloth $1.00 + +=Spiritual Flashlights=, Perry. New, Neat, Nothing like it. Selected +from hundreds of writers. 153 topics. Alphabetically arranged. 408 +pages. Cloth $1.00 + +=Old Time Religion=, Shaw. Primitive, Pathetic, Powerful. Contains +accounts of greatest revivals since Pentecost. Stirs hearts, wins +souls, and will help to bring about an old time revival. 288 pages. + + Cloth $1.00 paper 35c + +=Wayside Sketches=, Cooke. Bright, Bracing, Biographical. 28 +illustrations. 382 pages. Cloth $1.00 + +=Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer=, Shaw. Attractive, +Absorbing, Authentic. 300,000 sold. 320 pages. + + Cloth $1.00 Paper 35c + +=Children's Edition of Touching Incidents=, Shaw. 42 illustrations. 128 +pages. 125,000 sold. + + Cloth 60c Board 35c + +=Dying Testimonies of Saved and Un-Saved=, Shaw. True, Thrilling, +Triumphant. 160,000 sold. 320 pages. + + Cloth $1.00 Paper 35c + +=The Men Behind the Bars=, Sanders. Interesting, Instructive, +Illustrated. 320 pages. Cloth $1.00 + +=God's Financial Plan=, Shaw. Searching, Scriptural, Spiritual. Largest +sale of any book of its theme ever published. 320 pages. + + Cloth $1.00 Paper 35c + +=Traits of Character=, Kletzing. Elevating, Entertaining, Excellent. 180 +illustrations. Cloth $1.00 + + Any =FOUR= of the above books sent POST PAID to one address, + + Cloth $3.00 Paper $1.10 + + Any THREE of the above books sent =POST PAID= to one address, + + Cloth $2.50 Paper 90c + + +ONE THOUSAND AGENTS WANTED + +WRITE FOR TERMS AND LARGE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE + + Address, S. B. SHAW, Publisher, + + 212-214 W. Chicago Avenue, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's note: + +Page xviii: In the table of contents for CHAPTER XI., the transcriber +has changed the incorrect page number 88 to 87. + +Page xix: In the table of contents the words "CHAPTER XVIII" are +missing and have been added by the transcriber. + +Page 169: "who was chosen of God as the agent". The transcriber has +inserted the word "as" where a blank space occurred. + +Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + +Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). + +Small capital text has been replaced with all capitals. + +Variations in spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have been retained +except in obvious cases of typographical error. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Prisons and Prayer: Or a Labor of Love, by +Elizabeth Ryder Wheaton + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41720 *** |