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diff --git a/35221.txt b/35221.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..63a4271 --- /dev/null +++ b/35221.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5674 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Nation Behind Prison Bars, by George L. Herr + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Nation Behind Prison Bars + +Author: George L. Herr + +Release Date: February 9, 2011 [EBook #35221] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NATION BEHIND PRISON BARS *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Leonard Johnson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Kentuckiana Digital Library) + + + + + + +[Illustration: GEORGE L. HERR AND WIFE] + + + + + THE + + NATION BEHIND PRISON BARS + + + BY + + GEORGE L. HERR, Prison Evangelist + + + + "_I was in prison, and ye came unto me_" + + + + PUBLISHED BY + + THE CARTER PRINTING COMPANY + + LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY + + + + COPYRIGHT 1913 + + BY + + GEORGE L. HERR, LOUISVILLE, KY. + + + + To My Wife + + WHOSE CONSTANT HELP AND + + ENCOURAGEMENT + + MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO THE WORK + + TO WHICH + + God + + HAS CALLED ME, THIS VOLUME IS + + INSCRIBED WITH THE + + PRAYER THAT + + God + + WILL USE IT TO SAVE MANY SOULS + + + + +The Nation Behind Prison Bars + +BY + +GEORGE L. HERR, Prison Evangelist + + Author of "Light in Dark Places," "You Are My Prisoner," "The + Life Line," "Man's Worst Enemy," "Nothing Better," "The + Missionary," "The Bethel," "Lost and Is Found," and "A Glorious + Rescue." + + THE WORLD OF PRISONERS UNKNOWN TO MANY BROUGHT FORWARD IN + DESCRIPTIVE SPEECH AND VIVID PICTURES + + +There are enough people in prison in these United States to furnish a +citizenship to a considerable territory, or to populate a good-sized +city. For the psychological student, they form the most interesting of +all objects of study. For the philanthropist, and for the Christian +missionary, they constitute a wonderful field of activity. How to lift +them out of the criminal strata is the question to which Mr. Herr is +devoting his life, in an effort to answer. In a good measure he is +answering it. Many prisoners to whom the grace of God has appeared, +bringing salvation, will rise to call him blessed.--Rev. Jno. Paul, +Mississippi. + +[Illustration: MY DEVOTED FATHER + +THE LATE HON. RICHARD S. HERR + +"And their works do follow them."] + +[Illustration: MY PRECIOUS MOTHER + +The Late Mrs. RICHARD S. HERR + +"Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in +the gates."] + + + + +Foreword + + +Gathered within these pages are recitals of scenes and incidents in a +field of existence fortunately unfamiliar to the majority of our +readers. The subject has been handled without any attempt to embellish +the hard facts or gloss over the cruel details--the paramount desire +upon the part of the author being an endeavor to show the crying +necessity for a constant, earnest labor among the unfortunates who are +shut away from God's sunshine; whom God still loves, despite their sins +of omission and commission. If the perusal of this volume brings to the +reader a belief that the cause is worthy, that labor in this field +brings a reward which amply compensates for the time and effort +expended, the author will rest in the knowledge of a duty well +performed. There has been no effort at exaggeration in presenting these +sketches of daily experiences among the outcasts of society, no +straining for effect, no striving to paint word pictures that may touch +the heart. It is simply the story of everyday life in the field of the +prison missionary's labor, and is given to the public with a fervent +prayer that God, in His infinite wisdom, will instill in the hearts of +our readers a feeling of charity toward those whose burden is almost +greater than they can bear. + + Faithfully, + G. L. H. + + + + +Contents + + + Title i + + Copyright ii + + Dedication iii + + Advertisement iv + + Foreword v + + Contents vii + + Illustrations ix + + Commendations from Louisville Ministers x + + Story of the Life of Geo. L. Herr xiii + + Subscription Card xvi + + Chapter First--Life of Geo. L. Herr 1 + + Chapter Second--"Lost, and Is Found" 10 + + Chapter Third--"Political Peril," Sermon by Dr. E. L. Powell 23 + + Chapter Fourth--"Christ the Interpreter," Sermon by Dr. Hawes 34 + + Chapter Fifth--Throwing Out the Life Line 41 + + Chapter Sixth--Reformation of Criminals 46 + Visit to Nashville Prison 52 + + Chapter Seven--Does Prison Work Pay? 54 + The Work of a Prison Evangelist 57 + Youtsey, Kentucky's Famous Prisoner 66 + Practical Religious Work in County Jail 67 + Praise for Prison Evangelist 69 + Sermon in State Prison 70 + Revival Stirs Up Inmates 72 + + Chapter Eight--A Man of Honor 74 + + Chapter Nine--Jim O'Brien, the Modern Miracle 76 + Jim O'Brien Passes Away 83 + + Chapter Ten--Columbus Ohio Prison 85 + The Big Ohio "Pen" Week by Week 88 + Chapel Services 89 + Chapter Eleven--Incontestable Proof 92 + + Prison Evangelist's Good Work 97 + A Grand Work Highly Commended--John R. Pflanz 98 + "Worked Wonders" 100 + Strong Endorsement 101 + Speaks to Prisoners 102 + Sad and Pitiful Story 103 + Resolution Never Broken 104 + What is a Friend? 106 + "Another Chance I Crave" 108 + Letter from Col. Will S. Hays 110 + Letter from Capt. Scheider 111 + Profanity Shows Mental Deficiency 112 + Cincinnati Work House 115 + Extermination of Habitual Criminals 116 + Criminal Becomes Minister 120 + Poem to Brother Herr 122 + Success of Reform Criminals--Wm. A. Pinkerton 124 + Letter from Editor Star of Hope 137 + Lost and is Found 138 + Christmas at the Frankfort Prison 139 + Hundreds of Letters 144 + A Tribute from Jos. M. O'Hara 145 + Fishing for Men 147 + Branch Library in the Jail 149 + Change comes in Curt Jett 151 + Christian Endeavor at Frankfort Prison 158 + Capital Punishment 165 + Indiana Reformatory 168 + Indiana Reformatory Chapel Services 169 + Clinging to the Bible 172 + Tree of Life and Knowledge 173 + The World Dying for Love 174 + George L. Herr's New Book 176 + + + + +Illustrations + + + Geo. L. Herr and Wife--Frontispiece i + The Late Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Herr iv + Rev. Chas. R. Hemphill, D.D. xv + Rev. Steve P. Holcombe 6 + The Late Mr. George Gaulbert 8 + Rev. Carter Helm Jones 9 + The Late Rev. E. A. Ferguson 10 + Rev. E. L. Powell 22 + First Christian Church and Presbyterian Theological + Seminary 28 + Rev. T. M. Hawes, D.D. 34 + Rev. Henry Clay Morrison, D.D. 40 + Rev. John Paul 46 + Dwight L. Moody 48 + Valentine Burke 50 + The Late Col. Mat. Ragland 54 + Jefferson County Jail 58 + The Late Hon. J. C. Bohart 60 + Hon. John R. Pflanz 64 + Rev. C. S. Hanley 92 + Hon. Chas. F. Grainger 106 + Judge Aaron Kohn 108 + Rt. Rev. Chas. E. Woodcock, D.D. 112 + The Hon. and Mrs. John L. Whitman 116 + Gospel Service at the County Jail, Chicago, Ill 118 + Wm. A. Pinkerton 124 + Louisville Free Public Library 149 + Curtis Jett 151 + Henry E. Youtsey 158 + + + + +Commendation from Louisville Ministers + + + Louisville, Ky., Jan. 27, 1910. + + To His Honor Judge Muir Weissinger, + Judge of the County Court, + Jefferson County, Ky. + +Dear Sir: + +The undersigned Ministers of the Gospel in the city of Louisville, being +members of the Ministerial Association, do hereby recommend to your +Honor the appointment of the Rev. George L. Herr, a regular ordained +minister of the gospel, as Chaplain of the Jefferson County Jail, in +accordance with Part 9, Sections 627-632 Russell Statutes, 1909, +inclusive. + +The Rev. Mr. Herr is thoroughly well qualified to fill the position of +Chaplain at the County Jail, he having for seven years previous to the +enactment of the present law given up his time and money in this noble +work, without compensation from any source whatever, either state, +county or city, as the present Jailer of Jefferson County and many other +will testify. + + R. D. SMART, + Pastor Broadway Methodist Church. + + CHARLES R. HEMPHILL, + Professor Presbyterian Theological Seminary. + + W. N. BRINEY, + Pastor Broadway Christian Church. + + W. J. CLARKE, + Minister Clifton Church. + + A. R. KASEY, + Pastor Clifton Crescent Hill Methodist Church. + + S. G. SHELLEY, + Pastor Jefferson St. Methodist Church. + + THAD. S. TINSLEY, + Pastor Third Christian Church. + + W. F. IRWIN, + 4th Ave. Presbyterian Church. + + E. B. PATTERSON, + Pastor Trinity Church. + + W. R. HENDRIX, + Pastor Methodist Temple. + + J. T. RUSHING, + Pastor Virginia Ave. M. E. Church, South. + + D. B. GREGORY, + Pastor Woodland Pres. Church U. S. + + G. W. NUTTER, + Pastor Parkland Christian Church. + + B. F. ATKINSON, + Pastor Rivers Memorial M. E. Church, South. + + C. F. WIMBERTY, + Marcus Lindsay Memorial. + + CHAS. A. HUMPHREY, + Pastor Portland M. E. Church, South. + + J. D. SIGLER + + E. L. POWELL, + Pastor First Christian Church. + + S. H. LOVELACE, + Pastor Oakdale Methodist Church. + + C. R. CROWE, + Pastor Highland Park and Hill Street. + + T. R. KENDALL, + Lander Memorial Church. + + T. L. CRANDELL, + Dumesnil M. E. Church. + + C. E. CARTER, + Asbury M. E. Church. + + ARTHUR W. BROOK, + M. E. Church, South. + + W. B. BEAUCHAMP, + Pastor Fourth Ave. M. E. Church, South. + + J. R. McAFEE, + West Broadway M. E. Church, South. + + + + +Story of the Life of Geo. L. Herr + + +The Rev. George L. Herr, prison evangelist, has received from Chicago +his book entitled "The Story of His Life," by Edward De Alma. Mr. Herr +distributed 100 copies yesterday in the Jefferson County jail, and the +men received them with great eagerness. Mr. Herr will place the story in +all penal institutions. A letter from the Rev. James M. Taylor, +complimenting the book, says: "I have read with soul-stirring interest +the sad, heart-rending experience of Brother Herr, and the miraculous +deliverance by the grace of God; how, by a life of sin, he squandered a +fortune; how God found him and gave him deliverance; the romantic way in +which his God-given companion entered his life and how they are being +used, perhaps, as no other persons to-day in helping those behind the +bars. This story will warn the reckless, encourage the 'outcast,' and +put a desire in the hearts of thousands to lead better lives." + --_Louisville Courier-Journal_ + +The Rev. Paul, of Meridian, Miss., says: "The story of Brother Herr's +life, 'Redeemed from the depths of sin to the mountain top of +salvation,' is a thrilling narrative, published as a warning to the +fallen." + +The Rev. J. B. Foote, chaplain of the Onondaga county penitentiary, in +New York, acknowledging receipt of the life story of Mr. Herr and +thanking him for it, states in his letter that he will use the book in +his preaching in prison. + +When asked if prison work paid, Mr. Herr said: "Who will ever know the +vast number that will attribute their first impulse to a better life, +formed while in the seclusion of a prison cell, while reading this book. +The world will never know how many, when sitting in judgment upon +themselves, have learned the great secret, that it takes an omnipotent +power to change the current of their lives and give them deliverance +from the power of sin, and enabling them to go forth, not to live a new +purpose, but a new life." + +In 1909 Mr. Herr published 150,000 sermons, books and tracts. + +The Rev. George L. Herr, whose address delivered in our chapel last +Sunday morning was charmingly refreshing, is a man whose vicissitudes of +life lead through a labyrinth that would require a half century of years +to make its journey at an ordinary pace.--Rev. D. J. Starr, D.D., Ohio +Penitentiary. + +Bro. Herr knows the prison work as few men do. He is a man of large +sympathy, and having had an experience of fifteen years as an +evangelist, knows how to reach the hearts of the men. He has the entire +confidence of both prisoners and officials and is always given a most +hearty welcome by all.--Jos. Severance, Chaplain. + +"The large number who have been helped by hearing your message will be +still further benefited by reading your book."--Rev. Albert J. Steelman, +Ph.D., Chaplain, Illinois State Penitentiary. + +Get Rev. Herr's book for your good, but chiefly for the good of others. + +Rev. C. R. Hemphill, D.D., Louisville, Ky.: "I believe Rev. George L. +Herr especially equipped for the difficult work of an evangelist to +those in prison and to the neglected." + +Rev. Wm. Edmond Foster: "His love for lost souls and his zeal knows no +bounds. I bespeak for him a life of great usefulness to his fellowmen +without hope and without God." + +[Illustration: REV. CHAS. R. HEMPHILL, D.D. + +President Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. One of the +South's greatest scholars and teachers; whose heart is full of sympathy +for and helpfulness of the unfortunate.] + +Rev. Horace G. Ogden, D.D., New York: "I have been placed where I have +known intimately his work as prison evangelist. I can say he has made a +superb record. He has taken an enlarged field of work, and I have every +confidence in his increased usefulness. His book merits a large +circulation." + +Rev. Ed. Ferguson: "For years he, with his most estimable wife, have +given their time and talent to the uplifting of the down-trodden of this +great metropolis and they have the respect and hearty co-operation of +the best people in Louisville." + +Rev. James M. Taylor: "The story will warn the reckless, encourage the +'outcast,' and put desire in the hearts of thousands to lead better +lives." + +Rev. T. T. Taliaferro, Chaplain Kentucky State Prison: "Your sermons are +blessed of God to the furtherance of the works of grace in our midst. +May God bless you in your noble work." + +Rev. W. O. Vreeland, Chaplain Kentucky State Prison: "You are worthy of +the highest commendation." + +Men's Bible Class, James Lee Memorial Presbyterian Church: "Rev. George +L. Herr's talk at last Sunday's session was a treat." + +Rev. George L. Herr, 195 Coral Avenue, Louisville, Ky.: "Who will ever +know the vast number that will attribute their first impulse to a better +life, formed while in seclusion of a prison cell while reading this +book." + +The Rev. George L. Herr is bringing out a book on prison life which is +abundantly capable of two effects, namely: Enlisting the attention of +readers, like a romance, and benefitting the class of whom he writes. It +is a two-hundred page book, illustrated with pictures of prisons, and +scenes behind the bars. + + + + +DEAR FRIEND: + +We know you will rejoice with us in the work being accomplished behind +prison bars. Many thousands we are preaching the gospel to every year. +There are converts all over the United States that we hear from. The +outlook of the work was never more encouraging. May we submit to you our +plan to secure auxiliary memberships at $10.00 each? + +Will you be one? + + GEO. L. HERR AND WIFE, + Prison Evangelists. + + +DEPARTMENTS OF WORK. + +Distribution of thousands of papers, tracts, and other religious +reading. + +Visiting the sick and poor. + +Street work in the slums. + +Evangelistic work in the different penitentiaries a specialty. + + + + +CHAPTER FIRST + +LIFE OF GEORGE L. HERR + +BY EDWARD DE ALMA + +A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING. + +"As we sow so shall we reap." + + +Born in the city of Louisville, of an old Kentucky family, whose +escutcheon had never been shadowed by smirch or breath of shame or +ignominy, it might truthfully be said of George L. Herr that he had been +ushered into this world with the proverbial "gold spoon in his mouth," +his father, the late Richard S. Herr, being a prominent and highly +esteemed and wealthy citizen of the grand old state of Kentucky. Though +surrounded by the luxuries of life, by environments unusually favorable +for the development of a strong, healthy, vigorous and clean life, yet +Brother Herr's life from his youth up to the period of this writing, +presents an aspect checkered with the lights and shadows of temptation, +sin, remorse, repentance, redemption and restful peace of heart in +salvation through Jesus. + + -------- + Give us help from trouble; for vain is the help of man.--Ps. + 108:12. + + God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in + trouble.--Ps. 46:1. + -------- + +At the age of three months, the death of his precious mother caused him +to be given into the keeping of his aunt, a noble Christian woman, and +it was due to her teachings that the seeds of reverence for God, belief +in his dearly beloved Son and faith in the promise of a life of +everlasting happiness were planted deep in the recesses of George Herr's +heart, while his father, a Christian gentleman, spared no efforts in his +endeavor to bring up his son in the way he should go. + +At the age of eighteen years, through the death of his father, he came +into the possession of a large estate, but lacking the experience which +usually comes with maturity, he developed a spirit of independence which +soon brought in its train of attendant evils. + + -------- + Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak; O Lord, heal me.--Ps. + 6:2. + + My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect + in weakness.--2 Cor. 12:9. + -------- + +The story of George Herr's experience is the recital of a man's gradual +surrender to the power of drink, until the enormity of his fall can but +be depicted by contrasting his condition with that as it was a few years +before. Then he was a well known young man of Louisville's elite +society, wealthy, respected, esteemed and sought after. Friends without +number, well wishers innumerable, the door of any refined home in the +city would have swung wide open in welcome at his knock. Now the other +picture: A drunken outcast, a prey to the buffetings of every chance +wind of fate, deprived of friends, stripped of wealth, position and +reputation; exposed to every form of evil, subject to the cruelty of +every character of temptation that assails human nature. Ostracized from +society, barred from contact with any self-respecting acquaintance of +former days, can you imagine a more potent example of the victory of +Satan through the agency of his chief field marshal, Drink? God grant +that this may come as a warning to some one of the thousands of young +men who, with prospects as bright or even more flattering than were +those of George Herr at the age of eighteen, are at this moment entering +upon the path which will lead them, as it has countless thousands, into +the abyss of eternal destruction! God grant that the moral to be drawn +from this picture will burn itself in indelible letters of fire upon the +very soul of each young man who reads this. + + -------- + I am poor and needy; make haste unto me, O God.--Ps. 70:5. + + My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in + glory by Christ Jesus.--Phil. 4:19. + -------- + +These were indeed dark days, the past a record of sin, the present a +nightmare of misery and shame, the future black with the darkness of +despair, with not the faintest gleam of hope to pierce the gloom. "Poor +fellow," you say, "only one of a multitude." Yes, only the prototype of +one of the thousands who are traveling the same broad thoroughfare at +this moment. + +It was at this critical juncture, when reputation was blasted, hope +departed and the future barren of promises, that a remnant of respect +for his home and the associates of better days awakened the residuum of +pride remaining and brought the determination to remove his unwelcome +presence from the scenes of former pleasures. He went West, but his +hopes were blasted, and penniless, homeless, wretched, obliged to accept +any kind of menial work in order to eke out a bare living, he wandered +about until an overwhelming homesickness brought him back to Kentucky. +There was, perhaps, a flickering intention to do better, to cut loose +from the bands that bound him, but good resolutions were made only to be +broken, and the cords of sin drawn tighter than ever. + + -------- + Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?--Acts 9:6. + + Follow thou me.--John 21:22. + -------- + +None but God can realize the extreme bitterness of that bondage, the +depths of that dark and unrelieved despair. Without light, without hope, +without rest, and worst of all, without Christ? With not one friendly +hand held out to greet him, with not one word of encouragement, but +rather the cold glance of scorn, the bitter sneer of contempt, it is not +strange that there stretched out before him apparently nothing but a +drunkard's life, a drunkard's death and an endless eternity in a +drunkard's hell. + +Then the fearful temptation of suicide met him; but God, in his infinite +mercy, destined him to pass through even this fearful ordeal unharmed +and spared him that he might carry the gospel of a Savior's love to a +lost and ruined world. Then a helping hand was extended. A lifelong +friend, meeting him one day, and overcome with pity, gave him one more +chance to make a man of himself, fitted him out with clothes, gave him a +railroad ticket and money, advising him to leave Louisville and start +life afresh elsewhere. But the fetters of sin were riveted so strongly +that the well-meant advice of his boyhood friend was unheeded, and a few +hours found him in as fearful a plight as ever. Then there came into +this, the darkest hour in all his life, the experience of the prodigal +son. A determination came into his life to sever forever all ties +binding him to the life of degradation he was then living and to take +the first step back into the narrow path of righteousness. + + -------- + Show me thy ways, O Lord.--Ps. 25:4. + -------- + +It was then that the Rev. Steve P. Holcombe of Louisville, Ky., took him +to the Union Gospel Mission. + +At this critical period there came within the radius of his sphere of +existence a noble, devout woman, who proved to be the one thing needful +to round out the life now worth living. In spite of all remonstrances on +the part of her friends, she was greatly interested in the welfare of +this man and prayed earnestly that God would make him a strong Christian +man. + +Her tireless energies, endless prayers and earnest teachings were ever +present to hold him up and help him onward in the new life. God placed +her in the sphere of George Herr's experience at a critical stage, using +her as a medium for cementing his faith and determining his purpose to +devote his remaining years to the work of redeeming unfortunates sunk in +the darkness of sin. Their destinies were welded together by mutual +interest in the work of saving lost men and the affinity of feeling +between them developed into a bond of love, each seeing within the other +those qualities necessary to happiness in wedded life, and on the 14th +of April, 1898, George L. Herr and Miss Lillie M. Joyce, the woman +who was such an essential portion of his existence, were joined in the +holy bonds of matrimony by the Rev. Carter Helm Jones, D.D., pastor of +the Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. + + -------- + The meek will he teach his way.--Ps. 25:9. + + Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit + from me.--Ps. 51:11. + -------- + +[Illustration: REV. STEVE P. HOLCOMBE + +The founder of the Holcombe Mission of Louisville, Ky.] + +George Herr says that the old life, with its bondage in sin and its +darkness of evil, is a thing of the eliminated past. Finding happiness +in his new life, he has consecrated his time, energy, ability and +talents to continuous devotion to the task of spreading the gospel among +the fallen. Into the gloomiest recesses of penitentiaries, workhouses +and jails, beyond portals where visitors are excluded, he has carried +the message of Christ's saving grace into the darkness of despairing +men's and women's lives. + +God has blessed George L. Herr in many ways, giving him daily recompense +for the days of misery, shame and degradation, giving him a happy home, +glorified by the presence of a loving, devoted wife and the precious +daughter, and this story is sent forth with the earnest prayer that God +may use it, with its message of hope and cheer, for the salvation of +many despairing, discouraged ones who are bound by the awful fetters of +sin as he once was. + + -------- + All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that + cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.--John 6:37. + -------- + +One of the greatest privileges accorded man is to be a messenger for +Christ. George Herr has tasted the sweets of liberty in Christ and he +loves to tell those in the terrible bondage of sin that there is an +avenue of escape. In his rescue work he has been able to take a great +number of homeless, friendless and hopeless men and women by the hand. + +Does it pay? The results of George Herr's labors among the unfortunates +are a satisfactory answer to this question. It pays a hundredfold in the +feeling of duty well done, in the knowledge of many useful lives saved. +It pays in words of gratitude feelingly uttered by noble men and women, +who, formerly sunk in the quicksands of despair, are now restored to a +world of happiness and peace. + + -------- + Jesus own words are: "They that be whole need not a physician, + but they that are sick, for I am not come to call the righteous, + but sinners to repentance."--Matt. 9:12, 13. + -------- + +It is our earnest prayer to the Father of all good, that this story of +George Herr's redemption from the clutches of sin may, through his +unfailing love for all suffering ones, carry its message of hope, its +promise of salvation from eternal despair, into the hearts of many who +are despondent, discouraged, despairing. May it instill into the hearts +of the unfortunate a desire to come back into the fold of the Father's +unending love, bringing with it the sweet conviction that no matter how +far we have wandered from within the radius of his love, we are still +his children, the erring ones for whose redemption he gave his Son to be +offered upon the altar of human sacrifice that we, through the atonement +of his innocent blood, should inherit the kingdom of heaven. + + -------- + Hold up my goings in thy path, that my footsteps slip not.--Ps. + 17:6. + -------- + +[Illustration: THE LATE MR. GEORGE GAULBERT + +One of my best friends. Many heart-to-heart talks I have had with this +grand and wealthy merchant] + + + + +CHAPTER TWO + +"LOST AND IS FOUND" + + +Jesus said, "A man had two sons; and the younger one of them said to his +father, 'Father, give me my share of the inheritance!' so the father +divided the property between them. A few days later the younger son got +together all that he had and went away into a distant land; and there he +squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life. After he had +spent all that he had, there was a severe famine through all that +country, and he began to be in actual want. So he went and engaged +himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his +field to tend pigs. He even longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean +pods on which the pigs were feeding; and no one gave him anything. But +when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants +have more bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to death; I +will get up and go to my father and say to him, 'Father, I have sinned +against Heaven and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your +son; make me as one of your hired servants.' And he got up and went +to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him +and was deeply moved; he ran and threw his arms around his neck and +kissed him. 'Father,' the son said, 'I sinned against Heaven and against +you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; make me one of your hired +servants.' But the father turned to his servants and said, 'Be quick and +bring a robe, the very best, and put it on him; give him a ring for his +finger and sandals for his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, +and let us eat and make merry; for here is my son who was dead, and is +alive again, was lost and is found." + + -------- + For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the + government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be + called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting + Father, The Prince of Peace.--Isa. 9:6. + -------- + +[Illustration: REV. CARTER HELM JONES, D.D. + +The late Pastor Broadway Baptist Church Louisville, Ky.] + +This younger son thought he was wiser than his father and wanted to +manage his own affairs. So it is with men who think they can manage +their own affairs without God. + + -------- + He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all + thy ways.--Ps. 91:11. + -------- + +A case in hand: An acquaintance of mine in Louisville, a young man of +handsome face and fine physique, with all the advantages wealth, +education and social position could give him, started out at the age of +twenty-one with unfaltering prospects of a prosperous, useful and happy +life, but, like the young man in our lesson, thought he could manage his +own affairs without God; in other words, he refused to give his heart +and life to Jesus Christ, and not having Christ to protect, shield, +restrain, and assist him, in a time of temptation he was led along +little by little, almost without knowing it, until he was ready to +commit any crime. One day in a house of ill repute he shot and killed a +young man; for this crime he was arrested, tried and convicted, but the +wealth and influence of his family secured him a pardon. Even this +bitter experience failed to teach him that he had made a mistake in +thinking he could manage his own affairs, for, after regaining his +liberty, he plunged deeper and deeper into sin, ending in himself being +murdered. + +As the prodigal in the parable wanted to get as far from his father's +presence as possible, "into a far country," so the man when he +determines to give himself up to others. He does not want to hear about +God or even think about him. Reader, was not this so with you? The +father did not compel the son to stay at home; he allowed him to choose +what he preferred. So it is with God; he does not compel us to +obedience. For my part I wish he did. "He wasted his substance in +riotous living;" and so it is with the sinner, in the service of sin; +he wastes and destroys his property, his health, his reputation, his +intellect, his conscience. + + -------- + Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy + name; thou art mine.--Is. 43:1. + -------- + +[Illustration: THE LATE REV. E. A. FERGUSON One of the Author's best +friends] + +There is nothing in this world valuable enough to recompense such a +loss, or balance the misery of a tormenting conscience. If you violate +it for the sake of a gratification of the body it will remember the +injury many years after. Gen. 42:21; Job 13:26. It will not only retain +the memory of what you did, but it will accuse you for it. Matt. 27:4. +It will not fear to tell you that plainly, which others dare not +whisper. It will not only accuse, but it will also condemn you for what +you have done. This condemning voice of conscience is a terrible voice. +You may see the horror of it in Cain, the vigor of it in Judas, the +doleful effects of it in Saphira. It will produce shame, fear, and +despair, if God give not repentance to life. The shame it works will so +confound you, that you will not be able to look up. Job. 31:14; Psa. +1:5. The fear it works will make you wish for a hole in the rock to hide +you. Isa. 2:9, 10, 15, 19. And its despair is a death pang. + + -------- + "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though + your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though + they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."--Is. 1:18. + -------- + +Young man, consider the nature of your present actions; they are seeds +sown for eternity, and will spring up again in suitable effects, rewards +and punishments, when you that did them are turned to dust. What a man +sows, that shall he reap. Gal. 6:7. And as sure as the harvest follows +the seedtime, so shall shame, fear, and horror follow sin. Dan. 12:2. +What Zeuxis, the famous painter, said of his work, may much more truly +be said of ours: "I paint for eternity." Ah! how bitter will these +things be in the day of reckoning, which were pleasant in the acting! It +is true our actions, physically considered, are transient. How soon is a +word or action spoken or done, and there is an end of it! But morally +considered, they are permanent, being entered upon God's book of action. + + -------- + I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, + as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed + thee.--Isa. 44:22. + -------- + +Let me illustrate: Some time ago a young man, son of a nobleman of +Germany, came to our home poorly clad, without money, without friends, +realizing to some extent the depth to which he had fallen, filled with +remorse on account of disgrace he had brought upon himself and his +family, and like the prodigal in the parable he said, "I will arise and +go to my father." He left our home for his home in New Orleans, La. +After his arrival there we received the following letter: + +My Dear Brother Herr: My letter to you from San Antonio told of the +happiness which had come to me as a result of the reunion of my wife and +little ones. Can you realize how full those days were spent in the sweet +companionship of those who are so dear to me? I would have wished to +have remained with them until Christmas, but my obligations to business +intervened, and I was compelled to leave in order to attend to matters +here. + +My thoughts are with you so much that I often feel as though I could +reach out and grasp your hand; and so often during the day there goes up +a whispered prayer from my heart that our Father will bless you in just +proportion as you have been a sweet, helpful blessing to others. + +My route includes Louisville, and while I may not be in there on this +trip, it will not be many days before I will have an opportunity to +greet you in person. May God bless Sister Herr and yourself if only in +recompense for your kindness to me. + + EDWARD. + + -------- + Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy + God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will + uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.--Isa. + 44:10. + -------- + +Does not the life of this man preach a more eloquent sermon, and tell a +more powerful tale, and teach a more eloquent lesson than I or any other +preacher could do? Reader, you cannot ignore, disregard, or shut your +eyes to the lesson which this man's life teaches, impresses and enforces +of the awful danger and the deadly and destructive effects of sin. + + -------- + Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from + before mine eyes; cease to do evil.--Isa. 1:16. + -------- + +Here is a lesson in life that appeals to us and bids us stop in our mad +way. This parable of the prodigal son shows that we can have our own way +if we determine to do it; father and mother can't keep us from it, and +God by force will not keep us from it; but we will certainly pay for it, +and pay the price of tears and sorrow, remorse and ruin. This nobleman's +son, by refusing to heed God's warning, was brought to want. No matter +whose son it is, if he determines to have his own way and give himself +up to self-indulgence and riotous living, he will come to want, shame, +bitterness, and many are the men who tried to master themselves but +failed. Some evil habit had fastened itself upon him, and realizing +himself a slave, tries to shake it off, but, alas! the will has been +paralyzed, and it does not respond in warding off the fearful habit. +Defeat after defeat occurs until the poor fellow, discouraged, +broken-hearted, gives up and goes down to utter ruin. Man is no match +for the devil. How hopeless would be the outlook for the great army of +men whom we labor with were it not for a Deliverer. "The cross held his +body; the sun hid his face for shame, and the bowels of the earth were +moved in compassion, when Jesus expired on Calvary's rugged tree, thus +purchasing redemption for every man from the curse of sin. It is +possible through Christ for every man to be a Christian." + + -------- + "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."--John 6:37. + What a wonderful invitation--these words of the Savior! + -------- + +And now here are some of the ways God has taken to tell you of his love: +Psalm 103:13: "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord +pitieth them that fear him." Isaiah 49:15: "Can a woman forget her +suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her +womb? yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee." Luke 11:13: "If +ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how +much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that +ask him?" Luke 18:13-14: "And the publican, standing afar off, would not +lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, +saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you this man went down +to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that +exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be +exalted." Luke 15:7: "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in +heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine +just persons, which need no repentance." Luke 15:10: "Likewise I say +unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one +sinner that repenteth." Luke 7:36-50: "And one of the Pharisees desired +him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, +and sat down to meat. And behold a woman in the city, which was a +sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, +brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him +weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with +the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the +ointment. + + -------- + Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise + her in the gates.--Prov. 31:31. + -------- + +"Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within +himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who +and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner. +And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto +thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which +had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. +And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, +therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I +suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast +rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest +thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for +my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the +hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman, since the +time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou +didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. +Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for +she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. +And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. + + -------- + And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, + Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.--Matt. 8:2. + -------- + +"And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who +is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith +hath saved thee; go in peace." + +A father whose son had gone away to California, and was a gambler in San +Francisco, sent him word by a friend: "Your father loves you still." And +it made him ashamed; it broke his heart; he repented, returned home and +was saved. "God, your heavenly Father, loves you still." Will you not +believe it and come to him for safety? He will not abuse you for your +sins. He will save you from your sins, and make you happy. + +"And he began to be in want." + +That is what sin brings a man to--want. + +And it was this which brought him to his senses--"he came to himself" +(verse 17). + +And when he does come to himself he can think of only one place where he +can hope to find relief, and he bravely determines to go straight to the +very father he had so shamefully abandoned, and to make a full +confession and throw himself on that father's mercy with the hope of +being taken back as a hired servant. He is willing to take the humblest +and meanest place if he can only get back to that home he was, a short +time before, so eager to leave. Nor does he offer any excuse; he calls +his sin by the right name and confesses it without trying to excuse it +or justify it. + + -------- + And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; + be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.--Matt. + 8:3. + -------- + +And how did his father receive him? Why, he did not wait till his poor, +ragged, worn and wasted boy got in and made his confession; but he saw +him a great way off (verse 20) and he knew what had passed in the boy's +heart and life, and moved with compassion toward him, he ran and fell on +his neck and kissed him a glad welcome back to his heart and home. But +the son goes on to make his confession and his offer to be a hired +servant anyhow, and yet the father says, "No! no! bring forth the best +robe and put it on him." + + -------- + "And their works do follow them."--Rev. 14:13. + -------- + +A man married a young widow with a small son. Her former husband had +left her $10,000 in his will. The man said: "I will take care of you and +we will lay away that $10,000 for your boy." Two other sons were born to +them. The stepson was educated and taught habits of business. At +twenty-one years of age he asked for the money his father had left. He +was told that instead of being $10,000, it had been invested for him and +was now $50,000. He was asked to let the money stay in the business and +to become a partner with his stepfather. The young man refused, took his +$50,000, fell into bad habits and lost it all and came home in rags, a +tramp. His stepfather met him at the train, took him to the barbershop +and clothier and presented him to his mother at the house as a +gentleman. The nicest room in the house was assigned him and he was told +that it was his permanent home. He was also told by his stepfather that +he was to be taken into the business firm composed of the father and the +two half-brothers. This was more than he could stand. He began to weep +at his ingratitude and at the love which had been lavished upon him. He +devoted himself to business, was devoted to his stepfather, and was as +loyal to his interests as his own sons. This picture, though it seems +overdrawn, is one of real life. The stepfather had a good disposition +naturally, but his magnanimous treatment of the prodigal was out of his +sincere affection for his wife. There were few ties of love that bound +him to the bad boy, only the love of his faithful wife. He loved the boy +for the sake of his mother. Our Father loves his children and receives +the prodigals returning to him for their own sake and the sake of his +Son who died for them, and treats them, in his affection, as though they +had never sinned against him. + + -------- + The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and + the good.--Prov, 15:3. + -------- + +[Illustration: DR. E. L. POWELL + +Pastor First Christian Church, Louisville. One of the ablest ministers +of the Christian Church who has done a wonderful work among the +masses.] + + + + +CHAPTER THREE + +POLITICAL PERIL + + Sermon by Dr. E. L. Powell, on "The Need of Prophets in a Time + of Political Peril," delivered at the First Christian Church, + Louisville, Ky. + + "And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, + (for they are a rebellious house,) shall know that there hath + been a prophet among them."--Ezekiel 2:5. + + +He thought it would not be questioned by thinking persons that we are +living in a time of political peril. He did not mean that revolution was +at our door; he did not mean that we are threatened with a reign of +terror; he did not mean that there was any prospect of immediate +bloodshed. + + -------- + I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I + have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. + + I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have + declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not + concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great + congregation.--Psalm 40:9, 10. + -------- + +Our perils spring from our state--the state of our own souls. They are +lacking in moral sensibility--we are in danger. We are told on every +hand our country was never more prosperous--that is unquestionably so. +The same might be said of Rome when that colossal empire was tottering +to its fall. There were persons then who paid from $200,000 to $400,000 +for a single feast. It is recorded of one man that, after spending +several millions of dollars in luxurious living, he committed suicide +because he had only $400,000 between him and starvation. National +bankruptcy does not stare us in the face. Fortunes grow up in a +generation--the dollar smiles upon us as a beneficent sun. Yet our moral +condition is such as to call forth from thinking men serious and earnest +fear. We are as a man living in a luxuriously appointed house, and yet, +on account of invalidism, unable to appreciate his splendid home and +environments. + + -------- + Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my + brethren, ye have done it unto me. + -------- + +He had called the attention of the congregation last Sunday night to +what was the fundamental source of our political corruption--the +unnatural separation of religion and politics. He did not mean +separation of Church and State; that was right and proper; but he did +mean that we need the reign of truth, purity and righteousness, because +of the ills to which attention was called last Sunday night. His lecture +tonight would be on "The Need of Prophets in a Time of Political Peril." +He did not wish to call attention to the peculiarly inspired Bible +prophet. So far as he was concerned he was a man apart, who could not be +our example--he constituted an order of his own; but we mortals can to +some extent, recognizing our limitations, reproduce the power of the +prophets, and it is not limited by arbitrary metes and bounds, as God +sends his teachers to every age and every clime. If there ever was a +time when we stood in need of moral leadership it is now. We want men +who come like the prophets of old, who shall come before us as genuine +leaders to take us out of this wilderness in which we find ourselves. A +fine moral leadership is the exception rather than the rule. Unless the +standard be lifted up the hosts will not rally. Truth will not win its +way on its own merits. Let the call come from the lips that speak not +lies, but the truth, and there is that in the humblest of men that will +give back an amen. And when our leaders come we shall recognize them. We +are not likely to mistake the rumble of cart-wheels for thunder. The +leader carries his credentials. When a community is visited by a prophet +it is known by that community that a prophet has been among them. You do +not mistake genuine fire. You are never deceived by a genuine voice. It +has been true in all ages of the world that wisdom is recognized by its +people. Deep down in the hearts of the people are the instincts of +truth. When we find men willing to pay the price of leadership we shall +have leaders. It is as true today as it was in the days of prophecy that +such leaders as we have have taught us to err. We need men with +political consciences--men who recognize that there are such things as +truth, purity and righteousness in the world. + + -------- + What must I do to be saved?--Acts 16:30. + + Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.--Acts + 16:31. + -------- + +In speaking of moral leadership the all-inclusive qualification is +inspiration. He did not mean the exceptional inspiration that applies to +the Bible prophets. He meant that inspiration which kindles the powers +we already have into life. When he spoke of inspiration he meant the +enlivening, the stirring up of the powers we already have as opposed to +the shallow indifference of one who draws about him the robes of his +silken selfishness and says, "Let well enough alone"--a man whose +inspiration glows and glows intensely. The inspired man feels the +degradation of his country as a personal infliction. Those who dishonor +her are his own foes, and insults flung in the face of political liberty +are felt by him as an affront to himself. Our prophets must be men who +feel the woes that they oppose, men who feel the humiliation before they +can strike with the right arm clothed with power. Indifference to the +public weal on the part of the average political leader is one of the +most distressing features of our political situation. These people do +not seem capable of feeling righteous indignation in the presence of the +moral infamy by which they are confronted, and hence their words do not +come forth as thunderbolts, but as spent balls. Beware of the man whose +heart has not been pierced by the woes of his country. The sting is the +needed spur to effort. The sleeping lion is not dangerous; but let him +be wounded and his roar shall ring as the trumpet of doom in the ears of +his enemies. We must seek our leaders among those who can feel the woes +of humanity--men of profound feeling--as those are the best prophets. + + -------- + Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from + the hand of the enemy; + + And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the + west, from the north and from the south.--Psalm 107:2, 3. + -------- + +He believed that we must strike at the evil of social indifferentism. +Who does not feel profound shame that the law against carrying concealed +and deadly weapons is not strictly enforced, which made possible +tragedies such as that at Frankfort, which has disgraced the fair name +and fame of our State. The leaders' voices should ring throughout our +land until we are bowed to the earth in shame in view of the infamies +which disgrace us. + + -------- + Lord, save us; we perish.--Matt. 8:25. + + There shall not a hair of your head perish.--Lu. 21:18. + -------- + +Another element required for leadership was the power of vision. There +must be a clear recognition of evils. The idealist is not a mere +dreamer, but acquainted with the actual wants of the people. In fact our +leaders must see something better. The man who is working in the slums +must keep his eyes fixed on the stars. There can be no change for the +better until the better is made to shine with the brightness of a +beckoning angel. + + -------- + I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my + heart. + + I am a companion of them that keep thy precepts.--Psalm 119:63. + -------- + +Here is the opportunity and duty of newspapers. James Russell Lowell +says: "What a pulpit the editor mounts daily, sometimes with a +congregation of fifty thousand within reach of his voice, and never so +much as a nodder, even, among them! and from what a Bible can he choose +his text--a Bible that needs no translation, and which no priestcraft +can shut and clasp from the laity--the open volume of the world, upon +which with a pen of sunshine or destroying fire the inspired Present is +even now writing the annals of God!" + +[Illustration: PROMINENT IN THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF LOUISVILLE] + +[Illustration: PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY] + +But has the editor no mission other than to tell us of partisan +political measures? To be a simple annalist who shall bring before us +the events of the day, but who creates no perspective along which we may +tread to better customs, better men and better times? He never leaves us +in doubt--"Let us do the best we can, and leave the rest alone." In +God's name, is there not something better? "Let us go up and possess the +land." Standing on the mountain height up there we shall all see fairer +lands below. The inspired editor not only sees the battle from afar, but +also the coming of the imperial guard of righteousness with victory. +There is that in the heart of every man that responds to the ideal. No +leader has ever succeeded in having an evil reformed who wanted an +ideal. Napoleon, when he said, "Beyond the Alps lies Italy," was +appealing to that sentiment--to something beyond--to something in the +future. When Cortez drew an imaginary line before his men, who had +become mutinous, and said "On this side lies danger, death, duty and +glory; on that, safety, shame and infamy. Choose ye whether you will +step this side of the line or remain where you are," he was appealing to +something in their hearts--put there by the Almighty himself. Editors +should not think it their only mission to mirror forth things as they +occur, but say to their 50,000 readers, "Let us go up and possess the +land" of truth, purity and righteousness. This is not weakness on their +part but evidence of the profoundest philosophy. Fifty years ago we had +senatorial utterances that would reach across the continent. The secret +power of those utterances was that they were ideal. In the days when +boys spoke pieces in school we declaimed them, and we feel their +influence today. + + -------- + Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. + + When wilt thou comfort me?--Ps. 119:82. + + Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the + fulfilling of the law.--Rom. 13:10. + -------- + +Another element of leadership is moral enthusiasm. The idealist in art +is so for the love of art. He enters into the discussion of art subjects +with enthusiasm. So with the moral enthusiast. Sin is hateful to him, +and he seeks to crush it as he would a viper, and instinctively and +spontaneously his denunciations come forth. Truth is his pole-star, and +he will tell his best friend, "I will do anything but lie for you." Try +to bribe him, and you will think that the central fires of the earth +have been concentrated into his blistering rebuke. Suggest a compromise +involving dishonor, and if you escape a blow you will be fortunate. Like +Luther he says: "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me." He would +not go with the crowd to moral destruction. Moral enthusiasm has been +the virtue of all epoch-making men. Men do not die for fancies; they do +not die for offices. They die for what they believe is right. Give them +something that appeals to their moral nature and they will die for it. +The grand martyrs were men who laid down their lives for what they +believed to be right. There came to them those lines of James Russell +Lowell: + + "Once to every man and Nation + Comes the moment to decide, + In the strife of truth and falsehood + For the good or evil side; + Love's great cause, God's new Messiah, + Offering each the bloom or blight, + Parts the goats upon the left hand + And the sheep upon the right, + And the choice goes by forever + 'Twixt the darkness and the light." + + -------- + As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.--Is. + 66:13. + + He who loveth God loveth his brother also.--1 John 4:21. + -------- + +We must have leaders who possess the elements of leadership for the +great task of making the world better--who possess the elementary +virtues of honesty and truth. He had indicated some of the elements of +moral leadership that these times demand. He did not mean to say that +the political stage had not such leaders. Certainly there were a few; +but we can make it possible to have a thousand. When we can see one we +are surprised. In the past, thank God, we have had such leaders, and in +the future we shall have such leaders again. + +It is slumbering in the hearts of men and women all around us. It needs +only some one to sweep the harp strings. The trouble is with ourselves. +How can we be leaders with sensual and selfish appetites and desires? +Does God no longer speak to man? Burns there no fire upon the altar? He +did not believe God had exhausted himself. God had not exhausted himself +by casting out a few bright stars from his own luminous presence. There +is power for him to bring to the front the men we are longing and +praying for. + + -------- + He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea in seven there shall + no evil touch thee.--Job 5:19. + -------- + +In conclusion, he wished to say only these few words--that every leader +is a man that must bring to us the message of hope. The prophets through +all those weary years carried the torch of hope and handed it to their +successors. Abraham believed with all his soul that he should have a +posterity as numerous as the stars. He died leaving only one heir. +Moses, the great law-giver, had a vision that a community of slaves +should be made into a great nation. He went up into Pisgah and died, +leaving them still slaves. Long ago a prophet looked over the sea at a +vision of a new heaven and a new earth. Two thousand years have passed +away and no new heaven or new earth has come--but as sure as truth is +stronger than falsehood it will come--just so sure we shall one day see +a new heaven and a new earth, where dwelleth no political corruption, +but righteousness. Not in our time, perhaps, not in our children's time, +shall the thing be; but it will come. Let us pray, then, that we may +answer in the language of the great poet. + + "Oh, well I know that to him who works, and knows he works, + This same glad year is ever at the door." + + The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: + + The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: + + The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. + + + + +CHAPTER FOUR + +CHRIST THE INTERPRETER OF THE PICTURE + +A Sermon preached by Rev. T. M. Hawes in the Slums + + + "I have somewhat to say unto thee."--Luke 7:40. + +The scene presented in this narration is worthy of the painter's brush. +We have a beautiful and striking presentation of the gospel--not set +forth in theological terms as abstract truth--but presented in the form +of a concrete example--a picture with Christ himself as the interpreter. + +And now as we look at this picture with Christ to explain and interpret +it to us, let us see what he will teach us concerning the gospel. + +First, we can learn here for whom the gospel is not intended. + + -------- + Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one + another.--1 John 4:11. + -------- + +Evidently it is not intended for those who find fault with it. Christ is +among a people who seem determined not to be pleased. He has just +wondered to whom he could liken them, and observing a number of children +at play he likens them to children playing in the market place. "We +have piped unto you and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you and +ye have not wept." They found fault with John the Baptist because he was +too severe--they found fault with Jesus because he was too liberal. And +here Simon is finding fault with him because he is allowing this sinful +woman to wash his feet. Am I saying too much when I say that there is +that same trait in human nature today, and that it keeps people out of +the kingdom? Yea, more than that, it often keeps those who are in the +kingdom from receiving the blessings which otherwise might be theirs. +There are those on the outside who remain out because they are +constantly finding fault. There are those on the inside who are always +unhappy for the same reason. If the preacher hews to the line they say +he is a scold--if he doesn't they say he is afraid to stand up for what +he believes, and so it goes. + +[Illustration: REV. T. M. HAWES, D.D. + +The beloved pastor of the Highland Presbyterian Church. The "Beloved +John" of the Louisville ministry.] + +Let us learn from this picture that the gospel is not for faultfinders. +Our late Mr. Moody says a true thing when he says that a faultfinder is +usually a lightweight. + + -------- + He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me + was love.--S. of S. 2:4. + -------- + +Again we can learn from this picture that the gospel is not intended for +those who do not think they need it; not intended for self-righteous +people. No one is ever going to appreciate the gospel until he feels the +need of it. The spirit of the Pharisee will shut us out from the +blessings of the gospel whether we are church members or not. Simon +looked down on the sinful woman and felt that he was far superior to +her. Evidently he felt no need of a Saviour. The Scribes and Pharisees +rejected Christ on the very grounds that he was the friend of publicans +and sinners. Oh, yes, in the very nature of the case the gospel cannot +reach those who do not feel their need of some power beyond themselves. + +Furthermore, the gospel is not meant for those who are ashamed of it. +There is something very touching and beautiful in this picture of the +woman who was a sinner coming into this public court to do honor to +Christ. She had true humility. Simon was far from doing anything of this +kind, he was willing to show a certain sort of respect for Christ, but +he would have been too proud to have ever done such a thing as this. + + "Ashamed of Jesus, sooner far + Let evening blush to own a star." + +Is it not true that a sense of being ashamed of the gospel shuts out +from its blessings those who entertain such unworthy feelings? + + -------- + Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.--Mk. 12:30. + -------- + +Finally, let us learn from this picture that the gospel is not meant for +those who are not glad to make a free-will offering of sacrifice as a +token of this grateful love. This woman brought an alabaster box of +ointment. + +"My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath anointed my +feet with ointment." Christ did not exact this of her--it was a +free-will offering. If the gospel does not draw out our gratitude and +liberality, then it has never touched us. It is not because of our gifts +that we are forgiven, but it is because of our forgiveness that we give. +"To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." + + "That man may last but never lives, + Who much receives but nothing gives; + Whom none can love, whom none can thank, + Creation's blot, creation's blank. + + "But he who walks from day to day + In generous acts his radiant way, + Treads the same path his Saviour trod-- + The path to glory and to God." + +Now, having learned from this picture for whom the gospel is not +intended, let us learn for whom it is intended. Ah! how with a few bold +and simple strokes the whole matter is made plain. + + -------- + Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.--Mark 11:31. + -------- + +First, I notice that it is meant for sinners. "Behold a woman in the +city which was a sinner." Jesus "a friend of publicans and sinners." +That tells the story. "I came to call not the righteous, but sinners." +Some people find fault with the church because there are so many sinners +in the church. Just as well find fault with a hospital for having sick +people in it. Just as well find fault with the doctor for visiting +invalids. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee; you are finding +fault with me for allowing this sinful woman to touch me. Let me tell +you, Simon, that it is just for this very purpose that I am come into +this world." "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, +that Christ came into the world to save sinners." He was the great +Physician and great physicians are those who have a specialty. This was +Christ's specialty--to save sinners. Who is this that forgiveth sins, +also? + + -------- + The end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart.--1 Tim. + 1:5. + -------- + +Secondly, I learn from our Saviour's interpretation of this picture that +the gospel is for the very greatest of sinners. "Simon, I have somewhat +to say unto thee. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors," +etc. Our Saviour proceeds with an illustration which shows that this +woman was one of the greatest of sinners. She was ten times worse than +the average sinner, and yet she was more welcome to the Saviour than +this proud, self-righteous Pharisee. Oh, men and women! if you are in +this hall, feeling that you are unworthy to be here, your very unfitness +makes you fit. Draw nigh to this Saviour from sin and hear him say, "Thy +sins are forgiven; go in peace." Let no pharisaical Simon frighten you +away--the Saviour will give him the rebuke which he deserves and will +whisper into your ear words of pardon and of peace. + + -------- + Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown + it.--S. of S. 8:7. + -------- + +I learn from this picture which Christ interprets that the gospel is for +penitent sinners. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee; seest thou +this woman? She hath washed my feet with her tears." Oh, those were +precious tears in the sight of our Saviour. Every tear-drop was a jewel. +The breaking of the alabaster box of ointment was a sweet incense to +Jesus, but this ten-fold sinner bathing his very feet with her +penitential tears was a sight which made the angels in heaven rejoice, +"for there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth than +over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." Simon despised +this woman's tears and sat unmoved at the pathetic scene--but not so +with Jesus. He could refrain himself no longer, but speaking out before +all the company he said, "Thy sins are forgiven." Oh, gracious words! +How sweet and soft must have been this music to the ears of this sinful +outcast. + + "They fall as soft as snow on the sea + And melt in the heart as instantly." + +Finally, I learn from this picture which Christ is interpreting for us +that the gospel is for sinners who commit themselves in implicit faith +to Christ. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee." "Behold this +woman; you have done a great deal of talking--this poor woman has not +spoken a word--but behold how she has thrown herself upon my mercy with +unquestioning confidence! Do you think I will disappoint such trust as +that? She has heard me say, 'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise +cast out' and has taken me at my word, and I consider it an honor to +turn from thy company to the company of this sinful woman." + +And he said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." + + -------- + Without faith it is impossible to please God.--Hebrews 11:6. + -------- + +[Illustration: REV. HENRY CLAY MORRISON, D.D. + +A Giant Against Unrighteousness] + + + + +CHAPTER FIVE + +THROWING OUT THE LIFE-LINE + +By Rev. H. C. Morrison, D.D. + + +"Ye are the salt of the earth," "Ye are the light of the world," "Let +your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and +glorify your Father which art in heaven."--Matt. 5:13, 14, 15. + +These sayings of Jesus from the sermon on the mount are quite +remarkable. No other teacher ever used such words to his disciples, "Ye +are the light of the world." Had the Jewish doctor of the law heard +these words of our Lord to his humble sun-tanned, bare-footed, +shaggy-browed fishermen, he would have been quite disgusted with what to +him would have seemed the consummate egotism of the Nazarene. + +The meaning of the words of Christ is very plain. The disciples, their +lives, character, spirit, the power of the Christ in them must, and +would, permeate society like salt, and purify and save from sin. They +must illuminate the world, so dark with vice, and show it the way back +to God. + + -------- + Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with + God.--Rom. 5:1. + -------- + +These words of Jesus to the disciples who sat before him that day, are +addressed by him to all of his followers for all time, to all of those +who trust him and gladly obey him (and only such are disciples). He +says, "Ye are the salt of the earth," "Ye are the light of the world." +"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, +and glorify your Father which is in heaven." + + -------- + I have somewhat to say unto thee.--Luke 7:40. + -------- + +We must not forget that God's plan is to save the lost, through the +instrumentality of those who were themselves once lost, but are now +saved from sin. If we would have a great testimony meeting in the city +of the skies, and all of the countless hosts there should one by one +stand up to tell how they were brought from sin to Jesus, each one of +them would point out some person who had been the chief instrument in +his or her salvation. There is this one characteristic of all who are +truly saved--they desire the salvation of all souls. In fact, this is a +very good thermometer with which to get the correct temperature of one's +spiritual life. Does he long for the salvation of the lost? If so, in +the nature of things he must be in a state of salvation. Is he +indifferent to the condition of the lost? Then he is himself in a lost +state. Let us here impress the important truth that Jesus did not say to +his disciples, "Ye must try and salt the earth," but said, "Ye are the +salt of the earth." He did not say, "Ye shall kindle a flame that shall +illuminate the world." He said, "Ye are the light of the world." We are +not, as the disciples of Christ, to be makers of light and salt, but we, +by the power of Christ, must be made into salt and light. It will be +interesting to notice the processes through which one must pass in order +to become salt and light. Let us go back to the beginning of this sermon +of our Lord and we will hear him saying, "Blessed are the poor in +spirit." First of all to become salt and light one must be poor in +spirit; he must awake to the fact that he owes a million and has not one +cent with which to pay. From his heart he must say, + + -------- + "Nothing in my hands I bring, + Simply to thy cross I cling." + + Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit + within me.--Psalms 51:10 + -------- + +He must realize in his inmost soul his perilous condition, and pray from +the fullness of a deep conviction in his heart, "Lord save, or I +perish." Not only must he be poor in spirit, but our Lord says, "Blessed +are they that mourn." God loves to see the falling tears of sorrow for +sin against himself. Those that truly mourn because of their sins will +forsake them. How blessed for the returning prodigal to come with a +heart all full of deep contrition. They that mourn because of their sins +shall be comforted. After deep poverty of spirit and true mourning for +sin and the comforting of the soul by the pardoning mercy of God. Then +meekness will most certainly follow. + +Now, the soul comforted, born of God, sitting in meekness at the feet of +Jesus, will "hunger and thirst after righteousness." A dead man has no +appetite or desire for food, but a living one must eat. The soul that is +born of God will at once begin to hunger for Godlikeness. The cry of +such a soul is not so much for his blessings as it is for him. The +Psalmist says, "As the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so panteth +my soul for Thee, O God." Jesus says of such, "They shall be +filled"--filled with purity, love and peace; filled with the Holy Ghost; +filled with all the fulness of God. All such will be merciful, pure in +heart, peace-makers, and be sure that persecution will follow. This +world that hated and killed our Lord will not let his followers pass +through without persecutions. Of this we may be sure. + + -------- + Be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land.--Num. + 13:20. + -------- + +But with all these graces and past experiences herein named the +persecuted can rejoice and be exceedingly glad. And of such Jesus says, +"Ye are salt and light." Would the reader be salt and light? Then pass +through the program laid down in the sermon on the mount. One must be so +poor in spirit that he will be such a mourner, that he will receive such +comfort, that he will become so meek, that in him there will be such +hungering and thirsting after righteousness, that he will be so filled +with righteousness, that he will become so merciful and pure in heart, +that he will be such a peacemaker, that he will be so persecuted, that +he will so rejoice, that he will be salt and light, so shining that men +will see it and glorify our Father in heaven. It is folly to be striving +to do something before. By the grace of God and his divine power we are +ourselves made something. Make the tree good and the fruit will be good. +If by the power of the Holy Ghost we are made right it will be easy for +us to do right. Salt salts, and light shines without effort. So with +true disciples of our Christ. They cannot exist without proving a +blessing to those with whom they come in contact. + + -------- + Pray for them which despitefully use you.--Luke 6:28. + -------- + + + + +CHAPTER SIX + +REFORMATION OF CRIMINALS + +[Louisville Times] + + +In a sermon delivered in the Nashville penitentiary, the Rev. George L. +Herr, formerly chaplain of the jail here, spoke encouragingly to the +inmates, citing cases of reformation where reform seemed impossible. The +Rev. Mr. Herr took occasion to pay a high tribute to Jailer John R. +Pflanz, of Louisville. He said in part: + + -------- + Repent ye therefore and be converted.--Acts 3:19. + -------- + +When I address you upon this subject I speak from the standpoint of one +who knows by bitter experience. I know that sin can rob man of fortune, +and all the luxuries of life. I know that it can rob him of the love of +all who ever loved him; I know that it can drag him down from a position +of prominence, and make him a habitue of the dives; I know that it will +cause him to place a rope around his neck and hang himself to a rafter +in his own barn; I know that sin will lead him to pause at the railing +of a bridge, his mind set upon the awful deed of self-destruction; I +know that it will tempt him to take a razor in hand and draw it across +his throat. I know that sin will reduce him from a position of +influence, a welcome visitor to the homes of the elite, to a degraded +drunkard, homeless upon the streets of his native city, robed in a short +linen duster and a straw hat in the dead of a bitter winter's night. + +[Illustration: REV. JOHN PAUL + +He gave the title to this book after reading the manuscript] + + +River Thief's Reformation. + +Jerry McAuley was a river thief, and, while serving a term in the +penitentiary, caught a glimpse of what the life beyond with Christ would +be, and the verse, "God so loved the world," etc, (John iii., 16), won +his heart and life, and this poor, weak vessel in the few years he +labored for Christ has planted the gospel light through some convert at +every port where a ship now lands throughout the world. + + +Case of Sam Hadley. + +Sam Hadley, who was saved through this man of God, was a poor friendless +drunkard, and at the time God spoke peace to his soul had committed +almost every crime in the calendar; over one hundred forgeries looked +him in the face when he confessed, but he had faith in God, and he led +him through all the dark valleys. Sam Hadley, was delivered. + + -------- + If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be + established.--Isa, 7:9. + -------- + +I met in the office of the prison every day the jailer, and I can +safely state, without any fear of contradiction, that I have never met a +warden or jailer who has such mercy and charity. + + +A Jail "Miracle." + +I shall speak now of a miracle of the prison cell. Several years ago the +great D. L. Moody was holding meetings in St. Louis, Mo. The Globe +Democrat announced that it was going to publish Mr. Moody's sermons. He +made up his mind that he would weave in plenty of Scripture for the +newspaper to carry into places that he could never enter. One night he +preached on the Philippian jailer, and next morning the paper came out +with a sensational headline, "How the Jailer of Philippi Was Caught." A +copy of the paper was carried into the city jail, and fell into the +hands of a notorious prisoner. This man was one of the worst characters +known to the St. Louis police. He was about forty years old at that +time, and had spent about twenty years in prison, and was then awaiting +trial on a serious charge. As he glanced over the morning paper, the +headline caught his eyes. Thinking that it was some jail news he began +to read it. + + -------- + This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our + faith,--1 John 5:4. + -------- + +God used it to convict him, and a sense of his responsibility before +God rushed upon him. There in his cell at midnight he prayed for the +first time in his life. On the following Sunday he talked with Christian +friends who held service in the jail, and was led into the light of the +gospel. From that night he was a changed man. The sheriff thought he was +playing the "pious dodge," and had no confidence in his professed +conversion. But when he came to trial the case against him was not +pressed, and he escaped through some technicality. + +[Illustration: DWIGHT L. MOODY + +Who sent the Gospel through the daily press that fell into the hands of +Valentine Burke. He was always interested in the lost man.] + + +Unexpected Good Fortune. + +For some months after his release Burke tried to find work, but no one +would take him, knowing his past history. He thought perhaps it was +because of his ugly face. He went to New York and was taken in by a +member of the police force, who knew him, and who told him he would +shoot him dead if he abused his confidence. + +Being unsuccessful in New York, he returned to St. Louis. One day this +man who had realized what the "enemy" had done for his life received a +message from the sheriff that he was wanted at the courthouse. He obeyed +with a heavy heart. + + -------- + Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver + thee.--Dan. 16:6. + -------- + +"Some old case they've got against me," he said, "but if I'm guilty I'll +tell them so; I've quit lying." The sheriff greeted him kindly. + +"Where have you been Burke?" + +"In New York." + +"What have you been doing there?" + +"Trying to find an honest job." + +"Have you kept a good grip on the religion you told me about?" inquired +the sheriff. + +"Yes," answered Burke; "I've had a hard time, sheriff, but I haven't +lost my religion." + +"Burke," said the sheriff, "I have had you shadowed ever since you left +jail. I suspected your religion was a fraud, but I am convinced that you +are sincere, as you have lived an honest life, and I have sent for you +to offer you a deputyship under me. You can begin at once." + + -------- + Yea, he shall be holden up; for God is able to make him + stand.--Rom. 14:4. + -------- + + +Tribute to Burke's Honesty. + +This was in 1880. When Mr. Moody was preaching in Chicago in 1890, +Burke, who had not been off duty for the ten years, came to see him. +During all that time there had been many changes in the administration +of the sheriff's office, and they had changed every deputy but him. +Finally they appointed the ex-convict treasurer of the sheriff's +office. Mr. Moody preached in St. Louis again in 1895. A short time +before his visit an evangelist was called away in the middle of the +revival meetings. The committee wanted Burke to come and preach in his +absence, but the sheriff said he had just levied on a jeweler's store +and had not had time to take an inventory, and Burke was the man he +could trust to put in charge of it. + +[Illustration: VALENTINE BURKE + +Fac-simile of photograph taken for the Rogues' Gallery.] + +[Illustration: VALENTINE BURKE + +From a photograph taken in 1887, seven years after his conversion] + +He was held in such confidence by the police that they did a most +unusual thing; they gave him a photograph they had of him in the Rogue's +Gallery. He had his photograph taken again in 1887, and in sending a +copy of this along with the original Rogue's Gallery photograph, to Mr. +T. S. McPheeters of St. Louis, to show the change in his features, Burke +wrote a note: + +"Notice the difference in the inclosed pictures. See what our holy +religion can do for the chief of sinners." On the back of the Rogue's +Gallery photograph he wrote: + +"He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of +the dunghill, that he may set him with the princes, even with the +princes of his people." (Ps. cxiii, 7, 8.) + + -------- + Buy the truth and sell it not, also wisdom and + instruction.--Prov. 23:23. + -------- + +This incident shows what the grace of God can do for a hardened sinner. +Not only can it save him, but it can keep him. Valentine Burke lived an +active, consistent Christian life in the position until God called him +home in 1895. + + +Visit to Nashville, Tenn., Prison + +Mrs. Wilburn, of Nashville, writes of Mr. Herr's visit to the Nashville +prison as follows: It was my great pleasure as we reached the door to +find Brother Herr, of Louisville, Ky., awaiting admission. It was +raining, cold and dreary without, but he carried sunshine on the inside +of the prison to the sad prisoners. The large chapel was filled with +eager listeners and he received a most hearty welcome and all were +delighted to see their true friend Brother Herr. It was indeed a sight +to make angels rejoice to see how eagerly they drank in every word. I +believe many darkened lives from whom all hope had fled were encouraged +once more to look up. Hundreds of faces grew brighter as he told with +burning words how God had saved convicts steeped in many crimes, causing +judges in different states to set them free; when they were told that +Jesus had blotted out their past and made new men of them. At the close +of his sermon Brother Herr asked all who would pray when alone in their +cells that Christ would save them too from the power of sin, and +transform their lives as He had others, to hold up their hands; as quick +as a flash hundreds of hands white and colored were raised above their +heads and, oh, how our hearts rejoiced as we saw the hope in so many +lives. We are looking to God who giveth the increase to bless the seed +sown in those sad hearts, and earnestly pray that when the great harvest +day comes many of these men may testify that the sunshine of God's great +love entered their hearts on that dark dreary day in December. + + -------- + Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.--Isa. 52:11. + -------- + + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN + +DOES PRISON WORK PAY? + + +Who will ever know the vast number that attribute the first impulse to a +better life, formed while in the seclusion of a prison cell--alone with +God. + +The world will never know how many, when sitting in judgment upon +themselves, have learned the great secret that it takes an _Omnipotent +Power_ to change the current of their lives, and give them deliverance +from the power of sin, and enabling them to go forth not to live a new +purpose, but a new life. + +Many of these unfortunate ones, not remaining criminals from choice, but +because they have never known there was an antidote provided for the +deepest-dyed criminals, "a scarlet atonement for a scarlet sin," whereby +the power of evil possessing them could be eradicated from their lives, +and they no longer victims. While some do not seemingly heed the kindly +admonition given, yet we believe the promise of God will be fulfilled, +that "His word will not return void," and some time--somewhere--the +fruition of their hopes will be realized. + + -------- + Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand + against the wiles of the devil.--Eph. 6:11. + -------- + +[Illustration: THE LATE COL. MAT. RAGLAND + +Who aided the Author in securing a pardon from Gov. Beckham for a young +man who is now at the head of a great firm] + +If Mr. A. could speak for himself when 14 years ago he bowed in his cell +as a poor forlorn sinner, and surrendered himself to God, and has since +been testifying of his saving grace; Mr. B., after leading a criminal +life for years, but when touched by the mighty power of God, came forth +to become a preacher of the gospel, and has since been magnifying the +grace that brought his deliverance; Mr. C., a desponding infidel, +persuaded to believe there was efficacy in prayer, and in the atoning +blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; if the multitude of witnesses who have +been saved through the faithfulness of prison workers were known, the +verdict would be--_it pays_. + + Louisville, Ky., February 15, 1912. + +Dear Brother Herr: + +When you handed me your little book "Lost and is Found" I had no idea +what a treasure you were placing in my hands. Undisturbed in my cell +tonight I read it through and wished for more. I read it the second and +third time, and your sermon so impressed me I read it the fourth time, + + -------- + Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues + of life.--Proverbs 4:23. + -------- + +Before I wandered away from my mother's teaching and fell into my awful +sin and disgrace, I had heard many sermons on the "Prodigal Son," but +none that in such a convincing way drives home the awfulness of sin as +does your description of this, to me, the dearest of Christ's parables. + +What I like about you most in all your talks with the prisoners is this, +you never show a man how bad he is or how low he has fallen without +showing him how good he can become or how high he may rise, and it's +always in a way that appeals to the heart of the man. + +God grant that while under your influence and in the knowledge of "your +way back to Christ" I and many of the lost ones within the prison may be +able to throw off the shackles of sin and return to our Father's love. + +Your noble work among fallen men will never be known in its entirety in +this world, but in that to come God will surely number you among those +who have brought unto him a great harvest of precious souls. + +May God bless you and your dear Christian wife in uplifting the fallen +ones, is the earnest prayer of one who desires your influence over the +remainder of his life. + + Yours for a better life, + CURTIS. + + -------- + My foot standeth in an even place; in the congregation I will + bless the Lord.--Psalm 26:12. + -------- + + Louisville, Ky., Dec. 26, 1911. + + Rev. Geo. L. Herr, + Jefferson County Jail. + +Dear Brother Herr: + +I want to thank you for the Christmas service which you held in the +chapel yesterday afternoon. + +I was greatly helped in my own spirit and I was profoundly impressed +with the very evident influence of the occasion and your address upon +the hearts and spirits of all the other prisoners. + +May God richly reward you in your labors of love for these people. + + Faithfully yours, + HENRY. + + +The Work of a Prison Evangelist + +By Geo. Wm. Wood + +[From the Courier-Journal Nov. 17, 1912] + +To the right-thinking man there can be but one answer to the question, +does the work of an evangelist pay? As well might we ask does the +beautiful life of a true Christian pay? As well might we ask the farmer, +as he carefully tills the soil and sows the seed and labors to +cultivate the grain, does it pay? What answer would you expect from the +shrewd business man of today should you ask him the question does it +pay, when he labors and advises to keep down expenses. He would promptly +answer in the affirmative. Let us bring the question closer home. Ask +the prisoner behind the bars, does it pay to respect the law? He will +answer yes. So for the question does the work of an evangelist pay +behind prison bars there can be but one answer--yes. + + -------- + Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly.--1 + Ch. 19:13. + -------- + +Sitting tonight in our lonesome cell, bounded on three sides by blank +and barren walls of steel, through our two-by-six door, constructed of +massive bars of iron, there comes to us the conversation of our fellow +prisoners, as with head pressed close against the bars to catch the +other fellow's words, we listen to the talk of the men "committed for +crime"--men strong and healthy, who should be engaged in some honest +labor, but, instead, are "doing time" for a broken law. We had no idea +of the meaning of the words "doing time" until being placed behind these +bars, we took up the daily life of a prisoner, and with nothing but +"time" to look to, began the task of trying to be contented. We believe +from our own past ideas of prison life that very few of the outside +world have any conception of what the prisoner's life really is, or +what it means to be sentenced to a term in prison. + + -------- + No good thing will he withhold from them that walk + uprightly.--Psalm 84:11. + -------- + +[Illustration: JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL, LOUISVILLE, KY. + +Members of the International Prison Congress pronounced this prison the +model jail of the world.] + + +Judge Does Not Understand. + +The judge who pronounces sentence upon the evil and unfortunate knows as +little of the meaning of the terms he uses in meting out punishment as +the mail clerk knows of the contents of the letters he handles at his +daily task. "Danger" conveys but little meaning to the mind of the +engineer who has never had a wreck. By the standard of freedom, a day in +prison is a year, and it is only those who mingle daily in our midst can +talk to the "man behind the bars," who can have a fair idea of what the +prisoner suffers daily in "doing time." The world that lies beneath the +bars is a strange world to the average citizen, the citizen blessed with +average good fortune. Prison life is a queer and twisted one, and a law +to itself. + + -------- + Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of + Christ--Ph. 1:27. + -------- + +But to return to the prisoners' conversation, of which we spoke. +Vile--yes, dear reader, this word does not convey to you the full +measure within the writer's mind. At times it seems that some have sunk +so low that all conception of honor and truth have passed entirely away. +No reverence whatever for such words as "mother, home or heaven" left +within their minds, for they are rendered entirely void of good thoughts +or honest ideas, having been so long filled with the one thought--crime. + + +Prison Record for Life. + +Men who started on their "career of crime" as mere boys, with years of +youth spent in reform schools only to be developed into men of crime, +have prison records to follow them through life. Many of these men feel +that they have lost all hope of any but the criminal's life. Many of +them have been forsaken by family and friends. So to the man or woman +who is at all interested in the uplift of his fellow man, can you think +of any field where the labor of an evangelist is more needed than it is +among the men we have attempted to describe to you? + + -------- + Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong--1 + Corinthians 16:13. + -------- + +Then there is the paramount reason why the evangelist is needed. Men who +would not on the outside of prison give one minute of their time to +listen to the evangelist as he tried to persuade them to take a new +lease on life let him engage their attention by the hour as he shows +them the error of their way and points them to a better life. There are +those that listen to his talk and turn away in scorn to ridicule his +teaching. But as the days follow on, and the newness of the prison life +begins to wear away, they listen with more respect to the "man of God." + +[Illustration: THE LATE HON. J. C. BOHART + +of Chicago, one of the Author's main supporters while living in Chicago, +Ill.] + +We have seen men behind the bars who never before bent their knee in +prayer. After listening to the evangelist's story of God and his love, +they go to their cells, and upon bended knees, beg for mercy and help. + +Brother George L. Herr has taken the word of the Master into many of the +prisons of the United States, but the jails and penitentiaries of his +native State of Kentucky have claimed much of his time and attention. We +must confess when first coming in contact with him, our feeling against +him was bitter, we did not want his friendship nor his help, only +because we were angered by his denouncing our pet sins. But as days +lengthened into weeks, and weeks into months, the truth of his kindly +spoken words came home to us. Life was stripped of all its so-called +pleasure, with nothing but its disgrace and shame left to mock us, +having sold out to the "demon of crime." + + -------- + Why art thou cast down? Hope thou in God.--Psalm 42:5. + -------- + +Then we began to feel the need of his wise counsel and to realize the +good of having him among us. He was always ready and willing to help +each and every man, not only with advice and counsel, but in so many +substantial ways, trying to lighten the prisoner's burden and make his +life better and brighter. + +He has also devoted part of his time to writing books. Those we call to +mind are "Light in Dark Places," "You Are My Prisoners," "The Life +Line," "Man's Worst Enemy," "Nothing Better," "The Missionary," "The +Bethel," "Lost and is Found," "A Glorious Rescue," and his new book, +"The Nation Behind Prison Bars," soon to be brought out. Hundreds of +thousands of these books have been sent broadcast over the world, and +through them great good has been accomplished. Well might he be called +the "Prisoner's Friend," for his desire to aid each and every man gives +to him this well-earned title. + +Full of generosity, kind far beyond the ordinary meaning of the word, +always ready to forgive the aggressor and to forget the offense, he wins +his way into the hearts of wicked and violent men in a manner that makes +them his lasting friends, and turns their words of condemnation into +words of praise. + + -------- + He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that + believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God + abideth on him.--John 3:36. + -------- + +We fancy, as we write tonight, while, for the moment, the stillness of +death has fallen upon the entire prison, we can hear his voice, as it +rings out in righteous indignation, through the prison corridors, +calling some man to account for his vile language or his taking in vain +the name of God. + + +Works Without Pay. + +If you were to ask a prisoner to what church Brother Herr belongs he +would no doubt plead ignorance, as no faith nor creed is known in his +work among the men. He makes no distinction between chapel-goers and +non-attendants, and will do a favor for the worst man in prison as +readily as for the leader of the chapel quartet; but ask the same +prisoner, "Who is it that speaks to judge and the warden about the sick +mother who longs to see her imprisoned son before she dies? Ask him. + +Who pleads with the Governor? + +Who tries to soften the heart of the prosecutor? + +Who provides shoes and clothing for the poor prisoners? + +What unpaid messenger runs the errands of the prisoners? + +Who reconciles the erring son in prison with his mother and father? + +He will answer, "Brother Herr." + + -------- + I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.--Psalm 101:2. + -------- + +Now, the average prisoner may be deficient in the matter of mental +balance, but he is not an imbecile. He is a better judge of character +and a keener observer than the more honest and commonplace fellow man. +By the same keen powers of observation that belong to the criminal type, +he notes that Brother Herr differs from many other prison evangelists, +for he helps without asking questions. He has no theory or dogma to +exploit, and he labors for the uplift of humanity. + + +Tribute to Jailer. + +Much that we have written of this great work was made possible by Jailer +John R. Pflanz, who for the past twelve years has been at the head of +the Jefferson County jail. He is constantly laboring to better the +conditions of the prisoners and give to the people an honest +administration and progressive system of prison management. + +To him Louisville and Jefferson County owe a great deal for the good +work accomplished among the criminals. Brother Herr says: + + -------- + Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.--2 Ch. + 19:11. + -------- + +"If such men as John R. Pflanz, of Louisville; John L. Whittman, of +Chicago; Co. E. E. Mudd, of Frankfort, and Col. Dan Bartley, of +Cincinnati, were placed in office for life the criminal world would +greatly decrease every year, instead of being on the increase." + +[Illustration: HON. JOHN R. PFLANZ + +Jailer of Jefferson County. A friend of the unfortunate.] + +We have never heard of any prisoner complain of unjust treatment by him, +but on the other hand, many are the unfortunate men who leave this +prison to take their places in business again, because of assistance +given them by Mr. Pflanz. + +His regular rounds through the entire prison are always hailed with +delight by the prisoners, as he is ever ready to hear their complaints +and remedy any existing evil. He listens to all the appeals for help by +the prisoners and leaves no unfulfilled promises. + +His personal inspection of the "cell-house" and inquiries about the +health and general welfare of all the prisoners, make him always a +welcome visitor among the men. + +Mr. Pflanz's desire to change the criminal into a respected citizen and +the assistance he gives to bring about this result proves his thorough +understanding, brought about by years of study and personal contact, of +how to deal with this class of our citizenship. + + -------- + Be strong and of a good courage; for the Lord thy God is with + thee whithersoever thou goest.--Joshua 1:9. + -------- + + +Youtsey, Kentucky's Famous Prisoner + +[Louisville Herald] + +Henry E. Youtsey, sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary for +his complicity in the murder of Governor Goebel, and at the present time +the most distinguished prisoner confined behind the cold, gray walls of +the State prison at Frankfort, has at last "got religion." + +The man who has succeeded in reaching the heart of this man whose name +emblazened the front pages of newspapers from coast to coast almost ten +years ago, is the Louisville prison evangelist, the Rev. George L. Herr. +The medium he employed was a little pamphlet containing the simple story +of the reformation of one Dad O'Brien, an erstwhile scalawag who was +finally converted to a new life. + + -------- + As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our + transgressions from us.--Psalm 103:11. + -------- + +Rev. Herr, who has carried the gospel into the cells of many a poor, +crime-stained wretch, not only here in Louisville, but in every +prison-house in the country and has accomplished a great amount of good +among the outcasts of society, recently received a letter dated October +16, 1909, which reads: + +"I am delighted to learn that you visited all the cells today and left +in each one the tract, 'How Dad O'Brien Became Converted.' I have read +it, and it is simply an additional evidence of a truth that has long +been known to sincere evangelists like yourself to the effect that no +matter how hardened and steeped in sin a poor fellow may be, the love of +God can win him and Jesus can save him, and he can start life anew, +singing praises to his Redeemer, and winning the lives of his old +companions for the Master. I believe that the happiness of O'Brien's +latter years more than made up for all he suffered--for he enjoyed a +portion of the most glorious life that could be lived here below. When +you get into heaven, as you surely will, Dad O'Brien will be the +brightest star in your crown. Yours most sincerely, + + HENRY E. YOUTSEY." + + +Practical Religious Work in County Jail + +Dear Brother Herr: + +Whenever I think of my confinement in the Louisville jail, a picture +arises before me in which I can clearly see in the main corridor in the +building, down the center of which extended a long table covered with a +snowy cloth, and then in charge of the Hon. John R. Pflanz, than whom +there never was a kinder-hearted jailer in all the world. + + -------- + Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and + I will receive you.--2 Cor. 6:12. + -------- + +But that table and its delicious burden: Turkey after turkey, four of +which weighed more than twenty-five pounds each, with all the trimmings, +including dressing, cranberry sauce, etc. There were oysters fried, and +oyster soup, with crackers and celery. And what an array of cakes! As I +remember, there were chocolate and caramel, layer and black ones, in +short, almost every kind of cakes and pies known to the culinary art. +Then there were bushels of oranges, apples and mixed nuts, and for a +time all of us forgot about stone walls and iron bars, for what a merry +time we did have discussing that repast! + + -------- + For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, + that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have + everlasting life.--John 3:16. + -------- + +Whence came all of those good things? Why, the little man who has so +often walked a square or two further in the rain to buy one banana more +for a nickel for some poor prisoner, and who has worn out more +shoe-leather in helping unfortunate men in durance vile than any other +man in Kentucky: the Rev. Geo. L. Herr, affectionately called "The +Little Missionary," made personal calls on the wealthy and charitable +merchants in the city of Louisville, soliciting this food and dinner in +the name of humanity, and may God richly bless all those who helped him +make it such a grand success. + + HENRY E. YOUTSEY. + + +Praise for Prison Evangelist + +[Courier-Journal] + +To the tributes that have been paid to the Rev. George Herr, after +filling the pulpit of the Clifton Baptist church, of Louisville, the +Rev. James A. Clark yesterday added a testimonial, in which he praised +the prison evangelist for work which he considers "little short of +wonderful." + +"It gives me pleasure to add my testimonial to the many I have seen +concerning the work of the Rev. George Herr as prison evangelist," says +the Clifton Baptist church pastor. "Three times I have heard him tell +the simple gospel story of Jesus and his love. He has a message few +preachers have, and tells it with power and effect. He has a message the +world needs to hear, because it is an example of the power of God to +save to the uttermost. + + -------- + My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.--Prov. 1:10. + -------- + +"Mr. Herr has had a wonderful, but costly experience, which fits him +peculiarly for the special work among prisoners. From a wealthy man, +living in a mansion, sin blindly led him to poverty, robbed him of his +money, property and friends; but God came into his life and now he +rejoices that he is a child of the King. + +"George Herr is doing a work little short of wonderful. He deserves the +co-operation of the Christian brotherhood, and I take pleasure in +commending him." + + +Sermon in State Prison + +Rev. Jos. Severance, Chaplain, says in the Courier-Journal: + +One of the most remarkable meetings in the annals of the prison was held +in the chapel of the penitentiary at Frankfort, Ky., Sunday morning. +George L. Herr, of Louisville, a friend of Chaplain Severance, was +present and spoke from the fourth and twelfth verses of the 103rd Psalm. +The sermon was a strong appeal to the men for gratitude to God for the +rich provision for the redemption of the race and urging them to accept +the mercy of God and allow him to remove their sins from them "as far +as the East is from the West." The chapel was crowded to the doors, and +during the sermon that lasted for an hoar no one moved and none went +out. + + -------- + My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped.--Psalm + 73:2. + -------- + +At the close of the sermon the gospel invitation was given and a total +of forty-two men came forward, some to confess faith in Christ (of these +there were thirty-seven) and others to renew their vows. Hundreds asked +for prayer in their behalf. Among those who came were some of the +hardest men in the prison and more noted for insubordination and +disobedience than for piety and morality. + +But the Chaplain believes that the per cent. of those who remain true is +as great among prisoners as among those outside. + +Bro. Herr knows the prison work as few men do. He is a man of large +sympathy, and having had an experience of fifteen years as an evangelist +knows how to reach the hearts of the men. He has the entire confidence +of both prisoners and officials and is always given a most hearty +welcome by all. + +The baptism of the thirty-seven men who made confession Sunday will be +attended to next Sunday morning. Mr. Herr will return to the baptism. + + -------- + Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my + brethren, ye have done it unto me.--Matt. 25:40. + -------- + + +Revival Stirs Up Inmates + +[Courier-Journal] + +The Rev. George L. Herr preached yesterday at the Frankfort penitentiary +for the Rev. Joseph Severance, who was filling another engagement. +Several hundred men and women asked for prayer, and fourteen confessed +Christ and were baptized in the prison pool in the afternoon by the +chaplain, assisted by the Rev. C. R. Hudson and the Rev. Herr, prison +evangelist. + + * * * * * + +The prisoners in the Frankfort penitentiary were again blessed by a +visit from Bro. Geo. L. Herr, the Louisville prison evangelist, who came +unexpectedly to us. It was doubly fortunate, for the reason that Bro. +Jos. Severance, the chaplain, was absent from the city and therefore +could not fill his appointment. + + -------- + He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth + not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the + name of the only begotten Son of God.--John 3:18. + -------- + +Bro. Herr read that most beautiful 37th Psalm, which is replete with +comfort for those who are in dire distress and in need of consolation, +placing special emphasis on those passages which teach patience and +faith in "The God who is mighty to save and strong to deliver." + +Bro. Herr never fails to extend the invitation of the gospel; in fact, +that is his strong point, and is recognized by him to be the most +important part of his work as an evangelist. His labor was rewarded, as +he won eight souls for our Lord and Saviour. + +The following representatives, members of the present General Assembly, +were present at the morning services: W. H. Jones, Princeton, Ky.; John +T. Shanklin, Johnson, Ky.; W. A. B. Davis, Mt. Vernon, Ky.; Albert +Butler. These gentlemen have been coming regularly, which proves that +they are interested in our welfare, and also devoted to the church +services. We are always proud of their presence, and invite all their +colleagues. + +At the afternoon Christian Endeavor service, Bro. Herr made an +extemporaneous address in which he revealed the secret of his wonderful +success as a soul-winner, which the writer would call unlimited charity, +and inexhaustible brotherly love; the love that always instantly +forgives, and as quickly extends a hand to help a fallen brother rise. + +The eulogy he paid his wife, whom he acknowledged to be the inspiration +to his life, was most beautiful. At this service he won five more souls +for his hire, making thirteen for the day. HENRY E. YOUTSEY. + + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT + +A MAN OF HONOR + + +For several years I have been deeply interested in the men confined in +the prison, and in the betterment of their condition. Each time I held +service in the prison I came in contact with, and was very much +encouraged and assisted by the warden's great kindness. He did much to +improve the conditions of life within the prison walls. G. L. H. + + * * * * * + +[Evening Post.] + +FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 23.--The body of Edward E. Mudd, late warden of the +Frankfort State Reformatory, who died yesterday morning, was taken this +morning to his former home at Glendale, in Hardin County, where it will +be buried this afternoon. + +Yesterday afternoon the body lay in state in the prison chapel and was +viewed by 1,300 convicts. + + -------- + My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.--Prov. 1:10. + -------- + +Five floral designs were sent from the penitentiary. The guards and the +deputy wardens and the clerks sent two, a few of the "trusties" sent +another, and the white prisoners and the colored prisoners each sent a +design. These latter were paid for in 5 and 10-cent contributions. + +The Prison Commission, which is in session, ordered flowers sent from +Louisville, and adopted the following resolution: + +"Resolved, That in the death of Edward E. Mudd, warden of the State +Reformatory at Frankfort, the State of Kentucky has lost a valuable +public official, and the prison has been deprived of an ideal executive. + +"His long experience in prison work had supplemented his natural +ability, with the result that he brought to a difficult task a trained +mind and an admirable judgment. He was firm without being severe; gentle +without being weak; with a heart full of kindness for the unfortunates +under his control. + +"The Board of Prison Commissioners recognized his worth; had the fullest +appreciation of his manliness, his integrity and his devotion to duty. +They sought his advice on all important matters, and in his demise they +realize that the State has sustained an irreparable loss. The sincere +sympathy of the board is hereby extended to his bereaved wife and +children." + +Until a successor to Warden Mudd is appointed one of the commissioners +will be constantly in Frankfort. + + -------- + Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.--Jno. 8:11. + -------- + + + + +CHAPTER NINE + +JIM O'BRIEN: MODERN MIRACLE + +By George L. Herr + + +Several years ago I met in the Jefferson County jail, Louisville, Ky., +"Dad O'Brien," one of the worst criminals I have ever known. Fifty odd +years of age, forty years a thief and twenty-five years behind the bars. +The sentence in the jail was a light one--one year and a half--for +having received stolen property, but he had stolen from one to tens of +thousands. He was son of a prominent physician of Cincinnati, for twenty +years professor of anatomy in the Ohio Medical College. He began by +stealing from his mother's purse and then, when punished by his father, +would steal his father's instruments and sell them for revenge. His +father, being a very stern man, drove "Billy" from home, and the night +came on with no place to go. + + -------- + Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and + believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall + not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto + life.--John 5:24. + -------- + +He led a low, degraded life, and was finally arrested and sentenced to +serve ten years in the Columbus penitentiary. When he was about to serve +his first sentence--which seemed to him a lifetime--a young lady, an old +schoolmate and who had been visiting him in jail, proposed marriage to +him, so she could have the right to visit him in Columbus and provide +him with the comforts of life, as far as possible. She was a girl of +means, and he was stunned by the proposal. For, he said, he had not +thought of such a thing as a wife. But he told her to come back the next +day and he would let her know. She did, and he accepted and they were +married on the eve of his leaving for the penitentiary. He only served +part of the sentence, and when released went to the home of the girl and +began life in a new way, only to fall in the old rut in a short time. He +kept up his criminal life for years. + + -------- + "But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them + snared in holes, are for a prey, and none delivereth: for a + spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to + this? Who will harken and hear for the time to come?"--Isaiah + 42:22. + -------- + +The good wife died, and after her death he became one of the most +notorious bank robbers in this country. While in the county jail at +Louisville, Ky., Dad's friends were standing nobly by him. He had plenty +of money sewed in his clothes to meet his every need. I tried hard to +reach him, but he was determined not to have anything to do with a "Sky +Pilot," as he called me. The first time I spoke to him he almost spit in +my face, but that never daunted me. I was more determined to win him. I +saw he was a diamond in the rough. He had a bright mind, a man filled +with history. + +While in prison in Louisville, Ky., he became interested, and determined +to quit the old life. After this determination he immediately wrote his +intentions to his old pals on the outside, and told them not to send him +any more money, for he was done with that life. They told him he was a +fool and had gone crazy, and everything else they could think of. + +But he was that kind, when he made up his mind to do a thing he did it. + + -------- + The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our + refuge.--Psalm 46:7. + -------- + +Then it was my opportunity for the practical side of Christianity, for I +believe in that side. His clean laundry must be supplied, extra food +that his old companions had been having sent in from the restaurants +must now be brought by the missionary from home. Many are the baskets of +food I have carried from my cottage home to this man. But the time was +coming when he was to be released and nowhere to go, and that was the +thing that seemed to trouble him most. + +I said: "Never mind, 'Dad,' when you get out of this prison-house come +to my home, I'll take care of you and help you to a good life." Well, +one night, at about 8 o'clock he knocked on the door. How glad wife and +I were to see him! He often said, "How warm the fire looks and how +home-like to see you all sitting around." We gave him a good warm +supper, a good bed, the best room in the house, but that was not all he +needed. The next day was the beginning of the real battle. The +detectives were hounding him. But to keep them from rearresting him we +sent him across the river until we could plead with the officers to give +this man another chance. We believe had it not been for the great +interest taken by John R. Pflanz, the jailer, at this time for this man, +that he would have died in a cell in some far Eastern prison. He said, +"What's the use? Let me alone; there is only one thing for me and that +is to go back to the old life." We said, "'D,' we'll see you through." + + -------- + I know not how to go.--1 Kings 3:7. + -------- + +All this time we were trying to find employment for him. All this time +he was growing impatient and would say: "A great big husky fellow like +me laying around on a little man like Brother Herr." He weighed about +190 pounds, but we would encourage him by saying, "Well, Dad, you know +God's people have all things in common, and he knows you are here, and +when he sends to us he sends it for you as well." + +One day when we were talking, he said: "Brother Herr, those old charges +in Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and New York are hanging +over me and I must face them." + +We said, "Well, Dad, if you have made up your mind you would rather live +for God behind the bars than to live for the devil on the outside or the +inside, God will see you through. Go and face these charges, and if you +mean business, God will take care of you." + + -------- + I will guide thee.--Ps. 32:8. + -------- + +He went first to St. Louis and told the judge on the bench that he had +quit the old life forever. They looked at him, and even those who were +his bitter enemies, said, "Give him another chance; go and be a man and +we will help you." He came back to our home from St. Louis, stayed a few +weeks and started for the other charges, encouraged by the last trip. He +went to Chicago first, and they told him the same thing there; then he +went to Cincinnati, then to Pittsburg, and they said, "Dad, if you mean +business you shall have a chance." Then he went to New York where he +and three other men had robbed a bank of $175,000. When he went in to +see the New York people they did not know him. He had been living a +Christian life for several months. Salvation changes the looks of a man, +and takes away the hard lines and softens the eye; and when he told them +who he was, they said: "My God! where did you come from and what are you +doing here?" + +He told these gentlemen what had taken place in his life, and of his +determination for the future. Said one wealthy man, "Well, Dad, go on +your way and may God be with you and help you." + + -------- + Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy + God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.--Is. 41:10. + -------- + +He went on a hunt for the old friend "Hinky Dink" down in the first +ward. "Hinky Dink" saw him, paid for a week's lodging at the Mills +Hotel, and gave him money for meals each day. Finally one day "Hinky +Dink" and Dad, standing in the front of his (Hinky Dink's) saloon, +called "the workingmen's bar," where they line up by the fifties at a +time, looking in, "Hinky Dink" said, "Dad, you are worth $18 a week to +me behind that bar." Dad said, "Me? Not me for $1,800 a week. I am a +Christian, I have quit all that, never to return again." "Hinky Dink" +said: "Well, what do you want, anyhow?" Dad said: "I want to go to +Cincinnati to the Holiness camp meeting." "Hinky Dink" said, "Where?" +(this being all Greek to him), as it was not in his line, he knew. + +"Dad" repeated what he had said, and "Hinky Dink" said: "Come right over +here and I'll buy you a ticket." He took him over to the railroad +office, and bought him a limited ticket to Cincinnati. Dad said, when +telling us, "He thought he was shipping me in the quickest way possible, +but it was the Lord taking care of 'Old Dad,' and sending him in +first-class style." + +Again he came back to our home, stayed several weeks, then we got him +$20 worth of religious books to travel around to the camp meetings to +sell, and to tell his experience, for the people were eager to hear this +wonderful experience of God's transforming power, wherever he went. We +started him off, and he soon felt his call to preach the gospel. He was +ordained in Indianapolis in 1905, and preached up and down the land, +winning lost men and women for Jesus. His life was a miracle of what +God's grace can do. He married a fine Christian woman, who was a great +help to him in his work. + +In the fall of 1908 he died a triumphant death, leaving a glorious +testimony behind. + + +Jim O'Brien Passes Away + +The Courier-Journal republishes herewith from the Indianapolis Herald an +editorial by the Rev. George E. Bueler, pastor of the Methodist +Episcopal church, Indianapolis, Ind.: + +"The Rev. William H. Frazier, alias Jim O'Brien," died at Indianapolis +on Monday, October 30, 1908. + +"At an early age Frazier began associating with bad boys on the streets +of Cincinnati and of course was soon drawn into sin. At the age of 14 he +began stealing, at first on a small scale, and increasing with the years +until he became one of the most daring and successful bank robbers known +in America. He was arrested and in prison many times, but when at +liberty he drifted back into crime again. For forty years he was a +criminal; of that time twenty-three years and six months was spent +behind prison bars. Although he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars +he was released from prison the last time in Louisville with only $2.40 +left. What wages for forty years in the service of Satan! While +incarcerated in the Jefferson County jail, at Louisville, Ky., +Missionary George L. Herr found this wretched man and through many +months of persistent effort found a way to his heart. At first the +missionary was met with curses and abuses, but love conquered, and the +result was Jim's conversion, a miracle indeed, for, from that time in +January, 1903, "Dad," as he was known, lived a godly life and retrieved +for the past by telling everywhere he went his life story, showing forth +the glory of God's redeeming grace. No one knew better than Bro. Frazier +what it meant for a man to be released from prison and again face the +world. With the disgrace and odium upon him it is well nigh impossible +for him to find honest employment, for no one knowing him to be an +exconvict wants him in their employ, the temptation to return to the old +life is strong. With this in view he began making homes for such men in +large cities. While Bro. Frazier was working and starting a home in +Cincinnati he was made prison chaplain for the entire city. During the +past summer he and his wife came to Indianapolis. While here his +physical condition gave way; he knew his end was near. To those who +waited on him in his last hours he constantly affirmed his faith in God +and passed peacefully away. The funeral was conducted by the Revs. +Parker, Stevens and Bueler, with special singing by Mr. Maxwell, Mrs. +Bueler and Mrs. Nelson. All who want a more complete account of this +wonderful life should read his book, "From Crime to Christ." + + + + +CHAPTER TEN + +COLUMBUS OHIO PRISON + +[Ohio Penitentiary News] + + +The Rev. George L. Herr, prison evangelist, returned yesterday from St. +Louis, where he went in the interest of the men "behind the bars." The +Rev. Mr. Herr also had a delightful visit with his son, of St. Louis. +Mr. Herr, on his return home, received the following letter from the +Rev. D. J. Starr, D.D., chaplain at Columbus, O., penitentiary: + +Dear Brother: I thank you for your letter informing me that you will +spend Sunday, March 8, with us at this prison. We intend to make good +use of you for the Master's cause. We will wish you, unless it will +weary you to do so, to speak to our Sunday-school at 8 o'clock; address +the prayer meeting at 9 o'clock; preach in chapel at 10 o'clock; attend +Female Bible class and talk at 3 p.m., and men's Bible class at 7 p.m. + + * * * * * + + -------- + "I was in prison, and ye came unto me."--Matt. 25:36. + -------- + +The Courier-Journal republishes herewith from the Ohio Penitentiary News +an editorial by the Rev. D. J. Starr, D.D., chaplain at the Columbus, +O., prison: + +"The Rev. George L. Herr, whose address delivered in our chapel last +Sunday morning was charmingly refreshing, is a man whose vicissitudes of +life lead through a labyrinth that would require a half century of years +to make its journey at an ordinary pace. But George L. Herr is not the +man to do anything in an ordinary way. The itinerary of his life shows +few curves--mostly acute angles. He was born in an old Kentucky family +of the city of Louisville. His ancestral stock was golden, and his +infancy was fed with a golden spoon on sugar and cream. When he was +three months old his Christian mother went to be with God. When he was +18 years old his father, Richard S. Herr, a capitalist of Louisville, +died and left George the heir of a large patrimony. + +"The orphan was genial, sportive, rich and without domestic restraint. +Men seized the opportunity to take advantage of his tendencies and youth +to filch from him his wealth. He yielded, and threw on the neck of +appetite the slackened rein and became woefully dissipated. He mounted +the toboggan and went down the slide, landing in a few years in the +gulch of destitution and near the precipice of suicide. + + -------- + Teach me thy way, O Lord.--Ps. 86:11. + -------- + +"Here in destitution and despair on the day after Christmas, 1893, the +Rev. S. P. Holcombe, of Louisville, found the prodigal and led him into +the Union Gospel Mission, where he sought and came to know God as a +personal Saviour. What a change! New bottles for the new wine of the +Spirit! As language cannot picture the degradation of the prodigal, +neither can it picture the exaltation of the son restored to the Father. +George was as whole-hearted in his new life as in his old. He had beauty +for ashes and a spirit of praise instead of heaviness. After nearly five +years of the new life George L. Herr, in the city of his fall and his +recovery, was married by the Rev. Dr. Carter H. Jones, pastor of +Broadway Baptist Church, to Miss Lillie M. Joyce. George says that if a +man ever outmarried himself he's the man. He says God gave him this +priceless treasure of a Christian wife in answer to prayer. Those who +know Mrs. Herr speak of her as sweet-spirited, noble, devout, gifted in +song and speech and one in spirit with her husband in the work of saving +those who are out of the way. Their home is filled with the aroma of +grace and their united lives are spent in doing good. How wonderfully +God fulfills His ancient promise to present-day prodigals: 'As ye were a +curse, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing.'" + + + The Big Ohio "Pen" Week by Week + + Weekly Budget of Personal, Local and Other Newsbits. + + To-morrow in the Chapel. + + Sunday School 8 A.M. + Prayer Meeting 9 A.M. + The Great Congregation 10 A.M. + Entry March Band + (Thomas McCaskie, Leader.) + Gloria Patri Entire Congregation + (Directed by Choirmaster Prof. J. H. Chavers.) + + Invocation. + + Songs By Miss Luale Bethel + + "A Rose in Heaven." + "Life's Lullaby." + + First Scripture Lesson. + + Anthem Choir + Morning Prayer Chaplain + Lord's Prayer Response by Choir + + Second Scripture Lesson. + + Hymn No. 3 Choir + + "Within Thy Courts." + + Sermon Rev. George L. Herr + Hymn No. 355 Choir + + "Calvary." + + Doxology. Benediction. + + Band. March. Exit. + + +Chapel Services + +In the Bible-school at 8 o'clock through the doorway of life beyond, +which Christ left open that men might both look in and go in, the 300 +students saw some of the things that "God hath prepared for them that +love Him." The germinal thoughts of John 14:1-14 are that heaven is a +place--a roomy place, a prepared place, a place where the Lord abides +and where he will have his prepared people to abide with him. And that +in this doctrine is the cure for human sorrow. "Let not your heart be +troubled * * believe." + +At the 9 o'clock meeting the quotation of Scripture verses appeared like +apples of gold in pictures of silver. Rev. George L. Herr was introduced +and the hearts of hearers beat warm under their jackets as the speaker +sang and talked to them of Jesus and His love. It was good to be there. + +The Great Congregation gathered at 10 o'clock and was welcomed with the +stirring notes of the band men. The many voices lifted in the chant, +"Gloria Patri," showed how grand the effect would be if all would join +in the song. Why not all? + + -------- + Give me understanding.--Ps. 119:34. + -------- + +"A Rose in Heaven," and "Life's Lullaby," were admirably sung by Miss +Lucile Bethel with her sister Miss Bethel as accompanist at the piano. +The anthem, "Ashamed of Jesus? Never, No Never," was sung by the choir +as the author of the song might have wished to hear it rendered. + + * * * * * + +That old story of the prodigal son was the subject on which Rev. George +L. Herr of Louisville, Ky., preached to the inmates of the penitentiary +Sunday morning in the chapel, but it was the twentieth century prodigal +who formed his main theme. + +Mr. Herr is known all over the country as the prison missionary. He has +all the vivacity and warmth of the Southerner. He illuminated the old +parable with the story of his descent from the position of a son of a +wealthy Kentucky home, possessing a large estate, to the destitution of +a linen duster for a December coat, and from a seat in a Pullman to +riding the bumpers of a cattle train. That was his condition sixteen +years ago. The men enjoyed the object lesson and cheered the moral +heroism evinced in the life-story of the missionary. + + * * * * * + + -------- + I am understanding.--Prov. 8:14. + -------- + +The Courier-Journal republishes herewith from the Evangel an editorial +by the Rev. L. B. Haines at Columbus, O.: + +"The editors of the Evangel were pleased to meet Mr. George L. Herr +while in Columbus a few days ago. He addressed the prisoners at the Ohio +penitentiary and was heartily received by all who heard him. He is doing +a noble work in the prisons all over our country. We spent a pleasant +afternoon together, visiting the sick in the prison hospital, and we +believe God blessed the seed sown. The Evangel wishes him and his dear +wife God speed in their self-sacrificing efforts for the lost. We take +great pleasure in calling the attention of the readers of the Evangel to +Herr's new book entitled "The Nation Behind Prison Bars," a notice of +which you will find on another page of this issue.--Eds." + + -------- + For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, + that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have + everlasting life.--Jno. 3:16. + -------- + + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN + +INCONTESTABLE PROOF + +OUR MOTTO: + +"Seeking the Lost." + +"Helping the Helpless to Help Themselves." + +JAILER PFLANZ PAYS A HIGH COMPLIMENT TO EVANGELIST GEO. L. HERR + + Louisville, Ky., March 12, 1901. + +Mr. Geo. L. Herr, + +Dear Sir: I have recently been asked by several persons on different +occasions if I thought much good could come out of the rescue work done +at the county jail. In every instance I would answer "yes." A great deal +of good is done through the Christian workers, and especially by you, +who not only give your time and attention to this work, preaching the +gospel on the Sabbath, but on every day of your life doing everything in +your power to lighten the burden of the unfortunates confined in the +jail. + + -------- + My glad heart says in the language of the Psalmist: "Bless the + Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." + -------- + +[Illustration: REV. C. S. HANLEY + +President of International Federation of Christian Workers, by whom we +were ordained in Chicago, Ill., in 1907.] + +I have known prisoners of all classes look forward to your arrival each +day with gladness, knowing that if you did not have something to +distribute among them you would give them a cheery good morning. + +As a rule you always have something to give them, which gladden their +hearts and make them think better of our harsh world, wherein they are +buffeted around like so many things to be despised. + +I have never known you to come to this jail that you were not interested +in some poor fellow's case, and often have I known you to call on either +the Judge of the Police or Criminal Court to intercede for some person +confined in our jail. I have noticed that whenever you come you are +asked by more than one of our prisoners to go on some mission, either to +a father, mother, or some other relative. Distance and barriers have no +terror for you, as was evidenced in your recent trip fifteen hundred +miles for one of our prisoners to see his parents. + +In every case you have with promptness attended to requests, always with +a cheerfulness that is surprising to those who cannot understand and +will not learn. These are the things that lift up the hearts of the poor +unfortunate prisoner and make him feel that there is something worth +living for. + + -------- + Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it.--Ps. 69:18. + -------- + +My wish and prayer is that you may go on in the good work you are doing. + + Sincerely yours, + JOHN R. PFLANZ. + + * * * * * + +Following are letters of endorsement to Missionary George L. Herr and +his wife in their life-work among outcasts, fallen ones and victims of +sin. Among those who have lent substantial aid and hearty encouragement +to the work will be noted many of our leading citizens, men of +irreproachable character and standing in society, who have not hesitated +to add their quota of praise to the universal word of approbation +accorded the missionary in his efforts to lead the wayward ones back +into the path of self-respect and manhood. + + -------- + Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; Lord be thou my + helper.--Ps. 30:10. + -------- + + Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 22, 1904. + +Dear Bro. Herr: I regret that you and your good wife and "Sunshine" can +not be with us in our services next week at the Frankfort Penitentiary, +but am glad to have you promise to be with us soon. No one understands +this work for the salvation and elevation of those in our penal +institutions,--the possibilities, the discouragements, the trials, the +triumphs, the rejoicing--as we do who are constantly engaged in it. Your +frequent visits to us are always appreciated both by the chaplain and +the prisoners, and your sermons and talks and songs are blessed by God +to the furtherance of the work of grace in our midst. I can truly say +there are eyes that "mark your coming and look brighter when you come." +I wish also to say for your encouragement and those who work with you +that your faithful labors are plainly manifest in the lives of many whom +you come in contact with--the deep and lasting impressions made upon +their minds and hearts so we are enabled to take up the well begun work +and by God's help carry it on to salvation of the soul. May God bless +you abundantly in your noble work. + + Truly yours, + T. T. TALIAFERRO, + Chaplain Ky. State Penitentiary. + + -------- + Forsake me not, O Lord.--Ps. 38:21. + -------- + + * * * * * + +Rev. H. C. Morrison, D.D., Editor Pentecostal Herald, Louisville, Ky., +and President Wilmore College, Wilmore, Ky., says: + +I take pleasure in commending my friend and brother, Geo. L. Herr, as a +devout Christian and earnest worker for the salvation of men. He has +had wide experience on both sides of the line, and has been greatly +blessed in rescuing men who have gone down into the depths of sin. He +has been especially blessed in prison work. Those who help him forward +in the good work in which he is now engaged will do me a personal favor. + +Wishing him and his wife great success as they shall go from prison to +prison seeking after the lost, + + I am Respectfully yours, + H. C. MORRISON. + + * * * * * + +Rev. James M. Taylor, world-wide evangelist, says: + +I have read with soul-stirring interest the sad, heart-rending +experience of Bro. Herr, and the miraculous deliverance by the grace of +God, how by a life of sin he squandered a fortune, how God found him a +bond slave of appetite and other sins and delivered him, the romantic +way in which his God-given companion entered his life, and how they are +being used perhaps as no other persons today in helping those "behind +the bars." This story will warn the reckless, encourage the "cast out" +and put a desire in the heart to help the fallen. + + JAMES M. TAYLOR, Evangelist. + Knoxville, Tenn. + + +(Frankfort Journal.) + +The Rev. Geo. L. Herr, of Louisville, will spend the fourth as the guest +of Rev. Jos. Severance, chaplain of the State prison, today. Rev. Herr +is a widely known, talented and enthusiastic prison evangelist, and has +a national reputation as such. He will shortly publish his famous +sermon, "Man's Worst Enemy," and will place numerous copies of it in +every penal institution of the United States. + + * * * * * + + + + +Prison Evangelist's Good Work + +(Courier-Journal.) + + +Prison evangelists published in 1906-07 36,000 sermons in booklet form +and sent them North, South, East and West. The Rev. George L. Herr and +wife closed a most remarkable year. The meetings which they have held +for the most part have been in large prison houses, erected for sinful +men and women. + +Mr. Herr has delivered sermons to many thousand listeners; many have +professed conversion and thousands have asked for prayer. The good that +this work has done will probably never be fully known until the business +of this old world has been brought to a close. Influences have been set +in motion that are going to roll on until time shall be no more. + +Rev. W. O. Vreeland, chaplain Frankfort Reformatory, says: + +It gives me great pleasure to testify of the splendid work among the +prisoners done by a man I believe to be deeply consecrated to the work +of rescuing the "fallen brother." George Herr is worthy of the highest +commendation. + + W. O. VREELAND. + Oct. 12, 1912. + + * * * * * + + + + +A Grand Work Highly Commended + + + Louisville, Ky., July 24, 1902. + +Rev. Geo. L. Herr, + +Dear Brother Herr: I regret very much to learn of your departure from +the city, and the work you have so nobly, and for so long a time, +engaged in at this institution and elsewhere. To say that you will be +missed by us is but faintly expressing my feelings at your departure. +You will not only be missed by myself and other officials at the jail, +but by the poor unfortunates placed in my custody, for I know I can +truthfully say we will never be able to get any one who will take the +pains and do the great good you have done for all with whom you have +come in contact. + + -------- + I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.--Heb. 13:5. + -------- + +I can assure you that your farewell sermon to all of the one hundred and +eighty prisoners in this jail on yesterday was the cause of great +depression in the spirits of all who heard you on that occasion, for +every one of them felt that he or she was about to lose their best +friend, who had not only ministered to their spiritual wants but made +their troubles his own, and in every way in his power relieved them of +their every ailment. + +You and your good wife were as father and mother to them, their guardian +angels, who made their rugged paths smooth and their futures bright and +happy. + +It is with much sorrow that I write you today, and my only consolation +is in the hope that you may some day return and take up the good work +again for the betterment of the unfortunates who may be confined in this +and other institutions in which you have worked in this city. + + Sincerely yours, + JOHN R. PFLANZ. + + -------- + O Lord, make haste to help me.--Ps. 40:13. + + I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One + of Israel.--Is. 41:14. + -------- + + + + +"Worked Wonders" + +Declares Dr. Garvin, Physician Jefferson County Jail + + + Louisville, Ky., July 24th, 1902. + +Rev. George L. Herr, + +My Dear Brother Herr: It is with much regret I have heard of your +determination to leave us. You and your good wife have now been engaged, +for about four years, in the noble work of saving souls in the Jefferson +County jail, and to the success of your efforts I can truly bear +testimony. + +I must confess that at first I had little hope of much good being +accomplished, but your constant devotion at all hours, night and day, +has worked wonders, and I am satisfied that many who came steeped in sin +and in their own minds hopelessly lost, have left the prison at peace +with God, and with a determination in the future to lead a better life. + +Wherever you go, may God be with you, is the wish of all who know you, +and especially that of your friend, + + SAM'L H. GARVIN. + Physician to Jefferson County Jail. + + + + +Strong Endorsements + +Evangelist Herr's work commended by Minister. + +[Louisville Evening Times] + +Louisville, Ky., June 21, 1905. + +Rev. Horace G. Ogden, D.D., Pastor Trinity M. E. Church, Louisville, +Ky., says: + +To Whom It May Concern: + +I take pleasure in commending Mr. Geo. Herr to the esteem and confidence +of the public. I have been placed where I have known intimately his work +as Prison Evangelist in Jefferson County Jail--a place incomparable in +my opinion for testing the character and power of a Christian worker. I +can say he has made a superb record and been able by divine assistance +to rescue many from the life of crime. He has taken an enlarged field of +work because he has been convinced it was the call of the Highest, and I +have every confidence in his increased usefulness. I cheerfully commend +him and his work. His book is true and merits large circulation. Mr. +Herr is a fine public speaker. + + Sincerely, + HORACE G. OGDEN. + + + + +Speaks to Prisoners + + +The Rev. J. A. Holton, Chaplain Eddyville Penitentiary, commends Rev. +Herr's work: + +The Rev. George L. Herr, the well-known Louisville prison evangelist, +conducted the chapel services at the Eddyville State penitentiary, +Eddyville, Ky., on Sunday, February 16. Mr. Herr's address to the +prisoners made a very decided impression upon the men. In a letter to +Louisville, J. A. Holton, Chaplain of the penitentiary, writes of Mr. +Herr's visit to Eddyville as follows: + +"Brother Herr is a fluent and earnest talker and speaks from personal +experience and observation with telling effect, timely words that tend +to the betterment of his hearers. No one who is acquainted with his +personal history and present effort in the cause of prison reform could +doubt his sincerity. It is not a surprise, therefore, that from every +sphere of his labor along the line of evangelistic work in the prisons +of the land come unsolicited testimonials commending him and his +work."--The Louisville Times. + + -------- + And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, + which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the + house of bondage.--Ex. 20:1-2. + -------- + + + + +Sad and Pitiful Stories + +[The Louisville Herald] + + +For fifteen years Mr. Herr has carried the great truths to the outcasts, +giving warning of the danger, and thousands have repented and have been +rescued from lives of sin and shame and are now blessings to the +community. Hundreds of thousands of tracts, sermons, books, papers, +etc., have been distributed, the results of which can never be known. + +"One of the saddest features of this work is that we are constantly +beset by the sad-faced, grief-stricken, broken-hearted mothers and wives +who have been so unfortunate as to lose their loved ones in sin," +declared Rev. Herr. "They come to us and plead for us to help find the +wanderer. + +"The pitiful stories of disgrace, shame and disappointment that come +from the broken hearts who are victims are beyond expression and almost +enough to melt the heart of stone into a river of tears, and to stir us +who hear them and see the helplessness of unfortunate ones. + +"There never was a place where the gospel was needed more and where it +would do more good, than in the prison houses of our beautiful land." + + -------- + Open them mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of + thy law.--Ps. 119:18. + -------- + + + + +Resolution That Was Never Broken + + "I am done with a life of thieving."--E. B. + + +Another of the days in jail that will long be remembered by some of the +poor unfortunates who have been making this place their residence for +some time. The missionary who makes prison work the work of his life +preached to the men today, the service being in the place of the regular +Saturday services, because the convicted men were to go to the +penitentiary Saturday morning, and Brother Herr intended to go to +Cincinnati, Ohio, this evening. So the good brother gave the men some +good, wholesome advice. + +And in opening the services, that always appropriate song of "Let a +little sunshine in" was sung, and the good God knows that if any one in +this world needs "sunshine" that person is the one who is behind prison +bars. + + -------- + Thou shalt have no other gods before me. + -------- + +I have seen some curious things in my wandering life, and some very +curious and saddening sights are to be seen in jail. To see men right in +the prime of their manhood going to a living tomb, to actually bury +themselves for years, is a sight not easily forgotten. Oh, the misery, +the shame, and the degradation of it all. It is no wonder that some of +the unfortunates weep. The sight of so much misery seen at one time is +enough to melt the heart of the most hardened criminal. As I watched the +men put up their hands in reply to the question of "How many of you men +want to lead a better life?" I could not blame any one of the prisoners +for putting up their hands in a resolve to lead a clean life. + +My sympathy is with the unfortunate. I have been placed in positions +just like these men are placed in, but never again! Oh, I hope that when +I finish this term of imprisonment that I may find some means of +employment that will bring me in enough money to keep body and soul +together. From this time forward I am done with stealing. I hope that my +right hand may lose its cunning and my eyes grow dimmer, so dim that I +cannot see anything to steal. I am done, done with a life of thieving. I +don't know how I am going to exist, but I am not going to steal any +more. By the help of the good Lord I intend to reform. + + -------- + For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will lighten my + darkness.--Ps. 18:28. + -------- + + + + +What Is A Friend? + + +A friend is the first person who comes in when the world has gone out. + +A bank of credit on which we can draw supplies of confidence, counsel, +sympathy, help and love. + +One who considers my need before my deservings. + +The triple alliance of the three great powers--love, sympathy and help. + +One who understands our silence. + +A jewel whose lustre the strong acids of poverty and misfortune cannot +dim. + +One who smiles on our fortunes, frowns on our faults, sympathizes with +our sorrow, weeps at our bereavement, and is a safe fortress at all +times of trouble. + +One who, gaining the top of the ladder, won't forget you if you remain +at the bottom. + +The holly of life, whose qualities are overshadowed in the summer of +prosperity, but blossom forth in the winter of adversity. + +He who does not adhere to the saying that No. 1 should come first. + + -------- + God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in + trouble.--Psalm 41:6. + -------- + +[Illustration: + +When the author left Louisville to 1905 for Chicago to be ordained, he +was greatly helped by his friend Chas. F. Grainger, kindness never to be +forgotten. + +HON. CHAS. F. GRAINGER + +Former Mayor of Louisville; now President Louisville Water Co. + +Mr. Grainger says, "Mr. Herr's work among prisoners has been very +successful, and through his efforts many have reformed."] + +A watch which beats true, for all time, and never "runs down." + +An earthly minister of heavenly happiness. + +A friend is like ivy--the greater the ruin, the closer he clings. + +One who to himself is true, and therefore must be so to you. + +The same to-day, the same to-morrow, either in prosperity, adversity or +sorrow. + +One who guards another's interest as his own and neither flatters nor +deceives. + +One truer to me than I am myself.--Exchange. + + -------- + Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be + acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my + redeemer.--Ps. 19:14. + -------- + + + + +"Another Chance I Crave" + +[Courier-Journal] + + +Austin, Tex., Dec. 2.--(Special.)--Jake McKinney, who was serving a life +term in the State penitentiary at Rusk for the murder of Robert Walker +in Jones county seven years ago, has just received his pardon from Gov. +O. B. Colquitt on the strength of an appeal for liberty in the form of a +poem that he wrote and sent to the Governor. This poetic application was +turned over to Mrs. Colquitt by the Governor and it was upon her +recommendation that McKinney was given his liberty. McKinney was +twenty-four years old at the time of his conviction. During the last +four years of his imprisonment he was editor of the prison newspaper, +the Alcalde Chronicle. He attended night school while in the +penitentiary. His poems and articles in the little newspaper that he +published attracted much favorable attention. His pardon application +reads in part as follows: + + Another chance, 'tis all I ask, + In freedom's sun again to bask; + To hear the voice of loved at home, + And amid familiar scenes to roam. + What saith the Scripture? Is it wise + To gain a world and lose the prize + Of future Joys of Him above, + Who came to save because of love + For sinful men imprisoned here + In sin's corrupted atmosphere? + Another chance to know the life + Beyond the cruel prison strife, + Where Beauty, Truth and Culture reign, + And pleasure comes from Labor's gain; + To see the golden sun at dawn + Spring forth to kiss the rural lawn, + Wet with the kiss of midnight dew, + And brightens to a gorgeous hue, + To please the eye of all mankind. + A gift of God to man so blind, + Another chance to show the world + That darkness hid my flag unfurled; + That flame of ingenuity + Burns brightest where the darkest be; + As all is not as some would tell; + "A soul defiled and booked for hell." + Another chance I crave of thee, + Oh, Governor, but feel and set me free! + Make the conditions what you may, + I will live up to them every day; + I have no friends to plead for me, + Dear Governor, can't you set me free? + + Most sincerely + JAKE MCKINNEY. + +[Illustration: JUDGE AARON KOHN + +One of the greatest criminal lawyers of the American bar + +There is none in this world who has been a greater friend in my sorest +need.] + + + + +Letter from the Late Col. Will S. Hays + +Editor, Poet, and Song Writer + + +My Dear Rev. Geo. L. Herr: It is a pleasure to express the sentiment of +pure friendship I have for you and for the Christian work in which you +are now engaged. Knowing you from boyhood, I am free to say you are one +of God's chosen ones to do his will and work, and heaven never had a +more faithful representative than yourself. May your words and works in +the Master's cause result in adding souls to the kingdom of glory, and +may God and the angels watch over and guard you through life is the +prayer of your friend, + + WILL S. HAYS. + + -------- + The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.--Ps. 19:7. + -------- + + + + +The Late J. P. Scheider + +Captain of Police + + +I have met him at all times and in all places, from the palace to the +prison, striving to better the conditions of his fellowmen. At the same +time serving our Lord in such a noble manner as to attract the attention +of the least appreciative person. He has taken for his duty the task of +working principally among the criminal classes that frequent our city +prisons, and to my personal knowledge has done more to benefit the +inmates than any other man of his vocation. Oh! how far more pleasant +this life would be if the world was full of just such noble, +good-spirited men as my friend George L. Herr, whom I know to be serving +our God in the most appropriate manner known to mankind. + + Respectfully, + JOHN P. SCHEIDER + + + + +Profanity Shows Mental Deficiency + +[Louisville Herald] + + +The habitual user of profane and indecent language was mercilessly +flayed by Bishop Charles E. Woodcock, of the Episcopal Church, at the +Board of Trade noon-day Lenten service yesterday, where in the course of +his sermon the Bishop pronounced the profane man to be intellectually +deficient, corrupt, morally and wholly unchristian. + +"No gentleman will use profane language; it is only the low-born and +vulgar-minded person who will do so," declared the Bishop. "No man who +believes in God and in God's commandments can be profane." + +Among other things stated by the Bishop of a like nature are the +following: + +"The profane man in God's eyes is on the same plane as the murderer or +thief. He violates the ten commandments." + +"Swearing, aside from being sinful, is low, vicious, vulgar and most +reprehensible." + +"The man who is well thought of in a community is nine times out of ten +the man who does not curse." + + -------- + Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God In vain; for + the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in + vain. + -------- + +[Illustration: RT. REV. CHAS. E. WOODCOCK, D.D. + +Episcopal Bishop of Kentucky] + +"The profane man is in many cases and in most cases the man who will +steal, slander, lie and violate the every commandment of God." + +In beginning his sermon the Bishop spoke of the work of the noon-day +Lenten services. He said in part: + +"By coming before you men and preaching we rectors hope to arouse, +encourage and bring out all the good in you. We aim to plant high ideals +in your hearts and make you better men. It is one of the greatest +pleasures I have--preaching these noon-day Lenten sermons. It is my +earnest and sincere wish to do good and to carry a message to you. + +"Christ will lighten your eyes: He will enable you to see things worth +being and worth doing. The worth while in life is what makes life worth +living. He will give you a view of yourself. He will make you see +yourselves as others see you. He will not only do this, but he will set +a guard before your lips. + + -------- + The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, + my strength, in whom I trust.--Ps. 18:2. + -------- + +"No man ever regretted keeping from impure speech. Habitual obscene +story telling grows like other vicious habits. It is a manly thing to +possess clean lips. Does not the Bible say, 'Blessed are the pure in +heart?' Well, no man can be pure in heart and impure in speech. Would +you tell some of the stories you tell your fellow men to your wives and +daughters? No, I do not think you would. Then say to yourself, 'Thou God +hearest me.' + +"Keep your lips from profanity. The profane man in God's eyes is on the +same plane as is the murderer and thief. He, like both, violates the ten +commandments. Swearing, aside from being sinful, is low, vicious and +vulgar and most reprehensible. The man who will curse and swear is in +most cases the man who will steal, slander, lie and violate every +commandment of God. + +"I have been in hotels and in public places where I have heard men swear +as though they thought it a virtue. These men I find are seldom well +thought of in a community. The man who is well thought of will not +swear. + +"The man who will swear will say mean things about his friend; he will +gossip and slander. If you keep your lips clean you will never besmirch +a man's or woman's character. You will never speak until you know it is +time; you will be restrained from telling vicious things, because you +will reason whether or not it is right, and whether or not it ought to +be told." + + -------- + Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your + work shall be rewarded.--2 Chron. 15:7. + -------- + + + + +At Cincinnati Workhouse + +[Louisville Times] + + +Never did Mr. Herr have a more interested audience than greeted him in +the Cincinnati work house yesterday when he preached for an hour in the +prison chapel. The men and women wept as his words brought conviction to +their hearts. Were it not for this wonderful gospel, said the speaker, +he himself might be as the worst prisoner among them. At the close of +the sermon he asked all those who desired to lead better lives to bow +their heads in prayer, and almost every man and woman in the chapel fell +on their knees, while the eloquent evangelist lifted his voice in their +behalf. The closest attention was accorded him during the whole time and +when the prisoners were dismissed and passed out of the chapel amid a +stillness that was very impressive, Mr. Herr spoke to a great number +personally shaking them by the hand and urging them to repent and +believe the gospel. + + + + +Extermination of Habitual Criminals + + +The extermination of the habitual criminal--his removal like a weed from +a garden--was advocated today in a startling address made in Minneapolis +to the Interstate Sheriffs' Association by Charles W. Peters, chief +deputy sheriff of Cook County. + +The unexpected suggestion that the man who will not reform ought to be +slain by legal means aroused much discussion in Chicago among ministers, +lawyers and laymen. + +Leniency for first offenders, parole for the worthy, an adult probation +law, were advocated by Mr. Peters, who then insisted that in cases where +life has proved a failure, where efforts of reformation have been +ineffectual and the criminal is a body sore on the social system, that +extermination should be resorted to. + + +Only One True Reform. + +Furthermore, he created intense surprise by his assertion that in twenty +years' experience in handling criminals he could recall only one case of +true reformation on the part of an "habitual." + +[Illustration: THE HON. AND MRS. JOHN L. WHITMAN, CHICAGO, ILL. + +Mr. Whitman is Superintendent of the Bridewell. They have been friends +to thousands in need of friends.] + +[Illustration: Gospel Service at the County Jail, Chicago, Ill.] + +In his address to the Association, Mr. Peters recommended various ways +of dealing with crime and its perpetrators, and then for the +irredeemably incorrigible made this recommendation: + +"And then if they fail to embrace the many opportunities offered them, +and after everything has been done that is possible for mankind to do, +they repeatedly persist in returning to their old ways, I think in such +a case life has proven a failure, and they become a menace and a burden +to our social welfare and should be exterminated. + + +Like Weeds in a Garden. + +"They are like weeds in a garden and unless removed will supersede the +useful plants. + +"Many students of criminology have suggested life imprisonment, but in +my opinion that has proven a failure. By that method the menace is +removed, but the burden remains. + +"I am sorry to acknowledge that in the twenty odd years of my experience +in the handling of criminals I can recall only one case of true +reformation on the part of habitual criminals, and that man is employed +in a bridge works, where it would be impossible for him to carry +anything off." + + +"Judge Not," Says Pastor. + +Among the ministers who commented on the startling theory of +extermination were: + +Rev. P. J. O'Callaghan, pastor of St. Mary's Church and the priest who +saved Herman Billik from the gallows--What is man that he should put +himself in judgment on a fellow and say that the culprit is beyond +reformation and redemption and slay him? Man is too fallible to condemn +another as an habitual criminal and exterminate him. No one knows when a +man has passed beyond the pale of reform. As a matter of fact, many and +many a criminal branded as 'habitual' has been saved to a useful life. I +most heartily disagree with any suggestion to execute any man on the +theory that he is irredeemable. + + +Hope While There Is Life. + +Rabbi Tobias Scharfarber--In the first place I am opposed to capital +punishment, but, in any event, I should not agree with this suggestion +of Mr. Peters. It is much like Osler's plan to kill off men of sixty or +more years of age, or Ingersoll's suggestion that when a man believed +himself to be a failure and useless to the world he should go and shoot +his brains out. While a man lives there is hope for him, and no one has +either power or right to say that he will always be a menace to society. + + "Christ in His charity taught those who came to Him, + Ill deeds should pardoned be seventy times seven; + Succor the least here and you do the same to Him; + These are his precepts on earth and in heaven. + Oh, then, when laboring hard for humanity, + Never believe that your labor is vain. + Kindness will conquer the criminal insanity; + Speak to him gently and try him again." + + + + +Criminal Becomes Minister + +[Courier-Journal] + + +"Do you know who I am?" once said a person in the jail here to the Rev. +George L. Herr, prison evangelist. "I will tell you. I am the worst and +most treacherous man in this prison." Then the Rev. Mr. Herr says he +told him the story of his fearful crimes. "I have been in prison North, +South, East and West, I have been in the dismal, solitary cell for one +year, have been put in large tanks of ice water, have been punished over +and over again, but it has always made me more of a demon. Would you +like to know what the officer who last locked me up said about me?" + +"'Take him and lock him up like a brute beast, for that is what he is.'" + +Then he turned and said: "Do you think there is any hope for me?" "I was +at once on ground where I could speak without hesitation," said Mr. +Herr, "and I told him simply that if he was through with an evil life, +if he was tired of wrong-doing and was determined to do right, there was +a love that could forgive him, and a power that could help and keep him +in the future. When at last we knelt together there I prayed that God, +who could bring light into our darkness, might dispel the thick clouds +that had shut in this soul from hope, and bring to him the revelation +that would change his life. There were tears in our eyes as we parted, +and, taking my hand in his he said: "I will try, Brother Herr." + +"He did try, and, more than that he conquered. At first it was a stern +battle of an awakened will and conscience fighting against desperate +odds. The feeling that friends were watching and waiting anxiously for +good reports proved an undoubted incentive. It was not long before he +sought and found Christ as his Saviour, and he became an earnest +Christian, and to-day is an ordained Methodist minister, at the head of +a great rescue work in an Eastern city, and also chaplain of a model +penal institution." + + * * * * * + + -------- + "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, + that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have + everlasting life."--John 3:16. + -------- + + + + +To Brother George L. Herr + +By Joseph M. McGuire + + + The days are long and dreary, + And the hours go slowly by, + While the prisoner, sad and weary, + Longs for the time to fly. + But one brings joy and sunshine + To the prisoners sad at heart, + And it is but a short time + 'Till with him we'll have to part. + We cannot find another, + Search, I care not where, + Who will do as much for a brother + As our Bro. George L. Herr. + + He comes early in the morning, + And never leaves till night; + He always seems untiring, + Helping wayward men do right. + He is always up and willing + Whene'er a prisoner call, + To go and do the bidding + Of a man behind the wall. + And then there is another, + Who shares his joy and strife; + She is called by the prisoners "Mother," + And is Bro. Herr's good wife. + + Early Sunday morning, + In rain, snow, sleet, or hail, + You will find him holding meeting + In the Jefferson County Jail. + I love to hear him tell the story + Of the "Prodigal Son," + And of the "Mighty Prince of Glory," + From whom salvation sprung. + Round his good face there seems a halo, + His work is for One on high, + He makes sunshine out of sorrow, + Whenever he is nigh. + + + + +Success of Reformed Criminals + +After Blotting Out the Past + + +"Once a Thief, Always a Thief," has been disproved in thousands of cases +according to Mr. William A. Pinkerton. + +"Do criminals ever reform, really turn over a new leaf and become good +citizens?" + +I fired the question at random, little dreaming what a wealth of +interesting and convincing anecdote it would evoke. I expected the time +honored cynical reply, something to the effect of "Once a thief, always +a thief," But I was disappointed--agreeably disappointed. For my answer +was a quick, emphatic, earnest "Yes." + +And the man who said "Yes" was William A. Pinkerton, and he knows. + +Probably no living man knows more intimate details about the individual +members of the underworld, those who are active criminals to-day, as +well as the notorious crooks of the past, than the head of the Pinkerton +Detective Agency. And every crook will tell you, what every honest man +who knows Mr. Pinkerton will tell you, that when he says "Yes" there +is no possibility that the correct answer should be "No." + +[Illustration: WILLIAM A. PINKERTON + +Head of the Pinkerton Detective Agency + +New York] + +"I know what the average man thinks--that a real crook never turns +straight. But it isn't so. Thousands of crooks--and I don't mean +one-time offenders, but men in the class we call hardened +criminals--have become honest men to my knowledge. It is not true, as +some recent writer said, that as many crooks turn honest as there are +honest men turn crooked, but I believe that one of the reasons is that +so few men are willing to lend a helping hand. I don't mean that every +crook is ready to reform if he is encouraged, but I do mean that society +makes it hard for any man who has once been a criminal to lead an honest +life. + +"And I'll tell you another thing," continued Mr. Pinkerton: "I'm prouder +of the fact that I have helped a few criminals to become honest men than +of all the work I have done in putting criminals behind the bars. I'm +proud of the fact that every crook knows that Pinkerton will deal +squarely with him if he will deal squarely with Pinkerton--that I +believe it is as important to keep faith with a bank thief as with a +bank president. + +"I know a score of business men in Chicago--not saloonkeepers, but +reputable merchants--who have criminal records. These men have done time +and have paid their debt to society for their crimes. I cannot tell you +their names, for it would be unfair to them and to their wives and +families, many of whom have no suspicion that there is anything wrong in +the pasts of their husbands and fathers. Besides, when society discovers +that a man is a former criminal it is not content to cancel the debt no +matter how much imprisonment at hard labor the former crook may have +given in expiation of his sin. + +"I know men in trusted positions in New York who were convicts. In many +cases only the man himself and his employer know the secret and +sometimes the employer does not know it. I know men scattered all over +the West--business men, professional men, many of them wealthy and +prominent citizens--who have seen the inside of Joliet, Moyomensing, +Sing Sing or Leavenworth. They have sons and daughters who never have +suspected and never will suspect the truth. + +"These are good men--as good men as any living. They have turned away +from their old ways, in many cases have changed their names, and who +shall say they are not as much to be respected as the honest man who +never was tempted, never was forced into crime? I'll tell you about some +of them. + +"When I was a boy in Chicago there were two brothers, neighbors, about +the age of myself and my younger brother, and we were friends. When the +civil war broke out I went into the army secret service at the age of +fifteen, and the older of these two boys, John, enlisted in an Illinois +regiment. Jerry, the younger, was not old enough, but a little later, +when the government began offering a bounty for soldiers, he became a +bounty jumper. He would enlist, get the bounty money, then desert and +enlist over again under another name. He was with a band of young +fellows who were engaged in that way of getting easy money, and who +found it so easy that they turned to other kinds of crime. + +"When the war was over John came back to Chicago and settled down as a +rather plodding sort of a mechanic. He tried to get Jerry to straighten +out, but the younger brother was too far along the road to prison. + +"In those days the Northwestern Railroad used wood for fuel, and the +wood agent of the road was Amos Snell--the same Snell who was later +murdered by 'Willie Tascott.' He lived in a suburb of Chicago, and one +night Jerry and his crowd went out there and 'stuck' up the whole +family--robbed them of everything they had. John was along with them, +lying in the bottom of the hack. The police got a clew through the +hack-driver and rounded up the whole band. All of them, including John, +were sentenced to five years each except Jerry. When he came into the +hands of the police a citizen who had been held up on the street some +time before identified him as the hold-up man, and on the strength of +that the Judge gave him fifteen years. It was an unjust sentence, for +Jerry had not committed the hold-up--that was found out later. + +"Well, John's old Colonel and some other army men and my father got +together and got a pardon for John, who had merely gone along with the +crowd and had taken no part in the robbery. He went back to work at his +trade of brass finisher, but Jerry stayed in Joliet, rebelling against +those long unjust years of his sentence. + +Jerry was put to work in the engine room of the prison and soon +displayed great aptitude for machinery. He served out his term with time +off for good behavior and finally got out. I met him in Chicago. He was +despondent. He felt that he had no chance to be anything but a crook, +but he knew the terrible chances a once convicted man runs if he returns +to crime. I told him the best thing for him to do was to go to New York, +and I sent him on to my brother Robert, who had also known him as a +boy. + + +Reform of Jerry. + +"Now, here's a part of this story that will interest you. Robert had a +friend who was chief engineer of a building in Ann street. He told this +friend about Jerry, and the engineer said he'd take a chance on him. He +put Jerry to work stoking the boiler at a dollar and a half a day. After +a year or so there was a vacancy and Jerry became assistant engineer. A +little while later the chief engineer resigned and Jerry after awhile, +the ex-crook, became chief engineer. He left there after awhile to take +charge of a big plant on Long Island, and he sent for his brother John +and gave him a job. + +"A few years later the two brothers called on me in Chicago. They had +saved about $6,000 between them and were on their way to a new town in +the West to start a manufacturing business of their own. Each had +married a girl who knew nothing of their prison record and had children. +They prospered exceedingly. John died several years ago, but only a few +months ago, when my brother Robert died, an old man, whom nobody but +myself recognized, came from the West for the funeral and shed tears at +the grave. It was Jerry. He is still living, and is the leading citizen +of his town and worth at least half a million dollars. + +"Criminals who reform? There are thousands of them. I remember a little +Liverpool Irishman who was a pickpocket around New York. He was known as +'Jimmy the Nibbler'. The police picked him up in Tennessee, where he +lifted somebody's pocketbook, and he was sent to Nashville for seven +years. In the prison they put him to work in the hospital. Then the +cholera epidemic broke out. "Jim" helped the doctors and nurses, and +when the doctors got sick he nursed them and the warden and his family +and helped save a good many lives. After the epidemic was over the +warden and the Prison Board were so grateful they got "Jim" a pardon and +made up a purse of $350 for him. With the money in his pocket he came +right to Chicago to see me. I began to lecture him on the futility of +going back to the life he had led before. + +"'I've cut that all out,' he said. 'I'm not going to be a gun any more. +I've been studying medicine down there in Nashville. The doctors have +been telling me things and giving me medical books to read and now I +want to get into one of these colleges where I can get a diploma quick.' + +"There were a number of diploma factories, as the lower class of medical +colleges were called, running in Chicago then, and Jim found he had +money enough to go through one of them--in the front door and out the +back. But he got his diploma and license to practise and started for one +of the new towns in the West. I looked him up a while ago. He comes +pretty near being the most prominent citizen in the town. He is a +director in a national bank and the leading physician, and has +officiated at the births of half the present population. Moreover, he is +an enthusiastic church member. But how long do you think it would take +for the whole town to turn against him if they should ever learn out +there that he is 'Jimmy the Nibbler'? + +"Crooks that turn straight? Your next door neighbor, your family +physician, even your clergyman, may be one of them. The world is full of +them. There was one man, a professional thief, a fellow who had done +time in half a dozen State prisons and penitentiaries, whom I used to +labor with earnestly every time he got out, but he apparently never +tried to reform. He was always doing time, it seemed. + +"I lost track of him for several years. Then two years ago, when the +National Association of Chiefs of Police was in session in Buffalo, I +found a note in my box in my hotel signed by this man's name. He said he +was going to call at seven o'clock. There was a banquet on for that +evening, and hundreds of police officials from every part of the United +States were there. I wondered if he knew what sort of a lion's den he +was walking into. Sure enough he came into the hotel and spoke to me. + +"'Don't you know that you are surrounded by policemen, some of whom are +sure to spot you?' I asked him. + +"'You're the only man in the world who knows me,' he said, 'My name now +is So and So'--giving me another name--'and I'm a respected and +prosperous man. I just wanted to let you know before you found it out +for yourself, for I knew you'd be on the square with me.' And I was. So +far as I knew he was not wanted for anything, and what good would have +come of exposing him? + +"Thieves who resist the temptation to steal? Hundreds of them. There's +one right here, only a few blocks from where we are talking. He's the +watchman in a big silk warehouse--and if there's anything your +professional thief likes to steal, short of money or diamonds, it's +silk, for you can get so much value into so small a package. This man +was a professional safe blower, and did several big jobs. When he got +out of prison I helped him to get the job he has now. His employer knows +his record. I told it to him on the man's own request. When work stops +for the day this man is left alone in charge of hundreds of thousands +of dollars worth of valuable silks. He isn't bonded, for he couldn't get +a bondsman if he wanted to. He has held the job seven years now, and not +a cent's worth has been taken from the warehouse in that time. + +"You may say that he does not dare to steal--that he knows a single +false move on his part will bring instant punishment. But I say he has +no desire to steal--that he has reformed. And thousands of other +criminals would reform if society would give them half a chance. + + +Baffling Hotel Robberies. + +"Several years ago there was a series of hotel robberies in New York +that baffled the police. The thief always worked with keys, opening +doors and then unlocking baggage left in rooms, and he always got away +with the goods. At last one night the word came to headquarters that a +man had been caught in one of the big hotels who was suspected of being +the author of all the robberies. I was visiting Chief Devery at the time +and he asked me to go with him to the West Thirtieth street station to +look the man over. + +"The man arrested was a well dressed, respectable looking little man, +with a white beard--the last man who would be taken for a thief if seen +in a hotel corridor. His face was vaguely familiar to me, but I had +some difficulty in placing him. Finally it struck me. I had seen him +nearly thirty years before on the occasion of a big prize fight in New +Orleans, when he had been arrested for the same trick. It came over me +like a flash and I told him I knew him. + +"'What's the use of making trouble?' he asked. 'These fools don't know +anything about me unless you put them wise.' + +"I told Chief Devery what I remembered about the man, who protested +violently that he had never been in New Orleans in his life. Then +another thought struck me. + +"'You've been in New Orleans more than once,' I said. 'The last time was +about six months ago, when you got Denman Thompson's diamonds in the St. +Charles Hotel.' I remembered the report of that case, but it was a +chance shot on my part, for no one had seen the thief. The old fellow +denied this vigorously. + +"He was wearing a new derby hat. I don't know what impulse prompted me, +but I took the hat off his head and looked inside. It bore the mark of a +New Orleans hatter. + +"The Chief and I left the station and had just turned into Sixth avenue +when I remembered the old fellow's name. We went back to the station +house and I confronted him again. I told him his name. He denied that +it was his. + +"'What's the use of making trouble, Mr. Pinkerton?' he pleaded. His +inadvertent use of my name, which had not been mentioned there, gave him +away. + +"'I don't know what kind of a case the police here have on you,' I told +him, 'but we are retained by the Jewelers' Protective Association, and +if you get after any jewelry drummers I'll make it hot for you.' And as +a precaution I got his photograph from the New York police. They didn't +have much of a case on him and he got off. + +"Not long after a jewelry drummer was robbed in a Chicago hotel of about +three thousand dollars' worth of diamonds which he had carelessly left +in his grip instead of putting them in the safe. The same day a friend +of mine who was stopping in another hotel lost his new overcoat and told +me about it. I thought of the old man in the first job, and found a +chambermaid and bellboy who had seen him on the floor, but didn't +connect him with the second because he had never stolen anything but +very valuable articles, so far as I knew. My friend had to leave for New +York that night, and some time in the evening I got a telegram from him +which had been filed in Fort Wayne. + +"'Positive man who got my coat is in same sleeper, ticketed to New +York,' it read. I wired my friend at a point further along the line to +get off at Pittsburg and hold a white handkerchief in his hand so he +could be identified and be prepared to point out the thief. Then I got +in touch with Pittsburg by wire, and sure enough back came a wire after +a while to the effect that they had got the man, whom my friend +identified, and found on him besides the overcoat about $3,000 worth of +diamonds. I asked for a description and the one they wired fitted that +of the man I had seen in New York. I referred Pittsburg to the man's +photograph, which had been published that week in a police periodical, +and they were sure they had the same man. And so it proved. He was +brought back to Chicago and convicted of the jewelry theft. He served a +short sentence, and when he got out he came to me. + +"Mind you, this was an old man, who had been a thief all his life--I had +known him as a thief more than thirty years before. It is criminals of +that kind that are commonly regarded as the most difficult to reform, +but even hardened and lifelong offenders like this man will go straight +if they get the right kind of encouragement. I found this old man +apparently anxious to be honest, but he had never had a chance after +his first slip as a young man. I determined to do what I could for him +and I got him a job in New York. He is more than seventy years old now, +but he is still holding that job, and he hasn't made a false step since +he got out of prison the last time. + +"Do criminals ever reform? I think I have told you enough to prove that +they do--and I could tell you of hundreds of other instances if you +needed any further proof." + + * * * * * + + + + +A LETTER FROM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE "STAR OF HOPE" PAPER PUBLISHED IN +SING SING PRISON. + + + Ossining, N. Y., April 9, 1906. + +Dear Brother Herr: + +Your book, "Light in Dark Places," received. I do so much appreciate +your kindness in remembering poor me in durance. I not only voice the +sentiments expressed in this precious book, but add thereto my message +of Christ's power to cleanse the wicked one and bring back into God's +path the weak and unfortunate. May God spare you and yours many years, +and give you manifold blessings in your great work. + + Sincerely yours, + 54179, + Editor in Chief. + + + + +"Lost and Is Found" + +Noted Prison Worker issues an Interesting Book + +(Louisville Herald) + + +An interesting booklet containing the sermon "Lost and Is Found," the +newest publication of the Rev. George L. Herr, the noted prison +evangelist whose home is in this city, has just been issued from the +press. The sermon is one of the strongest yet issued by the Rev. Herr, +and is written in the characteristic vein which marks all those issued +by the prison worker. + +Rev. Herr holds a unique position in the evangelistic field. He is +considered the greatest evangelist among prisoners in the United States. +Scarcely a big prison in the country has not been visited by him in his +work, and the number of men in stripes who have been reformed by the +indefatigable prison worker reaches into thousands. + +Some of the most notable redemptions of so-called "hardened criminals" +known to evangelistic work have been accomplished by the Rev. Herr. All +of the booklets by him have been extensively read and quoted, and it is +probable none will attract more interest than that which has just been +issued by him. + + + + +Christmas at Frankfort Prison + + +The prisoners had what was unanimously voted the best Christmas dinner +in many years. There were 1100 lbs. of turkey, cranberries, mashed +potatoes, oranges, and bananas. There were about 75 fine cakes, 68 of +which were sent from Lexington by Mrs. Frances H. Beauchamp, Pres. W. C. +T. U. The entire dinner was well cooked and heartily enjoyed by all. + +At 11:30, Bro. Jos. Severance, Chaplain, Bro. Geo. L. Herr, of +Louisville, Mrs. M. B. R. Day, of Frankfort, and Miss Nellie E. +Williams, Junior C. E. Superintendent, of Maysville, entered, and took +seats on the stage; these are four of our truest and strongest friends +and are most heartily welcomed. + +Bro. Severance opened the services by reading the Christmas lesson, i. +e., the 2nd chapter of Matthew, which gives the most beautiful +description of the birth of the lowly Jesus. + +Bro. Herr then offered a fervent prayer. + +Bro. Severance' remarks were few; he is still grieving over the loss of +his two children, and simply said that this Christmas had lost all of +its charms for him, for instead of feeling joyful, he felt sad all of +to-day and yesterday, and that we understood why, for instead of four +little girls, he had only two. He felt his inability to proceed further, +and gave the meeting over into the hands of Bro. Herr to conduct as he +saw fit, and catching an idea from the foregoing remarks, Bro. Herr +referred to the fact that years ago, Christmas was very sad to him. That +he was lying in a saloon in the city of Louisville without friends and +without hope. Then in a jovial manner showed by comparison what a +difference then and now. + +He then said: "I am so glad that Jesus said: 'Him that cometh to me, I +will in no wise cast out; I am so glad that he is the same yesterday, +to-day and forever. He said: 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of +men. There is not a man behind prison bars that Jesus Christ cannot +clean up and make him a man." + +The audience sat up and took notice when he mentioned a man who had been +a homeless wretch, and a degraded sinner, who had spent thirty-two years +of his life behind prison bars, but had been converted in the Louisville +jail and was now a man of God, the leader in a Rescue Mission in one of +our largest cities, and had the financial support of eight of the +wealthiest men in that city. He said that whenever a man goes blind, or +deaf, or is afflicted in any other way, he is sent to a hospital for +treatment, and that this prison is a sort of hospital, and that some of +us are so blind that we cannot tell the difference between our own and +other peoples' horses. This simile was put forth in such a humorous +manner as to cause much laughter. + +He then launched into an earnest exhortation to the men to do better. To +quit their meanness, as Sam Jones said. "Cease from evil and learn to do +well." That to quit one's evil ways was only half the duty, and that the +remainder consisted in doing the right thing, and you may have this +assurance that the man who is serving the Lord will not get into +trouble. "An idle mind is the devil's work-shop." In this connection he +gave a very pretty illustration of how one's energies are used in either +the right way or wrong way; that if you build a fire under a steam +boiler, place the proper quantity of water in it, and then open the +throttle and allow the steam to get into the engine, the entire +machinery will perform a good work, but if you shut off the steam and +tie down the safety valve, the steam is going to exert itself in a +disastrous manner by an explosion, and the killing of several men. + +"The wages of sin is death, and if you can only open your eyes and see +that, you can also see that "The gift of God is eternal life." The only +way under heaven by which a man can be saved, is to come over to the +service of God and begin to do that which is right. + +Now what is the purpose of Christmas day? The world has agreed that this +is as near the birth of Christ as we can possibly figure it; it means +that 1907 years ago Jesus was born into the world, and the star of +Bethlehem came and stood over the place where the young child lay; the +angels sang "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will +towards men," and we celebrate the day in memory of that event. + +What is the trouble to-day that causes all these penitentiaries over our +land; why all these jails and the strong arm of the law? It is because +men will not allow the gospel of Jesus Christ to reign in their hearts. +As long as the children of Israel served the Lord, they were happy and +prosperous, but as soon as they turned to the flesh pots of Egypt, they +began to despair and shame came upon them. + +If you were asked what you would rather have above all things, you would +say, Just a piece of paper with the great seal of the state impressed +upon it, and the signature of the Governor attached. Why? Because prison +life is a hard life and you are tired of it. If I were a prisoner, I +would want to make my confinement as pleasant as possible and I would +become converted immediately, for of all men on earth the man in prison +should be the quickest to accept Jesus Christ. I would not want to be a +prisoner all my physical life, and then a spiritual prisoner throughout +eternity. Did it ever occur to you that hell must be infinitely worse +than it is pictured? We read of a place "Where their worm dieth not, and +the fire is not quenched." If this is a picture of hell, then what must +the reality be? There is a chance for every man to get out of this +prison, but there will be no chance whatever to get out of hell. + + -------- + The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath + anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent + me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the + captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are + bound.--Isa. 61:1. + -------- + + Oh, my friend, there is hope, + Will you come this hour; + For Jesus is yours + With all His Power; + Look upward, not back. + Or in, or around; + But up to Christ, + Where hope is found. + + + + +Hundreds of Letters + + Below appear but a few of the Hundreds of Letters we have + received from those Helped by Our Work + + +If you have asked the question, "Does it pay to labor among the fallen +ones in prison--are the results from this work permanent in character?" +let the answer be found in these letters. They come from writers' +spontaneous offerings of gratitude, who have been restored to society as +useful respected citizens: + +My Dearest Friend: It is very gratifying to find myself alone long +enough to pen you a few lines. + +Arrived at 6:05 p.m. Well, I cannot tell you how very pleased everyone +was to see me. Went in at once to see the president of a concern and +told him everything. He was entirely satisfied and told me to commence +work in the morning, which I did. They all have used me fine, and I +would never know I had been away for no one mentions it. Brother, I +think of you fifty times a day, of the unselfish, never fatiguing +interest you manifested in my behalf, of the hundred and one favors, and +when I think that was only a single factor in your work, I cannot but +wonder how you stand the strain. + +Cannot tell you how much I prize liberty, and I owe having it, to a +great extent, to your dear self. I assure you your efforts and prayers +of yourself and wife for me done wonders. I have fully resolved to be a +good man. + +Brother Herr, I am going to close, for I am going to write to you every +few days, as I consider you as dear as an own brother. Give my sincere +regards to any inquiring friends. My heartiest to your dear wife, and +may God bless you both. I do. + + I am affectionately yours, + W. + + + + +A TRIBUTE FROM JOS. M. O'HARA. + + +The success that has attended the efforts of this truly pious and +angelic woman in her noble and heroic work of rescuing sinful men and +women from the vortex of ruin and perdition is marvelous; and her labor +among the prisoners of the county jail is not less remarkable. Mrs. +Herr, unlike many religious workers, realizes that before attempting to +moralize with a prisoner, his confidence must first be gained, and to +accomplish this she invariably succeeds in dispelling that false and +erroneous opinion so prevalent among criminals, that they are held in +contempt by society and are considered undeserving of sympathy and +assistance; then, by kind and encouraging words and gentle deed, +instills, not by the dry and laborious way of the brain, but into the +heart, the story of the kind and loving Saviour. + +Like her contemporary, Mrs. Ballington Booth, Mrs. Herr possesses that +divinely urgent and persistent, yet gentle and sympathetic spirit that +can persuade where others cannot convince; that can subdue where others +cannot conquer. + +The writer of this article through her kind and encouraging words, has +been led from the error of his way, and to take up again the thread laid +down in early years; has realized that though the fruitage of the tragic +and pathetic life that ended in the ignominious death of Him who was the +grandest character, the most sublime ideal and the highest type of +humanity the world has ever seen--Jesus of Nazareth--we can, if we come +with faith and hope, be cleansed from our sins and iniquities. May the +Omnipotent God, who holds the destiny of nations, pour out his blessings +upon this saintly woman and her noble hearted husband and guide them +through long and honored days, and when the "shadows of even" gather and +the sun of life is setting, show them in the darkness of the end, "words +of light we never saw by day." + + JOS. M. O'HARA. + + + + +FISHING FOR MEN. + + +Dear Brother Herr: We, as prisoners in the Jefferson County Jail, +desire, for your encouragement, and because it is the spontaneous +expression of our hearts, to thank you for your continued, untiring and +unselfish devotion to our interests, spiritual and temporal. We desire +in this manner to show you and the public that we thoroughly appreciate +the efforts of those who try to draw us from the broad road of vice and +crime into the narrow path of virtue where we are satisfied alone peace +and happiness can be found. Many persons, Bro. Herr, who have attempted +the task of rescuing the fallen have become discouraged and given up the +work because they could see no good resulting from their efforts. Those +persons had not the faith to continue their work and leave results with +God. A prisoner who was an inmate of this jail several years ago +recently found himself again an inmate, and expressed surprise at the +changed tone, as it were, of the jail, and he laughingly asked if the +world was getting better, for he said the men now in jail were more +refined in their conversation, more unselfish in their actions toward +each other, and of a higher moral tone generally. What this man said is +undoubtedly true, and it is the result of the efforts of yourself and +other Christian workers who do not become weary in well-doing. But it is +you, Brother Herr, whom we especially desire to thank, because you are +with us daily and no day passes that you do not perform some act of +kindness for some one of our number, who, but for you, would have no +friend. That perfect man, Jesus of Nazareth, has said, "by their fruits +ye shall know them," and it is by this standard we as prisoners have +measured you and have not found you wanting. You have gained our +confidence and we have proved your sincerity and we love you, Brother +Herr, because you daily prove your love for us. Prisoners are naturally +inclined to suspect the sincerity of those who profess an interest in +their welfare, but when once you gain their confidence they are +teachable. + +A London lawyer who wrote the tragedy "Ion" makes one of his characters +say, "It is but a little thing to speak a word of kindness which by +daily use has almost lost its sense, but on the ear of him who thought +to die unmourned will fall like sweetest music." Many are the words of +kindness which daily fall from your lips, by which we are soothed and +blessed, and we firmly believe that they do not fall upon stony ground +and that the good God will reward you in his own good time with a +bountiful harvest of redeemed lives. + + Your grateful friends, + JAMES L. DORAN + HARRY GRAVEN + JOHN CARTER + JOS. M. O'HARA + JULIUS PHILLIPS + Committee of Prisoners of Jefferson County Jail. + +[Illustration: LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY--MAIN BUILDING + +Branch of this Library in the County Jail.] + + + + +Branch Library in the Jail + +[Courier-Journal] + + +Prison libraries are nearly always more or less poor, indefinite sort of +affairs, with a questionable lot of reading matter, mostly paper-backs +and second-hand magazines, forming its contents. But the Jefferson +county jail has marked a departure from the routine of prison life in +the establishment of a library station for its inmates. + +This little institution is a remarkable affair. Mrs. Chester Mayer is +responsible for its organization. Mrs. Mayer is a member of the visiting +board at the county jail, and noticing the absence of good reading +matter, the continual idling of prisoners, she took up the matter with +Jailer John R. Pflanz, who approved the idea of a library station. Then +she approached her husband, Dr. Mayer, a member of the Board of Trustees +of the Louisville Free Public Library. + +When George T. Settle, the recently elected librarian, was approached, +he gave his hearty consent. One hundred volumes were sent immediately +for the men's department and fifty for the women prisoners. The books +were selected by Miss Annie V. Pollard, former acting librarian, who +gave considerable time to a study of the most desirable literature. The +books sent were non-denominational, nonpolitical, and mostly fiction, +works of the popular authors, but nothing too heavy for the mental +appetite of the inmates. The books were taken from the open-shelf room. + +As these books are used they are changed. Since the establishment of the +jail library station the circulation has reached 2,000 books. Of course, +the same book is read by nearly all the regular borrowers. + +An interesting sight is presented when the prisoners are at liberty in +the open places at the jail. About 75 per cent. of the prisoners can +read. The other 25 per cent. gather about an appointed reader, who reads +aloud. + +How much better is this for those unfortunates than idling their time, +brooding, planning evil deeds, perhaps, or thinking criminal thoughts! + +The Rev. George L. Herr, prison evangelist, is in charge of the work and +he and Jailer Pflanz have made it a success. + +[Illustration: CURTIS JETT + +How he found God, he tells you in his own words. God bless Curt, and +give him the desires of his heart, is the prayer of the Author.] + + + + +CHANGE COMES IN CURT JETT. + +[Courier-Journal] + + +Frankfort, Ky., March 14.--(Special.)--Although he is serving two life +sentences for murder, Curt Jett, "the wild dog of the mountains," has +not yet abandoned hope of getting a pardon and being given another +chance to show that his reformation has been sincere and final. He says +that God has pardoned him for his crimes and he thinks the Governor +ought to. + +"The best thing ever happened to me was when I was sent to the +penitentiary," said Jett last night in his cell in the prison here as he +was talking to some newspaper men, who were inside the cellhouse for +another purpose than talking to Jett. "I realize that I never would have +been reformed but for being put in here," continued Jett. "I only wish +that they would give me another chance to show that I really have +changed my ways." + + +License To Teach Sunday-School. + +Jett showed the newspaper men who had stopped to talk to him, when they +saw him lying on his cot reading, a certificate from the International +Sunday-school League entitling him to teach in a Sunday-school. He was +prouder of that than he ever was of his ability to shoot and he showed +it with great pride. Jett recently wrote out his religious experiences +for the Rev. Geo. L. Herr, the prison evangelist, and last night Jett +said he would give the story to the newspapers if Col. E. E. Mudd, the +prison warden, had no objections. Col. Mudd was with the newspaper men +and readily consented to Jett giving out the story. He had written it +with a pencil and gave it to the newspaper men, desiring that it be +published. + +Jett's cell is covered with pictures, most of them selected with care as +to their beauty, and he has shown taste in arranging them. One of the +newspaper men remarked on the decorations in the cell last night and +Jett said: + +"Yes, it cheers this cell up a little and makes it brighter." + + +Expression On Face Changed. + +Even the expression of Jett's face has changed and he has none of that +hard look that he used to wear. He is bright and cheerful and Col. Mudd +says there is not a better prisoner in the penitentiary than Jett. Col. +Mudd said that he could not say that Jett's conversion was genuine from +a religious standpoint, but he says Jett has certainly changed inside +the prison. The Rev. Joseph Severance, the prison chaplain, says that +Jett is one of the best Bible scholars he ever saw and knows more about +the Bible than many earnest church workers. + +In his story which he gave out last night Jett freely admits his guilt +of the crimes that are charged against him. He added, when he said that +it was a good thing that he had been put in the penitentiary: + +"I do not mean that it was good to kill men." + +He said that whisky was largely responsible for his misdeeds and he +wanted to do good now that he had done so much harm. The following is +Jett's story as he wrote it in his cell: + + +Jett's Story. + +"State Prison, Frankfort, Ky., March 13, 1909.--To the Whole World: I +want to let the whole world know what God in his great mercy has done +for me, and prove to you by words which are true that Jesus is willing, +able and does save to the uttermost. After a life of sin and shame, God +sent his Holy Spirit into my soul and made a new man out of me. It was +in this wise: A dear, good woman who is dead now, but who then lived in +Lexington; her name was Mrs. Fanny A. Penn--I shall never forget that +name--she wrote me a good Christian letter, full of good advice, and +begged me to become a Christian. I had never seen her, or she me, as I +know of; she had only read in the press regarding what a desperado and +outlaw I was. I read her letter and it sounded like a fairy tale to me, +with no sense in it; but after reflection, I answered it, and we began +to be good friends, and she kept begging me to turn from my sinful ways +and be a Christian man. + + +Read New Testament. + +"I want to state right here that because a man is in prison, he don't +have to be a Christian or behave himself; and Mrs. Penn sent me a small +revised Testament and begged me to read it. At first I laid it up and +would not read it. I don't remember of ever reading a whole chapter in a +Bible up until that time in my whole life; and at last, by her begging +me in every letter to read my Testament, I began to read it, and started +out with a resolution to read it through, and after I began to read, I +became interested in it, and the more I read it the deeper I became +interested in it, and God's Holy Spirit began to work in me, and I began +to pray. At first it seemed that I was afraid that God would not answer +my prayers, but still something made me pray anyway, and it wasn't long +until I was praying to God every night from one to three times, from the +depths of my heart. I had taken his name in vain ever since I was a +child, and I asked him to make me quit taking his name in vain, and +after a day at my work, and when I would curse God, I would think of my +prayers, and then at night when I would go to my cell, I would let my +thoughts wander over a day that had just passed, and I could tell after +reflecting that I hadn't cursed so much that day. And little by little +God removed that evil spirit, cursing, from me, until one night when I +went to my cell and my thoughts wandered over the day that had just +passed, and not an oath had I uttered, and I was happier than ever +before, I fell on my knees on the hard stone floor, and thanked God for +His goodness and for removing that swearing away from me. + + +Quits Smoking Cigarettes. + +"I had smoked cigarettes for at least fifteen years and I quit them. I +was full of revenge and hatred, and I cried aloud to God in my lonely +cell to redeem my soul, which He did, and it wasn't long before I was a +friend to everyone and praising God for full and free salvation. He has +made a new man out of me. The Holy Spirit is like a fever, and it is all +and all before a man gets right with God. Condemning and deceitful +spirits will rise up in a man, but all we have to do is to ask God and +he will remove them all; to live a true Christian life is the +straightest life that anyone ever tried to walk. It is a great warfare. +I read and study my Bible and have learned a great deal about God's word +since I joined the church, a few short months ago, under a great, good +and noble man of Frankfort by the name of C. R. Hudson, and I love him +as a very dear brother. There is not a man in all this world that I hold +the least bit of malice against, and before I got right with God I had +revenge in me against many. + + +Warns Young Men. + +"Young men, as you read this, from one who has done many and great +wrongs, take warning; shun evil companions and don't do as I have done +in days gone by. Don't be led astray by older heads, for the man that +will advise you to do a wrong is not your friend; but I could not see it +that way. God has given me a new mind and I know as well as I know that +I am living that religion is true, real and no fake, as I once thought. + + +Has Been Born Again. + +"I was raised on a Bluegrass farm in Madison County, Kentucky, and my +parents were as good a father and mother as ever lived; but my father +died while I was young and I went from bad to worse, committing crime +after crime, and I am guilty of the charges against me, but God has +forgiven me of every wrong I ever did. Why won't the Governor? All the +punishment that I will ever have to go through with will be on this +earth, for God has forgiven me of every wrong and I have a clear +conscience now, for I have been born again. There are so many men in +prison that trample the lowly God under foot to try and gain their +freedom in that way, and I hope that no one single person that reads +this will think that I am making mockery of God's love, for I am sincere +with God, as I used to be with Satan. I wish that every paper in the +whole world would publish this so that it could have a chance to touch +the hearts of many sinful men; I long to tell the story to young men, +from East to West, from North to South, how God redeemed my soul. + + +Refers to Scriptures. + +"We have organized a Bible reading circle here in the prison which is a +grand and good work. Now I refer you to some Scripture which I hope +everyone will read carefully, and it will show you how God will forgive +a man for the crime of murder and for all crimes except one. + +"Read Exodus ii., 11, 12, 13, 14, 15; II. Samuel xi. and xii.; Ezekiel +xviii., from 20th verse to end of chapter; Jeremiah xxxiii., 8, 9; +Mathew xii., 31; Luke xv.; Acts vii., 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60; Acts +viii., 1 to 7; 16, 17, 22; Galatians iii., 24. + +"I ask for the sincere prayers of every good Christian in this whole +world; pray for me, that I may be true to God the rest of my life. When +I was repenting my whole face would draw and I could feel the hot, +burning love of God in my whole being. I am in prison, maybe never to +hear the birds sing or the rippling of the water again, a free man, but +I say unto you that I am a free man in Jesus; I have found a friend that +sticks closer than a brother. People, let your light shine, for I +believe that there are many diamonds in the rough. I am yours in Jesus, + + "CURTIS JETT ." + + + + +Christian Endeavor at Frankfort Prison + + + Frankfort, Ky., Penitentiary. + Rev. Geo. L. Herr, + Prison Evangelist, + Louisville, Ky. + +Dear Brother Herr: + +As you have been so kind to me and have asked a somewhat detailed +account of Christian Endeavor work in this prison and my connection with +same, it is my pleasure to comply, especially as you do not visit us +as often as we would like and cannot see for yourself all that goes on. + +[Illustration: HENRY E. YOUTSEY + +The Author knows of no man behind prison bars in whom he is more +interested than Henry E. Youtsey.] + +When I commenced my life sentence here, February 6th, 1901, I fell in +love with our Christian Endeavor Society at first sight, and in all +those 104 months I have only missed about 15 meetings, due to +unavoidable causes. I was ill for three months with malaria and could +not go at all. + +During the early days of my imprisonment our membership at its best +averaged about 100, but during the summer months when the boys were +given their choice between the open air of the yard and attendance at +the meetings the average was less than 20. + +In the summer of 1905, and at the instance of Mrs. M. B. R. Day, of +Frankfort, I organized and managed a memorizing contest in which a +number of prisoners learned and recited verses of scripture, and I +obtained a number of handsome Teachers' Bibles and other presents which +were given to them as prizes on Thanksgiving day. I continued this work +for the three following summers, and in all forty-five prisoners learned +and recited a grand total of 33,332 verses, (over four times as many as +are contained in the New Testament), which is an average of 741 verses +per man. The men studied so hard that some of them injured their eyes, +and it was thought best to discontinue the work for a while. + +I was Corresponding Secretary of our Society for about two and one-half +years, and last December I was elected its President by the largest +majority ever given any candidate for the office. + +I started in to raise our membership to two hundred, and succeeded in +getting it as high as one hundred and sixty-six. It was also my desire +to have better attendance during the hot months, and I used every means +I could think of to make our meetings attractive, and I was frequently +both pleased and surprised to count from sixty-five to seventy, more +than three times what it used to be. Some of our members being delicate +are in great need of all the fresh air they can get and remain in the +yard all day Sundays in pretty weather although their hearts are with +us. + +A part of our pledge binds the members to carefully read the Bible every +day, and I wondered how they were going to keep that pledge without the +Bibles, so I set to work again writing letters in every direction, and +almost before I knew it our Ky. C. E. Societies sent us 50 Bibles, and +Miss Mary B. Rohrer, of Franklin, Pa., sent me 150 of the prettiest +Bibles you ever saw; they have flexible, over-lapping backs, +red-under-gold edges, maps, and other helps. This is the most +magnificent present we have ever received from outside parties, and +besides all these, the Prison Commissioners offered us 100 more, which +we could not use. One thing that has impressed me very forcibly is the +fact that the Christian people outside are ready at all times to shower +blessings upon us, and all we have to do is to ask for them. + +At the suggestion of Bro. Jos. Severance, our splendid Chaplain, I +numbered the Bibles and gave them out to the members, keeping a careful +record of them, and the men were instructed to return the Bibles to the +Society on leaving the prison, and although about a score of our members +have gone out since then we have only lost one Bible, which speaks +volumes for their honesty. + +A few Sundays ago I proposed that the Society set apart a small sum of +money for prizes, and that all the members who wished to do so would be +invited to write compositions on the subject, "What Christian Endeavor +has done for me." Nine brothers entered this symposium, and their +compositions signed, "Amo Rolo, Sunflower, Rhododendron, Laurel, Merry +Heart, Happy Bird, Mizpah, and Christian, aggregate about 7,500 words, +and make fine reading; Bro. Severance was appointed Judge. + +This summer I organized a little band of workers who go with me to the +hospital every Sunday, where we hold little services of song, prayer and +Bible reading at the bedsides of those who are ill, and I have found +great joy in this work. + +We have had some splendid C. E. meetings, the best ones being those when +the Senior and Junior societies of the Frankfort Christian Church and +the Epworth League of the Methodist Church united with us. Of course, we +could not go to them, but they came to us, and gave us rare spiritual +and intellectual treats. The music was specially beautiful. + +Quite recently I assisted Bro. Severance in re-organizing a Bible class, +of which I am Secretary. We are studying Moninger's "Training for +Service," and have 52 members. Splendid progress is being made. So you +see my hands are pretty full, and when Sunday night comes I am about +ready to drop in my tracks. Of course, it is all voluntary, and I do not +have to turn my hand over if I do not want to. + +I am going to add a "Soul-winners Department" to our C. E. Society for +the purpose of assisting Bro. Severance in the conversion of the men, +but I am in some doubt as to how to proceed as there is no chance to get +at the men in the winter time. However, I am determined to find +opportunity somehow. + +We have a new Superintendent of Prison C. E. work, in the person of +Miss Georgia Dunn, of Marksbury, Ky. She is the most energetic little +Christian lady I have seen in a long time, and our society will surely +hum this winter under her guidance, as we are all very proud of our good +little sister. + +January 1st, I commenced to read my Bible through, at the rate of three +chapters each week night, and five each Sunday night, in order to get +through by December 31st, but I read more than that and finished up +three months ahead of time. Although I have read the good book +constantly during the last eight years, this is the first continuous +reading to completion that I ever did. + +I have enjoyed Bro. Severance's sermons very much and I believe there is +nothing that thrills and inspires me with enthusiasm like fine +preaching, and right here I am going to tell you something which you +must keep under your hat; one Sunday Bro. Severance was unexpectedly +called away, and asked for a volunteer to fill his place, and I was +delighted at the opportunity, and although I could not fill it I +"rattled about in it," for about 30 minutes, and one dear fellow +accepted the gospel invitation and joined the church. As soon as my +sermonette was over quite a number of friends crowded around me and +showered congratulations on me. This was a temptation to try again, and +the next time three brothers joined the church, and that pleased me +immensely, you know. + +I have many good friends in Louisville, including Dr. Powell, of the +Christian Church; Dr. T. M. Hawes, of the Highland Presbyterian Church, +whose C. E. Society sent us $7.50, and, say, there is a pastor after +God's own heart. Give them all my love when you see them, and say to +them that while I am ashamed of the sins that brought me here I am +trying to leave foot-prints that I will be proud of in the great day of +judgment. + +The Christian Endeavor Societies of Newport, Paris, Winchester and +Lexington have helped us wonderfully. Lexington is the principal center +of Christian Endeavor activity, from my point of view, and I have an +especially warm place in my heart for those societies. + +How is Mr. John R. Pflanz getting along? He is another whom I love, and +I hope that he will get every office that he goes after. + +Be sure and give my kindest regards to your most excellent wife; she is +certainly a queen among women. + +Trusting that I have not tired you, and that you will excuse my +remissness in failing to write sooner, I am, + + Most respectfully yours, + H. E. YOUTSEY. + + + + +Capital Punishment + + +The following forceful expressions regarding capital punishment by Gov. +Geo. W. Hunt, of Arizona, are in exact keeping with the thoughts of the +author. "Thou shalt not kill" applies to governments, corporations, +societies and individuals alike. + +Capital punishment is simply the commission by the State of an act which +is regarded as a horrible crime if committed by an individual. One man +must not kill another man, but several men vested with official titles +can hold a conference and send a soul to eternity. The State says: "You +must not kill; but if you do, I will kill you." This theory of a State's +power or duty owes its origin to the lowest class of barbarians in the +early history of the world. Their logic, if it may be called that, +sprang solely from a spirit of revenge. The idea that a legal execution +would deter others from committing murder probably never occurred to +them. Their crude minds did not rise above the thought that the victim +should be avenged, and that adequate vengeance could be found only in +the hangman's noose or the guillotine. + +There are a thousand other practices originating with barbarians which +the footsteps of civilization and progress have crushed. But capital +punishment, the worst heritage of the dark ages, lingers with us, +betraying one of the spots in humanity where the veneer of civilization +is thin. I am inclined to think that the spirit of revenge still is the +ruling motive back of the legal execution, even though pleas are made in +its behalf which barbarians never thought of. They could not very well +think of such punishment as a curb to more murders, for even they could +not help seeing that the beheading and quartering of offenders had no +such effect. The legal execution has no such effect today, a fact which +any fair-minded man will recognize after proper investigation. And if +that plea falls down, as it does and must continue to do, what defense +of the legal killing of our fellowman is left us? The moment we are +convinced that the number of murders is on the increase, or does not +decrease, in spite of the rope and electric chair, we will have to +justify capital punishment on some other ground. What is that other +ground, if it is not the old savage impulse of meting revenge--a species +of revenge, at the last analysis, confers no good whatever upon society +as a whole, and is of no consolation or comfort to the family circle +most affected by the original murder? + +Arizona has taken most advanced ground upon social and economic +questions, and while the old territorial law, permitting capital +punishment, is still on the statute books, it must be remembered that +statehood has been in operation less than a year, and that the first +State Legislature was overwhelmed with work during the comparatively +short session prescribed by the Constitution. I am confident that public +sentiment in Arizona is opposed to capital punishment. During the +special session of the Legislature, which will be held early in 1913, an +effort will be made to repeal the old law. If the Legislature is too +busy to give the matter attention, or is disinclined to assume the +responsibility, the initiative provision of the State Constitution will +be invoked, thus putting the question square up to the people. I have no +fears for the outcome. Arizona citizenship has proved itself too +intelligent to lag behind the advanced thought and progress of +civilization. + + GEO. W. H. HUNT, + Governor of Arizona. + + + + +Indiana Reformatory + +Inmates Subscribe for Pipe Organ + + +Each one a Carnegie in proportion to his ability to give, a majority of +the 1,204 inmates of the Indiana Reformatory yesterday voluntarily +contributed toward the purchase of a pipe organ for the handsome chapel +of the institution, the total offerings approximated $900. When the +contribution cards were checked up by the Rev. W. E. Edgin, chaplain of +the reformatory, he was surprised at the generosity shown by the +inmates. The individual sums given ranged from 25 cents to $35. + +When Gov. J. Frank Hanly was a guest at the Reformatory recently he was +asked by Mr. Edgin as to the best plan to pursue to get from Andrew +Carnegie a contribution sufficient to buy a pipe organ. Gov. Hanly +replied that this sum could be raised in Indiana, and he started the +list with $100. It then occurred to Mr. Edgin to ask voluntary +contributions from the inmates, and permission was given by Supt. +Whittaker. Cards were left in each cell, with blanks for subscriptions, +but it was distinctly stated that all offerings should be entirely +voluntary. A great many of the inmates bring money with them to the +Reformatory, and this, with that which they earn by overtime work, which +is considerable, is credited to them. + +When the success of the offering was learned the inmates were as much +pleased as Chaplain Edgin. The new organ soon will be forthcoming. + + * * * * * + + + + + PROGRAM. + + + Indiana Reformatory Chapel Services. + + Sunday, April 14, 1907. + + + March--"Camp Organ" Narovec + March--"Steel King" St. Clair + + Musical Selection. + + Paraphrase--"Melody in F" Rubenstein + + Doxology. + + The Lord's Prayer. + + + I SHALL BE LIKE HIM. + + When I shall reach the more excellent glory, + And all my trials are passed, + I shall behold Him, O wonderful story! + I shall be like Him at last. + + Cho: I shall be like Him, I shall be like Him, + And in His beauty shall shine; + I shall be like Him, wondrously like Him, + Jesus my Savior divine. + + We shall not wait till the glorious dawning + Breaks on the vision so fair, + Now we may welcome the heavenly morning, + Now we His image may bear. + + More and more like Him, repeat the blest story, + Over and over again, + Changed by His Spirit from glory to glory, + I shall be satisfied then. + + Prayer. + + Piano Solo J. S. Hathaway + Selection--From "Romeo and Juliet" Gounod + + +THE VIRTUE OF SHAME. + +Confession is a duty too little regarded even by many Christians. Some +men are ashamed to confess that they have done wrong. Sir John Lubbock +says: "It is well to be ashamed of yourself if you are in the wrong; but +never be ashamed to own it." The Bible says: "Confess your faults one to +another." + + +CONQUEST. + + Creation's heir, the world, the world is mine.--Goldsmith. + All things are yours.--Paul. + + The world is mine. I hold no title-deed + To one small acre, yet have all I need, + And should Dame Fortune proffer me her store + I could not linger wistful, at her door. + + Unfortunate is he beyond compute, + Whose love of fortune makes his conscience mute. + I will not look to fortune. I will do + My best, though small that best to her or you. + + All things are mine. I walk with firmer tread + Than Caesar at his best; for I am led + By mightier One than Fortune or than Fate, + And I shall conquer all things, soon or late. + + All things? Yes, all. Then well may Fortune frown, + And clutch with trembling hand her imperial crown. + I will stoop to conquer. I will rise + And climb the rugged path where duty lies. + + Sermon Geo. L. Herr + + Benediction. + + March--"Boston Press Club" Rollinson + March--"Yankee Grit" Holzman + + + + +"CLING TO THE BIBLE." + + Tis the anchor of hope and the lamp that gives light, + Tis the star that will shine thro' your life's darkest night, + If you follow its guidance, you'll always be right, + So cling to the Bible and walk in its light. + + +To neglect, reject or doubt the Bible in any particular is but an +entering wedge to spiritual apathy. The "Bible tinkers" of this or any +other age have been men whose hearts are cold and whose soul saving +powers were limited. + +To obey the Bible, will lead to a perfect salvation, make possible a +victorious faith, surmount the difficulties of life and gain an +"inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled and that fadeth not away, +reserved in heaven for you." + +Watson says, "The Bible is a rock of diamonds; a chain of pearls; the +sword of the Spirit, a chart by which the Christian sails to eternity, +the map by which he daily walks; the sun dial by which he sets his life; +the balance by which he weighs his actions." + + + + + The + Bible + contains + 3,566,480 + letters, 810- + 697 words, 31- + 175 verses, 1,189 + chapters, and 66 + books. The longest + chapter is the 119th + Psalm. The shortest + and middle chapter the + 117 Psalm. The middle + verse is the 8th of the 118th + Psalm. The longest name is + in the 8th chapter of Isaiah. + The word "and" occurs 46,627 + times; the "Lord" 858 times. The + 37th chapter of Isaiah and the 9th + chapter of the 2d book of Kings are + alike. The longest verse is the 9th of + the 8th chapter of Esther and the shortest + verse is the 35th of the 11th chapter of + John. In the 21st verse of the 7th + chapter of Ezra is the alphabet. The + name of God is not mentioned in + the book of Esther. The model + prayer is the 17th chapter of + John. The 13th chapter of + 1st Corinthians is the + most practical. + It Contains + Knowledge + Holiness + Wisdom + and Love + The Tree of Life and Knowledge + + + + +"DO YOU KNOW THE WORLD IS DYING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE?" + + +Practical results are happy homes, husbands and fathers restored to +their families, wives and children made happy, multitudes rescued, and +the world made better. + +The magnitude of this work will never be known until Eternity's records +are disclosed. Little did we think twenty years ago that so humble a +beginning would be attended with such remarkable results. + +Rev. Herr holds a unique position in the evangelistic field. He is +considered the greatest evangelist among prisoners in the United +States.--Louisville Herald, May 17, 1909. + +When you help the missionaries, you help the poor fellow in trouble. +When you help those in trouble, you help yourself, and when you thus +help the missionary, the outcast, and yourself, God will help you. + + +OUR MOTTO: + + "Seeking the lost." + "Helping the helpless to help themselves." + All along life's pathway there are men and women in need: + Go and help somebody just now. + With a word of kindness or a loving deed, + Go and help somebody just now. + + +Dear Friend--Our country is taxed with a burden of thousands of +prisoners. These people are crippled, not in body, not in mind, but +almost always in morals, which is the most serious. It is to help or +recover them that we are giving our lives. Our labors have not been in +vain, as the testimonials will show you. We want you to "hold the rope +while we go down into the pit," by subscribing for our support and +transportation in this work of prison evangelism; and in so doing you +become the benefactor of a submerged class. + +May we not hope to have your check to help in this concerted effort? I +am, + + Yours sincerely, + GEO. L. HERR, + Louisville, Ky. + + * * * * * + + -------- + "He that hath the Son, hath life, and he that hath not the Son + of God hath not life."--1 John 5:12. + + "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"--Heb. + 2:3. + + "For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world + and lose his own soul?"--Mark 8:36. + + "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and + all these things shall be added unto you."--Matt. 6:33. + -------- + + + + +GET REV. HERR'S NEW BOOK. + + +Entitled "The Nation Behind Prison Bars," for your good; but chiefly for +the good of others. + +The nation behind the bars is an interesting nation, a pitiful nation, a +needy nation. Help them and interest yourself in them by buying and +reading this book. + +"You have a superb record."--Rev. Horace G. Ogden, D.D. + +"He has wide experience on both sides of the line."--Rev. H. C. +Morrison, Editor Pentecostal Herald. + +"His labors are abundantly blessed."--Rev. Joseph Severance. + +"The large number who have been helped by hearing your message will be +still further benefited by reading your book."--Rev. Albert J. Steelman, +Ph.D., Chaplain, Illinois State Penitentiary. + +"You and your good wife were father and mother to the prisoners."--John +R. Pflanz, Jailer. + +"George L. Herr is not the man to do anything in an ordinary way."--Rev. +D. J. Starr, D.D., Chaplain of Columbus, O., Penitentiary. + +"His work among prisoners has been very successful, and through his +efforts many erring creatures have been induced to reform."--Charles F. +Grainger. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes + + Table of Contents + (Practical Religious Work in County Jail) + Pratical changed to Practical. + + Page 7 + (glorified by the presence) + glorifield changed to glorified. + + Page 144 + (Hundreds of Letters we have + have have changed to have. + + The following are used interchangably: + A A today and to-day, + A A exconvict and ex-convict + A A cellhouse and cell-house + A A brokenhearted and broken-hearted + + Several unbalanced quotes were left as in the original. + + Page 128 + (Jerry was put to work in the engine room) + This paragraph appears to need an open quote. Unchanged. + + Page 141 + ("The wages of sin is death,) + Phrase seems to need a closed quote. Unchanged. + + Page 161 + ("Amo Rolo, Sunflower, Rhododendron, Laurel, Merry + Heart, Happy Bird, Mizpah, and Christian,) + List of names seems to need a closes quote. Unchanged. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Nation Behind Prison Bars, by George L. Herr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NATION BEHIND PRISON BARS *** + +***** This file should be named 35221.txt or 35221.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/2/2/35221/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Leonard Johnson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Kentuckiana Digital Library) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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