,illustration3 ,,mother ,,wheaton ,,prisons ,,and ,,prayer ,,or ,a ,,labor ,,of ,,love ,,by ,,elizabeth ,r4 ,,wheaton ,prison ,evangelist ,illustration3 decoration ,an account of nearly ,twenty-two ,years of ,gospel ,work1 seeking the lost1 in ,prisons1 ,reformatories1 ,stockades1 ,rescue ,homes1 ,saloons and ,dives1 and on the ,streets1 ,railway ,trains1 etc4 ,illustration3 decoration ,he that goeth forth and weepeth1 bearing precious seed1 shall doubtless come again with rejoicing1 bringing his sheaves with him4 ,psa4 #abf3f4 ,illustration3 decoration ,for ,i was an hungered and ye gave me meat2 ,i was thirsty1 and ye gave me drink2 ,i was a stranger1 and ye took me in2 naked1 and ye clothed me2 ,i was sick1 and ye visited me2 ,i was ,,in ,,prison1 and ye came unto me4--,matthew #be3 #ce1 #cf4 ,illustration3 decoration ,,chas4 ,m4 ,,kelley ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,,copyright1 #aijf1 ,,by ,,chas4 ,m4 ,,kelley4 ,,dedication4 ,to the ,,railroad ,,officials who have so generously and cheerfully provided me transportation2 their ,,employees1 whose kindness has so many times lightened the weariness of my journeys2 the ,,state and ,,prison ,,officials1 who have heartily welcomed me and set before me open doors2 the ,,thousands ,,of ,,prisoners ,,and ,,others who have shown by word and deed their appreciation of my efforts to help them to a better life2 to the many who have in any way ministered to my necessities or offered an encouraging word by the way1 and to my ,,spiritual ,,children1 these pages are cheerfully inscribed by ,,the ,,author4 ,,the ,,harvest ,,time4 ,the seed ,i have scattered in springtime with weeping1 ,and watered with tears and with dews from on high1 ,another may shout while the harvester's reaping1 ,shall gather my grain in the sweet by and by4 ,,chorus-- ,over and over1 yes1 deeper and deeper1 ,my heart is pierced through with life's sorrowing cry1 ,but the tears of the sower and the songs of the reaper ,shall mingle together in joy by and by2 ,by and by1 by and by1 by and by1 by and by1 ,yes the tears of the sower and the songs of the reaper ,shall mingle together in joy by and by4 ,another may reap what in springtime ,i've planted1 ,another rejoice in the fruit of my pain1 ,not knowing my tears when in summer ,i fainted1 ,while toiling1 sad-hearted1 in sunshine and rain4 ,the thorns will have choked and the summer sun blasted ,the most of the seed which in springtime ,i've sown1 ,but the ,lord who has watched while my weary toil lasted ,will give me a harvest for what ,i have done4 --,w4 ,a4 ,,spencer ,words and music copyright1 ,john ,j4 ,hood1 ,philadelphia4 ,,preface4 ,,dear ,,reader3 ,over twenty years have passed since ,god called and commissioned me to go to those that were bound4 ,within five years from the time ,i entered upon the work1 ,i had been enabled to preach the gospel in every state and territory and had held meetings in nearly every state-prison in the ,united ,states and in the prisons in ,canada and ,mexico4 ,my first trip to ,europe was made in #ahij4 ,i have not only held meetings in prison1 but have endeavored to preach the gospel to every creature--to those in authority1 governors1 prison and railroad officials1 and trainmen1 as well as to those in churches1 missions1 prisons1 hospitals1 alms-houses1 dives1 brothels1 saloons and the slums4 ,in all places ,god has fulfilled ,his promise to be with me and has given me evidence that my labor was not in vain in ,him4 ,when ,i was made to feel that the ,lord required me to write of the victories ,he had wrought and of the work yet waiting to be done ,i was amazed and am still1 though it is more than ten years since ,god first told me to write for ,him4 ,early left an orphan1 my childhood was spent in the country where ,i had to walk two miles across the fields and through deep snows in order to get to school1 and my life-work has been crippled by my lack of education4 ,how then can ,i write8 ,yet the command of the ,lord has been upon me and the cry of the needy has rung in my ears4 ,words cannot describe the cruel wrongs1 the awful injustice1 the scenes of desolation and degradation that have come to my knowledge4 ,much has been done1 much is being done2 and yet1 ,o how much still needs to be done1 in behalf of those in prison6 ,wrongs that are indescribable still cry to ,god for vengeance in this our own land4 ,cruelties that are beyond the power of language to describe still exist1 and the cry of the oppressed comes up to the ear of ,him who has declared ,vengeance is mine1 ,i will repay4 ,one reason ,i have for writing1 is to show the great need of ,holy ,ghost workers--those whose hearts ,god has touched--to carry the gospel to those whose lives are darkened1 blighted and blasted1 and tell them of a mighty deliverance from the bondage of sin1 and of freedom in ,christ4 ,reader1 if you could see the many inside prison walls going insane1 you would not wonder that1 by the grace of ,god1 ,i am determined to prosecute my work as ,i have never done before1 to save these poor prisoners from despair1 and to do with my might what my hands find to do4 ,i have kept no diary or journal and nearly all of ten years' correspondence was destroyed at one time by fire4 ,hence ,i have written largely from memory1 and without any attempt to give an orderly and connected account of my work4 ,i have endeavored to put before you1 dear reader1 such glimpses of the work and the field as would fairly illustrate that which has been done and that which needs to be done4 ,i ask for my imperfect work your kind consideration1 and trust that you will overlook my many mistakes and pray ,god's blessing to rest upon the effort2 and if ,i can only awaken in your hearts a deeper compassion for lost girls and fallen men and the heart-broken friends who mourn the loss of loved ones1 ,i shall not have written in vain4 ,in the selection1 arrangement and preparation of manuscript1 ,i have been assisted by several friends who have been much interested in the work1 whose labor and patience can only be rewarded by ,him whom we serve4 ,among these are ,brother and ,sister ,shaw1 of ,chicago1 who have so kindly given the introduction to the work1 having full knowledge of its contents and ability to judge of its merits4 ,i will also mention ,brother and ,sister ,kelley1 of ,tabor1 ,iowa1 who have rendered valuable assistance4 ,with many prayers and tears ,i send this work forth1 hoping it may find a place on your book-shelf and a corner in your heart1 and that you and ,i1 dear reader1 may meet where there are no prison walls1 iron bars1 nor breaking hearts4 ,and may there be gathered there with us at ,jesus' feet many of those whom we are striving to comfort and save1 while together we crown our ,savior ,lord of all1 and through an endless eternity worship ,him who gave ,his life a ransom for the lost--because ,he loved them so4 ,,mother ,,wheaton4 ,,introduction4 ,this world is1 to a large extent1 a great prison house4 ,nearly all of its inhabitants are prisoners surrounded by walls of sin and darkness4 ,many are bound down by the curse of rum1 others by the besetting sins of lust1 unholy temper1 envy1 revenge1 malice1 hatred1 jealousy1 prejudice1 pride1 covetousness1 or selfishness resulting from a carnal mind4 ,out of the vast multitudes that are led captive by the devil at his will1 a few that have violated human law have been sentenced to various prisons and reformatories4 ,this book has much to say about the men and women behind prison walls4 ,it records the sad story of many prisoners in a way that very few can read without being moved to tears and that will awaken sympathy in the hardest hearts4 ,it also tells of the work of ,god among prisoners both in this and other countries4 ,it records some of the brightest of ,christian experiences on record1 showing how many prisoners that have been slaves to worse than human law and have lived in greater darkness than in the prison dungeon1 have been made free by being translated into the light that outshines the noonday sun1 and how they have been enabled to live noble1 ,christian lives behind the bars4 ,we are well acquainted with the author1 having known her for several years and having had the privilege of entertaining her in our home more or less during that time4 ,this acquaintance has enabled us to know something of the burden that rests upon her soul for prisoners4 ,she has doubtless spent more time in the work1 visited more prisons and traveled farther than any other living prison worker4 ,she has visited practically all of the prisons of the ,united ,states and ,canada and most of them many times1 and twice she has crossed the sea4 ,her mission has been a mission of loving service1 with but little financial reward4 ,but the ,master who laid this work upon her heart has given her rich reward for all her toil and privation and suffering1 for many have been converted through her instrumentality4 ,some have gone to their reward4 ,many others1 both in and out of prison1 are living honest1 useful lives4 ,had this work been written only for the hasty reader who has but a few hours at the most to give1 much that it contains might better have been omitted2 but such as these can easily select from its pages that which is most to their liking1 while those who are deeply interested in the work of soul-saving1 as well as the prisoner whose spare hours drag heavily and slowly1 will here find food for study and encouragement that will repay for many days of careful reading4 ,in many respects1 such a work as is here represented has never been done by any other person4 ,for these hundreds of pages give but a few glimpses1 as it were1 of the work ,mother ,wheaton has done4 ,we have assisted her in gleaning from the many hundreds of letters still in her possession 7though much of her correspondence was destroyed by fire7 and in arranging and preparing matter for publication4 ,we have listened as with eyes filled with tears she has told us of the needs of the work1 and with every day thus spent we have become more deeply interested in the work to which her life has been given4 ,in a memorial service it was said of the late ,bishop ,william ,taylor3 ,he was not an organizer nor an administrator2 not a statesman1 in the ordinary use of those terms4 ,he was rather a great religious pioneer4 ,he blazed pathways through unknown moral wilds1 and left the work of organization mainly to those who might follow after4 ,such1 in her field of labor1 has largely been the work of ,mother ,wheaton4 ,no place has been far enough away1 no stockade hard enough to reach1 no day warm enough or cold enough or stormy enough1 no prison official or stockade captain sufficiently abusive1 to discourage her when she felt that the ,master bade her go forward4 ,with a burning love for all the sinful and all the needy1 she has gone from north to south and from east to west1 seeking the lost as one seeks for hidden treasure4 ,through nights of weariness and days of toil she has sought them and loved them and wept over them1 man or woman or child1 as a mother weeps over and loves her own4 ,she has borne their burdens and shared their sorrows--ever bringing to them the cheering word1 the testimony or inspiring song1 the faithful warning1 the earnest prayer1 the plain gospel message1 the hearty hand-clasp1 the loving ,god bless you4 ,we believe and pray that these pages may be greatly used of ,god to reach thousands of hearts and stir up many to carry forward the work so dear to her1 when ,mother ,wheaton has crossed over to meet those that are waiting to welcome her on the other side4 ,yours1 in ,jesus' love1 ,,etta ,e4 ,,shaw4 ,s4 ,b4 ,,shaw4 ,chicago1 ,ill41 #aijf4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,biography ,,and ,,call ,,to ,,the ,,work4 ,birth--,left an ,orphan--,conversion--,marriage--,sorrow -- ,sanctification--,call to ,prison ,work--,family ,reunion--,sketch of ,my ,life by ,my ,brother #bc ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,letter ,,to ,,my ,,prison ,,children4 ,my ,limited ,education--,disappointments--,a ,friend in ,jesus #ch ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,a ,,plea ,,for ,,the ,,prisoner4 ,in the ,shadow of the ,wall 7poem7--,letters to ,prison ,officers-- ,worth ,while 7poem7--,prejudice--,a ,look into the ,cell--,insane ,prisoners--,all ,prisoners ,not ,criminal--,prepared to ,die #dc ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,a ,,brief ,,pen ,,picture ,,of ,,prison ,,life4 ,the ,buildings--,entrance--,chapel and ,dining-room--,chapel ,service--,the ,cell-house--,workshops--,hospital #ei ,,chapter ,v4 ,,letters ,,of ,,introduction ,,and ,,kind ,,words ,,from ,,governors1 ,,prison ,,officials1 ,,etc4 ,from ,governors--,prison ,wardens--,chaplains #fg ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,some ,,of ,,my ,,prison ,,boys4 ,a ,prisoner's ,conversion as ,shown by ,his ,letters--,a ,talented ,young ,man--,under ,death ,sentence--,commuted--,finally ,pardoned-- ,letters--,sentenced for ,life--,his ,letters--,faithful ,inside and ,outside of ,prison ,walls #hg ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,letters ,,from ,,co-,,workers ,,and ,,my ,,prison ,,girls4 ,letters from ,sister ,co-workers--,from ,my ,prison-bound ,girls #aag ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,incidents ,,in ,,my ,,prison ,,work4 ,letter from the ,prisoners at ,chester1 ,ill4--,extract of ,chaplain's ,report--,suicide of a ,prisoner--,i ,have no ,friends--,letters from ,chaplain ,starr--,a ,way ,opened in ,answer to ,prayer--,a ,letter from a ,governor--,a ,woman ,converted and ,healed--,a ,change ,wrought--,a ,chaplain in ,my ,audience--,impressed to ,tarry-- ,encouragement by the ,way--,cruel ,neglect--,another ,suicide--,just ,out of ,prison--,dying in ,prison--,does ,it ,pay8--,saved and ,preaching the ,gospel--,in ,solitary ,confinement--,crape on the ,door--,in a ,police ,station--,burned in ,his ,cell--,the ,innocent in ,bonds-- ,confessed ,her ,guilt--,under ,sentence of ,death--,the ,religion ,mother ,had #ace ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,conversion ,,of ,,desperate ,,prisoners ,,prevents ,a ,,terrible ,,mutiny4 ,welcomed in ,prison--,an ,after-,service--,plan of the ,mutiny--,havoc of ,sin--,letters #afa ,,chapter ,x4 ,,remarkable ,,conversion ,,and ,,experience ,,of ,,geo4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 ,his ,own ,story--,infidel ,literature--,burglary and ,murder--,life ,sentence--,conversion--,study of the ,scriptures--,bible ,class ,teacher--,an ,enemy ,kindly ,treated--,a ,pardon ,refused--,second ,effort to ,secure a ,pardon--,letters--,final ,illness and ,triumphant ,death #afi ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,work ,,in ,,stockades ,,and ,,prison ,,camps ,,in ,,southern ,,states4 ,race ,question--,letters of ,introduction and ,recommendation--,a ,stockade--,letter to a ,governor--,reply of ,prison ,manager--,plea for ,women ,convicts--,bloodhounds--,coal ,mines--,a ,touching ,incident--,first ,meeting in a ,prison ,camp--,ride on ,engine of a ,coal ,train--,first ,railroad ,pass--,ride on a ,mule #ahg ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,stockades ,,and ,,prison ,,camps ,,continued4 ,novel ,conveyances--,assisting a ,colored ,minister--,through ,danger ,alone--,prostrate ,among ,prisoners--,a ,meeting at ,day ,dawn--,helping to ,bury a ,prisoner--,wreck of a ,coal ,train--,sugar ,camps--,ride in a ,cart--,in a ,gambling ,saloon--,condition of ,convicts--,unjustly ,condemned--,need of ,reform #bab ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,work ,,in ,,ft4 ,,madison1 ,,iowa1 ,,and ,,santa ,,fe1 ,,new ,,mexico4 ,my ,first ,effort for ,service in a ,prison--,kindness of ,officers and ,men--,letters from ,officials--,work in ,santa ,fe1 ,n4 ,mex4-- ,three ,christian ,men ,pardoned--,a ,forty ,years' ,sentence--,kind ,words from ,governor and ,superintendent #bda ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,gone ,,home ,,from ,,the ,,scaffold4 ,special ,mission to ,doomed ,men--,indifferent but ,finally ,converted--,letters--,mother's ,prayers--,claimed to ,be ,innocent-- ,hardened in ,crime--,ten ,men under ,death ,sentence--,conversion of a ,jewish ,boy--,mysteriously ,guided--,in ,long ,expectation-- ,sentence ,commuted--,a ,man ,deceived--,interceded for a ,boy--,went to the ,scaffold ,singing--,a ,prominent ,official--,recent ,cases #bed ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,work ,,in ,,churches ,,and ,,missions4 ,provided with ,food in ,answer to ,prayer--,a ,great ,revival--,a ,man ,saved from ,suicide--,letters from ,pastors and ,others--,church of the ,redeemer in ,baltimore--,successful ,meetings--,young ,man ,called to the ,ministry--,a ,colored ,woman ,saved and ,preaching-- ,incidents--,saved by a ,hymn #bid ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,preaching ,,the ,,gospel ,,on ,,railway ,,trains4 ,accidental ,death of ,my ,nephew--,my ,first ,trip by ,rail--,experience of a ,railroad ,man--,transportation--,a ,kind ,conductor--,interesting ,services--,train ,saved from ,wreck--,a ,train in ,danger--,impressed to ,leave the ,train--,helped to ,care for a ,wounded ,man--,conductor's ,god ,bless ,you--,a ,woman's ,faith ,encouraged-- ,riding in a ,parlor ,car--,favor to the ,railroad ,company #cac ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,street ,,and ,,open ,,air4 ,poem--,permits to ,hold ,street ,meetings--,from a ,missionary--,my ,first ,street ,meeting--,a ,wonderful ,conversion--,became a ,preacher--,the ,blind ,encouraged--,forbidden to ,preach on the ,street--,thought ,they ,saw a ,ghost--,hurt by a ,saloonkeeper--,warned to ,leave the ,city--,in ,jail #cbh ,,rescue ,,work4 ,a ,mother's ,plea 7poem7--,a ,plea for our ,sisters--,drunken ,women and ,men--,assaulted in a ,dive--,attempts ,suicide--,a ,girl ,saved--,a ,girl ,rejected at a ,rescue ,home--,neglected by the ,churches--,visits to ,hospitals--,kind ,tributes--,the ,prodigal ,daughter 7poem7 #cdi ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,work ,,in ,,canada ,,and ,,mexico4 ,street ,meetings in ,hamilton--,in ,london1 ,ontario--,a ,girl ,rescued--,in ,kingston--,stoned in ,quebec--,victory in ,toronto-- ,in ,victoria1 ,b4 ,c4--,work in ,mexico--,a ,bull ,fight--,wept with ,condemned ,men--,attacked by a ,fierce ,dog--,ministered to a ,sufferer #cfe ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,across ,,the ,,sea4 ,on the ,ocean--,in a ,foreign ,land--,preaching in ,glasgow--,my ,life in ,danger--,a ,song ,stops a ,row--,arrested for ,singing-- ,tumult in a ,dive--,mob of ,drunken ,women--,letter from ,america--,in ,paisley--,return to ,america--,second ,visit to ,europe--,experiences in ,london--,safe ,return to ,america-- ,letter from ,scotland #cgb ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,travel ,,and ,,toil4 ,two ,nights' ,service--,one ,weeks' ,work--,a ,profitable ,trip--,six ,weeks' ,service--,recent ,work--,another ,trip #cie ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,letters ,,from ,,prisoners4 #dca ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,kind ,,words ,,from ,,friends4 ,from ,h4 ,l4 ,hastings--,mrs4 ,h4 ,l4 ,hastings--,e4 ,e4 ,byrum1 ,author and ,editor--,mother of a ,prisoner--,prisoner's ,daughter--,an ,editor--,ex-,prisoner--,miscellaneous #dgg ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,sketches ,,from ,,press ,,reports4 #dia ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,furnished ,,unto ,,every ,,good ,,work4 ,who ,will ,man the ,life ,boat8 7poem7--,adaptation ,needed--,the ,masses ,not ,reached--,my ,boy in ,india--,preaching the ,gospel in the ,pesthouse--,how the ,lord ,provides--,miscellaneous ,incidents #ecj ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,selections ,,from ,,my ,,scrapbook4 ,author of ,flower ,mission ,day--,flower ,day at the ,prison--,lines by a ,prisoner--,take ,this ,message to ,my ,mother--,not ,lonely ,now--,jesus ,is ,looking ,on--,how ,god ,calls ,missionaries ,out of ,prison ,cells--,outside the ,prison ,walls--,if ,we ,knew--,little ,graves--,the ,mother's ,warning--,harry's ,remorse-- ,twenty-,thirty-,four--,his ,mother's ,song--,perfect ,peace--,sweet ,revenge--,no ,telephone in ,heaven--,a ,true ,hero--,perfect ,through ,faith--,the ,kid--,charged with ,murder--,mother's ,face--,only ,sixteen--,the ,dress ,question #edg ,,songs4 #a4 ,life's ,railway to ,heaven4 #b4 ,meet ,me ,there4 #c4 ,god ,bless ,my ,boy4 #d4 ,the ,great ,judgment ,morning4 #e4 ,my ,name in ,mother's ,prayer4 #f4 ,over ,there4 #g4 ,this ,way4 #h4 ,she's ,more to ,be ,pitied4 #i4 ,some ,mother's ,child4 #aj4 ,tell ,my ,dear ,old ,mother4 #aa4 ,when the ,death-bell ,shall ,toll4 #ab4 ,the ,end of the ,way4 ,,appendix4 #eif ,the ,personnel of ,prison ,management4 ,by ,warden ,c4 ,e4 ,haddox4 ,meditations of a ,prisoner4 ,discourse on ,the ,agony in the ,garden4 ,by a ,prisoner4 ,directory of ,prisons and ,reformatories4 ,,illustrations4 ,frontispiece ,ohio ,state ,prison #bg ,family ,group #cd ,john ,ryder #cd ,giving the ,boys ,counsel #db ,with ,insane ,prisoners #eb ,prisoners ,marching #eh ,prison ,chapel and ,dining ,room #fj ,corridor in ,cell ,house #fb ,new ,federal ,prison at ,ft4 ,leavenworth1 ,kan4 #ff ,the ,old ,tombs1 ,new ,tombs1 ,new ,york #hj ,personal ,work #hf ,administration ,building1 ,mitchelville1 ,iowa #aae ,campus and ,play-ground1 ,girls' ,industrial ,school1 ,mitchelville1 ,ia4 #aaf ,a ,chaplain's ,residence #aah ,women's ,prison1 ,allegheny1 ,pa4 #aba ,group of ,girls in an ,industrial ,school #acb ,southern ,illinois ,state ,prison at ,chester #acd ,interior of ,chapel1 ,dining ,apartment1 and ,row of ,cells1 ,chester1 ,ill4 #afj ,geo4 ,h4 ,colgrove #afi ,smelter and ,work ,shops1 ,chester1 ,ill4 #ahf ,woman ,convict at ,work in the ,field #aie ,convicts ,getting ,out ,coal #aih ,prison at ,santa ,fe1 ,n4 ,mex4 #bdj ,church of the ,redeemer1 ,baltimore1 ,md4 #cjc ,a ,railroad ,engine #cab ,miss ,josephine ,cowgill #cbi ,mother ,prindle #cfa ,state ,prison1 ,joliet1 ,ill4 #cid ,prison at ,deer ,lodge1 ,mont4 #cig ,criminal ,insane ,hospital1 ,chester1 ,ill4 #djh ,prison at ,huntsville1 ,tex4 #daj ,group of ,delegates at ,prison ,congress1 #aijd #dad ,industrial ,reform ,school1 ,hutchinson1 ,kan4 #daf ,industrial ,school1 ,whittier1 ,cal4 #dah ,prisons at ,jackson1 ,mich41 ,deer ,lodge1 ,mont41 and ,folsom1 ,cal4 #dcj ,a ,ward in ,prison ,hospital #dde ,kitchen and ,dining ,room #dee ,drug ,department in ,prison ,hospital #dge ,mother ,wheaton #dij ,ruthena1 ,india ,famine ,boy #ece ,state ,prison1 ,anamosa1 ,iowa #edf ,pray for my soul4 ,more things are wrought by prayer ,than this world dreams of4 ,wherefore1 let thy voice ,rise like a fountain for me night and day4 ,for what are men better than sheep or goats ,that nourish a blind life within the brain1 ,if1 knowing ,god1 they lift not the hands of prayer ,both for themselves and those who call them friend8 ,for so the whole round earth is every way ,bound by gold chains about the feet of ,god4 --,tennyson4 ,,prisons ,,and ,,prayer ,,or ,a ,,labor ,,of ,,love4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,biography and ,call to the ,work4 ,i was born ,may #aj1 #ahdd1 in ,wayne ,county1 ,ohio4 ,my parents1 ,john and ,mary ,van ,nest ,ryder1 were honest1 hard working people1 and were earnest ,christians4 ,one year after my birth1 my father died1 leaving my mother with five little children--three boys and two girls4 ,mother married again and had two children4 ,the little girl was buried the day before mother died4 ,my half-brother1 ,j4 ,p4 ,thompson1 still lives in ,ohio4 ,five years after my father's death my mother followed him to the better land1 and ,i1 with the rest1 was left an orphan4 ,well do ,i remember the night my mother died4 ,she was so troubled about leaving her children alone in the world1 but continued long in earnest prayer until she had the assurance that ,god would care for them1 and then she sang the old-time hymn1 ,there is a fountain filled with blood1 ,drawn from ,immanuel's veins1 and went shouting home to glory4 ,what a lasting impression is made on a child's heart by the life or death of a godly father or mother6 ,by mother's death ,i was almost crazed with grief and could not be comforted4 ,at her grave ,i was separated from my brothers and sister1 and went to live with a family to whom mother had given me before her death4 ,some time after this1 the family moving away1 ,i went to live with my grandparents1 under whose careful religious training ,i remained until married4 ,i received little education1 as my opportunities were very limited4 ,from my earliest recollection ,i was deeply convicted of sin4 ,this conviction followed me until at the age of twelve years ,i gave my heart to ,god and received the witness that ,i was ,his child4 ,i united with the people called ,methodists and tried to walk in the light ,i had1 until ,god called me into ,his vineyard4 ,,marriage4 ,at the age of eighteen ,i was married to ,mr4 ,j4 ,a4 ,wheaton4 ,we lived happily together1 but in two years ,i was called to give up not only my dear husband1 but also our little baby boy4 ,they were buried in one grave1 and ,i was again left alone in the world4 ,o my breaking heart6 ,i was in despair6 ,i did not know then ,god's wonderful comforting power as ,i now do4 ,i was scarcely more than a nominal ,christian1 a fashionable proud woman1 moving in high society1 left to face the battle of life alone4 ,to try to drown my sorrow ,i rushed deeper into society and fashion--only to be plunged into deeper despair4 ,what ,i suffered during those years is beyond the power of tongue or pen to describe4 ,my anguish of heart and mind were so great that at times reason almost tottered on its throne4 ,and had it not been for the goodness and mercy of ,god in sending me timely aid through true ,christian friends1 ,i should never have been able to have triumphed over it all4 ,soon after ,i was converted1 ,i felt the call of ,god to ,his service4 ,i longed to be a missionary4 ,my heart especially went out to the colored people and the ,indians1 and to the poor unfortunate ones of my own sex4 ,their sufferings touched my heart1 and it was this class with which ,i did some of my first prison and missionary work in after years4 ,but in those days there was very little encouragement to a woman to do such work4 ,o how those who are called of ,god now should appreciate their privileges6 ,though hindered and discouraged1 this call did not leave me4 ,i lived in the church for years1 always doing my part in church work4 ,i was proud and vain1 but knew no better2 yet ,i longed to be all the ,lord's4 ,,sanctification4 ,several years after my conversion ,i heard of holiness or entire consecration to ,god1 and the baptism of the ,holy ,spirit for service4 ,after this1 for about ten years1 ,i was under conviction for a clean heart1 seeking for a while and then growing careless1 receiving little help from the formal professors around me4 ,as ,i counted the cost1 at times it seemed too great4 ,i knew it meant to give up fashionable society1 home1 friends1 reputation and all3 and to take the way of the lowly ,nazarene4 ,i heard at this time of a holiness meeting about forty miles from home1 which ,i attended4 ,here ,i heard the pure gospel preached1 and light shone upon my soul4 ,i saw that none but the pure in heart could see ,god in peace4 ,after wrestling in prayer until about three o'clock in the morning1 ,i seemed held by an invisible power1 pure and holy1 and was so filled with awe that ,i feared to speak or move4 ,soon ,i heard a wonderful sound1 soft1 sweet and soothing1 like the rustle of angels' wings4 ,its holy influence pervaded my whole being2 a sound not of earth1 but distinctly audible to both myself and the sister who was in the same room6 ,i listened enraptured4 ,i feared it was death1 and my breath grew shorter and shorter4 ,i did not move nor open my eyes4 ,presently ,jesus stood before me1 and ,o the wonderful look of love--so far above the love of mortals1 so humble1 meek and pleading6 ,in the tender voice of the ,holy ,spirit came these words3 ,can you give up all and follow me8 ,lay your weary1 aching head upon my breast4 ,i will never leave you nor forsake you4 ,lo1 ,i am with you alway even unto the end of the world4 ,i was enabled by the ,holy ,spirit to say1 ,yes1 ,lord ,jesus4 ,i knew it was ,jesus4 ,when ,i said ,yes1 ,lord1 the power of ,god fell upon me1 soul and body1 and ,i was bathed in a sea of glory4 ,when ,i had recovered from my rapture1 ,jesus had vanished as silently as ,he came2 but the blessing and power remained4 ,the sister whispered and asked1 ,did you hear that sound8 ,and then she told me that this was for my benefit4 ,this occurred ,november #aa1 #ahhc4 ,that day the people looked at me and wondered1 seeing the great change ,god had wrought in me by ,his power4 ,the night following we had an all-night meeting4 ,again ,god spoke to me by ,his ,holy ,spirit1 saying1 ,go and honor my ,son's name1 and ,i will go with you4 ,i prayed1 ,o ,lord1 if this is ,thy voice1 speak once more4 ,the same words came again4 ,i obeyed and ,god did most wonderfully reveal ,himself to me4 ,i knew ,i was called to ,his service and to work for lost souls4 ,illustration3 ,,state ,,prison1 ,,columbus1 ,,ohio4 ,,my ,,call ,,to ,,prison ,,work4 ,the question is often asked me1 ,how did you become interested in this work1 and learn to understand the needs of the prisoner8 ,it was through this call from ,god4 ,none of my relatives or friends were ever convicted of crime4 ,when ,i was a young woman ,i attended the state fair at ,columbus1 ,ohio1 and with a delegation visited the state-prison at that place4 ,while waiting for a guide to show us through the prison a young man was brought in by an officer4 ,i saw him searched1 and later as the heavy iron doors closed behind him with a clang1 my sympathies were aroused4 ,while being shown through the prison ,i saw this young man with his hair close cut1 dressed in prisoners' garb1 placed by the side of hardened criminals4 ,there my first interest was awakened to try to make the burdens lighter for the prison-bound4 ,as we were leaving the prison ,i noticed some small articles which had been made by the inmates in their spare moments4 ,among these ,i saw and was especially impressed with a miniature statue of a prisoner dressed in stripes1 holding in one hand a ball and chain1 the other hand shading the eyes4 ,upon the pedestal of the statue were these words1 ,what shall the harvest be8 ,i shall never forget the impression then made upon my mind4 ,it is still fresh in my memory4 ,years after this1 shortly after my commission to preach the gospel1 as ,i was traveling one night to reach an appointment1 stopping at a station in ,iowa to change cars1 three prisoners in handcuffs1 who were being taken to the state-prison1 were brought in4 ,my heart was moved with deep compassion for them4 ,many were curiously inspecting them1 as if they thought they had no tender feelings4 ,approaching these men1 ,i gave them my hand1 saying1 ,i am sorry for you1 but ,god can help you in this hour of trial1 and ,i tried to cheer them1 and told them ,i would sometime visit them in the prison if ,i could4 ,i did not then know ,i was so soon to enter upon my mission4 ,but the burden of those in prison kept coming heavier upon me4 ,i told my friends ,i must go and ,,preach ,,the ,,gospel ,,to ,,prisoners but they for a time thought me almost crazy4 ,but as one of old1 ,i felt that ,woe is me if ,i preach not the ,gospel4 ,so ,i gladly obeyed the divine call and went forward4 ,but ,i was not led into this work by any morbid sentimentalism or enthusiasm4 ,these would have worn off when the novelty was gone4 ,no1 this work was given me of ,god1 who ,himself laid the burden of the convict world upon my heart4 ,day and night there came up before me the cry of despair from inside prison walls--the wail of woe from those in dungeons whose hearts were breaking and whose minds were shattered and whose souls were lost in despair1 and the call came direct from the mouth of the ,lord1 ,go and stand in the breach6 ,tell them of a ,savior's love--of a way of escape through the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 who is mighty to save and strong to deliver them from the snares of the enemy that has sought to destroy them soul and body4 ,tell them there is deliverance for the captive4 ,tell them there is consolation in the gospel of ,christ for those who are heart-broken and forsaken and forgotten by all but an omnipotent ,god4 ,tell them that ,god lives and rules and reigns in heaven and is able to save to the uttermost and to comfort in their dying hours with the hope of eternal life beyond this vale of tears4 ,but how could ,i go8 ,the ,lord ,himself showed me how to go and where to go and that ,i was to leave results to ,him and ,he would give the increase--that ,he would multiply the bread and fish for the hungry multitudes--,he would feed the famished souls to whom ,he sent me1 just as when ,he walked this sin-cursed earth--that ,he was the same yesterday1 today and forever4 ,i saw that my life must be entirely and forever surrendered to the ,lord for ,his service1 and that my future was to be left entirely in the hands of the ,master whose ,i am and whom ,i serve4 ,thus the call came day after day and night after night until ,i believe ,i should have gone insane had ,i not then and there yielded my time and talent1 all ,i had or ever would have1 to the service of ,christ to go just when and where ,he would have me go1 do as ,he would have me do1 and trust ,him for my support4 ,i was shown that ,i would never come to want4 ,i was made to understand that these poor unfortunates in prison were just as dear to ,god's heart as ,i was and that souls would be required at my hands were ,i to fail to comply with the commission to go and lift up the fallen and comfort the dying and relieve those distressed in body and mind4 ,i was made to know that there was power in prayer and that ,god could save the very lowest criminal or the worst woman on earth and by the transforming influence of the ,holy ,spirit and the cleansing blood of ,jesus1 save1 purify and sanctify and lift them up even within the pearly gates of heaven2 and that instead of devils in human form1 they could be made saints that could take up the glad refrain unto ,him that had redeemed them and washed them in his own blood and made them kings and priests unto ,god4 ,yes1 ,god called me4 ,and ,his name shall be exalted through all eternity for what ,he has done for me and through me during all these years4 ,his has been the hand that fed1 clothed and supported me4 ,never has ,god failed me in this pilgrim journey and ,he has supplied all my needs4 ,my heart goes out in gratitude and thanksgiving while ,i write1 for all ,he has done for me4 ,o1 the heights and depths1 lengths and breadths of ,his boundless love for lost humanity6 ,how wonderfully has ,he led me6 ,how ,his guiding hand1 ,his protecting care have been over me6 ,amid discouragements1 disappointments and misunderstandings ,god has given me victory through the blood of our precious1 loving ,savior2 and ,i know that ,he is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think4 ,when ,i saw the criminal at the bar of justice1 ,i was reminded that we must all soon appear at the judgment bar of ,god4 ,then ,i saw that the ,lord wanted me to tell of a ,mighty ,deliverer from the sins of intemperance1 unbelief1 skepticism1 infidelity1 covetousness1 licentiousness and hypocrisy4 ,my eyes were opened to see that thousands of poor helpless souls were drifting to their eternal doom without ,god and without hope1 and that ofttimes in their hours of most desperate need there was no one to help1 no one to point them to the blessed ,savior and to really snatch them as brands from the burning4 ,then ,i took courage and said1 ,yes1 ,lord1 ,i will go and do my best to help save them from destruction and an eternity in hell4 ,since then ,i have spent more than twenty years of constant toil among the masses and have reason to declare that ,god has given me success beyond what ,i could have thought possible4 ,multitudes have been saved1 representing all ranks and stations of life4 ,many are today singing the songs of the redeemed with the glorified hosts in the other world1 who were counted by many to be beyond redemption1 already doomed and lost forever4 ,for such ,i have taken courage and have pleaded before the ,lord ,his written ,word1 asking for their soul's salvation2 and now they are forever with the ,lord4 ,o faithless one1 is there anything too hard for the ,lord8 ,and has ,he not told us ,all things are possible to him that believeth and ,him that cometh unto ,me ,i will in no wise cast out and that if we confess our sins ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness8 ,during these years that ,i have stepped out on ,his promises ,i have proved that ,his word never fails4 ,it is faith in the living ,god which brings results in the salvation of immortal souls4 ,never have ,i doubted ,god's power to save the vilest person1 and now ,i want to tell1 for ,his glory1 just a little of what ,god has wrought as well as show something of what needs to be done4 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 for a faith prompted of the ,spirit that will not waver--a confidence in ,god which takes no denial but cries ,it must be done4 ,in answer to such a faith1 criminals of the deepest dye have been awakened and saved and women of the worst possible character have been converted and reformed and purified1 and some have been set apart for the service of ,god and have done a mighty work4 ,others1 as we have said1 have gone to swell the grand1 triumphant strain around the throne of ,god1 where angels and archangels unite to make all heaven resound with the praises of our ,king--among those of whom it is said1 ,these are they which came up through great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,after ,i see the ,king in ,his beauty1 clothed in majesty and glory and power1 ,i want to look in the faces of those whom ,god has used me to help1 who have come up from inside prison walls and from haunts of sin--yea1 from the scaffold itself--those who have died in the triumphs of a living faith1 victorious over death1 hell and the grave4 ,since my call to the work of the ,lord ,he has caused many homes to be opened to me and has given me many very dear friends4 ,among those of earlier years were dear ,brother and ,sister ,h4 ,l4 ,hastings1 of ,boston1 who kindly gave me a home and cared for me in sickness and special time of need4 ,and in later years are those at the ,missionary ,training ,home at ,tabor1 ,iowa1 with whom ,i have made my headquarters since #ahie4 ,i would specially mention ,mrs4 ,hattie ,worcester ,kelley1 who had a call from ,god to assist me in prison work and traveled some with me until her health failed2 also ,mrs4 ,georgia ,worcester and her husband1 and her father1 ,elder ,weavers1 who is president of the ,home2 with their faithful helpers in charge and assisting in the work1 who have given me a hearty welcome among them4 ,it was here ,i became more directly interested in foreign missionary work4 ,i have at different times taken with me in my prison and slum mission work several of the missionaries now in foreign lands4 ,among these are ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,wm4 ,worcester1 now in ,africa1 whom ,i accompanied on their way as far as ,london2 ,grace ,yarrett1 recently sailed for ,india1 and a number of others4 ,,family ,,reunion ,,after ,a ,,separation ,,of ,,fifty-,,two ,,years4 ,the following from a paper published in ,elkhart1 ,ind41 ,december1 #aijb1 under the above heading1 will explain itself3 ,j4 ,m4 ,ryder of ,indianapolis1 ,ind42 ,emanuel ,ryder of ,bryan1 ,o42 ,elizabeth ,ryder ,wheaton1 prison evangelist1 and ,lida ,ryder ,hoffman of this city met in a family reunion ,dec4 #h1 after a separation of fifty-two years1 this being the first time in all these years that the brothers and sisters1 who were left orphans in early childhood1 have been together4 99 99 99 ,the brothers and sisters sat for a group picture as a memento of the day1 and left for their different missions and homes1 not likely to all meet again this side of the great ,river4 ,illustration3 ,j4 ,m4 ,,ryder1 ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,,ryder ,,wheaton1 ,,emanuel ,,ryder1 ,,mrs4 ,,lida ,,ryder ,,hoffman4 ,illustration3 ,,john ,,ryder1 ,,deceased4 ,i also give the reader a sketch written by my brother and published in his home paper at ,bryan1 ,o41 some years since4 ,like ,moses and the prophets of old2 like ,jesus and his disciples2 like ,martin ,luther and ,john ,wesley1 and a host of other great lights who have been chosen at different times to be teachers and leaders of the children of earth1 so in like manner and like purpose was ,elizabeth ,ryder ,wheaton chosen4 ,her chief mission has been to the inmates of jails and penitentiaries1 reformatories and the lowly outcasts in the houses of perdition1 among people who never find room in the pews4 ,unconnected with church or other organization1 but aided by an angel band1 a ,christ love1 great charity1 force of character that knew not fear where duty called1 she has worked for the uplifting of the fallen4 ,for twenty years she has toiled and struggled in her great life work1 giving her teachings1 her songs and her prayers1 shedding tears of love and sympathy for the poor souls in the bondage of sin4 ,for twenty years she has traveled up and down her home land and several foreign countries4 ,the world her country1 to do good her religion1 giving her light1 her life1 wherever the most needed2 never stopping1 except from sickness or exhaustion from overwork2 often meeting friends on the long and rugged road who gave her sympathy1 shelter and food2 at other times the floor her couch and but little to eat--but whether good or bad conditions1 always thankful4 ,in her chosen work1 in the past twenty years1 no person has done more good or has had so much influence in causing people to lead better lives1 to quit sinning1 to get out of hell and enjoy the happiness that follows from leading conscientious1 truer lives4 ,her good intentions1 her words of warning and sympathy1 her sweet soul songs of love1 her prayers in angelic power1 have moved the people outside of the churches in the different avocations and walks of life as they had never been moved before1 the masses perceiving by subtle agency that here was a person deserving love1 respect and honor4 ,she had great influence with the employees of the different railway companies1 the good-will of the superintendents of many of the great railway lines of the country1 frequently getting passes from ,new ,york ,city to ,san ,francisco and return1 a distance of seven thousand miles1 for herself and companion4 ,she has spoken in more reformatories1 jails and penitentiaries1 and1 ,i believe1 done more good1 unconnected with any organization1 than any other in the twenty years4 ,,her ,,life ,,history4 ,it is too long a story to attempt to go into details--to tell of her trials1 hardships and sickness2 to tell of her individual successes1 as well as her successes when she has swayed great bodies of people1 moving the half of them to tears1 causing them to have higher thoughts1 better motives1 and to bless the hour she was among them2 or of how she entered the southern stockades alone1 even when warned by the ,warden that her life might be taken1 and in ten minutes had the inmates as tractable as little children1 where the officials would not enter1 except in a body and thoroughly armed2 how she stood her ground when menaced by drunken western desperadoes2 or of the times she divided her raiment and her scant purse with the destitute1 and the many times she escaped great danger by being forewarned1 etc4 ,bereft of both parents at the age of five years1 and cared for by cold and indifferent strangers1 she misses the mother's love1 guidance1 sympathy and protection4 ,when she started out on her mission she left a good home with all the substantials and many of the luxuries of life1 with but little education1 without money or friends1 alone to travel unbeaten paths1 to do a work that no one had ever tried before2 untrained in the great work she was to follow1 but impelled by a higher ,spirit force she could not resist4 ,do this work4 ,i will be with you to the end4 ,when great troubles come1 ,i will be your shield and your helper4 ,i will warn you of great danger4 ,i will protect your life4 ,you will gather many sheaves1 and1 when you are through with earth1 have a high place in the heavenly abode4 ,whenever needed1 the angel band assists her to say the right words for the time and occasion1 according to perceptions and conceptions of the people addressed4 ,she is gifted with a voice that is always musical1 clear and distinct1 and of such compass that it can be heard a mile1 or down to the minor notes1 but always with the pathos that touches the tender chords of the soul4 ,now she is old1 broken in health and strength4 ,soon she must lay her weary body down1 a willing sacrifice for the lowest children of earth4 ,and now with this brief outline of the work1 the life and the powerful soul magic of ,elizabeth ,ryder ,wheaton1 ,i close4 ,respectfully1 ,,emanuel ,,ryder1 ,brother of ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,a ,letter to ,my ,prison ,children4 ,you1 dear ones1 are my especial care and have been for over twenty long years2 and your eternal good will continue in a sense to be first in my thoughts while life lasts4 ,my own childhood was lonely and desolate4 ,as ,i have already told you1 my father died when ,i was one year old1 and mother died when ,i was only six4 ,i was taken from my mother's grave by an old man who had1 with his wife1 asked mother for me before she died4 ,my stepfather went to law with my grandfather1 who was guardian for myself and sister1 for my father's fortune1 and the suit was carried from one court to another until all was gone and we little children were penniless4 ,sister and ,i were reared by our grandparents1 and were given a very limited education4 ,we were taught to work as rigidly as if we were paupers4 ,the experience was hard but ,i can now see how good it was for me in after years to know how to do all kinds of work and be able to do with my might what my hands found to do4 ,all my life ,i have known much of ,,sorrow ,,and ,,disappointment4 ,it has seemed that ,i have never been allowed to keep long anything that ,i loved4 ,when ,i was a child1 my pets would sicken and die1 and the friends that ,i loved best would either move away from me or die2 and my heart was being continually crushed and broken by these trials4 ,i loved to learn and was passionately fond of music1 but ,i was not permitted to gratify my desires in either direction4 ,why all this was true1 ,i know not1 unless it was that ,i might learn deeper lessons of sympathy and compassion for others that are in trouble4 ,perhaps1 dear ones1 because of these very experiences ,i can feel more deeply and tenderly for you and ,i want to tell you that amid all the sorrows of earth ,i have found one ,friend that has never forgotten or forsaken me and that has promised never to leave me4 ,and this same ,jesus loves you4 ,if you but give ,him your hearts ,he will never fail you4 ,though all the world should forsake and despise you1 ,jesus loves you just the same4 ,it is ,he that has put into my heart this love for you and your souls' salvation that ,i cannot explain2 this love that grows deeper and stronger and that can only be made plain in the judgment4 ,he has taught me to feel for you when you are forsaken and forgotten1 when even friends turn away because you are doomed to the prison cell1 the stripes1 and even the scaffold4 ,often you are misunderstood and misjudged1 and sometimes you grow bitter towards every one1 and sometimes you censure your best friends4 ,i plead with you to look on the bright side4 ,think of all ,god has done for you and how wonderful it is that ,he loves you with all your sins1 that ,he loves your precious1 immortal souls4 ,you are my children4 ,for ,jesus' sake1 and yours1 ,i am a homeless wanderer on earth4 ,i have given up home and friends and have gone into the darkest places of earth1 and have endured hardships and faced danger of every kind4 ,i have endured untold sorrow of mind and heart4 ,i have wept and prayed night and day1 and for you ,i have sacrificed all4 ,but dear ones1 notwithstanding all this1 ,i am happy in the love of ,jesus4 ,his love is everything to my heart4 ,his love and sympathy is enough for me1 and ,i know that ,he is able to provide all that ,i need4 ,he has kept me nearly sixty years1 and ,i am sure that ,he will not now forsake me4 ,let this encourage you1 dear prisoners1 to know that ,god loves and cares for you4 ,when the way looks the darkest1 when all hope fails1 when the last friend has forsaken you1 then look up to ,jesus and believe ,his word4 ,i know your trials are hard to bear4 ,i think of you as you leave the jail for the penitentiary with the handcuffs on and the sheriff and the deputy guarding you so closely1 and the world against you4 ,i think of you as the prison doors close behind you4 ,i think of you in your loneliness as the days and months and perhaps years go by1 and again ,i say1 yes1 ,i know your trials are hard to bear4 ,but look up through the dark clouds and remember that ,god lives and that ,he loves you4 ,in your little lonely prison cell ,he is with you and is waiting to save you4 ,do not conceal your sins1 for ,god's ,word says1 ,he that covereth his sin shall not prosper2 but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy4 ,let the past be cleansed by the blood of ,jesus4 ,if you trust ,him1 ,he has promised to separate your sins as far from you as the east is from the west4 ,do not rest until ,his ,spirit tells you this is done4 ,then1 forgetting the things that are behind1 press forward to those things that are before4 ,obey the rules4 ,show by your daily life that you intend to do right1 the very best you know4 ,if those in authority over you seem to be unkind or unjust1 bear what comes as brave soldiers4 ,even inside of prison walls you can win glorious victories over self and sin4 ,there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth4 ,i seek to show you the way to the kingdom of heaven1 where there is no more temptation1 no sin1 no sorrow1 no pain2 to the place where ,jesus has gone to prepare a home for those who love ,him1 follow ,him and trust ,him4 ,my heart yearns over you in your sad exile from wife1 children1 mother1 father1 husband1 brother1 sister1 friends4 ,truly the way of the transgressor is hard4 ,but1 my prison children1 ,i beg of you do not go from one prison to another4 ,flee from sin4 ,i do not and dare not smooth over your sins4 ,prove yourselves worthy of the confidence of good people4 ,give ,god your hearts and be true to ,him and ,he will not forsake you4 ,some of you are doomed to the scaffold6 ,how long1 ,o ,lord1 how long must such things be in a ,christian land8 ,o1 that ,i had the power to abolish capital punishment6 ,but ,i will do all ,i can to help you prepare for death4 ,jesus loves you4 ,he was taken from prison and executed as a criminal4 ,he was innocent1 yet ,he suffered death for a guilty world4 ,he was tempted in all points like as we are1 yet without sin4 ,and being tempted1 ,he is able to succor them that are tempted4 ,and though you pass through the valley of the shadow of death1 if you but trust ,him1 ,he will go with you and you need fear no evil4 ,illustration3 ,,giving ,,the ,,boys ,,counsel4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,a ,plea for the ,prisoner4 ,,in ,,the ,,shadow ,,of ,,the ,,wall4 ,,by ,,olla ,f4 ,,beard4 7,the writer of this poem was a personal acquaintance and friend4 ,at the time the poem was written her father was warden of the penitentiary at ,fort ,madison1 ,iowa1 and she took great interest in his work4--,e4 ,r4 ,w47 ,oh1 those wond'rous gloomy walls6 ,what a chill their shadow calls ,to creep and tingle through our veins6 ,moving all our soul contains ,of pity for the woes within-- ,those who move within this pall1 ,those who bear a load of sin1 ,in the shadow of that wall4 ,yes1 you think their lot is hard2 ,so do all you can t'retard ,their sad downward course in time1 ,and save them from a greater crime4 ,but pause and come with me to view ,various pictures in the hall ,of the innocent and true1 ,in the shadow of this wall4 ,there's a mother1 good and true1 ,with a face of palest hue2 ,eyes are dimmed and faint to-day1 ,with their brightness washed away ,by the tears she's nightly shed2 ,yet she does not fail to call ,blessings on her dear boy's head1 ,in the shadow of the wall4 ,there's a father1 too1 bowed o'er ,with age1 and his head is hoar4 ,ah6 it surely broke his heart ,with his honored name to part4 ,now instead of his boy's arm1 ,a cane-stalk keeps him from a fall1 ,as he walks about his farm1 ,in the shadow of the wall4 ,there's a wife1 too1 in the gloom1 ,yet within her heart there's room ,for the one whose name she bears2 ,she will share e'en now his cares4 ,vows were said to ,god above1 ,and1 tho' friends forget to call1 ,she will keep her vow of love1 ,in the shadow of the wall4 ,there are children1 bright and gay1 ,now at school and now at play2 ,why do playmates push them off1 ,only at their tears to scoff8 ,can innocence1 then1 guilty be8 ,why are they shunned1 each one and all8 ,ah6 these children e'en we see1 ,in the shadow of the wall4 ,and ,o1 for shame6 to scorn some one ,for the deed another's done2 ,for their road is hard at best2 ,they should never once have guessed1 ,from the things you do and say1 ,that you once those facts recall-- ,how they're living day by day ,in the shadow of the wall4 ,but a word we'd say for him ,who inhabits those walls dim3 ,shun him not2 help if you can-- ,let him try to be a man4 ,when he's paid now for his sin1 ,let not scorn bring other falls1 ,just because he once has been ,in the shadow of the walls4 ,he has yet a heart1 tho' scarred2 ,he has yet a soul1 tho' marred2 ,and he has to live and try ,till his time shall come to die4 ,sweet ,charity1 that suffereth long1 ,let us now as guard install4 ,she will lead him from the wrong-- ,from the shadow of the wall4 ,we would not pet the sin and crime2 ,let reproof fall in its time4 ,but reproof should have an end1 ,when the sinner tries to mend6 ,give him every chance you can-- ,lend a helping hand to all2 ,lead the woman or the man ,from the shadow of the wall4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,prison ,,officers4 ,,dear ,,prison ,,managers3 ,you and ,i are trying to help the prisoners to a better life4 ,we want to elevate1 to lift up these men and women to a higher plane of existence4 ,how are you to proceed8 ,what are you to do1 is the question4 ,how are you to command the respect of those under you8 ,just where to draw the line1 and how to enforce discipline8 ,what advantage will you give to the men who are striving to obey rules1 and do what is right8 ,something must be done1 and done soon4 ,the criminal classes must be reached1 reformed1 saved and sent out of prison better prepared to face the world and the temptations which will be thrust upon them at every turn4 ,great responsibility rests upon you4 ,many of you are doing nobly and accomplishing great good4 ,there is hope for every prisoner4 ,you can reach them by kindness4 ,brutality will never accomplish anything in the way of prison reform4 ,by such a course a man is often turned out of prison a demon1 a fiend in human form1 or an idiotic criminal4 ,but to make him a good man1 a noble creature1 as ,god intended he should be1 he must have kindness shown him4 ,be firm and honorable in all your dealings with the convict1 for he has his rights1 and they should be respected if we are ever going to make the prison world better4 ,let us ask ,god for help to know how to reach the manhood1 the womanhood1 the better nature in the creature ,god has seen fit in ,his wise providence to make just a little lower than the angels1 in ,his own likeness and image4 ,he intended all should be free and equal1 but the people license the saloon1 the gambling den and the brothel to degrade their brothers and sisters4 ,some say these are necessary evils6 ,i say never1 never6 ,let there be better conditions4 ,there is hope for the sinner if we only get the ,holy ,spirit to teach us how to reach him4 ,i never go into the presence of convicts without earnest prayer to ,god to give me wisdom1 and the ,holy ,spirit to teach and guide me what to say and sing1 and how to reach their hearts4 ,god has given me what success ,i have had in helping the criminal classes1 in giving hope to the discouraged and in relieving the minds of some who were partially deranged4 ,oh1 this wholesale slaughter of men's minds6 ,it is horrible4 ,it is heart-rending4 ,and yet some go right on committing the greatest crime against these men1 by robbing them of their reason which ,god intended them to enjoy as their birthright4 ,which is the greater crime1 the whipping post and the lash with all their attendant horrors and misery1 or the iron rule that crushes out all hope in the name of discipline8 ,i believe in law and order1 and that men must be in subjection to rules and regulations4 ,i always urge upon them implicit obedience and subjection to the rules of the prison4 ,but these should be reasonable and humane4 ,what you and ,i need is to know our man and then we will know how to deal with him4 ,study human nature as well as the law1 and study the law of the all-wise ,god in the ,bible and see if you will not have a clear conscience as well as a clear brain to manage and control those under your direction4 ,i know prisons that are regulated entirely by kindness1 and oh1 the blessed1 restful1 quieting influence there is there1 and scarcely any insane4 ,all are satisfied with the treatment they receive and they are willing to die for their officers4 ,i know these things1 for ,i am behind the scenes4 ,after long years of service as a prison missionary1 in nearly all the state prisons in all the states and territories1 ,i find only an ever increasing desire to be a worker together with ,christ in reaching the masses of prisoners who are incarcerated in our state1 county and city prisons4 ,my success has largely been due to my sincere and intense desire to lead them to a better life here and life eternal in heaven1 and to the victory gained over myself to never let anything or anybody prevent my doing all ,i could for the prisoner1 as if he were my own child or brother4 ,again1 my determination has been to give all a fair trial and a liberal amount of confidence4 ,yes1 we must place ourselves in their condition2 let our boy or brother1 our mother or sister be in prison1 let us think how we would exercise every means we had in reaching or relieving them4 ,all prisoners are human1 and yet1 how few professors of religion show interest in them4 ,they are doubted at every turn4 ,daggers are driven to hearts which are longing for a better life1 a purer atmosphere1 a new creation4 ,poor souls6 ,god pity them4 ,o the hearts that cry out for better things6 the souls that are yearning for the good and true6 ,o the thousands of prisoners who may be diamonds in the rough1 jewels for whom ,christ died4 ,souls1 immortal souls are at stake4 ,we must soon meet these things at the judgment4 ,o to be clear of the censure1 the rebuke1 the reproof of ,god ,almighty in the final day of accounts4 ,o brother1 sister1 have we had charity that suffereth long and is kind8 ,have we tried by example and precept to show the criminals that we were really their friends and sincerely cared for their souls8 ,how long has the good ,lord borne with us1 and shall we not be in earnest to save those who are not ,christians1 to encourage them to a better life1 to cheer up the dying convict1 to show them there is a ,god in ,israel who hears and answers prayer1 one who said1 ,like as a father pitieth his children1 so the ,lord pitieth them that fear ,him8 ,,worth ,,while4 ,it is easy enough to be pleasant ,when life flows by like a song1 ,but the man worth while is the one who will smile ,when everything goes dead wrong4 ,for the test of the heart is trouble1 ,and it always comes with the years1 ,and the smile that is worth the praise of the earth ,is the smile that shines through tears4 ,it is easy enough to be prudent ,when nothing tempts you to stray2 ,when without or within no voice of sin ,is luring your soul away4 ,but it is only a negative virtue ,until it is tried by fire1 ,and the life that is worth the honor of earth ,is the one that resisteth desire4 ,by the cynic1 the sad1 the fallen1 ,who had no strength for the strife1 ,the world's highway is cumbered to-day2 ,they make up the item of life4 ,but the virtue that conquers passion1 ,and the sorrow that hides in a smile-- ,it is these that are worth the homage of earth1 ,for we find them but once in a while4 --,,ella ,,wheeler ,,wilcox4 ,,prejudice4 ,i find but little difference between humanity in prison walls and the humanity outside4 ,prisoners are our brothers and our sisters4 ,we must soon meet them all at the judgment4 ,they are naturally supposed to be guilty of crime of some kind4 ,but they are not all criminals4 ,wicked men1 willing to shield themselves1 oftentimes throw suspicion on others1 who are placed under arrest and convicted by circumstantial evidence or false testimony4 ,others1 of course1 are of the worst types of humanity4 ,some of them seem unworthy of the name of man or woman1 yet even these ,christ died to save1 and ,god is able to deliver them and how shall ,his name be better glorified or ,his power be more manifest1 than in their transformation8 ,very many are so prejudiced against all those who are counted as criminals that they believe them to be utterly incapable of any good and are quick to believe that they see in them evidences of the deepest depravity4 ,a sad yet amusing illustration of this fact comes to my mind4 ,chaplain ,h41 of the ,reformatory for ,boys at ,kearney1 ,nebraska1 is an honest-faced1 true-hearted young man1 full of zeal in the service of ,god4 ,at one time when ,i stopped at ,kearney he called for me at the train4 ,as ,i looked at him he said1 with a smile1 ,did you think it was one of the boys whom the superintendent had sent for you8 ,i replied1 ,yes2 ,i did at first2 you are so young1 ,mr4 ,chaplain2 and then he related to me the following circumstances which ,i give as nearly as ,i can in his own words3 ,at one time ,prof4 ,mallalieu and myself had been to ,lincoln on business1 and were returning together4 ,we were quietly resting1 and ,i was sitting with closed eyes1 meditating1 when a lady happened along and recognized the ,superintendent1 and said ',have you got a boy there1 taking him to the ,reform ,schools8' ,considerably amused1 he replied3 ',yes2 this is a very bad fellow2 ,i have had a lot of trouble with him1 and have just recaptured him1 and now ,i am watching to see that he doesn't make his escape4' ,the woman leaned over and1 scanning my face and features1 said3 ',he has an awful bad look on his face2 you can see he is a criminal and needs to be under strict discipline4' ,the dear young chaplain said1 as he laughingly related this instance1 that he learned a lesson in human nature that day4 ,that woman1 who imagined that she saw in the face of that young looking1 honest1 devoted ,christian young man evidences of guilt and depravity1 was only one among thousands who are led by prejudice when they imagine that they are exercising great discernment4 ,a ,,look ,,into ,,the ,,cell4 ,reader1 could you and ,i walk together down the cell-house corridor in almost any of our large prisons1 at almost any hour of the night and pause and listen to the sighs and smothered sobs and often to the deep groans that might be heard welling up from hearts that are broken and crushed by sorrow and remorse2 could we1 dear reader1 cast one sidelong glance in passing the rounds of the cell-house with the guard1 who1 with muffled tread wends his ceaseless march throughout the night1 your heart1 as well as mine1 would be deeply moved4 ,on those stone floors1 guarded by double locks and iron bars1 as well as by the living sentinel1 you might see many a mother's boy kneeling in silent prayer to his mother's ,god1 and as he prays and communes with his own thoughts1 you might hear again the groans of anguish as the poor unfortunate thinks of home and mother1 wife and children1 or other loved ones4 ,then look with me into that poor man's cell1 void of comfort1 with nothing that would remind you of home2 a close narrow cell1 a poor hard cot1 a straw pillow1 if any1 and kept under strict watch day and night2 left many times without one ray of hope1 without a gleam of sunshine or a kind word4 ,i wonder there are not scores of insane men in our state prisons for every one that we find1 and there are many1 very many1 who are either partially or entirely insane4 ,i am convinced that oftentimes men are crazy when the officers suppose they are only obstinate and rebellious and mean4 ,often do ,i note insanity lurking in the eyes and often as the prisoners file past me at the close of a service and ,i clasp each one by the hand1 as is my custom1 among the many who are so glad to have a kind word and a hand-clasp at parting ,i notice those who are not sane by the peculiarity of the clasp of the hand4 ,some have a clasp like a mad-man1 others a limp1 lifeless hand-shake1 with cold1 clammy hands4 ,oh1 what wisdom is needed to know how to deal with these poor1 helpless souls6 ,i find many of them with hearts as tender and sensibilities as acute as any ,i meet outside4 ,,insane ,,prisoners4 ,while ,i was having a service for the criminal insane at ,anamosa1 ,iowa1 state prison1 a young man was very anxious to see me and tell me something4 ,as ,i waited to talk with him he said to me in such a pitiful way1 ,go and tell my dear mother ,i will try to help her4 ,won't somebody help my poor mother8 ,this was the burden of his heart4 ,poor boy6 in his partial derangement his whole concern seemed to be for her4 ,he is only one among many6 ,illustration3 ,,with ,,insane ,,prisoners ,,at ,,anamosa1 ,,iowa4 ,a ,,touching ,,incident4 ,at one time ,i was on the train going north from ,indianapolis4 ,my brother1 ,j4 ,m4 ,ryder1 was with me4 ,i was singing a hymn1 and walking to the end of the car as ,i sang ,i saw two men bound together by handcuffs4 ,one of them ,i supposed to be an officer4 ,he was a fine looking man1 well dressed4 ,it was a few days before ,christmas1 but ,i noticed some holly-berries pinned to his coat4 ,i remarked1 ,you have holly-berries before ,christmas day6 ,with tears rolling down his face he answered1 ,my little girl pinned this on me4 ,she said1 ',papa1 you will not be here when ,christmas comes1 and ,i will pin it on now before you go4' ,i said1 ,you are an officer1 are you not8 ,oh1 no6 he said1 ,i am a prisoner1 and then he told me his sad story4 ,money belonging to some one else1 a relative1 if ,i remember rightly1 had been left in his care4 ,under pressure of need he used some of it1 being confident that he could replace it before it was needed2 but the shortage was discovered1 he was arrested1 found guilty and sentenced4 ,with a broken heart he said1 ,i never will live to serve out my sentence4 ,this will surely kill me4 ,i am not a thief1 but ,i was so sure ,i could replace the money before it was needed4 ,reader1 think you this man was any more a criminal at heart than thousands who move among men honored and respected8 ,who can question that there are thousands who1 perhaps1 do not transgress the letter of the law1 yet more deliberately and wilfully wrong their fellow men than this poor man8 ,and this case is only one of many2 and where shall we draw the line8 ,oh1 let us have fervent charity one for another4 ,i am not biased in my judgment4 ,i know sentimentalism is not salvation4 ,that can come only through true repentance and faith in ,god and must be evidenced by restitution and good works2 but if you could see1 as ,i have seen1 the meetings in the prison guard-room between husband and wife1 mother and son1 or between father and his wayward boy1 if you could see the tears and sobs as they meet and part1 and above all at the last parting before execution1 ,i believe you would never feel like criticising or being harsh in your judgment again4 ,could you have gone with me during these twenty years1 could you have had the confidence of these prisoners as ,i have had it1 you would realize that they are1 in very many cases1 as truly open to conviction and as easily reached as those outside of prison walls1 and are they not my children8 ,do ,i not know their faults8 ,do they not confess to me their guilt8 ,but back of all ,i see ,jesus hanging on the cross of ,calvary1 between two thieves1 dying1 and in ,his death agony1 while the blood is oozing from the print of the thorns upon ,his brow1 while the eyes are growing glassy in death1 with the cold death sweat standing out upon ,his face1 ,i hear ,him say to the penitent thief1 ,this day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise4 ,and again1 as ,he remembers all those who have so cruelly wronged ,him1 he cries1 ,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do4 ,if the ,son of ,god gave ,himself for us1 if with ,his dying breath ,he prayed for ,his persecutors1 if ,he who knew no sin and understood all hearts could say1 ,they know not what they do1 ,god help us to be willing to forgive those who have transgressed the law either of ,god or man4 ,these prisoners need a helping hand1 need a friend with wisdom1 tact and judgment1 one in whose heart there is the one thought above all others of the need of their immortal souls1 their eternal destiny4 ,you and ,i1 reader1 must do our part in reforming a lost world1 in saving lost sinners4 ,then let us remember how good ,god has been to us by keeping us out of prison1 by keeping us out of the evil surroundings and influences that might have brought us there4 ,let us give the poor prisoners a fair show and fair play4 ,many of them long for better things1 for one more chance to prove themselves worthy of the confidence and sympathy of their fellow men4 ,after twenty years of toil among those who are bound1 ,i do bless ,god that ,he ever called me to carry to those in prison the glad message of ,his love and seek by love and faith and prayer to lift them up to better things4 ,,prepared ,,to ,,die4 ,once while holding services in a prison1 there came to me a prisoner saying1 ,mother1 ,i want to tell you ,i was saved since ,i saw you4 7,only a few days previous47 ,then he told me that he was under sentence of death and that he was so troubled that he cried to ,god to forgive his sins and pardon his crime1 and that ,god had forgiven him and that he was now prepared to die4 ,he said that when the ,lord forgave him he was so happy that the officers put an extra guard over him1 thinking that he had suddenly lost his mind4 ,i exhorted him to maintain his faith in ,god and never doubt ,his saving power2 to walk softly before ,god2 to keep humble and meek and pray much4 ,truly there is pardon for every sinner who1 in the depths of his soul1 repents of his sin4 ,god's love and power are so great that ,he will save to the uttermost all that come unto ,him1 not willing that any should perish4 ,reader1 perhaps you have not the opportunity to know these souls as ,i know them1 and so to help you understand them ,i give in other chapters many extracts in their own words1 taken here and there from the thousands of letters ,i have received4 ,i believe this will help you to understand that hundreds1 shut out from the companionship of their fellow beings1 are as easily moved by kindness1 as capable of gratitude1 as easily won to repentance1 as willing to give up sin1 as thousands of those outside1 who perhaps have never been tempted as they were tempted and have never fallen as they have fallen4 ,in quoting from these letters few changes have been made1 except in spelling1 capitalization and punctuation4 ,some young souls are making1 for a stated time1 ,this1 their maiden effort1 on the sea of crime4 ,oh1 ,christians1 teach them early what to me is plain2 ,crime ever has and ever will result in lasting pain4 ,do not be too lenient1 nor too soon forgive1 ,lest all vice should flourish and no virtue live4 ,society demands it1 the guilty should atone-- ,but take care you punish those1 and those alone6 ,keep them in your prison till by virtue shown ,they will know what is and what is not their own4 ,but let all be careful lest by word or act ,those who should reform them from their good subtract4 ,rule them wisely1 gently--by some humane plan1 ,all their faults to conquer as best becomes a ,man4 ,when your work is finished and their habits changed1 ,give them honest labor1 by the ,state arranged2 ,show them honest labor can a living gain1 ,while the social outcast harvests want and shame6 ,treat them fairly1 kindly2 teach them all the true ,will be friendly with them while the right they do4 ,both principle and policy declare this course is wise2 ,then why longer act the fool and wisdom's voice despise8 ,crime never can nor will decrease until in ,wisdom's ,school ,men learn the noted lesson1 ,right through ,law should ,rule4 --,h4 ,p4 ,mc,knight4 ,illustration3 ,,prisoners ,,marching4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,a ,brief ,pen ,picture of ,prison ,life4 ,for the instruction of children and others who have never visited one of our large penitentiaries ,i insert the following sketch of such a visit written by ,mrs4 ,f4 ,m4 ,lambert1 author of ,holy ,maternity1 which was written for this work3 ,the prisons and buildings connected with them are enclosed by a high stone wall4 ,of course there is a gate1 or gates1 opening upon driveways leading into the yard where the shops are located4 ,the gate is securely locked and guarded1 the guard having a little room built on the wall over the gate4 ,there is a main entrance to the building through which criminals as well as visitors enter4 ,the officer closes and locks the large door behind you upon entering4 ,on ,sabbath mornings many things are seen and heard there4 ,the officers come in and take up the work of the day4 ,the warden or deputy takes a large bunch of keys and opens a side door that leads into the cell room1 and the guards follow him into the corridor4 ,soon is heard the rattling of the keys1 and the opening and closing of heavy doors1 followed by the tramp1 tramp1 of many feet4 ,passing out at a side door with the officer1 you may watch the men passing down to their breakfast in the dining-room1 which is on the ground floor of the chapel1 perhaps one hundred feet from the prison building4 ,each guard marches with his company of men1 from twenty to fifty in number4 ,they march in single file1 each man with his right hand resting upon the right shoulder of the man in front of him4 ,the officers wear dark blue uniforms1 while the convicts are dressed in suits made of heavy woolen goods1 generally striped1 the stripes being black and white1 a little over an inch wide1 even the caps being striped1 and of the same material as the suits4 ,you follow the officer across the yard1 and notice the large greenhouse with its beautiful plants1 flowers and shrubs4 ,but1 looking back1 you see the great high wall of the prison1 and remember that the little spot in the prison yard and the sky overhead is all the glimpse of the world that these poor men get1 and1 no doubt1 is all that some of them ever will get1 for some of them are shut in there for life4 ,illustration3 ,,prison ,,chapel ,,and ,,dining ,,room4 ,,the ,,chapel ,,service4 ,you follow the officer up the steps of stone into the entrance hall1 and watch the men pass out of the dining-room up the stairway into the chapel2 then you follow and are led to a seat near the pulpit1 facing the assemblage4 ,your eyes wander quickly over that strange lot of from two hundred to five hundred men1 and1 in some prisons1 over a thousand constitute the audience4 ,when all are seated1 the guards seat themselves on high stools placed along the sides of the room1 facing the rear door1 while the prisoners face the pulpit at the farther end of the room4 ,then the prison choir sings and the organ peals forth its beautiful strains1 the prisoners joining in the singing4 ,you cannot keep back the tears as you look into their faces and think that only for sin they might be free4 ,verily1 the way of the transgressor is hard4 ,prayer is offered1 and the chaplain1 and those who have permission1 talk from the written word of eternal life4 ,invariably your eyes sweep over that strange audience1 and here and there you see a man1 or perhaps a young boy1 in tears1 and you know the tender chord in their hearts has been touched4 ,god grant it may be so6 ,several testify to hope in ,christ4 ,services over1 the prisoners are marched to their cells and locked in4 ,they must all attend the morning service1 but are not compelled to attend the ,sunday school in the afternoon4 ,few prisons conduct ,sunday schools4 ,in the afternoon1 in company with the chaplain and some of the guards1 you may visit the cell rooms1 and are allowed to distribute papers and tracts1 and speak personally with each prisoner4 ,,the ,,cell ,,room is a long room with a stone floor and whitewashed walls1 the cells running through the middle of its entire length4 ,the cells are narrow1 little rooms1 perhaps four feet wide and six or seven feet long4 ,they vary somewhat in size4 ,they have doors of strong bars of iron1 and no windows4 ,all the air received must enter through this grated door in front4 ,the back of each cell joins with the back of the row of cells on the other side1 thus forming a double row facing in opposite directions4 ,rows of cells are built in tiers1 one row above another1 with a narrow platform running along in front1 with an iron railing4 ,each man's name1 and the number of his cell1 is placed over his door4 ,a wide corridor runs all around the main room1 which admits the circulation of air from the large grated windows4 ,sabbath is rather a hard day for the men1 for they had rather be at work than locked in lonely cells1 with only their own thoughts and troubled consciences for company4 ,many of the men who are there for long terms have their cells fixed very nicely1 and one can usually tell those whose hearts cling to home or friends4 ,but there are some who seem to care for nothing4 ,one boy had his cell ornamented with festoons of newspapers folded and torn into patterns representing lace curtains4 ,another1 a life convict1 had his cell festooned with colored tissue paper4 ,this man was a trusty1 who had the care of the flowers and plants4 ,in some prisons the cells are not provided with ,bibles1 and some prisons have no chaplains4 ,some of the men are very expert at making beautiful things1 such as pin cushions1 picture frames1 hair-braided watch guards1 pen-holders1 workboxes1 toy chairs and many other things4 ,one man ,i saw was making designs for embossed rocking-chair backs2 another had his tools for repairing watches4 ,illustration3 ,,corridor ,,in ,,cell ,,house4 ,,the ,,workshops4 ,on ,monday morning we may visit the workshops and see the men at work4 ,here we see all kinds of work2 farm implements1 such as hoes1 rakes1 pitchforks and many other things1 probably all made of iron4 ,these tools pass through many hands before they are complete4 ,each process is done by a separate set of men4 ,for instance1 the hoes are made by some and sharpened by others4 ,it takes only a few seconds to sharpen a tool4 ,as soon as this is done it is passed on to others who polish it1 and the handle is inserted and painted4 ,some rooms are so warm from the many furnaces1 and the red-hot irons which are being beaten into shape1 that a person can scarcely stay long enough to see the work done1 and is glad to move on to cooler departments4 ,the men seem to look well1 but you cannot help wondering how they ever work and endure the terrible heat4 ,they are not allowed to talk to each other1 and are continually under the guard's eye4 ,here and there one looks up with a nod and a smile4 ,each man in the shops is given a certain amount of work to do1 and if he does any more than his allotted task1 he is paid for it4 ,the amount is kept for him4 ,but very few except long-timers and experts can gain any time to do extra work4 ,after going through all the shops we pass on to ,,the ,,hospital1 which is in the rear of the chapel1 and in the same building4 ,here are sights that touch hearts4 ,some are dying with consumption1 and some with broken hearts4 ,one poor boy's sunken cheeks and thin1 wasted hands especially touched me4 ,taking him by the hand1 ,i began to talk to him4 ,he said3 ,no one cares for me4 ,yes1 ,god cares for you and ,he loves you4 ,why does ,he let me stay here and die if ,he loves me8 ,have you a mother8 ,yes1 ,i have a good ,christian mother1 but she doesn't know ,i am here4 ,may ,i write and tell her you are sick8 ,i am sure she wants to know about you8 ,oh1 no2 ,i had rather die all alone than to have mother know ,i am here4 ,so it is all through these places4 ,for1 though ,i have briefly described one prison1 they are all in a great measure alike1 yet vary in different states to some extent4 ,all are not so clean and neat as this one spoken of1 and though a prison might be lined with costly gems1 it is still a prison1 and without ,jesus in the heart it is only a living tomb to those confined therein4 ,let none think that it is a pleasant place to be4 ,one man may want to be a ,christian1 or at least a moral man and a man of cultured tastes1 and such men find it doubly hard when they must work side by side with the most degraded criminals4 ,one may leave the prison worse than when he went in4 ,in these places children hide their ruined lives and breaking hearts from their dearest earthly friends4 ,no mother to smooth the dying one's pillow1 though small it may be6 ,no sister or brother to wipe away the bitter tears that will fall2 no father to say good-bye4 ,o mothers1 let the memory of your boy's innocent childhood fan all your tenderness and love into a flame that would leap over the highest breastwork ,satan could erect and take your boy or girl back to your heart4 ,if you have been a true ,christian and have done your duty faithfully1 trust still in ,god4 ,what we need is faithful teaching among the unsaved1 to warn them against their danger1 before they get into such awful places4 ,illustration3 ,,new ,,federal ,,prison ,,at ,,ft4 ,,leavenworth1 ,,kansas4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,letters of ,introduction and ,kind ,words from ,governors1 ,prison ,officials1 ,etc4 ,from the great number of letters which ,i have received1 of the character indicated by the title of this chapter1 ,i give a few which may be of interest to the reader4 ,these will suffice to show the general interest of those in positions of honor and trust and their willingness to share a part in the work ,i have tried to perform for humanity1 by making it possible for me to prosecute and carry it on4 ,many letters of like topic have been lost or destroyed1 and1 space being limited1 ,i hope those who have done a like part may not feel slighted4 ,the true records are kept by the recording angel1 and every one shall receive a just reward4 ,inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these1 my brethren1 ye have done it unto me4 ,such letters received in the ,southern states will be found in the chapters on work in ,stockades and ,prison ,camps4 ,also some relating to ,street and ,rescue work in the chapters on these respective topics4 ,i should like very much to give some personal letters from railway officials1 expressing their appreciation and interest in the work1 but ,i have refrained lest by such some might be caused some annoyance4 ,to them much gratitude and credit is due1 from all who have received encouragement or spiritual benefit through my feeble efforts made in the name of ,jesus4 ,,from ,,governors4 ,executive ,department1 ,indianapolis1 ,ind41 ,dec4 #d1 #ahia4 ,hon4 ,j4 ,b4 ,patten1 ,warden1 ,jeffersonville1 ,ind4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will be presented to you by ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,ryder ,wheaton1 an evangelist whose work is especially among prisoners4 ,i hope it will suit your pleasure and convenience to extend to her the privilege of addressing the prisoners of your institution4 ,yours truly1 ,i4 ,j4 ,,chase1 ,governor444 99 99 99 99 99 ,executive ,department1 ,indianapolis1 ,ind41 ,aug4 #c1 #ahic4 ,capt4 ,jas4 ,b4 ,patten1 ,warden ,prison ,south1 ,jeffersonville1 ,ind4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will be presented to you by ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 a prison evangelist of long experience and considerable reputation4 ,she comes with the highest recommendations of her work from prisons heretofore visited4 ,she desires to conduct services in your chapel1 and ,i trust you will afford her every reasonable facility for so doing4 ,very respectfully1 ,,claude ,,matthews4 99 99 99 99 99 ,governor's ,office4 ,topeka1 ,aug4 #e1 #ahic4 ,hon4 ,s4 ,w4 ,chase1 ,lansing1 ,kans4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will introduce to you ,elizabeth ,ryder ,wheaton1 a prison evangelist1 who comes to us very highly recommended4 ,she is desirous of holding service1 or taking part1 at least1 in the prison4 ,any favors shown her will be appreciated by ,,fred ,j4 ,,close1 ,private ,sec'y4 99 99 99 99 99 ,dear ,chase3 ,i have just come in1 and take pleasure in endorsing the above letter4 ,i bespeak for this lady a full opportunity to address the prisoners1 as ,i have no doubt but that the service will be productive of good4 ,yours1 ,l4 ,d4 ,,lewelling1 ,governor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,executive ,office4 ,state of ,idaho4 ,boise ,city1 ,dec4 #ai1 #ahie4 ,to ,whom ,it ,may ,concern3 ,this will introduce ,elizabeth ,ryder ,wheaton1 a lady who is devoted to prison work4 ,any favors shown her will be gratefully appreciated4 ,respectfully1 ,w4 ,j4 ,,mcconnell1 ,governor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,executive ,chamber4 ,lincoln1 ,nebraska1 ,oct4 #aj1 #ahif4 ,warden ,leidigh3 ,my ,dear ,l43-- ,this will introduce to you ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,ryder ,wheaton1 who is interested in prison reform work and in visiting prisons for the purpose of holding suitable services on the ,sabbath day4 ,kindly extend such courtesies as you can1 and make the necessary announcements so that she can conduct services in the chapel1 and much oblige1 ,very truly yours1 ,,silas ,a4 ,,holcomb1 ,governor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,executive ,chamber4 ,carson ,city1 ,nevada1 ,dec4 #ac1 #aijb4 ,mrs4 ,henderson3 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 the bearer of this1 desires to do some charitable work at the prison and she desires to have services there tomorrow1 as ,mr4 ,henderson is not there4 ,she is coming down with ,mr4 ,harris and will explain her mission to you4 ,yours truly1 ,r4 ,,sadler1 ,governor4 ,,prison ,,officials4 ,sheriff's ,office4 ,suffolk ,county4 ,boston1 ,oct4 #bd1 #ahhe4 ,mr4 ,bradley3 ,let the bearer visit the jail and see any person she desires to4 ,j4 ,b4 ,o',,brien1 ,sheriff4 99 99 99 99 99 ,north ,carolina ,state ,penitentiary4 ,raleigh1 ,n4 ,c41 ,nov4 #ad1 #ahhe4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,friend3 ,your postal just to hand1 and in reply ,i am glad to say my daughter is much better than when you were in ,raleigh1 but she is still very far from being well4 ,the general health of the prisoners is very good at this time4 ,i shall be very glad to have you at our prison as you pass on your way south4 ,we have all of the convicts in the prison every ,sabbath1 and ,i shall be very much pleased for you to have service for us4 ,we can arrange for the service on any ,sabbath morning or evening1 as may be most desirable or convenient to you4 ,i regret that ,i did not meet you when you were here last4 ,may the good ,lord bless you very abundantly in your ,christian work4 ,your ,friend1 ,w4 ,j4 ,,hicks1 ,architect and ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,warden's ,office1 ,nebraska ,state ,penitentiary4 ,nobesville1 ,nebr41 ,april #aa1 #ahhf4 ,r4 ,j4 ,mc,claughry1 ,warden ,penitentiary1 ,joliet1 ,ill4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will introduce to your favorable notice ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton is highly recommended by some of the most prominent persons1 and any favors that you can show her will be in a good cause4 ,very respectfully1 ,c4 ,f4 ,,nobes1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,san ,francisco1 ,aug4 #ah1 #ahhh4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,madam3 ,i have just received yours of the #agth inst41 and in reply will say that you have always been welcome to visit the jail and enjoy every privilege granted to others of your sex4 ,mr4 ,g4's mother has not been allowed to enter his cell for some time past4 ,the utmost freedom consistent with our rules of order is given to all those employed in the good work in which you are so earnestly engaged4 ,should you find it convenient to visit the institution again prior to leaving our ,state1 we will be pleased to admit you1 and should you prevail on the sheriff to allow the special favor you seek1 we will gladly comply with the order4 ,respectfully yours1 ,,john ,,rogers1 ,chief ,jailer4 99 99 99 99 99 ,dakota ,penitentiary ,north4 ,bismarck1 ,dak41 ,oct4 #bg1 #ahhh4 ,hon4 ,d4 ,s4 ,glidden1 ,warden ,penitentiary1 ,sioux ,falls1 ,dak4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will introduce to you ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton and ,miss ,mary ,m----1 ,prison ,evangelists4 ,they paid us a visit several days ago4 ,while they came without introduction1 ,i welcomed them and gave them opportunity to examine the prison2 also called officers and prisoners together in the evening and held services4 ,we were well repaid for our time and trouble4 ,they left a lasting and good impression4 ,i think that you will like their singing and prison talk4 ,i bespeak for them a cordial greeting4 ,fraternally yours1 ,,dan ,,williams1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,warden's ,office1 ,penitentiary at ,anamosa4 ,anamosa1 ,iowa1 ,dec4 #b1 #ahhh4 ,this is to certify that ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton this day held religious services in the prison chapel at this prison1 which were very interesting and instructive1 and were highly appreciated by both convicts and officials4 ,i am convinced that much good will result from the meeting4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton is very earnest in her remarks1 and her singing is charming4 ,i can heartily commend her to all prison officials whom she may choose to visit4 ,very truly1 ,,marquis ,,barr1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ohio ,penitentiary1 ,warden's ,office4 ,columbus1 ,ohio1 ,sept4 #aj1 #ahhi4 ,to ,prison ,officers3 ,this will introduce ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 who has been at our prison and worked among the boys4 ,there is none who will command more respect and no more earnest worker than ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,she will do good ,christian work wherever she goes4 ,respectfully1 ,w4 ,b4 ,,pennington1 ,deputy ,warden1 ,ohio ,penitentiary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,huntsville1 ,tex41 ,sept4 #bj1 #aijd4 ,mother ,wheaton1 ,tabor ,iowa4 ,my ,dear ,madam3 ,your favor of the #dth instant came duly to hand1 and we certainly appreciate your kind remembrance4 ,i made the men a talk last ,sunday in the ,chapel and told them of your kindly words sent them by you through me1 and ,i know they all appreciated it4 ,may ,god bless you in your good work1 and grant that your days may be long2 that you may be able to turn many poor1 wayward men and women from their evil ways4 ,with my very kindest regards1 ,i beg to remain1 madam1 ,yours most sincerely1 ,t4 ,h4 ,,brown1 ,asst4 ,superintendent4 ,dict4 ,t4 ,h4 ,b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sioux ,falls1 ,south ,dakota1 ,aug4 #ca1 #ahia4 ,to ,my ,brethren--,wardens3 ,gentlemen3 ,having observed the work of ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton as a prison evangelist1 ,i most cheerfully recommend her to your kind consideration and co-operation4 ,her presence is a benediction1 and her work is in no sense subversive of good discipline1 but1 on the other hand1 is most healthful and helpful4 ,fraternally yours1 ,,theo4 ,d4 ,,kanouse1 ,warden of ,south ,dakota ,penitentiary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,warden's ,office4 ,the ,anamosa ,penitentiary4 ,anamosa1 ,iowa1 ,oct4 #h1 #ahid4 ,to all who entertain an interest in our common humanity3 ,we deem it only just and proper to express our endorsement of the labors and influence of ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton among the inmates of prisons4 ,her visits to this prison have invariably been attended with good results1 and she leaves within these walls a fragrant and wholesome influence4 ,most respectfully1 ,p4 ,w4 ,,madden1 ,warden4 ,j4 ,m4 ,,crocker1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,southern ,illinois ,penitentiary4 ,chester1 ,ill41 ,menard ,p4 ,o41 ,oct4 #bb1 #ahic4 ,dr4 ,v4 ,s4 ,benson1 ,asylum for ,criminal ,insane1 ,my ,dear ,doctor3 ,this will introduce ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 a prison evangelist who wishes to hold open air services at your place4 ,i am deeply impressed with her earnestness and eloquence1 and feel that she has done us good down here4 ,yours truly1 ,j4 ,d4 ,,baker1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,superintendent's ,office4 ,virginia ,penitentiary4 ,richmond ,va41 ,june #h1 #ahic4 ,to ,whom ,it ,may ,concern3 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 evangelist1 whose mission is among prisoners1 has visited and held meetings at this institution which have made a decided impression upon the convicts1 and ,i heartily recommend her to the favor of prison officials and other good people4 ,very truly yours1 ,b4 ,w4 ,,lynn1 ,supt4 99 99 99 99 99 ,colorado ,state ,penitentiary4 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,april #aa1 #aijd4 ,to ,whom ,it ,may ,concern3 ,i wish to say that ,mother ,wheaton1 who has from time to time visited the ,colorado ,state ,penitentiary1 has been the means1 ,i believe1 of accomplishing much good with the inmates of this institution4 ,her earnest efforts and kind1 motherly advice have instilled in the hearts of the prisoners an apparent desire to be better men4 ,i certainly most earnestly commend her to the kindly care of those whom she may meet4 ,,john ,,cleghorn1 ,warden ,colorado ,state ,penitentiary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,south ,dakota ,penitentiary4 ,sioux ,falls1 ,s4 ,d41 ,march #ab1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 #fab ,e ,st41 ,elkhart1 ,ind4 ,dear ,madam3 ,i take this opportunity of thanking you for the visit made to this institution some time ago4 ,your work among the prisoners has had good effect in more ways than one4 ,a number of the inmates have told me that your encouraging and ,christian talk to them has helped them and that they are trying to live ,christian lives and that by the help of ,god they expect this to be their last term in prison4 ,hoping that you may be able to visit this institution again1 ,i am1 ,yours truly1 ,o4 ,s4 ,,swenson1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,south ,dakota ,penitentiary4 ,sioux ,falls1 ,s4 ,d41 ,june #e1 #aije4 ,to ,whom ,it ,may ,concern3 ,this is to certify that ,mother ,wheaton1 the bearer of this letter1 has visited the ,south ,dakota ,penitentiary in the capacity of a missionary4 ,i am glad of the opportunity to say that she is doing much good to those unfortunate enough to be placed in an institution of this kind and ,i heartily commend her work4 ,very respectfully1 ,h4 ,t4 ,,parmley1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,nebraska ,state ,penitentiary4 ,lancaster1 ,neb41 ,may #bb1 #aije4 ,mother ,wheaton's visits to this institution always seem to cheer up the inmates and make most of them look forward to better things4 ,they feel that she has a mother's heart for all4 ,a4 ,d4 ,,beemer1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,office of the ,commissioners of the ,district of ,columbia4 ,washington1 ,aug4 #ai1 #ahic4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,stoutenburgh1 ,intendant ,washington ,asylum4 ,dear ,sir3 ,the commissioners direct me to ask that you will give the bearer1 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 a hearing1 and such favorable action as you properly may with respect to the object of her visit1 which is to arrange for the holding of religious exercises at the asylum4 ,very truly1 ,w4 ,,tindall1 ,secretary4 ,,personal ,,letters4 ,kansas ,state ,penitentiary4 ,lansing1 ,kan41 ,oct4 #ag1 #ahid4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister3 ,i am in receipt of your card and am glad to hear of your good success4 ,i enclose you a money order for eight dollars and seventy-five cents1 of which fifty cents comes from the deputy warden1 and the balance from prisoners4 ,you will remember that ,i gave you one dollar and twenty-five cents1 making a total of ten dollars4 ,excuse me for being so particular1 but money drawn from the prisoners goes on record1 so would like your receipt to show for it4 ,wife and children are well4 ,fraternally1 ,f4 ,a4 ,,briggs1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,kentucky ,branch ,penitentiary4 ,eddyville1 ,ky41 ,nov4 #ac1 #ahig4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister3 ,i suppose you remember your visit to our prison2 the boys often speak of you4 ,we would be glad to have you visit us again whenever it would be convenient4 ,i will soon have to submit my annual report and ,i write you that ,i may get a statement from you that ,i may embody in the report4 ,i herewith enclose statement2 if you will sign and return to me ,i will be very thankful4 ,i have forgotten the lady's name who was with you4 ,if you could get a like statement from her for me ,i would be glad to embody it also4 ,in my report ,i will speak of your visit in a way that will introduce you into other parts of the ,united ,states4 ,hoping to hear from you soon1 ,i am1 ,yours most respectfully1 ,d4 ,f4 ,,kerr1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,missouri ,state ,penitentiary4 ,office of ,warden4 ,jefferson ,city1 ,nov4 #bb1 #ahig4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,your card duly received and we were all glad to hear from you1 ,d4 especially4 ,enclosed you will find a letter from her which she is very anxious for you to answer4 ,mrs4 ,pike and ,i both ordered books from ,mr4 ,mc,knight at ,columbus and are perfectly delighted with them4 ,mrs4 ,spahr has ordered one too4 ,we are all about as usual1 some three or four sick4 ,we have fifty-two women at present4 ,hope you are well and prospering in the ,lord's work4 ,will be pleased to hear from you often4 ,with much love1 ,i am sincerely yours1 ,,belle ,,magee1 ,matron ,state ,penitentiary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,pittsburg1 ,kan41 ,april #ah1 #ahih4 ,my ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,your kind letter just received4 ,god bless you for your kind1 sympathetic heart4 ,i have often thought of and prayed for you4 ,i still feel that ,god will open the way for me to re-enter the prison work4 ,i am trusting ,him4 ,he is my all and in all4 ,i hear occasionally from the boys at ,fort ,madison4 ,god has used you marvelously4 ,may you be spared long to tell to those around what a dear ,saviour you have found4 ,your son in the gospel1 ,c4 ,s4 ,,laslett1 ,former ,chaplain ,fort ,madison1 ,iowa4 ,eph4 #c3ah-ba4 99 99 99 99 99 ,anamosa ,penitentiary4 ,anamosa1 ,iowa1 ,oct4 #e1 #ahii4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,at last we have your handkerchiefs finished1 and can send to you4 ,the girls did not get those tiny slippers finished in time to have them at the turnkey's office the evening before you went away1 so will enclose them now4 ,they are very small1 but we know you will appreciate the motive rather than the result4 ,they are all doing nicely and ,i feel quite encouraged with the present outlook4 ,i trust that you are better and that your general health may remain good for years of usefulness yet in life4 ,with best wishes from myself and my father1 the ,deputy ,warden1 ,i am sincerely yours1 ,,mrs4 ,,angie ,m4 ,,waterman1 ,matron4 99 99 99 99 99 ,kansas ,state ,penitentiary4 ,lansing1 ,kan41 ,oct4 #e1 #ahii4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,your card of yesterday reached me today1 but too late to attend your service at the ,home1 which ,i would have been pleased to do4 ,accompanied by our daughter we went to ,kansas ,city1 ,mo41 ,monday evening for a short visit and returned home yesterday noon4 ,i examined eight new prisoners just before starting and upon my return found sixteen more4 ,then two more today4 ,twenty-six in all this week6 ,so ,i have been very busy4 ,your handkerchief was found in ,chapel and my sexton and night watch want you to know that you have found two honest boys in the pen4 ,i send it enclosed4 ,are you going to remain here over another ,sunday1 and if so1 will you be out again or do you go to the ,military ,prison8 ,the little book to ,baby ,esther1 the poem and a tract1 came this evening1 for which please accept grateful thanks4 ,may the blessed ,lord greatly bless you in your noble work4 ,may ,he comfort1 strengthen and keep you4 ,sincerely yours in ,jesus1 ,r4 ,a4 ,,hoffman1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,iowa ,soldiers' ,home4 ,marshalltown1 ,iowa1 ,july #ah1 #aija4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister4 ,your card came1 after a little delay1 duly to hand4 ,we regret very much your being sick and especially with that dreaded disease1 the smallpox4 ,there has not been a case of it at the ,home and not any in town that ,i know of4 ,our family is well4 ,matters at the ,home in usual shape4 ,thirty-four of the boys have died since ,january #a1 and so we are being mustered out1 because of service no longer needed4 ,it will be a wonderful relief to us all to be invited to that house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens4 ,your visit here was well received1 much enjoyed and very profitable4 ,your coming again will be hailed with delight4 ,very truly1 your brother1 ,,jesse ,,cole1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,michigan ,state ,prison4 ,jackson1 ,mich41 ,sept4 #i1 #aijc4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,the work still progresses nicely4 ,many of the men speak in the highest terms of the services you held here and wish to hear you again and those who pray often remember you in their prayers4 ,we are very thankful to you for your interest in the inmates of ,jackson ,prison4 ,god bless you in your mission of love4 ,we send the sincere wish and offer the earnest prayer that ,god may make your book a strong influence in the upbuilding of ,christian life and character4 ,sincerely1 ,,frank ,,mcalpine1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,rusk1 ,tex41 ,april #g1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister3 ,your kind postal was read to ,the ,boys last ,sunday and ,i was requested to answer it4 ,they enjoyed your words of love and sympathy very much4 ,the old timers remember you well1 and the new men know you through the old ones4 ,john ,b4 ,reagan is ,assistant ,superintendent1 ,j4 ,h4 ,meeks1 ,warden or1 as he is called here1 ,underkeeper2 ,j4 ,h4 ,walker1 ,assistant ,financial ,agent1 and ,i am ,chaplain4 ,we would like so much for you to visit us4 ,if you make arrangements to come let me know and ,i will meet you at the depot4 ,yours in the work1 ,j4 ,l4 ,,dawson4 99 99 99 99 99 ,accompanying the following tribute from ,bro4 ,munro1 chaplain of the ,mission to the ,tombs ,prison in ,new ,york ,city1 we give cuts of the old ,tombs where ,i have held services a number of times1 and of the ,new ,tombs which has not been occupied a great while4 ,also a short extract taken from the annual report of the chaplain4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,old ,,tombs ,illustration3 ,,the ,,new ,,tombs ,gospel ,mission to the ,tombs4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,j4 ,munro1 ,chaplain4 ,new ,york ,city1 ,june #bd1 #aijd4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist1 ,chicago1 ,ill4 ,i am glad to hear that you are writing a book on prison labors4 ,you certainly have had much experience in that line4 ,i trust your book will have a wide circulation in which the marvels of ,god's free grace to men and women behind the bars will be fully seen4 ,i take much pleasure in commending your prison labors for the ,master4 ,for when you came to the ,tombs it gave me great joy to hear you speak to the prisoners4 ,and your earnest words for lost souls will not be soon forgotten4 ,success to you and may ,god's richest blessing be with you4 ,in the ,master's name1 ,,john ,j4 ,,munro4 ,,extract4 ,crime among boys and young men has increased greatly during the last few years4 ,i cannot account for this except on the ground of a noticeable increase in the social high pressure4 ,the temptations today are greater than ever and swamp the young men by the hundreds before they reach their majority4 ,i meet these boys in prison--white and colored--and talk to them4 ,i find out their needs and try to help them4 ,nowhere in the wide world can the power of sin be more clearly seen than in the ,tombs ,prison4 ,it is a wreckage pool where hulks and derelicts that have been abandoned in the ocean of life come to a standstill4 ,what an army of fallen humanity6 ,they can go no further4 ,when they realize their condition they weep1 groan and bitterly lament over their misspent lives4 ,can these men be transformed by the power of the ,gospel8 ,these moral and physical wrecks1 with bleared eyes1 sunken and emaciated cheeks and many other marks of sin4 ,what a besotted multitude6 ,yet the ,gospel of ,jesus can reach them4 ',he can save to the uttermost all that come unto ,god through ,him4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,nebraska ,state ,penitentiary4 ,a4 ,d4 ,beemer1 ,warden4 ,lancaster1 ,neb41 ,may #bb1 #aije4 ,to ,whom ,it ,may ,concern3 ,i have lately become acquainted with ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 familiarly known as ,mother ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 and ,i take pleasure in recommending her and endorsing her work among those who are detained in prisons and jails4 ,her manifest ,christian spirit1 sympathy with the unfortunate and condemned ones1 sincere humility1 all entitle her to the esteem and confidence of all1 and ,i believe her work productive of much good4 ,signed1 ,p4 ,c4 ,,johnson1 ,chaplain of ,nebraska ,penitentiary1 ,lancaster1 ,neb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,huntsville1 ,tex41 ,aug4 #h1 #aijd4 ,to ,whom ,it ,may ,concern3 ,this is to certify that ,sister ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 prison evangelist1 has visited our prison and held a profitable service4 ,she is a consecrated woman and has her heart in the work4 ,would to ,god that we had more such women4 ,may the ,lord raise them up and help these poor unfortunate men who are confined within prison walls4 ,all the prisoners who know her love her and call her mother4 ,may the ,lord in his mercy preserve her and give her many souls for her labor4 ,w4 ,t4 ,,mcdonald1 ,chaplain ,penitentiary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,charlestown1 ,mass41 ,oct4 #cj1 #ahhe4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,i am sorry ,i had no opportunity to see you before you left4 ,i trust we may see you on your way to the south4 ,mrs4 ,chapman informed me last evening of your whereabouts and the ,warden wished me to convey his regards to you and say that he should like to see you here again1 if convenient or consistent with your plans1 on ,sunday next 7,nov4 #a74 ,accompanying this please find some notes from different prisoners4 ,the ,warden would be glad to have you here some ,saturday ,p4,m4 in order that you should be in the yard1 at liberty with all the men1 that you might speak with them at your freedom or pleasure personally4 ,i trust that the divine light is flooding your spirit and ,i pray it may do so forever4 ,i hope that ,christ is ever a satisfying portion to you and that your comforts in ,him are numberless and rich4 ,may ,god ,almighty fill you with himself4 ,respectfully1 ,j4 ,w4 ,f4 ,,barnes1 ,chaplain ,mass4 ,state ,prison4 ,p4 ,s4 ,also find herewith a paper drawn up by one prisoner and signed by thirty-three others4 ,j4 ,w4 ,f4 ,b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,charlestown1 ,mass41 ,june #d1 #ahhg4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,things here seem to be getting on to the praise of ,jehovah4 ,i had a good1 long letter from ,sister ,b4 this morning4 ,it is most blessed to feel that ,jesus abides in the ship and commands the winds and sea as well4 ,praise his glorious name6 ,what a blessing it is to be on the altar in ,god's service1 ready to go or stay2 ready to labor or to rest2 to bear burdens or be free4 ,i trust that the fullest rays of the ,sun ,divine may warm your heart and make your life fruitful4 ,god be with you richly in all things4 ,with best of wishes1 ,j4 ,w4 ,f4 ,,barnes1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,massachusetts ,state ,prison4 ,charlestown1 ,feb4 #ac1 #ahif4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,your postal to the ,warden concerning ---- was put into my hands4 ,this is the first moment ,i have had to devote to an answer4 ,he is in the city working4 ,he has made excellent friends4 ,he stands well in the church he has joined2 is connected with a very large ,bible class of young men and frequently has to be its teacher4 ,he is active in the church1 but closely confined to his work4 ,we are in fair condition1 comparatively1 in the prison4 ,we have tonight1 #gfa prisoners4 ,i send you one of our reports with this4 ,a4 is still keeping a ,rescue ,mission and doing well4 ,i presume you are still after the welfare of the prisoners4 ,i have been very ill since ,i saw you1 but am able to be at my work again4 ,our little prayer meeting on ,saturday ,p4 ,m4 still goes on doing good4 ,the ,lord is with us in the enlightening and building up of souls4 ,such work as you used to do has been left out of the prison life and no one is allowed now to go into the chapel on ,sundays4 ,once each month ,i take in some people to help us sing in our praise service4 ,the same people every time1 however4 ,pray for us4 ,sincerely yours1 ,j4 ,w4 ,f4 ,,barnes1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,massachusetts ,state ,prison4 ,charlestown1 ,june #ad1 #ahii4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,yours came on ,monday last4 ,i was glad to hear from you1 and to get the enclosures in your letter4 ,they are good--very good--for my work and my own life4 ,i heartily reciprocate all your good wishes for me and pray that you may be preserved from all evil4 ,we have had some blessed conversions here and one or two of our men have gone to their reward in great peace and joy4 ,f4 is doing well and much loved in his work for ,christ4 ,he is at same address ,i sent you before4 ,truly yours in the work1 ,j4 ,w4 ,f4 ,,barnes1 ,chaplain4 ,illustration3 ,,personal ,,work4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,some of ,my ,prison ,boys4 ,the writer of the following letters was one of the most remarkably conscientious persons ,i ever knew4 ,as a prisoner1 he was very highly respected by the officers4 ,his chaplain has ever remained his sincere friend and counselor4 ,years have passed since he left prison life and he still remains an earnest ,christian and an honorable member of society4 ,no one but his pastor1 employer and former friends know his past history4 ,he was converted in prison during services ,i held in #ahhd or #ahhe4 ,he presented me some years ago with a book of poems of his own writing4 ,not being able to carry them with me1 ,i have lost trace of them4 ,otherwise would be glad to furnish some of them to my readers4 99 99 99 99 99 ,to ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 ,my ,dear ,mother in the ,lord3 ,i call you by this name because ,i am young and have lost my mother in the flesh1 and ,i am writing this letter because1 as you have given up all for ,jesus' sake1 you only can help me as ,i wish4 ,you can pray for me as a mother prays for a son4 ,i am twenty-four years old1 have an eighteen years' sentence1 have served four years of it and expect to serve the whole of it for ,i have no influential friends to help me4 ,i had not been here a year until ,i realized what eighteen years of prison life meant--the deprivation of all earthly pleasures1 and the wasting away of youthful hopes and ambitions in vain regret4 ,grief1 misery and despair overwhelmed me every night1 and every night ,i wished that ,i were dead4 ,a great struggle was going on in my soul4 ,a struggle for either life or death1 and1 thank ,god1 life had the victory4 ,i am now a ,christian4 ,a night of revelation came to me in which ,god1 as ,judge1 and ,jesus1 as ,saviour1 revealed to me--the one1 the power and glory2 the other1 the love of ,god4 ,but my way is not like the peaceful flow of a river1 but like a stream of cascades4 ,by leaps ,i draw nearer to ,god4 ,in the meantime ,i do not keep the image of ,jesus before me4 ,pray1 dear mother1 this special prayer for me1 that my faith may be constant2 that self shall no more come between it and ,jesus2 that surroundings shall not weaken it2 that youth shall not neglect it4 ,jesus has stamped my soul with his blood4 ,it can never be effaced1 but my soul does not thrill as often as ,i wish with the joy of right-doing4 ,belief in ,jesus permeates my whole being4 ,why do ,i sometimes stray from his love8 ,repentance is doubly grievous then1 and repent ,i must4 ,my conscience compels me4 ,the prayers of a saintly woman will be heard4 ,you will pray for me for ,jesus' sake4 ,yours in the ,lord1 ,,signed4 99 99 99 99 99 ,thanksgiving ,day1 #ahhe4 ,dear ,mother in the ,lord3 ,with what mingled emotions of joy1 gratitude and love1 ,i read your faith inspiring letter4 ,i did not expect it1 for one ,sunday in the chapel the ,chaplain read one from you addressed to us all in general4 ,he also told us something about your way--what a lonely1 weary way4 ,what a sorrow yours has been6 ,can we poor mortals ever forget our sorrow8 ,does it not rise to the surface at times and overwhelm us1 so that nothing but the soothing presence of ,jesus can comfort us8 ,i will not leave you comfortless2 ,i will come to you4 ,a common saying here is3 ,i don't believe in a man coming to prison to reform4 ,ah6 little they know what reform is1 for where on earth does one need the ,spirit that reforms more than in prison8 ,our poets tell us that prisons are the types of hell4 ,i bless ,god for bringing me to this prison4 ,out of its depths ,i cried and ,he heard me1 nor do ,i pray to be free from its thrall4 ,indeed ,i do pray for ,his will to be done in me and beseech ,him to keep me here until ,he calls me to ,himself1 rather than ,i should go free again and forget ,him4 ,that ,i never can4 ,though ,i fell to the lowest depths1 ,i could never forget ,him4 ,dear ,mother1 we will meet ,him--,jesus--in ,heaven4 ,oh6 ,i do not want the pleasures of this life6 ,i do want to be1 like you1 ,his humble follower4 ,how ,i wish ,i could be near you always that your faith might ever increase my own4 ,i need1 very much ,i need1 the pure and tender influence of a holy praying mother4 ,my own mother had a loving heart1 but neither she nor my father did ,i ever see praying4 ,my precious ,saviour was never revealed to me from the lips of either4 ,what would have become of me had ,god deferred this discipline8 ,would ,i not have gone on in sin until too late1 even had ,i been sent here for a short term of years8 ,my only thought would be for them to end1 that ,i might pursue again the delusive hopes of sin4 ,i fully realize my position here4 ,i see the providence of ,god that makes it a blessing4 ,i would tell you the way ,jesus came to me1 or rather how ,i came to ,him4 ,when first ,i came here ,i did not think of what was in store for me--eighteen years of prison life4 ,i was wild and thoughtless4 ,the strangeness of the place helped to divert my mind1 but the solitude of my cell at night forced me to look into the future4 ,at length my fate dawned upon me4 ,oh6 it was terrible6 ,during the day ,i would try to forget the thoughts of the night by being more wild than ever1 but the night brought the ordeal again and it was driving me to despair4 ,i longed to be dead1 but one night the thought came3 ,suppose you were dead1 what then8 ,would you be at rest8 ,i say thought1 but if ever the ,holy ,spirit spoke to the soul of man1 it spoke to mine that night4 ,in an instant ,i saw the enormity of my sins and the punishment in store for me4 ,in terror ,i cried3 ,o1 what shall ,i do8 ,oh1 ,i cannot die6 ,i cannot meet this doom6 ,need ,i say that my cry was not in vain8 ,no1 the spirit of ,jesus taught me of ,himself that night1 and the ,chaplain showed me some words in the gospel of ,john4 ,i never read the ,bible before1 but there were ,christ's words1 and those words ,i now read often4 ,the ,psalms and ,st4 ,john contain for me the ,way of ,life4 ,i do not forget you in my feeble prayers morning and night1 and ,i hope you will be indeed my ,mother for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,june #af1 #ahij4 ,my ,dear ,friend and ,spiritual ,mother3 ,i thank you very much for your kind letter1 which ,i received today4 ,i pray that you may die in the harness1 leaving your work to just pass over the river into ,heaven4 ,have you heard that our dear ,chaplain's helpmeet has recently taken this journey8 ,the ,chaplain takes it just as one would expect he would1 calmly1 with faith unabated1 rather increased1 for he said to me the day after the funeral3 ,the peace of ,god in my heart passeth understanding4 ,this evidence of real trust in ,god's mercy1 and that ,he is and heaven is1 has been the means of bringing me nearer to ,god4 ,i am reading a book by ,h4 ,w4 ,s4 entitled ,frank3 the ,record of a ,happy ,life4 ,it is very inspiring4 ,i have been convinced for some time that the higher ,christian life was a reality1 and had experienced its blessings4 ,but ,i lived upon the experience1 drawing my strength from it and not ,god1 consequently ,i soon got back to where ,i was before4 ,but the ,holy ,spirit has of late been urging me to seek it again1 so that ,i have consecrated myself anew to the ,lord1 and he has blessed me wonderfully1 taking away the irritable feeling that certain trials were sure to bring me4 ,i forget self and think only of doing good to those who before ,i felt like shunning4 ,it makes me very humble in my happiness4 ,dear ,mother1 ,i am sure you have enjoyed this blessed experience of living moment by moment to ,god1 being kept by ,him from all sin and the power of temptation4 ,i have read that many ,christians do not believe that the blood of ,christ cleanseth from all sin4 ,this appears very strange to me4 ,i don't see how they can be so blind4 ,when this blessed thought was shown me ,i could not help believing it1 it seemed so plain1 and was really needful for us to have in order to live up to the commands of the gospel4 ,tuesday ,p4 ,m41 #agth4 ,they are celebrating the ,battle of ,bunker ,hill today4 ,we have had our holiday and are now in our rooms for the rest of the day4 ,it is a perfect summer day1 mild1 with a refreshing breeze floating through the windows4 ,my bird hangs above me chirping1 enjoying himself1 while the murmur of voices in the guard room1 with now and then the joyous shout of a baby1 make me feel like shutting my eyes and imagining myself far away from these stones and bars4 ,i firmly believe that an educated ,christian who is wholly consecrated shall be used by the ,lord where an uneducated one would not4 ,you know it was to ,paul1 the highly educated1 that was intrusted the greatest work of the ,apostles1 viz3 ,to convert the heathen world4 ,in ,athens1 the center of intellectual life1 he preached1 quoting to them from their own poets and converting certain philosophers of whom was ,dionysius1 one of the city's judges4 ,intellectual ability is a talent which the ,lord requires us to use for ,his kingdom4 ,we need never fear for education1 ,while near the school the church spire stands1 as the ,quaker poet1 ,whittier1 puts it4 ,our prayer meeting is growing both in numbers and in interest4 ,we hold an election of officers today4 ,i resigned the leadership owing to my duties in the library being such that ,i could not attend regularly4 ,i1 however1 accepted the place of chairman of the standing committee4 ,the ,warden has allowed the teachers of the night school to organize a society for the purpose of general culture4 ,last ,friday the constitution and by-laws were submitted for approval4 ,next ,friday the election of officers will be held4 ,i have been embarrassed by several members asking me to accept the position of president4 ,i know that ,i am not qualified for the position1 but they think otherwise and are persistent4 ,these1 and other tokens of regard and respect for me by my fellow prisoners1 ,i am very grateful for4 ,it makes me feel1 too1 that my ,christian life here has not been without results among them4 ,they respect my scruples--something ,i hardly think people outside are in the habit of doing4 ,you will understand that ,i look upon all this as the ,lord's doings1 and feel no self-praise over it4 ,to ,him be all the praise for giving me the courage and strength to let my light shine before the men in this prison4 ,o6 it is good to be on the ,lord's side1 to let ,him order my way4 ,i pray that ,i may never have a will of my own in this respect4 ,i feel so perfectly willing to remain here and serve ,him in my feeble way1 only praying that if a larger opportunity comes to me ,i shall not be found wanting1 only believing that with the opportunity will come added strength and power from on high4 ,the ,holy ,spirit has so witnessed to my spirit that ,god is and that ,he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek ,him1 and that ,jesus is my ,saviour1 that the bare thought of being unfaithful brings intense pain to my soul4 ,no1 ,i can never be happy away from my ,saviour4 ,with ,his faith filling my being1 ,his peace shall abide with me4 ,i pray daily for my spiritual ,mother1 that the ,lord shall bless her in all heavenly places in ,christ ,jesus1 that the ,holy ,spirit shall rest upon you1 giving you the word of truth to speak to the lost souls in all the places you go to4 ,with much love1 ,i remain ,your son and brother in the ,lord1 ---- ----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,oct4 #bc1 #ahid4 ,my ,dear ,mother3 ,i have been waiting to hear from you so ,i could write and let you know of the good news that has come to me4 ,i am no longer in prison4 ,i have been let out on parole4 ,this means that ,i am still a prisoner1 but am given larger liberty4 ,i shall not be allowed to leave this city nor engage in mission work1 that is to give my whole time to it4 ,i have to report to the secretary of the ,board of ,prison ,commissioners every month4 ,when ,i get a room ,i am going to devote the most of my spare time to study4 ,i go to a mission at the ,north ,end1 but have no regular church connections4 ,i have been living with ,mr4 ---- since coming out1 but will leave him within a week4 ,he has been a good friend to me4 ,he has been so ill all this year that he has been to the prison only a few times4 ,i am happy in my new life4 ,the ,lord is blessing me wonderfully4 ,there is no other life worth living here below but following in the way of the ,lord4 ,with much love1 ,i remain ,your son in the ,lord1 ---- ----4 ,a ,,talented ,,young ,,man4 ,soon after entering upon prison work1 ,i found in one of our eastern prisons the writer of the following letters and articles4 ,he was at that time young1 gifted1 scholarly and very prepossessing in appearance4 ,his penmanship was beautiful1 perhaps the most so ,i have ever seen1 but he had fallen under evil influences and the very gift that should have been used for a better purpose proved a curse and at the time ,i first saw him he was under sentence for forgery4 ,he seemed to be clearly converted in a meeting ,i held in the prison and proved faithful during the remainder of his term4 ,but after he went out into the world ,i lost trace of him4 ,he was only one among thousands who need sympathy and help and encouragement4 ,i trust that1 if living1 he is still true to himself and to ,god4 ,some of his letters follow1 also the discourse on the ,agony in the ,garden in the form of a letter found in the appendix is of his writing4 ,oct4 #bi1 #ahhe4 ,to ,mrs4 ---- ,wheaton4 ,madame3 ,not being able to shake hands1 and having thus been deprived of the pleasure of verbally telling you what we had to say1 we now have recourse to our pen4 ,our hearts have heard1 understood and treasured your words of last ,sunday4 ,dear ,lady1 yours is a special task4 ,in your field of labor are gathered crowds unnumbered1 inert1 inanimate1 forming1 as it were1 a great desert1 a ,dead ,sea uninhabited by any living thing4 ,there lies a small world to be reconquered2 such are the men who are to be reclaimed4 ,how act upon them8 ,how move their hearts8 ,how gain mastery over them8 ,in these questions lies the secret of the future4 ,holiness in your heart and the omnipotent hand of ,jesus in yours cannot fail to bring about the reformation of a host of criminals4 ,he will save them4 ,oh6 climb the heights1 display the brilliancy of those universal truths in whose presence every being gifted with reason and accessible to reflection feels compelled to bend the knee4 ,deeds1 examples1 striking evidence and incontestable proofs of abnegation1 devotedness1 charity and sacrifices are required4 ,these are the sermons that awaken souls from their torpor2 these the weapons that triumph over the world1 however criminal1 careless1 frivolous and hardened it may be4 ,,signed4 99 99 99 99 99 ,december #a1 #ahhe4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,somewhere in ,america4 ,let me begin this letter by saying something very true concerning ,,rum4 ,let thy devotees extol thee1 ,and thy wondrous virtues sum2 ,but the worst of names ,i'll call thee1 ,o1 thou hydra monster1 ,rum6 ,pimple-maker1 visage-bloater1 ,health-corrupter1 idler's mate2 ,mischief breeder1 vice promoter1 ,credit spoiler1 devil's bait4 ,almshouse builder1 pauper maker1 ,trust betrayer1 sorrow's source2 ,pocket emptier1 ,sabbath breaker1 ,conscience stifler1 guilt's resource4 ,nerve enfeebler1 system shatterer1 ,thirst increaser1 vagrant thief2 ,cough producer1 treacherous flatterer1 ,mud bedauber1 mock relief4 ,business hinderer1 spleen instiller1 ,woe begetter1 friendship's bane2 ,anger heater1 ,bridewell filler1 ,debt involver1 toper's chain4 ,memory drowner1 honor wrecker1 ,judgment warper1 blue-faced quack2 ,feud beginner1 rags bedecker1 ,strife enkindler1 fortune's wreck4 ,summer's cooler1 winter's warmer1 ,blood polluter1 specious snare2 ,mob collector1 man transformer1 ,bond undoer1 gambler's fare4 ,speech bewrangler1 headlong bringer1 ,vitals burner1 deadly fire2 ,riot mover1 firebrand flinger1 ,discord kindler1 misery's sire4 ,sinews robber1 worth depriver1 ,strength subduer1 hideous foe2 ,reason thwarter1 fraud contriver1 ,money waster1 nations' woe4 ,vile seducer1 joy dispeller1 ,peace disturber1 blackguard guest2 ,sloth implanter1 liver sweller1 ,brain distracter1 hateful pest4 ,wit destroyer1 joy impairer1 ,scandal dealer1 foul-mouthed scourge2 ,senses blunter1 youth ensnarer1 ,crime inventor1 ruin's verge4 ,virtue blaster1 base deceiver1 ,spite displayer1 sot's delight2 ,noise exciter1 stomach heaver1 ,falsehood spreader1 scorpion's bite4 ,quarrel plotter1 rage discharger1 ,giant conqueror1 wasteful sway2 ,chin carbuncler1 tongue enlarger1 ,malice venter1 death's broadway4 ,household scatterer1 high-hope dasher1 ,death's forerunner1 hell's dire brink2 ,ravenous murderer1 windpipe slasher1 ,drunkard's lodging1 meat and drink6 ,the rum vender's power is something enormous4 ,we do not delude ourselves into thinking that the fight for national prohibition will be easily won4 ,in many respects the liquor dealers will prove an enemy harder to vanquish than the slave dealers were4 ,for slavery was an institution with a local habitation4 ,it was restricted to certain well-defined limits4 ,the whole world knew where it was and what it was doing4 ,but rum is everywhere4 ,its upholders are woven into the warp and woof of society in every city and hamlet4 ,it has a thousand heads1 and it can hide them in times of danger with wonderful facility4 ,slavery was bold1 brazen and defiant4 ,it could be nothing else4 ,but the liquor dealers1 with equal bravado and strength1 are enabled to resort to the cunning and subtlety of the serpent1 when bravado is imprudent4 ,then the liquor dealer's influence over his victims does not end with control of the bodies4 ,his slaves are his allies4 ,he owns them1 many of them1 body and soul for such a cause4 ,they will fight for rum and vote for rum as persistently as the saloonist himself4 ,these facts may as well be appreciated4 ,when it comes to defiant antagonism1 when temperance men boldly array themselves in professed opposition to the traffic in alcohol1 the struggle will be severe4 ,but it is certain there will come no time in the future when it will be less severe4 ,the liquor power is a rapidly growing power4 ,god knows it is strong enough now1 but it becomes stronger with each passing day4 ,are we willing that such a class of men not only hold such an enormous power1 but add to it indefinitely8 ,in the census for #ahhj the capital employed in the manufacture of liquor was over one hundred and eighteen million of dollars1 and the number of persons employed in the manufactories and in saloons aggregated over one hundred thousand4 ,no nation can afford to leave such power in the hands of such men4 ,it is suicidal4 ,having said my say about ,old ,devil and his ,clerks ,i guess ,i'll write a little letter to ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,your good1 kind letter was duly received4 ,we sincerely thank you4 ,when meeting with savages who don't treat you respectfully please ever remember that in ,m---- everybody who knows you or about you loves you4 ,mrs4 ,d4 told me to write to ,mrs4 ,wheaton because she is a lovely ,christian4 ,o taste and see that the ,lord is good4 ,psa4 #cd3h4 ,that is the right way to find out that ,he is good4 ,we may think ,he is good1 we may have some idea that ,he is so--but to know it1 and to know how very good the ,lord is1 we must taste his goodness4 ,he alone is good4 ,he is goodness itself2 and because ,he is this1 ,he wants us to taste1 to enjoy ,him4 ,good men and women1 and good children1 will one day be like the angels in heaven2 and they begin to be such already in this world4 ,if it were not for them1 if they were not here to be the bearers of peace and happiness1 the ministers of mercy and of love1 to wretchedness and woe1 to the weary and the bowed down1 how wretched would this world be6 ,a thousand blessings upon you1 beloved sisters1 who1 from the goodness of your great big heart1 endeavor to do good to others4 ,it is through such holy and devoted daughters of our thrice holy ,king and ,father as ,sister ,elizabeth that we taste and see how good the ,lord is4 ,you see how large a letter ,i have written unto you with mine own hand4 ,galatians #f3aa4 ,i thank my ,god1 making mention of thee always in my prayers4 ,philemon1 #d4 ,now the ,god of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope1 through the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,romans #ae3ac4 ,remember them that are in bonds1 as bound with them2 and them which suffer adversity1 as being yourselves also in the body4 ,hebrews #ac3c4 ,we salute thee1 sister4 ,your real brother in ,jesus1 ,l4 ,j4 99 99 99 99 99 ,charlestown1 ,mass41 ,oct4 #ah1 #ahhf4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister--,john #ag3bj1 #ba3 ,everyone members one of another4 ,if one suffer all suffer4 ,i do not know that the relation and consequent influence of member upon member can be better illustrated than by the connection of the body1 mind and spirit1 and the power that any one of the three has over the other two4 ,the mind depends upon the body to carry out its desires1 and the mind is in constant subjection to the body in health and in sickness4 ,the body is controlled by the mind as the ship is directed in her course by the man at the helm4 ,the spirit looks out through the eyes of the body and is entranced with the scene of beauty1 or is crushed with the sorrow with which it is seized1 according as we look upon a thing of beauty or the eye rests upon things withered and dead4 ,the life and experience of every man attest the fact that thought and emotion1 and the body in which the organs of thought and feeling are placed1 are inter-related in such a way and to such an extent that the mind and body control1 to a very great extent1 the activity of each other4 ,the wise man1 looking at the inner life and the outer manifestation of it1 from a little different point of view1 expresses it thus3 ,as a man thinketh in his heart so is he4 ,the spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity1 but a wounded or broken spirit who can bear8 ,says a writer in the ,laws of ,health3 ,if a man thinks he is an invalid he is one2 if he thinks himself incompetent he is incompetent1 and so through the whole list4 ,by faith in ,christ1 as true and confiding as the trust of a child2 by boldness at the throne of grace2 by firmness in resisting temptation1 and by resolution in the performance of every duty we are able to maintain the connection we have formed with ,christ1 the head of the body2 to bear the fruit of the vine2 to suffer with each other2 to be honored with the members of the body1 and to rejoice with those who rejoice4 ,as the connection of the body1 mind1 moral nature and spirit is such as to give one part influence over the other parts and the power to modify their health and action1 so the relation which is formed with the household of faith1 when we come into ,christ1 is to be honored by striving for the faith of the gospel and by an effort to keep the unity of the ,spirit in the bond of peace4 ,if one in ,christ now1 this oneness can be maintained among the brotherhood in but one way1 and that is by being one with ,christ and ,god in purpose1 plan and effort for the salvation of men and by striving together for the faith of the gospel4 ,the unity of ,god's people cannot be maintained by erecting standards of our own--by making our own opinions bonds of fellowship and tests of soundness--by prescribing this and forbidding that4 ,the unity is to be maintained by striving together for the faith of the gospel4 ,the same thing is true with reference to the multitudes who are following ,christ as they have learned him4 ,the unity of all these distracted bodies is not to be brought about by any effort to form a union1 but by an effort on the part of each one to grow up into ,christ1 the living ,head2 by all agreeing to disagree in their opinions2 and by all striving together for the faith of the gospel4 ,this lesson is to be taught the world by the disciples of ,christ1 and if we do not teach the lesson aright1 we may expect1 and we ought to receive the question3 ,what do ye more than others8 ,when we are growing in favor with ,god and man2 when we are increasing in the knowledge of divine things2 when our lives are hid with ,christ in ,god2 when we are appropriating the spiritual food which ,god has furnished2 when we are proving to the world that we have passed from death unto life2 when we are loving each other with pure hearts fervently2 when we are continuing steadfast in the apostles' doctrines and in the fellowship1 in the breaking of bread and in prayers1 we are giving to the world and to professed ,christians everywhere a living demonstration that we are striving together for the faith of the gospel4 ,how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings1 that publisheth peace2 that bringeth good tidings of good that publisheth salvation2 that saith unto ,zion1 ,thy ,god reigneth6 ,beloved1 ,i wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health1 even as thy soul prospereth4 ,,iii ,john #b4 ,yours in ,his love1 ,l4 ,j4 ,,under ,,death ,,sentence4 ,in #ahhg1 ,i found the writer of the following letters1 with nine other men1 under sentence of death in the prison at ,ft4 ,smith1 ,arkansas4 ,before his cell door stood his wife and four little children4 ,they all seemed heart-broken and ,i was deeply impressed with the sad1 touching scene4 ,after talking with them and praying for them1 ,i was led to believe that the man was innocent of the crime for which he and another young man had been condemned4 ,the evidence against them was purely circumstantial4 ,the other man was afterward given his liberty1 but this one was held1 as many believed1 for want of money to hire lawyers to properly plead his case4 ,i still believe him to be an innocent man4 ,i left the state a short time before the day set for the execution1 but prayed the ,lord to let his life be spared if he was innocent4 ,some time after ,i learned that he1 with several others1 had been given a life sentence in the ,ohio penitentiary4 ,i went to the ,president and ,attorney ,general in ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 several times1 trying1 if possible1 to secure his pardon4 ,they were kind and courteous and after looking up the evidence would have granted him a pardon if the judge who had passed the sentence would request it1 but he refused to do so and finally died4 ,then all hope seemed gone4 ,the wife died of a broken heart4 ,the children all died and the dear old parents1 broken-hearted1 lingered on1 hoping against hope1 until now they1 too1 may have passed away4 ,but the poor man lingered in prison1 with health1 hope1 friends1 youth1 all gone2 forgotten by the world1 waiting for death to end his misery4 ,i say hope gone2 ,i mean1 hope for freedom here4 ,his hope of heaven proved an anchor to his sorrowing heart4 ,he proved himself a consistent ,christian and a good1 quiet1 obedient prisoner4 ,a letter from ,chaplain ,starr1 ,columbus1 ,ohio1 tells me that he had been finally pardoned and was released ,january #d1 #aijd4 ,i find in my possession two papers received from ,washington regarding his case of which ,i give the reader verbatim copies3 99 99 99 99 99 ,department of ,justice4 ,washington4 ,case of ,m----1 ,western ,district of ,arkansas4 ,offense--,murder4 ,sentence--,to be hanged4 ,petition for pardon filed ,march #aa1 #ahii4 ,commuted to life imprisonment on ,june #g1 #ahii4 ,,james ,f4 ,,reed1 ,,esq41 ,u4 ,s4 ,dist4 ,atty41 ,western ,dist4 of ,ark41 ,fort ,smith1 ,ark4 99 99 99 99 99 ,department of ,justice4 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 ,march #h1 #ahie4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 #ijb ,h4 ,street1 ,n4 ,e4 ,sir3 ,the papers in the above case have been referred1 in accordance with ,department practice1 to the ,united ,states ,attorney for the ,western ,district of ,arkansas for his consideration1 and he has reported adversely thereon1 being of the opinion that the case is not one in which executive clemency should be exercised1 trial judge concurring4 ,in the absence of a counter showing1 the report of the ,united ,states ,attorney will be considered as disposing of the case4 ,by direction of the ,attorney ,general4 ,very respectfully1 ,,william ,c4 ,,endicott1 ,attorney in ,charge of ,pardons4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,smith1 ,ark41 ,feb4 #bj1 #ahhi4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,yours at hand4 ,it found a small portion of us praying to ,god for aid4 ,we keep up our prayer meeting4 ,there is but three of us who attend regular4 ,it is myself and ,mr4 ,m4 and ,t4 ,we want to do all we can to save our souls4 ,i am one who is to be executed on the #aith and ,i am ready to go if ,god says for me to go4 ,i am sure to meet you in ,heaven where there is no unjust court4 ,i want you to pray for me in good faith1 for the prayers of the righteous are powerful and ,i want you to remember the day ,i am to die and pray for my soul to go to ,god where ,i can see everlasting enjoyment4 ,i am sad1 sister4 ,it hurts my heart to think ,i have been a good1 affectionate man on earth and now ,i must die for the wicked world or man's evil4 ,i forgive all and will die an innocent man4 ,god receive my soul is my prayer4 ,brother and sister ,b4 came and prayed for us last week4 ,write me again and ,i will give you all the news4 ,yours truly1 ,m----4 ,i had to stop writing to get to prayer meeting and ,i tell you1 we had a good time4 ,it does me good to get to say a word for ,jesus1 in jail or out4 ,i am as happy as anyone could be in prison1 ,i am sure4 ,i am blessed with a sure love of ,god who can save or destroy4 ,we don't have preaching very often in here4 ,there are ten in here who are found guilty of murder4 ,it is no wonder people think they can't get justice4 ,i am sure it is on account of so many bad people being in the territory and around it4 ,i am thankful ,i am even spared to see a few more days and to let me have more time to try for justice4 ,i am doing all ,i can and so are my friends and relatives4 ,i have a good father and mother to pray for me day and night and am sure there is many a prayer gone to ,jesus in my behalf4 ,hoping to hear from you soon1 ,i say good-bye4 ,i am1 ,yours very truly1 ,m----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,smith1 ,arkansas1 ,march #ac1 #ahhi4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,yours at hand4 ,it found me well and still pleading to ,god to prepare my soul to meet my fate on the #aith of ,april4 ,it is an awful day for me to think of4 ,i do hope and pray to ,god ,i won't be put to death in such a cruel manner4 ,i don't deserve such a death1 or any punishment at all for the accused crime4 ,i don't fear death1 but ,i don't want to disgrace so many good people as it will be a disgrace on all my relatives and me as clear of murder as a child1 and ,i don't believe ,god will allow me to be put to death without a cause1 but if ,god tells me to go on the scaffold ,i will obey ,him4 ,i had a dear brother come to see me this week1 and when he left me it just looked like it was the last sight of the dear brother1 although he said1 ,i will come to see you again before ----1 then he choked down and went away4 ,he meant1 ,before you are executed4 ,it would do my dear old parents an awful sight of good to get a letter from you1 stating what ,i said in regard to a future home4 ,i do wish you would write them4 ,we keep up our prayer meeting as regular as the time comes1 except we are hindered by a good cause4 ,seldom we miss our meeting and prayers together4 ,i am sorry to say there is only three of us and ,i am all the doomed one of the three4 ,i want you when you are visiting prisons in ,texas to inquire for a man by the name of ,john ,h41 as ,i have heard he was arrested in ,texas somewhere and was in jail4 ,this is the same name as the man we are accused of killing1 and it may be the same man4 ,i wrote to ,paris1 ,texas1 but he was not there4 ,if you find him let me know at once4 ,you can ask him if he ever knew ,henry ,m4 and ,william ,w4 ,he might deny us1 so you can give me a description and ,i can tell if it is him4 ,ask him of what nationality he is4 ,god bless you all and send me relief at the last hour4 ,amen4 ,i am1 ,your true and affectionate brother in ,christ1 ,m----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,smith1 ,arkansas1 ,april #aa1 #ahhi4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,your kind and welcome letter at hand4 ,i hope you are being blessed by our ,almighty ,god4 ,i am sure you are worthy of great praise in well-doing4 ,i am very sorry to inform you ,i am not pardoned yet1 but ,i thank ,god ,i have been respited till ,june #bi4 ,it was thankful news for me and ,i am sure it is the power of our ,god who wants justice done in everything here on earth4 ,oh1 what a great promise ,jesus has promised us all if we will humble ourselves and get low down at his feet6 ,i am one that wants to bow as low as ,i am required4 ,i am a servant for ,jesus as long as ,i remain in this sinful world4 ,i am so glad my dear old pa wrote you4 ,i don't get any letters from him4 ,i suppose he writes so pitiful to me the jailer won't let me have his letters4 ,i do not know any other cause4 ,i receive letters from my brothers and sisters regular4 ,i thank you for the letter father sent you4 ,my misfortune is an awful burden on their poor1 old and feeble hearts1 but ,i pray ,god to stay them and help them to bear their sorrows and ,i am sure ,he will do so4 ,mr4 ,w41 my partner1 is granted a free pardon and the ,president did not have time to investigate the evidence in my behalf1 so he respited me for further investigation4 ,several of the senators are taking an anxious part for me and it is thought ,i will get a pardon4 ,i trust in ,god ,i will be set free and can be able to help catch sinners for ,jesus2 ,i am sure ,i am willing4 ,i am sorry to inform you ,brother ,m4 was convicted of a brutal murder as the evidence shows4 ,i hope he is not guilty1 but we must not say4 ,it is a sad place here4 ,brother ,george ,b4 and ,brother ,t4 have gone back in the world4 ,there is nothing done for ,brother ,george yet and his time is short4 ,the ,president refused to do anything for ,m41 that one-armed colored man1 so he must meet his ,jesus on the #aith of this month4 ,there is three more1 but the ,president has not ruled on their cases yet4 ,i don't know whether they will be hung or not4 ,i hope not4 ,god help them all4 ,i want you to please write me4 ,it does me good to read a letter from you4 ,write soon4 ,m----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,smith1 ,ark41 ,may #a1 #ahhi4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,yours at hand4 ,it found us all in good health1 and for myself1 ,i am looking to ,jesus4 ,we still keep up our prayer meeting4 ,it is a great comfort for me to get to tell ,jesus how ,i feel and to hear the other brothers pray and talk for ,him4 ,of course ,i know it is hard for me and some others to bear this punishment1 yet ,i feel the kindness of our kind ,saviour in my poor1 sad heart4 ,i only ask ,god to save my life and ,i am willing to spend the rest of my days in his service4 ,i can only trust ,god that all will come out right4 ,i will tell you of the dear ones who were hung on the #aith4 ,it was ,j4 ,m4 and ,a4 ,both were colored men4 ,m4 had the ,catholic priest pray for him and he said he was going to heaven4 ,he was very moody and pale2 but he seemed to know his doom4 ,poor fellow6 ,god pity us all1 for we have souls to save4 ,a4 joined the ,methodist church and was baptized the same day he was hung4 ,he was the bravest soldier ,i ever heard of4 ,he smiled and said1 ,good-bye1 ,henry4 ,i had to shed tears to see and feel the nerves quivering when he and ,i both knew that it was death caused the quivering of his pulse4 ,poor boys6 ,they are better off than ,i am1 if they had made their peace with ,god4 ,brother ,m4 was convicted and is sentenced to be hung ,july #ag4 ,there is five to be hung on that day4 ,one colored man and one ,indian woman and one ,indian man and ,f4 ,c4 and ,brother ,m4 ,myself and ,george ,b4 got a respite4 ,his is till ,june #ba and mine till ,june #bi4 ,w4 got a free pardon and ,i am held on the same evidence4 ,it is because ,i was poor and did not send a man to plead for me at ,washington1 but people think ,i will come out all right yet4 ,i leave it all to ,god1 who can do me justice without money4 ,for the sake of each poor unfortunate soul you may chance to meet1 ,i ask ,god to be near you and show and tell you a word to say to the poor condemned ones--a comforting word for their souls' sake4 ,joy and peace be with you4 ,you have my prayers1 as weak as they are4 ,jesus be with us all4 ,amen4 ,write me soon4 ,m----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ft4 ,smith1 ,ark41 ,may #bj1 #ahhi4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,yours at hand4 ,it found us all well but ,mr4 ,t4 ,he has been complaining1 but he is better now4 ,we were blessed with ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,b4 to sing and pray for us this morning and it was a great comfort to us all4 ,she was refused at first1 but after she came in and told us we sent her to ,mr4 ,c4 and he told her to sing and pray for those men as much as she wanted to4 ,it is queer for a living being to not want the distressed to find relief1 but it seems as though there was but little mercy shown us here1 and1 dear sister1 ,i am sure there are some good hearts in here and ,god surely will not allow them to be put to death4 ,yet it has been done1 and it can be done again1 and ,i am not trusting in a single word or act of man4 ,i am reading my ,bible and asking ,god to open my heart to all faith and charity and reveal all the required secrets to my heart so ,i can become one of his children in faith and be sanctified in ,him4 ,i am so glad you wrote me4 ,it does me good to hear from you4 ,write soon1 as ,i can only stay here till ,june #ba4 ,good-bye4 ,m----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,columbus1 ,ohio1 ,march #cj1 #ahij4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,yours found me in some better health than ,i was when you last saw me4 ,i am so glad you will continue to write me4 ,like all other persecuted souls1 ,i sometimes think ,i have no friends4 ,but it cannot be so in my case4 ,i do not faint or shudder at the idea of dying in prison4 ,it is just as near heaven from this prison as it would be if ,i was at home in the tender care of dear parents and brothers and sisters4 ,yet ,i cannot say ,i am as happy here as there at home4 ,i am not4 ,i feel sure my time is short in this world4 ,i have a hard time4 ,i am in a sea of tears daily4 ,oh1 it is so hard to be bound and shut out from a free world1 but this is all for some purpose1 unknown to me at present1 but by the help of ,god1 ,i my burden will bear4 ,i'll praise my ,maker while ,i've breath1 ,and when my voice is lost in death1 ,praise shall my nobler powers employ ,in that ,eternal ,world of joy4 ,lord1 remember me for good1 ,passing through this mortal veil2 ,show me the atoning blood ,when my strength and spirit fall4 ,give my sorrowing soul to see ,jesus crucified for me4 ,may ,god be your helper and bless you1 is my prayer continually4 ,i do not aim to impress on your mind that ,i am punished by the prison laws1 for ,i am not4 ,i haven't had a bit of trouble with any one since ,i came into this institution4 ,i have to work hard and ,i do more than ,i ought to1 but ,i am afraid ,i won't please my superiors in power over me4 ,i put in many a sleepless night from weariness of my daily labors4 ,but ,i could not stand any punishment1 so ,i had better over-do myself than to be over-done4 ,my sorrow is now as much as ,i can bear4 ,i am in need of all good praying people's prayers1 so ,i ask you and your friends to pray for me4 ,i am honored with all the attire of a first-grade-prison man4 ,i have the red stripes you told me to get and my mustache4 ,the boys you know are well4 ,m----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,columbus1 ,ohio4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,blessed be our ,god6 ,he has saved us thus far and has given us an ark to carry us over ,jordan1 safe to ,eternity4 ,we1 as fallen men1 sometimes err in thinking we are not under ,god's protection1 but ,i say we are4 ,jesus came1 not to bring saints1 but sinners to repentance4 ,it is not the righteous that are called1 but sinners4 ,there is only one way and that is by ,jesus ,christ1 and that is to humble ourselves to all that is right4 ,life has yet many opportunities for serving ,god and his ,church4 ,hitherto the ,lord has brought me and still in his loving hands ,i will cheerfully1 hopefully rest and trust till the shadows of earth shall be changed for the sunlight of eternity1 when my heavenly home is reached1 to be blessed forever with the ,lord4 ,sister1 ,brother ,m4 says ,god bless you1 and you have his prayers4 ,bro4 ,f4 ,c4 says he hopes to see you soon4 ,bro4 ,b4 is all right as far as ,i know4 ,they all say write to them4 ,bro4 ,t4 has forgotten his pledge4 ,may ,god soften his heart again to say ,thy will be done4 ,i close by asking you to write soon4 ,god bless you and all co-workers4 ,good-bye1 ,m4 ----4 ,,sentenced ,,for ,,life4 ,early in my prison work ,i found in one of our penitentiaries a man sentenced for life who claimed to have acted only with the motive of self-defense4 ,that man is still confined in prison1 though he is one of the best of prisoners and has given evidence of being a good1 ,christian man1 worthy of pardon4 ,i wrote to the governor once in his behalf1 but too late to avail anything1 as his term of office was just expiring4 ,while that poor man has been held there1 pardons have been granted to ,chinamen1 ,spaniards and other foreigners who were wicked and guilty1 yet this ,christian man has been kept in confinement all these long years1 until there is only one other besides himself who is now left of the prisoners who were there on my first visit4 ,the other has gone insane and ,i have feared that the one of whom ,i write would lose his mind also4 ,his article on the need of prison reform entitled ,meditations of a ,prisoner1 found in another chapter1 will1 ,i believe1 commend itself to every fair-minded reader4 ,i give a few selections from his letters4 ,i feel sure he should be a free man4 ,o the indifference of those who have the power to free such worthy cases and will not6 ,may ,god give power to the faint and grace to the afflicted and let us pray ,god to show the governors of our land to whom to give pardon and freedom and from whom to withhold4 99 99 99 99 99 ,state ,prison1 ,december #ba1 #aijb4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,your kind and welcome letter received and ,i was very glad to hear from you and ,i do hope you will soon be strong again4 ,the world needs many ,mother ,wheatons1 so it can ill afford to lose you1 but if the ,lord calls you home we must all submit1 for ,he does all things for the best4 ,i was much surprised to see by your letter that you had written to ,governor ,s4 in my behalf4 ,from my heart ,i thank you1 dear ,sister1 and may ,god bless you for your kindly interest in me4 ,but ,governor ,s4 will leave the office tomorrow and the newly-elected ,governor will take his seat4 ,it is too bad that you have gone to all that trouble for nothing4 ,but the fact that you did so will always be most gratefully remembered by myself and ,charles ,g4 ,he also wants me to send his kind regards and thanks for your good will to him4 ,when you have your book ready please send me one4 ,could you say about when it will be ready8 ,i suppose you would like to know how we spent ,christmas4 ,it was spent in the dining-room1 but we had a nice dinner and were kindly remembered by the ,warden and ,chaplain and everything was very nice and pleasant4 ,i will close with kind regards and best wishes1 and may ,god bless you4 ,sincerely yours in the ,master's service1 ,e4 99 99 99 99 99 ,state ,prison1 ,aug4 #ai1 #aijc4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,i have just received your welcome letter and was very glad to hear from you1 also to know that you were well4 ,it is a wonder you never get tired of traveling so much4 ,when ,i think of how you are constantly battling for the right in the interest of lost sinners as we are it brings forth the thought in my mind--does it pay8 ,if one only looks at the general result he can but say--it does not pay that one pure life should be worn out in the cause when so few are made to see the error of their ways and turn to the path of truth and right along the way of righteousness4 ,but again1 if one life is truly brought into the light and a soul saved1 then we must admit it pays4 ,and ,i know that your pilgrimage of mercy brings forth good1 for all who know you speak kindly of you4 ,well1 if a little spark of love is kindled in the heart of the most hardened by the kindly deeds of another1 who can tell how great that spark may become8 ,so let us not weary of well doing but press on1 hoping for the best and accepting the worst in true ,christian resignation4 ,i gave your message of love to all the men here4 ,all were glad to hear from you4 ,o1 my dear friend1 ,i am so often troubled in heart by the attitude of some people4 ,certainly ,i have been very sinful4 ,i have fully realized all that was wrong in my life4 ,it has been my endeavor to cast it all out of my life and to build on a foundation of righteousness and faith in its place4 ,i have been blessed in my effort by the help of many who ,i feel have a personal interest in me4 ,at the same time no man has been more inhumanly treated by those who profess to be ,christians than ,i have been and am4 ,yes1 my friend1 we are commanded to pray for such people4 ,this ,i have done for nine years1 but the persecution still goes on4 ,may ,god forgive them4 ,now1 a few words about the prison4 ,everything is changed here4 ,we have all new officers and guards1 also another ,governor4 ,the ,chinese cook you spoke to was pardoned last ,january4 ,i was denied4 ,i am1 with love1 your sincere friend1 ,e4 99 99 99 99 99 ,january #bd1 #aijd4 ,dear ,sister3 ,your welcome letter duly received and ,i was glad to hear from you and to know that you were well4 ,well1 sister1 ,i am again denied a pardon4 ,guess ,i must die here4 ,well1 ,the ,lord is my shepherd1 ,i shall not want4 ,still the lack of a ,christian spirit is felt as rendered to me4 ,you remember the ,chinaman who was cook for the ,warden8 ,well1 he was pardoned1 likewise several ,indians and many others who were without faith1 but ,christians--oh1 well1 prison is a good place for them it seems4 ,with kind love and best wishes to you1 ,i remain1 ,yours in ,his service1 ,e4 99 99 99 99 99 ,state ,prison1 ,feb4 #bi1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton3 ,yours received and ,i was glad to hear from you4 ,i am getting along very nicely1 but the heart is often sad4 ,oh1 ,i was so much disappointed1 and while ,i was almost heart broken over it ,i have also felt sorry for the friends that stood by me4 ,why1 just think of it--there are five members on the ,board of ,pardon1 and they all voted against me6 ,so you see it is not the ,governor alone who is against me1 but every one of them4 ,my dear friend1 ,i don't think you would be able to do anything for me4 ,the ,lord is strong certainly1 but the ones who have my freedom in their power leave the commands of the ,lord out of the question4 ,read the #ahth chapter of ,matthew1 from the #bast verse to the last of the chapter1 and you will see what ,i mean4 ,now1 dear sister1 may ,god help1 bless and comfort you in this seemingly cold world of ours1 is the prayer of your friend1 ,e4 ,,faithful ,,inside ,,and ,,outside ,,of ,,prison ,,walls4 ,another case with which ,i was very much impressed in the early days of my missionary work was that of a young man of rare ability1 gifted and sensible1 who was spending a term in one of our ,united ,states prisons4 ,he was converted and began working for ,god among the other prisoners4 ,after faithfully serving his time1 he left the prison with good prospects4 ,he was taken into an office and did exceedingly good service for the company1 also for ,god and souls1--his past being known only to his pastor1 employers and prison officials4 ,after several years he married a most estimable lady who was doing missionary work4 ,they prospered well4 ,he was promoted from one position to another4 ,for nineteen years he has lived a devoted ,christian4 ,all who know him honor and respect him4 ,his wife has recently passed over to the kingdom of heaven4 ,he is still living a true and noble life and he is only one of many who have served time inside of prison walls1 who are living for ,god outside and for ,heaven at last4 ,i quote a few extracts from letters received from him during the time of his incarceration4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in ,prison1 ,january #ab1 #ahhe4 ,my ,dear ,friend3 ,your kind note was received and ,i was very much pleased to hear from you1 but was pained that you should think for a moment that ,i was forgetting you4 ,since you left us we have had several very earnest and interesting meetings--the fruit of your presence and labor among us4 ,praise ,god1 ,he can find his way inside prison walls as well as outside4 ,he is no respector of person4 ,many men1 not before confessing ,christ or even anxious sinners1 have stood up manfully for prayers and may ,god give them grace to accept and believe4 ,it is very simple1 my dear sister1 is it not8 ,how ,i wish that all could see it6 ,it only means total surrender to ,him1 to give up the old longings and desires and trust ,him from day to day4 ,then comes the perfect peace which is vouchsafed to them whose mind is stayed on ,god4 ,of course1 you will see us again4 ,our dear ,chaplain and ,warden are doing everything possible for the spiritual welfare of all the men4 ,the ,warden dignified our first meeting by giving us his personal religious experience at the commencement of the service1 and he is willing and anxious to encourage in every way possible the religious sentiment now prevailing4 ,as for our ,chaplain1 ,i do not believe there is his equal4 ,i who am so closely associated with him can truly testify to his untiring zeal in behalf of all of us4 ,if ever there was a living man1 free from any selfish or worldly motives1 ,i believe it is he4 ,the moral tone has been increasing ever since he came among us4 ,i shall not feel at all slighted if you save your strength and time by not writing to me4 ,just send me some little message by ,f4 or any others 7for ,i see them all daily71 and ,i shall be just as well pleased4 ,it is not because ,i do not like to have you write me1 but ,i had rather spare you1 or help you4 ,if you will let me know the address of that dear lady at ,raleigh whom you stayed with1 ,i will gladly make her something and would like very much to make something for any other of the dear friends who are good to you on your pilgrimage of love and mercy4 ,shall not forget to make something for your brother4 ,may ,god bless and keep you and make his face to shine upon you for many years yet to come1 and may we finally meet in heaven where there shall be no more parting and sorrow4 ,your loving brother in ,christ1 ,c4 ,w4 99 99 99 99 99 ,august #h1 #ahhf4 ,my ,dear ,friend3 ,do you think we have forgotten you8 ,why1 no indeed6 ,we think and speak of you almost daily1 but you are moving so that we hardly know where to locate you4 ,a day or two ago ,l41 who is my friend1 got a postal card from you1 and as he cannot write1 by permission just now and ,i have the privilege to do so1 ,i drop these few lines for him as well as for myself4 ,how glad we are to know the ,lord has prospered your work4 ,how literally is the promise of ,christ fulfilled1 ,lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the end of the world4 ,it seems so wonderful that all people are opening their doors to ,christian workers1 the doors which a few years ago were closed and to be opened only through the power of ,god1 who1 as ,daniel said1 would set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed1 but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and shall stand forever4 ,our ,sabbath ,school is not in session this month but will renew its course the first of ,september4 ,we like our new ,warden very well4 ,our dear ,chaplain is still with us and is quite well and engaged as ever in his life work4 ,his place would be very hard to fill here4 ,i have been reading this morning the #cdth ,psalm--all my fears1 all his troubles1 all his afflictions--a deliverance from all4 ,there is no want to them that fear ,him4 ,this ,psalm is full of comfort4 ,praise ,his name6 ,we can find help and comfort in any part of ,his holy ,word4 ,we all pray for ,god's blessing upon you and your work and for the conversion and salvation of all whom you minister unto4 ,it does not seem too great a thing to ask of the ,lord4 ,both ,l4 and ,f4 send their love to you and ,l4 will write you soon4 ,also ,mr4 ,a4 and ,mr4 ,r4 and many more send love and best wishes4 ,i shall always consider you my friend1 and if in the ,providence of ,god we shall never meet in this world ,i hope to meet you with recognition in our eternal and glorious home above4 ,truly your friend1 ,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,january #bi1 #ahij4 ,my ,dear ,friend and ,mother3 ,your letter received yesterday made me very happy4 ,it was so good of you to write so soon and send such a nice long letter1 too4 ,i trust ,i am getting to value a letter from you as ,i ought1 as ,i realize more and more how your time is so zealously occupied and needed4 ,i have ever valued your letters for the help they gave me1 but ,i value them now for their scarcity4 ,in the future1 when perhaps you may be no more1 ,i shall esteem them among my most valued treasures4 ,yet ,i may be called first6 ,we know not the hour1 whether in youth1 or old age1 or in our prime when the angel of death shall come to summon us to eternity4 ,watch therefore1 be ye also ready1 are words that ,i try to keep ever in mind1 or rather to keep my mind so stayed on ,christ that moment by moment ,he shall keep me saved so that ,i shall never need to whip myself into keeping watch for my ,lord4 ,i am glad you believe in and have the blood cleansing freedom from all sin4 ,it is an experience that meets with much opposition from worldly ,christians and from some whose good works follow them4 ,these latter really enjoy the experience1 but are prejudiced at the name given to it by others4 ,i know that it meets with much opposition4 ,the ,christian ,witness comes to the prison every week4 ,it is an exponent of holiness and very interesting1 as well as spiritual4 ,i have a magazine which contains a story of an ex-convict which would do some good to those who think there is no hope or reform for such an individual4 ,i shall mail you the magazine1 and if you can read it do so and give it to others to read4 ,after a silence of several years my father has written me again4 ,you know he is living in ,c4 and was formerly an instructor in the ,state ,prison at ,s4 ,he is now old and broken in health1 making him incapable for steady work1 so he is residing at a soldiers' home4 ,he expresses great anxiety in regard to my future1 thinking me friendless1 etc4 ,i have written him a long letter reviewing the principal incidents of my prison life4 ,how good ,god has been to me and how my mind is at rest as regards the future because ,i have left it in ,his hands4 ,to find favor with my ,god is all ,i desire4 ,having that1 whatever my condition ,i shall be like ,st4 ,paul1 content4 ,that is my view of a successful future or life4 ,wealth1 power1 ability1 all things that men aspire to in this life1 do not make or lead to success in my mind4 ,nothing but the favor of ,god brings it to man1 and that favor comes through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,oh1 ,i am so glad that ,i know this--even me6 ,how can man doubt the wondrous love of ,god when ,he is so patient to all who will but look and see4 ,well1 said someone1 that they do not want to look and see lest they should be healed and be saved4 ,my poor old father is a church-member1 but ,i fear he knows nothing about ,holy ,ghost religion1 ,jesus ,christ's religion1 pure and undefiled4 ,i want to do just right all of the time4 ,i know my heart is right because ,i hate sin and love righteousness4 ,if the ,lord has no other work for me when ,i leave here1 ,i would like to labor under your guidance4 ,when are you coming this way again8 ,i would love to greet you once more before ,i die4 ,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,from every nodding flower1 from every whispering breeze ,from mountain's lofty height1 from towering trees1 ,from softly twinkling star1 from lightning's giddy flash1 ,from the softest twitter of a bird and thunder's awful crash1 ,from hills the ants may call their own1 ,from crested elders 'round their throne1 ,from babbling brook1 from storm-lashed wave1 ,from nature smiling1 nature grave1 ,from earth and air1 from sky and sea1 ,there comes the self same voice to me1 ,like softest note of cooing dove1 ,and sweetly whispers1 ,,god ,,is ,,love4 --,a ,prisoner4 ,illustration3 ,,administration ,,building1 ,,mitchelville1 ,,iowa4 ,illustration3 ,,campus ,,and ,,playground1 ,,girls' ,,industrial ,,school1 ,,mitchelville1 ,,iowa4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,letters from ,co-workers1 and ,some of ,my ,prison ,girls4 ,in speaking of prisoners or of those within prison walls many think only of men being found there4 ,this is due doubtless to the few women compared to the number of men found in these places4 ,in my efforts to do good to all1 ,i have been especially mindful of those of my own sex1 and have ever endeavored to encourage and lift up my sisters who have fallen victims to sin and misfortune4 ,i give in this chapter a few letters from sisters who are directly interested in the care and work for the prison bound2 also extracts from letters from a number of my prison girls4 ,the co-operation in my work and the kindness and hospitality ever shown me by the sisters1 matrons1 wives of officers1 etc41 are especially appreciated1 and all these dear ones are often remembered at the throne of divine grace4 ,these too shall all share in the fruit of the toil and labor in the final reckoning4 ,neither will my girls whom ,i have tried to help1 that have shown their appreciation and have tried to serve the ,lord1 be forgotten4 ,women who are the victims of sin and are condemned by society and the law1 have as much right to be restored and encouraged when they amend their ways1 as have men4 ,the following letters are1 ,i believe1 sufficiently explanatory in themselves1 and may be read with interest4 99 99 99 99 99 ,huntsville1 ,texas1 ,aug4 #ai1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,mr4 ,baker1 ,superintendent of ,prison1 said he would like for you to visit our prison once a year2 they all were pleased with you4 ,dear ,mother1 please pray for little ,george1 that he may be truly converted to ,god and take an interest in his studies4 ,it seems that he has no desire for them4 ,my greatest aspiration is to live to see him saved and have an education4 ,how my heart goes out for him6 ,i feel that ,i won't be with him long4 ,i sometimes think that ,i had rather see him put away before ,i go1 then ,i would know where he was4 ,when you go to the ,faith ,home pray for us that if it be ,god's will that ,i may be relieved of afflictions and that my husband may be able to do a great and lasting work for the poor unfortunate men4 ,dear mother1 ,i write you because ,i have confidence in you4 ,may ,god bless you4 ,,mrs4 ,,mary ,,mcdonald4 7,wife of ,chaplain at ,huntsville1 ,tex41 a great sufferer4--,e4 ,r4 ,w47 ,illustration3 ,,chaplain',s ,,residence1 ,,huntsville1 ,,texas4 99 99 99 99 99 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,your letter to one of our boys was handed to me by him today4 ,i enjoyed reading it1 and want to write you at once4 ,i think ,v4 was very seriously impressed by your service here1 although ,i have not yet had an opportunity to talk with him as ,i have wanted to4 ,he was sick yesterday and not in school4 ,tomorrow ,i hope to see him again4 ,i am so glad that you had the opportunity of seeing his parents4 ,i know they will be greatly benefited spiritually by your visit4 ,i am sure our blessed ,lord leads you1 as you carry peace and comfort wherever you go4 ,dear ,mother1 you comforted me4 ,i was impressed1 as ,i have never been before1 by the power of prayer1 and ,i know your prayers are heard and answered4 ,this text came to me over and over while you were here1 ,the effectual1 fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much4 ,i felt instinctively that your prayers could help me4 ,oh1 my friends6 ,i appeal to you to pray for me4 ,i may be here only until ,april1 but if ,god has work here which ,he wishes me to do1 ,i know ,he will order it that ,i shall stay longer4 ,but ,i do want to be filled with ,his ,holy ,spirit1 that while ,i stay ,i may do everything that is possible to warn and encourage these poor fallen brothers to seek a ,savior's love and forgiveness4 ,i want a power which ,i feel might be mine1 but it has not yet come4 ,i want to reach the boys and tell them of ,christ's love1 but ,i have not the power of speech4 ,i cannot convince them that my ,savior is their ,savior too4 ,so often they say to me1 ,well1 ,i guess that kind of a life is the best kind to lead after all1 but ,i never will make a start in a place of this kind4 ,the next day after you left one boy said to me that he had never before heard a talk that had impressed him as he was impressed ,tuesday4 ,i believe he is seriously awakened4 ,i think three others are1 also1 beside the one of whom ,i told you the day you left4 ,i think ,v4 is one4 ,there is a boy here who says he heard you in ,kansas ,city eight or nine years ago4 ,he was not at service1 but saw and recognized you4 ,he thought you would know him if you saw him4 ,yours in ,christian love1 ,,fannie ,a4 ,,hoyt1 7,teacher and wife of ,officer47 ,buena ,vista1 ,colo41 ,oct4 #bd1 #ahif4 99 99 99 99 99 ,atlanta1 ,ga41 ,nov4 #ab1 #ahic4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,gore3 ,this will introduce to you ,mrs4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ----1 ,prison ,evangelists4 ,you will be so glad to meet them and they to meet you and talk about our dear boys shut in4 ,god bless you4 ,,mrs4 ,,charlton ,,edholm4 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,b4 ,gore1 ,oakland1 ,cal4 99 99 99 99 99 ,anamosa1 ,ia41 ,nov4 #bj1 #ahic4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,anna ,h4 has written you about the death of ,emma ,s4 ,she had a hard cold1 not so bad as some of the girls1 however1 when she left here4 ,we tried to persuade her to remain here over ,sunday1 where it was warm1 as it was very cold and stormy4 ,she1 however1 insisted upon going4 ,we of course could not compel her to stay1 although we felt it was for the best4 ,when she reached ,algona she was too sick to go into the country five miles where she was going to stay4 ,tuesday morning she was taken out1 and ,thursday afternoon died with ,la ,grippe or ,pneumonia4 ,several of the women here have had ,la ,grippe4 ,all seem to be improving1 as ,i insist upon their taking excellent care of themselves4 ,now1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 ,i hope you will write to ,anna1 also a letter to all the girls that ,i can read to them4 ,they will be glad to think you have not forgotten them4 ,trusting that you are in good health and that you see good results from your labors1 ,i remain your friend1 ,,jennie ,a4 ,,powers4 99 99 99 99 99 ,jefferson ,city1 ,mo41 ,jan4 #be1 #aijj4 ,dear ,sister3 ,your card was received in due time4 ,all glad to hear from you4 ,the quarantine is still on at the prison4 ,no news there4 ,no visitors allowed4 ,no baskets sent in1 only money4 ,mr4 ,cook has not missed a day at work since last winter4 ,he was off twelve days to visit his dear mother4 ,she will soon pass to the other side4 ,your card was filled with sadness4 ,be cheerful and rejoice1 for soon you will go to glory to praise ,him forevermore4 ,i will write some to ,sister ,kelley4 ,write me a long letter4 ,chaplain ,p4 has been on the sick list4 ,everything going on nicely4 ,never had a better warden than now in the last eighteen years that ,i have known this prison4 ,hoping to hear of your good health1 ,i am ever1 ,,clara ,,cook4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,,women',s ,,prison1 ,,allegheny ,,city1 ,,pa4 ,western ,penitentiary1 ,allegheny1 ,pa41 ,june #g1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,i am glad to learn that you are about to embody your experiences as a missionary to the inmates of the prisons and penitentiaries of the various states in which you have labored in the name of the ,master4 ,it has been no easy work4 ,it has demanded much faith1 hope and charity on your part4 ,you have gone with untiring zeal to those who are despised and forsaken on account of their criminal acts4 ,in the spirit of our blessed ,lord and in obedience to ,his command you have gone year after year to the habitations of disgrace and sorrow and carried the cheering and helpful promises and the forgiving mercy of our dear ,savior4 ,you will have a rich reward from our ,heavenly ,father4 ,i am sure your words of gospel truth and your songs of praise have often touched the hearts of the female prisoners under my care4 ,the most rebellious and hardened have felt and testified to the gracious power of the gospel of love as you have uttered it here4 ,my hope and my prayer is that the ,almighty ,shepherd may guide1 keep and sustain you in this noble work of your life4 ,,sarah ,j ,,arner4 ,allegheny1 ,pa4 99 99 99 99 99 ,allegheny ,city1 ,pa41 ,dec4 #ca1 #ahic4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,i will try and answer your kind and welcome letter which came to hand a few days ago4 ,we were all very glad to hear from you4 ,our dear sister1 ,mrs4 ,jones1 is dead4 ,the dear old lady who was up to the workhouse with you when you were here4 ,she was a dear friend to all the girls here1 but she has gone home4 ,she can come to us no more1 but we can go to her4 ,the last words she said when she was here was good-bye1 and that she would meet us all in heaven4 ,we have very nice meetings now and would like to have you with us4 ,we pray for you every day and we want you to pray for us that we may see the right way and that we may go out of here with light hearts and go about doing good4 ,we had a nice ,christmas4 ,our ,warden treated us with turkey1 and we were all so glad that he was so kind to us4 ,well1 we will begin a new year tomorrow1 and ,i hope we will lead a different life1 a better life1 for if we believe in ,jesus ,he will save us2 yes1 ,he will keep us through the dark valley4 ,he will go with us to the end1 as ,he has promised1 if we will put our trust in ,him4 ,i have gained a great victory since you were here4 ,i have forgiven an enemy that ,i thought ,i never could forgive4 ,well1 ,i will close by sending you my love1 and as ,i have only one sheet of paper my friend will send this on to you4 ,i remain1 ,your sincere friend1 ,lucy ,f4 99 99 99 99 99 ,allegheny ,city1 ,pa41 ,feb4 #af1 #ahif4 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,i am so glad to hear from you once more4 ,i had been thinking of you so much of late and ,i asked ,god to let me hear from you or send you to us1 and so you see ,he answered my prayer4 ,i cannot express how glad we all were to receive your kind and loving letter4 ,it was read to all and ,i do wish you could have peeked in to see how quiet all were to listen to it1 and our two matrons1 too1 for they do love you4 ,i was very sorry to hear of your being so sick1 but ,god has raised you up for ,he has work for you to do yet4 ,i pray for you every night and morning that ,he may strengthen you and keep you1 for you are to us like the rain is and the sunshine to the flowers1 for we know that you do love us poor unfortunate ones4 ,will you please send us the hymns called ,tell of the ,unclouded ,day and the one called ,when the ,pearly ,gates ,unfold8 ,dear ,mother1 pray for us all1 but pray for me especially1 for ,i am in great sorrow and trials4 ,pray that ,god may raise me up friends and that ,he may keep me4 ,good-bye1 hoping to hear from you soon1 ,i remain1 yours in ,christ1 ,,laura ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,allegheny ,city1 ,pa41 ,feb4 #af1 #ahif4 ,my ,dear ,mother3 ,i wish ,i could tell you how much joy and happiness your letter gave me4 ,it came just at the time when ,i needed it most4 ,i am sick and feeble1 suffering with spine and lung trouble1 have not been able to work for the last three weeks4 ,can go to my meals and wait upon myself1 and ,i have my ,jesus with me4 ,oh1 how ,he comforts and helps make the rough places smooth1 and in the lonely hours of the night when the pain is almost beyond endurance1 ,i think of my ,savior and what ,he suffered without sin1 and of what a weak coward ,i am to complain4 ,mother1 we are some of us so impatient when we have pain1 and ,i am afraid ,i am one of those4 ,please pray for me that ,i may bear mine with ,christian fortitude4 ,i hope it may please ,god to let me live to get out of this place and have a home for myself and baby1 and if my dear ,mother ,wheaton would come and see me and rest herself for a few weeks1 would it not be nice8 ,mother1 ,i am a widow with one child and some means1 but not much4 ,still ,i intend to use some of my money1 when ,i have control of it1 to do good to others4 ,i have suffered1 ,god has opened my eyes and showed me my sins and selfishness of former years1 and ,i thank ,him for sparing me to see it in this light4 ,many of the girls that were here when you last visited us have gone out and a good many are going out this year4 ,pray for them4 ,i pray for you every night4 ,god bless and keep you is the prayer of your friend1 ,l4 ,r4 ,t4 ,no4 #igbb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,allegheny ,city1 ,pa41 ,feb4 #af1 #ahif4 ,my ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,your very welcome and unexpected letter received4 ,it is impossible to tell you with what joy and heartfelt gladness we all gathered together to hear it read4 ,you do not know how often your children speak together of you1 of where you are and what you are doing and what keeps you so long away from your ,western flock4 ,it was so long since last we heard from you that we are beginning to think our ,heavenly ,father had need of you and had taken you home1 but all praise to ,his name4 ,he has spared you to send us another loving1 encouraging message1 which we promptly answer in love and sympathy1 each one giving a word1 although only three different handwritings will be seen4 ,remember when reading the words that twenty-five of your lone children are here represented in your letter4 ,you speak of wishing for your prison children when you were sick4 ,o1 how gladly many of us would minister to your wants1 to be under the influence of your kind and loving advice1 following in your footsteps of love and life as it is in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord and ,master4 ,but though we are separated by so many miles1 thanks be to the ,almighty we can feel the influence of your continued prayers1 and many of us are greatly encouraged to keep on striving1 knowing that the crowning day will come by and by4 ,each one says3 ,ask ,mother ,wheaton when she is coming4 ,do not be too long in coming1 for some of your dear ones are leaving every month during the spring1 and we are anxious to receive your blessing before entering the cold1 heartless world of sin and sorrow4 ,yet some of us will take ,jesus with us1 and in ,his name begin life again4 ,pray for us all that our hearts may be fully and entirely given over to ,god1 with our hands in ,his hand1 be led to the mercy-seat4 ,yes1 dear ,mother1 we shall1 with ,god's help1 strive to enter in at the straight gate4 ,these are the names of those who send you special love and requests for prayer3 ,emma ,m41 ,emma ,w41 ,pearl ,s4 7who is very sick71 ,laura ,m41 ,anna ,m41 ,ella ,a4 ,with love and best wishes from our matrons1 we close1 hoping soon to see you4 ,good-bye1 ,god bless and keep you always and send you to us again4 ,all join in best wishes to you4 99 99 99 99 99 ,allegheny ,city1 ,pa41 ,feb4 #ad1 #ahig4 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton3 ,perhaps you will be surprised to get this letter1 but ,i have heard so much about you that ,i feel as though ,i was personally acquainted with you1 so ,i hope you are well1 dear ,mother1 and that you are doing work for the ,master and that ,he will give you a great many souls for your hire4 ,o1 ,i do want to see you4 ,indeed ,i would like to hear you sing and pray4 ,the girls all want to see and hear you4 ,pray for them4 ,one woman in here said that you were the only person that ever did pray a prayer that touched her heart and brought tears to her eyes4 ,the old girls talk about you so much to the new ones that they all love you1 although they have not seen you4 ,they tell over and over of your love and sympathy and that you know how to reach poor unfortunate souls4 ,you know that they need kind words and a loving smile to cheer up their broken hearts4 ,dear ,mother1 you know that a smile goes where a dollar cannot go1 for it goes to the heart and makes it so very happy4 ,good-bye1 hoping to hear from you soon1 ,i remain1 ,yours truly1 ,,lina ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,allegheny ,city1 ,feb4 #ad1 #ahig4 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton--,dear ,mother3 ,i will say dear1 for you are dear to me4 ,o1 you do not know how ,i have been longing to see you and once more hear you sing some of your beautiful hymns4 ,o6 just to hear you pray once more in this world4 ,there are only eighteen women of us now1 and when you were here last time there were thirty-three4 ,o1 dear ,mother1 do make me a special subject of prayer that ,god may keep me and guide me in the right way4 ,i have been trying to lead a ,christian life for six years now4 ,when all earthly friends have forsaken me ,jesus comes and speaks to me1 and ,he alone comforts me1 and ,i thank ,god for a full and free salvation4 ,o bless ,his holy name6 ,hallelujah in the highest to ,god6 ,our matron1 ,miss ,s4 ,j4 ,arner1 sends you her best regards4 ,i am very sorry to tell you that ,miss ,osborn was called home by the death of her sister2 pray for her and for me1 ,laura ,m41 ,no4 #icea1 that ,god may spare my life that ,i may work for the ,master when ,i am a free woman4 ,the two ,morgan sisters send you their love4 ,all of the girls send love to you4 ,come on a week day and perhaps you can get the widow's mite4 ,good-bye1 ,i remain1 yours in ,christ1 ,,laura ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,allegheny ,city1 ,pa41 ,march #ba1 #ahig4 ,dear ,friend3 ,i received your very kind and welcome letter and was very glad to hear from you1 and dear ,mother ,wheaton1 your letter did me good as ,i sit and hear it read to me4 ,i shall try to keep it1 and get it read often to me1 as it does comfort my broken heart4 ,i am a poor orphan girl4 ,my mother died when ,i was about twelve years old1 and ,i have wandered on in sin and ,i have fallen by the wayside4 ,will you pray for me that ,i may come to live just as you do1 my true1 strong friend4 ,i do wish ,i could see you today1 to hear you pray and sing4 ,all of the girls wish to see you and hope that you will come on some day through the week so that we can write out a money order for you4 ,perhaps it may be only a couple of dollars or three1 but it will be like the widow's mite4 ,i remain1 yours truly1 ,,lina ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,allegheny1 ,pa41 ,march #ba1 #ahig4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,mother3 ,we received your very kind and welcome letter4 ,o1 we are so glad that you sent us a letter and some tracts4 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,j4 ,arner1 our matron1 read the letter in the dining-room to all of us and we did enjoy it so much4 ,indeed ,i feel that ,i had a visit from a dear friend4 ,i hope you are well and ,i pray for you that ,god may strengthen you in your labors4 ,you have done a great work1 but ,god has more for you to do yet before you shall pass through the pearly gates of ,heaven1 for you have cheered so many broken hearts4 ,god sent you to cheer those in prisons4 ,i was just thinking today1 ,o1 how happy you will be in the end when ,jesus shall say unto you3 ,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit the ,kingdom prepared for you4 ,and ,o1 dear ,mother1 ,he will say to you3 ,i was in prison and ye visited me4 ,i am still looking unto ,jesus4 ,he has been my only friend for these years in prison4 ,he keeps me day by day and makes me feel happy in prison4 ,he causes me to hear songs in the night4 ,pray for me that ,god may keep me and my children4 ,i dreamed that ,i was sent to preach the gospel to some poor soul and ,i have dreamed it three times over the same4 ,first time ,i said1 ,no1 ,i cannot do it1 and the ,lord laid me on a bed of sickness1 and then ,i said1 ,lord1 ,i will go4 ,i had no rest by night or by day until ,i consented to go4 ,all of the girls join me in love to you4 ,we hope that these few lines may find you well and happy1 for you are always so happy and bright4 ,one of the old girls said that your face has such a happy smile on it and a light shines over you while you talk to them4 ,write soon4 ,,laura ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,this is an extract from a letter by an orphan girl1 a type of many other poor girls whose fates are equally as sad3 ,spokane ,falls1 ----1 #ahhi4 ,o if ,i was only free1 the greatest pleasure of my life would be to go with you and work for ,god4 ,your kindness has won my heart4 ,i have never had any one to be kind to me2 ,i have known nothing but sorrow all my life4 ,my past is almost a blank4 ,dear1 kind sister1 look on me with pity--a friendless1 motherless girl4 ,i am alone in the world4 ,i was drawn into this place through cruel treatment4 ,i have no money1 and ,i am helpless4 ,if ,god does not have mercy on me1 ,i do not know what will become of me4 ,if ,i had only a good1 kind friend like you to guide me through life1 ,i would have been a far better woman than ,i am4 ,if ,god will save me ,i shall live in the future a life of honor and work for ,god4 ,pray for me4 ,tell me in what way ,i am going to help myself4 ,o sister1 ,i am so troubled2 sometimes ,i think ,i will end my miserable existence4 ,but ,i know if ,i should take my own life that it would be a terrible sin2 but how can ,i help thinking such things in a place like this8 ,no friends1 no home1 and no money2 sick at heart1 sick in body1 sick in mind4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lancaster1 ,neb41 ,jan4 #bg1 #ahie4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,our ,dear ,friend3 ,we received your kind letter of the #gth inst4 ,we were glad to hear from you and to know that you were enjoying good health4 ,dear ,mother1 if we may address you thus1 we were very glad to hear our friend1 ,mrs4 ,beemer1 spoken of so well1 for she is a friend never to be forgotten4 ,and ,mr4 ,beemer is just a splendid warden1 kind to everybody2 and we ask you to pray that they may be retained here for another time4 ,dear ,mother1 indeed we will know how to appreciate our freedom in the future4 ,of course you do not know our names1 but ,i will give them in the following words that each sends to you4 ,hattie and ,edna send their regards to you4 ,nannie says to pray for her4 ,annie sends her best regards to you and wishes you well4 ,hattie ,r4 sends love and best wishes4 ,annie ,h4 is the one who was sick when you were here and sends love to you1 and knows that ,god answered your prayers that she might be restored to health4 ,effie joins in sending love1 and my prayer is that ,god may bless you and help you in all your good work4 ,so we close for this time1 asking you to pray for us poor unfortunate girls4 ,we remain1 your loving children1 ,h41 ,e41 ,a41 ,n41 ,h41 ,a4 and ,,effie4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,march #bg1 #ahii4 ,dear ,friend and ,mother3 ,i know you are my friend and everybody's friend4 ,i heard your kind letter and cannot help writing to you4 ,i cannot write very good1 so please excuse mistakes4 ,your letter found all the girls well4 ,i have often thought of you and wished that ,i could be a ,christian like you2 but ,i am a poor sinner and have been all my life4 ,i never heard one word out of the ,bible in my life till ,i got in jail4 ,i never had any ,christian parents1 and therefore ,i am a deep sinner1 but ,i want to do better4 ,my conscience tells me that ,i must try to be a better woman4 ,i have been a very bad girl1 but ,i think my ,savior will forgive me1 if ,i repent in time4 ,sometimes ,i nearly go crazy just thinking what a life ,i have led4 ,o if ,i would die now what would become of me8 ,i want you to pray for me1 mother1 for ,i do believe you can help me by praying for me4 ,i have not long in here now4 ,my time expires on the #beth day of ,december1 #ahii2 pray that ,i will be a better girl4 ,i want to go home to my brother if ,i can when ,i leave here4 ,i am tired of this life4 ,my soul is tired4 ,o1 ,i am so wicked6 ,i have tried to pray the best ,i knew and ,i got scared4 ,something seemed to bother me1 and ,i was afraid to go to sleep4 ,mother1 why do ,i get scared8 ,is it because ,i have sinned so much8 ,but ,i will try again and again4 ,i am willing to do right and live an honest life1 and ,i will or die in the attempt4 ,i have had a lot of trouble in my life and it drove me to all my downfalls1 but ,i can see that ,i am sending my soul to everlasting torment1 so ,i want to turn now and seek for the ,lord4 ,tell me how ,i can1 mother4 ,mother1 this is the best ,i can do2 may ,god bless you in all your undertakings4 ,the matron was glad to hear from you and also the girls4 ,pray for me4 ,,anna #dcji4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,march #f1 #ahii4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,thank ,god ,i received your kind and ,christian letter last week4 ,we are getting along nicely with our meetings and ,i know and feel that ,god is with us every day and especially the eleven that have given their hearts to ,god and let ,his dear hand guide their every footstep4 ,our dear ,matron gave me your letter4 ,i am as contented as can be4 ,i believe it ,god's will that ,i should be here1 and ,his will be done4 ,i love our dear ,heavenly ,father with all my heart and soul and ,i love all my sisters and brothers and ,i love my enemies and ,i pray for them and ask ,god to bless them4 ,i have ten months more and ,i hope you can come here again before ,i go4 ,our ,matron is with us in our meetings every ,saturday4 ,i read my ,bible and pray three times a day1 and ,i have more strength to perform my daily work1 and ,i know our dear ,savior will not forsake me or leave me alone because ,i know ,jesus loves me now1 and ,i know ,he will answer my prayers4 ,i told you before it is my second term1 but when ,i sit in my little room reading my ,bible ,i thank ,god for it1 for ,i know it was ,god's will that ,i should be here a second time1 for there is work for me to do here as well as when ,i am free1 and ,he put me here to show me ,he wanted me for one of ,his own dear humble children and ,i know and feel it now4 ,happy day1 happy day1 ,when ,jesus washed my sins away2 ,he taught me how to watch and pray1 ,and live rejoicing every day4 ,and ,i want you to pray for us all that we may have more of ,god's grace given to us day by day and help us to be humble and meek and willing to be led by ,his loving hand and pray for us that ,god will keep us from all temptation and sin and may we ever prove faithful4 ,have mercy upon me1 ,o ,god1 according unto the multitude of ,thy tender mercies4 ,blot out my transgressions4 ,every word here is just as ,i feel in my heart4 ,i may not do much with all my care1 ,but ,i surely may bless a few2 ,the loving ,jesus will give to me ,some work of love to do4 ,i may wipe the tears from some weeping eyes1 ,i may make the smile come again1 ,to a face that is weary and worn with care1 ,to a heart that is full of pain4 ,,mrs4 ,j4 ,g4 99 99 99 99 99 ,anamosa1 ,iowa1 ,aug4 #aa1 #aija4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,dear ,mother3 ,we received your kind and loving letter yesterday4 ,was more than glad to hear from you1 but sorry that you have been so sick2 but ,i praise ,god for ,his healing divine4 ,we did not have the smallpox in the prison4 ,there were cases of them in town1 but the warden quarantined the prison and vaccinated every prisoner4 ,dear mother1 ,i am trying to get a parole4 ,my petition is now before the ,governor with a thousand signers1 besides several letters from friends4 ,i have had three good homes offered to me if the ,governor will only parole me4 ,i desire so much to be where ,i can live a better life and take care of my little boy and help my parents1 who are in very poor health4 ,i do pray so much for a better place and better companions1 where ,i can do something for my own and others4 ,dear ,mother1 will you pray for me8 ,i always remember what ,i promised you when you bid me good-bye2 that was1 to pray for you every day4 ,i am so glad we have a ,savior who will hear our prayers though we are behind prison walls and our prayers are weak4 ,with love and prayers1 ,,from ,d4 ,f4 ,,to ,,mother ,,wheaton4 99 99 99 99 99 ,anamosa1 ,iowa1 ,oct4 #f1 #aijc4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i thought ,i would write you a few lines4 ,we are all well at present4 ,we cannot express how thankful we were for your visit to us4 ,we only wish you could have staid longer4 ,mrs4 ,waterman has prayer and song service every morning4 ,it is something wonderful4 ,we all wish so much to hear your voice4 ,mrs4 ,waterman spoke to us about writing to you and ,i was only too glad to write and ask you to pray for us all4 ,i believe and know it will do good4 ,i am trying very hard to pray and be a good ,christian4 ,i will ask you to pray for me4 ,respectfully yours1 ,g4 ,mc4 ,illustration3 ,,group ,,of ,,girls ,,in ,,an ,,industrial ,,school4 ,illustration3 ,,southern ,,illinois ,,state ,,prison ,,at ,,chester4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,incidents in ,my ,prison ,work4 ,,letter ,,from ,,the ,,prisoners ,,at ,,chester1 ,,ill4 ,southern ,illinois ,penitentiary1 ,menard1 ,ill41 ,nov4 #bg1 #aijb4 ,dear ,mother3 ,we are writing you from within these dark grim walls4 ,although we are condemned as the outcasts of society and separated from friends and loved ones and continually laboring under great mental strain and worry1 still there is no pain or sorrow great enough to destroy our happiness in our thoughts of you4 ,your love and thoughtfulness for us and our spiritual welfare is a priceless jewel that all the wealth of the world cannot buy nor sorrow rob us of4 ,no1 never4 ,although the world has condemned and despised us1 but we know that there is one--if only one--that loves even the outcasts4 ,several of your boys have gone from here since you were among us4 ,some have crossed to the beyond2 others to blessed freedom4 ,still a greater number are left here with fondest recollections of all you have done for us1 which is one of the greatest among our causes for thanksgiving4 ,it is hardly necessary to say1 ,remember us4 ,we all remain your sons until death4 ,,your ,,boys ,,of ,,chester1 ,,illinois4 ,an extract from a report of the ,chaplain of the ,southern ,illinois ,penitentiary will be of interest3 ,chester1 ,ill4 ,to the ,honorable ,board of ,commissioners1 ,chester1 ,ill4 ,gentlemen3 ,i take pleasure in making a report of my first year's work as ,chaplain4 ,the regular chapel services have been held every ,sunday at #i3dj a4 m4 ,the chapel has been well filled at all regular services and crowded on special occasions4 ,the attendance at religious services is voluntary1 but most prisoners consider it a privilege to attend4 ,the words of encouragement ,i have received from prisoners in conversation and by letter make me feel that good is being accomplished4 ,more than one hundred men have given me their names as ,christians or seekers of religion4 ,i attend all calls made by the prisoners during the week and visit one cell house each ,sunday evening4 ,my visits are so planned that ,i see each prisoner in his cell at least twice a month and give him a chance to make his requests known4 ,the men have been urged to study the ,bible and have been furnished tracts and other helps in ,bible study4 ,i have been astonished in making my rounds to find so many men reading the ,bible4 ,one hundred and fifty new ,bibles have been purchased during the year4 ,six hundred ,sunday-school quarterlies have been furnished the prisoners each quarter during the year and they have been urged to keep in touch with the outside world by studying these lessons4 ,the ,sunday-school lesson is read every ,sunday as a scripture lesson and comments are made upon it4 ,the sick in the hospital and the shut-in prisoners in the cell houses are visited daily and are supplied with books and papers4 ,some of them read a book each day4 ,the ,murphy ,temperance ,pledge has been furnished and more than five hundred prisoners have signed the pledge4 ,if the saloons could be closed out poor-houses1 jails and prisons would soon be almost empty4 ,respectfully submitted1 ,w4 ,n4 ,,rutledge1 ,chaplain4 ,,suicide ,,of ,a ,,prisoner4 ,while on my way to the ,state ,prison at ,chester1 ,illinois1 in the year #ahhh 7if ,i remember rightly7 ,i was especially impressed by the sad appearance of a fellow-passenger1 a mother1 accompanied by three children4 ,i was sure that she was in deep trouble4 ,i said to my helper1 ,mary1 that woman is going to the ,penitentiary4 ,she said1 ,how do you know8 ,i answered4 ,i feel sure of it and ,i will convince you that ,i am right4 ,having entered into conversation with the woman1 ,i assisted her as ,i found opportunity in caring for her children4 ,when ,i asked her where she was going1 she said1 ,i am going to ,chester4 ,i said1 ,i1 too1 am going to ,chester and will gladly assist you in getting off with the children4 ,at the station we parted1 but the next morning1 which was the ,sabbath1 as ,i passed through the guard-room of the ,state ,prison ,i saw this woman talking to her husband1 who was a prisoner4 ,she sat beside him and he was holding one of the children and she had another in her arms4 ,the third was playing near by4 ,all were too young to know of the sorrow that had come to their home1 or the shame that had fallen upon them4 ,they were with papa and mamma and felt safe and happy4 ,alas6 how little they knew how soon they were to be left fatherless6 ,i passed on and was busy during the entire day for ,i had the liberty of the prison and the privilege of working among the prisoners4 ,so busy was ,i that for the time being ,i had lost sight of that poor wife and mother1 but only the next morning the ,chaplain called for me and said1 ,sister ,wheaton1 ,i have oh1 such a sad task before me this morning6 ,i wish you would do it for me4 ,i said1 ,chaplain1 ,i will try4 ,i am willing to do anything that ,i can to help you4 ,and then he said1 ,do you remember the man and woman you saw yesterday in the guard-room talking8 ,i said1 ,yes2 ,i remember them well2 ,i met the woman on the train on my way here4 ,he replied1 ,well1 that man was so heart-broken at the thought of parting with his wife and children that he asked her to promise him that if he should die in the prison she would have him brought home for burial4 ,she promised him she would do so and last night that poor man committed suicide in his cell and now someone must go and tell that woman of her husband's death4 ,i said1 ,chaplain1 that is a hard thing to do1 but ,i will try4 ,he said1 ,i wish you would1--being a woman you can comfort her better than ,i could4 ,well1 ,i went along the hall until ,i came to the door of the room she occupied1 for1 she too1 as well as myself1 was a guest of the kind warden's wife4 ,i opened the door softly and looked in4 ,in memory ,i can see her yet as she sat with one child in her lap while the other two little ones were playing around her knee4 ,she was softly singing some old country tune4 ,as ,i looked my heart failed me4 ,i turned away in sorrow and returned to the ,chaplain and said1 ,chaplain1 ,i cannot do it4 ,i cannot break that poor woman's heart4 ,i just can't tell her1 and he said1 ,then ,i will have to do it4 ,someone must tell her1 and so he broke the message as best he could4 ,never will ,i forget the anguish of that poor woman's heart as she wept out her grief and suffering6 ,i tried to comfort her as best ,i could4 ,i took the same train with her as she started for home with her husband's body in the baggage coach ahead4 ,as best ,i could ,i ministered to her and those poor helpless children as long as our journey carried us over the same road and when ,i changed cars ,i tried to utter some words of comfort1 but oh1 friends1 what could ,i say1 what could ,i do8 ,only the sympathy of the loving ,savior could reach her case and ,i left her1 never to meet her again on this side1 but oh1 may we not hope that in some way ,god found a way to have mercy upon that poor1 misjudged man and that those loved ones may meet again where no mistakes will be made by judge or jury8 ,for many believed that poor man to be innocent of the crime with which he was charged4 ,if ,i remember rightly a barn had been burned and he had been accused of setting it on fire and had been convicted through purely circumstantial evidence4 ,brokenhearted over his disgrace and the thought of again being separated from wife and children1 the poor man made a rope of the bed-clothing in his cell and used it to take his own life4 ,i ,,have ,,no ,,friends4 ,on the #dth of ,july1 #aijc1 ,i was in the ,ohio ,penitentiary at ,columbus4 ,officers and chaplain were kind1 as usual4 ,after holding services in the hospital1 ,i held service with the men under death sentence2 then went to the prison-yard where all the others were having a holiday4 ,there the ,chaplain assisted ,sister ,taylor and myself to hold services in the open air4 ,many seemed glad to get the message of love in song and prayer and preaching and many came to shake hands with us1 while singing the closing hymn4 ,one poor old man1 a foreigner1 handed me a little package about as large as a walnut4 ,the paper was soiled from contact with his hand that warm day4 ,the poor man in tears said1 ,good-bye1 and ,i forgot all about the little package till on the train that night going east1 where ,i found it in my pocket and found inside a silk handkerchief and a #be cent silver piece4 ,on the paper was written his name and number and these words1 ,i have no friends4 ,i wept over that small token of love as ,i do not often weep over a gift4 ,i have that little handkerchief safe4 ,it seems sacred to me4 ,how ,i felt repaid for my hard day's toil4 ,that night while ,i was holding services on the train the conductor said1 ,mother1 ,i don't see how you stand so much hardship2 ,i said1 ,conductor1 ,i had even forgotten that ,i had had neither dinner or supper today4 ,i think ,i know something of what ,jesus meant when ,he said to ,his disciples after ministering to a needy soul1 ,i have meat to eat that ye know not of4 ,chaplain ,starr in one of the following letters refers to the open air service on ,july #dth2 also to some of the men under death sentence with whom ,i had labored4 ,the ,indian woman to whose death and burial he refers is the same one who is mentioned in the letters of ,w4 ,h4 ,m4 in another place4 ,columbus1 ,ohio1 ,july #aa1 #aijc4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,your letter received this morning was a very pleasant surprise4 ,we have now an additional man in the ,annex4 ,there are three men sentenced to electrocution in ,september and ,october4 ,what change may come we do not know4 ,i gave them your letter2 they will read it over by themselves1 and the tracts also4 ,they still say that your visit with them on the ,fourth of ,july did them much good4 ,i have also delivered your letter to ,d41 and with it a letter from myself1 giving him encouragement and offering to render him any friendly assistance4 ,the old ,indian woman1 ,elsie ,j41 whom ,i think you have several times seen in the female prison1 died on the #ith1 and we gave her a ,christian burial yesterday4 ,she was converted and baptized some time ago4 ,i am glad that you are preserved and sustained in your great work as prison evangelist4 ,if ,d41 and ,n41 and ,w4 write to you ,i will forward the letters to your address4 ,with kind wishes and regards1 ,i am1 ,your brother1 ,d4 ,j4 ,,starr1 ,chaplain1 ,o4 ,p4 ,your talk in the yard on the ,fourth of ,july did good4 99 99 99 99 99 ,columbus1 ,ohio1 ,sept4 #bf1 #aijc4 ,dear ,sister3 ,your recent postal came duly to hand4 ,i received your letter in ,july from the ,south and wrote you a reply1 but have kept it until the present time1 not knowing where to mail it so it would reach you4 ,i will now send it in this letter1 so that you will see that ,i have not forgotten you and answered your letter at the time4 ,you inquire concerning the men in the ,annex2 we have now six men in the ,annex4 ,one of them has been granted a new trial and some others are expecting to get new trials4 ,they do not take any great interest in religion1 but yet they read the ,bible some and talk about it4 ,i will tell them of your interest in them and assure them that they are not forgotten in your prayers4 ,sincerely yours1 ,d4 ,j4 ,,starr1 ,chaplain1 ,o4 ,p4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ohio ,penitentiary1 ,feb4 #bb1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister3 ,i have just received your letter from ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 inquiring about the men in our prison death cell4 ,there are ten there now and two have been taken out for new trials4 ,if these are sent back we shall have twelve4 ,the largest number1 until this list1 ever in the ,annex was nine4 ,murders1 as well as other crimes of violence to person and property1 are on the increase and society is trying to protect its life--without much security1 so far4 ,perhaps three of the men are ,scripturally penitent1 three others interested and four indifferent to religion--so far as we can see4 ,the men have ,bibles1 religious song books and papers1 library books and religious letters from relatives4 ,they are not allowed to correspond without especially good reasons for permits to do so4 ,i hold a little meeting and ,bible study with those who care for it almost daily at #b p4 m41 at which time you might help us with your prayers4 ,sentiment is not salvation4 ,the trouble1 both in the prison and out of it1 is1 men will not seek after ,god4 ,yes1 ,i am busy and ought to be busy about my ,master's business1 and so are you4 ,with best wishes1 ,i am1 ,respectfully yours1 ,d4 ,j4 ,,starr1 ,chaplain4 ,,way ,,opened ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,i had for many years prayed for an opportunity to preach in one of the largest state prisons4 ,again and again ,i had been refused by both the warden and chaplain4 ,but at last through a new governor of the state ,i was permitted to enter this prison for religious services4 ,calling at the office of the governor and asking permission to go to the prison and assist in the services1 he said1 ,certainly1 we shall be glad to have you4 ,there will be no difficulty1 as we have new officers4 ,you can preach in the prison4 ,before ,i had left the ,governor's private office the warden of the prison being present spoke and said1 ,certainly1 they would be very glad to have you take part with them4 ,i asked if ,i should not see the chaplain1 but the warden said he would be all right1 and be pleased4 ,but ,i insisted that it was only courtesy to see the chaplain4 ,and asking the governor to please write a note to him1 he did so and remarked that the state carriage was waiting at the door and ,i should be driven to the chaplain's house4 ,arriving at his home ,i was met by his little daughter who carried my card to her father and he soon came into the room asking what ,i wanted4 ,i should like1 if you please1 to take part with you in the services at the prison chapel tomorrow 7,sunday7 as ,i have been some years in prison work1 ,i replied4 ,no indeed1 he answered1 ,i cannot allow a woman to speak in my meetings4 ,i will never permit any woman to take my pulpit4 ,i made no reply1 but that the state carriage was waiting for me and ,i must go1 but said to him1 ,here is a letter from the governor4 ,will you kindly look at it before ,i leave8 ,he took the message and noting its contents he changed color and seemed confused2 saying1 ,i never did allow a woman to speak in my meetings4 ,but seeing the governor's request and your years of experience1 ,i will allow you to come in the morning and conduct the women's meetings4 ,the governor's letter read as follows3 ,executive ,department1 ,oct4 #bd1 #ahia4 ,dr4 ,o4 ,w4 ,g41 ,chaplain of ,penitentiary4 ,dear ,sir3 ,the bearer1 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 is a prison evangelist of national reputation and experience1 who brings letters of strong recommendation from wardens of the prisons she has visited1 and ,i commend her to your kind consideration4 ,she has expressed a willingness1 if not a desire1 to participate in your services tomorrow afternoon in the chapel and ,i trust you will afford her every facility for so doing4 ,respectfully1 ,,david ,r4 ,,frances4 ,a ,,woman ,,converted ,,and ,,healed4 ,i went praying for an outpouring of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,while ,i was speaking ,i was impressed to step down the aisle and lay my hand upon the head of a vicious looking colored woman4 ,i afterward learned that she was a life time prisoner and a very dangerous woman4 ,instantly the power of ,god fell upon her and she was wonderfully converted then and there1 and to the best of my knowledge is still true to ,god4 ,the other women seeing this1 their leader in sin 7for so she was7 so changed1 were subdued and convicted of their sins4 ,the meeting closed with victory for ,god4 ,the chaplain was convinced and said1 ,you have won the worst woman in the prison4 ,you have the hearts of all the prisoners now1 for her influence is great4 ,you come and preach to the men this afternoon4 ,i am convinced4 ,years have come and gone4 ,governors1 wardens and chaplains have been changed2 but ,god does not change1 and the doors of that prison are still open to me1 and ,god always blesses every service4 ,some years later upon visiting this prison again we found this poor colored woman much afflicted and walking on crutches4 ,the sister with me and ,i prayed for her1 and she was instantly healed1 throwing her crutches aside at once4 ,the matron then gave her the key to go down and unlock the outside door for us1 having so much confidence in her4 ,she received a pardon from the governor later4 ,another woman in the same prison was also prayed for and was instantly healed by the ,lord1 of a large tumor1 and ran and praised ,god for what ,he had done for her4 ,a ,,change ,,wrought4 ,for some years another prison was closed to me4 ,why1 ,i never knew4 ,i prayed that the doors of that prison might be opened to me4 ,when the ,lord sent me back there ,i found such a change as ,i had never before witnessed in the same length of time4 ,there was a good ,christian chaplain1 one of the best of wardens1 and good deputies4 ,every prisoner was in an improved state of mind and morals1 and all in harmony and glad to obey the rules of the prison4 ,i was treated with courtesy and kindness1 and was given all the time in the services1 and was entertained4 ,when ,i left ,i was conveyed to the depot with ladies as escorts1 and a trusty as driver4 ,such are the wonderful workings of ,god through faith and prayer4 ,the meetings in this state prison were owned and blessed of the ,lord4 ,the ,holy ,spirit led and all seemed to enjoy and appreciate them4 ,the chaplain said1 ,how much good was accomplished6 ,all were united in harmony and ,god was glorified4 ,a ,,chaplain ,,in ,,my ,,audience4 ,at another time1 arriving at a certain city where there was a state's prison1 ,i met in the depot a young lady wearing a ,salvation ,army bonnet4 ,she was crying at not being met by friends as she had expected1 and ,i asked her to go with me4 ,she gladly did so and ,i proceeded to the prison to ask permission to hold services for the prisoners on the next day which would be the ,sabbath4 ,obtaining the consent of the chaplain ,i waited till the time for the service on ,sabbath morning and returned4 ,the guard refusing to admit me1 ,i sent for the chaplain4 ,when he came he also refused me1 saying he could not permit me to hold the service1 as he thought ,i belonged to the ,salvation ,army4 ,a friend suggested that ,i should go to the ,governor at his residence1 saying that he was a kind man4 ,i did so1 and was very kindly received4 ,having listened to my request he said1 ,yes1 you may have your meeting in the prison1--he having heard of my work before4 ,he wrote a card for me to carry with me1 and ,i took it and returned to the prison4 ,the preacher and the ,sisters of ,charity had all gone to the women's department4 ,the men were out in the large yard4 ,i called1 ,boys1 come on1 we are going to have a meeting4 ,how they hurried pell mell to the chapel6 ,and such a meeting6 ,the power of ,god fell4 ,just then the chaplain entered1 much surprised of course1 and ,i said1 ,chaplain1 ,i am permitted through the kindness of the ,governor to hold this service4 ,will you please be seated8 ,had a most glorious meeting1 closing with results altogether satisfactory to the chaplain4 ,,impressed ,,to ,,tarry4 ,while holding a meeting in a certain city1 ,i was impressed day after day to tarry4 ,i did not know why4 ,i wanted to go1 but still the ,lord impressed me to wait4 ,one evening a cry was heard1 ,a man is shot4 ,immediately the ,spirit impressed me1 ,that is what ,i detained you here for4 ,i rushed out into the night1 and inquired where the man had been carried4 ,they told me to the hotel4 ,i went immediately1 got admittance to his room and found him in a dying condition1 with no one that knew ,god to pray for him4 ,and there by the bedside of the dying man1 some mother's boy1--dying without ,god and without hope in the world1--,i tried to point him to the ,lamb of ,god that taketh away the sin of the world1 hoping that the ,lord would give him a chance at the eleventh hour to seek salvation1 and ,i believe ,god heard my prayer for this soul4 ,,encouragement ,,by ,,the ,,way4 ,in the ,pacific ,garden ,mission in ,chicago one night1 after addressing the audience and singing the ,gospel to the people1 ,i gave an invitation to all who desired to lead a new life and serve the ,lord to come forward and publicly confess ,christ and repent of their sins4 ,instantly a fine looking young man rose in the rear of the hall1 hurried to the front and grasped my hand1 saying that he saw me three weeks before in the ,deer ,lodge1 ,montana1 ,state ,prison4 ,he said that three days before1 he was released and had come to ,chicago1 and passing along the street he heard me singing a favorite hymn at the open air meeting before services in the hall1 and was attracted in4 ,with hand raised1 he promised to be a ,christian and live for ,god and meet me in ,heaven4 ,he said he had my ,bible that ,i gave to the matron of the prison1 who1 when he was leaving1 gave it to him4 ,cast thy bread upon the waters1 for thou shalt find it after many days4 ,many others gave themselves to the ,lord that night but this was one of my prison boys1 and ,i was his mother1 in that sense1 as my life has been consecrated to ,god for that special line of work4 ,the day following1 on my way east1 ,i was compelled to stay over night at a way station where we were to change cars4 ,as ,i left the train ,i heard1 as usual1 the call of cab-men but passed on into the waiting room4 ,several followed me1 but one took me by the hand and addressing me familiarly said1 ,get into my cab1 mother1 it is all right2 ,i'll take you where you wish to go4 ,mother ,prindle1 who was with me said1 ,do you know ,mother ,wheaton8 ,he replied1 ,i have read about her1 but the look in his kind eyes told me it was one of my boys from prison4 ,he was now settled in life1 a good man1 with a wife and two children4 ,he escorted us to the jail where ,i desired to hold services1 then to the home of a minister1 and from there to our lodging house4 ,i bless ,god1 and will through all eternity1 that the dear ,lord ever called me to work in the prisons as well as in other lines of ,christian work4 ,there are many all over this land now serving ,god1 leading good1 honest lives1 a blessing to their country and an honor to ,god's cause1 who were found in prisons and slums1 discouraged and having given up all hope of ever being anything but miserable and wretched4 ,they are now serving the blessed ,christ who came to seek and to save that which was lost1 and destroy the works of the devil1 not willing that any should perish1 but rather that all should be saved4 ,o reader1 many are the lives we might rescue from the ranks of the enemy if we were more in earnest and lived in close touch with ,god1 and more under the power and inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,once in a meeting ,i was attending1 the minister in charge took another young preacher by the hand1 and said3 ,i want you to preach for us4 ,the one addressed came to the front of the platform and said3 ,yes1 ,i will2 but first ,i want to say ,i was once in an insane prison1 an awful place4 ,no one will ever know all we had to suffer there4 ,i was insane through drink--no one could help me4 ,i was sin-hardened and hard-hearted1 but this ,mother 7pointing to myself7 came to our criminal prison and sang and prayed and talked to us1 and was kind to us1 and my heart was melted1 and ,i wept--something ,i could not1 would not do until then4 ,her kindness won me1 and ,i was saved1 truly sanctified1 and ,i have been preaching the ,gospel for four years4 ,a ,,case ,,of ,,cruel ,,neglect4 ,at the best1 life in prison is hard4 ,how much worse when cruelty and neglect are added to the necessary restrictions that are placed upon those in confinement4 ,i knew of one young colored man in prison in the south who was compelled to endure the winter weather without proper clothing or covering4 ,his one blanket was so short that his feet were so badly frozen they had to be amputated4 ,think you that such things as these do not cry to ,god for vengeance8 ,,another ,,suicide4 ,well do ,i remember a promising young man1 who1 when ,i was preaching in a prison in a southern state1 began trembling and ran back into his cell and called for an officer to bring me to him4 ,i found that he was quite weak from a bullet wound he had received in a drunken row in a saloon1 he having killed a man in the fight4 ,he was a young man with bright prospects before him1 but bad company and a love for strong drink had wrought his ruin4 ,he told me of his uncle who was a minister1 a prominent evangelist4 ,i was much surprised that a nephew of so popular a minister should be in state's prison for such an awful crime1 crushed with shame and remorse4 ,could it be possible8 ,his mother was a rich lady4 ,this young man either because of his wealth and position1 or because of his good conduct in prison1 or both1 was given privileges and often sent outside the prison grounds4 ,often ,i plead with him to come to ,christ4 ,but one day the old demon of drink had overcome him and having secretly obtained some liquor1 while at a game of cards he shot himself4 ,let us throw the mantle of charity over that blighted life1 and leave him in the hands of a just ,god4 ,who will be willing to answer at the bar of ,god for that soul8 ,woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink1 that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken also4--,hab4 #b3ae4 ,vengeance is mine1 ,i will repay1 saith the ,lord4 ,,just ,,out ,,of ,,prison4 ,o the wrongs that we may righten1 ,o the skies that we may brighten1 ,o the hearts that we may lighten-- ,helping just a little6 ,while traveling on the train one day1 the brakeman said to me3 ,there is an ex-convict in the smoking-car4 ,all right1 ,i will go in and see him1 ,i said4 ,i went and took him by the hand as he sat alone in the rear seat of the car1 sad and dejected1 with no money1 no friends1 no home4 ,his mother had died while he was incarcerated in prison2 home broken up1 nowhere to go4 ,how glad ,i was to take this poor soul upon my heart1 and intercede for him in silent prayer2 and then have him come into the other coach and share my lunch4 ,at parting he promised me he would live a temperate life1 and serve ,god the best he knew4 ,i believe the dear ,lord had me travel on that train to meet that poor unfortunate and help and strengthen his faith in ,christianity1 by showing him attention outside as well as inside the prison walls4 ,how often a soul is saved from a downfall by a word in season2 a kind hand-clasp1 a ,god bless you2 cheer up1 look up1 better days are coming1 etc4 ,when hope is well-nigh gone1 and friends have forsaken1 and all has failed2 yet we can always tell such that ,god never fails4 ,,dying ,,in ,,prison4 ,one day as ,i was alone in a gloomy prison a poor boy called to me and said1 ,write to my mother1 but don't tell her where you found me4 ,please don't tell her1 for it would kill her4 ,she never could live and know her boy was in prison4 ,on the dirty floor1 lying on a pile of still dirtier straw ,i found this poor prison boy dying4 ,i fell on my knees and poured out my heart to ,god in his behalf4 ,that head had been pillowed on tenderest breast1 ,that form had been wept o'er1 those lips had been pressed1 ,that soul had been prayed for in tones sweet and mild2 ,for her sake deal gently with some mother's child4 ,do not tell me that it does not pay to labor and pray with these dear lost ones4 ,for if ,i can be the means of rescuing but one soul from eternal punishment1 thank ,god1 it pays me4 ,,will ,,it ,,pay8 ,some gentlemen were once looking at a large building erected for newsboys1 that they might be brought under religious and refining influences4 ,one of the spectators asked a large contributor to the benevolent institution this question3 ,now you are erecting this building at a cost of many thousands of dollars1 and ,i admire your motives1 but suppose that after all this great expense only one boy was saved here--would you still think it paid for time1 labor and money expended8 ,the man answered quickly and earnestly1 ,yes1 sir2 if it was my boy4 ,the most precious thing in the sight of ,god is a soul4 ,for the redemption of every soul on earth was paid the precious blood of the ,lamb of ,god4 ,count it not then a light thing in ,his sight for one to be saved or lost4 ,for ,there is joy in the presence of the angels of ,god over one sinner that repenteth--more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance4 ,hundreds have been saved under my observation and instrumentality both inside and outside of prison walls1 and my motto has been1 ,throw out the lifeline across the dark wave4 ,,saved ,,and ,,preaching ,,the ,,gospel4 ,upon a warm ,july day1 starting to walk out from ,bismarck1 ,n4 ,d41 to what ,i took to be the state's prison1 but which proved to be a large water reservoir1 being overcome by the heat ,i fell1 and crawling to a shade ,i lay down with my ,bible under my head4 ,after a time ,i saw some distance away some persons driving in an open hack and signaled to them till they saw me and came to me4 ,they drove me to the home of the warden of the prison where ,i was kindly received by the warden's wife and made comfortable4 ,late that night ,i held service in the prison corridors4 ,this was in #ahhe1 and in #aija ,i was leading a meeting in a mission in ,portland1 ,oregon1 and asked all who had something special for which to praise the ,lord to speak4 ,a brother arose and said3 ,i want to thank the ,lord tonight for the privilege of hearing ',mother' ,wheaton preach outside of prison walls4 ,i have heard her in many a prison4 ,years ago1 one night at #i o'clock1 when all the prisoners had been locked in their cells1 the officers unlocked the doors to let this sister sing some hymns and hold services in the corridors4 ,one hymn that especially touched my heart was ',throw out the life line4' ,i was an opium fiend1 a morphine fiend1 a whisky fiend1 and an all around bad man1 and was ready to despair4 ,but ,god touched my heart and saved me and called me to the ministry4 ,at this time ,i was with my other sins a deserter from the ,united ,states army4 ,when my time expired ,i went and gave myself up and was sentenced to five years more in prison4 ,but ,god had mercy on me and in seven months ,i was pardoned out4 ,since that time ,i have lived an honest life1 and for eight years have preached the gospel4 ,this man was married to a ,christian woman and has done much to rescue men from the pit from which he had been taken1 and is still preaching4 ,,in ,,solitary ,,confinement4 ,one ,sunday ,i sang perhaps thirty hymns and preached seven times to prisoners in solitary confinement1 where ,i dare not see them or clasp their hands as ,i do in other prisons4 ,there are hundreds there1 and as ,i sang in all the prison wards or corridors many different hymns1 the dear souls cheered and responded with their clear voices as best they could to show their sincere appreciation of my efforts to brighten their lonely prison life4 ,each was some mother's boy4 ,reader1 is there not a sympathetic chord in your heart for these poor unfortunates8 ,,crape ,,on ,,the ,,door4 ,i once felt impressed to go to a certain prison and hold services4 ,arriving at the place early in the morning1 ,i thought ,i would go to the prison first before ,i would telephone for a cousin who often helped me in the singing4 ,when ,i arrived at the prison1 the chaplain said1 ,mother ,wheaton1 the ,lord sent you to help me4 ,to-day ,i have a funeral service of a prisoner1 something we have never had at this prison4 ,i did not telephone then for my cousin1 as the services were arranged4 ,i worked all day in the prison1 holding services with both men and women prisoners1 visited the hospital1 and went to the city jail at #e p4 m4 and held services1 and then went to my relative's home and was greatly shocked to find crape hanging on the door4 ,i found my cousin cold in death4 ,relatives asked me1 ,who told you8 ,i said1 ,god impressed me to come at this time4 ,and ,i went with them to the grave of my dear cousin1 and kneeling beside the open grave1 ,i promised to faithfully do ,god's holy will1 and meet the departed one in ,heaven4 ,,in ,a ,,police ,,station4 ,in #aijc1 while ,i was in ,san ,francisco1 ,i was impressed to go to the police station about nine o'clock one night4 ,i found1 on arriving1 an ambulance bringing in prisoners1 among them a woman who was arrested for drunkenness4 ,i talked and prayed with her4 ,hearing a noise like one in distress1 ,i walked on through the corridors and ,i found a young soldier who was badly wounded in one eye and the head4 ,he was standing alone in his cell in great pain4 ,the bandage had been torn off1 and the blood was running down his face1 though his wounds had evidently been dressed by a physician before coming there4 ,he was crying from the pain1 and was under the influence of drink4 ,i wiped the blood off his face1 and put the bandage on his eye again4 ,then ,i knelt in prayer with him4 ,i left the city on an early train1 and never saw him again1 but ,i believe ,god heard and answered my prayer for his salvation4 ,,burned ,,in ,,his ,,cell4 ,i went into one of our western cities to hold services at the jail4 ,on the way from the depot ,i stopped at a store1 where a young clerk told me of a horrible crime that had been committed in the jail4 ,that the prisoners had been trying to make their escape1 and one young prisoner had revealed the plot to the jailer1 and thus saved his life4 ,the prison wall had been worked in a cunning manner1 and the prisoners were about to escape1 when this poor boy informed the jailer of what was being done4 ,the other three prisoners were so enraged that they threw coal oil over the boy1 set fire to his clothing1 and he was burned alive in the cell4 ,i was grieved at hearing this1 and felt that ,i could see them punished severely4 ,they were in an underground prison for safe-keeping until the wall could be repaired4 ,the officers were afraid to let me go in1 but ,i told them ,i was not afraid1 and went down the stairs ahead of the officers4 ,i saw only one dim candle burning1 and called for a light4 ,a lamp was brought1 and ,i went boldly into the presence of those criminals4 ,i sat down and thought of the awfulness of it all4 ,so1 as ,i wept1 ,i sang ,some ,mother's ,boy1 and they cried like their hearts were breaking4 ,i went over to them1 where they were sitting together on an old bunk1 and we cried together4 ,they were humble and convicted1 and it was love that did it all--,god's love which showed them that though their sins were as scarlet1 they shall be white as snow1 though red like crimson they shall be as wool4 ,god heard prayer for them and ,i trust they were forgiven4 ,,the ,,innocent ,,in ,,bonds4 ,in a certain state prison the officer called my attention to a man and said1 ,that man is innocent of the crime he was sentenced for4 ,then why do you keep him here8 ,i asked4 ,because he serves for his friend1 willingly allowing the guilt to be placed upon himself rather than see this friend who was really guilty suffer4 ,on leaving the prison ,i came upon this man with an officer on the train1 and had the pleasure of talking to the man and hearing his story4 ,i referred him to ,psalms #ae3a1 #b1 #d4 ,lord1 who shall abide in thy tabernacle8 ,who shall dwell in thy holy hill8 ,he that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness1 and speaketh the truth in his heart4 ,he that sweareth to his own hurt1 and changeth not4 ,he was being taken to another court for trial4 ,,confessed ,,her ,,guilt4 ,a woman in a prison was convicted of sin under my preaching1 and sent for me to come to her cell1 where she gave me such an account of her crimes that ,i was shocked1 and yet was powerless to liberate an innocent man that she said was in ---- state's prison for a crime she committed4 ,she asked me to go and tell him for her that she was the guilty one1 and try to have him freed1 but wanted the matter kept secret4 ,now that she was under conviction of her sins1 she could not rest4 ,i went to the state prison she named1 found the man1 and told him her story4 ,his agony was pitiful to behold4 ,he said1 ,o how ,i loved my wife and baby4 ,i am an innocent man4 ,how can ,i live my sentence out in this way8 ,nothing to live for4 ,such bitterness as he held toward that wicked woman1 for her crime and duplicity6 ,i left him in an agony of grief4 ,and yet there are so many who are serving as unjustly for others' crimes6 ,this woman had killed the wife thinking she herself would then get the husband4 ,,under ,,sentence ,,of ,,death4 ,going into the presence of two condemned men on our national holiday1 the chaplain remarked1 ,i wish you could reach these men's hearts4 ,you have often helped others in this prison who were under death sentence4 ,i prayed in silence for wisdom1 and as ,i walked into their presence1 ,i said1 ,i have come to sing to you and have a little visit with you1 but if you prefer to be alone1 ,i will go away4 ,they said they would be glad to have me stay4 ,i sang several songs1 and before ,i had spoken of religion1 ,i was made glad to see tears in their eyes1 and then we knelt in prayer1 and ,i prayed ,god to pardon their sins and make them pure in ,his sight4 ,i do not believe in capital punishment4 ,lord hasten the day when the crime of putting men to death legally shall be done away with4 ,it does not stop crime4 ,i thank ,god that one noble warden gave up his honorable position and salary1 rather than take the lives of any more men4 ,i wish ,god would raise up men all over our land who in like manner would be brave enough to refuse to sacrifice human lives because the law licenses them to do so4 ,when ,i see wicked men so anxious to see poor1 helpless men executed1 ,i think of that authoritative utterance1 ,vengeance is mine1 ,i will repay1 saith the ,lord4 ,jesus said1 ,he that hateth his brother is a murderer4 ,there is a day of reckoning coming4 ,,the ,,religion ,,mother ,,had4 ,many times prisoners have said to me when speaking to them1 ,that's the kind of religion mother had4 ,you remind me of my own dear old mother2 and many1 even statesmen1 and the attendants in the capitol1 and in the ,president's mansion1 have said to me with uncovered heads1 and tears in their eyes1 ,that is the kind of religion mother had4 ,i wish ,i was as good as she was4 ,i find the crying need to-day in all stations of life2 from the palace to the dungeon1 is real1 genuine1 heartfelt1 common-sense salvation1 not to be cranks and fanatics1 not to be one-sided or half-way professors of religion2 but to have the ,holy ,ghost in our hearts and lives1 and a burning desire to help every one into the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,being all things to all men that we might win some wandering souls to ,christ4 ,o the joy of knowing that you are doing just what ,god wants you to do--winning souls for ,his ,kingdom1 from all walks of life2 often in houses of ill-fame souls are truly saved and reformed4 ,often in saloons men and women are impressed by the straightforward message of love brought them4 ,you say1 ,no use to try4 ,o thou of little faith1 wherefore did'st thou doubt8 ,i have much encouragement among the criminal classes1 for they are despised and rejected by earthly friends4 ,i might give many more instances1 but this is probably sufficient4 ,let no one think for a moment that these poor unfortunates have no tender feeling1 no remorse because of sin4 ,they see their shame and feel the separation from home and loved ones4 ,there must be places to confine criminals and protect the lives and property of other people1 but we must remember that behind all the guilt there are precious souls that live through all eternity4 ,sin is treacherous1 the human heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked2 perhaps under unfavorable conditions the heart of the most moral man or woman may generate the evil of the human nature and cause it to show its corruption in crime4 ,all that saves some people now from the felon's cell1 or gambler's hell1 is that they hold the propensity of their corrupt hearts in with bit and bridle4 ,and thousands tread the earth in freedom1 who1 if justice could find them out and fasten their guilt upon them1 would be in the prison stripes and iron cells4 ,so be not so ready to cry ,crucify him6 ,stone her6 until you can look into your own heart and see that it is pure and clean4 ,,capital ,,punishment4 ,thank ,god6 that ,i have lived to see the time ,when the great truth begins at last to find ,an utterance from the deep heart of mankind1 ,earnest and clear1 that ,,all ,,revenge ,,is ,,crime6 ,that man is holier than a creed--that all ,restraint upon him must consult his good1 ,hope's sunshine linger on his prison wall1 ,and ,love look in upon his solitude4 ,the beautiful lesson which our ,saviour taught ,through long1 dark centuries its way hath wrought ,into the common mind and popular thought2 ,and words1 to which by ,galilee's lake shore1 ,the humble fishers listened with hushed oar1 ,have found an echo in the general heart1 ,and of the public faith become a living part4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,no more the ghastly sacrifices smoke ,through the green arches of the ,druid's oak2 ,and ye of milder faith1 with your high claim ,of prophet-utterance in the ,holiest name1 ,will ye become the ,druids of our time6 ,set up your scaffold-altars in our land1 ,and1 consecrators of ,law's darkest crime1 ,urge to its loathsome work the hangman's hand8 ,beware--lest human nature1 roused at last1 ,from its peeled shoulder your encumbrance cast1 ,and1 sick to loathing of your cry for blood1 ,rank ye with those who led their victims round ,the ,celt's red altar and the ,indian's mound1 ,abhorred of ,earth and ,heaven--a pagan brotherhood6 --,,john ,,greenleaf ,,whittier4 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,,chapel-,,dining ,,apartment ,,and ,,row ,,of ,,cells1 ,,chester1 ,,ill4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,conversion of ,desperate ,prisoners ,prevents a ,terrible ,mutiny4 ,during the fall of #ahhh1 ,i was deeply impressed that ,i should visit the state prison at ,waupun1 ,wis4 ,following the guidance of the ,spirit1 ,i reached the place1 after a long journey1 on the evening of ,november third4 ,a dear ,christian girl was with me4 ,it was a lovely moonlight night and as we came to the prison1 the yard was plainly visible through the heavy iron grating4 ,my companion called my attention to its beauty but my heart was heavy and ,i could only reply1 ,sister1 pray6 ,o do pray6 ,there is something awfully wrong here--some danger pending--something terrible6 ,the officers of the prison welcomed me heartily and the chaplain said3 ,i am glad you have come and shall be pleased to have you take the service tomorrow morning4 7,it was ,saturday47 ,his wife entertained us during our stay and after taking us to their own rooms he said3 ,there's a man here who is a terror to both the officers and prisoners4 ,all are afraid of him4 ,neither kindness or punishment seems to affect him4 ,i wish you could do something to help him4 ,my reply was3 ,i cannot do anything1 but ,god can4 ,and earnestly did ,i look to ,god for help4 ,the next morning a heavy burden still rested upon my heart and ,i prayed ,god to go before me to that prison chapel and lead the meeting ,himself and give me the right message4 ,nor did ,i plead in vain1 for many souls were that day deeply convicted of sin and some were blessedly saved as was clearly manifested a little later4 ,after the sermon my friend and myself sang a hymn and this was greatly used by the ,spirit in connection with the sermon in reaching the very depths of hearts4 ,it was the custom to hold an after meeting for thirty minutes1 but those who wished to remain were expected to secure cards or tickets1 granting permission1 on the previous day4 ,that ,sunday the chaplain said3 ,all who wish to remain to this service can do so without a card1 as these ladies are here4 ,a hardened looking criminal 7whom ,i afterward learned to be the one to whom the chaplain had referred the night before7 arose to retire with a few others4 ,i went to him at once and took him by the hand and urged him to stay1 but he said3 ,no1 they don't want me here4 ,this meeting is for good people and ,i am too bad to stay4 ,but ,i pleaded3 ,no1 you stay--we want you to stay4 ,i want you to stay4 ,and then he said3 ,well1 ,i'll stay for your sake1 and sat down4 ,the meeting progressed under the power of the ,lord and many arose to say that they had been very wicked but were sorry2 and if ,god could and would forgive them they would lead a different life and be good men4 ,some told how their dear old mothers were good and had prayed for them and that they wanted us to pray for them and they would serve the ,lord4 ,i noticed that many of the men as they arose glanced furtively at the man to whom ,i have referred and that he sat looking at each one as he spoke and evidently had great influence over the other prisoners4 ,at last he arose and said1 ,men1 don't be afraid of me4 ,if there is any good in this religion you are talking about1 go ahead and get it4 ,i'll stand by you and nobody shall say before me1 ',there's your praying man' or ',there's your hypocrite4' ,i can't be good--,i'm too far gone--but ,i'll stand by the men who are going to do right4 ,all were evidently deeply impressed by his words4 ,as he sat down ,i went to him and taking him by the hand1 ,i said1 ,god loves you and ,he wants to save you and to help you to live for a better world than this4 ,again he insisted1 ,i'm too far gone6 ,it's too late for me to try to do right6 ,there's no hope for me1 but still ,i pleaded with him to return unto the ,lord--that there was still mercy and pardon for even him--and that he would yield to the ,holy ,spirit's pleading and become a ,christian4 ,he was evidently very deeply convicted of sin and soon arose and with deep feeling he said1 ,men1 you know what ,i have been--watch me from today and see what ,i will be2 and as he sat down1 the prisoners cheered4 ,fearful as to what the outcome might be and somewhat doubting his sincerity1 the chaplain quickly closed the service and ordered the men to their cells4 ,they obediently left the chapel1 but truly ,god had wondrously wrought that day in the hearts of many of the most noted and hardened criminals4 ,in the afternoon we went1 in company with the chaplain1 from cell to cell singing1 talking1 and praying with the men4 ,the chaplain took me to the cell of the man who had given so much trouble--a man who had taken several lives1 and there he gave his heart to ,god and was converted4 ,,plan ,,of ,,the ,,mutiny4 ,after all the prisoners had been locked in the cells and the officers had gone to their homes or rooms1 only a few guards remaining on duty1 he sent for the warden to come to his cell and requested to be taken out into the prison yard4 ,at first the warden refused to do so because of his being known to be such a dangerous character4 ,still he insisted1 saying that he had something to show him4 ,the warden1 who had been an army officer and was a very brave man1 was only partially convinced but finally consented saying3 ,i'm not afraid of you--one wrong move and you're a dead man4 ,i have had enough trouble with you4 ,i will take you into the yard1 but beware6 ,well armed1 he marched the man into the yard4 ,there the prisoner led him to the extreme end1 and taking away some dry leaves and boards he said to the warden1 ,look in4 ,the warden did so and1 ,o1 what a sight met his eyes6 ,there1 in a hole1 were knives1 guns1 and other weapons6 ,staggering back he exclaimed1 ,my ----1 where did you get those things8 ,it don't matter where ,i got them1 replied the prisoner1 but take me back to my cell and then take away these weapons4 ,i intended to liberate the prison tomorrow morning and would have done so if that woman had not come and preached here today4 ,i am a changed man now4 ,how he got those weapons was a mystery1 but he had been long years planning an escape1 and had chosen some of the most daring of his fellow prisoners 7both those inside and others who had gone out7 to aid him6 ,whether he could have succeeded or not1 doubtless many lives either of officers or prisoners or of both would have been lost had the attempt been made4 ,but ,god wrought so mightily that instead of lives being lost precious souls were saved4 ,several were converted that day who are still living noble ,christian lives4 ,others may be1--,i leave that with ,god4 ,i do not know whether the leader is still living or not1 but have heard that he was dead4 ,at any rate he served his long sentence and claimed to be still a ,christian when he left the prison4 ,,havoc ,,of ,,sin4 ,among the many who were converted during that ,sunday morning service in #ahhh1 was a very amiable1 intelligent1 refined-appearing young man1 still in his teens1 who was serving under life sentence4 ,he was a real mother's boy1 so young and so small that after his conversion ,i used to call him my little son4 ,he belonged to one of the best families of the state4 ,his father was a physician and a classmate and friend of the governor4 ,for the sake of his broken-hearted parents1 as well as his own1 and being satisfied that he was really innocent of the crime of which he had been convicted1 ,i began to pray earnestly for his release4 ,but the case dragged on and though he was pardoned some years later1 it was not until after his father died broken-hearted and the mother's health had failed under her weight of sorrow and an aunt had gone insane4 ,during his imprisonment ,i at one time visited his poor mother in her home4 ,oh6 what havoc sin had wrought6 ,what sorrow6 ,for though ,i believe him entirely innocent of the crime for which he was condemned1 his conviction was the result of his being led astray by evil influences and associates4 ,oh1 that ,i could warn young men of the dangers of bad company1 and that ,i could warn parents of the dangers of discouraging their children in waiting upon and serving ,god4 ,when this boy was quite young1 he wanted to become a ,christian and engage in work for souls1 but his parents thought it would be a disgrace1 as they were aristocratic1 but alas6 what snares had the enemy set for him1 from which he might have entirely escaped1 if they had encouraged him to be true to ,god4 ,i received many letters from him while he was in prison and quote from two of them4 ,we have not heard from him for years but trust that if alive he is still living for ,god and ,heaven4 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,july #g1 #ahie4 ,dear ,mother1 ,in ,his ,name3 ,since my last letter to you several things of interest have transpired4 ,my attorney went to see the governor and then came to see me4 ,we went over some evidence1 and at last ,i convinced them that ,i alone can untangle the skein of false evidence4 ,i located a ,mrs4 ,n4 and she gave an affidavit which would have cleared me at my trial4 ,she said she felt that she had been the cause of all my suffering1 but that she went to ,la,crosse at the time of my trial and was met at the train by a detective1 who told her if she wanted to keep out of serious trouble to take the first train out of the city1 and she did so4 ,i expect to soon have another witness to corroborate her statement4 ,then if ,i can locate the sister of the deceased and get her evidence ,i will have a sure case against those who perjured themselves to send me here4 ,yes1 ,i have placed all my life in ,god's hands and have begun my work here2 but1 being a convict1 ,i am much hindered4 ,therefore1 in order to do a more abundant and faithful service1 ,i desire my freedom4 ,if ,i get it1 ,i will try and enter the ,moody ,institute and take a course of training for the work4 ,mrs4 ,k4 is anxious to have me do so4 ,our chaplain will preside over our ,christian ,endeavor ,society4 ,i recently sent out my report to be read at the ,boston convention in session the #ajth inst41 and ,i ventured1 in the light of all events1 to place the following motto over our penitentiary3 ,wisconsin ,prison for ,christ for the coming year1 and by the time of the next convention1 ,i hope to be out to represent the ,christian ,endeavor boys4 ,brother ,h4 told me of a song you sing4 ,some ,mother's ,child is the song4 ,will says it is simply sublime and ,i ought to have it4 ,such songs turn the mind back to home and to the memory of fond parents and loved ones4 ,such pieces are always very sacred to me4 ,god bless you and spare you for many years to come1 that you may continue to be a ,mother to the prisoners of earth4 ,write me when you can4 ,i am your loving little son1 ,in ,his ,name1 ,,albert4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,nov4 #bg1 #ahie4 ,my ,dear ,mother3 ,your excellent letter duly at hand4 ,both ,brother ,colgrove and ,i were surprised1 for we had concluded that ,god in ,his infinite love and wisdom had carried you home4 ,i am at work here in the official building1 in the office of our dear chaplain4 ,brother ,colgrove is in the hospital across the hall from our office4 ,i have talked with the chaplain about your coming1 and he says to tell you to come and stay two weeks4 ,he would like to have you spend two ,sundays1 and in the meantime we will no doubt1 under the present warden1 be able to secure the evenings during the week for a series of revival meetings4 ,lovingly your son in the work1 ,,albert4 99 99 99 99 99 ,guilt comes not1 thundering on the wings of time1 ,with vice-distorted feature and the leer of crime1 ,but like enchanting vision from a pagan dream1 ,or softly echoed cadence of a whispering stream1 ,she steals upon us gently1 with ever-changing art1 ,and usurps an empire--the waiting human heart6 ,her outward form is beauty1 her voice with ,passion tense1 ,she only craves the privilege to gratify each sense2 ,all apparent pleasures 'round her path are spread1 ,but1 alas6 you seize the flower to find its fragrance fled2 ,but still pursuing1 row with bated breath1 ,you clasp her to your bosom and--embrace a death6 ,then1 conscience stricken1 you the wreck survey1 ,and with shuddering horror--humbly kneel to pray2 ,while the pitying angels on their pinions bear ,the ever sacred burden of repentant prayer1 ,and almighty love descending reasserts control1 ,and mercy in the guise of grace has won a human soul4 --,a ,prisoner4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,remarkable ,conversion and ,experience of ,george ,h4 ,colgrove4 ,among the others who were saved that fourth day of ,november1 #ahhh1 at ,waupun1 ,wis41 was the very remarkable case of ,geo4 ,h4 ,colgrove4 ,years afterwards the chaplain said of him1 ,i regard him as an ideal--one of whom you would expect this report3 ',if ever there was a good ,christian man on earth he is one4' ,at one time he had three ,bible classes in prison each week--one in ,english and two in ,german--and was the means of the accomplishment of much good in the conversion of prisoners4 ,illustration3 ,,geo4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 ,,his ,,own ,,story4 ,the story of his life and conversion is given1 as nearly as possible1 in his own words1 but as found in two different statements--some particulars being given in one that were not in the other--in order to make the account as complete as ,i can4 ,it is very difficult for one in prison1 especially1 to write of themselves without giving to strangers the impression of either vanity and conceit on the one hand or of craft and deception on the other4 ,therefore1 it is with considerable hesitation that ,i write4 ,yet my greet indebtedness to ,mother ,wheaton1 who was chosen of ,god as the agent through whom ,his wondrous work should be made manifest to the world in my salvation1 as also of many others1 has at last led me to make the following statement3 ,just on the verge of manhood1 at the age of nineteen1 ,i obtained some infidel literature of the mild stamp1 yet scholarly and persuasive withal1 containing no harsh criticism of ,christian people and principles4 ,this aroused my interest and admiration and led to my obtaining more of a like nature1 until under their combined influence my youthful mind was entirely surrendered to such doubts and disbelief as they advocated4 ,this was the pivotal point in my early life from which ,i started down the deceitful road that leads from peace1 happiness and honor into the depths of sorrow1 infamy and despair4 ,having thus imbibed the subtle poison of infidelity1 ,i soon became blinded and indifferent to the rights of my fellowmen and to the enormity of violating divine law4 ,,burglary ,,and ,,murder4 ,from this low plane of morality it was easy to enter the path of crime2 and this ,i did1 following the precarious calling of burglary for five years4 ,this dark way ended in the midnight gloom of a murderer4 ,detection1 arrest and conviction followed in rapid succession1 soon bringing down upon me the crushing weight of a life sentence4 ,so that on a cold wintry night the officers of the law delivered me within the portals of a living tomb4 ,four dark1 hopeless1 weary years succeeded4 ,yet the ,lord in ,his great mercy had not forgotten me2 and when all the world deserted me1 then ,he in ,his loving kindness took me up and ,his favor was manifested through the instrumentality of ,mother ,wheaton4 ,during the early years of my incarceration no words could portray my intense and bitter hatred of ,christianity and anything pertaining thereto4 ,feeling that ,i had sold my soul to the prince of darkness1 it enraged me to be reminded of a better life1 or a possible ,heaven4 ,burning with the fires of hatred and revenge toward those whom ,i knew had unjustly deceived and wronged me1 my only desire was to escape from here even long enough to rush upon my enemies and hurl their souls into eternity1 and then follow them immediately if need be4 ,i continually planned and schemed for the accomplishment of this purpose1 and had a plan of escape well defined and was making arrangements to put it into execution1 when one bright and beautiful ,sunday morning it was announced that a lady preacher was going to hold services in the chapel that day4 ,though ,i did not often attend church1 yet on this occasion ,i swore some big round oaths that ,i would go up and hear the lady talk4 ,that was the morning of ,november #d1 #ahhh4 ,the beautiful sun that shines alike on mansion and cottage1 palace and prison1 shone as though a special degree of radiance had been granted to light a benighted soul on its way out of darkness into light4 ,but ,i entered the chapel with cold indifference1 drawn only by curiosity--at least so far as ,i knew2 but results proved that ,god was leading4 ,i awaited developments2 and they came4 ,our prison chaplain introduced ,mother ,wheaton1 whom ,i had never seen before1 and announced the services as entirely in her hands4 ,she gave us a short1 earnest1 impressive address2 then she and the sister who came with her sang ,meet me there4 ,during the singing ,i heard an accompanying strain1 low and inexpressibly sweet1 the like of which ,i had never heard nor imagined4 ,the two sounds harmonized1 yet were distinct1 but oh1 how lovely6 ,words fail to convey the most distant idea of their soothing and attractive power4 ,the thought flashed through my mind1 ,that is delicious music to fall upon ears that have listened to the sound of murderous guns4 ,suddenly and with all the vividness of continuous lightning dispelling dense darkness1 revealing all surrounding objects distinctly1 the awful depth and blackness of my iniquitous career blazed up before my mental view1 like a clear and definite painting of each act in my wicked life--portrayed on canvas by a master hand and set in clearest rays of the noonday sun4 ,and at the same time there was given an assurance of forgiveness1 if accepted then4 ,surprise1 consternation and intense fear came with this revelation of myself to myself1 as my depraved spiritual condition was1 for the first time1 fully realized4 ,also as distinctly and positively it was granted me to know that my last opportunity for divine favor was before me4 ,accept and be saved or reject and be eternally lost6 ,such was the alternative4 ,although every nerve thrilled in rebellion against ,christianity and a thousand obstacles seemed to intervene1 rendering a change in my course of life impossible1 yet ,i dared not refuse that stern1 terrific ultimatum1 ,your last opportunity1 and before its mighty mandate my proud1 headstrong1 sin-burdened soul surrendered unto ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,i wished to fly from the room1 but could not4 ,i felt frightened at the power which was mastering me1 and thought in a confused way of the ridicule which would be heaped upon me1 of my intended escape1 and of revenge upon my foes4 ,ah6 what8 ,revenge8 ,no1 no revenge now4 ,no1 no4 ,that was all gone4 ,the evil desire had thus suddenly been removed without my knowledge1 and in its stead there reigned in my heart and in the depths of my soul a feeling of forgiveness and peace1 both between them and myself and between myself and my ,god4 ,i said1 ,surely the ,lord has visited me this day2 for ,i came in here a devil in human form1 and now my dark sins are forgiven and ,i am free4 ,glory to ,god6 ,the chaplain and warden were nearly thunderstruck to learn that the low1 miserable1 worthless wretch1 the hopeless vagabond1 ,colgrove1 had been brought to the foot of the cross2 still they must have entertained but little hope of my remaining in the straight and narrow path that leadeth unto life4 ,how could they8 ,they had not heard that strange music which had floated in on my soul4 ,they could not feel the awakening which was permeating and ringing through the corridors of my heart1 nor could they perceive the realizing sense of divine favor which was so clear to my own consciousness4 ,that very week it was impressed on my mind that ,i must at once commence the study of the ,holy ,scriptures for work in the cause of ,god and devote the remainder of my life to leading my fellowmen1 and especially prisoners1 into the light of ,calvary4 ,i said1 ,what will it all amount to--,i a friendless prisoner1 doomed for life8 ,an answering whisper came1 ,friendless1 with ,jesus for your friend8 ,study the ,word4 ,so in blindness1 with fear and trembling1 doubts and misgivings1 ,i took from my shelf in the prison cell the neglected1 despised and dust-covered ,bible and commenced studying the ,word to the best of my ability1 with none but ,god to direct or assist me except a hasty explanation now and then from the chaplain as he passed on his hurried rounds through the cell rooms4 ,i immediately destroyed the implements of destruction and escape which ,i had made during two years previous to my conversion4 ,instead of dirks and saws1 my hands now grasped the ,bible and the cross2 and thanks be unto ,jesus of ,nazareth1 they still retain their hold1 and ,i believe with ever increasing strength4 ,the way thus far has been rendered more pleasant by the hand of the ,lord than ,i then thought possible amid such dark surroundings4 ,with an ever realizing sense of my unworthiness ,i have been kindly led in the way of life and am eleven years nearer my eternal ,home2 while in my soul there is the peace of ,god which passeth all understanding which is an additional evidence of the faithful care and guidance of ,jehovah4 ,during the last decade the motto of my life has been1 as through future years it shall ever be 7,isaiah #bf3d73 ,trust ye in the ,lord forever1 for in the ,lord ,jehovah is everlasting strength4 ,i know not whether earthly freedom will ever be mine1 but ,i do know that1 if it is ,his holy and righteous will1 it will be given me2 and ,i know that it matters little1 for earthly joys must soon fade away1 and down at the close of the earthly journey ,jesus is waiting for me4 ,and with my weak and faltering hand laid in ,his strong and mighty one ,i shall walk through the dark waters of the ,jordan of death1 and with ,him kindly leading ,his rescued child we shall enter with joy and eternal thanksgiving the beautiful city whose maker and builder is ,god4 ,the following extracts from letters written me at different times after his conversion will1 ,i believe1 interest the reader3 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,sept4 #e1 #ahia4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,wheaton3 ,dear ,christian ,friend3 ,no news received since you were here has afforded me so much pleasure as the announcement of your return4 ,it was through your earnest work that ,i was converted4 ,when you came here before there was1 ,i presume1 no more sinful1 hopeless1 hardened1 miserable wretch inside these walls than myself4 ,when ,i entered the prison chapel that ,sabbath morning1 ,november #d1 #ahhh1 ,i for one came to observe1 sneer and laugh4 ,but while you were singing that glorious anthem1 ,meet ,me ,there1 power from above opened my spiritual vision to see the horrible condition of my soul1 and so enabled me to realize my great need of divine favor4 ,i thank ,god and will bless ,his holy name forever that in ,his infinite wisdom and kindness ,he brought me inside these walls and sent you1 ,his chosen instrument1 to lead my wandering sin-darkened soul into the path that leadeth unto life eternal4 ,amid the trials1 cares and vexations of the passing days ,i often look up to the blue vault of heaven's dome and rejoice at the thought that the flying moments and hastening hours are bringing me nearer1 ever nearer to the blessed hour when ,i shall meet ,jesus face to face and clasp ,his rescuing hand1 never from ,him to part4 ,ah1 never to part6 ,thanks unto ,god most high4 ,may the ,lord ever bless you1 my dear spiritual ,mother4 ,good-bye4 ,g4 ,h4 ,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,oct4 #bi1 #ahia4 ,my ,dear ,spiritual ,mother3 ,your kind letter most gladly received4 ,i am surprised that our boys do not write more frequently to you4 ,they often inquire as to your whereabouts and health and ever have a good word for you and your work4 ,even many who do not care for their soul's salvation speak favorably of ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,god knows how much your letters cheer me and brighten the prison gloom4 ,after twenty years of infidelity1 with all its direful train of evils1 leading on from bad to worse1 the prison gate threw its protective barrier between society and one who had become almost a devil in human form1 thus showing that a just ,god had taken account of my iniquitous course and had said1 ,thus far and no farther4 ,then followed four years of hopeless misery1 borne with the sullen stolidity of despair1 while in thought1 intent and purpose ,i sank lower and lower into the horrible cesspool of criminality1 and farther and farther away from ,god4 ,then1 in ,his infinite mercy1 ,he sent you with the message of salvation1 which ,he crowned with ,his invincible power of conviction and a realization of my lost and hopeless condition4 ,my prayers shall ever be with you1 dear sister1 and if ,i might send a message by you to all the prisoners from the pine-shadowed shores of ,maine to the far ,alaskan mountains it would be this3 ,ye captives1 look aloft to the ,star of ,bethlehem1 and whatever betide1 do not fail to grasp the hand stretched out to you from ,calvary4 ,hoping to hear from you soon and praying ,god to ever bless you ,i remain1 ,yours for ,god and humanity1 ,g4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,sept4 #d1 #ahib4 ,my ,dear ,mother3 ,how many1 many times ,i have thanked our kind ,father above and praised ,his ,holy ,name for sending you to our prison gate on that ,november night in #ahhh4 ,three years and ten months ago today the radiant light of ,calvary1 fresh from the throne of the ,infinite1 came1 through your ministrations1 down into the dark recesses of my sin-burdened heart and crime-laden soul1 while mingled with the music of the sweet hymn you and your companion were singing the heavenly strains of an angelic accompaniment so entrancingly and irresistibly soothing and lovely that my hardened heart melted like frost before the noonday sun4 ,can you believe that ,i stayed to that after-meeting when every nerve in my body thrilled to get up and run out of the chapel8 ,yes1 ,i desired to flee2 yet an irresistible power restrained me4 ,i know now it was ,satan urging me to flee away from there2 for he1 of course1 readily understood that he was in danger of losing an active member from his minions of evil4 ,but thanks be unto ,jehovah1 who ruleth over all1 ,satan failed4 ,god and ,his servant held the field and a soul was redeemed from death4 ,glory to ,god forever and ever4 ,amen4 ,the years from that time have been so pleasant and bright1 though spent where sorrow1 misery and gloom were on every hand1 as ,i journey on to our beautiful home everlasting1 which ,jesus has gone to prepare4 ,filled with delight1 my raptured soul ,would here no longer stay1 ,though ,jordan's waves around me roll ,fearless ,i launch away4 ,when peace like a river attends on my way ,where sorrows like sea billows roll1 ,whatever my lot1 thou halt taught me to say ,it is well1 it is well1 with my soul4 ,when we've been there ten thousand years1 ,bright shining as the sun1 ,we've no less days to sing his praise ,than when we first begun4 ,yes1 since your first visit here my bark of life has been standing away on her new course over the sea of life1 and she is now nearly four years nearer the heavenly harbor1 where destructive gales of temptation will never sweep the white sails of purity from the masts of purpose1 nor break the yard arms of effort1 nor rolling breakers of iniquity dash her upon the rocky shore of eternal ruin4 ,mother1 please give my kindest wishes to all who are helping you in the great work which ,jesus established while on earth and which ,he left for us to continue until the resounding trump and advancing angel hosts proclaim ,his return to our earth to claim ,his own and crown the redeemed4 ,when the sullen and long silent graves shall release their victims and the long absent fleet of the lower ocean shall again whiten the seas with their snowy sails and bring their passengers and crews to join the vast congregation assembled before the judgment seat of ,christ4 ,ever yours1 ,g4 ,h4 ,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,jan4 #ad1 #ahie4 ,dear ,mother3 ,your kind and most welcome letter very gladly received4 ,it is ever one of my chief pleasures to hear from you4 ,there was a man here by the name of ,william ,l41 who led a very godless life1 being extremely profane4 ,during the past summer he was transferred to the prison hospital4 ,on ,september #d ,i was placed in charge of the sick ward as assistant steward1 and ,i found this man ,l4 in here when ,i took charge of this department4 ,he had been a bitter enemy of mine for several years1 as he was utterly opposed to ,christianity1 and he tried to utterly disregard me4 ,i continued to treat him kindly1 which was1 of course1 a ,christian duty which we owe to our ,heavenly ,father1 and in a short time he grew into the habit of calling on me for favors1 and as he sank lower ,i spent the night with him4 ,one evening he spoke of you and said3 ,oh6 ,i wish ,i could hear ',mother' ,wheaton sing one of her sweet hymns4 ,during three days and nights he continued to speak of you4 ,the last day on which he mentioned you was in the morning about #h o'clock4 ,while sitting in his chair beside the bed he said very earnestly and emphatically3 ,i would give a dollar to hear ',mother' ,wheaton sing one of her sweet hymns just now--right here and now4 ,about midnight that night he sat in his bed looking upward for some time in silence and then dropped his head in a most dejected manner and in mournful tone exclaimed1 ,no1 no1 no4 ,the intense sadness of his manner made my heart ache for him4 ,after that hour he appeared to have given up all hope4 ,the death chill came on while he was in the rocking chair1 and he asked me to assist him into bed and send for the prison physician4 ,he expressed himself well satisfied with the treatment he had had while sick1 and then1 seeing it was too hard work for him to talk1 he relapsed into silence1 while ,i offered a silent prayer for the departing soul4 ,i write this explanation because of the intense desire he had to see you and hear you sing once more4 ,the ,christian ,endeavor still exists by the power and blessing of ,god1 and my ,bible class is continuing and some good has been accomplished through its instrumentality4 ,rev4 ,b4 has left us4 ,our new spiritual guide and counselor is ,rev4 ,simerville1 an earnest ,christian1 whose influence bids fair to lead many hitherto careless ones to turn their footsteps in the straight and narrow path that leads to life4 ,the beacon light to ,calvary cheers us on every day to our eternal home4 ,meet me there4 ,good-bye1 ,mother4 ,god bless you now and ever4 ,g4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,nov4 #bh1 #ahie4 ,dearest ,mother3 ,your kind and welcome letter gladly received4 ,brother ,albert wrote you yesterday and ,i sincerely hope the invitation extended to you by the chaplain and contained in ,albert's letter1 will be promptly acted upon and that we shall soon behold your face among us once more and again hear the songs of ,zion fall from your lips4 ,albert is librarian and the chaplain's assistant1 while this child is assistant steward at the hospital2 thus we shall be able to meet you frequently if you will spend a couple of weeks with us1 and a forty-day month can be used to good advantage in ,waupun and visiting among the bad boys like us1 and your many good friends in this locality4 ,the ,lord has given us a ,christian man for warden and ,i can tell you1 dear ,mother1 we find that the warden1 the chaplain and the ,lord ,god ,almighty make a strong combination4 ,if ,mother ,wheaton will come and join them the quartette will be complete and this prison can receive such a baptism of grace that his satanic majesty will hate the very name of ,waupun4 ,god's blessing ever be yours and hoping to meet you once more this side the golden gate1 ,i am your spiritual son1 ,g4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 ,the following short extract is from a letter to a brother who had become interested in ,brother ,colgrove and had written him3 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,april #cj1 #ahig4 ,mr4 ,h----1 ,dear ,christian ,brother4 ,your kind letter received1 and ,i most sincerely hope it may be preliminary to a long continued and beneficial correspondence4 ,it will ever be a pleasure to hear from you1 so please write when convenient1 and ,i will do as well as my adverse surroundings will permit4 ,i am pleased to learn of the continued successful work of dear ,mother ,wheaton1 and it is a source of great encouragement to me to meet and converse with ,sister ,kelley4 ,we shall undoubtedly have her for a spiritual leader when our toil-worn ,mother has been summoned to her rest and reward by the great ,master4 ,please write soon and often to ,your friend1 ,g4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,oct4 #be1 #ahig4 ,dear ,mother3 ,your kind and most welcome letter gladly received and the unexpected photo was a very delightful surprise4 ,a thousand thanks4 ,i have many1 many times wished ,i had a picture of the one whom ,god selected as my helper to lead me from the dark valley of despair in which ,i was then dwelling up into the radiant light of ,calvary4 ,november #dth next will complete nine years of the homeward journey since ,jesus set my face ,zionward1 so we are nine years nearer the heavenly shore and from the watch tower of the golden city the beacon light beams bright and fair1 welcoming us into the port of peace4 ,our duties are pressing1 time is flying1 the whistle and signal bells are sounding1 and ,i must close for this time4 ,kindly and sincerely yours1 ,g4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 ,in #ahig1 as indicated in the two following letters especial effort was made to secure ,brother ,colgrove's pardon1 which ,i believe would have been successful but for lack of wisdom on the part of some of his friends4 ,as it was ,brother ,c4 was doomed to spend the remainder of his life in bondage4 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,oct4 #aj1 #ahig4 ,dear ,mother3 ,when you were here you offered to call on the ,governor of ,wisconsin in my behalf4 ,i thank you a thousand times for that kindness4 ,since you were here ,i have been promoted to the position of prison librarian4 ,that places me in the ,chaplain's office1 and it is the position occupied by the ,washburn banker when you were here4 ,i have received a letter from ,mrs4 ,worcester in ,natal1 ,south ,africa1 lately4 ,it was just thirty-five days in coming through4 ,it was intensely interesting4 ,one of our boys died last night and two life members have died since you were here4 ,one was a ,christian4 ,dear ,mother1 the enclosed card shows date1 locality and offense4 ,i have been here over twelve years1 and have a clear prison record4 ,my ,christian work you are well versed in1 as you were ,god's chosen instrument for my conversion4 ,nine years of ,christian life on ,nov4 #dth next4 ,if possible please inform me when you will be in ,madison1 and may our ,heavenly ,father bless you1 and crown your effort with success4 ,my papers are all in the executive chambers at ,madison4 ,i have recommendations from many parties1 and from my trial judge1 ,hon4 ,a4 ,scott ,sloan4 ,my jury did not support my application1 but the judge did4 ,he is now dead1 but he gave me a splendid letter1 and it should be just as effective4 ,i shall have to ask you to wait for your reward1 until freedom comes to me1 and then you will not be forgotten4 ,i hope ,sister ,kelley can accompany you on your ,madison trip4 ,i received a letter from your friend ,miss ,josephine ,cowgill1 ,jerusalem1 with several cards of ,palestine flowers2 those that grew in ,mount ,olivet ,i have framed and they are hanging in our office4 ,i am on duty from #e a4 m4 to #i p4 m4 ,sincerely and kindly yours1 ,g4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,nov4 #g1 #ahig4 ,dear ,mother3 ,inclosed please find copy of letter just received from ,executive ,clerk4 ,it will be useful perhaps as a reference when you reach ,madison4 ,the entire recommendation from my judge is there as is stated herein4 ,my judge is now deceased4 ,a letter received today from ex-,chaplain ,t4 ,j4 ,brown1 now of ,lancaster1 ,wisconsin1 informs me that he will gladly meet you at ,madison1 and assist you in any way possible4 ,one of our officers is also making arrangements with a ,madison party to join you at that time4 ,so we seem well favored and ,i regard it as indicative of divine favor1 for all the present participants are ,christians and we may therefore hope for especial favor from our heavenly ,father4 ,the ,lord be with you in all your ways4 ,as ever1 ,sincerely yours1 ,g4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 ,the enclosed letter read as follows3 ,executive ,chamber1 ,madison1 ,wis41 ,nov4 #d1 #ahig4 ,mr4 ,g4 ,h4 ,colgrove1 ,state ,prison1 ,waupun4 ,my ,dear ,sir3 ,i have looked up the matter about which you wrote me on ,oct4 #bast1 and find there is a letter from ,judge ,sloan among your papers4 ,this letter says1 among other things3 ,if it be true that ,mr4 ,colgrove has behaved himself well during his imprisonment and has thoroughly reformed1 ,i think he ought to be pardoned4 ,yours truly1 ,,wm4 ,j4 ,,anderson1 ,private ,secretary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,may #a1 #aija4 ,dear ,mother and ,sister3 ,your kind letters of #bdth ult1 duly at hand1 and as you wrote in unison1 ,i hope this companion letter will be acceptable4 ,i am pleased to learn that your book work is progressing and will soon be launched upon the restless sea of activity1 and accomplishing good work under the divine blessing1 leading souls into the light that never shall fade while ,eternity rolls its unending years4 ,sorry that so much sickness and suffering has fallen to the lot of each of you1 but rejoice that it is passed and can not assail you again in this world1 and in the world to come ,there shall be no more pain2 for the former things are passed away4 ,there1 the cheeks which we here beheld pale with suffering and tear-stained by sorrow1 will be mantling with the rich glow of everlasting health and radiant in the matchless loveliness of deathless bloom4 ,a refreshing rain has broken a long drouth here1 and the world looks lovely and sparkling in the golden sunlight this beautiful ,may morning4 ,as we behold the face of the earth beautified by the hand of ,god1 it is a source of regret that all this harmony of nature1 this smiling peace and bloom1 is marred and clouded by the dark stain which iniquity has brought into this fair world2 and the sad1 stern fact confronts us1 that ,the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty4 ,but it is true4 ,peace in its entirety1 and purity in divine perfection1 are fled from this world1 and we cannot possess them in full until we have passed beyond ,jordan's cold wave and through the dark portals which intervene between this sin-darkened land and the glory crowned hills of ,immanuel's ,land4 ,but it is a soul-cheering fact that we are daily and hourly nearing that blest clime where sin and sorrow can no more cast the cloud of estrangement between us and the ,divine ,master who arose triumphant over sin and death and in ,his eternal majesty and power has gone to prepare for our home coming4 ,though our barque of life may be tossed by violent seas of strife1 and meet with disaster in various forms1 so long as we know that ,jesus is awaiting us in the ,harbor of ,peace we are not dismayed by the howling blast nor raging billows of earthly storm1 but relying on ,his unfailing promise we keep in mind the coming greeting of the great ,master and remember ,by cool ,siloam's shady rill ,how fair the lily grows2 ,how sweet the breath beneath the hill ,of ,sharon's dewy rose4 ,yes1 ,mother1 ,i too am glad and thankful that the ,lord sent you to ,waupun and into our chapel on that glorious autumn morning1 ,nov4 #d1 #ahhh4 ,surely the good work then accomplished has not been extinguished1 although ,satan has exerted himself to cast dark clouds of misunderstanding1 strife and contention over it all4 ,but the light of ,calvary shines amid the gloom1 the heavenly sheen of the cross of ,christ sheds a halo of undying and imperishable glory over all1 that like the pillar of fire that led the hosts of ,israel through the wilderness1 will lead and sustain each weary heart1 until we arrive on ,jordan's banks1 and raise the song of everlasting triumph1 as we view our eternal home4 ,with kind regards to each1 and best wishes for your happiness and welfare1 ,i remain1 ,sincerely and kindly yours1 ,g4 ,h4 ,,colgrove4 ,the following letter from a dear sister who is deeply interested in prison work is inserted here because of its reference to ,brother ,colgrove3 ,minneapolis1 ,minn41 ,dec4 #ai1 #aijj4 ,my ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i cannot tell you how very glad ,i was to hear from you2 and to know that you have been blest all along the way1 is indeed good news4 ,some one asked the question1 ,what is the best thing that can be said of a friend8 ,many answers were given1 one good one being ,he rests me1 but the best answer was ,he inspires me4 ,this can be truly said of you4 ,no one more than yourself inspires me to live a true ,christian life4 ,i do want to be ready at all times to serve ,christ4 ,just ready to do ,his bidding1 ,if only ,i do ,his will4 ,then ,i will be ready to meet him ,when shadows flee away ,ready to serve ,him perfectly ,when dawns eternal day4 ,last week we had another meeting at the ,soldiers' ,home4 ,you cannot imagine how we missed you4 ,so many of the sick men inquired for you4 ,one said if you would only come back he would shout for joy4 ,of course it made me very happy to know that they had received such a blessing from your talk4 ,this same man said he had prayed for you every night4 ,the young man that called for you to come out to see him in the jail was sent to ,st4 ,cloud for two and a half years4 ,the poor colored man was sent to ,state's ,prison at ,stillwater for five years4 ,the strangest thing has happened since the last time ,mrs4 ----was at ,waupun4 ,mr4 ,colgrove's wife1 whom he had not heard from for twelve years1 has been to see him4 ,his young lady daughter1 whom he thought dead1 is living4 ,is not that precious news8 ,i am sure ,mr4 ,colgrove must be the happiest man inside of these walls just now4 ,had a good letter from ,s4 yesterday4 ,i have ,christmas cards for all of the women and some for the men in the prison4 ,must say good bye4 ,your sincere friend and sister in ,christ1 ,,gertrude ,m4 ,from an editorial written by ,brother ,colgrove while editor of the ,christian ,endeavor ,department of the prison paper published at ,waupun1 we clip the following3 ,perhaps our uninformed friends may infer that we advocate the abolition of all punishment in penal institutions4 ,not at all1 brother2 nothing so absurd4 ,but we do claim and will maintain to our dying hour that punishment should be judicious1 and only when the culprit will not heed any humane treatment nor be influenced by admonition4 ,when punishment and imposition are used at the mere caprice of some low down scoundrel1 instead of discretionary treatment1 at the behest of a man of sense1 reason and upright principle1 the effect has ever been1 and will ever be1 to develop the worst traits inherent in the nature of the individual whom the laws have already pronounced unsafe1 and when released1 the consequences of that development1 are going to fall on some innocent and unoffending member of the law-abiding class4 ,when we consider the vast amount of mischief which one criminal can accomplish in an incredibly short space of time1 have we not cause to be thankful that all over our land are self-sacrificing souls1 brave men and women1 who are determined in the face of all opposition1 ridicule and every evil1 to use every possible means within their power1 to elevate and reform all of the criminal class1 who may by any means be led from the old path of sorrow and misery to themselves and danger to the peace and well-being of their brother men8 ,men and women who will place in the hand of the prisoner the ,bible1 in exchange for the revolver1 dagger and bottle8 ,the citizen in his quiet home1 who is unacquainted with the prison systems of the various forms which are being used in different states1 depends entirely upon the laws of the land to secure him in the peaceful possession of his accumulated earnings4 ,but experience proves that human law alone and unassisted by higher power is not sufficient to guard the home from intrusion and desecration by those who have no regard for right principles4 ,the man who has criminal tendencies1 and is not striving to restrain them in conformity to divine law1 will laugh the human power to scorn1 and trample the law of man under his feet whenever there seems an opportunity of financial gain thereby4 ,the man who has been led to observe and rightly regard the divine law will have no occasion for inducement for infringing on the laws of the land4 ,therefore these reformers1 both clergy and laity1 are striking at the very root of crime1 when they lift the fallen out of the slough of vice and iniquity1 and turn his face toward the higher life and the city whose maker and builder is ,god4 ,during the fall of #aijc ,i received several letters telling me that ,brother ,george ,colgrove could live but a short time4 ,in ,december1 #aijc1 ,i visited again the prison at ,waupun4 ,i found ,brother ,colgrove in the ,prison ,hospital1 very weak in body1 but peaceful and resting in the ,saviour's love4 ,once more he related to the young sister who was with me the wonderful story of his conversion2 and how for over fifteen years he had been kept by the power of ,god1 saved and filled with love for ,god and souls4 ,we knelt and prayed with him and sang his favorite hymns and as ,i bade him farewell he said1 ,sister1 if we never meet on earth again ,i will meet you in ,heaven4 ,that was our final parting4 ,brief notes from the chaplain and warden informed me that ,brother ,colgrove died ,february #ai1 #aijd1 and that funeral services 7an unusual thing7 were held in the prison chapel ,february #ba4 ,the warden's letter contains this testimony4 ,he died a ,christian4 ,bless ,god for his sustaining grace that is sufficient even amid the trials of a prison life and enabled this one of his children to prove true to ,god for so many years1 inside of prison walls6 ,o how wonderful is the power of ,god to seek and to save that which was lost6 ,illustration3 ,,smelter ,,and ,,work-,,shops1 ,,chester1 ,,ill4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,work in ,stockades and ,prison ,camps in ,southern ,states4 ,during the first years of my missionary work ,i was led to stay much of the time in the ,south4 ,i was learning lessons in patience1 faith and humility before ,god4 ,the cross was very heavy4 ,in many places ,i was not allowed to stay with white people if ,i preached to the negroes4 ,,the ,,race ,,question ran high and the color line was very closely drawn4 ,in those days ,i could not understand why this should be4 ,i was taught in the word of ,god that all nations were made of one blood and that ,god was the ,father of us all4 ,i was ignorant and the views of the southern people were new to me4 ,in many cases1 perhaps1 ,i offended them when ,i might have avoided it4 ,i knew no better and they often thought me obstinate4 ,but ,i was only obeying ,god the very best ,i knew in trying to keep immortal souls out of hell1 and ,i knew that ,i must obey ,god though all the people should misunderstand and misjudge me4 ,i found nearly all of the prisoners of the ,south confined in ,stockades and ,prison ,camps4 ,in many cases the prisons themselves were almost empty4 ,the following are from among the many letters of introduction and recommendation1 received while laboring in the southern states3 99 99 99 99 99 ,montgomery1 ,ala41 ,dec4 #cj1 #ahhd4 ,col4 ,j4 ,t4 ,milner1 ,superintendent4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will be handed you by ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 who is a prison missionary4 ,she has been having religious exercises at the various prisons in the state1 and ,i respectfully request that you will permit her to do so at ,new ,castle4 ,yours truly1 ,r4 ,h4 ,,dawson1 ,president ,board of ,inspectors of ,prisons4 99 99 99 99 99 ,raleigh1 ,n4 ,c41 ,june #aj1 #ahic4 ,gulf1 ,n4 ,c41 ,c4 ,f4 ,y4 ,v4 ,railroad1 ,halifax farm 7near ,weldon72 ,captain ,bradshaw 7near ,weldon72 ,captain ,mc,murray 7near ,weldon1 on canal72 ,captain ,mc,iver 7near ,tillery72 ,captain ,hamlet 7near ,tillery72 ,captain ,lashley 7near ,castle ,hayne74 ,the superintendent desires that every courtesy be shown ,mrs4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ----1 and that they be given opportunities to talk to the prisoners4 ,,jno4 ,m4 ,,fleming1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,rusk1 ,texas1 ,jan4 #i1 #ahhh4 ,mr4 ,george ,egbart1 ,coling ,camp4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will introduce to you ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 prison missionary1 who is making a tour through southern prisons4 ,she passed the day with me yesterday in the prison4 ,i was pleased with her manner and with her talk to the men4 ,she wants the privilege of talking with your men today at the dinner hour4 ,i think you will be pleased with her4 ,please give her the necessary attention and may ,god bless you1 bless her effort1 and bless the men4 ,j4 ,c4 ,,woolam1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,executive ,,department ,,of ,,alabama4 ,convict ,bureau4 ,pratt ,mines1 ,ala41 ,nov4 #cj1 #ahhi4 ,mr4 ,thomas ,c4 ,dawson1 ,warden of ,state ,prison1 ,wetumptka1 ,ala4 ,dear ,tom3 ,this letter will introduce to you ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ----1 two ladies who are devoting their lives to the benefit of convicts all over the ,united ,states4 ,these good ladies have done much good1 and they should be treated with every consideration4 ,give them rooms and access to your convicts at both prisons4 ,i hope a visit from them will result in much good4 ,your ,father1 ,r4 ,h4 ,,dawson1 ,president ,board of ,inspectors4 99 99 99 99 99 ,huntsville ,penitentiary1 ,huntsville1 ,texas1 ,jan4 #ac1 #ahib4 ,capt4 ,abercrombie1 ,wynne ,farm4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will introduce to you ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 who wishes to talk to your men in a body4 ,any courtesies shown her will be appreciated by me4 ,yours truly1 ,j4 ,g4 ,,smither1 ,asst4 ,supt4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,state ,,of ,,north ,,carolina4 ,executive ,department1 ,raleigh1 ,june #i1 #ahic4 ,hon4 ,a4 ,deazer1 ,supt4 ,state's ,prison4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this introduces ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 prison evangelist4 ,i have assured her that you will grant any request she may make not in conflict with prison rules4 ,very respectfully yours1 ,,elias ,,carr1 ,governor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,state ,,of ,,north ,,carolina4 ,executive ,department1 ,raleigh1 ,june #ae1 #ahic4 ,his ,excellency1 ,b4 ,r4 ,tillman1 ,governor of ,south ,carolina1 ,columbia1 ,s4 ,c4 ,dear ,sir3 ,i have the honor and it gives me pleasure to state that ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ----1 prison evangelists1 have held religious services at the penitentiary farm and at the penitentiary and have given satisfaction to the authorities in both places1 and it is thought that their services were productive of great good4 ,with highest esteem1 ,i am1 ,very truly yours1 ,,elias ,,carr1 ,governor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,state ,,of ,,alabama4 ,executive ,department1 ,montgomery1 ,april #c1 #ahif4 ,to all ,wardens of ,prisons within the ,state3 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 the bearer hereof1 is a prison evangelist1 and well recommended as a good lady4 ,she is desirous of holding services in the prisons4 ,any courtesy shown her will be proper and commendable4 ,,william ,c4 ,,oakes1 ,governor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,state ,,of ,,georgia4 ,penitentiary ,department1 ,atlanta1 ,georgia1 ,june #cj1 #ahic4 ,to the ,captains in ,charge of ,convict ,camps in ,georgia3 ,i desire that each of you extend to these ladies1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ---- any courtesies possible during their stay with you1 that they may be given opportunities to talk to the men and women in your charge4 ,i will particularly appreciate any kindness shown them4 ,the governor requests that they be shown courtesies4 ,,george ,h4 ,,jones1 ,principal ,keeper4 99 99 99 99 99 ,penitentiary1 ,columbia1 ,s4 ,c41 ,august #aa1 #ahic4 ,mother ,wheaton4 ,dear ,madam3 ,it affords me much pleasure to say that we were glad to have you come down to the prison and visit other camps connected therewith1 and we believe that you have done lasting good among the prisoners4 ,yours truly1 ,w4 ,a4 ,,neal1 ,superintendent4 ,accompanying the above was a list of the convict camps connected with the prison with the following order3 ,the sergeant in charge of the above camps will please admit ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ---- and allow them to hold religious service at the camp with the convicts4 ,w4 ,a4 ,,neal4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,state ,,of ,,florida4 ,executive ,department1 ,tallahassee1 ,april #ba1 #ahid4 ,messrs4 ,west ,bros41 ,west ,farm1 ,fla4 ,gentlemen3 ,this will be presented by ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 prison evangelist1 who is visiting the convict camps of the state4 ,any courtesies and kindness extended to her will be duly appreciated and reciprocated by1 ,yours very respectfully1 ,d4 ,,lang1 ,private ,secretary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,state ,,of ,,georgia4 ,penitentiary ,department1 ,atlanta1 ,ga41 ,march #ba1 #ahif4 ,to the ,captains in ,charge of ,convict ,camps in ,georgia3 ,i desire that each of you extend to ,mrs4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ---- any courtesies possible during their stay with you1 that they may have an opportunity to talk with the prisoners4 ,any kindness shown them will be appreciated by this office4 ,,jake ,c4 ,,moore1 ,assistant ,keeper ,penitentiary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,executive ,department1 ,governor's ,office1 ,jackson1 ,miss4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,j4 ,evans1 ,jr41 ,penitentiary4 ,dear ,sir3 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 who is interested in reform work1 desires to talk to the convicts4 ,any courtesy shown her will be highly appreciated4 ,very truly yours1 ,j4 ,j4 ,,coman1 ,governor's ,sec4 ,a ,,stockade4 ,many inquire of me what a stockade or prison camp is4 ,i will here explain4 ,a man1 or party of men1 lease or hire from the state the labor of a certain number of prisoners for a certain length of time4 ,they are doing time1 as the prisoners say1 for the state4 ,both men and women are thus leased out4 ,their labor is used in clearing up land1 working in cotton and sugar cane fields1 in mines1 in turpentine camps1 in building railroads1 on brick-yards1 in phosphate works or in any place where a company can work together4 ,their food consists mostly of swine's flesh and corn bread made with meal1 water and salt4 ,the stockades are large rough wooden buildings1 erected by the lessee1 in which the prisoners are confined at night4 ,the men are generally chained by one ankle to a heavy chain which reaches through the center of the building from one end to the other1 being securely fastened to strong posts4 ,they usually sleep on the floor in the same clothing worn through the day--which is generally very scant and poor2 but sometimes they may have a bunk and a rough dirty blanket4 ,the stockade is guarded by men with loaded guns1 and besides this every camp is abundantly supplied with great1 strong bloodhounds4 ,and woe to the unfortunate criminal that must be tracked and caught by them6 ,each prison camp has its mode of punishment for those who break the rules or fail to do as much as is allotted to them4 ,the keepers of past years were often very cruel in their treatment1 and seemed to enjoy the punishment which they inflicted upon those under their control4 ,these poor souls had no way of redress4 ,if they should speak of the cruelty1 they would be treated far worse2 the penalty for such a complaint being a severe whipping4 ,oh1 ,god1 how long shall the cry of the prisoner be heard8 ,lord ,jesus1 come quickly6 ,each camp has its officers1 guards1 etc41 among whom is the whipping boss4 ,and ,god pity the man or woman who falls into his cruel hands4 ,there is a board of prison inspectors1 the president of which travels from place to place looking after the interests of all4 ,the conditions of the stockades are much improved since ,i first went among them years ago4 ,i have gone to the governors of different states and pleaded for the betterment of conditions in the prisons4 ,especially have ,i asked that the women might have better treatment and not be whipped so brutally for slight offenses or violation of the rules which the lessee is allowed to make4 ,upon one occasion ,i wrote the governor of a certain state as follows3 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 ,may #aj1 #ah--4 ,to ,his ,excellency the ,governer of ----4 ,dear ,brother3 ,i write in behalf of the prisoners in your state prison at ,b4 ,m4 ,i find them greatly in need of food and clothing4 ,the sick prisoners are suffering with hunger4 ,i held services there one week ago today1 and went into the kitchen myself to see what there was for sixteen sick men and those who are supposed to wait on them1 and ,i found only one half gallon of milk a day for all1 one chicken1 very poor bread1 no vegetables1 no fruits1 and no seasoning but salt4 ,who is to blame for this8 ,i find you feed those prisoners 7miners and farmers7 on seven cents a day4 ,it is an outrage1 a sin1 a curse on this nation1 the suffering you men1 you governors or officers1 at least allow to exist in prison walls4 ,you permit those men in ,b4 ,m4 prison to be whipped for not furnishing daily from three to five small car loads of coal each1 and feed them on food not sufficient to give them strength to perform that amount of labor4 ,god help you1 my friend6 ,as you are the first officer of the state you should see that this inhuman treatment is stopped4 ,forty men were whipped in one day on two occasions1 and on an average there are from six to eight every day4 ,these men are not murmuring1 ,i gave them no chance to tell me of this4 ,but the officers and their wives told me4 ,i saw with my own eyes4 ,the water in those mountains is very impure and many of the men have died from mere neglect4 ,many more will die soon unless something is done for their relief4 ,governor1 for ,god's sake1 please look after the temporal interests of your prisoners4 ,i would have come to you face to face and talked these things over if possible4 ,recently ,i have been to see governors of several of the different states4 ,they are not aware of the treatment of convicts in their own states1 but ,i have seen it all these years of my pilgrimage4 ,the awful suffering ,i see is just breaking my heart4 ,poor lost men and women6 ,who is responsible for the sin and crime and suffering8 ,largely the saloon4 ,men and women are born in sin and conceived in iniquity2 shut in for years and years for some little crime1 and subjected to the hardest labor1 serving out sentence in prison under whip and lash4 ,it is inhuman and unjust4 ,what will ,god ,almighty require of you and me in the day of judgment1 ,for surely we must meet it and answer for our stewardship here on earth4 ,may ,god help me to deal faithfully and do my duty by all classes--to those in authority as well as those in bondage4 ,now1 understand me1 ,i have no personal grievances to bring to you4 ,it is simply mismanagement and the desire to run these prisons on as cheap a scale as possible1 to save money for the ,state and hold position2 and something must be done soon4 ,i told the men to be obedient and faithfully discharge their duty as prisoners4 ,in all my work in every state and territory1 ,europe1 ,mexico and ,canada1 ,i have never had any trouble2 and can go again to all these prisons where ,i have held services4 ,what object have ,i8 ,none1 but the good of the souls and bodies of those in bonds4 ,they are my children1 given me by the ,lord1 and ,i feel as much compassion for them as you would for your child4 ,all the officers and people were kind to me and treated me with the utmost respect4 ,all ,i desire is that you obey ,god and cause this starving and brutal treatment to cease4 ,please say nothing of this letter but investigate for yourself and see if these things are not so4 ,two meals a day 7and very little then7 for a sick man is not enough4 ,yours for humanity1 ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist4 ,the following is an extract from the letter ,i received in reply to the above1 from the general manager of the prison mines referred to3 ----1 ----41 ---- #bb1 #ah--4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,madam3 ,your letter of recent date addressed to ,gov4 ---- was referred to me4 ,i regret exceedingly that you did not call at my office on the occasion of your visit4 ,while there is a great deal of truth in your letter there is much that indicates that you were innocently misled by statements of convicts4 ,i know that you must be a good woman1 that your heart is in your work1 and from your wide experience1 amply capable of advising and instructing one like me4 ,in undertaking the task of uniting to bring our prison systems in this state to a humane basis1 we have done more than you can understand4 ,had you been familiar with the conditions during the past thirty years under the lease system you would realize that much has been accomplished even in the short time we have been at work4 ,i realize that more is yet to be done4 ,but ,rome was not built in a day4 ,the public has got to be educated as well as individuals in immediate charge4 ,i hope therefore you will be patient1 and will be only too glad to see and confer with you should you again visit us here4 ,in the meantime ,i beseech your earnest sympathy and prayers for proper guidance in our work1 for ,i assure you that it is one that requires such moral support as only such as you can fully understand and appreciate4 ,with great respect1 ,i am1 ,yours1 etc41 ----4 ,,plea ,,for ,,women ,,convicts4 ,in some instances women are made to do the farm work1 work in brick yards1 and to do other kinds of hard work4 ,at one place in the south the women cultivated a thousand acres of cotton1 doing other farming and caring for the stockade1 horses1 mules1 cows and hogs and having only men to guard them4 ,they were not allowed a woman matron to care for them when they were sick or dying4 ,i found them in rags and tatters and looking almost like wild beasts4 ,i went to the governor of that state and pleaded with him for my own sex4 ,i begged him to protect the poor women from such cruel treatment and brutal punishment4 ,i asked him to have them taken in from the farm1 where they were clearing up the land and compelled to carry logs1 to the state prison at the ,capitol which was nearly empty1 and given proper work and humane treatment4 ,illustration3 ,,woman ,,convict ,,at ,,work4 ,once upon my knees before a governor ,i begged him to take the women from the stockades to the prison walls at the capital1 and place them under the care of a good matron and give them such work as women should do4 ,also that they be properly clothed and fed and taught morals and religion4 ,i said1 ,for the sake of young men which you now employ to control and guard these women1 won't you do this8 7,i had found several young babes1 born in this place47 ,he promised that he would see that this was done4 ,but a year later ,i found these women still in the fields laboring and suffering as before4 ,i again went to the governor4 ,he was now so changed ,i hardly knew him4 ,i said to him1 ,well1 governor1 ,i see the affairs of state wear heavily upon you4 ,you look ten years older than you did a year ago when ,i was here4 ,why did you not fulfill your promise to me about transferring those women from the stockades to the prison here at the capital8 ,i promised that ,i would not make public the condition in which ,i found them if you would look after them4 ,you promised to have them treated better1 but it is just the same now4 ,he was surprised at my knowledge of affairs and my firmness and tried to excuse himself1 and said that he had brought some of them away to the prison4 ,upon one occasion in later years1 in a place ,i had visited for some years1 ,i found that an old colored woman had been tied to a log and severely whipped on the bare flesh4 ,the other women could not bear to see her so cruelly treated1 and silently cried unto ,god to take the cruel captain who had ordered her so punished out of the way4 ,he did so2 for when ,i arrived there in a few days he was struck with death and soon died4 ,god did not allow him to compel the whipping of any more women4 ,i think that upon only one occasion was ,i ever treated other than kindly and with respect by any governor4 ,in this case ,i insisted that the women prisoners1 especially1 should be more humanely treated4 ,the governor refused to take any action regarding the cruelties practiced but said1 ,go to the ,principal ,keeper4 ,i replied1 ,i have just come from the ,principal ,keeper and he sent me to you1 ,governor4 ,these captains are not permitted to strike one blow without a license from you4 ,it is by your permission that they whip and punish them4 ,he was evidently annoyed to think that ,i so well understood the condition of the prisons and their management4 ,it was now election time and he was running for office for another term1 and he dismissed me without further ado4 ,many like him are saying3 ,am ,i my brother's keeper8 ,yes1 you and ,i dear reader1 and those in authority will surely have to answer in the great day of reckoning1 if we neglect to alleviate the sufferings of our fellowmen1 when it is in our power to do so4 ,there are many kind men in office who really desire better conditions of affairs1 but are only servants of those who are higher in authority4 ,truly the penalty for crime must be paid1 but give all a chance to reform and do right before ,god and man4 ,can we not let poor fallen human beings see that we do care for them8 ,and that there is hope in ,christ for them if they will repent and confess their sin to ,him8 ,did ,he not come to seek and to save that which was lost8 ,,blood ,,hounds4 ,i never will forget my feelings when first the howls of the bloodhounds sounded in my ears4 ,i was in a stockade and there was a noise such as ,i never heard before4 ,i was on my knees praying and the wife of the captain came in saying1 ,there has been an escape and the guards and dogs are after the convict4 ,i just lifted my heart to the ,lord in prayer for the poor unfortunate1 hunted man4 ,i never stopped to think whether white or black2 old or young2 innocent or guilty2 my one cry was for the life and safety of my boy4 ,mothers you know how you would feel were it your boy4 ,well1 ,i got initiated in that part of prison management that day4 ,i have one thought above all others and that is to do ,god's will and obey ,him and help all in anyway ,i can into a good life here and a home in ,heaven at last2 poor heart-sick1 home-sick and sin-sick souls4 ,the very thought of the convict being helpless should appeal to our sympathy and ,god1 the ,judge of all the universe1 is going to call us to give an account for our stewardship4 ,men and women must be governed but not by brute force4 ,we may overpower them1 but do we conquer them8 ,have we won them to a better life and to good citizenship8 ,illustration3 ,,convicts ,,getting ,,out ,,coal4 ,,coal ,,mines4 ,the prison stockades vary in number4 ,sometimes there may be thirty or forty in one state1 sometimes probably not half that many4 ,it depends upon the number of prisoners in the penitentiary and into how many sections they are divided4 ,when ,i was at ,coal ,city1 ,ga41 a number of years ago1 it was one of the most weird and desolate-looking places in which ,i had ever found a stockade located4 ,there were three stockades on the summit of the mountain1 and one at its base4 ,at the last place the men were mining coal4 ,when ,i first went there they used a small car that would hold eight passengers4 ,then this was abandoned and we were obliged to ride on the engine1 as they carried only coal cars for shipping the coal that was mined by the prisoners4 ,i was often in great danger of my clothes taking fire as the fire blazed out of the engine when the men were shoveling in the coal4 ,the railroad zig-zagged up the mountain1 and once1 a sister and myself were obliged to ride on the coal-box1 as the engine was packed with men and one woman before we had arrived from the other train4 ,i had to kneel down and hold onto the side of the coal box with both hands1 and as the engine twisted and turned1 ,i was in danger of falling1 and it was hundreds of feet down to the foot of the precipices in places where our train crept along4 ,all the way up the mountain ,i prayed ,god to protect us4 ,the train was run by prisoners1 yet ,i always felt safe with them4 ,a ,,touching ,,incident4 ,lady1 is you a preacher8 ,coz1 if you is1 ,i want you to come over to my house 'long wid me and make a prayer1 coz my mother is dead1 and my father is in prison over the stockade wall1 and they are goin' to bury my mother1 and there ain't nobody to make a prayer1 'cept a colored woman who was kind to my mother and loved her coz she was good4 ,we children ain't got nobody to care for us4 ,it was just as ,i was leaving the railroad station near the ,pratt ,mine prison stockade in ,alabama that ,i was accosted as above4 ,the speaker was a small white boy with hands and face so black with coal dust that one could hardly tell that he was white4 ,the sadness of that child's voice touched my heart1 and ,i said1 ,yes1 surely ,i will be glad to go with you1 my child4 ,through the mountain forest the little boy had come in search of some one to make a prayer over the dead mother who1 while she was living1 had taught her children about ,jesus4 ,i found the cabin by his guiding me along the mountain path through the underbrush4 ,such a sight as met my eyes6 ,a body covered with a ragged sheet1 lying on a board held up by a couple of rickety stools4 ,nothing was in the hut to make it look like home4 ,two old crones sat by the stump fire in the large fireplace1 making free use of snuff and tobacco4 ,it was a dirty little one-roomed cabin4 ,the funeral was to be at once1 but the man who was making the rough box which was to serve as a coffin was so slow that we finally waited for the funeral till the next day4 ,i went to the prison camp and found the husband and father of the little boy1 and obtained permission of the officials for him to attend the funeral of his wife1 providing that ,i should be responsible for his return4 ,well1 ,god understood it all and helped me there in that wild country2 for that was when the prison stockades were not what they are today4 ,conditions are much changed since ,i first went with a gospel message to those lonely prisoners and sin-bound souls4 ,,my ,,first ,,meeting ,,in ,a ,,prison ,,camp4 ,that night ,i held my first service in a prison camp4 ,the captain was loth to allow me the privilege1 but the ,lord touched his heart and he said that ,i might try4 ,i had come a long distance on the train and had taken little to eat for several days for those were days of much fasting and prayer4 ,the call of ,god was upon me4 ,i must preach the ,gospel to these men4 ,so now1 ,i had but one thing to do1 to wait alone upon the ,lord4 ,i knelt before ,god in the little old wooden hut used as an office1 and cried to the ,lord1 ,o ,lord1 help me6 ,o ,lord1 help me6 ,show me how to hold a meeting here6 ,just after dark a guard came and said1 ,we are ready for the meeting to begin4 ,come on4 ,imagine how ,i felt when there alone before hundreds of men in rags and tatters1 with hands and faces so black and grimy with coal dust 7this being in a prison mining camp7 that ,i could scarcely tell the white men from the colored6 ,the building was low and dirty1 the men were seated on rude benches1 the guards standing with their guns in hand and many great strong bloodhounds by their sides4 ,the room was dimly lighted by three smoky old lanterns hanging on the walls4 ,i had conducted prayer meetings in the church1 led in temperance meetings1 and labored with church people in the cities1 and had been a ,sabbath school teacher for years2 but ,i had never before faced a congregation such as ,i now saw before me4 ,i knelt in silent prayer before stepping upon the rough old box upon which ,i was to stand while ,i spoke4 ,i arose and sang an old-time hymn1 and again knelt and offered prayer4 ,i told ,god all about why ,i was there4 ,i sang another hymn1 but could go no farther4 ,all eyes were fixed upon me1 and ,i asked1 ,is there one ,christian here8 ,if so please raise your hand4 ,i stood trembling and thought1 ,must ,i stand all alone here with no one to pray for me1 or encourage me in my labor for the ,master8 ,at last one old colored man timidly raised his hand1 followed by another1 and then another4 ,how ,i thank ,god even now for this--after all these years of toil as a prison worker4 ,then1 ,i was soon lost in the theme of ,jesus and ,his love4 ,i seemed to see those rough prison miners as dear children once more in the old home at mother's knee at night-fall listening to her ,now ,i lay me down to sleep4 ,as ,i closed1 seeing that the ,lord had spoken to many hearts by ,his ,holy ,spirit1 ,i asked who would kneel with me in prayer and begin a new life4 ,i think every prisoner bowed there before ,god with the heavy prisoners' chains clanking as only such can do4 ,the sound is inexpressibly sad to me even now after so many years of labor in prisons and the rattling of the great keys in the hand of the guard and the sound of the heavy iron doors as they open and close1 receiving some mother's boy1 are still as affecting to me as in those early days of my prison work4 ,many of these men on that night in humility and meekness sought and confessed ,christ as their ,savior4 ,i know not how many who knelt with me there1 ,i shall meet in heaven2 but ,i know that ,god has said ,his ,word shall not return unto ,him void4 ,he that goeth forth and weepeth1 bearing precious seed1 shall doubtless come again with rejoicing1 bringing his sheaves with him4 ,at the close of the service an officer informed me that his wife had prepared to entertain me4 ,i gladly accepted of the kind offer and went to their humble home1 greatly enjoying their hospitality1 for ,i was much exhausted and very weary with the long journey1 the anxiety and the labor of the day4 ,these remained my faithful friends while ,i knew them4 ,i thank ,god for those who open their homes to the children of the ,lord4 ,the next morning the lady said1 ,i will let my little girl go with you to the funeral and to show you the way through the mountains to visit the sick4 ,so ,i went again to the miserable home of the poor little ones who were left worse than orphans4 ,how my heart was filled with sorrow1 seeing the lonely helpless children1 two boys and a beautiful little girl1 with mother dead1 and father in prison6 ,i wondered what their future might be4 ,a few mountaineers' wives had assembled1 but there were not enough men present to lift the box that contained the corpse into the old coal wagon4 ,after the short1 sad services1 with my assistance as a pall bearer the crude coffin was lifted into the wagon1 and ,i helped to steady it as we traveled over the rough mountain road to the cemetery4 ,i had double duty caring for this and making sure that the husband and father did not attempt to escape2 for you know liberty is sweet4 ,the ,lord of hosts must have kept him true to his promise1 and ,i must say that ,i can always trust the poor prisoners not to betray the confidence ,i place in them4 ,at the grave ,i sang the old hymn4 ,i would not live always and we laid the faithful wife and mother away to rest until the trumpet shall call the dead to rise4 ,what was the cause of the sad plight of this family8 ,sin4 ,the saloon6 ,there had been a saloon fight1 and some one was killed4 ,some one did the deed4 ,oh1 ,god6 ,what a reckoning there will be in the end for those who vote to license the saloon1 as well as they who dispense the rum1 ,god will open the books and all shall be judged out of the things that are written therein4 ,vengeance is mine1 ,i will repay1 saith the ,lord of hosts4 ,this faithful wife and mother had spent all her living in an attempt to secure the liberty of her husband4 ,but failing in this1 she had come with her children to live in that dreary place1 hoping to be able to lead him to a better life1 finally dying in want1 and of a broken heart4 ,after the funeral ,i pleaded with the little girl to go with me4 ,but she true to her trust1 true to her dead mother's loyalty1 said1 ,never will ,i leave my poor father with no one to care for him4 ,mother never would1 ,i never will4 ,i will go to see him and tell him of ,jesus4 ,wearied with toil and the journeying from place to place to visit the sick to whom the little girl from the camp had guided me1 ,i returned in the evening with her to her home and then to the camp4 ,thinking to lie down and take some rest1 and kneeling to pray1 ,i was impressed that ,i must visit the other stockade some two or three miles away4 ,i knew it was the voice of ,god and said1 ,yes4 ,the lady strongly pleading that ,i must not go1 that it was dangerous1 said ,i could not go alone1 that ,i would lose my way1 etc4 ,the husband also said one's life was in danger1 that several men were found dead in those mountains and no one knew who killed them1 etc41 and pleaded with me not to go4 ,but ,i said1 ,if ,god sends me1 ,he will see that ,i am not harmed4 ,he will not forsake me4 ,soon ,i started on my way1 and presently met the two little boys whose mother had just been buried4 ,i asked if one of them would not show me the way to the other camp1 and the older one kindly did so4 ,with my little guide we hurried down that rough mountain side1 we being compelled to carry stones to build a bridge across a stream of water1 and finally came within sight of the camp4 ,upon insisting that ,god had sent me1 and that ,i had held services in the other camp1 the captain 7overseer7 invited me into his home4 ,i had not expected such kindness1 but thanking the ,lord ,i accepted it as from ,him4 ,they kindly brought us food1 but ,i would not eat1 and gave it all to the little boy who was so hungry1 and praying for him he started homeward4 ,here also we had a wonderful meeting4 ,men with broken hearts wept with longing for a mother's sympathy and a ,savior's love4 ,some came to ,christ and were saved1 and ,i believe that ,i shall meet some of them in the great home gathering bye and bye in heaven4 ,early the following morning1 ,i was told that the engine which was to take me on my way was ready to start with its train of coal cars for the station some ten miles distant2 but that ,i would have time to visit the hospital department where many were lying sick4 ,i hurried through the prison yard1 filled with hogs and bloodhounds1 to the hospital1 where ,i sang a song and prayed4 ,i was turning to go when a guard came running and said1 ,the whole train is waiting for you1 hurry up4 ,as ,i was hurrying out a door opened and a woman called1 ,do come and see my son1 he is dying4 ,do come and pray for him4 ,i ran in saying1 ,the train may go2 ,i dare not refuse the request4 ,i grasped the dying boy's hand firmly and said1 ,take hold on ,god as ,i take hold of your hand4 ,he will not forsake you4 ,he will save you2 look and live4 ,i offered a short prayer and ran down to the engine1 which still waited4 ,there was something seeming so dismal in its sound in those lonely regions4 ,i had to ride on the engine1 as there was nothing but coal flats on this train4 ,i was helped on and we were off4 ,the sun was just rising over the mountain and the heavy fog was beginning to rise1 and oh1 such a blessing ,i received as we sped along the winding way6 ,i shall never forget the gloomy sight ,i left behind me there4 ,the poor prison-bound men marching out to the mines with their lanterns on their caps and with their picks and shovels4 ,they never seemed so dear to me1 and ,i began to see more clearly than ever that ,god had a special work for me to do4 ,i saw the value of a soul bought with the precious blood of ,christ4 ,i saw1 too1 the need of fully consecrated ,christian workers4 ,as we wound around the mountain side ,i knew ,i had been obedient to my ,god1 and ,his ,spirit bore witness with my spirit that ,he accepted my weak efforts4 ,,difficulties ,,overcome4 ,i was not always kindly received as mentioned in some instances4 ,we are not carried to heaven upon flowery beds of ease4 ,i have many times been refused the privilege even of singing a hymn in a prison4 ,my singing has often been blessed as a means of touching hearts1 and through it souls have been converted and are still true to ,god4 ,i went to visit another prison mining camp or stockade1 in a very lonely region where few people lived4 ,i arrived upon a dark1 gloomy night2 there was no depot and not a house near4 ,there ,i was alone1 yet not alone1 for ,god was with me4 ,a young mulatto man who proved to be an ex-convict1 had come to the train with a lantern1 and ,i asked him to kindly show me the way to the home of the captain of the camp4 ,i found the officer had gone in search of a prisoner who had made his escape1 and his wife refused to take any one in in her husband's absence4 ,she said ,i should go to another officer some distance away4 ,ascending the steps to the large house my heart sank within me1 for ,i felt that ,i should be turned away again in the night4 ,the officer himself came to the door to answer my call4 ,telling him my mission1 ,i asked to stay with them till morning4 ,his wife would not consent to entertain me1 and ,i answered1 ,where shall ,i go8 ,i am alone1 and a ,christian woman sent of ,god to help people in prison to a better life4 ,he replied1 ,there's a boarding house a mile away down the mountain1 and the door was shut4 ,i asked my guide1 ,is there not one ,christian here in these mountains8 ,he said1 ,only one1 a poor old colored man1 that's been in prison1 and he lives up the mountain with his daughter1 a young woman4 ,crying as ,i went along holding to the brush with one hand1 we finally reached the hut at the top of the mountain4 ,i told the young woman my story and asked if ,i might stay with her for the night4 ,she answered1 ,no1 my father is away and ,i cannot take in a stranger without his consent4 ,then ,i must stay out on the mountain alone all night4 ,she seemed sorry for me1 and said ,i should wait till her father came4 ,i had not to wait long till he came1 and kindly consented for me to stay4 ,i was weary and hungry from my long journey4 ,i saw the old colored man open the basket he had brought home with him4 ,it contained some cold food given him where he was employed4 ,he asked me to share his lunch1 but ,i refused1 as ,i believed he needed all he had4 ,how thankful ,i was for shelter in that poor hut that night1 though sleeping by my side was that poor unfortunate colored girl with a babe in her arms that cried all the night4 ,there were cracks in the hut through which you could see the stars4 ,what a change the ,lord had wrought in the once proud woman that ,i had been6 ,i remembered that ,jesus said1 ,foxes have holes1 and birds of the air have nests2 but the ,son of man hath not where to lay his head4 ,and ,the disciple is not above his master4 ,i spent the night in prayer and ,god heard my cries for the poor convicts who were cruelly starved and beaten by the drunken guards and captain who seemed to bitterly hate all who were so helplessly bound under them4 ,this is a strong statement but ,i will meet it at the ,judgment4 ,in the morning one woman who had turned me from her door sent to find out what had become of me4 ,she said she would give the young woman who had sheltered me a present for not leaving me out on the mountain alone4 ,i had prayed earnestly that ,god would convict her for her lack of hospitality4 ,upon going to the officer to learn when ,i could have a meeting with the prisoners1 he unkindly turned me away saying that ,i should never have a meeting there1 and that ,i might as well go4 ,well1 ,i did go2 traveling eighty miles back to the capital1 ,montgomery1 ,alabama1 to see the ,governor4 ,i knew the ,lord had sent me1 and how could ,i meet ,him at the ,judgment and tell ,him ,i had failed8 ,i knew1 too1 that ,satan had hindered4 ,i asked for the ,governor but was told that the ,president of the ,board of ,prison ,inspectors was the proper person for me to see about the matter4 ,he was sent for and soon came4 ,he was a very kind old gentleman and sat down and asked me what ,i wished4 ,when ,i had related the facts he said1 ,who dare refuse you holding meetings in that prison camp8 ,you go back there and hold your meeting4 ,i'll write him a letter and let him hear from me4 ,i said1 ,but he will say he did not receive your letter4 ,he then said he would write a letter for me to present to him4 ,but1 how should ,i get back to the camp8 ,after selling my trunk and such articles of clothing as ,i could spare1 ,i yet did not have enough money to pay railway fare4 ,,my ,,first ,,free ,,pass4 ,trusting the ,lord to in some way provide means for me to get back to the camp1 ,i went to the janitress of the depot1 an intelligent mulatto1 and told her of my need1 as she had previously assisted me in securing half-fare rates on the railroad1 she having known the officials since their childhood4 ,she insisted that ,i should go to the office of the general manager of the ,l4 ,n4 ,r4 ,r4 and ask for a half-fare rate to the prison camp at ,new ,castle1 ,ala4 ,oh1 how ,i dreaded to go to that office6 ,but tremblingly and prayerfully ,i went1 and presenting to him the letter which ,i was to carry with me to the camp1 ,i told him my desires4 ,upon reading this letter he handed me what ,i supposed was a half-fare permit4 ,i humbly thanked him and returned to my lodging4 ,after making preparation to start early in the morning on my journey1 before retiring for the night ,i knelt by my bedside to thank ,god for the permit4 ,thinking ,i would see just how it read before ,i prayed1 ,i took it up and began reading1 ,pass ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton ,from ,montgomery to ,birmingham1 ,ala41 ,prison1 ,missionary4 ,what6 ,did my eyes deceive me1 or was it a mistake4 ,no4 ,it was a free pass1 and the following note was enclosed to the ,superintendent at the other end of the route regarding a return pass if ,i should ask for it3 ,louisville ,nashville ,railroad ,co41 ,montgomery1 ,ala41 ,jan4 #ae1 #ahhe4 ,l4 ,hage1 ,esq41 ,supt41 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this lady1 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 bears credentials showing her to be a prison missionary4 ,any courtesy you may extend to her1 in the way of pass1 will be properly applied4 ,yours truly1 ,m4 ,s4 ,,belknap1 ,supt4 ,oh1 how ,i did thank ,god for this manifestation of ,his goodness to me--doing above that which ,i could ask or think6 ,mr4 ,belknap1 that kind ,r4 ,r4 officer1 has been dead many years1 and perhaps is forgotten by some who knew him better than ,i1 but ,i shall never forget his unexpected kindness to me4 ,since then1 through the goodness of ,god and the favor and confidence of the railroad officials1 ,i have received transportation throughout the country1 to carry the ,gospel of ,jesus to men and women of every class4 ,upon my return to the prison camp ,i asked for the officer and told him ,i had come to hold meeting for the prisoners4 ,i suppose he had received word from the ,governor's office1 as he so readily consented1 asking at what hour ,i would like to have the service4 ,i thought best to wait till the following day 7,sunday7 for the services1 that ,i might have sufficient time for my work4 ,the ,lord came in mighty power that ,sabbath day as ,i sang the old time hymns1 and asked ,god to forgive and help those precious souls4 ,the ,spirit gave me utterance and carried the truth to the hearts of the hearers4 ,sobs and groans were heard from men in tears who sought forgiveness and gave ,god their hearts4 ,at the close ,i took each one by the hand and exhorted them to be faithful to ,god4 ,i afterwards visited the sick and talked and prayed with them1 exhorting them to seek a home in heaven where sin can never come1 and where ,god wipes away all tears4 ,how true the words1 ,down in the human heart1 crushed by the tempter1 ,feelings lie buried that grace can restore2 ,touched by a loving heart1 wakened by kindness1 ,chords that were broken will vibrate once more4 ,one ,sunday morning ,i was going to a prison camp to hold meeting4 ,there was no way to get there excepting to walk through the deep mud4 ,there were a couple of boys going towards the stockade leading an old mule4 ,i said1 ,o1 boys1 ,,can',t ,i ,,ride ,,that ,,mule8 ,certainly1 they said4 ,it was with difficulty that ,i mounted the novel conveyance1 and that ,i remained on the mule's back4 ,for some reason1 ,i was filled with apprehension4 ,i had an impression that there was danger4 ,i asked the boys if they would not lead the animal1 but they kept a good distance from it1 saying that they wanted to keep out of the mud4 ,when we reached the camp and the officers came out and helped me to dismount1 they looked at me in great astonishment1 and one of them said1 ,what a narrow escape you have made6 ,i only wonder that you got here alive4 ,it is a wonder that old mule didn't kill you4 ,i wonder that the boys let you take it6 ,i learned that the animal was so utterly uncontrollable and vicious that they could only use him on a dump cart to carry the prisoners' dinner or something of the sort and then he would sometimes kick the cart all to pieces4 ,i raised my heart in thanksgiving to ,god1 knowing that ,he who stopped the lion's mouth and held the flames of the fiery furnace had in some way kept this ugly creature from doing me any harm and saved my life4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,work in ,stockades and ,prison ,camps--,continued4 ,i once had a novel experience in a prison lumber camp4 ,i was being entertained at the home of the superintendent of the camp and was to hold service with the prisoners at twilight4 ,the superintendent came to the parlor and asked if ,i was ready for the service4 ,we had not far to go1 but ,i was unable to walk the distance2 so a carriage1 drawn by some of the prisoners1 had been brought to the gate for me4 ,i answered that ,i was ready1 but as ,i was waiting he again asked if ,i was ready and why ,i was waiting4 ,i replied that ,i was waiting for the horses4 ,he answered1 ,you come on1 the horses will be all right4 ,i had learned to obey the officers1 so followed on down through the beautiful yard of flowers and reluctantly stepped into the carriage4 ,instantly four prisoners took hold of the carriage and we were off4 ,the men seemed glad to assist me and ,i was so thankful to them4 ,god bless them6 ,i do not think a queen with all her body-guard could have felt more secure or have been more appreciated1 than ,i1 there surrounded by my dear prison boys4 ,after the service ,i was conveyed in the same manner back to the home of the superintendent4 ,at another time1 desiring to visit a certain prison camp1 ,i found there was no way to reach it but to ride on a flat car with the men going from their work4 ,i was glad to go with them and have a chance to speak a word of kindness and sing some hymns that might cheer them on the way4 ,in the pineries of ,florida the stockade prisoners are engaged in taking the sap from the pine trees4 ,the camps are located some miles apart1 and in going from one to another the forests are so dense that we were compelled to go in a two-wheeled donkey-cart4 ,we encountered great dangers1 there being many poisonous reptiles and alligators in the lakes and rivers which we had to pass4 ,,assisting ,a ,,colored ,,minister4 ,i arrived one ,sunday morning at a stockade where hundreds of men and some women were kept4 ,i went to the keeper1 or captain1 as he was called1 and asked for the privilege of holding a gospel service with the prisoners under his charge4 ,he not only refused me1 but was abusive1 cursing me and ordering me away4 ,of course ,i was much grieved1 as ,i felt the ,lord had sent me there to preach the gospel4 ,i was greatly surprised that an official should use such language to a lady1 and without provocation4 ,weeping1 ,i asked if ,i might sing for the women prisoners4 ,again1 with oaths1 he refused me4 ,but ,brother ,frank ,joseph1 a colored preacher who knew me1 was there to hold religious services by permission of the governor1 and he came and invited me to assist him4 ,of course the captain could say nothing against it and ,i went with him4 ,but when he asked me to conduct the service ,i could not at the first sing1 preach or pray for weeping1 but ,i told him ,i would pray ,god to give them a kinder officer for ,i knew the one they had was a cruel man4 ,god used even my weakness and my tears to touch their hearts and we had a blessed meeting4 ,after service ,i had a chance to talk to the women prisoners4 ,we wept together and oh how thankful they were that there was one woman who would try to help them and make their burdens lighter4 ,they told me how terribly they were treated and said they would be beaten if the captain knew of their telling me of it4 ,how glad ,i was to carry the message of ,jesus' love to them in their distress4 ,before ,i left they said they wished they had something to give me1 and some gave small tokens of their regards4 ,it was all they had to give and when they urged me ,i accepted them as from the ,lord1 feeling that ,he would in some way reward them and bless their offering as ,he did the widow's mite4 ,,through ,,danger ,,alone4 ,desiring to reach another stockade some miles distant ,i asked the captain if he could not supply me with conveyance and a guide1 but he refused4 ,i determined1 however1 to find the other prison and started on foot alone4 ,the prison women told me that it was very dangerous because of fierce dogs and cross cattle in the mountains2 but feeling that ,god wanted me to go ,i knew no such thing as fail4 ,after walking some distance ,i sank down with exhaustion under a big tree and wept out my heart to ,god for guidance1 protection and success4 ,i arose feeling strengthened and comforted and soon came to a farm house and asked a young man who stood in the garden if he could direct me to the prison camp4 ,yes1 come in1 lady1 you look so tired and faint and my mother will give you something to eat and we will show you the way1 was the kind reply ,i received4 ,i stopped and rested a while but would neither eat nor drink as ,i had given myself to fasting and prayer that my way might be opened for services in the camp to which ,i was going4 ,after a long walk we found the stockade and knowing the young man who was with me1 the officers gave their consent for me to hold a service4 ,after ,i had been singing and talking to the prisoners a while suddenly my strength failed me4 ,i had only time to say1 ,will you sing8 ,then ,i saw and heard nothing more4 ,i ,,had ,,fallen ,,prostrate among those chained prisoners4 ,when ,i came to myself ,i heard singing from inside the walls1 such singing as could only come from truly broken-hearted1 repentant souls4 ,i had been carried outside and the poor prison women were caring for me4 ,a good old colored sister was holding me close to her and pleading with ,god to restore me4 ,i heard her say1 ,she's a woman like we is--and she's given her life for us4 ,they were doing all they knew and were crying around me4 ,i said1 ,please carry me back into the prison4 ,when they had done so ,i asked1 ,how many of you prisoners will kneel with me in prayer and give your hearts to ,god1 take ,him as your ,savior and start today for heaven8 ,god loves you1 ,jesus died for you6 ,and if you will come to ,him and confess your sins ,he will save you4 ,every one knelt before ,god1 and many with prayers and broken sobs cried out their hearts to ,him who is not willing that any should perish1 but that all should have eternal life4 ,i expect to meet many of them in heaven2 for ,he is able to save to the uttermost all that will come unto ,god by ,him--and able also to keep them from falling4 ,the following day1 traveling from this prison to another stockade1 sitting near me in the car was an aged gentleman who on seeing my ,bible asked me where ,i was going4 ,when ,i had told him1 he asked me the nature of my work and how the prisoners were treated in these places2 also how ,i was received by the officials of the prisons generally4 ,thinking to only entertain a kind old country gentleman1 ,i told him many things which ,i probably should not have been so free to mention had ,i known who he was4 ,he asked me many questions about the stockades4 ,i told him that ,i had never been so cruelly treated as at a camp on the previous day4 ,where1 he inquired1 ,who did such a thing8 ,in answer to his inquiry ,i told him who it was4 ,little did ,i know that this was ,god's way of revealing sin4 ,a ,,meeting ,,at ,,day ,,dawn4 ,reaching the small station at the foot of the mountain2 we had to take a box car only large enough for six persons4 ,the old gentleman was one of the passengers also4 ,going to the house of the captain at the top of the mountain 7such a lonely place71 he thought it impossible to have a meeting with the men1 as he said they were so wicked and unruly1 etc41 but finally said ,i might do so at day-break the next morning4 ,he was very careful1 saying1 ,these men are so wicked and cruel that never could a woman stand before them4 ,i wept and prayed most of the night and cried1 ,oh ,god1 can you let me fail now8 ,in those early years of my labor ,i traveled much alone but later ,i usually had a sister accompany me1 or sometimes a sister and her husband4 ,out in the prison yard at break of day ,i found hundreds of men all ready to go down into the coal mines4 ,i wondered how to gain their attention and make them all hear my voice4 ,i asked to have the men drawn closer together1 as they stood in the prison yard4 ,this being done1 ,i sang a hymn4 ,oh how ,i do praise ,god for the gift of song6 ,i forgot my weird surroundings and the rough appearance of the men and their dangerous looks4 ,i saw them as little boys in the old home far away and then as human souls1 hurrying into the presence of ,god and ,i felt that ,i stood between them and the ,judgment4 ,conceive1 if you can1 how this company must have looked to me1 bound in companies of perhaps fifty in a gang1 to a long strong chain to which was fastened a number of shorter chains2 these short chains being fastened to the men's ankles4 ,god enabled me to deliver ,his message and eternity alone will reveal the results of the seed scattered there that morning4 ,after shaking hands with the men ,i was introduced to the old gentleman whom ,i had met on the train the day before4 ,to my surprise he proved to be the ,president of the ,board of ,prison ,inspectors of the state4 ,i saw him no more after that time1 but a year later ,i visited the prison of which ,i had told him4 ,i saw at the depot a young colored man nicely dressed1 but ,i knew by his clothes that he was one of the prison boys4 ,he had come to get the morning paper for the warden4 ,i walked with him to the prison1 and on the way asked him how they all were at the camp4 ,all so nicely1 thank you1 he replied4 ,who is your captain now8 ,i asked4 ,has there been any change since ,i was here last year8 ,o yes1 ma'am1 soon after you was here ma'am1 just as soon as ,massa 7meaning the ,president of the ,board7 could find a good man to take de place ob de ole captun what treated de men so bad and 'bused you so1 he sent him away4 ,oh1 is that so8 ,i said4 ,yes1 an' we's got a good time now to what we had befo' ,god sent you heah ma'am4 ,he certainly did send you heah ma'am dat time4 ,so ,i had only suffered these indignities that these abused ones might have better officers and treatment4 ,the new captain received me very kindly and giving me a seat said my breakfast would be ready as soon as the prison women could prepare it for me4 ,well1 surely the ,lord had been at work4 ,such a change all around6 ,we had a grand meeting and much good was accomplished1 the captain furnished a buggy to take me to the next camp and bring me back to the depot4 ,,helping ,,to ,,bury ,a ,,prisoner4 ,after visiting the hospital department of a stockade where ,i had never been before1 ,i saw the guards nailing up a long1 apparently heavy1 box4 ,i said to them1 ,what have you in that box8 ,one replied1 ,a man--a dead man4 ,soon after ,i heard an officer say to a guard1 ,send five prisoners to go with me to bury that box4 ,i arose from where ,i had been praying1 and hurried out and asked permission to accompany the men with the box1 but was refused--the officer saying they had no guard to spare to assist me up the mountain side4 ,oh1 just please let me go1 ,i said4 ,i do not need any one to help me to climb the mountain4 ,please1 won't you let me go8 ,he then consented1 and ,i did not wait for either bonnet or help2 but with my shawl over my head ,i hurried out after the men bearing the corpse4 ,on we went up the mountain side1 until we came to a very steep place1 and the poor weak prisoners began to tremble under the heavy burden1 along in front of the guard who had his gun in hand4 ,i knew if one should fall1 the guard might suppose he was trying to escape from him1 and fire at him and kill him4 ,i took up a stick in my left hand to steady myself and placing my right arm under the end of the box added my strength to that of the tired men4 ,when we reached the summit of the mountain we found the grave already dug1 but it was much too short for the box4 ,i was almost exhausted and came near falling4 ,the grave being too short1 they were going to leave the corpse until morning and then return and bury it4 ,but ,i said1 ,boys1 you dig the grave longer and ,i will sing for you while you work4 ,i sang an old time hymn1 and they lowered the box1 by pounding and jumping upon it and then hurriedly shoveled in the dirt4 ,then ,i said1 ,let us pray4 ,and there in that dreary place ,i prayed for the poor men who had performed this sad rite and for the guard4 ,i forgot my surroundings4 ,i thought only of ,,some ,,mother',s ,,boy1 who perhaps died with a broken heart without a mother's care1 now lying in an unknown grave far away from home4 ,perhaps she had prayed for him and ,god had sent me to pray over the lonely grave4 ,there we left him where all his mistakes should be forgotten4 ,he may have sought and found pardon in ,god4 ,who can tell8 ,the stars were now shining and the stillness filled me with awe4 ,the men hurried down the mountain side to the prison1 leaving me behind in the dim starlight4 ,i found my way to the stockade1 but found the door locked and with great difficulty ,i made them hear me and was admitted4 ,at about nine o'clock the prisoners were brought together to have a meeting4 ,the guard ridiculed4 ,the prisoners wondered at seeing a woman preaching4 ,how ,i trembled6 ,oh1 for some one to share my burden6 ,i asked1 ,is there one ,christian here among you prisoners8 as ,i shook hands with them and some of them pointing out an old colored woman1 said1 ,she's a ,christian4 ,i clasped her hand1 hardened by work1 and said1 ,will you pray for me1 sister8 ,yes1 she said1 ,yes1 ,i will1 honey4 ,god was there to touch and tender those hearts4 ,they were unused to meetings of this character1 and perhaps had never heard of a woman preaching4 ,i well knew that unless ,god undertook for me the meeting would be a failure4 ,there seemed to be no way to reach these hard hearts4 ,the men and women stared at me4 ,suddenly ,i thought of the great danger ,i was in1 and the risk ,i had to run in getting back to the village that night4 ,i saw the head of a young prison boy droop over on a man's shoulder1 too sleepy to listen longer4 ,then ,i heard and saw no more1 but fell unconscious to the floor4 ,the weariness from the day's labor proved too much for my strength4 ,but ,god used my weakness to reach these hearts and when ,i regained consciousness1 men and women with tears1 sobs and prayers1 were crying to ,god for mercy and forgiveness--pleading for help to be better men and women4 ,i hope ,i shall meet many of them in heaven when the roll is called up yonder for they truly seemed to bring forth fruit meet for repentance4 ,the following day was spent among the sick and dying in the village4 ,i had asked the privilege in the morning to go with the train men to the prison pest house where the sick prisoners were1 but was refused by the train crew1 some of them ridiculing me and my work4 ,i had only kindly asked them the privilege1 and then exhorted them to come to ,christ4 ,i then told them ,i feared the next message would be judgment from ,god4 ,god bless the railroad men if some of them do make mistakes6 ,my heart goes out for them as they are always in much danger4 ,i make it a rule of my life to always pray for every train on which ,i travel with its crew and passengers4 ,and hitherto ,god has been my help4 ,bless ,his holy name6 ,,wreck ,,of ,a ,,coal ,,train4 ,when ,i had returned to the boarding house in the evening ,i lay down to rest4 ,many striking things occurred in this place4 ,as ,i lay resting1 dishes were rattling and children were crying in adjoining rooms1 my room door leading into the open hall was standing open1 and in came a drove of little pigs4 ,i looked up to see what it was1 and one had walked up to the fireplace where was burning a low fire1 and stood warming its nose4 ,but they soon grew tired of indoor life and all quickly scampered out as they had come in4 ,they had seemed as much at home there as myself4 ,amid this confusion ,i fell asleep4 ,how long ,i slept ,i do not know4 ,i was awakened by heart-rending cries from men and women4 ,i sprang up and throwing a shawl over my head1 ,i ran out in the rain to see what ,i could do to help1 for ,i knew some one was in great agony4 ,what ,i saw ,i shall never forget4 ,the coal train and its crew that had gone out in the morning had come in4 ,,the ,,engine ,,was ,,ditched in a terrible manner and men were crushed in the wreck4 ,women were screaming as they ran to see if their loved ones were among the victims4 ,i met the same men ,i had warned in the morning carrying on a board the fireman badly cut and bruised4 ,i said1 ,men1 ,i gave you the warning this morning4 ,you rejected my counsel and ,i thought judgment would come1 but ,i little thought it would come so soon4 ,they carried the wounded man to an old baggage car4 ,people were so excited they did not know what to do4 ,here ,i was to learn a lesson in surgery4 ,i found an old pail and brought some water4 ,some bystanders gave me their handkerchiefs and ,i proceeded to wash the blood from the poor wounded head and limb1 which was much crushed1 and helped the doctor to bind up the wounds4 ,soon there came a call for help from the scene of the disaster4 ,a messenger came running1 saying1 ,come quick6 there is a man dying whom we found under the engine4 ,it was very dark1 but ,i hurried along through the mud and rain after the doctor to the scene of suffering4 ,they had carried him into the nearest hut1 and he was lying upon the floor unconscious4 ,kneeling beside him ,i raised his head upon my hand4 ,consciousness returned4 ,i cried1 ,jesus can save you even now2 ,he loves you4 ,he will forgive you now1 only believe on ,him4 ,he replied1 ,i do believe ,he does save me just now4 ,glory to ,god6 ,he is a present help in time of need2 a friend that sticketh closer than a brother4 ,dear reader1 it is better to be saved before the crash comes4 ,the man was suffering terribly4 ,the women1 thinking they must do something1 had poured turpentine into the wounds thinking it was camphor4 ,we washed the wounds and ,i assisted the physician in setting the broken limbs4 ,god wonderfully helped me there to practice what ,i preached1 and ,i found what it means to love my neighbor as myself4 ,these railroad men were my neighbors1 and they were suffering and in a dying condition4 ,one of the poor men cried piteously for his mother4 ,i traveled on the train on which one of the wounded men was taken to the city where his mother lived and helped to care for him on the way4 ,we were delayed at that camp for two days4 ,i will never forget those days of service and suffering4 ,,the ,,sugar ,,camps4 ,at one time1 ,i went into the ,sugar ,refining ,stockades in ,texas4 ,leaving the train1 we had to walk a long distance to the first camp4 ,the superintendent was angry at us for coming1 and ordered us to go to the next camp4 ,he said there were women at the other stockade and that he would not let us have any meeting1 any way1 with his men4 ,we asked him if he would please send a boy to carry our luggage1 and he refused1 so we started on alone1 to walk a long way4 ,when we arrived at the second camp we found only one guard and a couple of prisoners working1 and no women within miles4 ,when the guard saw the situation1 he seemed sorry for us1 and we were allowed to rest and wait until the return of the prisoners1 who were at work at a distance on railroad repairs4 ,in the meantime he sent a man to another stockade some miles away1 and the captain's wife there agreed to entertain us1 for which we were thankful4 ,we had a meeting after the men came to camp1 and the guards came to us and said that the women at the camp mentioned before had sent word that they would not keep us over night4 ,what could we do8 ,finally ,i said1 ,can you take us to the depot8 ,they answered that they had no conveyance but ,,an ,,old ,,mule ,,and ,a ,,cart4 ,i said1 ,that is all right4 ,so they got the mule and cart and helped us in1 and handed us our luggage4 ,then they sent a colored boy to go before the mule with a lantern1 and another followed after4 ,in this way we went on until we reached the little country depot1 which was all dark4 ,one of the prisoners1 who went with us1 lighted the lantern inside1 and we called to the ticket agent1 who had retired1 asking him to please check our luggage to ,san ,antonio4 ,this he refused to do1 so ,i said1 ,we are ,christian women and will give you almost any price1 if your wife will allow us to stay with her until morning4 ,he was angry1 still refusing to get up to check our luggage4 ,he said he was not paid for night work4 ,we could not have gotten on the car had it not been for a gentleman1 going on the same train1 who had his servant help us4 ,we went to ,san ,antonio before we could get a place to rest and it was then morning1 but ,god blessed us in holding services in the prison there that day4 ,i never reported the agent who was so rude to us1 as ,i was sorry for him1 for ,i was told he was a cripple1 and ,i thought he needed his work to provide for his family4 ,,in ,a ,,gambling ,,saloon4 ,from ,knoxville1 ,tenn41 ,i went one night to the coal mine region4 ,i asked the landlord at the hotel for some one to show me a way to the stockade some distance1 and he sent his chore boy with me4 ,we had a long walk1 and returned after meeting at night4 ,it was late and as we came down the mountain side ,i saw a light at a little distance1 and ,i said1 ,where is that light8 ,he said1 ,that is the wickedest place2 they kill people there4 ,without waiting to consider the danger ,i might be in1 ,i said1 ,wait here for me1 and ,i hastened up the valley and into the place1 which ,i found to be a gambling saloon4 ,then1 without waiting1 ,i poured out to them the ,gospel message which burned in my heart1 ,i fell on my knees and prayed to ,god to save them from the destruction to which they were going4 ,then ,i rushed out into the darkness again1 and found the boy waiting with the lantern and we went on our way4 ,i was thoroughly alarmed next day when ,i realized the risk ,i had taken in going into such a place1 but ,god has wrought mightily for me all these years and preserved me from harm4 ,as ,i write ,i feel near home and heaven4 ,jesus is there4 ,soon ,i shall be with ,him4 ,,condition ,,of ,,convicts4 ,i wish that some who whine so much in church about taking up the cross could see the inside of those stockades as ,i saw them--see the suffering that existed1 the sorrowful1 heart-broken prisoners with no ray of hope1 no one to care about them2 everything poor1 scarcely enough to keep them alive2 the poorest of places to sleep2 men fastened to a large post in the middle of the stockade by a heavy chain1 compelled to wear their clothing till it would decay on them1 often so ragged that they could not hide their nakedness1 and guarded by bloodhounds and armed men4 ,it was not proper under other circumstances for a woman to see men in such conditions1 but they had souls to be saved or lost1 and the ,lord had commissioned me to go to these men and tell them that ,jesus loved them and wanted to save and deliver them from the power of the devil who got them into such places4 ,,unjustly ,,condemned4 ,judges often sentence men and women to years of hard labor in prison for the slightest offenses4 ,an old colored man employed in a store took a box of cigars1 but regretting the act1 returned them confessing his wrong1 and asked forgiveness4 ,he was arrested and sentenced to twenty-five years in the stockade2 one year for each cigar4 ,another colored man was found on the street at night carrying five ears of corn4 ,he was sentenced to prison for five years4 ,he with others was working where the earth caved in and killed him4 ,who will answer in the day of ,judgment for that man's life and death8 ,yes1 and his soul8 ,were ,i to here relate some things ,i know to be true1 awful in the extreme1 they would not be believed4 ,let us have the laws of ,god enforced4 ,let those who may be anxious to punish wrong and have men condemned upon circumstantial evidence1 look into their own hearts and lives and see if they have been free from condemnation4 ,i do not want to condemn judges nor jurymen1 for they are not all to blame4 ,a man or woman should never be condemned until known to be guilty4 ,people are often prejudiced1 and without proper investigation many are condemned to punishment for crimes of which they are innocent4 ,the cries of such are come up before the ,lord and ,he will hear and answer prayer4 ,at one time there were forty stockades in one state and about four thousand prisoners in one state4 ,let us help those that are down4 ,in many stockades ,i found men and women living together promiscuously and children being born in the camp4 ,the poor creatures were subjected to all kinds of abuse and suffering1 the women in great need of better quarters1 better food1 and care4 ,ofttimes they were afraid for their very lives4 ,many were killed outright2 in one place where they were far out in the coal mines many were brutally whipped and ill-treated4 ,i went to the ,lord in prayer1 and then to the state authorities and the ,governor went out with men and opened the graves of many1 who had died in camps4 ,one of the officers was imprisoned for ten years2 another made his escape2 others were dealt with more or less severely4 ,i had been out there myself1 getting on the engine to ride out to the stockade1 and requested to see the prisoners after their day's work was done1 and as they came up from the mines they were so ragged that ,i was compelled to turn my back as they passed4 ,i got permission to hold a ,gospel meeting4 ,after it was over1 ,i requested the captain to let one of his men take us to the next house1 a distance of a mile or more from the camp4 ,when we knocked asking permission to stay for the night1 and telling who we were1 the woman of the house said1 ,you had better go and preach to those prison guards1 who are killing off the poor prisoners4 ,she said she could not stand it to hear such awful cries as reached her ears even at that distance from the stockade4 ,she told the guard just what she thought of the brutality shown the prisoners and convicts4 ,he said he was not to blame4 ,he seemed to be a kind young man4 ,in one place ,i found one old colored man who was condemned to death4 ,he was filthy and dirty and had nothing to lie on but a heap of straw2 he was hungry and his cell was dark and damp4 ,my heart ached to see him so shamefully abused4 ,even condemned men have rights and they should be respected2 it is enough for them to know that they are to die a horrible death1 without having all kinds of abuse heaped upon them2 yet ,i have seen this in many prisons4 ,how is it that friends are so often denied the privilege of seeing those that are under death sentence or those who are sick and dying8 ,let the truth be told and let there be some one to investigate these things4 ,i believe that those who are most against prisoners1 are those who are not familiar with the conditions4 ,let good discipline be maintained1 but let prisoners never be brutally treated1 simply because they are powerless to help themselves4 ,i find many things going on that are not right1 but ,i have never made complaint to the governors of the states1 unless compelled to do so1 because of cases of extreme cruelty4 ,,need ,,of ,,reform4 ,there is great need of reformation in the management of prisons1 and especially in the prison lease system and management of women prisoners in the south4 ,oh1 the shocking sights that have greeted me on almost every hand6 ,there is nothing more heart-rending to me than the terrible1 brutal treatment of helpless humanity4 ,these prisoners are entirely at the mercy of officers who are oftentimes void of feeling1 coarse and vulgar in the extreme4 ,to get positions and make money is the aim of many of today4 ,the poor unfortunates shut up in prisons and asylums are in many cases most shamefully mistreated4 ,they are supposed to be there for the purpose of reformation or treatment1 but were it not for the grace of ,god in my soul1 ,i never could endure the torture and anguish resulting from the sufferings ,i find among these poor helpless men and women4 ,i am not supposed to know the conditions in these places1 but twenty years of experience going inside these walls have opened my eyes and ,i get behind the scenes4 ,there is a time of settling up of accounts and there will be a final reckoning day at the judgment bar of ,god1 for what was done in this life1 and how many will be weighed in the balance and found wanting6 ,the following paper by ,clarissa ,olds ,keeler was written to ,brother ,s4 ,b4 ,shaw and read at the meeting of the ,national ,convocation for ,prayer at ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 ,may1 #aijc1 and will serve to convey some idea of conditions as they have existed in some parts of our land2 though we are glad to say that they are somewhat improved1 in many places at least4 ,,let ,,the ,,sighing ,,of ,,the ,,prisoner ,,come ,,before ,,thee4 ,now mine eyes shall be open1 and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place4--#b ,chron4 #g3ae4 ,when attending the ,christian ,workers' ,convention in ,new ,york in #ahhg a man from ,tennessee also attending the convention1 said to me1 ,i wonder the ,christian people do not take up the work of alleviating the sufferings of prisoners in the ,southern ,states4 ,for years he had been an eye witness to treatment which he described as most atrocious1 and the condition of the convicts1 especially those hired to contractors to work in coal mines1 as one of starvation1 fear and disgusting filth4 ,since these words were spoken to me ,i have spared no pains to inform myself about this new and most revolting form of slavery1 and ,i can find no words more applicable than these3 ,this is a people robbed and spoiled2 they are all of them snared in holes1 and they are hid in prison houses2 they are for a prey1 and none delivereth2 for a spoil and none saith1 ,restore4 ,who among you will give ear to this8 ,who will hearken and hear for the time to come8 7,isaiah #db3bb1 #bc47 ,each one of the twelve convict leasing states has had its own bloody record which has been written down in ,god's book4 ,influential politicians1 ,united ,states ,senators from both north and south1 members of state legislatures1 private citizens1 heartless corporations1 have all shared in the money coined out of the bodies and blood of convicts in our southern states4 ,but it is not my purpose now to go over the past4 ,wherever the convict lease system has been introduced ,its presence has1 as a ,georgian once said1 been marked by a trail of blood4 ,the accounts of this ghastly institution are too revolting to present4 ,but ,i want to call the attention of the ,christian people to the present condition of convicts1 most of whom are colored1 and many of whom are guilty of but trifling offences and some of them none at all4 ,a man in ,buncome ,county1 ,north ,carolina1 wrote to the ,asheville ,gazette1 under date of ,march #ae1 #aijc3 ,where are we at and where is the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals that they or the ,christian world have never heard the cries from the poor unfortunate prisoners in the buck and the ringing of the cruel blood stained lash8 ,i have seen white men beaten until their persons were blue and blood oozing from the lash from the captain's hands in the ,buncome chain-gang4 ,and negroes--there is no use talking4 ,these prisoners1 the writer says1 have been guilty of some misdemeanor and being poor and unable to pay a fine are sent to the road prison and there the lash is administered on the naked back contrary to the spirit of the constitution in abolishing imprisonment for debt and the lash at the whipping-post4 ,now ,i would suggest that a society be formed for the prevention of cruelty to prisoners4 ,while the good people are praying for the outpouring of the ,holy ,spirit on other lands may they not forget that we need a baptism of fire right here in our own land4 ,our ,saviour's last act of mercy and forgiving love was shown toward a prisoner and shall we imitate ,his example1 or shall we not8 ,his last command was3 ,go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,how many inmates of our prisons have the gospel presented to them8 ,when we all meet at the judgment1 as meet we must1 how many will be there from the mining pits and prison pens who can say truthfully1 ,no man cared for my soul6 ,neither do we care for the bodies of these unfortunates2 and as proof of this ,i will give you a few extracts from papers of recent date4 ,when the ,national ,conference of ,charities and ,corrections was holding its session in ,atlanta the first of the present month1 some of the delegates were invited to visit the city prison stockade where misdemeanor convicts are housed at night4 ,this was done just for the amusement of the delegates4 ,hear what ,mr4 ,timothy ,nicholson of ,indiana1 a delegate1 said about his visit to this school of crime4 ,he says3 ,i found in one room one hundred and sixty prisoners1 white men and women1 black men and women and even children1 both black and white1 male and female1 all mixed together indiscriminately4 ,i was surprised and shocked to find such a condition of affairs in a civilized country4 ,it is simply a shame and disgrace to civilization4 ,the delegates declared the place inhuman and degrading4 ,yet this does not fully represent the awful pen picture that might be given of this class of prisoners in the county chain gangs all over the state4 ,the following extracts are taken from an account given by an ,atlanta correspondent of the ,washington ,post written under date of ,may #e1 #aijc4 ,revelations made to the ,ware ,county grand jury in regard to the horrors of the ,georgia convict camps reached ,governor ,terrell today4 ,hon4 ,e---- ,m----1 one of the leading members of the ,georgia ,house of ,representatives1 is involved in the findings of the grand jury4 ,according to the report ,m---- and his brother operate an extensive camp in ,lowndes ,county4 ,witnesses before the grand jury testified that in the ,m---- camp the brutalities are such that it is revolting to describe them4 ,for the slightest offence1 it is alleged1 prisoners are stripped and chained and unmercifully lashed by the whipping bosses4 ,it is also alleged that the ,m---- brothers go into counties adjoining ,lowndes1 pay the fines of misdemeanor convicts1 carry such convicts to their ,ware ,county 7convict7 camp and there keep them in serviture long after the term for which the criminals were sentenced have expired4 ,the grand jury claims that at least twenty citizens of ,ware ,county are held as slaves in ,m----'s camp although their terms expired over a year ago4 ,there men are kept in stockade about which armed guards march in order to prevent an escape1 and men thus illegally detained who escaped have been chased by bloodhounds and recaptured4 ,official reports show that this class of convicts are guilty of but trifling offences and some are vagrants4 7,for further particulars see ,atlanta ,journal ,may #e and #aa1 #aijc47 ,the penitentiary convicts of ,georgia are worked in coal mines and are subject to the same treatment4 ,an experienced penologist said recently concerning convicts worked in the mines3 ,in the rooms of the mines are perpetrated practices too horrible to mention4 ,they become the nesting places of a bestiality that in many cases lead the liberated convict into that crime to punish which the mob1 the rope and the stake are ever ready4 7,see ,atlanta ,constitution1 ,may #ad1 #aijc47 ,under the heading ,convict ,camp ,horrors1 the editor of the ,memphis1 ,tennessee1 ,commercial ,appeal says in his paper1 dated ,april #aa1 #aijc1 concerning the facts recently brought out by the legislative investigating committee3 ,the stories coming from ,brushy ,mountain mines1 with side lights from the state's convict system1 generally1 furnish painful reading to the people of ,tennessee4 ,when human beings who through fault or fortune's untowardness are condemned to helpless and unresisting servitude and who are subjected to torments and tortures1 floggings and flaggellations which are merciful only where they terminated in speedy death1 humanity is outraged and a sort of savagery in the public cries out for speedy vengeance4 ,continuing the editor says3 ,convicts have been whipped to death4 ,convicts have been whipped into physical helplessness4 ,convicts have been whipped sufficiently to keep them in bed for months and injure them permanently4 ,torturing them in the prison or in the mine recesses is a sin against high heaven4 ,these are some of the facts brought to light by the prison investigating committee4 ,the average number of prisoners worked in the ,brushy ,mountain mines is about seven hundred and fifty4 ,these convicts1 which form but a part of the number of the state's convicts1 and who were so inhumanly treated1 earned last year for the state1 clear of all expenses1 the sum of one hundred and ninety-five thousand1 seven hundred dollars4 7,see ,nashville ,american1 ,march #cj1 #aijc47 ,recent developments also show that many innocent men are kidnapped and worked and treated as convicts2 especially is this done in ,alabama4 ,women and children share the same fate4 ,during the recent investigation into the enforced slavery of negroes in ,alabama by the ,united ,states ,secret ,service1 among the abuses which were unearthed was the whipping to death of a negro woman4 ,this woman accused of being rebellious was laid across a log and given one hundred lashes4 ,still showing a rebellious spirit her hands were tied1 and the rope was thrown over the limb of a tree and pulled up so as to make it barely possible for her feet to reach the ground4 ,the woman1 it is said1 died two days later4 7,see ,washington ,times1 ,may #bi1 #aijc47 ,the system of peonage slavery has been practiced for years in ,alabama and ,georgia4 ,one of the most successful plans practiced is to bring a negro before a magistrate on a flimsy charge4 ,as the matter has been arranged beforehand1 the negro is convicted1 and having no money to pay his fine1 a white man offers to advance him money provided the negro will make a labor contract with him for the money and trouble he has taken to keep the negro out of jail4 ,he is taken away and begins what is usually a long term of cruel servitude1 frequently whipped unmercifully1 and every moment watched by armed guards ready to shoot him down at any attempt to escape4 ,among the evils which have grown out of the prison contract system1 the number of which is legion1 is that of turning out men and women1 boys and girls1 thoroughly educated in these schools of crime4 ,they are thrown upon the world homeless and friendless to poison and destroy those with whom they come in contact4 ,many soon find their way back into prison1 and some end their lives upon the gallows4 ,we sometimes on a ,sabbath morning hear the ,president of the ,united ,states prayed for1 but what minister ever prays for the poor parish behind prison bars8 ,when the book is opened and we hear the words3 ,i was sick and in prison1 and ye visited me not1 what are we going to answer8 #adae ,a4 ,st41 ,s4 ,e41 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,,clarissa ,,olds ,,keeler4 ,for about four years at times ,mrs4 ,m4 ,a4 ,perry1 of ,washington1 ,d ,c41 traveled with me4 ,in answer to my request for a brief report of the work during that time ,i received a lengthy letter1 from which ,i extract the following3 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,i praise ,god for the privilege of adding a few words for your book4 ,may the blessing of ,god rest upon it4 ,to the readers ,i will say3 ,i first met ,mrs4 ,wheaton in ,boston1 in ,february1 #ahic1 in the home of ,h4 ,l4 ,hastings1 the well-known publisher1 where she was a guest4 ,she had then spent ten years in prison and other evangelistic work4 ,i had visited a jail and stationhouses1 but never a penitentiary4 ,we first went to the ,boston and ,maine ,railway office4 ,sister ,wheaton said3 ,you pray while ,i go and ask for a pass to go to the ,thomaston1 ,maine1 prison4 ,in about ten minutes she returned with the desired transportation4 ,by the kindness of the railroad officials from ocean to ocean they have helped to forward the work of ,god4 ,many earnest prayers are offered by ,mrs4 ,wheaton for these men4 ,we never boarded a train without asking our ,heavenly ,father to bless the train men from the engineer to the flagman4 ,many times we have spoken to conductors who have said1 ,no one ever talks to railroad men about their souls4 ,at ,thomaston we had to wait until ,sunday morning to enter the prison4 ,if ever the ,lord ,jesus ,christ revealed ,himself in a prison chapel ,he was in the midst that ,sabbath day4 ,while ,mother ,wheaton preached1 ,i prayed for her and the presence of the ,holy ,spirit was so manifest that every man expressed a desire to serve ,god4 ,the result of that day's work for the ,master will not be known until we meet when ,jesus will reward his servants4 ,we next went to the jail in ,bangor1 ,maine1 and ,god blessed the work there in the salvation of souls4 ,then we went to the prison in ,wethersfield1 ,connecticut1 and from there to the ,vermont ,state ,prison at ,windsor4 ,but ,i cannot tell about them all6 ,but wherever we went ,i saw that the prisoners1 both men and women1 greeted ,mother ,wheaton with a heartfelt welcome4 ,we went to the prisons of ,new ,york state--to ,auburn1 ,sing ,sing1 the ,troy jail and on to ,buffalo4 ,we visited the penitentiaries in ,philadelphia and ,baltimore1 and the workhouses of ,maryland and the ,district of ,columbia4 ,we met in these places many precious souls whom the ,lord gave his life to redeem and many of them were ,christians4 ,the blood of ,jesus is all powerful to reach any man or woman who will repent and forsake sin and believe in ,him4 ,we have great reason to praise ,god for the power of the ,holy ,spirit to reach the hardest hearts4 ,but ,o1 there are behind the bars and in the shadow of the walls loving and tender hearts4 ,o1 that professors of religion would wake up to the fact that when ,jesus1 the ,king of ,glory1 shall come ,he will say1 ,inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me4 ,may ,god by his presence and power reveal to the managers of penal institutions in every land and nation that ,jesus ,christ is the friend of sinners in every condition4 ,i believe the dear ,lord ,himself has put such love for prisoners in the heart of our sister ,wheaton that she is willing to take a mother's place--no matter when she sees them4 ,in riding along on the trains sometimes we came to prisoners 7leased out to hard labor7 in the most unexpected places4 ,we were soon off the train to look after these men who were marched from the camp or stockade4 ,i must speak of some of the experiences we had in the prisons1 stockades and prison farms of the southern states4 ,we were1 in most cases1 courteously received and entertained by the wardens and their families4 ,god bless the men who have done what they could6 ,but ,o1 how ,i have been shocked at things we saw in these places1 many of which ,i cannot write4 ,i wish ,i could give some idea of how glad the poor manacled prisoners were to see their white-haired mother come again4 ,i believe the seed sown shall not be lost4 ,the women on the farms are required to roll logs1 clear land and do all kinds of drudgery4 ,we went to the camps1 the phosphate mines1 saw-mills1 coal mines1 and the turpentine camps4 ,sometimes we rode for miles in wagons4 ,i think ,mother ,wheaton never felt that any place was too dangerous or too out of the way for her to go in order to say a word of comfort and to encourage hearts4 ,we sometimes rode on the engine up the mountains to camps where hundreds of prisoners were working4 ,we saw men with iron rings around their necks and a chain and ball attached1 some with chains around their waists and running down to their ankles with a ring attached4 ,i want to speak especially of a visit to one of the state farms where all the prisoners1 with two exceptions1 were colored women4 ,when we arrived at the station there was no vehicle in sight but a buggy and mule which a little boy was driving4 ,she asked him to take us to the women's prison1 which he kindly did4 ,when we got there between seventy and eighty women were at dinner1 sitting on the ground under the trees with their little tin pails which held boiled bacon and cowpeas1 with a piece of corn bread in their hands4 ,they had worked from sunrise4 ,how they welcomed ,mother ,wheaton6 ,many of them were in tears as she began to sing4 ,she asked how many of them had seen her before4 ,many hands went up and they told where and when they had seen her in the past4 ,how they shook her hand and said1 ,o1 'deed ,i is glad to see you once more1 honey4 ,but soon they had to go back to the field till dark4 ,after all had their supper we went to the stockade where they were to sleep1 to hold a service4 ,such singing ,i never heard4 ,then ,mother ,wheaton preached1 prayed and sang4 ,if ever ,god answered prayer ,he surely did for those poor women and in place of that stockade there is now a new prison house with things reasonably comfortable4 ,we went to other farms1 stockades and prisons4 ,i do thank ,god for the privilege of going into these places where ,mother ,wheaton was the first white woman to visit or to pray and sing4 ,regardless of danger in approaching these out-of-the-way places1 her love for ,god and for those who were despised and downtrodden1 carried her through untold hardships4 ,we were at times in danger of bloodhounds1 alligators and venomous reptiles4 ,i am sure that through her intercession with governors and wardens and superintendents ,mother ,wheaton's work has proved a blessing to thousands of prisoners4 ,i have seen the results of her work in many of the states4 ,her preaching and singing have been used of ,god1 but above all ,i knew that the hours of prevailing prayer have been a still greater power for good4 ,in answer to prayer ,god has opened doors and done many wonderful things whereof we are glad4 ,again we went to the ,south to visit prisons and stockades where we had been in former years4 ,great changes had been made4 ,there was much improvement in their condition4 ,i hope the time may soon come when only the law of love and kindness shall prevail4 ,we held street meetings in many places4 ,one night after holding one of these open-air services we boarded a train4 ,a man and wife came on the train4 ,she told us that her husband had attended the street meeting and was under such conviction for sin that he could not rest4 ,there on the train1 while we knelt in the aisle of the car1 he was converted to ,god and went on his way rejoicing1 while we went to visit a penitentiary where hundreds of men and women needed the same work of grace wrought in their hearts4 ,often we saw answers to prayer in the healing of prisoners who were sick4 ,god's ,word is true4 ,he says ,he is no respecter of persons1 and ,he is able to do more than we can ask or think4 ,may ,god bless every soul for whom we have prayed4 ,sister ,wheaton and myself have spent many long hours at a time together pleading for the men and women behind the bars4 ,it means much to be divinely called to this work4 ,oh6 how many with broken hearts lie in the lonely cells every night6 ,may ,god help everyone who reads these pages to remember that there is one ,,mother of all the prisoners who weeps and prays in sympathy with them4 ,i wish every mother and wife1 or sister1 who has a precious one in the shadow of the walls1 would pray for ,mother ,wheaton1 that she may be helped of ,god in preaching the ,word1 and that ,god's blessing may rest upon her for her kind loving words and the hand-clasp that reaches so many hearts4 ,pray that health and strength may be given her as she comes in and goes out among these erring ones4 ,i know she has been through deep waters and great sorrows4 ,her life has been one of self-sacrifice in behalf of the unfortunate4 ,may ,god bless and help her and give her the crown of righteousness that is laid up for the faithful4 ,one night after worship at the home of the warden with whom we were stopping1 ,sister ,wheaton was singing a hymn1 when suddenly the warden asked1 ,sister ,wheaton1 will you come over into the prison-yard and finish that hymn8 ,she replied she would gladly do so if he thought it would do good4 ,so we hastened to the prison-yard1 some little distance away1 and quietly entered the enclosure1 and she began singing4 ,her clear1 strong voice awakened the sleeping prisoners4 ,the incident was so unusual that some of them 7as we were told afterward71 negroes especially1 awaking suddenly1 thought that the ,judgment ,day had come1 and tumbling out of bed1 fell upon their knees and began praying for ,god to have mercy upon them and save their souls2 so ,god evidently used the song to bring conviction to hearts4 ,after the singing we returned as quietly as we had come1 trusting the results with ,god4 ,illustration3 ,,new ,,mexico ,,prison1 ,,santa ,,fe1 ,n4 ,m4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,work in ,fort ,madison1 ,iowa1 and ,santa ,fe1 ,new ,mexico ,soon after starting out in my work1 when changing cars in an ,iowa town ,i saw a crowd of people who were curiously gazing upon three young men who were handcuffed1 and bound together being taken to the state's prison at ,fort ,madison4 ,i went up to them1 shook hands1 and said1 ,i am sorry for you4 ,don't be discouraged4 ,cheer up4 ,give ,god your hearts4 ,obey the rules4 ,do the best you can and ,god will do the rest4 ,they seemed cheered and relieved seeing ,i neither feared nor shunned them4 ,i inquired their names and told them ,i would try to see them in prison1 but did not know how soon4 ,a few weeks later ,i went to ,fort ,madison and obtained permission of the ,chaplain1 ,w4 ,c4 ,gunn1 to hold a meeting the following ,sunday4 ,this was my first effort to hold divine service in a prison4 ,then ,i inquired for the three young men ,i had seen when on their way there1 but could find no record of them4 ,i assured the ,chaplain they were there and observing the prisoners closely ,i saw one of them at work4 ,as our eyes met1 ,i saw a look of distress on his face4 ,he recognized me and was afraid ,i would tell who he was4 ,he had given a ficticious name--as had also the others4 ,but before ,sunday came ,i began to think3 ,what if ,i should make a mistake and could think of nothing to say when ,i come before all those hundreds of prisoners8 ,and then there were the officers in their suits of blue with brass buttons6 ,it all seemed too much for me1 and1 like ,jonah1 ,i took ship and ran away4 ,that night ,i started by steamer for ,mobile1 ,alabama--but ,god knew ,i did not mean to disobey and ,he let me work among the stockades in the south until ,i got boldness to enter other prisons4 ,after a year or more ,i returned to ,fort ,madison and was granted the privilege offered me before and from that time to this ,i have always been made welcome there and have had many blessed seasons within these walls4 ,there is no place where ,i have been more kindly received by both officers and prisoners than at ,fort ,madison4 ,chaplain ,gunn and wife were always true and loyal friends4 ',tis now several years since he crossed over to the better shore4 ,i shall ever remember with deep gratitude the kindness of himself and family4 ,chaplain ,jessup and wife1 and ,warden ,jones and wife1 as well as other officials1 have been especially kind and courteous4 ,to the prisoners at ,fort ,madison1 also1 ,i must give the credit of contributing freely from their small savings to my necessities4 ,while ,i would gladly mention all who have especially befriended me ,i feel that this tribute is due to the officers and men of ,fort ,madison4 ,that it is deserved may be easily seen by the following communications and selections from letters which ,i find among my papers3 ,warden's ,office1 ,iowa ,penitentiary1 ,fort ,madison1 ,iowa1 ,august #c1 #ahhi4 ,the bearer1 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 a devoted ,christian woman1 has for years been visiting the prisons and jails of this country seeking to do good to their inmates4 ,i think she should be kindly received and encouraged by prison authorities4 ,i do not think any one has ever spoken to the convicts in this prison with better effect and ,i am sure that no one who has ever addressed them will be longer or more kindly remembered by them than ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,i heartily commend her and her good work to those engaged in prison management and to good people everywhere as most deserving of their aid and encouragement4 ,it affords me all the more pleasure to give ,mrs4 ,wheaton this testimonial because it was unsolicited and because of the unobtrusive way in which she goes about doing good4 ,g4 ,w4 ,,grosley1 ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ft4 ,madison1 ,iowa1 ,oct4 #e1 #ahic4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,m4 ,croker1 ,chaplain ,state ,prison1 ,anamosa1 ,ia4 ,my ,dear ,brother3 ,this will introduce to you our dear sister1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 the prison missionary1 who would like to address the prisoners4 ,any favors shown her will be duly appreciated4 ,yours truly1 ,w4 ,c4 ,,gunn1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,madison1 ,iowa1 ,june #d1 #ahig4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,my ,dear ,mother3 ,i will first ask your pardon for not answering your letter sooner4 ,but ,i am always so busy the last days of the month1 also the first days1 as ,i have all the time of the contract men to make up to send to the contractors1 also have my monthly report to the governor1 and as we give the boys a holiday ,monday ,i think you would readily see ,i have had my hands full4 ,i sometimes think it is more than ,i can stand4 ,i want to do right by the men but it is so hard at times to tell just what is right4 ,i sincerely thank you for your kind interest in me4 ,and may our great and good ,god always be with you is the wish of your true friend4 ,j4 ,r4 ,,jones1 ,deputy ,warden4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,madison1 ,iowa1 ,sept4 #f1 #ahii4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,enclosed please find draft for ----1 the poor boys' free-will offering in appreciation of your kindness in visiting them4 ,you are thought more of by them than any one else living--even their relatives4 ,please sign the enclosed receipt1 and send it back to me1 that ,i may have something to show what became of the money4 ,thanking you for your visit4 ,yours truly1 ,w4 ,c4 ,,gunn1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,madison1 ,iowa1 ,feb4 #ac1 #aija4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,tabor1 ,ia4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,enclosed find draft for ---- from prisoners--entirely a free will offering1 given without other solicitation than what you heard me say when you were here4 ,please excuse delay in forwarding1 partly due to uncertainty as to your whereabouts4 ,perhaps you will write me a short message for the men1 who will be glad to hear from you4 ,with best wishes and prayers for your welfare and success in your work1 ,i am1 ,very sincerely yours1 ,a4 ,h4 ,,jessup1 ,chaplain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,my acquaintance with ,mrs4 ,wheaton began four years ago1 at the first ,sunday service ,i held as chaplain of this prison4 ,standing by my office window before the men had come into the chapel1 ,i saw a motherly-appearing lady enter the prison1 escorted by the assistant deputy4 ,a few moments later we met on the chapel platform1 and ,i was introduced to ,mother ,wheaton1 the woman who for many years had1 in prisons and jails1 all over the country1 sought to quicken in the prisoners' bosom a new life1 and lead to the ,savior those who all their lives have been rejecting ,him4 ,it was my first service with the men1 as ,i have said1 and ,i felt constrained to preach as ,i had come prepared to do1 although on subsequent visits ,i have gladly granted all the time to ,mother ,wheaton4 ,after ,i had preached1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton talked1 and sang1 and prayed1 and many of the men were visibly affected1 some to tears1 by her earnest pleading4 ,later she went to my office and met a boy who was soon going out1 and prayed and talked with him in a manner that must have made him determine to strive for a better manhood4 ,our prison has received several visits from ,mother ,wheaton since then1 and always1 ,i believe1 with lasting good to the men1 over many of whom she has exerted an influence for good4 ,earnest1 apt and ready in speech1 always seeming to live close to ,god1 and to hold instant communion with ,him1 and consecrated soul and body1 time and means1 to her work--these perhaps account for her useful service4 ,that she has a ready sense of humor1 too1 is perhaps one reason the boys listen to her so well4 ,i recall one incident4 ,she had come down from ,burlington1 where she was obliged to secure a pass on the railroad4 ,the proper officer not being at hand1 she went from one to another1 until at last one was found with authority to issue a pass1 but who did not know her or her mission4 ,on what ground do you want a pass8 said the railroad man4 ,i am working for ,god1 and ,he owns the railroads1 was the unexpected reply4 ,but1 madam1 where are you going8 gasped the official4 ,quick as a flash came the answer1 ,to heaven6 ,but by this time the railroad man had recovered from his surprise1 and seemed equal to the emergency1 and proved himself to be a gentleman as well1 for he said quietly3 ,if that is your destination1 madam1 ,i am unable to accommodate you1 for ,i regret to say the place is not on our line2 but if you want a pass to any place on our road you can have it4 ,in relating the incident in the prison chapel ,mother ,wheaton added that she secured her pass to ,fort ,madison1 and that when she reached here she thought she was next to heaven1 for here she had first attempted her work for souls1 in ,state's ,prisons1 and here she believed many precious trophies for the ,master had been given her4 ,i noticed on her last visit that while she seemed in usual health1 her hair was whiter1 betokening the gathering years4 ,i could wish that now she who for so many years has not known the blessing of home1 might find a place in which to spend in rest and communion with ,god1 and helpful but gentle ministrations1 the balance of her life1 until ,he whom she has followed in her efforts to do good1 may say3 ,come up higher1 thou blessed of my ,father4 ,inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these my brethren ye did it unto me4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,jessup1 ,chaplain ,iowa ,state ,penitentiary4 ,fort ,madison1 ,iowa1 ,april #ah1 #aijd4 ,,work ,,in ,,santa ,,fe1 ,,new ,,mexico4 ,several interesting experiences have occurred in connection with my visits to the prison at ,santa ,fe1 ,new ,mexico4 ,at one time ,i found there a good old ,christian man1 a trusty1 who had charge of the ,superintendent's horses1 driving the family to town1 etc41 and had much liberty given him4 ,one day he sat in front of me1 driving to town1 and ,i said to him1 ,i am going to pray to ,god to remove the 'stripes' from you4 ,he said1 ,pray for my release--,i know ,god hears prayer4 ,i did so1 as did also my good co-workers1 returned missionaries home from ,africa on a visit4 ,in three or four days the warden gave him citizens' clothes2 and soon after the governor gave him his pardon4 ,we were led to pray for a pardon for brother ,t4 of the same prison1 and in three months he was a free man4 ,at the time ,i had a sister with me from ,japan4 ,on my return from the ,pacific coast we again held services in the prison at ,santa ,fe1 and during the meeting ,i said1 ,what do you want me to sing1 boys8 ,one said1 ,sing1 ',some ,mother's ,boy4' ,i did so1 and in the morning1 before ,i left the prison1 the officer said to me1 ,here is two dollars a man sent in from the prison for you4 ,upon inquiring the name of the prisoner ,i found it was ,j4 ,l4 ,as they told me he was a good man1 a ,christian1 and a good prisoner1 ,i took his case also to the ,lord in prayer4 ,within three weeks he was given a pardon by the governor4 ,the three men mentioned were all ,christians4 ,in none of these cases did ,i go to the governor1 but just left all in ,god's hands1 and prayed if ,god was pleased to set these men free1 that ,he would impress the governor to give them their release4 ,these cases occurred at different times4 ,i am sure that the hope of pardon has in many cases saved the lives of prisoners1 and also saved them from insanity4 ,i give below a letter received from ,brother ,t41 also quote from a sketch of his life1 as published by ,mc,auley ,water ,street ,mission1 ,n4 ,y41 and sent me by himself2 also letters from the ,secretary of the ,christian ,endeavor ,society of the ,santa ,fe ,prison1 and very kind letters from ,governor ,thornton1 ,superintendent ,h4 ,o4 ,bursom1 and ,brother ,s4 ,h4 ,hadley1 of ,water ,street ,mission4 ,may #bf1 #aijc4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i suppose you will be surprised to hear from me4 ,the last time ,i saw you was in the ,santa ,fe ,territorial ,prison4 ,you had a meeting in the cell house4 ,i was the trusty who went with you to the depot4 ,if you remember1 you prayed for the removal of the number from the back of ,no4 #iag and that he would be freed2 you also told me you would pray that ,i would get out of prison4 ,your prayers have been answered4 ,i was pardoned last ,christmas1 and am here working among the criminal classes as a missionary4 ,you remember of my having been converted before your visit to the prison4 ,it is a great blessing to me to spend the balance of my life thus1 who had been sent to prison for forty years1 under conviction and sentence for a crime of which ,i was perfectly innocent1 although ,i was a great sinner in other respects4 ,yours in the grand work1 ,e4 ,u4 ,t4 ,,sentenced ,,to ,,forty ,,years ,,in ,,prison4 ,on the night of ,july #f1 #ah----1 ,i was playing the banjo in a notorious gambling house in ,albuquerque1 ,new ,mexico4 ,it had been my business for years and ,i liked the surroundings2 they suited me exactly2 in fact1 ,i have traveled from my home in the ,east1 from city to city1 through all the slumdum of the western cities playing my banjo2 ,i thoroughly enjoyed it and the company which it brought me4 99 99 99 ,i was arrested on suspicion and locked in jail4 ,i had no money1 no friends and no character1 and ,i began to realize for the first time what my life was bringing me4 ,i was finally brought to trial and convicted on circumstantial evidence1 and sentenced to forty years in prison for a crime that ,i knew nothing more about than the judge who sat upon the bench4 ,dear reader1 can you enter into this story with me2 can you form an idea of my despair as ,i received practically a life sentence for something which ,i did not do8 ,my heart was hard and bitter against myself and everybody else as ,i was taken to the ,territorial penitentiary at ,santa ,fe1 ,new ,mexico4 ,i was in the prime of life1 only #bh years old1 but1 oh1 what steps ,i had already taken in the downward path that leadeth unto death4 ,every evil habit had fastened itself upon me1 and after ,i had taken my place in the prison ,i almost went wild with terror and despair when ,i realized what was before me4 ,i was soon set to work with pick and shovel digging out trenches on the grounds1 and ,i tried to do the work the best ,i could and be a good prisoner4 ,i presume ,i was1 for a little time afterward ,i was placed in the library1 and had charge of the greenhouse as well4 ,one ,sunday afternoon in the chapel the speaker took for his text1 ,st4 ,john1 #c1 #adth and #aeth verses3 ,as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so must the ,son of ,man be lifted up2 ,that whosoever believeth in ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,the speaker dwelt at length on this actual occurrence and also how ,god commanded ,moses to erect a pole with the brass serpent1 and although there were there people dying by the thousands1 those that looked on that brazen serpent were healed4 ,he brought the application home to us prisoners--how the serpent of sin had stung us so deeply and our only remedy was to look to ,jesus ,christ1 who was lifted up on the cross1 and my hard heart began to melt and a desire came to me to be healed of this terrible serpent's bite4 ,the speaker instructed us when we got back to our cells to read this whole chapter1 and when ,i got back to my cell ,i took up the book and read1 and ,i prayed to ,god to open my heart so that ,i could understand what ,he wanted of me1 and as ,i read the blessed ,holy ,spirit came to my poor soul and showed me what a sinful man ,i was1 and ,i then and there became a child of ,god4 ,great peace came to my soul1 which at first ,i could scarcely understand1 but although still a prisoner and wearing the stripes1 ,i was a free man in ,christ ,jesus1 and ,i rejoiced in my new found life4 ,after this1 prison life was not so dreary as it was before4 ,among the many different workers who came to the prison was ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,j4 ,e4 ,wood1 of ,santa ,fe2 he is ,mail ,agent on the road4 ,he is a blessed man1 and one who loves the prisoners4 ,another person ,i would like to mention is the person known as ,mother ,wheaton4 ,i think ,i should speak of a little circumstance that happened to one prisoner who went by the number #iag1 and who wore this number in great big cloth figures on his back2 he drove ,mother ,wheaton to town1 as he was a trusty1 and she said that she was going to pray that the ,lord would take that number off his back1 and in a few days after that the ,warden came in with a new suit of clothes for him without the stripes or number--citizen's clothes4 ,she once said to me3 ,i am going to pray to the ,lord to get you out of here1 reminding me of the prayer she made for ,no4 #iag4 ,mother ,wheaton prayed for my release4 ,on ,christmas day1 #aijb1 three months after the above conversation took place1 ,i was in the chapel of the prison in the entertainment that was going on4 ,governor ,otero sat in the balcony4 ,the custom is that someone shall receive a pardon on ,christmas day1 and no one has any intimation who it is excepting the ,governor4 ,i had not the slightest idea that ,i would be the lucky man1 and after the ,assistant ,superintendent asked that ,i play a certain composition of my own1 he requested me to step out and he read the pardon2 to my surprise my name was in the pardon1 and1 oh1 the joy that came to me when ,i began to realize that ,i was a free man1 but1 dear reader1 this pardon1 great as it was1 did not compare with the joy that came in my soul as ,i realized that ,i had received the pardon from my ,redeemer1 and that all my sins were forgiven and all my past crimes blotted out4 ,while in the prison ,i read an account in a paper of the experience of ,s4 ,h4 ,hadley1 who was then in ,new ,york connected with the ,jerry ,mc,auley ,mission1 and ,i was desirous of going to ,new ,york to meet this man4 ,i did so1 and before ,i had been ten minutes in his office he told me what already was filling my soul1 that ,i should be a worker for ,christ and try to save those who had fallen1 and the down-trodden4 ,i stepped out on the ,lord's promises with but very little knowledge1 except the knowledge of sins forgiven1 and a big hope in my soul of eternal life1 and a love that ,i cannot express1 without one dollar in my pocket1 but with the simple faith in ,jesus4 ,i am working every night and day at every door that is open1 and every one that ,i can open1 where ,i can tell the wonderful story of ,jesus' love to sinners4 ,dear reader1 pray for me that ,god may wonderfully use me4 ,the dying thief rejoiced to see ,the ,fountain in his day1 ,and there ,i do1 though vile as he1 ,wash all my sins away4 99 99 99 99 99 ,new ,york1 ---- #ah1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mother3 ,it gives me much pleasure when ,i think of your going from prison to prison telling the poor boys and girls behind the bars of ,jesus4 ,it always gave me great joy when ,i heard that our dear mother was going to speak to her boys at ---- ,prison2 because ,i knew you were our friend4 ,i wish to again thank you for the day that you prayed that ,god would open the prison doors for me4 ,god answered your prayer1 and after serving about seven years of a forty years' sentence the prison doors were opened for me1 and ,god sent me to ,new ,york to labor for souls4 ,he sent me to ,mr4 ,s4 ,h4 ,hadley1 the present superintendent of the old ,mc,auley ,mission1 and he has been indeed a father to me4 ,i am so thankful that ,god sent me to such a good man--one who loves the lost sinner2 and one who is willing to do anything in his power to help the helpless4 ,may ,god's richest blessings be your portion is the prayer of your son in the ,gospel4 ,e4 ,u4 ,t4 99 99 99 99 99 ,mc,auley ,water ,street ,mission1 ,new ,york1 ,sept4 #aa1 #aijc4 ,mother ,wheaton1 as the boys behind the prison-bars1 yes1 and those who have by her prayers gone out from behind the prison-bars1 affectionately call her1 is one of the unique1 missionary characters in this country4 ,she travels all over this land with but one object in view and that is to tell sinners of the powerful1 deathless love of ,jesus and how no one can be too bad for ,him to save4 ,she brings sunshine to many sorrowing hearts and hope to thousands who never knew what hope was until they met her4 ,an ex-convict1 who is one of my helpers now1 was prayed out of practically a life sentence by ,mother ,wheaton4 ,i have seen her curled up in some seat in a day coach at three o'clock in the morning on a ,southern railroad because she had not money enough to take a sleeper and had to travel all night or lose an appointment to speak at some stockade or prison4 ,god bless her book and speed it on4 ,s4 ,h4 ,,hadley4 99 99 99 99 99 ,santa ,fe1 ,n4 ,m41 ,may #bf1 #aijc4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist1 ,los ,angeles1 ,cal4 ,dear ,friend in ,christ3 ,yours of #bc;d received1 and am happy to say that ,mr4 ,trout 7,no4 #ii7 has been pardoned1 and is now engaged in bringing souls to ,christ down on ,water street in the ,mc,auley ,mission1 ,new ,york ,city1 using his musical talents to further the cause in which he is now devoting the rest of his life4 ,i am sure he would be more than pleased to hear from you4 ,all the boys are as well as could be expected1 and a visit from you would be much appreciated4 ,the ,c4 ,e4 ,s4 has increased by seventy1 making a total of one hundred and five4 ,god bless you in all your efforts in the cause of ,christ is the wish of all4 ,respectfully1 ,p4 ,m41 sec4 ,prison ,c4 ,e4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,santa ,fe1 ,n4 ,m41 ,july #bh1 #aijc4 ,dear ,mother3 444 ,your letter to ,mr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,l4 came to hand in due time4 ,i wrote you at ,tabor1 ,iowa1 in regard to the ,god-given gift1 sweet liberty1 which came to him on the twelfth of ,july4 ,god has answered your prayer sooner than he had expected4 ,he left the prison gates with full trust and confidence in the mercies of the omnipotent power of ,god4 ,he is now in ,w---- with his brother4 ,may ,god's benign countenance look down upon you and increase the manifold blessing and grace that ,he has so richly endowed you with4 ,i will distribute the tracts and learn the song4 ,all your boys send their respects and wish to be remembered in your prayers4 ,yours in ,christ ,jesus1 ,p4 ,m41 ,sec4 ,c4 ,e4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,new ,mexico ,penitentiary1 ,santa ,fe1 ,n4 ,m41 ,sept4 #ai1 #aijc4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i was pleased to hear from you1 and was exceedingly happy to know that you are going to put your experiences and noble work of the past amongst the unfortunates in prison into book form4 ,certainly1 dear mother1 no one knows the heartaches and sorrows of this class better than yourself4 ,god has blest you in preparing you for this work and sending you from prison to prison to gather in the wavering souls from eternal destruction4 ,god grant you many years more of service in the field where souls are perishing and when your earthly career shall have closed1 the shining crown of eternal bliss in the presence of the ,king of ,heaven and ,earth1 will forever be your beacon light to make you think of the ones below4 ,many1 yea many unfortunates not yet born will read from these same prison cells of the work of ,mother ,wheaton in the prisons of our country4 ,my every breath and prayerful utterance is ,god be with you till we meet again4 ,as ever1 one of your boys in ,christ ,jesus1 ,,philip ,m41 ,sec4 ,c4 ,e4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,territory ,,of ,,new ,,mexico4 ,office of the ,executive1 ,santa ,fe1 ,n4 ,m41 ,oct41 #ahie4 ,judge ,e4 ,v4 ,long1 ,las ,vegas4 ,dear ,sir3 ,this will introduce to you ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 traveling in the interests of the prisons and asylums4 ,she may want to hold a service at the asylum4 ,if so please see that the opportunity is afforded her4 ,yours respectfully1 ,w4 ,t4 ,,thornton1 ,governor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,new ,mexico ,penitentiary1 ,sante ,fe1 ,n4 ,m41 ,sept4 #ai1 #aijc4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton has been paying our institution visits on various occasions for some years past1 and during these visits has done very much valuable work towards furthering the discipline of the institution4 ,her words of comfort and wholesome advice together with her teachings of ,christianity has cheered many a poor1 unfortunate soul up to believing and hoping for a better future2 to realize that justice demands that some punishment be meted out to wrong doers and violators of the laws of the land2 that such punishment is not eternal2 that they can receive consolation and comfort their conscience even inside of the prison walls by resolving to be better men1 by a closer observance of the moral laws as dictated by their conscience1 a faithful compliance of their duties as men or women1 and a strict obedience to their overseers acting under the law and1 above all1 an abiding faith in the ,almighty ,god4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton has taught them to understand that they must not only resolve but must demonstrate by their actions in every day life a sincerity of purpose4 ,the management feels very grateful indeed for the splendid work so generously devoted in the interest of humanity1 which ,i consider also a most valuable assistance to the prison management in maintaining discipline and turning out discharged prisoners as better men and women1 better equipped morally1 physically and spiritually to meet and solve the problem of living an honest and upright life1 earn and care for those who may be dependent upon them4 ,h4 ,o4 ,,bursom1 ,superintendent4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,gone ,home from the ,scaffold4 ,let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee2 according to the greatness of thy power1 preserve thou those that are appointed to die4--,psalms #gi3aa4 ,whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer4 ,one of the most touching things1 and to me the most important of all this ,god-appointed work1 has been my special mission to those who are doomed to execution4 ,if there ever is a time in our lives when we need a friend1 it is when we are sick1 in trouble1 or about to die4 ,the last words of our loved ones are very dear to us all4 ,nearly every home has at some time had a call from the death angel4 ,and looking through the bureau drawer1 you might see the little garments1 shoes and playthings that used to be our darlings' before they went away4 ,turn the leaves of the old ,family ,bible and you will see hidden between its pages a lock of hair1 perhaps father's or mother's4 ,we look up to ,heaven through our blinding tears1 and cry out between our sobs3 ,oh1 ,god1 help me to say ',thy will be done4' ,in looking over my packages of old letters from the departed ones who have paid the penalty of a violated law1 dying either in the electric chair or on the scaffold1 ,i find them coming to pieces1 some so badly worn ,i can scarcely read them4 ,and ,i know the hands that penned them are now returning back to dust4 ,in order to show how ,god saves when they are truly penitent1 even men of this class1 who are counted the worst of criminals1 ,i will give an account of a few instances which have come under my own observation1 and extracts from some of the letters ,i have received--written before execution4 ,and let us remember that our ,savior declared that every sin shall be forgiven to men1 except the sin against the ,holy ,ghost4 ,,indifferent ,,but ,,finally ,,converted4 ,the first one who was converted under my ministry1 before going to the scaffold1 was executed in ,august1 #ahhe1 in the state of ,kentucky4 ,on going to jail ,i found this young man there with the sentence of death upon him4 ,the burden of his lost condition came upon my soul in great power4 ,i felt ,i should die unless he was saved1 and cried mightily to ,god for his conviction and conversion4 ,i held several meetings there and was entertained a part of the time by the sheriff's wife1 who was a ,christian lady4 ,she1 too1 was very anxious for this young man's salvation4 ,as ,i took the train to leave the place1 his mother accompanied me to the depot--crying and pleading1 ,oh1 pray for my poor boy4 ,it will surely kill me4 ,the bitter wail of that mother's heart seems to still ring in my ears4 ,letters from the sheriff's wife came often1 telling me of the boy's still seeming indifferent4 ,but she said that he often inquired about me and wanted to see me4 ,i prayed for this soul almost incessantly for forty-five days1 being scarcely able to sleep at night2 and he was finally converted4 ,after his conversion ,i received from him the following letters3 ----1 ,,ky41 ,august #e1 #ahhe4 ,my ,dear ,friend3 ,i received your card this morning and was very glad to hear from you indeed4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 ,i feel my ,savior in my heart4 ,i know that ,he will save my soul4 ,i am praying to my ,god every hour in the day4 ,i am praying for ,god to place something in my heart to tell the people when ,i go to the scaffold4 ,i want to tell them what my ,savior has placed in my heart--the man that suffered and died that ,i should have everlasting life4 ,i wish you could be with me once more on earth to sing and pray with me1 but if not1 ,i will meet you on that other shore4 ,my friend ,charley is praying and singing with me every day and night and says he will meet us in the kingdom4 ,they are all well here but ,mrs4 ,n4 7the sheriff's wife74 ,she has been sick1 but is better now4 ,i would like to be with you once more before ,i die1 and if not1 look out for me when you reach that happy land4 ,good-by1 good-by4 ,remember me in your prayers4 ,i have yet nine days to live4 ,from your friend1 ,h---- ,f----4 99 99 99 99 99 ----1 ,,ky41 ,august #ab1 #ahhe4 ,my ,dear ,friend3 ,i received your card tonight at my cell door4 ,i seem to see you now at the door of my cell1 praying for me4 ,the sheriff came in this morning and put shackles on me4 ,but ,i thank ,god that after two days more ,i will be at rest4 ,i have been praying to my ,father to teach me something to tell the world at my last hour4 ,i would like to tell everybody what my dear ,savior has done for me4 ,he has given me what ,i asked ,him for and ,he will go with me to the scaffold4 ,i will see you again1 ,in the fair and happy land1 just across on the evergreen shore4 ,i am ready to go home to rest4 ,i have suffered enough in this world1 so ,i will bid the world good-by4 ,i will have to bid you good-by for the present4 ,i will see you again4 ,i will watch for you4 ,excuse me for not answering you sooner4 ,i am in my cell and it is very dark for me to write1 but ,i do my best4 ,i fast and pray most all the time4 ,good-by once more for a while4 ,from your true friend1 ,h4 ,f4 ,below is an extract from a letter written by the sheriff's wife to me shortly after the execution took place3 ,dear ,sister3 ,i fulfill the promise ,i made to poor ,henry the day he was executed1 to write you a letter and tell you all about him after he was gone to that bright glory land4 ,it would have done you good to have seen him the last three days he lived4 ,he was as happy as he could be4 ,he had a smile on his countenance all the time and never broke down1 no difference who of his friends came to see him4 ,he talked to his mother and brothers so nice and gave them such good advice4 ,he told his mother to not grieve after him1 but to rejoice1 for he would be so much better off after he was gone1 for he knew that he would be at rest4 ,and if they would live and do right they could come to him4 ,the people that were here that day 7and there were between four and five thousand7 were surprised to see the beautiful countenance he left the prison with4 ,he helped to sing that beautiful hymn1 ,and must ,i be to judgment brought1 ,and answer in that day ,for every vain and idle thought ,and every word ,i say8 with the chorus1 ,we are passing away1 and he was heard distinctly by all4 ,he clapped his hands while he was singing2 then he stepped on to the trap and was soon gone4 ,he had a prayer on his lips when the black cap was drawn over his face1 and said1 ,good-by to all his friends1 and repeated1 ,good-by4 ,he told me to tell you he expected to meet you in heaven4 ,his mother and brothers send their kindest regards to you4 ,may ,god bless you4 ,your sister in ,christ1 ,s4 ,n4 ,,mother',s ,,prayers4 ,the case of ,c---- was one of most intense interest to the public as well as his immediate friends4 ,for long months ,i wept and prayed for this young man4 ,he was hoping for a new trial4 ,he was always glad to see me and to have me sing for him4 ,he was refined1 educated1 a member of one of the ,f4 ,f4 ,v4's1 as they say1 yet doomed to die on the scaffold4 ,how my heart longed to see him saved--for ,jesus1 too1 was longing for his salvation4 ,i was called to other fields of labor before the fatal day and was not sure of his acceptance with ,god1 but can but hope that his poor mother's prayers and mine were heard in heaven and that that poor1 misguided youth whose every wish had before been gratified was forgiven4 ,we can but cast the mantle of charity over the case and leave it with ,him who wills not that any should perish but that all should turn to ,him and live4 ,he wrote me the following3 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,prison ,missionary3 ,i appreciate very highly your kindness and sympathy and more so your prayers4 ,i trust we may all meet in a better land4 ,return my thanks to ,mrs4 ,gen ,t----4 ,respectfully1 ,t4 ,j4 ,c4 ,aug4 #bd1 #ahhe4 ,,claimed ,,to ,,be ,,innocent4 ,the following letter is from one who was executed in #ahhg4 ,he declared to the very last that he was innocent of the crime for which he was convicted4 ,he always maintained to me that the person he was supposed to have murdered committed suicide under circumstances which threw suspicion upon him4 ,for myself1 ,i do not believe in capital punishment and certainly if it is ever justifiable it is not in any case that leaves a possibility of doubt regarding the guilt of the accused4 ,in spite of great hindrances1 being in the place1 ,i was led to visit the jail4 ,after having sung for some of the other prisoners an officer came to me asking if ,i would go down below to visit a condemned man who had heard me sing and requested that ,i would come to him4 ,of course ,i went--though the opening to his cell was so small that ,i had to stoop very low to get in4 ,if ,i remember rightly he claimed to be converted that day4 ,i was obliged to leave the city soon after1 but heard from him several times before his execution4 ,petersburg1 ,va41 ,april1 #ahhg4 ,my ,dear ,friend3 ,i received your postal and will answer it at once4 ,i was very glad to hear from you1 especially as you remind me so much of my dear old mother--not exactly now1 but as she was about fifteen years ago4 99 99 99 ,mrs4 ,r4 sang the same hymn for me that ,i heard you sing to those in the room above me4 ,she said she would1 if she had the chance before she left the city1 write it for me and bring it to me1 but as she has not been here yet ,i fear she has left1 so ,i will be very glad if you will be so kind as to write it for me4 ,it is beautiful4 ,i was very sorry you left so soon4 ,i would have been so glad for you to have been in town longer so you could have called at least once more6 ,but if ,i never see you on this earth it is comforting to know we may meet in heaven4 ,but1 ,o ,god6 had ,i received justice1 today ,i would be as free as the birds of the field4 ,there is a blessed hope in knowing while we are persecuted by men1 it is only the body they can persecute on this earth1 the soul is out of their reach4 ,and before the flesh is cold in death my soul will be soaring above in the realms of bliss to be forever blessed6 ,o forever6 ,forevermore6 ,it is one of the most consoling of all consolations for me to know that it is only the condemnation of man and the so-called law of the land by which ,i was convicted--not by--no1 not by--the great ,judge of all hearts and not by justice at all4 ,only condemned by man--not by my ,god and justice4 ,but it is all in ,god's hands and ,he will repay1 for ,vengeance is mine1 saith the ,lord4 ,vengeance is not mine nor do ,i wish to revenge any one4 99 99 99 ,revenge is sweet1 is an old adage1 but not to me to get revenge and by so doing lose my own soul1 for what is the whole world to gain and lose your own soul8 ,i am charged with that of which ,i am not guilty1 but my protestation is in no way believed4 ,neither was the only pure one who ever trod the soil of this earth4 ,he was caught and charged1 accused1 condemned--yes1 more than that1 was crucified4 ,was he guilty8 ,no--emphatically no4 ,but his innocence could not save him4 ,nor did mine do me any good in my trial at all4 ,but1 thank ,god1 it will do me good in the world to come1 where ,i will receive justice and ,i will not be in danger of prejudice as lies and prejudice are the cause of my being in this lonely cell today4 99 99 99 ,all the boys in the room over me request me to be remembered in my letter to you kindly4 ,many thanks to you for those tracts you sent me4 ,i hope to be remembered in your daily appeals to our ,maker1 in whose care ,i prayerfully submit myself and you to his keeping in the future4 ,god grant it and may we meet in heaven4 ,hoping this will in no way offend you and that it may be answered soon to one in solitude--yet not alone2 condemned--yet not guilty4 ,your brother in ,christ1 ,w4 ,r4 ,p4 ,,hardened ,,in ,,crime4 ,the case of the writer of the following communications 7which were written on postal cards7 was one of note4 ,he was supposed to be so hardened in crime and so void of feeling that there was no hope for him--that nothing could reach or save him4 ,but ,i believed that ,god loved him just as the ,word teaches us1 and ,i laid hold on the promises of the ,bible for his soul's salvation4 ,i am sure that ,god never turns a penitent soul away empty who comes to ,him in faith1 feeling that ,he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek ,him4 ,o ye of little faith1 wherefore didst thou doubt8 ,after the light of ,god broke in upon this poor man's soul he saw that he was a wretched sinner1 but that there was pardon and peace for all who truly repent of their sins and who confess and forsake them4 ,to such ,god has given the promise of eternal life and that the blood of ,jesus ,christ his ,son shall cleanse their hearts from all sin4 ,this man was convinced of his need of a ,savior and deeply convicted of sin and we believe was made ready to meet ,god4 ,he seemed very deeply thankful to me for my untiring efforts in his behalf and surprised at my faith and confidence in ,god for him1 and through these ,he was brought by the power of the ,spirit unto repentance toward ,god and faith in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,june #ah1 #ahhg4 ,my ,dear1 ,kind ,friend3 ,i received your welcome postal and it makes me happy to read it4 ,i am now ready to go to my fate4 ,i pray every night and day for ,god to forgive me4 ,i put my whole trust in ,him4 ,pray for me that ,god will wash my sins away and receive me in heaven4 ,as ,i expect ,god to forgive me ,i forgive and love everybody4 ,think of me when ,i am gone4 ,i wish you could pray with me before ,i go on my long journey1 for ,i love to hear you pray4 ,good-bye4 ,from your penitent brother in ,christ4 ,a4 ,t4 99 99 99 99 99 ,jail1 ,june #bc1 #ahhg4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,my time on this earth is now very short 7but seven days7 and ,i am now ready to go to my ,father1 whom ,i trust and pray will forgive me my crime and receive me in his heavenly home4 ,i pray every hour in the day and1 my dear sister1 do the same for me that my sins may be washed away in ,his blood4 ,pray that ,he may give me everlasting life4 ,o1 if ,i could but live my life over again1 how ,i would pray and put all my trust in ,him4 ,dear sister1 this may be the last time you may hear from me on this earth1 but ,i hope we may meet in heaven4 ,good-bye1 ,god bless you and your noble work4 ,yours waiting to go to his ,savior1 ,a4 ,t4 ,may ,god forgive me4 99 99 99 99 99 ,l41 ,ky41 ,june #be1 #ahhg4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,if you only knew how much a poor sinner like me needs the prayers of such ,christians and lovers of ,god and ,his ,word as you are1 you would pray both night and day that ,he will receive me in his heavenly home1 where there is no sin or sorrow1 but where all is love and peace4 ,i have now but five short days until all that is of the world will be consigned to the tomb and ,i do so pray night and day that ,jesus will cleanse me of my sins4 ,i think this will be the last time you will hear from me on this earth and when ,i go to eternity ,i do so praising ,god1 forgiving my enemies1 firm in faith and the belief that my sins are washed away in the blood of ,jesus4 ,good-bye4 ,may we meet in heaven4 ,a4 ,t4 ,in #ahhh ,i visited a county jail so crowded with prisoners that ,i wondered how they could live in that poorly ventilated1 filthy prison4 ,they had little to eat and evidently no one to care for them4 ,there were ,indians1 ,mexicans1 white and colored all together4 ,there ,i found ,,ten ,,men ,,under ,,death ,,sentence2 and ,i was convinced that several were innocent of the charges laid against them--being condemned by circumstantial evidence4 ,those ten condemned men were made the subject of constant1 earnest prayer4 ,o1 if judges and jurymen could only know what eternal destinies hang upon their decisions1 surely they would be less ready to condemn on less than positive evidence4 ,several of the ten were executed--among them the writer of the following letter3 ----1 ,april #b1 #ahhh4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,we received your postal4 ,i was so glad to receive it from those who love my soul4 ,i have not forgotten one word you left with me4 ,jesus ,christ is the subject of my day talk and night dreams4 ,i remember you when ,i get down on my knees to pray4 ,i pray for the ,lord's will to be done with me as it is done in heaven4 ,i have forsaken the world for ,jesus' sake4 ,his love is shed abroad in my heart4 ,myself and ,brothers ,w4 and ,a4 7whose sentences have been changed7 are still serving ,god--also ,brother ,s4 ,i could not tell you how it is with the other boys1 but ,i talk to them every day4 ,brothers ,w41 ,a41 and ,s4 join with me in sending their love to you4 ,god bless you4 ,i am your brother in ,christ4 ---- ---- 99 99 99 99 99 ,april #bf1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahhh4 ,sister ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,sister in ,jesus ,christ3 ,my days have been numbered here on earth by man1 but there is no end to the number of days that my ,god has promised me in heaven--no more a prisoner here on earth1 but to live with our ,lord forevermore4 ,let not your heart be troubled about me1 for all is well6 ,yes1 indeed1 all is well4 ,the love of ,christ will bear me home4 ,jesus ,christ is in me and ,i am in ,him4 ,in ,god ,i trust1 in ,him ,i die4 ,i could not tell you how the case is with the other boys1 but ,i do know for myself ,i am ready at any time4 ,my dear sister1 ,i have sent the lovely handkerchief you gave me home to my old mother4 ,i told mother who gave it to me and for her to place it in my ,bible and put it in her trunk and then ,i said3 ,here is a picture of mine and a lock of hair for my poor1 old mother and sisters and brothers4 ,i leave a mother1 four sisters and two brothers4 ,if you wish sometime to write to my mother her address is ---- ----4 ,farewell until we meet again4 ,i am your brother in ,jesus ,christ1 ---- ---- ,,conversion ,,of ,a ,,jewish ,,boy4 ,in the same year1 ,i found in one of the prisons of ,california1 a young ,jew under sentence of death4 ,while under the influence of drink1 he shot the girl he truly loved4 ,he never realized it till he became sober and found himself in prison4 ,naturally he was surprised and greatly shocked4 ,wondering why he was there1 and being told of his crime1 he was overwhelmed with grief1 and remorse of conscience4 ,poor boy6 ,his was a sad ending4 ,he was so grief-stricken6 ,and yet the courts were against him1 and the world at large1 for the sin was pronounced murder in the first degree and he must die--a boy in his teens4 ,as ,i looked through the grating at the poor doomed boy1 an old gentleman spoke to me and said something very unkind about him4 ,the boy said1 ,that man is a hypocrite4 ,but ,i like those hymns you sang4 ,won't you sing for me8 ,so ,i sang for him1 and he requested me not to talk to him then4 ,so ,i said1 ,can ,i come and see you again8 ,oh1 yes1 come again1 do4 ,this poor boy was one of the lost ones1 and ,jesus touched his heart while ,i sang1 ,meet me there4 ,this was from that time on his favorite hymn1 and ,i sang it for him just before he went to the scaffold4 ,i went back and forth from ,san ,francisco to other places for six weeks1 but his case lay very heavy upon my heart4 ,i knew that on the #adth of ,september he was to go1 and that worse still1 he was in danger of eternal death4 ,i pleaded and wept for him day and night1 that he might be brought to see his lost condition and his need of ,christ and yield to ,god4 ,how ,i bless ,god that ,he hears and answers prayer6 ,if any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death1 he shall ask1 and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death4--#a ,john #e3af4 ,before his conversion ,i received from him the following letters1 beautifully and correctly written3 ,san ,francisco1 ,aug4 #i1 #ahhh4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton3 ,as to religion ,i do not profess any creed4 ,i do not mean by the above that ,i hate them--on the contrary1 ,i love religion and hate hypocrisy4 ,i am not an atheist and must admit that ,i believe in a true1 just and most merciful ,god4 ,i appreciate your visits very much and hope you will call to see me as often as opportunity and convenience will allow1 so ,i now close this brief epistle by sending kindest regards and best wishes4 ,i am ,respectfully1 ---- ----4 ,condemned ,cell4 ,p4 ,s4--,kind thanks for singing4 99 99 99 99 99 ,san ,francisco1 ,sept4 #g1 #ahhh4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,i am pleased that you called to see me and hope you will repeat your visits4 ,it grieves me to see you shed tears1 and although ,i say nothing1 remember that still water runs deep4 ,i have faith and believe in prayer1 so ,i believe that the cause of a condemned boy will be heard in heaven and will come to pass4 ,i am not allowed to shake hands1 much less give my mother a comforting kiss4 ,i now end by thanking you very kindly for your kindness and consideration to me4 ,i am1 respectfully1 ---- ----4 ,i went1 the day before the execution1 to see him4 ,no one was allowed to go inside the doomed boy's cell1 so ,i was compelled to submit to the law4 ,the sheriff said positively1 ,no1 you cannot go inside4 ,but the chief jailer said1 ,i promised that this lady should go inside the boy's cell before the execution1 and ,i must keep my word4 ,i will go in with her4 ,he opened the door and we went in4 ,he was a grand man4 ,myself and the sister who was with me prayed for the prisoner's salvation4 ,we sang and read and prayed1 and at last the presence of the ,holy ,spirit seemed to fill the gloomy little cell1 and to touch the poor boy kneeling there with the shackles on his limbs4 7,they frequently put shackles on some days before the execution1 and place them in the doomed cell47 ,we kept on praying and singing and at last the light came into his heart1 and ,god owned him as ,his child4 ,on the morning of the execution1 ,i went early to the prison2 and as ,i hurried along there met me a young ,catholic priest1 who was our mutual friend1 and very kind4 ,he said1 ,come quickly1 the boy wants you4 ,he has called for you all night1 and they could not find you1 so they came for me4 ,i have been waiting for you4 ,this priest had labored with me to convince the poor boy that ,jesus was the ,christ and that ,he alone could save him4 ,i hurried on into the prison for my last greeting on earth with the poor condemned boy4 ,there was no loud demonstration--he was going to die1 and knew it2 but he felt that he was ready4 ,he said to me3 ,i can hardly wait the hour to go home4 ,i am willing and ready to die4 ,o sing for me my favorite songs4 ,i wish you could go with me to the scaffold1 but that is against the law for women to go to the execution in this state4 ,mothers could not endure such things1 but ,i feel1 when permitted1 as if ,i must stay till all is over4 ,i took a white silk handkerchief and gently folded it around the boy's neck1 and said1 ,i think the rope won't hurt so bad1 and the pain won't be so severe with this around your neck4 ,i shall never forget the grateful look on his face1 as he smilingly thanked me4 ,he was a very refined young man1 and only for whiskey he might be living yet4 ,as ,i bade him good-bye he said1 ,please sing for me once more before ,i go4 ,i sang and passed out among the crowds of people4 ,i seemed to be lifted above the things of earth--,i was so thankful for his salvation4 ,reader1 do you know what it is to travail for a soul and then count the hours and moments till you see them go over the river of death1 and by-and-by with the eye of faith see them enter the pearly gates into the presence of ,him who was crucified for them8 ,after the execution ,i received the following kind letter from the young priest to whom ,i have referred3 ,san ,francisco1 ,oct4 #ac1 #ahhh4 ,dear ,madam3 ,it was with great pleasure ,i read your kind and welcome note4 ,i thank you very much for your pleasant remembrance and hope that ,god will bless your efforts and sacrifices on behalf of the poor prisoners4 ,in regard to ,a41 ,i can say that he was resigned to the last and died well prepared1 in my opinion4 ,i was with him almost constantly during the last twelve hours4 ,i think his family placed the silk handkerchief in the coffin with him4 ,please give my regards to your kind companion and say sometimes a little prayer for me4 ,i hope to see you soon in ,san ,francisco and have the pleasure of renewing my acquaintance4 ,i have the honor of remaining1 ,yours truly in ,jesus ,christ1 ,rev4 ,n---- ,f----4 ,,mysteriously ,,guided4 ,in ,april1 #ahia1 ,i was in ,kansas ,city1 ,mo4 ,after waiting upon the ,lord for some days asking ,him where ,he would have me go next ,i was impressed to go to the depot and that there it would be shown me what ,i must do4 ,i did so1 but even then was left for several hours in uncertainty as to what train to take1 as ,i had passes on four different lines4 ,i spent the time in earnest prayer4 ,at last1 toward evening1 ,i was led to take the ,rock ,island train for ,chicago and impressed that the ,lord would show me when and where to stop4 ,i had two sisters and a little boy with me and they could not understand my indecision4 ,as our train hurried on during the night1 ,i kept asking the ,lord where ,i should stop1 and ,he made it very plain to me that ,i was to stop at ,ottawa1 ,ill4 ,i knew no one there1 and there was no state-prison there1 but the ,lord showed me to go to the county jail and when ,i did so found there were several men there soon to be executed4 ,i was told that no one was permitted to see them2 but we went praying and the ,lord touched the hearts of the officers and we were permitted to hold a service4 ,we were much helped of the ,holy ,spirit and ,i believe some of these condemned men were saved--at least they seemed to give evidence of it4 ,one of them afterwards wrote me two letters4 ,these ,i give to my readers4 ,it is well to remember1 however1 that not many such prisoners are accustomed to expressing their thoughts in writing and hence their letters fail to express the depth of feeling clearly shown in their words and manner when ,i am with them4 ,again all their letters are to be read before they leave the prison1 so they do not open their hearts as freely when writing as when speaking with me alone4 ,la ,salle ,county ,jail1 ,ottawa1 ,ill41 ,april #bh1 #ahia4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister3 ,we are doing very well4 ,as for ,mr4 ,c4 and myself1 we will do the best we can to reach that ,beautiful home in the ,new ,jerusalem1 for the ,lord saith3 ,he that believeth and abideth in ,me shall have everlasting life4 ,as you must have seen1 our belief is a little different from yours in some respects1 but1 nevertheless1 we are all working for that one place and that is heaven4 ,he that leaveth his sins behind him shall be saved4 ,the example of those who died for ,christ1 for the faith and for virtue's sake are also continually placed before us that we may learn to endure sufferings and even death rather than be unfaithful to ,god and stain our conscience with sin4 ,the ,christian's motto is1 ,death before dishonor4 ,hoping that you will continue to pray for us that we may be cleansed from sin and be saved1 we send you our sincere and hearty wishes for your welfare4 ,god bless you and keep you ever for your sincere effort in our behalf4 ,hoping that we may meet in that beautiful place where the penitent shall find rest1 ,i remain yours in respect1 ,,charlie ----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,la ,salle ,county ,jail1 ,ottawa1 ,ill41 ,may #f1 #ahia4 ,dear ,sister3 ,i was glad to receive your letter and to hear that you are still praying for us4 ,mr4 ,f4 has gone out1 so there are just two of us--me and ,mr4 ,c41 who1 ,i think1 will get a new trial4 ,he sends his kind regards and is doing well4 ,as for me1 ,i am very close to the grave as ,i have only four more days to live1 but hope that it will be all for the best4 ,i am preparing myself for death as much as possible for so short a time4 ,my thoughts are not of the outside world1 but of a higher world1 where there is no sin or trouble or care1 but everylasting life and happiness4 ,i also hope that we may meet in that haven of rest4 ,i will do as you say1 put my trust in ,god and believe in ,him4 ,life is very short at best1 but we all have our cares and troubles and must bear with them the best we can1 as we are helpless without the grace of ,god4 ,thanking you sincerely for your kind efforts in our behalf1 ,i remain your brother in all sincerity4 ,farewell4 ,yours in respect1 ,,charlie ----4 ,,in ,,long ,,expectation4 ,i first saw ,e4 ,b---- in the jail in ,wichita1 ,kansas4 ,there were many prisoners there at that time and especially in the ,oklahoma ward4 ,it was soon after the opening up of ,oklahoma territory and the rush for claims4 ,there was great excitement and many lost their lives4 ,some were thrown from their horses and killed4 ,others died from exhaustion1 running as for life to get the property they so much coveted4 ,there were many things done that were wrong4 ,some are still lingering inside prison walls for defending their rights as they thought4 ,i do not remember just what ,e4's trouble was1 but he was sentenced to death and the day and the hour were set4 ,i went often to the prison and sang and prayed for the prisoners4 ,they were my friends4 ,i knew and loved them as a mother would1 and especially this young boy--the youngest of them all4 ,i went away to ,europe and on my return ,i again visited the jail in ,wichita to hold a service4 ,while singing the first hymn the jailer came into the apartment where ,i was and said1 ,the ,oklahoma boys have heard you singing and want you to come at once to their ward4 ,they did not know you had returned from ,scotland and are so anxious to see you4 ,and such a welcome as those dear boys and men gave me ,i had received no where else since my return4 ,some were under death sentences4 ,o how my heart aches even now as ,i think of the tears they shed and of their warm handclasp4 ,then ,i could only fall on my knees and sob out my sorrow for them and my heartfelt thanks to ,god for the warm welcome and as ,i wept and prayed ,i believe good was accomplished and souls saved4 ,some are dead and gone4 ,others are in the asylum for the criminal insane4 ,a few were pardoned out4 ,eddie's case lingered4 ,while hoping for a commutation of sentence he wrote the following letter3 ,wichita1 ,may #c1 #ahia4 ,dear ,friend3 ,i received your kind letter4 ,was glad to hear you were well and still at your post1 working for others4 ,i am still in my little cell awaiting what comes and have not heard much yet regarding commitment1 but hope it may come in time4 ,i am feeling as though ,i have a heavy load on my shoulders for a boy1 but ,i hope and pray for the best to come4 ,i want to see the light1 if there is any for me4 ,i sometimes think that ,i am forgotten2 and then again ,i know better1 for there is ,one who never forgets us4 ,i have read those nice tracts you sent me and they are all true4 ,the boys are all well and send their best respects to you and hope to meet you again2 and you know ,i do1 for ,i feel the need of your kindness and appreciate it highly4 ,i know what a kind mother is4 ,i have a good ,christian mother and father4 ,oh1 if ,i were only free again1 so ,i could enjoy life with my dear mother6 ,no one knows how lonely ,i am4 ,you are only one hundred miles from my home in ----1 ,illinois4 ,if you go there you could find them by enquiring for them4 ,they would be glad to see you1 as ,i have told them about your being here4 ,i hope some day that you can come and see me on the outside4 ,what a happy boy ,i would be6 ,if not1 ,i hope we may meet in that brighter home4 ,i have been reading my ,bible and find relief4 ,what a book it is1 and the good that can be gotten from it6 ,i wish you success through life and that you may save many a poor lost sinner4 ,no one knows the good they can do until they try4 ,may ,god bless you1 is my prayer4 ,,eddie ----4 ,,sentence ,,commuted4 ,many of those acquainted with the case were anxious for his release but met with little encouragement4 ,i continued to pray earnestly that at least his life might be spared4 ,when the day appointed for his execution came ,i was in a distant state some miles from a telegraph office1 but ,i sent a little boy to the office with a message telling him that the ,lord might even yet deliver him and if not would sustain him in his dying moments4 ,the same day a wire came for him from the governor changing his sentence to imprisonment for life4 ,he was transferred to a northern prison1 but only lived a few years4 ,so far as ,i could learn he lived and died a ,christian1 and ,i hope to see him again by and by in heaven4 ,a ,,man ,,deceived4 ,at one time ,i held a service with the prisoners in the county jail in ,sedalia1 ,missouri4 ,among them was a poor old man awaiting execution4 ,he seemed unmoved1 stolid1 indifferent4 ,i talked and prayed with him and asked him about his soul's salvation4 ,he said it was all right with his soul and that he was saved4 ,i knew the ,lord showed me that he was a deceived man and that the devil had deluded him into thinking he was all right4 ,i was faithful to my convictions1 to my ,god and to his soul4 ,i said to him3 ,you are not prepared to face the scaffold and death4 ,he seemed indignant that ,i should doubt his word1 but ,i left him with the warning1 ,prepare to meet thy ,god4 ,i went to the wife of the sheriff1 who was an excellent woman1 and found she too was very anxious about his soul4 ,i told her of my burden for him and asked for a room where ,i could wait on ,god in prayer and she kindly furnished it4 ,in an hour the old man sent word to the sheriff to send for me to come and pray for him as he was not fit to die4 ,in company with others ,i went to him and the poor deceived old man repented of his sins and confessed them to ,god and to us and was blessedly saved and died in the full assurance of faith4 ,his last words were of his hope in ,christ and of his acceptance with ,god4 ,i fully believe that the blood of ,jesus--who died on the cross for sinners and was the friend of sinners always--did cleanse his soul4 ,the sheriff's wife told me of his last words and that all was well4 ,we give a clipping from a ,sedalia paper concerning the case4 ,,visitors ,,excluded4 ,,williamson ,,will ,,receive ,,no ,,more ,,visits--,,preparation ,,for ,,the ,,execution4 ,sheriff ,ellis ,r4 ,smith has commenced to make his arrangements for the execution of ,thomas ,a4 ,williamson1 and everything will be in readiness before ,saturday morning4 ,the rope with which ,john ,oscar ,turlington and ,bill ,price were hanged will be used1 the sheriff having received a telegram yesterday from ,sheriff ,mat ,s4 ,ayers1 of ,saline county1 stating that it had been forwarded to him by express4 ,on the day of execution the police force will assist the county authorities in preserving order in the vicinity of the jail building4 ,no more visitors will be permitted to see and talk with ,williamson1 except his spiritual advisers4 ,this is in compliance with the condemned man's wishes1 which are contained in the following note which he sent to ,sheriff ,smith yesterday3 ,sheriff ,smith3 ,i would like a cell by myself the rest of my time4 ,you can put me any place4 ,i will give you no trouble4 ,my mind is on ,god4 ,i would like to be upstairs2 it is lighter up there4 ,i will go where you put me4 ,t4 ,a4 ,w4 ,i received from him the following letters written after his conversion4 ,one of them reached me after his execution3 ,sedalia1 ,mo4 ,sister ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton3 ,i am well this morning4 ,i thank ,god for it4 ,i hope this will find you well4 ,i prayed to ,god to watch over me through the night1 and ,he did4 ,i feel happy4 ,i will meet you across the river4 ,we will have a good time4 ,may ,god keep you4 ,i am going to heaven4 ,i will meet you in that bright land4 ,i am glad to hear from you4 ,,thos4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sedalia1 ,mo41 ,october #bi1 #ahia4 ,my ,true ,mother3 ,i got your letter right now4 ,i read it and got on my knees and prayed to ,god to have mercy on me4 ,my sister1 ,i have my mind on ,jesus all the time4 ,i feel happy this morning4 ,mother1 ,i will meet you on the other shore4 ,mother ,s4 7the sheriff's wife7 is so kind to me6 ,my mind is on ,god so ,i can hardly write4 ,i will pray for you4 ,,thos4 ,a4 ,,interceded ,,for ,,the ,,life ,,of ,a ,,boy4 ,i went to a city in #ahih1 where there were four under sentence of death1 and when ,i went into the jail found many waiting trial4 ,some were going to state's prison4 ,others were to die on the scaffold4 ,i was especially impressed with the case of one boy who was under death sentence4 ,i held a service with the prisoners and talked personally to those condemned to die4 ,one man was wonderfully saved and ,i believe went to heaven from the scaffold4 ,i then went away to other states4 ,but ,i was so troubled ,i made inquiries and found that the young boy to whom ,i referred was not charged with being a murderer1 and was not deserving of death4 ,i plead to ,god if there was nothing the law could find in him worthy of death1 that his sentence might be commuted1 and the poor boy might live4 ,upon my return ,i went to the capital to see the ,governor1 and asked him to grant the boy a life sentence in prison4 ,my request was granted1 it was soon all settled and the boy's life was spared4 ,yet the ,deputy ,sheriff was very angry at the ,governor for granting the commutation6 ,,went ,,to ,,the ,,scaffold ,,singing4 ,in ,may1 #ahii1 another poor prisoner ended his life on the scaffold4 ,the ,friday before1 two died on the same gallows4 ,i visited them the day before the execution1 talked and sang hymns 7their favorites71 and then we three kneeled together in prayer in the little condemned cell4 ,kneeling between my boys1 clasping each by the hand1 we gave ourselves to the blessed ,savior1 who said just before he expired on the cross1 ,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do4 ,i shall never forget that last prayer meeting with those unfortunate men who had been led astray by evil surroundings and associations1 forming habits which finally sent them to early graves1 by fearful deaths4 ,yet1 as we knelt there together1 just we three and the blessed ,holy ,spirit witnessing1 we promised to meet in ,heaven4 ,jesus met us there and forgave them their sins1 and joy filled our souls with love for ,him who gave ,himself a ransom for us1 not willing that any should perish1 but rather that all should have eternal life4 ,how my heart rejoiced to hear them say they were prepared to go1 and the parting was very sweet4 ,a solemn hush filled the little cell--sweet peace which only comes when souls have been redeemed1 fell upon my heart1 and ,i was glad ,jesus ,himself did ,his own work for ,his own name's honor and glory4 ,they sang hymns and prayed all night before the execution4 ,they refused to eat1 preferring to sing and pray till the last1 and went to the scaffold singing and praising ,god1 and were still singing when the drop fell1 and they were gone from earth4 ,my heart cried out for the living that ,may morning1 as another one went to the scaffold1 ,o ,god1 save his soul6 ,o ,god1 forgive him all his sins4 ,the same scaffold1 the same sin1 and the same ,jesus to blot out all his transgressions4 ,i believe ,god1 where he says1 ,isa4 #a3ah1 ,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as white as snow3 though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool4 ,if it were not for the promises of ,god in ,his blessed ,word1 ,i should give up in despair1 sometimes1 over those cases who have been so deceived by the devil4 ,yet ,god is able to snatch them as brands from the burning4 ,jude #bb-bc says1 ,and of some have compassion1 making a difference3 and others save with fear1 pulling them out of the fire2 hating even the garment spotted by the flesh4 ,jesus said1 ,whosoever will may come1 ,i believe ,his promises are ,yea and amen to all that believe4 ,when ,i see what saloons and other evils are doing to wreck lives and ruin souls1 ,i wonder how ,god on ,his throne can ever forgive such premeditated1 intentional sins4 ,the keepers of these places sell themselves to ,satan to be used by him to defeat ,god's plan of saving those who will come unto ,him4 ,o that all who claim to be ,christians would unite to overthrow the means that ,satan uses to lead down to eternal death so many precious souls6 ,the case to which ,i shall now refer was one in many respects especially touching4 ,the condemned man had occupied a prominent official position4 ,the dear1 noble wife never turned away from her husband4 ,hers were the kind heart and hands that ministered to his needs and cheered the long1 gloomy hours of his imprisonment4 ,she stood by him in his trial and during those days of agony and suspense4 ,then came the verdict ,guilty1 and the sentence of death6 ,yet1 though her own heart was breaking as she thought of herself and her beautiful1 helpless children1 she still sought to cheer and comfort as best she could that poor condemned man whose heart was torn with anguish when he realized that because of his sin that faithful loving wife and those innocent children must be left disgraced and destitute4 ,what is to become of the little ones who are powerless to help themselves and of the poor despised1 rejected1 forsaken mother1 trying to earn with her own hands by toiling night and day enough to feed and clothe those helpless babes8 ,o my ,god1 will you not help me to provide a home for such as these8 ,for the sake of these heart-broken mothers whose lives are doomed to be 7only as helped by the grace of ,god7 one great unending sorrow--for the sake of the poor children so cruelly robbed of their birthright--a father's good name and protection1 these who are worse than orphans1 yet for whom nobody seems to care1 help me to do what ,i can--what thou dost require at my hands4 ,this man was brought up in a ,christian home and but for the power of evil associations with which he was brought in contact and the curse of the legalized saloon1 would today in all probability have been a respected and honorable member of society4 ,i first found him one ,fourth of ,july4 ,while others were spending the holiday ,i went toiling through the heat to the prison and there ,i found my reward4 ,my soul was borne upward by the ,holy ,spirit as ,i sang many songs of praise and tenderly led this poor man to the foot of the cross where he was saved4 ,his wife was there a part of the time4 ,i seem to see the parting even now of those dear ones6 ,well1 ,god knows it all4 ,had ,i never known a wife's and a mother's love ,i could not have sympathized with them as ,i did4 ,i thought--,what if my boy had lived and come to such an end--and ,i wept with that faithful wife as she took leave4 ,o1 sisters1 there is a power in even a look of love coming from a true heart4 ,i give two letters received from the condemned man and one written me by his wife4 ,i omit the name of place and exact date and even the initials1 as so few years have passed and ,i do not wish to do anything that might bring pain to the hearts of surviving friends4 ,the family was of the most cultured and respected4 ,july1 #ahii4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,it was with the greatest pleasure that ,i read your card this morning4 ,i was wondering where you were2 but ,i knew that if your health permitted you1 you were somewhere doing good to some poor unfortunate4 ,yes1 ,i am putting my entire trust in ,jesus4 ,he saves me from my sins and when the cares and woes of this life come to disturb my peace1 ,i look unto the ,savior and soon all is peace again4 ,what would ,i do in a place like this and under such circumstances did not his gentle voice speak unto me and say1 ,fear not1 ,i will not leave nor forsake you4 ,my wife was down to see me last ,monday1 and is coming today 7,thursday74 ,she wrote me that your songs and prayer were still ringing in her ears--so you see that your good work is not only felt by prisoners4 ,i hope that you may be able to go on with the good work that so much delights you and that you may yet win many wandering souls and bring them into the fold of ,god and that when your work on earth is ended you may rest from your labors in the most beautiful palace in the city of heaven4 ,you may think that strange that ,i said palace1 but ,i believe that heaven is a real and tangible city--the home of ,god1 from where ,he sends the ,holy ,ghost to dwell in the hearts of all those who are willing to receive ,him4 ,i will now say good-by1 and if ,i never again meet you on this earth1 ,i hope to meet you in heaven4 ,i am yours most sincerely in the hope of heaven4 ---- ----4 99 99 99 99 99 ,august1 #ahii4 ,my ,dear ,mother1 for such you seem to me1 ,i will never while ,i am on this earth cease to think of you4 ,i have remembered your voice since ,i first heard you sing and pray while in the cells of poor ,w----and ,s----1 the condemned men4 ,i wished then that ,i could have seen you1 and ,i told the boys that you were certainly born of ,god2 and from that day ,i have desired to have your influence and prayers4 ,i am still trusting in the love1 mercy and power of the ,savior to save my soul in the eternal world and to keep me from sin while ,i am in this4 ,i have no other hope1 no other desire than to serve my ,master4 ,i would want to attain to a state of perfection here1 if such were possible1 but you know that the cares of this life come in to rob us of the pleasure that we would enjoy in the anticipation of heaven4 ,but some day the dark clouds that overshadow us and prevent us for a while from seeing the ,savior's smiling face will be rolled away4 ,i am glad to tell you that the sentence of ,r----1 whose cell was next to mine1 has been commuted to life imprisonment4 ,he and the man ,p---- send their regards to you4 ,p----'s sentence is respited until the #agth of ,november1 and in the meantime he hopes for a new trial4 ,i will close1 wishing you the choicest blessings of heaven1 and ,i am yours very sincerely1 trusting in the hope of eternal life1 ,your brother in ,christ1 ---- ----4 ,the following from the ,star of ----1 ----1 explains itself4 ,the men are referred to in the above letter3 ,,both ,,twice ,,convicted ,,of ,,the ,,crime ,,of ,,murder4 ,everything is in readiness at the ,district jail for the double execution which is to take place tomorrow1 when ,s---- and ,w---- will pay the penalty of their crimes4 ,so far as outward appearances are concerned1 the condemned men are in a better frame of mind than are most of the other prisoners in the big brown-stone prison4 ,their spiritual advisers are with them most of the time1 and when they are absent the men pass the hours reading religious books and praying4 ,s---- and ,w---- have both been well-behaved prisoners and have given the jail officials no trouble whatever4 ,the former has been particularly friendly with the guards and others1 and today he thanked several of them for past kindnesses4 ,he also desired to express his gratitude to his many friends for what they had done for him1 and said he desired to do so through the ,star4 ,s---- has had many visitors during the entire time of his confinement in jail1 but more especially during recent weeks4 ,most of them have been female relatives4 ,they have been endeavoring to collect funds enough to defray the expenses of a decent burial4 ,in the event of their being successful the body will be turned over to them after the execution by the undertaker employed by the government to prepare the bodies for burial4 ,monday afternoon1 just before the prison doors were locked for the day1 the bell rang and the guard at the door admitted a woman who handed in her card on which was printed3 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist4 ,no ,home but ,heaven4 ,she had with her a number of tracts which she distributed to some of the prisoners4 ,her religious work is all done in prisons1 and she makes a specialty of laboring with condemned men4 ,she stated to the guards that she had traveled about #b1jjj miles to see those in jail here before their execution4 ,the warden admitted her to the cells4 ,she had ,w---- and ,s---- join her in prayer and song in the latter's cell1 and the men seemed greatly to appreciate her hour's visit4 ,she next saw ,e---- ,s----1 who is to die on the scaffold next week4 ,he1 too1 appeared to enjoy her call4 ---- ---- ,star4 99 99 99 99 99 ,august1 #ahii4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,i must write a few lines to you1 in my husband's letter1 as you have shown yourself so kind to him1 poor fellow4 ,i can see you now and hear you1 in my fancy1 singing those beautiful pieces4 ,oh1 how sad ,i felt on that ,fourth of ,july as ,i sat and listened1 especially to the one called ,some ,mother's ,child1 as ,i looked upon my dear husband and thought of his mother and how tenderly he had been reared by ,christian parents1 and was always a good and thoughtful son and husband until by reason of evil associations he fell into sin and kept going further and further from ,god until at last he was led to do the most dreadful of deeds4 ,how ,i pity him6 ,o how happy ,i once was6 ,had a pretty home and everything to brighten it4 ,but alas1 they have vanished and now ,i feel alone1 without anything4 ,did ,i say alone8 ,no1 not so1 for the ,god that ,i have served and who has been with me these twenty years1 is still with me2 and ,i feel to say1 ,though he slay me1 yet will ,i trust him4 ,i feel that he will open up a way for his children4 ,now1 my dear sister1 ,i would love to see you again in this life and talk with you1 but if ,i never meet you here ,i trust ,i shall meet you above1 where your voice will be heard with the angels of ,god4 ,please remember me to your lady helper4 ,would be glad to hear from you at any time4 ,good-bye4 ,yours in love and the hope of heaven1 ---- ----4 ,two years later1 while in the same city1 a friend invited me to go to an open-air service and after ,i had sung and spoken to those who were gathered a dear lady clasped my hand and said3 ,i am so glad to see you1 mother--don't you know me8 ,as ,i failed to recognize her she turned her careworn but lovely face so that the electric light shone full upon her and said1 ,don't you remember me now8 ,when ,i still answered ,no1 ,i do not1 the tears gathered in the dear eyes as she said1 ,my husband never forgot your singing and your prayers before he went away1 and then it dawned upon me that she was the wife of the man the people hung to gratify the saloon men's greed4 ,she said3 ,i do wish ,i could ask you home with me1 but ,i have only a little hall room for myself and children4 ,i am keeping boarders to make a living for myself and them4 ,o how ,i wished for a home to which ,i could welcome them1 but ,i1 too1 am a pilgrim and a stranger1 and all ,i could do was to kiss the dear sister and commend her to the widow's ,god and her dear ones to the ,father of the fatherless4 ,the letters following are from two brothers with whom ,i labored1 and who showed much appreciation of my efforts with them and professed to be saved4 ,i received a number of encouraging letters from them and from others in the same place before they were taken away4 ,we can not always tell as to the sincerity of these poor men1 or of their responsibility1 some of them doubtless are so nearly unbalanced in mind1 under such a strain1 but we know the ,god of heaven before whom we must all stand will judge righteously4 ,october #ah1 #aijc4 ,my ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,while my dear unfortunate brother1 ,mr4 ,k41 has given me space in his letter1 ,i just wish to congratulate you for the wonderful good you did while here with us1 as we have not forgotten your topic1 ,salvation1 and often speak of you and hope you will come again at your earliest convenience4 ,thank ,god there is some of us have the ,spirit of ,god with us4 ,bless ,his holy name6 ,and ,i for one can praise ,him for the wonderful good ,he has done me1 and through ,his wonderful love ,i have been granted a stay of execution1 which was to take place the #bast of this month2 for ,god in heaven knows ,i am innocent of this crime1 as is also my brother4 ,i am sorry to say ,i do not know much about the ,bible1 but intend to learn more about ,his wonderful love to man1 and will serve ,him to the end4 ,trusting that you will look upon us as your children1 ,i will close1 hoping to hear from you again1 ,your unfortunate boy1 ,b4 ,w4 99 99 99 99 99 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,received your letter and was glad to hear from you4 ,it brought great joy to our bleeding hearts4 ,we think of you and wish you could talk and sing for us every day4 ,your kind1 loving words bring me near to ,god4 ,when ,i leave this world ,i will go to my heavenly ,father1 where there is everlasting life1 and if we never meet on earth1 ,i will meet you in heaven4 ,i shall never forget you and the prayer you made for me4 ,we felt bad when you could not come back and tell us about our loving ,god4 ,pray for me that ,i may walk daily with ,god4 ,i remain as ever1 ,your dear boy1 ,a4 ,w4 ,columbus1 ,ohio4 ,,three ,,young ,,men4 ,some cases of special interest to me because of such recent occurrence1 are the three young men mentioned elsewhere and from whom ,i received the following letters4 ,i will first give a note very kindly written me by the son of the warden1 in answer to an inquiry about the cases while they were awaiting some decision of the supreme court3 ,colorado ,state ,penitentiary4 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,december #g1 #aijd4 ,mother ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,dear ,mother3 ,i have not answered your postal on account of my absence from the city1 but ,i hope you will overlook the delay4 ,the fate of the four prisoners under sentence of death is still undecided1 as their case is in the hands of the ,supreme ,court4 ,there is some doubt as to the legality of the law and it is a hard matter to tell what the outcome will be4 ,no1 my folks did not attend the ,prison ,congress this year on account of my sister's health4 ,the boys at the prison often speak of you and some have started to forget the past and try to do better in the future on account of the good words you spoke to them4 ,i hope you will come to see us before my father goes out of office1 but if this is impossible1 ,i pray that we may meet at some future time4 ,i remain1 ,yours respectfully1 ,willard ,cleghorn4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,may #c1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i have received your kind letter and postal and ,i am very glad to know that you have not forgotten me4 ,i have not forgotten you either1 nor never will4 ,for it was no other than you who put me on the right road to heaven1 and ,i know that if ,i do all you told me that ,i will meet you there4 ,i am praying both day and night1 and ,i pray from my heart1 and mean every word that ,i say1 and ,i know that my sorrow is more than ,i can bear without ,god's help4 ,i know that ,god has forgiven me all of my sins1 and will save me too4 ,i do not care who laughs at me for praying and asking ,god for help4 ,there is nothing that can ever make me quit praying and believing in ,god1 for ,he has done me good already4 ,with love and best wishes1 and hoping to hear from you soon1 ,yours sincerely1 ,f4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,may #c1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,it is with pleasure that ,i answer your most kind and welcome letter that brother ,a4 and ,i received some time ago4 ,we also received a postal card this morning4 ,i have neglected my promise of writing1 but hereafter will write more promptly4 ,i have not been feeling well1 but am better now4 ,i hope you will forgive me this time4 ,it does my heart good to know that you are praying for us4 ,i feel very grateful to you4 ,us boys pray and read the ,holy ,bible every day4 ,i am trusting to our ,heavenly ,father1 for ,he makes right the wrong4 ,we are being treated most kindly by the warden and the officers of the prison4 ,i will close1 as ,brother ,a4 wishes to say a few words4 ,hoping to hear from you again1 ,i ever remain ,your son in ,christ1 ,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,may #ag1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,mother3 ,i received your kind letter and was very much pleased to hear from you1 as all of us were4 99 99 99 ,when ,i saw and read your letter and those little tracts1 they certainly did take effect on me4 ,as ,i read them and saw the terrible mistake ,i had made1 it caused the tears to fall4 ,i am trusting in ,god1 but ,i can't come right out and tell you that ,i am really saved1 for ,i don't believe in deceiving you4 ,but ,i do believe that ,god has laid a hand on me1 and ,i hope ,he will take a stronger hold on me4 ,i know you will think more of me for telling you the candid facts4 ,i have seen lots of people who would tell that they were really saved1 when they knew they were not4 ,but ,god help my poor soul1 is my regular prayer4 ,i realize that ,i need ,his help in my present circumstances4 ,i still ask you to pray for me that ,god will help me to look to ,him4 ,i try my best to do what is right1 and never go to sleep a night without praying to ,him to save my soul and spare me so that ,i may be of some benefit to ,his cause1 and ,i do fully believe that ,he will answer my prayer1 for when ,i pray ,i am sure ,i do it with all my heart and soul4 ,i am quite well at present1 and hope that these few lines will find you the same4 ,may ,god bless you and protect you1 is my daily prayer4 ,i hope to hear from you again soon4 ,from one of yours1 and ,i hope1 the ,lord's sons4 ,yours respectfully1 ,n4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,may #bg1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i take pleasure in answering your most kind and welcome letter received a few days ago4 ,i am quite well at present4 ,i am taking things as easy as ,i can and waiting most patiently to know how ,i will fare4 ,i haven't forgot to pray and read the ,bible1 nor will ,i as long as ,i live4 ,i am trusting in the ,lord1 for ,he makes all things right4 ,i will close1 hoping to hear from you again4 ,very sincerely yours1 ,c4 ,p4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,may #bg1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i take pleasure in answering your letter4 ,you don't know how glad ,i was to hear from you4 ,this leaves me well and in good faith and ,i am trusting in the ,lord1 for ,i know ,he will help me if ,i will only be good and do ,his will4 ,i pray and read my ,bible every night and day4 ,oh1 if ,i ever do get my freedom ,i will make a man of myself and do ,god's will and make my poor wife and mother and father happy4 ,i will never take a drop of whiskey or anything again4 ,so good-bye4 ,we have heard nothing of our case yet4 ,the time seems so long4 ,from yours sincerely1 ,f4 ,a4 ,the following are extracts from touching letters from the aged mother and young wife of this young man3 ,kansas ,city1 ,mo41 ,july #d1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,we received your card and were indeed glad to hear from you4 ,oh1 ,i am praying to ,god all the time to spare my baby's life4 ,how can ,i ever live if they take his life6 ,why do they want it8 ,he did not kill any one1 although the deed he did almost breaks my heart4 ,f4 never drank until he got with those people on ,market ,street4 ,they got him to smoking hop and drinking whiskey4 ,my dear and only child1 will ,god and man have mercy on him8 ,oh1 ,i thank you for going to see my poor baby boy6 ,god bless him and save his life4 ,i hope you can see the ,governor and see if he will do something for a mother to save her only child4 ,i can hardly stand it4 ,it has done ,f4 so much good for you to see him4 ,he always speaks of you when he writes home4 ,oh1 ,i do hope the ,governor will give you some hopes1 for if ,i could get any hopes of ,f4 being spared it would do me so much good6 ,i pray day and night for my boy4 ,he is on my mind all the time4 ,hoping to hear from you soon1 ,i am ,sincerely yours1 ,,mrs4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,kansas ,city1 ,mo41 ,july #d1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton3 ,kind ,friend3 ,i was truly glad to hear from you and that you are going to see my dear husband soon4 ,i hope it will not be long till ,i see him1 for it seems like years since ,i have seen poor ,f4 ,i hope my loved one will come out better yet1 for ,i can never stand it4 ,i hope and pray that ,f4 will have a show for his life4 ,how short our young lives were together4 ,f4 was always kind to me and it almost took my life when ,i was robbed of my darling husband4 ,i was an orphan girl4 ,my dear mother died when ,i was five years old4 ,i had a hard time all my life till ,i was eighteen1 when ,i was married to ,f41 last ,september4 ,i was so happy with him4 ,he was a good boy and never drank till he met with the ,market ,street gang and they got him to drinking and smoking that hop4 ,this is the ,fourth of ,july and ,f4's gray-haired mother and ,i are here grieving over the loved one in prison4 ,if a wife ever loved a husband truly ,i love mine4 ,i remain your friend1 ,,mrs4 ,f4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,sept4 #bb1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i was glad to hear from you1 which ,i always am1 for your letters are full of kind words and it is a pleasure to read them in my lonely cell and know there is one true friend who prays for me4 ,kind words are few for me now when ,i am in need and going through the most terrible and trying time of a lifetime4 ,but ,i am living in hopes and trusting ,god for my future1 come what may4 ,i surely thank you for seeing the ,governor in our behalf4 ,my mother and wife are well4 ,their letter to you must have been missent1 for they wrote4 ,this leaves me well4 ,yours sincerely1 ,f4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,march #bf1 #aije4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton3 ,dear ,mother3 ,i was very glad to hear from you as ,i did not know what had become of you4 ,well1 the law has been found good and the death watch is over us4 ,poor ---- was hung the #fth4 ,our time begins the #bast of ,may4 ,yes1 ,i am trusting ,god and ,i know ,he has heard my prayers1 and whatever comes will be for the best4 ,p---- is getting better again they tell me4 ,a---- is the same as ever4 ,i wrote to my mother today and told her ,i heard from you4 ,yours sincerely ,f4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,april #ab1 #aije4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,los ,angeles1 ,cal43 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i was glad to hear from you4 ,your letters do me so much good1 they always give me new hope4 ,of course you understand what ,i am going through1 and at times hope seems hopeless for the time seems so long to me in this dreary cell1 and to think if ,i had left that horrible liquor alone and stayed away from bad company where ,i could have been to-night--free and happy1 at home with my wife and my poor old mother and father4 ,but as it is ,i am sad and lonely and my loved ones are far away1 heart-broken4 ,but ,i believe my prayers will be answered yet1 for ,i know ,god has heard them4 ,but1 the ,lord's will be done4 ,i know ,he will do what is best for me4 ,well1 dear mother1 the boys are well and send their best regards4 ,sincerely yours1 ,f4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,canon ,city1 ,colo41 ,june #ae1 #aije4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i received your kind and welcome letter and was glad to hear from you again4 ,i will never have the pleasure of reading another letter from you in this world1 for ,i have been put back in a horrible death cell again and the ,board of ,pardons and ,governor have refused to save me from the terrible death ,i am doomed for1 but ,i expect to meet you in heaven1 dear mother1 for ,i know ,god has forgiven me all of my sins4 ,i want to thank you again for all you have done for me1 for ,i know you have spent many a sleepless night on account of me4 ,i felt a great deal better after seeing and praying with you the last time you were here than ,i had since ,i've been in this trouble4 ,i am glad things are most at an end for ,i am very weary of these lonesome death cells4 ,of course ,i don't want to die nor am ,i glad of it1 for ,i have lots to live for yet as you know1 but the ,lord's will be done4 ,i know it will be for the best4 ,well1 ,i will close for this time4 ,i am to be hung in the next twenty-four hours1 so good-bye1 dear friend4 ,think of me sometime in the future4 ,from your son in ,christ1 ,f4 ,a4 99 99 99 99 99 ,mother ,wheaton3 ,dear ,mother3 ,we just received your loving letter last night and was glad to hear from you4 ,oh1 dear mother1 my darling boy is gone2 never can ,i see his loving face in this cruel world4 ,oh1 it is terrible2 it seems too hard for me to stand4 ,just think1 my only darling child4 ,but ,i know he is in heaven4 ,he died on the #afth4 ,we went to see him and he was so glad to see us4 ,he kissed his papa and all of us and said he wanted us not to grieve any more than we could help4444 ,his last words were ,good-bye1 mamma1 with a smile and wave of his hand just like ,i was coming back again4 ,he said he would like to be buried close to home4 ,poor1 darling boy2 he loved to be close to home and mamma in life1 but it is hard to think that he had to spend his last days away from us1 all on account of whiskey4 ,your friends as ever1 ,,mrs4 ,a4 ,,and ,l4 7,the above was from the aged mother and the young wife47 ,think you1 dear reader1 that these experiences are passed by lightly when ,i must enter into the sorrows of these mothers and loved ones who must give up their dear ones in this way8 ,only the grace and love of ,god can sustain me and these dear bereaved ones in these trials4 ,this was one of my saddest experiences1 as ,i was personally acquainted with the parents and the dear young wife of one of these young men1 having been entertained at their home some days at a time during their sorrow4 ,this is only another example of what strong drink is doing in our land4 ,god pity those who in the least favor this traffic4 ,i give below short extracts taken from ,the ,daily ,news of ,denver concerning these cases3 ,not yet has the final word for ,f4 ,a41 ,c4 ,p4 and ,n4 ,a41 under sentence of death1 been said4 ,it is likely that it will not be said for at least a week or ten days4 ,the ,board of ,pardons adjourned late yesterday afternoon without deciding the fate of the three boys4444 ,but1 though the tragic element was lacking1 there was present throughout the meeting an undercurrent of deep human woe4 ,the mother of ,a4 was there1 clad in black1 with a hopeless expression on her face pitiful to see4 ,beside her at all times was the wife of ,a41 young1 pretty in an indefinite sort of way1 her blue eyes holding ever before them the wreck of her shattered girlish romance4 ,both women wept freely at times4 ,with the two women were a dozen of their women friends1 whose coming had been actuated by a mixture of curiosity and sympathy4 ,,friend ,,of ,,all ,,prisoners4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 friend of prisoners the world over1 was there too4 ,she sat next ,mrs4 ,a41 the elder1 and wept copiously in sympathy4 ',mother' ,wheaton visited the boys at ,canon ,city1 and she told the board the impression of her visit1 how1 she was sure1 they had repented of their deed and had their sins forgiven4 ,she also pleaded for their lives on the ground of opposition to capital punishment4 ,she has been in state prison rescue work for twenty-one years1 and her silver hair1 refined face and gentle manner have brought comfort to criminals everywhere4--,news1 ,may #f4 ,,session ,,of ,,the ,,board4 ,the ,board of ,pardons met in special session at #aj o'clock yesterday morning for the purpose of passing finally upon the applications of the three boys for commutation of sentence from death to imprisonment for life4 ,interest in the proceedings of the morning centered around four women1 two mothers1 a sister and a wife of the condemned boys4 ,they were ,mrs4 ,j4 ,a41 bowed with the weight of her seventy years1 who had come all the way from ,buffalo1 ,n4 ,y41 to be present at the meeting2 her daughter1 ,miss ,a41 of ,denver2 ,mrs4 ,j4 ,a4 and ,mrs4 ,f4 ,a41 mother and wife1 respectively1 of ,f4 ,a4 ,all four were present throughout the hearing and made personal pleas to the ,board4 ,after the hearing was concluded they went together into the outer office of the executive chamber and sat huddled up in one corner of the big room1 their eyes fixed on the door which led to the inner office where four men were deciding whether the boys they loved should live or die4 ,,heard ,,the ,,bad ,,news4 ,when the news of the ,board's action was conveyed by ,secretary ,c4 ,e4 ,hagar to the four women waiting in the outer office1 their grief was pitiful in the extreme4 ,mrs4 ,a4 very nearly collapsed4 ,she clung to the arm of her daughter and moaned in heart-breaking accents4 ,the daughter1 too1 was almost overcome1 but controlled herself for her mother's sake4 ,the mother and wife of ,f4 ,a41 while it was evident they were suffering keenly1 maintained an outward composure except for the tears which welled from their eyes4 ,they hurriedly left the capitol building together4 ,the young wife will go to the penitentiary ,friday to say a last good-bye to her husband4 ,,plea ,,of ,,attorney4 ,w4 ,e41 attorney for ,a41 made a wonderfully eloquent plea for his client's life4 ,it was logical1 pathetic and at times scathing in its denunciation of the methods used by the police to extort confessions from the boys4 ,he said these methods1 in their horrible brutality1 were without parallel anywhere4 ,the only evidence upon which ,n4 ,a4 was convicted1 he said1 was the alleged confession wrung out of him by police brutality4 ,this confession was made after the prisoner had been 'sweated' and intimidated4 ,one ear had been almost torn off1 he had been cuffed1 kicked and trampled upon1 and then1 under the influence of threats1 he made his alleged confession4 ,,news ,,that ,,son ,,is ,,to ,,hang ,,broken ,,to ,,aged ,,woman ,,by ,,her ,,daughter ,,and ,,causes ,,collapse4 ,sitting and staring with a blank look into space1 at intervals relieving the tension of her misery by low moans1 and then again ejaculating pitifully1 ,oh1 my boy6 ,my poor1 poor boy6 ,can ,i live and know that you died upon the gallows8 ,mrs4 ,j4 ,a4 is now hovering on the borderland of life at the home of her daughter in ,denver4 ,it was not until noon yesterday that ,mrs4 ,a4 was told that the pardons board had refused to grant her son1 ,n4 ,a41 a commutation of sentence from death to life imprisonment4 ,up to that moment when the terrible knowledge became hers she had a mother's hope that the pardons board must save her boy4 ,from the moment she heard from her daughter's lips that the son and brother must die1 ,mrs4 ,a4 has been verging upon a semi-comatose condition1 and under the constant care of a physician4 ,she was illy prepared to hear the news yesterday1 for she had spent the night previous without closing her eyes in sleep4 ,it was not until #e o'clock that slumber came to her mercifully1 and even then she merely slept in a fitful doze until #h o'clock4 ,,suppressed ,,emotion4 ,the serious phase of ,mrs4 ,a4's condition1 her physician regards1 is that with her it is all suppressed emotion4 ,she does not cry out or rave1 but endures her intense suffering in quiet4 ,it is but seldom that tears come to her relief1 and the only vent her emotion has is in her low moans for her poor boy4 ,after the news was broken to her1 ,mrs4 ,a4 spent most of the day in bed4 ,late last night she was still in the same condition1 and the gravest anxiety is felt by her relatives4 ,mrs4 ,a4 is #gj years old4 ,she lives in ,buffalo1 ,n4 ,y41 and made the long trip of #a1ejj miles to personally plead with the ,state ,board of ,pardons for the life of her son4 ,,to ,,test ,,gallows4 ,warden ,c4 will today test the automatic scaffold upon which ,n4 ,a4 and ,f4 ,a4 will be executed next week4 ,he will see that everything about the device is in perfect order and will make a final test just prior to taking the first of the two to his death4 ,the execution house1 where the men will be confined until the final summons1 is #bhx#cj feet4 ,it contains three condemned cells and across the hall from these are two large rooms4 ,in the center of one is a large iron plate and on this the condemned is asked to stand after the noose and cap have been adjusted4 ,the weight of the man causes the plate to drop about an inch4 ,this closes the circuit of a current connecting with a bucket of water which stands on a shelf in a closet in an adjoining room4 ,by a magnet arrangement a plug in the bottom of the bucket is pulled and the water begins to flow out4 ,as soon as the vessel is empty an automatic connection releases a catch holding a bag of sand on the end of the noose4 ,the sand1 being heavier than the man1 falls1 causing the body at the other extremity of the rope to be jerked off the floor to the height of three feet4 ,the sandbag is in the room containing the closet where the bucket is and the rope from the noose reaches that room over a pulley and through a hole in the wall4 ,the condemned man does not see any of the details of the execution when he enters the death cell4 ,the iron plate in the floor and the noose around his neck are the only parts he can see4 ,he does not hear the dropping of the water nor the working of any of the mechanism4 ,the instant the man is jerked off his feet and suspended at the end of the rope his neck is broken4 ,the time intervening between the pulling of the plug in the bucket and the falling of the sand is usually about a minute4 ,the suspense to the prisoner1 however1 is not regarded as any more cruel than that experienced by a man in the electrical chair or on the scaffold while he awaits the fatal current or the springing of the trap4 ,the hanging apparatus was invented by a convict fifteen years ago4--,news1 ,may #bj4 ,as shown by foregoing letters these cases were continued till ,june #af4 ,such is the suspense1 sorrow of heart and grief through which many are constantly passing in this world1 all on account of sin4 ,what are we trying to do to lend a hand of relief8 ,such1 dear reader1 are a few of the many1 many cases of this class with which ,i have had to do in these more than twenty years of ministry to those that are bound4 ,some were hardened criminals1 others innocent of the crime for which they were condemned and others no more guilty than thousands that the world honors4 ,for all1 ,christ died2 and many others beside these ,i have mentioned have given evidence of saving faith in the blood that is able to cleanse the deepest stain that sin has made4 ,one case is just as near and dear to my mother heart as another and yet how different in many respects are these condemned men--different in their natural inclinations and unlike because of their different circumstances in life4 ,among them are found the refined1 the educated1 the gifted1 the beautiful as well as the low1 the ignorant1 the degraded4 ,all must share the same fate4 ,all are shown in the worst possible light to a gaping1 sensation-loving1 curious world4 ,let us1 dear reader1 take these cases home to our hearts as if they were our very own and so learn to have that charity that suffereth long and is kind4 ,even ,moses and ,david took life1 yet they were forgiven1 and ,moses who in haste slew the ,egyptian1 became the prophet so wonderfully used of ,god because of his meekness of spirit2 and ,david in his thankfulness declared1 ,this poor man cried and the ,lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,work in ,churches and ,missions4 ,as stated in preface ,i have always as opportunity offered been ready to preach the gospel to all men4 ,in this chapter ,i speak very briefly of some of the work done in churches and missions and give some letters from pastors and friends referring to this part of my labors4 ,,strangely ,,led4 ,i once had a young sister with me whom ,i had taken from ,toronto1 ,canada4 ,i had told her mother ,i would return her safely and had given her money to pay her fare home4 ,as we returned through a field to the city from the poor farm where ,i had held a service1 ,i said to the sister1 ,i am so hungry4 ,she replied1 ,o wait till we get to heaven1 then we shall have of the twelve manner of fruit1 and drink of the water of life1 and ,i was cheered and blest as ,i went along the way4 ,the ,lord showed me to trust ,him4 ,when ,i reached my lodging-house ,i was so weak and tired that ,i sat down to rest a few moments before ascending the stairs to my room4 ,the landlady sat by her well-filled table after the boarders were all gone4 ,she asked the servant for a plate1 and ,i watched her while she cut off a nice piece of turkey and a piece of roast beef and then put some bread on the plate and handed it to me4 ,i was1 ,o1 so glad1 but feared she was going to ask pay for it1 and ,i had only a dime4 ,i asked1 ,how much is this8 and she replied1 ,nothing4 ,i was so overcome with gratitude to ,god for ,his goodness that ,i hastened to my room and thanked ,god for answering prayer1 in giving me food ,i needed to give me strength for the meeting that afternoon on the street1 and in the evening at the colored people's church4 ,at the close of the meeting in the evening the preacher said3 ,the sister has given us a good sermon1 and the gospel must be carried1 so come up and give us a good collection4 ,the people responded heartily and gave a very liberal collection1 but after the meeting the preacher handed me #be cents1 keeping the rest4 ,i felt very badly as ,i had prayed for money which ,i needed so much4 ,i must go to another city1 and no money for traveling expenses4 ,i had been obliged to have some work done by the dentist which must be paid1 and no money1 but ,i kept believing1 yet no open heart or door4 ,i wondered why ,i was led to go to another place with no means provided4 ,when ,i had gotten the amount needed ,i left1 heart-sick1 lonely and weary to go on alone in the work1 and the sister to go home to ,canada4 ,a few days later ,i was walking along the streets of ,lynchburg1 ,va4 ,i met a man who said1 ,i am ,rev4 ,b---- from ,chicago4 ,i have met you several times in your work4 ,sister ,wheaton1 won't you come with me to church8 ,i said1 ,where8 and he said1 ,to the ,first ,baptist church4 ,when we entered the beautiful new church building the evangelist introduced me to the young pastor1 who hurried by indifferently4 ,he then presented me to some fine looking ladies who also passed by on the other side4 ,when the evangelist had closed his sermon he said1 ,now1 friends1 this is the lady ,i told you about who has done more good than we preachers4 ,i know her1 but she don't know me4 ,receive her as a sister4 ,she is worthy4 ,when the service closed1 one after another came to speak to me and gave me their hand and invited me to their homes4 ,a gentleman and wife came up and said1 ,we claim you as our guest4 ,the husband said1 ,the carriage is at the door4 ,i will walk and you may ride with my wife4 ,i was at a loss to know just which invitation to accept1 when the evangelist came up and said1 ,these are the people for you to go with4 ,i did so and the ,lord went with me4 ,i was invited to preach that night and the ,lord was there in mighty convicting power4 ,at the close of the meeting the evangelist said1 ,sister1 how did it happen that ,i met you just as ,i did this morning8 ,i said1 ,brother ,b41 things don't happen with me4 ,the ,lord sent me to this place4 ,the next day a young lady called at the house and inquired for me4 ,i went to the door and she handed me a small parcel saying1 ,your friends from the ,first ,baptist church sent you this4 ,thanking her ,i went inside and found it was fifteen dollars4 ,i was the guest of one of the ,f4 ,f4 ,v4's1 so was welcomed everywhere4 ,other churches and other preachers invited me to their pulpits4 ,in a few days ,mrs4 ,col4 ,o4 asked me if ,i would conduct a meeting for women only at the ,m4 ,e4 church if she would arrange for it4 ,i was impressed that the thought was of ,god and agreed to do so4 ,the meeting was appointed for ,wednesday at #d p4 m4 ,on the way to the church ,i was so burdened with the responsibility of the meeting that ,i told the sister 7the kind friend who entertained me7 that ,i could not talk1 ,i must pray the rest of the way to church4 ,to my surprise the place became crowded4 ,i had expected perhaps a dozen women and no men2 and here the place was full of elegantly dressed ladies1 and the pastor of the church1 ,brother ,h41 and a policeman were also present4 ,i tried to proceed with the service1 but seemed unable to do so4 ,after prayer and singing1 ,how firm a foundation1 ,i arose and said3 ,is any one led of the ,spirit to give me a text4 ,i have no message4 ,a sister arose and timidly said1 ,the #adth chapter of ,john4 ,well1 the flood gates of ,heaven were opened to my soul4 ,god spoke and waves of salvation rolled over the church1 and women1 ,god bless them6 arose and said1 ,i thought ,i was a ,christian until today1 but ,i find ,i have never begun to serve the ,lord yet4 ,i promise1 by ,god's help1 to begin anew today for ,heaven4 ,the dear ,lord touched proud hearts and melted them together until the place was filled with the glory of ,god4 ,the pastor and people asked me to hold another meeting the following day for both men and women4 ,i said ,i would do so in the fear of the ,lord1 and the ,lord wonderfully blessed the services4 ,souls were brought in touch with ,god and saved4 ,i said to them1 ,friends1 begin a revival at once4 ,god is ready to work with you if you follow ,him4 ,my services are ended in this church4 ,the prisoners1 my special care1 need me1 and the poor and the colored people4 ,i remained three weeks in that city1 wonderfully blessed of ,god4 ,when ,i left there were over fifty dollars in my hand1 of free will offerings4 ,i see why the ,lord sent me to the city to arouse the sleeping church members and preachers1 both white and colored1 from their cold1 lifeless spiritual condition4 ,soon after leaving ,lynchburg ,i received the following letter from the sister who planned the meeting1 which greatly encouraged me3 ,lynchburg1 ,may #b1 #ahhg4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,i received your letter several days since4 ,i am truly rejoiced to know that you receive that peace and comfort which a child of ,god knows to be her portion4 ,my thoughts have followed you since your departure from our city and prayers from many hearts have ascended to the throne for your safety and success in the great work ,god has called you to do4 ,i have not known of a revival such as is now in progress at ,dr4 ,hannon's church4 ,men and women are flocking to the meetings1 old and young1 to know what they must do to be saved4 ,my son was happily converted last ,friday night4 ,he had long been cold and indifferent1 but now all is joy and he works and speaks for ,god with willingness4 ,he is in solemn earnest now in working1 praying and speaking in the great congregation4 ,surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life and ,i will dwell at the feet of my ,master forever4 ,though ,god has sent tears to my eyes and grief to my heart1 thanks to ,his dear name ,he has kept me from falling4 ,i think you left a good influence among the fallen women here4 ,i have been sent for to go to some since you left4 ,i have sent this day a request to the official board of my church to give me the use of one room in the church where ,i can always meet them for the purpose of hearing of their desires to lead a new life4 ,in this way my pastor can meet them and help me in this work4 ,i await the result4 ,your friend with sincere love and prayers1 ,mrs4 ,lucy ,k4 ,o4 ,i went on my way1 and some time after was in ,san ,francisco1 ,california4 ,hearing one day1 as ,i left the jail1 of a holiness convention1 ,i was impressed to attend4 ,when ,i arrived a testimony meeting was in progress4 ,i arose and began to sing1 ,yes1 ,i will stand up for ,jesus1 and the minister in charge came down the aisle to me and said3 ,is this ,sister ,wheaton who held meetings in my church in ,l----1 ,va48 ,i said1 ,my name is ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 and ,i held meetings in that city4 ,are you ,dr4 ,h48 and he said1 ,yes4 ,he returned to the platform and told the people of my work in his church and that about four hundred had been saved1 and told the people to receive me as a child of ,god4 ,so homes were opened4 ,the work of ,god moved on4 ,as ,i was a stranger in a strange city1 ,i blessed ,god for the leadings of the ,holy ,spirit in all my pilgrim way4 ,i have not seen ,dr4 ,h4 since that time4 ,he gave me a pressing invitation to his church in ,san ,francisco but work on other lines prevented my acceptance4 ,,letters ,,from ,,other ,,friends4 ,wetumpka1 ,ala41 ,jan4 #ab1 #ahhe4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,it would be impossible for me to express in words the ,christian sympathy and love ,i have for you--one that has left all2 yes1 all--denying yourself and taking up the cross of ,jesus1 carrying the glad tidings of salvation to the despised1 to the outcast1 to the poor in spirit and to the oppressed4 ,i pray daily that the good ,lord may bless you4 ,dear sister1 those in the world whose minds are carnal1 cannot understand your work1 for your life is hidden in ,god1 and cannot be discerned in any other way but by the ,spirit4 ,our crosses will soon be over4 ,jesus will not let us suffer for ,him long4 ,he is coming for us soon4 ,then ,be not weary in well-doing1 for in due season we shall reap1 if we faint not4 ,we are not the only friends you have in ,wetumpka4 ,long will you live in our memory4 ,i pray that the ,lord may ever guide and lead you as ,he knows and sees best4 ,i am your brother in ,christ1 ,a4 ,j4 ,,rogers1 ,pastor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,wayne1 ,ind41 ,sept4 #b1 #ahig4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,we were so glad to hear from you4 ,our meeting closed on ,sunday evening1 ,august #bb1 with twenty-eight persons asking the prayers of the church4 ,we are beginning special services three evenings in the week4 ,we are planning to begin another revival meeting about the middle of ,october4 ,would be glad to have you with us4 ,we are praying that the dear ,lord may so order it if it is ,his will4 ,the ,lord is leading and we are expecting great things4 ,remember us kindly to ,mrs4 ,h4 ,i hope you will write again1 so that we may be posted as to your movements4 ,we are praying for you4 ,do not forget us4 ,mrs4 ,cooper and ,merrill wish to be remembered to you4 ,the ,lord bless and keep thee and cause ,his face to shine upon thee4 ,good-bye for a little while4 ,fraternally1 ,m4 ,c4 ,,cooper1 ,pastor ,st4 ,paul's ,church4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fort ,wayne1 ,ind41 ,sept4 #bi1 #ahig4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,your letter received and ,i must say ,i hold it very sacred and dear4 ,i think of you often1 and not only ,i1 but a large number of others4 ,we cannot tell the good you did while here1 but ,god above knows and ,he will reward you4 ,many have been more willing to do their ,christian duty4 ,they seem to realize more fully what it means to be a ,christian4 ,o there is so much in it6 ,dear sister1 the ,lord being willing1 we are going to hold another revival campaign1 commencing ,sunday1 ,october #ag4 ,i am so anxious ,i can hardly wait4 ,i enjoy myself so much when ,i can be doing work for my dear ,lord and ,master1 who did so much for me4 ,i wish the ,lord would see fit to send you this way during our revival1 and my prayers shall be to that end4 ,it is ,god's work and you are one of ,his workers4 ,you have the constant prayer of ,st4 ,paul's church1 and we are sure that we have yours4 ,may ,god's choicest blessings rest upon and abide with you4 ,the ,lord lift up ,his countenance upon thee and give thee peace4 ,,louise ,,roux4 99 99 99 99 99 7,from the ,gazette1 ,fort ,wayne1 ,ind47 ,,mrs4 ,,wheaton1 ,,famous ,,prison ,,evangelist1 ,,led ,,by ,,the ,,lord ,,here--,,her ,,faith ,,in ,,this ,,absolute--,,opens ,,interview ,,with ,,prayer--,,large ,,audiences ,,hear ,,her4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton is in town and last night and yesterday afternoon addressed a large audience at the revival services which ,rev4 ,mr4 ,cooper1 of ,st4 ,paul's ,m4 ,e4 church is conducting in a tent situated near his church1 on ,walton avenue4 ,she reached this city ,saturday evening over the ,pennsylvania4 ,having missed a train at ,warsaw en route to visit a sister who lives at ,elkhart1 she was directed1 she said by the ,lord1 after prayer1 to come to ,fort ,wayne to spend the ,sabbath4 ,on the way over her singing and praying on the train attracted attention to her and a member of the ,wayne ,street ,methodist ,church1 on learning who she was1 invited her and her sister1 ,mrs4 ,hoffman1 to spend the night at his home4 ,she had heard1 she said1 of the meetings that ,mr4 ,cooper is conducting1 and she said1 with a manner of absolute confidence1 that she had been directed to attend these meetings4 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,cooper said yesterday that the meeting was in progress as she and her companion entered and that he was impressed to speak to her4 ,on learning her name he knew her instantly by fame as the widely traveled and much beloved prison evangelist4 ,she was given a welcome and was at once asked to participate in the services4 ,at the night meeting there were a thousand people1 it is said1 who listened enrapt to her prayers and moving appeals to the sinner to accept the salvation in which she so thoroughly believes4 ,the prisoners at the jail were her first concern ,sunday morning4 ,she told ,mr4 ,cooper that after arising she turned to her ,bible for guidance and her eyes fell upon certain ,scripture which contained the word prison three times4 ,she took this as evidence that she should first visit the jail and thither she went4 ,it is quickly apprehended by those who come in contact with her that she pauses not when directed1 as she believes1 to do a service in the cause of the ,master1 but goes at once4 ,she has no questionings of faith4 ,a ,gazette reporter found her last night at the home of ,mr4 ,bower1 ,no4 #acf ,walton avenue4 ,her physical appearance marks her as no ordinary person4 ,her face beams with a kindly smile1 being plump and fresh with the vigor of apparent health1 though gray hair indicates her past the prime of life4 ,she dresses modestly in black and carries with her a satchel in which she keeps a ,testament1 her pass holder and some tracts4 ,her handshake is a model of firmness and heartiness1 conveying the impress of intense earnestness4 ,before permitting the interviewer to proceed further than the salutations1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton kneeled and prayed for the ,lord's blessing upon the interview4 ,this unconventional prelude was novel in the experience of the reporter1 but coming from such a woman seemed perfectly in place4 ,there is reverence and piety proclaimed by her presence and no thought of incongruity obtruded4 ,the prayer took the range of ready invocation and communion with the ,lord1 and as is probably the evangelist's wont1 the prisoner and the fallen woman were not forgotten in her petition to the throne of grace4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton was not inclined to talk about herself4 ,what has been done by me1 she said1 was done of the ,lord--,his be the glory4 ,i was called to this work thirteen years ago1 and ,i walk by ,his guidance4 ,i have never asked and could not accept a salary4 ,i have never had a collection taken for me4 ,it is a wonderful thing how ,he has led me4 ,here are some of the railroad passes that have been given me4 ,and here she unrolled a leathern holder full of passes from all the leading roads4 ,some were ,account of ,missionary ,work and some ,account of ,christian ,work4 ,it is evident that she has traveled this country over1 and her ministrations have also extended to the old world4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton again attended the services last night1 and moved all by her stirring words4 ,many could not repress the tears4 ,her address was not anchored to a formal text1 but was a strong appeal1 nevertheless1 to the sinner to repent4 ,the audience was slow to pass out after the meeting1 being anxious to meet the speaker4 ,the following from ,bro4 ,snyder and his estimable wife who are my very dear friends and whose home is always open to me when ,i am in ,baltimore1 are very much prized4 ,they explain themselves4 ,their work for ,god and souls is very exceptional3 ,during the winter of #ahid1 ,mother ,wheaton was conducting a service at the state prison1 when one of our men expressed his desire that she should attend our services4 ,this was my first introduction to this noble child of ,god1 and since then she seldom comes ,east without visiting our church2 we all love her1 but she rarely stays over a day at one time1 as her work calls her away4 ,in #ahih1 we induced her to remain with us a week4 ,at this meeting hundreds of people attended and many souls were saved4 ,one of the wealthiest ladies of the church received her pentecost and is now one of our best workers4 ,during the day ,mother ,wheaton would visit the outcast of the city4 ,i recall a case of an old colored woman that we found in a miserable hovel1 dying without ,christ2 how1 after preparing the room and then praying to ,father for the body1 she seemed to be brought back to life by the prayers of ,god's saint that she might be led to ,christ1 and after she gave her life to ,him we administered the ,lord's supper4 ,mother ,wheaton has always been a blessing1 whenever she has come to my church2 good people are made better1 bad people made good4 ,illustration3 ,,church ,,of ,,the ,,redeemer1 ,,baltimore1 ,m4 ,d4 ,the church was dedicated to ,god by ,mother ,wheaton before it was finished2 while the building was in course of erection she paid us a short visit2 with the moon shining through the open windows1 mortar1 bricks1 etc41 around us1 she was prompted to take the church to ,god in prayer4 ,i will never forget the scene4 ,thousands have been saved and many sanctified4 ,the work is still spreading4 99 99 99 99 99 ,baltimore1 ,md41 ,january #ai1 #aija4 ,dear ,mother3 ,your kind letter to your children received today4 ,began special meetings ,wednesday night1 the #afth4 ,the three nights have been blessed and owned of ,father4 ,those in and out of the church saved4 ,thirty-three at the altar4 ,you were mentioned last night in the meeting4 ,i told them they could look for you to come in at any time1 as ,i believe ,father is going to send you4 ,never in my ministry did ,i feel more in harmony with the divine ,spirit4 ,as ,i am writing ,i am thinking of our citizenship in heaven4 ,what a time we will have6 ,how ,i longed for you to shout with me ,wednesday night over the conversion of a man #fj years of age1 who never knew ,christ4 ,i could not sleep1 but praised the ,father all that night4 ,he had his wife and daughter with him in church last night4 ,mrs4 ,snyder joins me in much love to you and ,sister ,taylor4 ,as ever1 ,your son in the ,gospel1 ,j4 ,k4 ,,snyder4 99 99 99 99 99 ,baltimore1 ,md41 ,october #bj1 #aijb4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,your kind letter came today4 ,mrs4 ,snyder and ,eddie often speak of you2 and once a day1 at least1 we pray for you4 ,yesterday several of the boys in the ,sunday ,school formed a committee1 and without a word being spoken about you1 came to me and asked of you and wanted to know when they would have you with us4 ,last week had fifteen born again2 four last night4 ,so you see ,father is still blessing your children4 ,god bless you and keep you1 is the prayer of your son1 ,j4 ,k4 ,,snyder4 99 99 99 99 99 #agcg ,north ,broadway1 ,baltimore ,md41 ,june #bc1 #aijc4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,your long expected letter received4 ,our dear heavenly ,father continues to bless us at home and at the church1 souls saved and believers sanctified4 ,glory6 ,the ,blood covers our sins4 ,eddie was glad to know you had not forgotten him4 ,he is a great help in the church2 your prayers are not in vain4 ,we remain ,your children1 ,j4 ,k4 ,,snyder ,,and ,,wife4 99 99 99 99 99 7,from the ,whosoever ,will ,rescue ,mission47 ,new ,orleans1 ,la41 ,may #bd1 #ahig4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,we are getting along nicely at the ,mission4 ,the ,lord is blessing our work and many souls are being saved4 ,we have started a branch mission further downtown4 ,we call it ,no4 #b4 ,we will never forget you1 dear mother2 your visit did us so much good4 ,the boys at the ,mission often talk of you and ,sister ,kelley4 ,we would like to have you visit us again soon1 the ,lord willing4 ,mother and all send kindest regards4 ,wife sends love to you both4 ,pray for us4 ,i remain ,your brother in ,jesus1 ,j4 ,h4 ,,haag4 99 99 99 99 99 7,from the ,mission ,worker1 ,new ,orleans47 ,,prison ,,evangelist4 ,mother ,wheaton1 the noted prison evangelist1 arrived in the city on the evening of ,february #ba1 and spent several nights during her stay4 ,this sister in ,israel has visited nearly all if not quite every state prison in the ,united ,states and some in foreign countries1 preaching to their inmates the glad tidings of great joy4 ,she is a forcible speaker and very deeply in earnest4 ,her visit to this city was a pleasant one and resulted in much good to many4 ,during her stay here ,mother ,wheaton has been kept very busy about her ,master's business4 ,she has visited about all the prisons and eleemosynary institutions in the city1 singing1 praying and exhorting the inmates to a better life4 ,she has been at the ,mission every night1 and we have had some wonderful meetings4 ,sister ,j4 ,h4 ,haag has been her almost constant companion and the two have done splendid work4 ,on her way from the ,mission this ,mother in ,israel has several times stopped in at saloons1 and talked to all present about their soul's welfare4 ,she is intrepid--absolutely without fear--and well she may be for she leans upon the ,everlasting ,arm4 ,we do not know how long she will stay with us1 but probably for some days1 as she now has several invitations on hand4 ,she will go when and where the ,lord leads her4 ,our prayer is that she may be made the instrument of winning many souls to ,christ that her crown in glory may be studded with precious jewels4 ,she says of herself that she has no home but heaven4 99 99 99 99 99 7,from ,pacific ,garden ,mission47 ,chicago1 ,october #f1 #aijc4 ,my ,dear ,sister ,wheaton1 ,god's ,chosen ,one3 ,how ,i praise my heavenly ,father for your life and that ,i ever knew you1 and for your unselfish mercy to the poor and neglected classes4 ,may you long be spared to gather them in from the fields of sin is the prayer of ,your sister in ,christ1 ,,sarah ,d4 ,,clark1 ,pacific ,garden ,mission4 ,,successful ,,meetings4 ,during the early years of my mission work ,i arrived one day alone in a ,southern city4 ,went to the postoffice and was reading my mail when a good old man stepped up and inquired who ,i was and where ,i stopped4 ,i told him ,i had just arrived4 ,he said1 ,come home with me4 ,my wife has a room and a home for good women like you4 ,i was praying for an open door4 ,did not know where ,i was going to stay over night1 but was sure ,god had sent me to that place4 ,i found them kind1 hospitable people4 ,he was an old-fashioned ,methodist preacher already superannuated1 and he has long since gone to his reward4 ,he sent for the pastor of their church and arranged for me to hold a meeting4 ,i went at the request of the pastor to visit an old lady who was sick2 thought best to have an open air meeting on the street and invite people to the church that night4 ,during the service on the street ,i noticed a very well dressed1 fine looking young man4 ,when ,i closed he came to me and taking my hand asked me to call at his store a few doors away4 ,i did so and he gave me a fountain pen and seemed unusually interested in what ,i had said4 ,the meeting that night was led by the ,holy ,spirit2 souls were saved1 ,christians quickened into new spiritual life and power1 and sinners awakened4 ,other services were held in several of the churches4 ,god was honored and the ,holy ,spirit held right-of-way4 ,often ,i would have services in the white people's church till #i p4 m41 then hurry to the colored people's church and preach and sing and pray till #aa o'clock4 ,then at #e in the morning would meet again1 at the ,methodist church1 such crowds of worshipers--devout1 humble seekers after ,god4 ,i left the city just as the meetings were at their height4 ,in the next world when we all assemble together ,i expect to see many who were converted at that series of meetings4 ,,called ,,to ,,the ,,ministry4 ,the young man who seemed so interested in that first street service came to all the meetings4 ,he was clearly converted and was called to the ministry4 ,for some time he was a successful soul winner1 manifesting a pure spirit and a godly life2 but he afterwards became discouraged and went into business to support his family4 ,in a letter from him in later years ,i received the following words3 ,at the time ,i got your postal ,i was in serious meditation on spiritual affairs and was fully considering re-entering the ,gospel ministry4 ,i know ,i was called of the ,lord through ,his ,holy ,spirit to preach ,his everlasting gospel4 ,praise ,his holy name6 ,he gave me the seal of ,his approval in the witness of ,his ,spirit and the fruit of my labor in the salvation of souls4 ,i know this of a truth from experience4 ,you cannot imagine how ,i long1 ,oh1 so intensely1 to be again filled with ,his ,spirit and to enter upon ,his work in the salvation of souls4 ,lovingly yours1 ,i4 ,h4 ,n4 ,a ,,colored ,,woman ,,saved ,,and ,,preaching4 ,in the year #ahhf ,i was holding meetings in ,houston1 ,texas4 ,was in a colored people's church one day1 and was much perplexed as to how to reach the people's hearts4 ,i wept before the ,lord in prayer4 ,i did not know it then1 but ,god was working1 using my zeal and grief to help save a soul4 ,finally a woman who came to scoff and ridicule was converted4 ,she received a call to preach after vowing that women were never called to preach4 ,well1 the years rolled by and one night in ,oklahoma ,city ,i saw the ,salvation ,army gathering in a tent4 ,i went in and was invited to read the ,word and lead the meeting4 ,i did so1 and as the services were about to close a colored woman arose and said she wished to state that she was saved1 and told how she was also called to preach by the ,spirit of the ,lord through what ,i said in that meeting in ,houston1 ,texas1 so long before4 ,she labored for years as an evangelist and so far as ,i know is still preaching4 ,in her evangelistic work she has labored successfully in many of the states4 ,at one time she wrote of her conversion as follows3 ,when ,i was seeking life in the ,lord1 ,i did not want to eat for two weeks1 and had no appetite1 but ,i prayed on and the change came and ,i felt brand new4 ,i loved everybody--white and colored4 ,i seemed to have on a white garment1 and that death had fallen beneath my feet and had no more dominion over me4 ,it seemed that ,i had seen the ,lord and ,he told me to go in peace and sin no more1 and ,i was one more happy soul4 ,i wanted to tell everybody what the ,lord had done for my soul4 ,,striking ,,experiences4 ,once while holding meetings in ,wichita1 ,kansas1 ,i was greatly troubled4 ,i knew not why4 ,i could neither preach nor sing4 ,i did not know what was wrong4 ,suddenly a large man rose and rushed from the room taking his wife and children with him4 ,he told me afterward that he came with the avowed purpose of killing another man who was there4 ,and they both came there with the intention of killing each other4 ,at the same mission a man came running in and said that a young railroad man across the street in the jail was dying1 having taken poison4 ,i went to the jail where the young man was lying on the floor and kneeling beside him1 took his hand and for two hours pleaded with ,god to spare his life and save his soul4 ,and the ,lord answered prayer4 ,the doctors were amazed and perplexed1 as they could not understand how the man could live1 as all their efforts had seemed to be fruitless4 ,it was simply one of ,god's miracles4 ,,saved ,,by ,a ,,hymn4 ,passing along the street one night in ,louisville1 ,ky41 ,i saw standing in a doorway a group of well-dressed young ladies1 also a lady much older4 ,i spoke to them and asked for a drink of water and some favor to further the conversation4 ,when once in doors ,i saw a piano1 and said1 ,which one of you ladies will play a piece on the piano8 ,i love music so much4 ,a little boy four years old came in4 ,they asked him to tell me what he intended to be when he grew up4 ,he said1 ,a preacher4 ,i am going to see my mamma in ,heaven4 ,he was their sister's boy4 ,he sang for me while one of his aunts played the piano4 ,in his sweet1 lisping voice he sang1 ,i never will cease to love ,him4 ,i was impressed to ask him to come to the mission where ,i was going to preach that night1 and sing that piece1 and have the aunt play the organ4 ,both consented to go with me and when ,i asked him the little boy came on the platform and sang beautifully4 ,his father had heard of my desire to have the child sing1 and had straggled into the mission under the influence of strong drink4 ,he was so convicted and heart-broken he wept1 and that four-year-old boy walked from the platform down the aisle to that lonely1 heart-sick father1 who then and there gave himself up to ,god1 and was saved before he left the hall1 through the singing of a hymn6 99 99 99 99 99 ,god will forgive each penitent whate'er his sin may be1 ,whose heart is overflowing with love for bond and free4 ,oh1 listen6 brother1 listen--'tis ,jehovah's plan-- ,and a time is fixed to right the wrongs of ,man4444 --,prison ,poetry4 ,illustration3 ,,arthur ,c4 ,,hoffman1 ,,nephew ,,of ,e4 ,r4 ,w41 ,,sitting ,,on ,,front ,,of ,,engine4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,preaching the ,gospel on ,railway ,trains4 ,the young man on the front of the engine in the foregoing illustration was my sister's son4 ,i give here an extract from the account of his death ,june #g1 #ahij1 as published at the time in the daily of ,huntington1 ,ind41 where it occurred3 ,,killed ,,by ,,cars4 ,a4 ,c4 ,hoffman1 a switchman in the ,chicago ,atlantic yards1 was run over and killed this morning4 ,he was employed at night and about #e o'clock this morning went to the coal dock to run down two cars that had been unloaded there4 ,the track is very much inclined leading from the dock and it requires that brakes be set very tight4 ,when the cars started down the track ,hoffman ran from the rear end to the front of the head car to set the brake1 but in doing so stubbed his toe and fell from the car to the middle of the track beneath4 ,the car was running rapidly and no sooner did he strike the track than a brake beam of the car struck his right leg near the hip1 fracturing the bones and bruising it otherwise4 ,that threw him over and the flange of a wheel struck the lower part of his back1 tearing the flesh all off clear to his backbone1 exposing it to sight4 ,hoffman was picked up and taken to the ,arlington house1 where he boarded1 and ,dr4 ,l4 ,severance1 the railroad surgeon summoned4 ,he did all in his power to make the injured man easy and alleviate his pain1 but it was out of the reach of medical skill to save his life and at about #aj o'clock he died in awful agony4 ,hoffman's mother and brother live in ,lincoln1 ,neb41 where the latter is a physician4 ,he also has a sister in ,elkhart county1 this state1 all of whom have been telegraphed the sad news4 ,he was a good switchman and more than ordinarily intelligent4 ,it is a most distressing accident4 ,the young man was here among strangers and died surrounded by the friends of so short an acquaintance but who did everything within human power to save him or make his end one of peace4 ,his injuries were fatal though and nothing short of death would relieve him4 ,,all ,,aboard6 ,so shout the railroad men1 year in and year out1 daily1 hourly1 their cry is to get on board the train4 ,i often think if we preachers and mission workers were as faithful in our work to get people on board the old ship ,zion1 how many to-day would be en route for ,heaven who are on the broad-gauge rapid transit to the bottomless pit of destruction4 ,will we not arise and shine for ,god as we have never done before8 ,over fifty years ago when ,i was a small child1 ,i stood at a flag-station waiting for the train4 ,i was to go alone ,,on ,,my ,,first ,,trip by this wonderful mode of travel4 ,it was just the grandest thing to know ,i was really to ride on a railroad train--only four miles1 yet ,i often think of it after these twenty years of constant travel4 ,have ,i ever had such a remarkable experience1 going alone1 too1 and as there was no station or ticket office1 ,i was obliged to pay my fare on the train4 ,i had a silver #be-;cent piece1 and ,i sat down in the first empty seat ,i came to and waited to see what next6 ,along came a tall man in uniform and asked where ,i was going4 ,i told him and handed him my money4 ,i remember yet how kindly that conductor looked at me1 hesitated a little and then handed me back my quarter1 and let me ride those four miles free4 ,i have never forgotten that act of kindness on the railroad1 and during my pilgrimage ,i have been shown much kindness by the railroad officials4 ,my work among railroad men has been greatly owned and blessed of the ,lord4 ,many of them saying1 ,you are the only preacher that ever speaks to us about our soul's salvation4 ,they often say ,i remind them of their mothers who were good ,christians4 ,the following by a railroad man will be of interest and profit to all1 and will doubtless have more weight with his class than anything ,i could say here3 ,,to ,,railroad ,,men4 ,,by ,,one ,,of ,,them4 ,dear ,boys3 ,one time in my life these words came to me3 ,where will you spend eternity8 ,then and there ,i turned my back on sin and set my face like a flint toward ,god and heaven1 and cried to ,god for ,jesus' sake to forgive me2 and near the hour of midnight while kneeling at my bedside ,i received the witness of the ,spirit that ,i was saved4 ,then and there ,i was born again into newness of life4 ,i was changed from a man of sin to a child of ,god1 and since then such wonderful joy and peace fills my soul every minute of the time that ,i want to tell all of you about it4 ,brother1 isn't there in your breast at times an awful aching void8 ,aren't there times when after trying every pleasure and amusement the world affords1 you just quietly sit down all alone before ,god1 and realize that it is all in vain8 ,these things don't satisfy2 and there down deep in your heart is a longing that is never satisfied1 a hungering for something that will give you complete joy and peace1 and soul rest4 ,brother1 there is only one thing that will give you this complete rest1 and satisfy every longing of your heart1 and that is salvation from sin4 ,jesus died on the cross that you might be free from sin and live through all the ages of eternity with ,him in heaven4 ,if we forsake our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 ,if we do the forsaking ,he will do the forgiving1 and then through ,his atoning blood we become new creatures1 and after we have received the clear witness that we are adopted into the family of ,god and can truly call ,him ,father1 if we feel angry at times or have some desire for the world and the things of it1 we can come to ,him again and completely abandon ourselves to ,him1 our will1 our life1 our desires1 our time1 our talents to be used for ,his glory1 then ,he will baptize us with the ,holy ,ghost and power so that it becomes a pleasure to do right and all evil becomes distasteful to us4 ,by the power of the ,holy ,ghost ,he cleanses our hearts1 and the ,comforter which is the ,holy ,ghost takes up ,his abode in us1 sanctifying us1 causing us to live pure1 holy lives4 ,we railroad men whose lives are in danger at all times should be prepared to meet ,god1 for one minute we are here and the next we may be standing at the judgment bar of ,god to answer for deeds done here on earth4 ,dear reader1 are you prepared to do that8 ,if not1 make this the time that you will settle this forever by giving your heart to ,god1 then if this little flame of life is snuffed out you will be borne on angel's wings onward and upward through the gates of pearl1 over the golden paved streets of the ,new ,jerusalem up to the great white throne where you will see ,jesus in all ,his glory and majesty and hear ,him say to you1 ,well done1 enter thou into the joy of the ,lord4 ,let me tell you1 brother1 when the ,lord saved me and gave me such sweet joy and peace ,i told ,him that ,i would never use beer or tobacco in any form1 for ,i knew it was displeasing to ,him1 for ,he says1 ,what8 know ye not that your body is the temple of the ,holy ,ghost which is in you8 7#a ,cor4 #f3ai74 ,if any man defile the temple of ,god1 him shall ,god destroy 7#a ,cor4 #c3ag74 ,cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit 7#b ,cor4 #g3a74 ,and1 brother1 perhaps you are a slave to tobacco4 ,many times you have felt that it was a dirty1 useless1 expensive habit1 and you get thoroughly disgusted with it1 and perhaps you quit it for a short time1 and then how surprised and disgusted you feel because you find what an awful hold it has got on you4 ,it is worse than a spell of sickness to try and quit it1 and you soon take it up again1 realizing as you do so that you are harboring something that is stronger than you are1 appetite2 and although you are a strong1 robust man you have to admit that it is your master4 ,and when you go home to meet your mother1 wife1 sister1 you notice them shrink away from the breath made foul by the poisonous tobacco4 ,and the times that it almost destroys the taste for anything else1 and you use all the more of it till the disagreeable heartburn warns you that the deadly poisonous nicotine is eating away at the lining of your stomach1 and you are more disgusted than ever1 but you can't quit without torturing yourself4 ,oh1 how ,i loved my beer1 plug of tobacco and pipe before ,i was saved1 but ,i quit them all--drinking1 chewing1 smoking1 swearing and all immoral habits1 and ,i would have died before ,i would have indulged in any one of them in the least2 but the desire was still there2 at times ,i wanted them4 ,and seven days after ,i was saved ,i was convicted for sanctification or a clean heart4 ,there were some ,holy ,ghost ,christian people who told me there was a place ,i could get in the higher or complete ,christian life where ,god through ,jesus' blood shed without the gate 7,heb4 #ac3ab7 would cleanse my heart from everything that was displeasing to ,him1 and would so fill it with love and the power of the ,holy ,ghost that ,i would be completely delivered from all desires that were wrong1 from anger1 malice1 pride1 love of the world1 lust1 jealousy1 etc41 and take away the appetite for beer and tobacco4 ,i found ,god's ,word taught it1 and believed ,he was strong to deliver1 and that it was ,god's will1 even my sanctification 7#a ,thes4 #d3c74 ,and ,i cried to ,god to give me a clean heart1 and a right spirit1 and he answered my prayer4 ,it was done instantly4 ,i arose from my knees with a sweet sense of complete deliverance1 and such joy and perfect peace filled my whole being that ,i couldn't praise ,jesus enough for it4 ,from that moment ,i have not had the least desire for those things any more than if ,i never had tasted them1 and the very smell of beer or tobacco makes me sick4 ,this is a wonderful1 grand deliverance4 ,now ,i am as free as the very air--saved1 sanctified1 and sweetly kept by the power of ,god4 ,brother1 this is for you if you are willing to give up the foolishness of the world for ,christ4 ,the joy that we have in one hour in the service of the ,lord is far greater than all the pleasure the world can give in a lifetime4 ,this power of the ,holy ,ghost within us1 this abiding ,comforter fills us with glad sunshine all the time1 and there is constantly a power like a wall of fire round about us warding off all evil4 ,oh1 it's glorious and grows better and brighter each day4 ,blessed assurance1 ,jesus is mine6 ,oh1 what a foretaste of glory divine6 ,heir of salvation1 purchased of ,god1 ,born of ,his spirit1 washed in ,his blood4 ,your fellow brakesman1 in ,jesus' name1 ,m4 ,l4 ,,odell4 ,cincinnati1 ,ohio4 ,,transportation4 ,people sometimes ask me how ,i am able to get transportation on the railroads4 ,well1 in a few words1 it is because ,i pray to the ,lord to have the way open to whatever place ,he wants me to go1 and the railroad men know me and of my work for suffering humanity1 and are glad to help me in it4 ,a ,,kind ,,conductor4 ,on ,july #ag1 #aijc1 ,i was on my way from ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 on an important journey1 and the conductor told me the train ,i was on did not stop at ,sherwood1 and ,i wanted to know where ,i should stop to get another train that would stop there4 ,he told me at ,defiance1 and when we reached there ,i got off the train4 ,just then the conductor looked out and called for a porter to put that lady back on the train4 ,i was bewildered at this4 ,he again called put that lady back on the train4 ,i said1 ,isn't this ,defiance8 ,yes1 but ,i shall put you off at ,sherwood4 ,who told that conductor to telegraph to headquarters to get a permit to stop the train for me8 ,god did it6 ,that conductor will never know how much his act strengthened my faith in ,god4 ,dear reader1 do you ever think of the hardships and dangers through which these railroad men must pass8 ,we put ourselves in their care without praying for them4 ,i seldom enter a train without praying ,god to protect the railroad men and passengers1 and give them ,his blessing4 ,he does hear and answer prayer4 ,how often the dear ,lord has heard my cries for the safety of the trains6 ,some of my ,,most ,,interesting ,,gospel ,,services have been held on railway trains4 ,as ,i was once leaving ,chicago over the ,c4 ,r4 ,i4 ,r4 ,r4 at night1 a request was made that ,i should sing for the passengers4 ,i was conversing with ,mrs4 ,colonel ,clark of the ,pacific ,garden ,mission1 ,chicago4 ,as she was to soon leave the train ,i said ,i would sing when she had gone4 ,i sang some hymns1 and then a gentleman requested that ,i should ask all in the car who were ,christians to raise their hands4 ,i did so and quite a number responded to this1 and he then asked all who had raised their hands to give a word of testimony4 ,he was the first one to speak and said1 ,i am a ,christian4 ,the last thing before ,i left my home for ,chicago was to gather my wife and four little children around me and commit them to ,god's care and ask for my safe return4 ,i have for years been a stock dealer and frequently come to ,chicago4 ,there is a young man in our neighborhood who is also a dealer in stock1 but being unacquainted with the ways of the city1 he did not like to go alone and as ,i was a ,christian came with me4 ,when there is an opportunity like this given1 if ,i did not honor ,god and show my colors this young man could have no confidence in me4 ,i speak for his special benefit4 ,he closed with an exhortation to the unsaved to prepare to meet ,god and requested me to sing again4 ,then one after another arose and spoke4 ,it reminded one of ,,an ,,old-,,fashioned ,,methodist ,,class ,,meeting4 ,prayer1 testimonies and singing continued till after midnight4 ,the young stock dealer and others were saved4 ,toward morning ,i fell into a sound sleep4 ,i do not know how long ,i slept1 but when ,i awoke the sun was high and our car was standing alone on the track4 ,a lady passenger spoke to me saying1 ,how could you sleep during that wreck8 ,what6 has anything happened8 ,i said4 ,yes1 a wreck1 she replied4 ,the engine and other cars were gone and they were clearing up the wreck4 ,i heard from that meeting years afterwards4 ,one night a meeting was held in the open air for the special benefit of railroad men4 ,i asked all who wanted to be saved to raise their hands2 then said1 ,will you not give your hearts to ,god now8 ,one year from that time while in meeting a man arose and said that he was in the crowd that night1 and raised his hand1 and then at once looked to ,god and was saved then and there4 ,,train ,,saved ,,from ,,wreck ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,the ,lord has often made known to me when the train was in danger4 ,i could see the plots laid by wicked men to wreck the train1 and when ,i have prayed1 ,he1 in answer to prayer1 has delivered us from harm and death4 ,he says3 ,the very hairs of your head are all numbered1 and ,i will never leave thee nor forsake thee4 ,at one time ,i had been in old ,mexico and changing cars at ,el ,paso1 ,texas1 ,i found a heavy trainload of passengers on the way east4 ,i was impressed all night of impending peril4 ,i could not sleep1 and walked the floor of the car in silent prayer4 ,i went to the young sister with me and said1 ,the train is in great danger1 and something will happen unless the ,lord delivers us4 ,the text comes to me so forcibly1 ',what1 could ye not watch with me one hour8' ,watch and pray6 ,that night six train-robbers had determined to wreck and rob the train4 ,they had stolen six horses and gone to a lonely place uninhabited for miles about4 ,they bound and gagged the section foreman and his men1 then took the switch-key and threw the switch to wreck the train4 ,when they saw the train passing on they tried to hail it with their lanterns1 but by some mysterious power of ,god their lights were put out1 so that the engineer did not see them4 ,then they tried to board the train but were unable to succeed4 ,it was a most remarkable occurrence4 ,they either did not open the switch properly and the train set it back to its place1 or the hand of ,god closed the switch4 ,the newspapers published quite an account of this incident1 from which source the above concerning the robbers was obtained1 as they were caught and made confession4 ,a ,,train ,,in ,,danger4 ,in ,july1 #ahhi1 ,i was on my way from ,st4 ,joseph1 ,missouri1 to ,st4 ,louis1 having with me a man and his wife4 ,about #a o'clock in the morning ,i awoke with awful fear upon me of some impending danger4 ,i told my friends that we must pray for ,god to save the train1 and that no power but ,god's could avert the coming disaster1 whatever it might be4 ,still the horror as of death was upon me1 and later in the night the train suddenly stopped4 ,the train men ran out with their lanterns and found that the engine had become uncoupled from the cars and just in front of the engine was a pile of iron4 ,the iron rails of the track were set so that a wreck would have been the result if ,god had not interposed4 ,god thwarted the well-laid plans that had been made to wreck and rob the train4 ,this was in a lonely place where no help was near1 and the robbers would have the best of chances to rob the train4 ,on our return west a similar terror came upon me and ,i said1 ,pray for this train1 or something will happen to it before we reach ,st4 ,joe4 ,i was terrified all day4 ,just as the train stopped at the depot our car was wrecked4 ,the front wheels of the car were turned around crosswise of the track1 tearing up the planks1 rails and earth4 ,such a queer looking wreck1 and apparently no reason for it6 ,yet we had been brought in safety to our journey's end and no one was injured4 ,,impressed ,,to ,,leave ,,the ,,train4 ,at another time after preaching at ,canon ,city prison in ,colorado1 we had our baggage checked to ,leadville in the same state4 ,we held meetings on the train and some were moved to tears4 ,when the engine whistled for ,salida a dreadful feeling of fear and terror overtook me4 ,something seemed to say to me1 ,get off the train4 ,i felt it was a command from the ,lord4 ,i told the friends who were with me what the words of the ,lord were1 and said that we must leave the train4 ,we hurriedly left the train without waiting for another warning4 ,i looked after the train as it moved away and said1 ,i wonder why ,i had to leave that train4 ,perhaps not till the judgment will ,i know4 ,we went on the street and held an open air meeting1 and some one invited us to hold a service that night in a church4 ,we did so1 and ,god poured out his ,spirit on the people4 ,after the meeting we went out and visited the saloons1 and spoke to many about their souls4 ,at about #aa o'clock at night we returned to the depot and ,i asked the agent what time the next train would leave for ,leadville4 ,he said1 ,i don't know4 ,the train you got off from was terribly wrecked twelve miles up the road4 ,the east-bound train crashed into it1 and ,i have sent out two wrecking trains already4 ,i told him of my presentiment of danger1 and how ,god had impressed me to leave that train4 ,he asked me to come into the office and explain my impressions and talk to him4 ,we did so1 and about #c o'clock in the morning the wrecked train backed down to the depot where we were waiting and we again got aboard4 ,i told the passengers as they looked at me as ,i came into the car1 ,the ,lord warned me of the danger and impressed me to get off the train4 ,i have taken the ,lord as my guide all these years and ,he has never forsaken me4 ,a ,,telegram ,,received4 ,waiting for a train where ,i changed cars ,i was invited to sit in the ticket office1 as the waiting room was uncomfortable4 ,i was writing at the agent's desk when he handed me a telegram1 saying1 ,i think this is intended for you1 ,mother4 ,it was an announcement of the death of one of my brothers1 and was being sent to another town1 having to be transferred here1 and the agent seeing my name handed it to me4 ,i could see the hand of ,god in this4 ,,helped ,,to ,,care ,,for ,,wounded ,,man4 ,once on my way from ,burlington to ,ft4 ,madison1 ,ia41 ,i told the conductor ,i was impressed to go on that special train4 ,when we were about a mile out of the city1 the engine accidentally struck a man and hurt him badly4 ,the man was put into the baggage car and as there were no seats1 ,i stood behind him and held his head1 and after we had gone twelve miles1 warm water was secured and ,i washed the blood from his head and cared for him until we arrived at the station1 when they took him to the jail1 there being no other place for him1 and there ,i helped the doctor dress his wounds4 ,then ,i knew why ,i was impressed to go on that train4 ,,conductor',s ,,god ,,bless ,,you4 ,once the conductor on a train said to me so kindly1 as he assisted me from the train1 ,god bless you2 let your good work go on4 ,i gave the tracts you gave me to the trainmen--they needed them4 ,how this cheered me1 for ,i had tried to preach to them on the train1 and ,i feared the scoffs or reproof of the railroad officials4 ,how ,i do long to help and encourage the railroad men--they are so loyal and faithful1 and have so much to contend with in their work4 ,be not overcome of evil1 but overcome evil with good4 ,a ,,woman',s ,,faith ,,encouraged4 ,on the way from ,philadelphia to ,new ,york ,i was one day led to pass quietly through the car giving out tracts4 ,after seating myself1 a lady came and asked if she might speak with me about the work ,i was doing4 ,she said1 ,if ,i only knew ,god could and would heal a person whose mind was shattered1 ,i would give all that ,i possess4 ,i am troubled about my daughter's grieving over the death of her husband4 ,i told her ,god never fails to perform his miracles when we fully believe and accept ,god's way of healing the body and soul4 ,she seemed much blessed and encouraged and kindly invited me to her home4 ,as ye go1 preach4 ,how glad she was to find some one who would tell her about salvation4 ,she was a wealthy lady1 as ,i afterward learned4 ,we became fast friends and she learned of healing in answer to the prayer of faith4 ,,riding ,,in ,,parlor ,,car4 ,leaving the ,indian ,school in ,indian ,territory on one of the coldest mornings ,i ever experienced1 myself and sisters were driven by two young ,indian boys to a flag station4 ,we were wrapped in warm blankets and hurried to the railroad4 ,we were in danger of freezing1 as the train was long delayed on account of the blizzard and snow drifts1 and we sought the only place of shelter--a freight car in which the section foreman and his wife lived1 where we shivered with the cold until the train came in sight4 ,we were compelled to stop in the parlor car 7a luxury that ,i never indulge in7 as platforms of the other cars were too icy to pass from one car to another while the train was in motion4 ,we were much blessed1 and ,i began singing1 and praising the ,lord4 ,when the train came to a station1 we arose to go into the other car1 but a gentleman passenger called to the conductor and said3 ,how much is the fare for these ladies to remain in this car8 ,he and his companion paid the amount required and we were permitted to ride in the parlor car to ,topeka1 ,kansas4 ,my soul was so blessed that ,i felt ,i must go into the other cars and hold services4 ,we were invited to go to the diner with friends4 ,when we arrived at the station where dinner was served1 one after another of the passengers handed me some money4 ,when we came in from dinner ,i knelt down in the car1 and was praying in silence1 thanking ,god for what ,he had given us1 when ,i felt someone crush some paper in my hands4 ,i looked to see what it was and found it was a ten dollar bill1 given by the two gentlemen who had paid our fare in the parlor car4 ,of course ,i was greatly surprised1 and as ,sister ,taylor was kneeling by my side1 ,i said1 ,sister1 this must be in answer to your prayer4 ,did you pray for money8 ,she said ,yes1 ,i prayed for hours last night4 ,i said1 ,why you should have been praying for souls4 ,she answered1 ,i knew you needed money1 and no one was giving it to you4 ,thus ,god hears and answers prayers and provides for the needs of his little ones4 ,i give below a letter received from one of the gentlemen who gave us the ten dollars who was a prominent business man in ,pittsburg1 ,pennsylvania3 ,pittsburg1 ,pa41 ,march #be1 #ahii4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,my ,dear ,madam3 ,your card of the #ahth duly received and ,i was glad to hear from you and to have your good wishes1 but was especially grateful for your prayers1 for ,i believe in prayer4 ,do you realize how much a busy man needs the prayers of ,god's people8 ,brother ,m41 my companion whom you met last fall in ,indian ,territory1 is well and ,i know will be glad to hear from you4 ,i will see him next week1 ,d4 ,v4 ,if you pass through our city on your trip ,east1 and ,i know of it1 would gladly call upon you4 ,with best wishes for your welfare1 and ,mrs4 ,taylor's1 too1 ,i am1 ,very truly your friend1 ,t4 ,m4 ,n4 ,the following brief extract is from a report of a service on the train as we were in company with a number of delegates on their way to the ,convocation of ,prayer at ,baltimore1 in ,january1 #aijc3 ,we left ,indianapolis at #c3je p4 m41 ,monday4 ,after we started ,mother ,wheaton1 who was with us1 started up a song1 then went to the front of the car1 and standing in the aisle she began preaching to the people4 ,she moved down the aisle still preaching1 taking about ten minutes to come through the car4 ,this she did several times1 then went through the dining and palace cars4 ,as she told of her prison work1 how ,god could save criminals1 we could see tears come into the eyes of the passengers4 ,a ,u4 ,s4 marshal sitting near us became much affected1 and made inquiry of ,brother ,s4 ,b4 ,shaw who the woman was1 and said he knew what she said was true1 and said he desired to be saved4 ,a wealthy ,mexican on the train1 whose wife had recently died while he was on a trip to ,europe1 was also brought under conviction1 and would have ,sister ,wheaton take dinner in the dining car2 also had ,sisters ,wheaton and ,shaw take a berth in the sleeper at his expense4 ,i must not forget to tell you that ,brother ,shaw gave us an excellent talk standing in the aisle of the car4 ,,favor ,,the ,r4 ,r4 ,,co4 ,i sometimes have an opportunity to do a kindness for the ,r4 ,r4 ,co41 in return for the many favors they do for me4 ,at one time ,i reached the railroad station at ,fort ,worth1 ,texas1 before my train arrived4 ,while we were waiting for a ,santa ,fe train1 an old lady who was evidently not in her right mind and who had been sent by friends to go alone to other friends who lived at a distance1 of her own accord tried to climb over one train to get to another and was injured4 ,the injury was caused by her own mental condition and through no fault of the railroad men4 ,before she left us1 ,i wrote a little message of love and put it into her hand bag with my name and address on it4 ,in a few days ,i received the following letter from her attorneys4 ,fort ,worth1 ,tex41 ,november #ba1 #ahih4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,dear ,madam3 ,we conclude from a kind and sympathetic letter you wrote to ,mrs4 ,harper1 the old lady who fell from the platform at the ,gulf1 ,colorado ,santa ,fe ,railway depot at ,fort ,worth1 ,tex41 on ,friday night1 the #aath day of ,november1 that you likely saw the old lady fall4 ,and perhaps you can tell us how she came to fall and who else saw her when she fell4 ,mrs4 ,harper has employed us to sue the railroad company for said injuries4 ,she claims that she walked off of the platform where there were no railings and fell between two freight cars left standing on the track1 left so far apart that she could see the railroad car she wanted to board between said opening so left4 ,will you please write us all you know about the matter1 and who else saw it1 if any one1 and where such person or persons live if you know4 ,by doing so you will greatly oblige1 ,yours truly1 ,,wynne1 ,,mccart ,,bowlin4 ,in reply ,i assured them that it would be utterly unjust to bring suit against the railroad company--giving them the facts as far and as fully as ,i knew them4 ,i learned later that this ended the contemplated suit4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,street and ,open ,air ,work4 ,,the ,,master',s ,,questions4 ,have ye looked for my sheep in the desert1 ,for those who have missed their way8 ,have ye been in the wild waste places1 ,where the lost and wandering stray8 ,have ye trodden the lonely highway1 ,the foul and the darksome street8 ,it may be ye'd see in the gloaming ,the print of ,my wounded feet4 ,have ye wept with the broken-hearted ,in their agony of woe8 ,ye might hear ,me whispering beside you ',tis the pathway ,i often go6 ,my brethren1 ,my friends1 ,my disciples1 ,can ye dare to follow me8 ,then1 wherever the ,master dwelleth1 ,there shall the servant be6 ,many are the shocking sights and sad experiences ,i have witnessed in street and slum work4 ,i have endured hardships and privations1 suffered arrests and ridicule1 and faced many dangers4 ,but withal1 the glorious victories have been many and precious souls have been saved3 ,i might give copies of many permits to hold open air services received in the earlier years of my labors1 but perhaps these would not be of interest or profit1 so ,i give only a few4 ,,permit ,,to ,,preach ,,on ,,boston ,,common4 ,,city ,,of ,,boston1 ,,executive ,,department4 ,under ,chapter #db1 ,section #aa1 of the ,revised ,ordinances1 permission is hereby granted to ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 to conduct preaching service on the ,common on ,sunday1 ,october #bg1 #ahhi1 subject to the directions of the ,superintendent of the ,common1 who will assign a location4 ,,thomas ,,nast1 ,mayor4 ,october #bb1 #ahhi4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,state ,,of ,,louisiana1 ,,mayoralty ,,of ,,new ,,orleans4 ,city ,hall1 #aath day of ,december1 #ahhf4 ,permission granted to ,elizabeth ,wheaton and ,agnes ,hill to preach the gospel at such localities within the city of ,new ,orleans as they may select2 provided that in so doing they are careful not to interfere with the private rights of individuals or those of corporations granted them under municipal ordinances or the statutes of this state4 ,by order of the ,mayor4 ,e4 ,l4 ,,bower1 ,chief ,clerk4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,mayor',s ,,office4 ,jacksonville1 ,fla41 ,december #bi1 #ahhf4 ,permission is hereby granted ,e4 ,wheaton and associates to preach the gospel within the city limits at such places as they may select2 provided the streets and sidewalks are not obstructed and the rights of private property are not disturbed and there is no violation of ,city ordinances or statutes of the ,state4 ,p4 ,,mcquaid1 ,mayor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,galveston1 ,tex41 ,jan4 #bj1 #ahhh4 ,to ,whom ,it ,may ,concern3 ,permission is hereby granted to the bearer to hold religious services on the streets anywhere within the corporate limits of the city of ,galveston1 and the police authorities will lend such protection as is necessary to enforce order at such meetings4 ,r4 ,l4 ,,fulton1 ,mayor of ,galveston4 99 99 99 99 99 ,office of ,chief of ,police1 ,denver1 ,colo41 ,june #bc1 #ahhh4 ,to any ,police ,officer3 ,this woman has permission from the ,mayor to hold services on the street4 ,m4 ,,henny1 ,chief of ,police4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sacramento1 ,cal41 ,aug4 #bd1 #ahhh4 ,permission is hereby granted ,e4 ,wheaton and associates to preach the gospel within the city limits at such places as they may select1 provided the streets and sidewalks are not obstructed and rights of private property are not disturbed1 and if not in conflict or violation of the city ordinances4 ,,eugene ,j4 ,,gregory1 ,mayor4 ,,from ,,miss ,,josephine ,,cowgill4 ,some ,years a ,missionary in ,jerusalem4 ,the following is contributed by a dear sister who has spent some years as a missionary in ,jerusalem1 ,palestine1 and may be known to many of our readers3 ,illustration3 ,,miss ,,josephine ,,cowgill4 ,many years ago1 while engaged in missionary work in the city of ,new ,orleans1 ,la41 ,i was one evening attracted by a large gathering of people4 ,in the midst was a woman kneeling on the ground engaged in most earnest prayer4 ,many in the company were of the worst class of people1 yet they were quietly listening and looking on with amazement4 ,we were not accustomed to any one praying on the streets in that manner4 ,this was the first time ,i had the privilege of meeting dear ,sister ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,i can never forget the impressions made upon myself and others by her prayers1 exhortations and songs that evening4 ,standing near me in that company was a woman who had charge of one of the worst houses of prostitution in the city4 ,trembling and weeping she said to me ,i never heard anything like that before4 ,that woman makes me feel that ,i am an awful sinner1 and yet she loves me4 ,that poor woman went to her house1 sent for a ,bible and read it and spent the night in bitter repenting for her sins4 ,she was gloriously converted and then called her household together and told them her experience and how the ,lord had pardoned her sins and made her happy in ,his love4 ,she then exhorted them to commence a new life2 but if they would not1 then they must leave her house4 ,while in ,new ,orleans1 ,sister ,wheaton and those in company with her were busily and successfully engaged in mission work among prisoners and others of the worst class4 ,some years afterward she again visited that city and the ,lord greatly blessed her work4 ,one night1 on a store-box in front of a saloon1 she preached to a large crowd4 ,the saloonkeeper became very uneasy and called a policeman to take her away4 ,he came1 but found it quite hard work to get her down and to another place4 ,the people wanted to hear her4 ,she sang a song1 the chorus of which was1 in part3 ,if to ,jesus you are true1 ,there's a glory waits for you1 ,in the beautiful1 the glad forever4 ,then with clasped hands she stood quietly gazing upward1 with tears rolling down her cheeks4 ,then with much feeling she said3 ,i am homesick for heaven4 ,i can never forget how those words impressed me and others at that time4 ,some years after ,i again met ,sister ,wheaton in ,los ,angeles1 ,california1 where her work was like it had been in ,new ,orleans4 ,at one time1 when she had kindly offered me the privilege of going with her to some other points1 ,i made inquiry about how ,i should take my trunk4 ,she replied3 ,sister ,josephine1 pilgrims for ,god do not need a trunk4 ,one valise is enough4 ,many times ,i have thought of that reply and the good it did me4 ,i have never known of a more earnest and self-sacrificing ,christian worker than ,sister ,wheaton4 ,the results of her labors as she has gone forth weeping and bearing precious seeds1 cannot be fully known until with rejoicing she comes bringing sheaves with her4 ,in loving remembrance of her1 ,i am1 ,yours in ,his blessed service4 ,,josephine ,,cowgill4 ,haifo1 ,palestine4 ,,my ,,first ,,street ,,meeting4 ,my first street meeting was in ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 near the old postoffice4 ,i had spent the day in the jail1 alms-house and hospitals4 ,i was then a stranger in the city4 ,some one asked me to go to a hall where there was a little mission4 ,we did so1 and found they had gone to the open air meeting4 ,when we arrived the meeting was in progress1 one after another stepping out to testify or sing4 ,no opportunity was offered me to take any part in the meeting1 as no woman was allowed to testify4 ,i looked to ,god in silent prayer to open some way for me to speak to the people4 ,at the close of their service ,i spoke1 saying1 ,the ,lord has sent me with a message for you dear people1 and now the friends have closed their meeting and we will not detain them1 as they doubtless have other engagements4 ,i began to sing and ,god filled my soul with glory4 ,the needs of those poor hungry souls rose before me1 as ,i sang and prayed1 and the message of love came welling up in my soul4 ,i spoke to them of righteousness1 the coming ,judgment and eternity4 ,i had held meetings in many of the principal cities of ,america1 some in ,europe and other countries4 ,but that night ,god anointed me for street preaching and for work in slums1 dives and saloons4 ,closing the meeting1 ,i thought of being alone on the street at night with scarcely any money and not knowing my way back to my lodging place4 ,i said1 ,oh1 ,lord1 you know all about it4 ,walking along ,i came to the mission and stepping in ,i took a seat near the door4 ,while ,i sat praying1 a brother rose and told the circumstances of the street meeting ,i had held1 and that one of the worst men in the city had been converted through its instrumentality4 ,the man had told the brother that ,god had saved him and he was going home to write eight letters to his people1 some of them in this and some in the old country1 to tell them what great things ,god had done for him4 ,god knew ,i was there and sent the message to encourage me4 ,after the service in the hall had closed a young lady who proved to be the daughter of the landlady where ,i had been staying1 came to me and walked to her home with me4 ,i could not have found my way alone1 not having their number1 but ,god cared for me4 ,some extracts are given from reports of the work which were published at different points during the first few years of my labors3 ,,converted ,,to ,,christ4 ,,the ,,case ,,of ,,the ,,unfortunate ,,woman--,,card ,,from ,,mr4 ,m4 ,editor ,hawk-,eye3 ,last evening at about seven o'clock ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 and another lady of the evangelists and myself held a meeting on the levee4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 who spoke on the future consequence of sin with unusual earnestness1 had the effect of breaking down ,mrs4 ,a4 into tears4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton went up to her and spoke to her4 ,in a few moments the unfortunate woman broke into ecstasies of joy and commenced to leap around in a circle4 ,for ten minutes she kept up praising ,god and leaping1 when suddenly she leaped through the great crowd around1 some now being horrified1 who1 like many poor1 unfortunate people1 never saw a sudden conversion4 ,she ran up ,jefferson street1 where she was arrested and locked up4 ,had the woman been rich or popular she would have been kindly treated1 but being one of the unfortunate women of our city she was locked up in an unclean1 old filthy cell1 with a bunk for a bed4 ,the police were informed that the woman was converted and a lady offered to take her home last night4 ,but they kept her in that terrible cell with inmates in adjoining cells using obscene language4 ,it is a sin and disgrace for the city fathers to continue to have women locked up with men in the same line of cells with such a horrifying stench and wooden bunks4 ,the city police are guilty of an outrageous act in confining the woman in such a cell1 when they ought to have given her better quarters1 as they had the opportunity4 ,this morning she was brought out before the police court2 the woman still testified that she had salvation before that court and crowd of people4 ,but good came out of it all as she witnessed a grand confession to the police court and people who never heard the gospel4 ,she was1 by the consent of ,captain ,s41 taken to ,mrs4 ,h4's and is doing well and is converted4 ,last evening's ,gazette stated that the woman went crazy by attending the street meetings and would be examined before the board of commissioners of insanity1 which is every word of it untrue4 ,the woman is sane and was not before any board4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,mertz1 in ,burlington ,hawk-,eye1 ,jan4 #ai1 #ahhg4 ,a ,,wonderful ,,conversion4 ,in ,san ,francisco a drunken girl came to my meeting on the street so desperate and dangerous that even the police at times seemed afraid of her4 ,she seemed to be a veritable ,magdalene4 ,i was impressed with the words1 ,down in the human heart1 crushed by the tempter1 feelings lie buried that grace can restore4 ,how could it be done8 ,i dealt faithfully with her and went away1 returning to the city ten months later4 ,she came again to my meetings1 once very drunk as she usually was4 ,i talked to her about her need of salvation and she was finally convicted4 ,she waited at the close of the meeting to speak with me1 but at first would not yield to ,god4 ,finally she sobered up and was wonderfully converted4 ,i took her to my room and cared for her1 and as she was a desperate character1 and liable to do injury both to life and property1 the ,rescue ,home at ,san ,francisco refused to take her1 so ,i took all the risks myself and took her to ,helena1 ,montana1 and left her at the ,rescue ,home at that place4 ,the following is an account of work in ,seattle soon after this as reported by a paper of that city3 ,,the ,,prison ,,evangelist4 ,,mrs4 ,,elizabeth ,r4 ,,wheaton ,,carrying ,,forward ,,her ,,mission ,,in ,,seattle4 ,about three o'clock yesterday afternoon two women1 one quite elderly and the other about #be years of age1 whose dress and demeanor bespoke them to be missionaries1 walked into the sheriff's office and asked ,jailer ,leckie if they might hold a short religious service in the county jail4 ,the urbane jailor replied that he thought a little prayin' wouldn't do them coves any harm1 but they were eating and couldn't be interrupted for ten or fifteen minutes4 ,then we'll wait1 said ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 laying her black shawl aside and taking a seat1 in which she was followed by her sister evangelist4 ,perhaps you would like to know who we are1 said the elder of the two women to a reporter who happened to be present4 ,here is my card1 and she handed over a small piece of pasteboard on which was printed with a rubber stamp1 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist4 ,jesus is ,coming ,soon2 ,prepare to ,meet ,thy ,god4 ,that will tell who ,i am1 continued the evangelist4444 ,criminals and fallen women are the ones ,i try to reach4 ,i would rather try to save a murderer or fallen woman than your smooth1 respectable hypocrites1 every time4 ,mary and ,i have just come through from san ,francisco4 99 99 99 ,at this moment ,jailer ,leckie announced that the prisoners were through eating1 and the two women went below to pray with them4 ,the younger woman held back1 saying that she was afraid some of her old associates might be there1 but she was urged on by her protector and a few minutes later the words of ,nearer ,my ,god to ,thee1 from two female voices1 came floating through the prison bars4 ,the prisoners gave them respectful hearing1 and one or two seemed to be affected by the earnest words of counsel that fell from the lips of the evangelist4 ,later in the evening they held street services for the benefit of the workingmen near the ,armory and relief tents4 ,,became ,a ,,preacher4 ,one of the worst women ,i ever knew was converted in the spring of #ahhe on the streets of ,kansas ,city1 ,mo41 where ,i was holding meetings4 ,she came to the meeting to abuse and ridicule me4 ,she heard my voice1 she said1 two blocks away1 and became convicted4 ,she came to where ,i was standing on a box preaching4 ,i asked if there was any one there who would seek ,god and live a ,christian life4 ,i said if there was one such1 let them come and kneel with me by the box and ,i would pray for them4 ,she knelt there and cried mightily to ,god for mercy4 ,but she went away unsaved and prayed and wept day and night4 ,she could neither eat nor sleep4 ,she saw herself a lost sinner4 ,her father had been a minister of the ,gospel1 but had died when she was very young4 ,she had drifted to this wicked city in search of work1 and you may know the rest4 ,for it is but the story of many a poor orphan girl in her struggle for bread4 ,she fell as thousands fall with none to pity or care4 ,she was driven from one sin to another1 until at last disgraced and filled with shame1 she had tried twelve times to take her own life4 ,thus ,i found her a miserable woman4 ,she came again to the meeting1 this time alone1 and was gloriously saved1 and is still saved so far as ,i know4 ,she became a successful preacher of righteousness1 for she knew how to reach such as she had been4 ,she became a terror to evil doers1 brave in danger1 and hopeful before discouraging obstacles4 ,she has since told me she has saved many young girls' lives and characters by taking them in and giving them food and shelter when every other door except brothels and saloons was closed against them4 ,bless ,god for the homes open to shelter and protect the unfortunate girls4 ,,the ,,blind ,,encouraged4 ,one day while traveling in ,montana1 ,i went into a smoking car to hold a little ,gospel meeting1 singing and distributing tracts1 when ,i found a blind lady there who seemed to be alone and neglected4 ,i spoke to her kindly about her soul and invited her to go with me into the other car4 ,i said1 ,i am always glad to do anything ,i can to help a blind person4 ,my grandmother was blind several years before her death4 ,she accepted it all gratefully and seemed very sorry to part from me when we changed cars4 ,i exhorted her to a life of ,christian service and to meet me in ,heaven4 ,i never expected to meet her again1 but some two years later ,i was holding an open air meeting in ,california and a lady said1 ,would you allow me to testify8 and ,i said1 ,certainly1 if you are a ,christian4 ,would be glad to have you4 ,when she began to speak she said3 ,this lady don't know me1 but ,i know her4 ,we met once4 ,although ,i have never seen her1 as ,i am deprived of sight1 yet ,i know her4 ,i met with her on the train one day1 and she related the foregoing facts1 stating that my kindness had won her heart and she had never forgotten my advice1 and was now living a ,christian life4 ,,forbidden ,,to ,,preach ,,on ,,the ,,street4 ,one night when ,i attempted to hold a street meeting in ,f----1 ,california--where ,i had been holding services for a few nights--the marshal said he had forbidden me to preach and sing on the streets4 ,a gentleman looked up the law books and returned saying that it was not contrary to the laws of that city at that time to hold a gospel meeting on the street and that ,i could proceed1 but the marshal came and forbade me1 very unkindly and impolitely4 ,at this crisis a gentleman came up and said that a saloon keeper down the street requested me to come and hold a meeting in front of his place4 ,i said3 ,a gentleman has requested that we come and hold a meeting in front of his business place4 ,we will go there1 please1 but the marshal in a very ungentlemanly way said ,i was not to hold a meeting on the street any place in that city4 ,i said we would go to a hall which had been opened for gospel services4 ,it was several blocks away and only a few of the immense crowd would walk that distance4 ,when ,i reached the place ,i sat down behind the door and cried and thought1 what shall ,i do8 ,i was sure the ,lord wanted me to hold a meeting on the street4 ,the blind lady mentioned in the previous incident was in the congregation and began to sing1 ,he is able to deliver thee1 and ,i soon had the victory4 ,the same sister had attempted to sing on the street1 as this was her only means of supporting her old mother and sickly husband1 and the marshal came along and without any warning pushed her off the street4 ,a couple of strange gentlemen came and kindly led her to a place of safety4 ,i heard soon after this that this man became suddenly insane and it took two men to hold him and take him to the jail and from there to the insane asylum4 ,,thought ,,they ,,saw ,a ,,ghost4 ,once1 in a city1 another lady and myself were walking along a very lonesome street late at night4 ,when passing a large dark building she remarked that it was a very dangerous gambling den4 ,my heart burned within me4 ,i was seized with an impulse to go in that place of iniquity and warn those men of their souls' danger4 ,no sooner thought than done6 ,i was soon in the room which proved to be vacant1 but ,i could see light through the cracks of a closed door leading into the next room4 ,i passed quietly across the room and opened the door and stood confronting a number of rough looking men who were seated at a long gambling table4 ,without a word ,i crossed the room with noiseless footsteps and dropping my ,bible on the table and falling on my knees before them began to cry to ,god in their behalf4 ,the men seemed to take an unexpected view of the situation1 and rising simultaneously to their feet1 they rushed wildly from the room upsetting their chairs in their haste1 and ,i was left alone4 ,the next day the report went out that a ghost had been seen there the night before1 and some of the men vowed they would never touch a pack of cards again as long as they lived--that money could not hire them to do it4 ,truly ,the wicked flee when no man pursueth4 ,,hurt ,,by ,a ,,saloonkeeper4 ,while ,i was at ,springfield1 ,ill41 ,i was led one ,sabbath to go to the park to hold a gospel meeting1 taking two sisters with me4 ,we had a good meeting1 and returning to the city ,i asked the street car conductor if there was another park where ,i could hold services4 ,he directed me to a place in another suburb4 ,we went there1 and in a grove ,i saw some tables and men and women sitting at them1 drinking4 ,i began to sing a hymn1 thinking we were in a public park1 when a man rushed out of a house toward me1 saying1 ,you shan't sing here4 ,i said1 ,please let me finish this verse4 ,he replied1 ,no1 ,i won't allow any one to sing here4 ,i knelt in prayer4 ,he did not say ,i should not pray4 ,the sisters were looking at him1 and said he hurried toward me in great anger4 ,the sisters prayed to ,god to spare me4 ,the man jerked me and pushed me over1 when some of the men at the tables called out to him1 ,let go of that woman4 ,you don't know who she is4 ,we know her4 ,the men in the meantime running to us1 laid hold on the saloonkeeper and took him away4 ,i was very much hurt4 ,i could not walk alone4 ,the park proved to be a beer garden4 ,we went to the nearest house and asked permission to rest till ,i should gain strength to return to the city4 ,the people where we stopped were very indignant1 and said the man had no license to sell liquor on ,sunday1 and was violating the city ordinance4 ,there were no arrests4 ,the whisky men must have their own way in this land of ,american liberty4 ,they can ruin lives1 break up homes1 blight the prospects of the best people on earth and fill the prisons1 almshouses1 criminal insane asylums1 brothels1 graves of paupers1 and doom souls by the multitude1 and who cares8 ,who votes to put down the saloons8 ,who tries to save mothers' girls as well as mothers' boys1 husbands and wives8 ,even the parents are overtaken by the demon of strong drink and sink into the most depraved conditions in order to satisfy their craving for alcohol4 ,o1 the awfulness of it all6 ,sisters1 brothers1 are you and ,i clear8 ,are we doing our best to stop this horrible traffic in whisky and girls1 for one of these places can scarcely exist without the other4 ,how many girls and boys are sacrificed yearly to fill the saloonkeepers' coffers and fill up hell8 ,think of these things4 ,,warned ,,to ,,leave ,,the ,,city4 ,upon entering a town in ,mississippi ,i inquired of a woman if she could direct me to a hotel1 and she told me her sister and her husband kept one and ,i would be made comfortable with them4 ,we went to the hotel and left our luggage and went at once to hold an open air meeting4 ,the singing attracted a considerable crowd1 and at the close of the service many came to shake hands with me and thank me for the meeting1 among whom were a number of colored people1 who thanked the ,lord in their characteristic way and asked me to preach again which ,i agreed to do that night4 ,as we turned our steps toward our hotel1 we noticed a colored man walking a short distance ahead of us who1 when we were out of hearing of the crowd1 turned and said to us3 ,you women don't intend to hold another meeting on the street to-night8 and ,i said1 ,certainly1 ,i shall obey ,god4 ,he said1 ,you have shaken hands with the colored people and the white people are angry1 and they will mob you4 ,i came along here for the purpose of warning you4 ,if they saw me talking with you my life would be in danger4 ,i told him ,i was not afraid1 thanked him and told him ,i would do as the ,lord led4 ,on reaching our hotel the landlord asked if ,i intended to hold another meeting on the street that night1 and ,i told him ,i did4 ,he said that the townspeople had forbidden me to hold another service and that ,i would have to leave his hotel at once1 because ,i had shaken hands with the colored people4 ,we told him we had made the appointment and we should keep our word4 ,he went to his wife and told her to go and tell those women to leave the house and take the train1 as we had associated with the colored people and the white people would not allow us to remain in town4 ,she replied that we had paid our money and our money was as good as anybody's1 and that we were respectable1 honest women and she was going to treat us as such4 ,when we went down the street we heard a noise as of a mob1 and we went praying the ,lord to show us what to do1 and ,he showed us our life was in danger and to step one side into the colored people's church where ,god's presence was revealed in mighty power and souls were convicted and converted4 ,in the morning two colored women called upon me1 saying they had come to warn me and assist me to the train4 ,one of them said that two nights before she had a terrible dream about a woman coming to preach on the streets and was so impressed that she sent her husband four miles to see if there was anything in it4 ,this was the man that warned us that night4 ,when he went home and told her what he had seen and heard1 she dreamed again and the ,lord told her to come and help us out of town1 as the people would take my life4 ,they carried our luggage and showed us to the train and got us safely on board1 and with a ,god bless you1 ,honey1 we's prayin' for you1 they were gone1 and we went on our way with thankful hearts for our ,lord's protecting care4 ,,in ,,jail4 ,i have several times been arrested for holding services in the open air1 but have been taken to prison but twice--once in ,glasgow1 ,scotland1 as related elsewhere1 and once in ,belleville1 ,illinois4 ,in #ahhi1 ,sister ,anna ,kinne wrote me from ,belleville that they were holding meetings at that place1 but had seen but little stir1 that it seemed to be a hard field1 and that she believed the ,lord wanted me to come and help them in the meetings4 ,i was1 at the time1 in ,mississippi1 but after praying over the matter ,i felt that ,i should go to ,belleville in answer to her request4 ,the first ,sabbath after reaching there ,i tried to hold services in the open air1 but was stopped by policemen4 ,i tried again with the same results4 ,then ,i went to the mayor1 but was refused permission to hold any such meetings4 ,when ,i asked him if he would take the responsibility on the day of judgment1 he said1 ,yes4 ,i then went to the jail and held services1 and the sheriff kindly inquired about my work and showed considerable interest1 and took down some notes4 ,i then asked him for permission to hold meetings on the court house steps4 ,this was readily granted1 and ,i took ,sister ,kinne with me4 ,the marshal of the town had bitterly opposed my work1 and while we were singing he very rudely and unceremoniously came and took me by the arm and dragged me down from the steps4 ,i told him that the sheriff had given me permission to hold services1 but he was very angry and refused to let me go on4 ,i said to those who had gathered1 ,we will have no open air meeting1 but come to ,buchanan ,hall to-night1 and we will have a meeting there4 ,i think it was the following night that ,i was impressed just before the opening of our services1 to sing a hymn1 standing in the mission door4 ,i spoke to ,sister ,kinne of this and she said1 ,god bless you1 ,sister ,wheaton1 ,i will pray for you4 ,i went quietly down to the door and was standing there singing an old-time hymn1 when out of the darkness there came two policemen4 ,without saying a word they took hold of me and dragged me along the street4 ,i had no bonnet on1 and my shawl was dragging along in the mud4 ,i said1 ,please let me get my shawl1 and will you please let me ask one of the ladies at the mission to go with me8 ,but they refused and seemed glad to think that ,i was being disgraced4 ,as ,i met two or three ,christian people1 one of them spoke kindly to me and ,i replied that ,i was suffering for ,jesus' sake4 ,you seem to be well acquainted with the men1 one of the policemen said4 ,no1 ,i said1 only with a few ,christians4 ,when we arrived at police headquarters they gave in the report that ,i was on the street holding a meeting and was having a row1 etc41 which was1 of course1 utterly false4 ,i was1 of course1 surprised at the treatment ,i was receiving4 ,i opened my ,bible1 which ,i still held1 and began reading in silence4 ,the officer said1 ,are you making all of this ado and trouble8 ,i replied1 ,i was standing in our mission door singing4 ,he said1 ,will you give bail for your good behavior8 ,i said1 ,i have no money for bail4 ,then he asked me if ,i had no friends4 ,i told him ,i was a stranger in the city4 ,then1 he said1 ,i will have to send you to jail1 or what will you do8 ,i said ,i did not know4 ,he then told another policeman to take me to the jail across the square1 and only a few blocks away4 ,this policeman said to some boys who were standing outside1 ,you boys stay here1 we do not want a mob4 ,but the marshal said1 ,go along boys4 ,she wants notoriety--give it to her4 ,and so ,i went to the jail with a mob crying after me4 ,arriving at the jail the kind jailor was shocked to see me in the officer's charge1 and said1 ,you are not a prisoner8 ,i said1 ,yes1 ,i was singing in our mission door1 but they arrested me4 ,his wife came in and kindly said1 ,come into the parlor1 and ,i will make ready for you the spare bedroom4 ,i was1 of course1 surprised and deeply touched4 ,no1 indeed1 ,i said1 ,i am a prisoner4 ,take me into the cell with the other women4 ,her little daughter came in and knelt down by my side and kissed my hand1 saying how very sorry she was for me4 ,it was on a ,christmas eve1 and the child was going to the ,christmas tree4 ,soon the sheriff came in in a hurry and said1 ,you are a free woman6 ,he1 finding ,i had been arrested1 had notified friends who had given bail and secured my release4 ,not understanding the sheriff1 ,i said1 ,no1 ,i am here in disgrace1 and ,i want you to put me in the woman's cell4 ,but he insisted that ,i was free4 ,then ,i said1 ,they have put me here in disgrace1 and ,i want some one to come and take me to our mission1 as it is dark4 ,they then sent for someone to come for me1 and such a shout as went up when ,i again entered the mission hall4 ,one good old ,christian friend said1 ,i told you that if she was a woman of ,god1 and ,i knew she was1 she would return to the hall before the meeting was over4 ,it seems that a reporter who was at the police station at the time of my arrest and heard the abuse of the officers had hurried to the sheriff's office1 and he1 as ,i have said1 had secured my release4 ,we give here a verbatim copy of the paper signed by friends1 the original of which ,i still have in my possession4 ,somehow the case was dismissed1 and ,i was never brought to trial3 ,,verbatim ,,copy ,,of ,a ,,recognizance4 7#abth1 #bdth1 #ahii47 ,state of ,illinois1 ,st4 ,clair ,county1 ss4 ,this day personaly appeared before the undersigned1 ,william ,bornmann1 one of the ,justices of the ,peace in and for said ,county1 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,james ,west and ,wm4 ,meyer1 and jointly and severally acknowledged themselves to owe and be indebted unto the ,people of the ,state of ,illinois1 in the sum of ,twenty-five ,dollars1 to be levied on their goods and chattels1 lands and tenements1 if default be made in the premises and conditions below1 to-wit3 ,whereas1 ,the above bounden1 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 was1 on the #bdth day of ,december1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahhi1 arrested for violation of the city ordinance1 was adjudged and required by said ,justice of the ,peace to give bonds1 as required by the statute in such cases1 made and provided1 for her appearance to answer to said charge4 ,now the conditions of this recognizance is such that if the above bounden1 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 shall personally appear and be before me1 in ,belleville1 on the #bgth day of ,december1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahhi1 at #i a4 m41 and from day to day1 and from term to term1 and from day to day of each term hereafter1 until discharged by order of said ,court1 then and there to answer to the said ,people of the ,state of ,illinois on said charge of violation of the city ordinance and then and there answer and abide the order and judgment of said ,court1 and thence not depart the same without lawful permission1 then and in that case this recognizance is to become void2 otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue4 ,as witness our hands and seals1 this #bdth day of ,december1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahhi4 ,taken1 entered into1 acknowledged and approved before me1 this #bdth day of ,december1 #ahii4 ,,wm4 ,,bornmann1 ,j4 ,p4 ,wilhelm ,meyer1 ,l4 ,s4 ,jas4 ,a4 ,west1 ,l4 ,s4 ,this occurrence caused a great deal of excitement at the time4 ,some time after ,i met one of the editors of one of the principal papers of the town1 and he stated that a serious calamity had overtaken all those who were active in the opposing and persecuting me1 and mentioned some who had died and others upon whom ,god's judgments seemed to have fallen4 ,the following was taken from a paper published at ,belleville3 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 a well known prison evangelist who has labored in nearly all of the principal prisons of the ,united ,states1 was arrested ,tuesday evening by ,policemen ,s4 and ,s41 while she was engaged in conducting a song service1 standing in the door at the entrance to ,buchanan ,hall1 where a series of meetings are being held by two other evangelists1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,s4 ,d4 ,kinne4 ,the officers1 on arriving on the scene1 ordered ,mrs4 ,wheaton to stop singing1 but as she paid no attention to their command1 she was at once arrested and hurried off to the police station1 where she was questioned by the captain of police and the city marshal1 and a little later she was removed to the county jail1 but through the courtesy of the jailor she was not locked up in a cell4 ,a complaint of disturbing the peace was made against her before ,justice ,b41 and a hearing was fixed for tomorrow before him1 and a bond for her appearance was duly executed2 but while these formal proceedings were being attended to ,sheriff ,r41 having heard of ,mrs4 ,wheaton's incarceration in the county jail1 repaired to the institution1 immediately ordered her release1 as there was no authority for holding her there1 and when the officer from ,justice ,b4's court arrived with the bail bond for ,mrs4 ,wheaton's signature1 he was chagrined to find that the lady had been released by order of the sheriff4 ,no further attempt was made to arrest her1 and it is probable that the matter will be dropped4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton is an elderly lady and is deeply devoted to ,christian work1 especially among the unfortunates confined in jails and prisons1 and she has a large number of testimonials as to her character and work from prison officials1 railway managers and others in all parts of the country4 ,many prominent citizens expressed themselves yesterday as deeply regretting the action of the officers in arresting ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,the same lady1 by written permission of ,sheriff ,r41 attempted to hold religious services from the court house steps on ,sunday evening last1 but she was forced to desist by the city marshal4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton applied to ,mayor ,b4 recently for permission to hold open-air religious meetings on the streets1 but was denied the privilege on the ground that considerable disorder had been occasioned some months ago by the holding of such meetings by members of the ,salvation ,army1 who held forth in ,belleville for a time4 ,the action of the mayor in refusing to allow the evangelist to hold open-air meetings1 and the arrest of ,mrs4 ,wheaton while engaged in conducting a song service in the door of ,buchanan ,hall1 where the revival services are held1 is causing a great deal of severe criticism1 owing to the toleration of the parading of the principal streets by brass bands on ,sundays1 as well as other days1 to draw audiences for minstrel shows1 etc41 the gathering of crowds on the public square by street fakirs1 patent medicine peddlers1 quack doctors and others1 who deal out rough jokes1 etc41 in tones loud enough to be heard blocks away4 ,belleville1 ,dec4 #bf1 #ahhh4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,rescue ,work4 ,a ,mother's ,plea for ,her ,fallen ,daughter4 ,so tenderly reared in the pure country air1 ,so innocent1 gracious and true1 ,a sweet loving daughter1 so gentle and fair4 ,of the great wicked world naught she knew1 ,she roamed on the hillside and plucked the sweet flowers1 ,nor far from my sight did she stray1 ,till a shy cunning charmer invaded her bowers1 ,and stole my loved treasure away4 ,with words fair and lovely he won her young heart1 ,then wooed her far from the home nest1 ,then hastily pressed to the city's great mart1 ,my darling he tore from my breast2 ,so simple1 confiding1 ne'er dreaming of harm4 ,she laid her young life at his feet1 ,and the foul1 venomed viper pierced her heart with a thorn1 ,and left her to die in the street4 ,all wounded and bleeding and covered with shame1 ,and knowing not wither to go1 ,in the haunts of the vilest she cringed her away1 ,to hide her disgrace and her woe2 ,could ,i know she had gone from this cold1 cruel world1 ,my grief would be easy to bear1 ,but to satiate vile passions her life-blood is sold1 ,and my broken heart pleads in my prayer4 ,oh1 bring back my darling1 a poor bruised thing1 ,the victim of ,satan's deceit1 ,o tell her ,i love her1 though cursed by the fiend ,that crushed her to hell 'neath his feet4 ,o pity my daughter1 my poor fallen one1 ,ye who have daughters so fair1 ,and shield not the monster who spoiled my loved one ,and drove my poor heart to despair4 ,chicago1 ,ill4 --,,mary ,,weems ,,chapman4 ,for some years ,i have been quite intimately associated with friends who have1 perhaps1 the largest ,rescue ,home in the world4 ,i am told that they have taken in more girls than any other ,home of the kind4 ,over #a1bej girls have there been confined and never have they lost one of these young mothers by death4 ,but1 oh1 it is a sad sight to see them1 day after day carrying their load of sorrow in their hearts4 ,often when ,i am there1 as ,i manifest toward them my love and sympathy1 they tell me their story of woe sad as was the cry of ,eve when banished from the presence of ,god4 ,she yielded to ,satan's devices because she believed the voice of ,satan rather than the voice of ,god4 ,she became an outcast--and so our sisters are still being deceived by the devil in human form and become outcasts from all that is good4 ,some of them have been won by a mess of pottage1 a mere bauble or a gewgaw4 ,others have the promise of love--that which every human heart craves4 ,these believe1 trust1 yield and are ruined and some of them are so young6 so ignorant6 ,then there are some who have been basely betrayed or brutally forced and then left to bear alone their shame and disgrace--for1 alas6 the traffic in girls is not an imaginary thing1 but an awful reality4 ,o that the good people of our fair land would awaken and see that justice is done in behalf of the helpless and innocent6 ,prevention is better than cure4 ,let us guard the children and put down every influence that would tend to demoralize either our boys or girls6 ,but in the meantime1 let us do all within our power to lift up the fallen and win back those who have gone astray and share the burden and sorrow of those who suffer through no fault of their own4 ,those who have been daring in sin often make the most gifted1 consecrated and valiant workers for ,god and souls when truly and fully saved4 ,i bless the ,lord for the privilege of seeking and finding some of these diamonds in the rough4 ,i have known many ,christian workers who had once been criminals or fallen1 but who had been rescued by some one who had a knowledge of human nature and a heart filled with the love of ,god who told them of the love of ,christ and ,his wonderful power to save4 ,o when we all meet in the great ,hereafter what a time of rejoicing there will be among the rescuers and the rescued4 ,,drunken ,,women ,,and ,,men4 ,i find hundreds of men and women1 many young women1 in drunkenness and crime1 and the most open daring sins4 ,in one of the largest drinking dens in the world ,i asked the proprietor if ,i might sing a hymn1 and he gave his consent4 ,i was obliged to go down stairs and through many rooms and hallways and then up a dark stairway to the platform where the orchestra was playing4 ,when they ceased ,i sang a hymn which touched their hearts and they cheered the singing4 ,i offered a prayer and they all seemed to appreciate it4 ,there were hundreds of men only1 drinking1 miners and others4 ,then ,i went where there were both men and women drinking1 and sang and prayed with them4 ,at near midnight1 while ,i was engaged in prayer1 one of the poor1 unfortunate girls clasped my hand and put a piece of silver in it1 and stood holding my hand till ,i rose4 ,she cried and spoke of her desire to be good4 ,she was reminded of her old home and her mother4 ,the proprietor then told me ,i must leave1 as he found he would lose her from his den4 ,he said he was once a ,christian himself1 and on coming west1 saw the money to be made in that kind of business1 and fell1 and went deep in sin1 leading others down with himself4 ,,assaulted ,,in ,a ,,dive4 ,while in ,san ,pedro1 ,california1 ,i went1 one night1 into a saloon to invite the men to a gospel meeting at the mission on the same block1 and the keeper sprang up from his gambling table1 where he was engaged with several others in a game of some kind1 and rushing towards me1 violently grabbed me by the arms1 and then with both hands clutching me1 rushed me to the door1 using vile and insulting epithets to me as he went4 ,at the door a lady said1 ,this is a public house2 you dare not throw people out who have done you no harm4 ,he finally released his ,satanic grasp upon me4 ,i had only spoken a few kindly words to two young men standing at the bar in the act of raising their glasses to their lips4 ,i had just said1 ,don't drink it1 boys1 please don't1 when the assault was made4 ,as the saloonist rushed at me1 ,i said1 ,don't touch me1 please2 ,i will go out4 ,but he seemed fiendishly happy in injuring and insulting a helpless old woman1 who only wished to do them all good1 and see them saved in ,heaven at last4 ,the only excuse he ever made was that he thought ,i was ,carrie ,nation4 ,commenting on this occurrence1 a ,los ,angeles paper contained the following item3 ,san ,pedro1 ,march #bi4--,mother ,wheaton1 a well known prison evangelist1 was roughly assaulted by ,john ,wilkins1 a ,front street saloonkeeper1 shortly after seven o'clock last evening4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton was preaching to a large gathering in front of ,wilkins' joint1 and hearing loud cursing within1 the aged reformer entered1 intending to invite the blasphemers to ,peniel ,mission1 where services are held every evening4 ,she had scarcely passed inside the doors of the dive1 when ,wilkins rushed forward1 seized her and thrust her backward4 ,at the same time he applied vile epithets to her1 shouting angrily3 ,get out of here1 woman1 and be quick about it6 ,so badly was ,mrs4 ,wheaton injured that she was unable to return to the mission without assistance4 ,she is confined to her bed and is suffering severe pains from the shock4 ,wilkins explained today that he mistook ,mrs4 ,wheaton for ,carrie ,nation1 whom the former resembles4 ,no arrests have been made4 ,in a city where ,i had been preaching the ,gospel1 a messenger came stating that a young girl had cut her throat4 ,it was an extremely hot day and ,i had to walk a long distance across the city4 ,arriving at the house they told me that no one was allowed to go in4 ,but ,i went right in and everybody stood back4 ,kneeling down by the poor girl ,i took her hand already growing cold in death4 ,poor child6 ,like thousands of others1 she had been disappointed in life4 ,the one who had plighted his troth had broken her heart1 and rather than bear her shame she preferred death4 ,then and there ,i had the privilege of pointing this beautiful girl to ,christ who said1 ,neither do ,i condemn thee4 ,go and sin no more1 and ,he who never turns anyone away heard and answered prayer4 ,one day ,i held a meeting in the ,crittenden ,home for ,fallen ,girls1 in ,washington4 ,they all seemed so glad to hear me4 7,there were thirty girls47 ,they were deeply moved4 ,after the meeting closed ,i took each by the hand and exhorted them to live pure and holy lives4 ,and with tears in their eyes they promised to try and serve the ,lord4 ,one dear little girl in a short dress 7fourteen years old71 clung to me crying1 and said ,jesus had saved her just then1 in the meeting1 and she would be a good girl and live for ,heaven4 ,i clasped her to my heart and thought what ,jesus said about him who offends one of these little ones4 ,some heartless wretch had ruined the girl and left her to die alone4 ,vengeance is mine1 ,i will repay1 saith the ,lord4 ,a ,,girl ,,saved4 ,trying to rescue a girl in a low dive in ,new ,york city in #ahij1 as ,i entered the den the keeper1 a large1 strong man1 sprang up and struck me a blow4 ,the girl caught his arm and cried out1 ,don't strike her1 she is a lady4 ,but he thrust me out1 and ,i said to her1 ,fly for your life--out at the back door4 ,i ran around the saloon and caught her away from an angry mob and with the help of the sisters with me1 almost carried her six blocks to the ,crittenden ,home1 and there she was reformed and converted4 ,a ,,girl ,,rejected ,,at ,,rescue ,,home4 ,in ,ft4 ,worth1 ,texas1 ,i once found in the jail a poor girl who was a very desperate character4 ,she had been at the ,rescue ,home several times1 and she was so very wicked that they refused to have her there again4 ,they said it was of no use trying to reclaim her4 ,i well remember the night that the ,lord sent me to the jail to hold a meeting4 ,the service was held after dark1 as the prisoners were compelled to work during the day4 ,i was intensely grieved and very much burdened over the case of this poor girl4 ,so intelligent1 yet so sinful6 ,in my grief1 ,i fell upon the floor weeping over her lost condition4 ,a sister who was with me1 and on her way then to ,india1 prayed for me as well as for the poor prisoners1 and the lost girl4 ,the meeting closed1 and the next day we left the city1 the sister going west1 while ,i started north4 ,after we left ,ft4 ,worth1 my heart was still sad and greatly pained for the poor lost girl ,i had seen in the jail and ,i wrote to the superintendent of the ,rescue ,home and pleaded with her to try her just once more--not only for my sake1 but for the sake of ,jesus4 ,she did so1 and the result was that the girl was saved and began a life of virtue and usefulness4 ,a year or so later1 ,i was again at ,ft4 ,worth1 and was holding services in the ,girls' ,rescue ,home4 ,as they assembled for the meeting ,i shook hands with each of them4 ,i said of one of the girls to the matron1 ,this girl looks like a good ,christian--who is she8 ,the girl herself replied1 ,don't you know me1 mother8 ,i said1 ,no4 ,then she answered1 ,i am the girl you rescued from the prison2 and the matron said that she was the best girl in the home4 ,i went back after another year1 and she was the matron's assistant4 ,still later the superintendent told me that she was a deaconess in ,new ,york1 and was doing a great work4 ,this same lady told me how she had shortly before come across my letter in which ,i begged her mother-in-law1 who was the former superintendent1 to help the girl and give her just one more chance6 ,oh1 how wonderfully ,god had answered my prayers and the yearning of my heart that night when the burden of her soul rested so heavily upon me6 ,,robbed ,,by ,,her ,,own ,,brother4 ,a lovely girl was once drugged by her deceiver and left to bear her shame alone4 ,she was led to a rescue home where she was cared for4 ,sometime after the birth of her child1 which she dearly loved1 her father died1 and left her #a1jjj4 ,she was induced by her brother to come to the city where he was living1 and give him the money1 which he and his wife used recklessly4 ,they then moved1 leaving the poor girl sitting on the steps without money enough even to buy milk for her babe4 ,the poor girl was almost distracted with grief4 ,i found her a temporary home with ,christian people and a little later secured transportation for her to a rescue home in another city where she could be kindly provided for4 ,in that hour of despair1 when ,i found her1 she was almost ready to yield to the enemy of her soul1 through temptation of the same wretch who had first effected her ruin4 ,she could go hungry herself1 she said1 but she could not see her babe suffer for want of food4 ,sisters1 let us try by all possible means to befriend our own sex and help all who are thrown in our way1 heavenward4 ,,neglected ,,by ,,the ,,churches4 ,i once went to a city where there are many churches and professors of religion1 and yet there in the ,home for ,fallen ,girls1 where ,i held services ,i found the inmates neglected4 ,i then went to the poorhouse where over a hundred poor and crippled destitute people were so glad to hear me sing hymns while they partook of their dinner4 ,they seemed to wonder who and what ,i was1 yet1 how glad they were when they understood it was for the love of their souls ,jesus had sent me to tell them of ,his great love4 ,thank ,god for the privilege of going to these places4 ,god always finds a way when there seems to be no way4 ,so ,i must say in concluding that of all those who have my sympathy and my help1 my prayers and my tears1 prisoners1 and all1 the poor1 abandoned1 forsaken girl1 who has no one to share her sorrow and her shame claims and receives my deepest sympathy and assistance4 ,there is no one on whom ,jesus had more compassion and yet the croakers are often the ones to send her to worse shame by their neglect and cruelty4 ,jesus said1 ,neither do ,i condemn thee1 go and sin no more4 ,she is more to be pitied than censured1 ,she is more to be loved than despised1 ,she is only a poor girl who has ventured ,on life's rugged path ill-advised4 ,don't scorn her with words fierce and bitter1 ,don't laugh at her shame and downfall2 ,just pause for a moment1 consider ,that a man was the cause of it all4 ,,visit ,,to ,a ,,hospital4 ,one ,sunday1 years ago1 ,i visited a hospital in a certain city and found it in a most terrible condition4 ,there were many sick1 both men and women1 and how glad they were to see me6 ,the public were not permitted inside the grounds1 but the superintendent being absent ,i was admitted4 ,the patients were suffering with hunger1 and were in a most filthy condition4 ,i found both colored men and women in the same room and all covered with body lice4 ,one old colored woman was almost eaten alive with vermin1 and starving4 ,they would not give her even a drink of water4 ,i gave her water and she drank a quart and begged for more4 ,i asked her if she would like to have me bring her something to eat4 ,she said1 ,oh1 yes1 ,honey4 ,i said1 ,what can you eat8 ,she said1 ,a crust of bread--,i's so hungry1 been hungry so long4 ,my heart was sick at the sights and sounds of suffering and anguish4 ,i told the ,lord about it4 ,all night ,i cried and prayed4 ,i got up early1 got a large1 fat chicken1 made soup1 got provisions and a couple to help me carry the things1 and went to that miserable place4 ,i got access to the building with my food and all got a share4 ,i never will forget the looks on the faces of those starving sufferers1 and the tears coursing down their wan1 pale cheeks1 as ,i and dear ,mary1 my helper1 fed them4 ,one poor old white brother said he was ashamed to have us near him4 ,i took along clothing for the poor old colored woman1 and had to take the scissors and cut the garment off from her1 and put it in the stove4 ,i found the mattress decaying under her4 ,i told the superintendent's wife ,i would be a witness against her in the day of judgment for treating the patients so cruelly4 ,she said she did not have help4 ,i said the state1 county or city would send help1 that that was no excuse for their starving and cruelly treating those sick helpless invalids4 ,the old woman and the men told me they were compelled to live there in that one room altogether4 ,it was terrible6 ,one man said he had killed vermin until he was so tired and weak he could do no more4 ,they said that seldom ever any one left that death hole alive4 ,the bodies were sold for dissection4 ,i went early the next morning to the judge's office to relate my experience and ask him if something could not be done to relieve the suffering of the patients that ,i found there in such a filthy condition and in such need of care and food and water4 ,i told him ,i did not see the superintendent1 ,mr4 ,v4 ,just at that moment a dudish young fellow in the room arose and said1 ,so you did not see ,v4 when you went there yesterday2 you see him now1 don't you8 ,he was very angry and said ,i got inside by his absence1 and that he would do so and so4 ,the judge said angrily1 ,woman1 you talk too much4 ,i said1 ,i have not begun to talk yet4 ,the two men hissed and told me to leave the office4 ,i had taken the precaution to take with me the sister who was traveling with me at that time1 also the young man who had helped us to carry the clothes and provisions to the hospital the day before4 ,they could have corroborated my testimony but the judge was evidently in league with the superintendent of the hospital and would not listen4 ,i went to a church in the place to a ,woman's ,missionary meeting and got permission to speak to the ladies in public about the awful conditions ,i found in their so-called hospital4 ,they were surprised and greatly incensed1 and told their husbands1 and so there was awakened an interest that resulted in further investigation4 ,facts were found as ,i had stated1 only1 if anything1 worse4 ,the outcome of these things being brought to light was that the old shanties which served as a so-called hospital were replaced by good buildings and kind caretakers took the place of the cruel superintendent--who died some months later after a long illness4 ,,another ,,visit ,,to ,a ,,hospital4 ,the following is a description of a visit to another hospital1 as published in a paper at ,chattanooga1 ,tenn4 ,this was also early in my work4 ,a ,,bat ,,cave4 ,a ,,sanitarium ,,for ,,cats ,,and ,,hotel ,,for ,,dogs--,,called ,,by ,,courtesy ,,the ,,city ,,hospital ,,of ,,chattanooga4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 the eloquent female evangelist1 who has been in the city for the past week carrying on a series of prayer meetings in the jails and houses of ill fame1 came into the ,commercial office yesterday afternoon and gave a full and detailed report of the neglected condition of the city hospital4 ,she says3 ,as ,i approached the building ,i could not convince myself that ,i was really in sight of a hospital1 for it reminded me more of a stable than anything else ,i could conceive of4 ,i approached the gate and met a colored female mute who raised her hand in a deprecating manner as if to warn me of some unseen danger that ,i was about to come in contact with4 ,i motioned the negro girl to lead the way and followed her into a dreary looking house that ,i had been told was really the only hospital of which ,chattanooga could boast4 ,just as ,i opened the door six big hounds sprang from the different beds within the building and would have torn me to pieces had not ,i hastily slammed the door and shut them in4 ,i applied to a poor cripple man who had the appearance of a half-fed mendicant where to find the keeper and ,i was informed that he was asleep1 but if ,i would wait he 7the cripple7 would go and wake him up1 and in a few moments he returned accompanied by a healthy looking man who seemed to care little whether ,i went in or remained out of doors in the rain4 ,as ,i followed the keeper into the room six well fed hounds and one emaciated looking man occupied the beds that were in the rooms4 ,i have wandered from one end of the land to the other1 ,i have visited prison cells1 opium joints1 houses of ill-fame1 almshouses1 reformatories and every dreary den from ,new ,york to ,san ,francisco1 from ,florida to ,montreal1 but with all the sights with which ,i have been confronted ,i have never seen a more cheerless abode and one so utterly void of comfort and cleanliness as the one occupied by the poor1 hungry invalid that shared the beds of the well fed dogs4 ,the sick man said he was suffering for the want of food and had been shamefully neglected since he was placed in charge of the manager of this cheerless institution4 ,two inmates have died within the past week and two are left to suffer4 ,the other inmate was a colored man who evidently has little more of life's suffering to endure in this world4 ,in this room six cats occupied seats of prominence1 two purring on one bed and three others romping from place to place over the apartment1 while the sixth was helping himself to the sick man's dinner4 ,the buildings are without warmth in the winter and have no means of ventilation for summer4 ,the confined air is contaminated with the odor that rises from unemptied and neglected vessels that are allowed to stand neglected from day to day4 ,the keeper seems to be utterly indifferent with regard to the ease or comfort of the sick and it is very evident that while the city pays for food to support the sick and suffering1 the countless and useless dogs and cats eat a large portion of the food which should be used exclusively for the unfortunate inmates4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton has done much commendable work not only in ,chattanooga but from one end of the land to the other4 ,she has consecrated her time1 wealth and character to the uplifting of fallen people1 and by her devotion to ,christianity and her liberality has won thousands of friends throughout the country4--,chattanooga ,paper4 ,,words ,,of ,,cheer ,,from ,,other ,,rescue ,,workers4 ,the first of the following letters ,i carried with me on my second visit to ,europe1 mentioned elsewhere3 ,,florence ,,crittenton ,,home1 #ba and #bc ,bleecker ,street1 ,new ,york4 ,j4 ,f4 ,shirey1 #fg ,farrington ,road1 ,east ,coast1 ,england4 ,dear ,brother3 ,this will introduce to you ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 a prison evangelist4 ,she is alone and unprotected in ,london4 ,please make the way for her as best you can where she can speak for ,god to the poor prisoners4 ,she lives by faith and trusts ,him for all4 ,god bless you4 ,,mother ,,prindle4 ,illustration3 ,,mother ,,prindle4 99 99 99 99 99 ,new ,york1 ,october #af1 #aijc4 ,my first acquaintance with ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton was made in the ,florence ,crittenton ,midnight ,mission1 ,new ,york ,city1 in #ahij4 ,she impressed me then and has ever since as one whom ,god has called and endowed with special gifts for a grand and noble work4 ,her one strong hold is faith in ,god4 ,when under the power of the ,spirit she verily treads upon serpents and scorpions and all the powers of darkness seem to flee before her4 ,as a singing evangelist for prison work1 ,i do not know her equal4 ,her preaching is in the demonstration of the ,spirit and with power4 ,she gives the ,lord's message with holy boldness1 fraught with tender love to the sinner1 and blessed are the results4 ,the midnight call given on train1 when it was my privilege to be with her1 was an hour never to be forgotten4 ,many will rise up and call her blessed in that great day who but for her favored and wonderful ministry would have gone into outer darkness4 ,god bless her and her book4 ,,mother ,,prindle4 ,the following taken from ,beulah ,home ,record1 ,chicago1 ,ill41 ,march #a1 #aijb1 is explanatory in itself4 ,also the letter that follows3 ,we have had with us for a time1 as our honored guest1 ,mother ,wheaton1 the ,railroad ,prison ,evangelist4 ,like ,jesus1 the friend of poor sinners1 she goes up and down the land in state prisons and homes where mothers' girls are sheltered1 down into the coal mines1 into the great lumber camps1 and on crowded railroad trains1 while speeding along1 she preaches the everlasting gospel of our ,lord and ,savior1 and gives out tracts4 ,thus she goes as ,god's flaming minister1 sowing beside all waters1 singing and praying poor sin-sick1 tempest-tossed souls into the kingdom of ,god4 ,do you ask what is the secret of her success8 ,it may be found in the ,psalms1 #abf3f--,she goeth forth weeping1 she has a burning love for souls4 ,so you and ,i1 dear reader1 if we are to succeed in winning souls1 our hearts must be full of love for them4 ,we give ,mother ,wheaton a warm welcome to this great and wicked city of ,chicago and a hearty welcome always to ,beulah ,home4 99 99 99 99 99 ,berachah ,home for ,erring ,girls1 #bgai ,lawton ,ave41 ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo4 ,we feel in ,berachah ,home that we shall not forget ,mother ,wheaton4 ,she came into the ,home and our lives just as ,god was leading us out in rescue work1 and as she stood among us in our first open meeting1 we felt1 ,here is a strong1 brave soldier of the cross4 ,we found hope and encouragement as she spoke to us of ,his service1 and the ,spirit witnessed ,this is of ,god1 as she sang one of her songs as only ,mother ,wheaton can sing them4 ,we did not see her again until in the ,baltimore ,convocation of ,prayer1 ,january1 #aijd1 when ,god again used her to bring ,mrs4 ,chapman and me to ,god's full thought for us there4 ,she with others laid hands on us1 with prayer1 setting us apart for the work whereunto we were called4 ,may ,god bless her ministry to others1 as ,he has to us in ,berachah ,home4 ,,mrs4 ,j4 ,p4 ,,duncan1 ,mgr4 ,,mrs4 ,b4 ,g4 ,,chapman1 ,treas4 ,,the ,,prodigal ,,daughter4 ,to the home of his father returning1 ,the prodigal1 weary and worn1 ,is greeted with joy and thanksgiving1 ,as when on his first natal morn2 ,a 'robe' and a 'ring' are his portion1 ,the servants as suppliants bow2 ,he is clad in fine linen and purple1 ,in return for the penitent vow4 ,but ah6 for the ,prodigal ,daughter1 ,who has wandered away from her home2 ,her feet must still press the dark valley ,and through the wilderness roam2 ,alone on the bleak1 barren mountains-- ,the mountains so dreary and cold-- ,no hand is outstretched in fond pity ,to welcome her back to the fold4 ,but thanks to the ,shepherd1 whose mercy ,still follows ,his sheep1 tho' they stray2 ,the weakest1 and e'en the forsaken ,he bears in ,his bosom away2 ,and in the bright mansions of glory ,which the blood of ,his sacrifice won1 ,there is room for the ,prodigal ,daughter1 ,as well as the ,prodigal ,son6 ,we've a ,home for ,prodigal ,daughters1 ,our ,saviour says gather them in2 ,will you help rescue these dear ones-- ,who have fallen in paths of sin8 ,your girl may be one of the fallen1 ,and you long to see her return2 ,oh1 there's room for the ,prodigal ,daughter1 ,as well as the ,prodigal ,son4 --,horace4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,work in ,canada and ,mexico4 ,in my several visits to the prisons of ,canada ,i have generally found the officers very courteous4 ,there are sometimes there1 as here1 changes of administration1 making the work of reaching the prisoners more difficult4 ,in the large prison at ,toronto the officers were especially kind and gave me the privilege of preaching the gospel to the prisoners as often as ,i could attend chapel services4 ,much interest was manifested and ,i trust good was accomplished4 ,,my ,,second ,,experience ,,in ,,street ,,preaching was in ,hamilton1 ,canada4 ,there for weeks1 night after night1 rain or shine1 ,i sang and preached the gospel in the open air4 ,i was especially helped of the ,lord and met with blessed success4 ,in #ahhf1 ,i took with me from ,toronto1 a dear young sister1 who was called of ,god to join me in my work4 ,she went with me to ,florida and many other states4 ,she afterward married an evangelist but died a few years later1 being true to ,god1 so far as ,i know1 to the last4 ,,service ,,with ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a4 ,during a visit to ,london1 ,canada1 after visiting the prisons ,i went to the hospital to visit the sick4 ,while singing1 a message came over the telephone saying that the ,secretary of the ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a4 requested me to lead their meeting on ,sunday afternoon4 ,would ,i come8 ,i said1 ,better wait till ,i return to the city4 ,i can't tell4 ,the secretary had to know at once1 so he could announce it through the papers4 ,so ,i promised to go1 as they had no speaker4 ,i felt discouraged1 as ,i could think of no message suitable for that large1 mixed audience1 and prayed for guidance4 ,sunday afternoon--still with no message in mind--,i started to the hall4 ,as ,i walked along the street1 praying1 ,i said1 ,lord1 give me at least a text to read4 ,just then ,i saw on the ground a scrap of paper1 the torn leaf of a ,bible4 ,i picked it up1 looked at it1 and there my message1 text and all1 opened up to my mental vision4 ,i went into the pulpit depending entirely on ,god1 and the light broke in on my soul1 and the power of ,god fell on the people4 ,i told them how ,i was depending alone on the ,lord for the words as ,he gave them to me4 ,it was a victorious meeting4 ,i leave results with the ,lord4 ,a ,,girl ,,rescued4 ,in one of the ,canadian cities ,i found in the jail a beautiful girl who was very dissipated and unruly4 ,the officers could not control her--no one had any good influence over her4 ,the ,lord laid the burden of her soul on my heart4 ,i treated her with love and respect1 and tried in every way to win her for ,god4 ,finally1 she realized that ,i loved her soul1 though no one else cared for her4 ,then she sought the ,lord4 ,she was a ,roman ,catholic4 ,i told her ,i would go to the ,house of the ,good ,shepherd and speak to the ,mother ,superior1 and see if they would not take her in1 as she had no home4 ,she wept with joy at this1 and told me of a plan some wicked men had made to be at the jail when she was discharged at #f o'clock ,saturday evening and take her to haunts of sin4 ,i hurried out to the ,sisters early in the morning and found them at mass1 and waited1 determined to save the poor girl from further downfall1 and drunkenness4 ,the ,sisters1 seeing my anxiety and sincerity1 agreed to help me4 ,then ,i went to the officers of the jail and got them to release the girl at noon4 ,she was taken to another city and thus saved4 ,when the hour came for her release from the jail in the evening1 sure enough several men made their appearance and watched and waited for her to come out4 ,at last they began calling her name4 ,then the officers went out and told them the girl had been pardoned1 and had left at noon for another city1 with protectors4 ,another brand had been plucked from the burning for the ,master's ,kingdom4 ,,shut ,,out--,,others ,,admitted4 ,at one time amidst great inconveniences ,i reached ,kingston ,prison4 ,i saw some of the officers ,saturday night and they were kind and willingly consented that ,i should have opportunity to hold or assist in services the next day4 ,the next morning ,i went to the prison through a drenching rain--without an umbrella1 arrived early and waited for the chaplain4 ,when he came1 ,i told him my desire and what the other officers had said4 ,but he refused to even let me go inside to listen to the service4 ,when ,i asked his reason he said they would not allow women in the prison4 ,yet while ,i had been waiting ,i had seen several ,catholic sisters enter4 ,i have had similar experiences in our own land4 ,,stoned4 ,one day as ,i was passing along the street in the quaint walled city of ,quebec1 some boys threw stones at me1 while an old man urged them on1 saying1 ,if it's ,salvation ,army ye are1 ye should be killed4 ,the ,lord have mercy upon them and upon all who oppose ,his work or ,his workers4 ,for ourselves we must not count these things strange4 ,it is enough for the disciple that he be as his ,master1 and the servant as his ,lord4 ,,an ,,infidel ,,defeated4 ,while in ,toronto1 ,canada1 ,i often went to the parks on ,sabbath days and held services--the mayor of the city1 who was a devoted ,christian1 often himself helping in these open-air services4 ,one stand in the park was usually occupied by the infidel element4 ,they would hold the place all day so that others could not have the privilege of doing work for ,god--so as the place was public property upon which they had no rightful claim ,i went early and so secured the place before them4 ,when their leader arrived the people were listening to the gospel in song and testimony from worthy witnesses4 ,he was very angry--said it was his place to speak and he must have it1 and ordered me to stop and leave the stand1 but ,i kept on with the service as ,god directed and he went away a few steps and called for the people to follow him1 and he would address them4 ,no one seemed inclined to go and a bystander told him his followers were few and he had better desist from trying to disturb a religious service4 ,so we had the victory and ,god was honored that day in the work which ,he sent his servants to do4 ,among my papers ,i have found the following letters of introduction given me while in ,canada by ,hon4 ,john ,robson1 ,provincial ,secretary3 ,provincial ,secretary's ,department1 ,victoria1 ,b4 ,c41 ,oct4 #e4 ,dear ,brother3 ,the bearers of this are prison evangelists of a very high and deserving character1 whom ,i asked to call upon you4 ,if you could get up a meeting at ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a4 rooms for them1 it might do good4 ,in haste yours1 ,,john ,,robson4 99 99 99 99 99 ,provincial ,secretary's ,department1 ,victoria1 ,b4 ,c41 ,oct4 #e1 #ahhh4 ,dear ,mr4 ,mc,bride3 ,the ladies whom this will introduce to you are prison evangelists who are desirous of doing some work in the penitentiary1 and ,i take the liberty of bespeaking for them a kind reception at your hands4 ,they enjoy a high reputation and are well deserving of your kind attention4 ,very sincerely yours1 ,,john ,,robson4 ,a4 ,h4 ,mc,bride1 ,esq41 ,warden ,penitentiary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,victoria1 ,b4 ,c4 ,mr4 ,robson bespeaks for ,mrs4 ,wheaton and lady companion courteous attention at the hands of the warden of the ,victoria gaol4 ,,work ,,in ,,mexico4 ,not many years after engaging in special prison work ,i went into ,mexico and have since gone there quite frequently4 ,as a rule the people are ignorant and superstitious and consequently hard to reach with the gospel4 ,but though ,i was compelled to speak through an interpreter it is surprising how soon they know if one is sincere and earnest4 ,in the prisons they are very poorly cared for1 often having to wait years for trial and sometimes dying of neglect4 ,i am told that natives of our own land if thrown into prison there fare worse than others4 ,a ,,bull ,,fight4 ,once while in ,mexico ,i found there was to be a bull fight not far from the prison where ,i was to hold service4 ,my heart was sad because of the intense anxiety of the ,mexicans to see the exhibition4 ,they came long distances and there were many very old people who seemed impatient for the hour to arrive when ,mexicans1 bulls and horses should be thrown helplessly together--that they might view the combat4 ,this cruel sport--so long a favorite pastime both in ,spain and ,mexico--was at one time abolished but was afterward re-established out of policy--in order to please the ,mexicans4 ,for me to describe this kind of fiendish pastime would not glorify ,god1 nor help the public1 but would have a tendency to brutality1 being neither elevating nor refining4 ,but should we not1 dear reader1 try to do all in our power to lead people to a higher plane of morals and send missionaries to help people to know ,jesus who satisfies every longing of the human soul1 and gives peace and rest here1 and a home in ,heaven through eternity8 ,,six ,,under ,,death ,,sentence4 ,at another time ,i visited a prison in ,mexico where there were six men under death sentence4 ,they could not understand me1 but ,i knelt by those great1 strong men and wept and prayed to ,god who could carry the message of love through my tears to their hard hearts and they were so affected that we all wept together4 ,i am sure they were remembered that day by the ,god who sent me to show them ,his love for the lost and who gave me a love for the poor criminals that nothing can destroy4 ,,difficulties4 ,during my last trip into ,mexico1 #aijb1 ,i found the prisoners in one place in a most deplorable condition4 ,they were almost starving and neglected in every way4 ,i had considerable trouble in getting into the prison on that day1 as ,i could find no one to interpret for me4 ,so we went from one office to another trying to find some one to admit us to the prison4 ,as ,i entered one public office a fierce dog came rushing at me from an adjoining room4 ,i fled out of the door in dismay with the dog and an old ,mexican woman at my heels4 ,i tried to make her understand what we wanted and then hurried away4 ,finally we found a fellow decorated beyond description with tinsel and other adornings who furnished me an interpreter and admitted us to the prison4 ,it was very difficult to make the poor prisoners understand how deeply ,i felt for them1 but ,i could put my arms around the poor women who were there and ,i could take their little babes in my arms and thus show my sympathy1 then telling the story of ,jesus who said1 ,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do4 ,,ministered ,,to ,a ,,sufferer4 ,i found one poor wounded man who had just been brought into the prison sitting on the ground with bloody clothing and matted hair4 ,he was weeping and tried so hard to explain something to me4 ,the interpreter was evidently slow to tell me what the poor sufferer wanted4 ,i was heart-sick to know what to do1 as we had only a short time to stay and ,i could not bear to leave him without in some way ministering to him4 ,but ,i thought of the fruit remaining in my handbag4 ,i thrust an orange into his bony hands4 ,he grabbed it and with both hands thrust it to his mouth eating peel and all4 ,poor man--he was evidently starving4 ,reader ,i wish ,i could make clear to you the pitiful sight6 ,the sequel showed me why that was providentially left in my handbag4 ,how thankful ,i was to minister to that poor fellow's need in even a small degree4 ,how ,i longed to help them all4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,across the ,sea4 ,i had greatly desired to preach the gospel in other lands and held myself ever ready to go at a moment's warning1 anywhere the ,lord should lead1 and had been given letters of introduction to prominent people in ,great ,britain4 ,in the year #ahij my mind was much exercised about the regions beyond--and without time for preparation1 with but an hour's notice1 the call came to go forward4 ,i was in ,philadelphia walking along the street praying--,o ,lord1 where next--what wilt ,thou have me to do8 ,looking up ,i saw the large posters of steamship lines and the thought came to me1 ,go and inquire the price of a ticket to ,europe4 ,i obeyed the impulse and went in and talked with the steamship agent of rates and the time of departure of the first steamer4 ,then ,i left the office praying1 ,o ,god1 show me ,thy will--make ,thy way very plain to me4 ,then ,i went back to the office1 feeling that ,i must get alone with the ,lord4 ,i asked the agent if ,i might go into a rear office which was unoccupied1 to pray4 ,he very courteously replied1 ,certainly1 madam4 ,there ,i knelt before the ,lord and inquired if ,he wanted me to go at once--that very night--on the first steamer1 to ,scotland4 ,the answer came clearly3 ,go1 my child1 nothing doubting4 ,i arose1 went into the front office and explained to the agent the nature of my mission work2 and how for years ,i had obeyed the leadings of the ,holy ,spirit and that ,i had a sister traveling with me who was waiting at the depot for my return1 to know where we would go next4 ,told him ,i would buy two steerage tickets for ,glasgow1 ,scotland1 if he would refund the money for the one in case the sister was unwilling to go with me4 ,to this he consented1 so ,i purchased the tickets and hurried to the railway station where ,i had left my friend4 ,i knew we had only a few moments to catch the train for ,new ,york in order to reach the steamer ,devonia for ,glasgow4 ,hurriedly ,i said to her1 ,do you want to go to ,europe8 ,oh1 yes1 she replied4 ,when8 ,i asked4 ,oh1 some time1 was the answer4 ,then ,i said1 ,i have two tickets4 ,it is now or never4 ,if you wish to go ,i will take you1 if not1 ,i will go alone and you can return the ticket and get the money for yourself4 ,she said1 ,i will go4 ,so we rushed to the gate1 caught the train on the move1 and reached ,new ,york in time to get aboard the ,devonia4 ,,on ,,the ,,ocean4 ,leaving ,america's shores far behind us1 we found ourselves doomed to a stormy voyage1 but with plenty of missionary work to do4 ,there was1 in the steerage1 much profanity1 continual drunkenness of both men and women1 and card playing at all times only when the passengers were sleeping or too sea-sick4 ,while in mid-ocean we encountered a severe storm which greatly delayed us4 ,there were only six ,christians on board the steamer4 ,i believe it was in answer to prayer that the ship was saved from wreck4 ,after thirteen days on the ocean1 we saw the shores of ,bonnie ,scotland1 and as we neared port there was great rejoicing among the passengers--almost all of whom were going home4 ,but how different it was with me6 ,i felt much as ,paul did when he said to the elders of the church at ,ephesus1 ,and now1 behold1 ,i go bound in the spirit unto ,jerusalem1 not knowing the things that shall befall me there3 save that the ,holy ,ghost witnesseth in every city1 saying that bonds and afflictions abide me4 ,like him ,i felt that suffering and persecution and perhaps imprisonment and death was before me in that strange land1 but ,paul was enabled to say1 ,but none of these things move me1 neither count ,i my life dear unto myself1 so that ,i might finish my course with joy1 and the ministry which ,i have received of the ,lord ,jesus1 to testify the gospel of the grace of ,god2 and with something of the same spirit ,i was enabled to say1 as ,i wept before ,him1 ,lord1 ,i will be true--only give me ,thy grace sufficient for me4 ,,in ,a ,,foreign ,,land4 ,i was a stranger in a strange land with only a few shillings and without any great degree of strength of body and1 strange to say1 for one reason and another ,i never saw one of those to whom ,i carried letters of introduction4 ,how the ,lord was teaching me not to lean on the arm of flesh6 ,in answer to a letter of inquiry written to one to whom one letter was addressed1 ,i received the following very kind reply from her husband3 #aa ,walker ,st41 ,edinburgh1 ,oct4 #ah1 #ahij4 ,dear ,friend3 ,your letter of the #afth1 with one from ,miss ,sisson1 has just reached me1 forwarded from ,crieff4 ,since ,miss ,sisson's letter was written my dear wife has fallen asleep in ,jesus and having left ,crieff ,i am in lodgings for the present in ,edinburgh with my sister and five children4 ,i have been praying over the subject of your letter1 but ,i do not have any light on the matter nor am ,i likely1 so far as ,i can see1 to be in ,glasgow for some time4 ,yet if the ,lord sent you to ,scotland ,he will certainly show you what ,he has for you to do4 ,trust in the ,lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding3 in all thy ways acknowledge ,him and ,he shall direct thy paths4 ,i enclose a one-pound note towards expenses4 ,yours in ,christ1 ,g4 ,w4 ,,oldham4 ,at the landing in ,glasgow1 ,i inquired of the policeman on duty and secured a room with his family4 ,then ,i went in search of a meeting4 ,found the car-fare a penny a mile and other customs quite different from ours4 ,the first meeting ,i found corresponded to our ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a4 meetings4 ,but our special mission was to the lost4 ,that evening ,i received permission from the policeman to hold open-air meetings4 ,going along the street a woman who was drunk spied me and rushed after me beating me on the back4 ,as ,i made no resistance other drunken women joined their companion in sin and ,i would have had a hard time of it had not the police protected me4 ,these drunken women thought that ,i belonged to the ,salvation ,army1 as the bonnet ,i then wore was quite similar to the one dear ,mother ,booth had worn and ,i was often told that ,i looked like her4 ,i was in ,scotland when she passed to her reward in the land where there are no slums1 no sinners to rescue1 to weep over and save4 ,had ,i been near enough how gladly would ,i have joined the great throng that gathered to show honor to her memory6 ,nearly every night while in ,glasgow found us on the streets preaching1 singing1 and praying1 with those who never went to church--many of them not even to the ,salvation ,army or missions4 ,in many respects we found worse conditions than in our home-land4 ,the public houses were always filled at night with men and often their whole families--drinking all kinds of intoxicants--women with infants in their arms as well as others drinking with men at the bar4 ,and the most beautiful girls to be found were secured by the keepers of these houses to stand behind the bar and sell the drinks4 ,the prisons1 my special burden1 ,i found very difficult of access for missionary work4 ,i found that women were not expected1 there1 to do that kind of work4 ,yet ,i fasted and prayed and wept before the ,lord1 pleading that the prison doors might be opened to me and at last ,i was successful in gaining admission to some of them4 ,after some delay ,i was admitted to ,duke ,street jail1 in ,glasgow1 and there held several services4 ,it is a large prison1 filled with the baser sort and those whom the public houses had been licensed to make drunkards--to cause to reel and stagger and abuse and kill when unconscious of what they were doing4 ,the ,lord's presence was revealed in our services there and souls got help from ,god1 and ,i hope to meet many of them in heaven4 ,we visited the poor in their homes1 different penal institutions--all of the missions and ,salvation ,army ,corps and many of the churches4 ,while time lasts we will find much to do to help those around us4 ,,my ,,life ,,in ,,danger4 ,oftentimes my life was in danger when visiting the saloons1 which are there called public houses--the keepers being called publicans4 ,often the keepers of brothels and other places of sin drew revolvers on me--threatening me with death if ,i did not leave1 as they did not want to lose their customers and their money--which they were sure to do if souls were converted there1 but the ,lord always delivered me when death stared me in the face4 ,one day ,i went into a public house where a woman kept a dive4 ,she at once got very angry1 demanded my business1 and ordered me to leave her place4 ,she clutched me with a fiendish grip1 and pushed me out of the door1 but purposely fastened one of my arms in the door as she slammed it shut4 ,i prayed ,god to release me and with the help of the sister who was with me we got the door open enough to release my arm4 ,i am sorry to have reason to say that1 as a rule1 ,i find the women who are in charge of brothels and saloons harder to deal with than the men4 ,a woman of judgment and tact when fully saved can1 in many cases1 do more good than men from the fact that she can go where very few men could go without being looked upon with suspicion4 ,what need1 then1 that we should be emptied of self and filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 all given up to the ,lord in order that we can work successfully for ,god and souls4 ,one ,saturday night1 while in ,glasgow1 ,i preached in a church4 ,great crowds had turned out in the city spending their week's wages4 ,there was much drinking of both men and women4 ,at the church was given a ,penny ,tea1 consisting of a cup of tea and a biscuit1 thus drawing the crowds--and afterwards having some one preach to them4 ,a ,,song ,,stops ,a ,,row4 ,when the services had closed1 we were returning to our lodging and were attracted by a great crowd of people engaged in a row and a fight4 ,i soon saw there was danger of bloodshed and stepping out in the street ,i began to sing an old time hymn4 ,this drew the attention of many and they came running to hear4 ,then ,i talked to them of ,jesus and ,his love1 and we went on our way and held another service on another street4 ,then1 coming to the quarters of a company of firemen1 ,i asked if ,i might hold a service with them some time4 ,one of them replied1 ,yes1 why not now8 ,it was then #aj o'clock and raining4 ,i stepped into the street and began singing4 ,across the way there was a dance hall with dancing going on upon the three floors of the hall4 ,as ,i sang1 the windows of the hall were lowered with a crash1 perhaps to keep out the rain--perhaps to keep out the sound of my voice4 ,as we proceeded with the service a policeman soon appeared and ordered me to stop4 ,i told him ,i was not violating any ordinance of the city and only holding the service at the request of these firemen4 ,he was angry and threatened to arrest us4 ,he soon returned with two other officers1 and while the sister who was with me was speaking1 he took her by the arm and led her down the muddy street4 ,i began singing1 ,he is able to deliver thee4 ,the other two policemen took me by the arms and forced me through the deep mud in the street quite a long distance to the jail4 ,before being placed in the cell ,i was asked the cause of our arrest4 ,i replied1 ,for holding open-air service on the street1 and there is no law in ,scotland to forbid us from doing so4 ,we were placed in a room under guard to await the decision4 ,we could hear the shrieks of men and women delirious from drink4 ,i was asked who we were1 and replied1 ,we have come from ,america to preach the gospel4 ,after cross-questioning and severely reprimanding me they asked if ,i would hold my peace if they would let me go4 ,i answered1 ,i do not wish to disregard your request1 but ,i must obey ,god1 for that is why ,i am here4 ,and according to your law it is no crime to hold open-air services2 and it is a custom with the churches4 ,then we will put you into the cell4 ,another said1 ,no1 we cannot do that for this offense4 ,then he said ,i should be gone4 ,i said1 ,will you not send an officer to show us the way to our lodging1 as you have arrested us without a cause and it is late at night8 ,but they refused to send a guide4 ,i asked if they would give me the name of the policeman who arrested us1 and told them the matter was not yet ended2 that they did not know with whom they were dealing4 ,at first they refused to give me the names asked for2 but ,i said ,i should stay till they did so1 and ,i prevailed4 ,when we had started to try to find our way to our lodging place1 we met a lady who kindly directed us to the street and number4 ,on ,monday a sister who had been preaching among the policemen for some years1 called to see me--having heard of my arrest and treatment4 ,she was much surprised and said she could have those policemen all discharged for their conduct toward me4 ,i said1 ,no1 do not do that2 ,i only want to see them and talk to them about their souls' salvation4 ,then1 she replied1 ,i will have them come and ask your forgiveness4 ,as she started away1 ,i handed her some recommendations and railroad passes ,i had had in ,america and letters of introduction to parties in that land4 ,glancing over them she exclaimed1 ,is it possible8 ,a lady with such a recommend6 ,these letters are addressed to some of the best people in ,great ,britain4 ,will you trust me with these till ,i return8 ,certainly1 ,i replied4 ,she returned in due time1 saying the policemen would come and make an apology4 ,i was very glad1 for ,i felt then that ,i could tell them it was the love of ,christ for the lost ones of earth that constrained me to speak on the streets4 ,many ladies called during the day to give me their sympathy and show their interest4 ,the policeman who caused the arrest came and asked me to forgive him4 ,he bowed with us in prayer1 and sobs shook his heavy frame while his tears fell like rain4 ,he said1 ,it is like mother used to talk1 and it is the same kind of religion she had in olden times4 ,i believe that man found ,christ his ,savior that day4 ,he told us of his wife sick at home and two wee bairns1 and as he could get no girl at home1 he had overworked2 and on that ,saturday night had taken too much liquor in order to keep him awake4 ,he invited me to call upon his family4 ,this ,i did the following day1 and found it as he had said4 ,the two other men that had a part in arresting us came the following day4 ,one of them seemed very penitent when ,i talked to them1 and both humbly begged my pardon for their conduct toward me4 ,while in ,glasgow ,i was invited by ,general ,evans1 of the ,gospel ,army1 to conduct special services for ten nights at their hall--commonly known as the ,globe ,theater4 ,we copy the following from an editorial of the ,general's published in his paper while we were there3 ,hearing of these evangelists we decided to invite them to ,globe ,theater1 and truly we can say ,god has visited his people4 ,they do not believe in forms and ceremonies like us formal ,scotch ,christians1 but speak as they are moved by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,they live by faith and do not ask for money or collections2 however1 they seem to get on very well1 and ,i never yet heard them grumbling about having too little4 ,they take whatever is given them as from the ,lord1 and give ,him their sincere thanks accordingly4 ,they have spent over a week speaking and singing every night in our meetings1 and not a few have been impressed by the earnest words of our sisters4 ,some of the professors have had their short-comings pretty well threshed out1 the writer coming in for his share4 ,our meetings have been well attended and ,i believe a really good work has been begun in our midst4 ,the elder lady carries about with her a book full of newspaper clippings and numerous testimonials about her work in ,america4 ,her special field is in the prisons and among the unfortunates4 ,she takes no stock in sensational worship1 but there is always a great sensation wherever she puts in an appearance4444 ,in closing ,i may say that our heaven-bound sisters have had some severe trials since leaving their native shores4 ,eternity alone will reveal the amount they have endured for the ,master's sake4 ,before they had been many hours in ,glasgow they were marched off to jail for preaching at a street corner1 and gathering a crowd4 ,i trust this epistle will open up our cold1 hard hearts and that we may receive our sisters as is our duty as a ,christian community4 ,,tumult ,,in ,a ,,dive4 ,fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer3 behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried2 99 99 99 ,be thou faithful unto death and ,i will give thee a crown of life4--,rev4 #b3aj4 ,one ,sunday night1 as ,i was on my way going from the meeting1 being in company with ,general ,evans and his wife and the sister who traveled with me1 ,i saw a public house open and went in and began to speak to the men and women4 ,i had only talked a few minutes when the proprietor came in and asked1 ,are you a customer here8 ,i replied1 ,no1 ,i am only speaking to these people about their souls4 ,he said1 ,now you leave1 or ,i'll make you4 ,he ran into a back room1 and coming out he passed me quickly1 running to the door and blowing a long blast on a police whistle4 ,this aroused the people and brought to the scene several policemen and hundreds of people of all classes in general fright4 ,a man rushed in and catching me by the arm cried1 ,come out of this place1 quick1 or you'll be killed4 ,you are in danger4 ,you don't know where you are6 ,this is the ,gallow ,gate2 the worst place in ,glasgow4 ,i said to him1 ,let me alone1 ,i am obeying ,god4 ,but as the policemen closed in around me there was a cry raised1 ,it is ,jack the ,ripper in disguise4 ,the excitement in those days was intense all over ,europe4 ,jack the ,ripper was a fiend in human form that was killing women continually in the most horrifying manner and in cold blood4 ,you might see on a bulletin board in the city that a murder would be committed on such a day and hour and these threats would be carried out4 ,yet he defied the detectives and police4 ,large rewards were offered for his capture4 ,i saw that my life was in danger unless ,i could convince them of their mistake1 of which ,i now saw the cause4 ,i was dressed differently from them4 ,i had on a long black cloak and had thrown my black shawl over my head concealing my bonnet1 and carried a bag on my arm which contained my recommendations1 railway passes1 etc4 ,i said3 ,you are mistaken1 gentlemen1 ,i am not ,jack the ,ripper 7removing my shawl71 ,i am a missionary from ,america2 and preaching at the ,globe ,theater every night4 ,come and hear me there4 ,there is no cause for this tumult4 ,the ,general and his wife having come in1 we passed out1 the mob following us several blocks with shouts and screams giving me some blows as we went4 ,but ,god delivered us from their cruel hands4 ,a ,,mob ,,of ,,drunken ,,women4 ,another night when returning from the ,globe ,theater in company with ,general and ,mrs4 ,evans we heard a great noise up the street and soon discovered that it was made by a mob of some kind4 ,on their coming nearer1 we found it was an immense crowd of drunken fallen girls4 ,the ,general said3 ,hide yourselves quick6 ,there is no telling what they might do4 ,the policemen had slunk away--not caring to try to make any arrests1 as there were so many of them and they were so violent4 ,poor souls6 ,they were some mothers' girls who perhaps had learned to love the taste of strong drink before they saw the light and were bound by both inherited and acquired appetite4 ,i was told that on an average there were four drunken women in ,glasgow for every drunken man4 ,such a statement seems beyond belief1 but during our stay we saw much to indicate that it was true4 ,what could the harvest be8 ,while in ,scotland ,i received a very precious letter of encouragement and sympathy from ,col4 ,geo4 ,r4 ,clarke and wife of ,pacific ,garden ,mission1 ,chicago4 ,i give it here and the reader can easily realize how comforting it proved to me4 ,chicago1 ,october #bi1 #ahij4 ,my ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,we received yours written from ,glasgow last night4 ,i am sorry they treat you so badly there4 ,but that is the way nice appearing people treated our blessed ,lord when on earth1 and the way they would treat ,him now should ,he come to earth in the flesh4 ,but it is blessed to us1 said ,jesus1 when men persecute us4 ,we have a right then to rejoice as ,he told us4 ,the ,lord will stand by you as ,he did by ,paul4 ,he will never leave you nor forsake you4 ,so you can boldly say3 ,the ,lord is my helper and ,i will not fear what man shall do unto me4 ,the ,lord's work is prospering at our ,mission and we are much encouraged in it4 ,we have large meetings and many precious souls for ,christ every night4 ,we have started a noonday prayer-meeting for both sexes4 ,the ,lord is greatly blessing the meetings4 ,we have souls converted there right along at every meeting4 ,we will pray for you and may the dear ,lord greatly bless you in your work and labor of love which you do in ,his name4 ,we have only a little time left now to wait for ,him4 ,the signs are thickening and ,he will soon rush into view and then we shall hear ,him say1 ,well done1 good and faithful servant1 enter thou in to the joy of thy ,lord4 ,praise ,his dear name4 ,glory to ,god6 ,hallelujah666 ,what a meeting that will be6 ,it will be our time to laugh then1 but our persecutors will weep and wail4 ,may ,god be merciful to them now and give them repentance before that awful day4 ,don't be in a hurry to die and go to heaven4 ,you are more needed by the ,lord down here just now than in heaven4 ,there are no sinners there to whom to preach ,his gospel and ,he tells us to ,go and preach not go to heaven4 ,he will take us all home in ,his own good time4 ,let us patiently wait for ,him and occupy until ,he comes4 ,with much ,christian love we are yours in ,christ4 ,,col4 ,,and ,,mrs4 ,,geo4 ,r4 ,,clarke4 ,,in ,,paisley4 ,i was summoned by telegram to go on to ,paisley1 ,scotland1 to hold services for the ,gospel ,army in that place4 ,we went immediately4 ,found the city well informed of our coming by large striking posters which read3 ,hear the ,american ,prison ,evangelists--,be sure to hear these ladies who have preached on the ruins of the ,johnstown horror6 ,who have visited all the prisons of note in ,america--led murderers to the scaffold1 etc4 ,i was not accustomed to such sensational advertising and tore down the posters ,i came across and chided with the ,general for advertising us in such a way4 ,he kindly explained that it was customary in their work in order to arrest the attention of the people and arouse interest in our meetings4 ,perhaps he was right but it was something of a trial to me to be brought before the people in that way4 ,we found much to do in ,paisley1 not only in the night services but on the streets1 in the homes of refuge and in homes4 ,found twelve hundred girls employed in the ,coats ,thread ,works and eight hundred girls in ,clark's ,thread ,works4 ,found great poverty among the laboring classes1 as there was much dissipation among both men and women4 ,just before leaving ,paisley ,i was called to go and hold services in the ,refuge for ,fallen ,women4 ,during the services there did not seem to be much feeling concerning their soul's salvation4 ,it seemed ,i could not reach them4 ,at last1 near the close of the meeting1 ,i said3 ,girls1 ,i am going away to my own land4 ,i will never see you on earth again4 ,will you not try and live so you will meet me in heaven8 ,if so1 raise your hands4 ,not one hand was raised4 ,then ,i said1 ,girls1 won't you pray8 ,no sign yet4 ,girls1 shall ,i pray for you when far away8 ,if so1 raise your hands8 ,not a hand went up4 ,i was almost discouraged4 ,could ,i leave that great crowd of lost women to go on in their awful career without at least one manifesting a desire for a better life8 ,how could ,i meet them at the ,judgment8 ,at last ,i said3 ,girls1 ,i leave to-morrow for ,america4 ,i am all alone4 ,only this young woman with me4 ,how many of you will pray for us as we cross the ocean again to go to our own land8 ,if any one will pray for us1 won't you raise your hand8 ,every hand went up1 and ,god's ,holy ,spirit crept unawares into their hearts--so long unused to prayer1 and the spell of evil was broken1 and ,god reached them4 ,o the melting1 tender spirit which filled the room6 ,and that company1 ,i believe1 gave ,god their hearts4 ,in learning to pray for us1 their sisters1 they found ,god1 and ,i trust to meet many1 if not all1 of those dear souls in heaven4 ,jesus said1 ,neither do ,i condemn thee2 go and sin no more4 ,and then the confessions1 the tears1 the promises6 ,bless ,god1 ,his word will not return void4 ,shortly after my arrival in ,america ,i received the following letter1 which explains itself1 from the matron of this ,home3 ,female ,refuge1 ,paisley1 ,scotland1 ,march #bc1 #ahia4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,friend3 ,glad ,i was to know that you had in ,god's good ,providence arrived safe at home among your dear ones1 and rejoice also with you that the work is prospering in your hand4 ,i have been called upon to part here with dear ones since ,i saw you1 but they are gone before me only a little while4 ,my assistants are all with me yet1 and with myself had much pleasure in your card4 ,we often talk of you and your young friend that accompanied you4 ,i do hope she is still with you4 ,we have now a household of thirty inmates1 many giving proof of a new life being theirs for time and eternity4 ,with our united kind regards1 ,i am ,yours truly in the ,lord's work1 ,,annie ,j4 ,,blue4 ,i have already mentioned the fact that ,i found it difficult to gain admittance to the prisons of ,scotland4 ,i waited in ,edinburgh for days1 on expense1 seeking opportunity to hold at least one service in the large prison there4 ,while waiting ,i held services in the jail and missions and open air4 ,our meetings in the open air were largely attended1 not only by the working classes1 but also by others who would stop and listen1 being attracted1 at first1 by the singing which usually drew large crowds4 ,we were much blessed in these services and especially in the slums where large numbers of neglected children gathered around us1 ragged and dirty1 but with hearts glad to learn to sing with us4 ,,return ,,to ,,america4 ,various circumstances combined that seemed to require my return to ,america and after nearly two months of constant toil in ,glasgow1 ,edinburgh1 and ,paisley1 we hurried to ,liverpool and ,november #ae took shipping for ,new ,york on the steamship ,wisconsin4 ,on this return voyage we encountered another fearful storm in which many ships went down4 ,the storm raged about four days4 ,men and women were in great fear2 some weeping1 some screaming1 some praying1 and some cursing4 ,among all that multitude there were only four ,christians2 only four souls ready to face eternity6 ,but our ,god is a very present help in time of trouble4 ,there in that terrible hour1 ,i was conscious of ,his presence and ,i knew that ,he was able to deliver us4 ,when the storm had abated1 with a heart full of gratitude and thanksgiving1 ,i tried to sing1 but could only utter softly the words of one old-time hymn3 ,how firm a foundation ye saints of the ,lord4 ,so wonderfully did ,god deliver us that in spite of that fearful storm we reached ,new ,york harbor after being only twelve days at sea4 ,on board these steamers a religious service is held every ,lord's day1 but it is usually led by the captain who is often an ungodly man4 ,many seemed to ease their guilty consciences by observing this form of religion4 ,but my heart was often left more hungry and sad by a service which seemed to me mere form if not a farce and mockery4 ,during this return trip ,i supposed ,i was about out of money1 and was somewhat tempted to doubt the promises1 and ,i prayed much for guidance4 ,when almost ready to land ,i took from my purse my small stock to have the steward get it changed for ,u4 ,s4 money1 and to my glad surprise ,i found in another part of the purse a pound note4 ,i could not tell how it came to be there4 ,so ,i felt reproved for my lack of faith4 ,among my old papers ,i find a touching letter written by a dear young sister to whom ,i became much attached while in ,scotland4 ,had it not been that her family were largely dependent upon her she would have gone with me in my work4 ,i give the following extract3 ,glasgow1 ,nov4 #ag1 #ahij4 ,my ,dear ,sister in ,jesus3 ,i received your card ,saturday night2 and was very much surprised to learn that you had gone so suddenly4 ,but not our will but ,god's will be done4 ,dear sister1 ,i hope you and ,nellie will have a safe passage across the ocean and may the dear ,savior be very present to both of you4 ,you have ,his blessed promise1 ,fear them not2 for ,i am with thee4 ,mrs4 ,p---- and the husband were asking very kindly after you4 ,mr4 ,l---- could scarcely credit that you had gone home so suddenly4 ,several others also in the hall wish you a special blessing in your effort to win souls for the ,master1 who will reward you in ,his own time4 ,dear sister1 you do not know and you will never know until you are within the ,pearly ,gates1 how many precious souls have been brought to the knowledge of the truth through you4 ,may the dear ,lord make us truly ,holy ,ghost workers and may we have a desire to point sinners to ,jesus--the all-sufficient one--the author and finisher of our salvation4 ,glory to ,god6 ,may we be more and more like ,jesus1 humble1 meek and mild1 loving one another as the ,lord has also loved us4 ,may we be clean1 empty vessels for the ,master's use4 ,dear ,jesus1 do strip us of everything that would hinder the blessing and would keep our joy from being full4 ,write soon2 and if we do not meet again on earth1 with ,god's help we will meet in heaven1 ,praise ,god6 ,your loving sister in ,jesus1 ,,rachel ,,smith4 ,,second ,,visit ,,to ,,europe4 ,in the year #ahif the ,lord made plain to me that it was ,his will that ,i should again go to ,europe4 ,while in ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 ,i was led to return to ,iowa1 and there found that a band of missionaries who were ready to start for ,africa had been praying that ,i might come and go with them as far as ,new ,york4 ,when they saw me alight at their door1 they shouted and praised the ,lord4 ,when ,i asked them the reason they said because ,god had answered prayer--that they had prayed ,god to send me to see them off for ,africa4 ,while we were holding a few meetings in ,philadelphia ,i felt directed to go on with them as far as ,london1 so purchased my ticket with theirs1 taking steerage passage across the ocean for the third time4 ,immediately after getting my ticket there came upon me a wonderful outpouring of the ,spirit and an assurance that was unmistakable that ,i was in divine order4 ,when ,i told those young missionaries ,i was going with them as far as ,london they told me they had been praying that ,i might be led to do that very thing4 ,after a safe voyage we reached ,southampton in seven days4 ,one ,sabbath afternoon in ,london when we were holding an open-air meeting on the street1 ,god opened the flood-gates of ,heaven1 and ,i with others sang and preached under the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,a ,christian came and said1 ,sister ,wheaton1 there is a preacher here who wants to speak to you4 ,i refused to go1 as there were drunkards and toughs on their knees under conviction of sin4 ,i thought he was a preacher who wanted to criticise my methods4 ,they called me again1 and ,i went to see what was wanted4 ,i found a fine-looking1 well-dressed man much past middle age under awful conviction of sin4 ,he was a backslider1 and had stopped in passing1 being attracted by a hymn ,i was singing--one his mother used to sing4 ,yet he was unwilling to yield himself to ,god4 ,some of those in the company had talked with him and begged him to kneel4 ,at last his stubborn will was broken1 and he knelt there on that ,london street and confessed his sins to ,god4 ,when he arose from his knees he said he had been on his way with a dagger then in his coat sleeve1 to commit suicide1 but was attracted by that song his mother used to sing1 and could go no further4 ,thus by the power of the ,holy ,ghost that ,presiding ,elder was saved on the streets through faithful1 honest trust in ,god1 where the preacher and the drunkard knelt side by side in the dust4 ,i hope to meet them in ,heaven1 and trust that all found peace with ,god4 ,the word says1 ,go out in the streets and lanes of the city1 and in the hedges and highways4 ,jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost1 not the righteous but sinners4 ,he came to save4 ,how often people are waiting for ,christians1 who profess to have salvation1 to speak to them1 and how glad they are to receive the message if delivered in love4 ,i was located for a time at ,woolwich1 near the ,london ,arsenal4 ,there were stationed thousands of soldiers and they were often found in the public houses under the influence of drink4 ,i would plead with them to quit sinning1 turn to ,god1 and seek salvation4 ,often tears were shed1 and resolves made to serve the ,lord4 ,there are many incidents of souls being saved on the streets1 in the slums and public houses1 but space forbids my going into details1 but suffice it to say that ,i have been given many proofs of ,god's love and mercy from among the thousands who have heard the gospel in those far-off lands1 as well as in our home land4 ,then let us encourage our missionaries everywhere to press on until the ,master says1 ,it is enough1 come up higher4 ,i was much pained1 while in ,england1 to see so many young women there1 as in ,scotland1 selling beer and other strong drink to customers in the public houses2 beautiful girls selling their souls to the tempter to be lost forever unless in some way rescued before it is too late4 ,during this second visit to ,europe ,i was often stopped on the street and asked to sing to the people1 which ,i frequently did1 regardless of remarks or criticisms1 and the ,lord blessed my singing to the good of many souls4 ,while in ,london1 night after night ,i would sing and preach the gospel to people who longed for salvation1 but knew not how to get saved4 ,how often we neglect an opportunity to do good4 ,years after some of our missionaries returning from ,africa1 passing through ,london1 heard the people calling to them1 ,where is that old lady who sang for us8 ,so we labor not in vain4 ,in due season we shall reap if we faint not4 ,after spending several weeks in ,england 7most of the time in ,london7 ,i saw that precious band of young missionaries take the steamer for ,africa4 ,the next day ,i embarked for home at ,southampton4 ,soon after starting we sighted the vessel on which they sailed and ,i could distinguish some of them waving their handkerchiefs in farewell4 ,one of them died in ,africa ten months later4 ,by and by we shall meet again in the ,kingdom of heaven1 each one1 ,i trust1 bringing with us sheaves to lay at ,jesus' feet4 ,during the return voyage the sea was stormy at times1 yet the voyage was made safely1 and on ,sabbath morning1 the day after my arrival in ,new ,york1 ,i went to the ,tombs prison to hold services4 ,i was very tired1 and after the services ,i was so faint ,i prayed for the ,lord to open the way for me to have some refreshments1 as ,i was to preach in the afternoon at a ,rescue ,mission4 ,there were many elegantly dressed lady visitors at that meeting1 but they all passed out and left me alone1 when a young1 humble-looking man came to me and said1 ,we are very poor1 and are able to afford but one meal a day1 and not a full meal at that1 but it would be such a blessing to my wife and myself if you would come and share it with us4 ,my heart was touched that this stranger should offer to share the little they had1 when others never thought of my needs4 ,i did not go with him1 although ,i thanked him2 it was so far to his home1 but ,god will reward him4 ,for ,jesus said1 ,i was a stranger and ye took me in1 hungry and ye fed me2 ,i was in prison and ye came unto me1 sick and ye visited me4 ,behold a homeless wanderer1 poor and thinly clad1 ,to biting cold a victim1 with hunger almost mad1 ,entering yonder mansion1 dares to boldly steal ,what none should e'er deny a dog--the pittance of a meal6 ,see the greedy sleuth-hounds of the outraged law ,wage against this robber an unrelenting war2 ,while ,christian judge and jury1 with ready wit1 declare ,his crime an awful outrage1 that merits prison fare6 ,but he who rears his costly domes ,o'er wreck and ruin of human homes1 ,plants in the breast a raging thirst ,and leaves his victims doubly cursed1 ,can roll in luxury1 loll in pride ,and1 with the law1 his gain divide6 ,tho' every dime he pays the state ,a thousand cost in wakened hate6 --,geo4 ,w4 ,h4 ,harrison4 ,learn that in many a loathsome cell ,a prisoned genius or a saint may dwell1 ,whose power1 developed by an act of love1 ,may lead a million to the ,courts above4 ,shall it be yours to touch that vibrant chord ,and share the honor of the great reward8 ,what heaven endorses that alone can stand2 ,all else is stubble1 built on shifting sand4 --,g4 ,w4 ,h4 ,h4 ,illustration3 ,,state ,,prison1 ,,joliet1 ,,ill4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,travel and ,toil4 ,,two ,,nights' ,,service4 ,at one time when suffering from nervous prostration ,i was lovingly cared for for some weeks in the home of dear brother ,h4 ,l4 ,hastings1 of ,boston4 ,one night while there ,i said to him3 ,i must go to the city tonight4 ,he replied3 ,sister ,wheaton1 have you prayed about it8 ,i said1 ,yes4 ,he answered1 ,go and pray again4 ,i did so and returned to his office1 saying1 ,i must go to the city tonight4 ,they were having watchnight service in the city4 ,again he replied3 ,the night is very cold and you are sick4 ,go and pray and find out the mind of ,god4 ,again ,i went to my room to inquire diligently of the ,lord and was sure that the call of the ,spirit was that ,i should go4 ,again ,i returned to his office and told him ,i must go to the city that night4 ,once more he replied3 ,sister ,wheaton1 go and pray4 ,as ,i wept before the ,lord ,he showed me the city given up to idolatry and sin and again ,i went to ,brother ,hastings' office and said3 ,i must go to the city4 ,he dropped his pen and hurriedly said3 ,wife and ,i will go with you4 ,it was one of the coldest nights ,boston had known for years1 but from one saloon to another the ,lord led us and from one watchnight meeting to another until near midnight we entered a ,mission hall4 ,a fine-looking1 well-dressed young man from the platform hurried down and said to me3 ,mother1 ,i am so glad to see you4 ,come on the platform and speak to the people4 ,i looked at the man and he said3 ,don't you know me1 mother8 ,when ,i said ,no1 he answered3 ,don't you know your boy8 ,i looked at him--so beautiful in the service of ,god--and then he said3 ,i was in prison and you came and prayed and sang for me4 ,i was in the hospital1 and got saved there1 and ,god is still blessing your boy4 ,reader1 did it pay8 ,yes1 that night my heart rejoiced in my ,savior for all ,he had done for me and for my children in prison walls4 ,for seventeen years now this man has been a blessing in helping to save others4 ,another watchnight ,i spent in ,st4 ,louis1 ,missouri4 ,feeling weary1 ,i was about to retire for the night1 when the ,lord showed me to go on the street and do service for ,him4 ,so1 doubting not1 ,i pressed out for a cold night's work in the slums4 ,the sister who entertained me went with me to the places of sin and also to six different watch-meetings1 at which we witnessed for the ,master1 leaving the results with the ,lord1 who said3 ,and the books were opened1 and another book was opened1 which is the book of life2 and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books1 according to their works4 ,,one ,,week',s ,,work4 ,a few years since1 on arriving in ,omaha after returning from the ,east1 ,i telephoned the jailer at the county jail3 ,can ,i have a meeting8 ,yes1 came the reply4 ,there were a good many prisoners and we had a good service4 ,sister ,kelley1 of ,tabor1 ,iowa1 was with me4 ,our singing seemed much appreciated4 ,went from there to the city jail4 ,held services there1 and in the evening in a ,rescue ,mission4 ,at midnight we boarded the train for ,deer ,lodge1 ,montana4 ,en route our train stopped for a couple of hours at ,ogden1 ,utah1 and while there we visited the ,florence ,crittenton ,rescue ,home--where we were warmly welcomed by both the matron and the girls and had a blessed service4 ,god bless them all6 ,illustration3 ,,prison ,,at ,,deer ,,lodge1 ,,mont4 ,we arrived at the ,state prison at ,deer ,lodge on ,saturday1 and had the privilege of preaching to the many prisoners the following day4 ,god blessed me in speaking1 both to the men and women4 ,we sang many old-time hymns and some new ones4 ,took each prisoner by the hand as they passed out1 visited the sick prisoners and went to two churches that night1 and visited the women prisoners on ,monday morning1 and had real victory in prayer for them4 ,then bidding goodbye to all we left for the prison at ,boise ,city1 ,idaho1 where we arrived ,tuesday4 ,telephoned the warden asking permission to hold service at the prison4 ,the privilege was granted and a team was sent for us4 ,we found a large number of prisoners and the officials kind1 and had a good service of an hour4 ,visited the poor1 condemned men in their cells1 prayed and wept with them1 and commended them to the great loving ,god who said3 ,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be white as snow2 though they be red like crimson1 they shall be as wool4 ,after seeing the sick we left the prison2 but my heart was greatly drawn out for those men under death sentence4 ,i felt that one of them 7a foreigner7 was innocent4 ,i was almost overcome with sorrow4 ,they were my children and ,i never would see them again in this world1 and yet ,i was powerless to help them6 ,from ,boise ,city we went to ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,when we arrived at the penitentiary there and mentioned our desire to hold a service the warden's kind wife said3 ,the warden is in the city and they are under contract and must get their work done immediately--but you lie down and rest--you are worn out 7and ,i was74 ,so ,i slept until ,i heard her tender voice1 saying1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 lunch is ready and the warden says he will give you forty minutes after dinner in the chapel with the men4 ,i was so glad and said3 ,this is all through your kindness and ,god will reward you4 ,i found the men seated1 waiting for me1 in the chapel and thankfully ,i improved that opportunity1 knowing that eternity would reveal the results of that service4 ,i was permitted to see the two men under death sentence and sing and pray with them1 and tell them of a ,savior mighty to save and strong to deliver2 then with sad heart ,i left them--never to meet them again till the trumpet should sound4 ,precious in ,god's sight were those poor1 forsaken1 criminals6 ,and1 reader1 as ,i write these lines down in the slums of ,chicago1 ,i see opposite me the saloon open day and night luring men and women inside1 fitting them also for the prison and perhaps for the scaffold6 ,leaving the prison at ,salt ,lake1 we hurried to the county jail1 held services in two departments1 and had a good time with the prisoners2 then left for the city jail4 ,did what work we could there in the ,lord's name and hurried to the depot1 only stopping on the way to get a little lunch for the long journey before us4 ,weary and faint we reached the train just as it was leaving4 ,too weak to go further ,i got in the first car1 which proved to be a dining car4 ,i said3 ,the boys will allow me to sit here awhile1 and ,i heard a voice saying3 ,come in1 mother1 sit down4 ,you are welcome in my car and you must have something to eat4 ,you look tired and hungry--and wasn't ,i8 ,and when ,i told him of my friend in another car he had me bring her also and gave us both a good supper1 and was ,i not thankful to ,god for that kind welcome from the dining car conductor1 who knew me8 ,surely ,god will reward him4 ,i hope to meet and know him in that land where we shall never get weary and hungry4 ,we arrived at ,rawlins1 ,wyoming1 at nine the next morning4 ,we hurried to the prison4 ,it was ,decoration ,day and most of the guards were off for a holiday--the men being locked in their cells4 ,the warden kindly said to us3 ,i wish ,i could let you talk to the men1 but my officers are gone and there is no one to guard them1 and ,i am compelled to remain at the office to see after business4 ,i was sure ,god had sent us1 and said3 ,will you permit us to see the men in their cells8 ,after much deliberation he said3 ,i'll tell you what ,i will do1 ,i'll turn the men loose in the dining room if you think you can control them1 and let you have an hour to talk to them4 ,i said1 ,surely ,i can manage those men--why1 they are my children1 sir1 and so down the men came from their cells and ,o such a meeting6 ,i was at home and my boys were on their honor and ,i talked to them as a mother and we sang together hymns that they knew1 and bless ,god ,he was guarding the men1 and ,i had nothing to do with the matter only to obey ,him and tell them the old1 old story of the redeeming love of a ,savior who died to save us from our sins and give to us eternal life4 ,as ,i grasped each one by the hand at parting1 ,i found the men quiet and peaceable1 humbly begging me to come again4 ,then ,i saw the heavy iron doors close between us and knew ,i would probably never see them together again as we were there1 but looked forward to the great day in which1 if he would1 each man could have a part in crowning ,jesus ,lord of lords and ,king of kings4 ,after having dinner with the few officers present in their own dining room we hurried to the jail4 ,there we were permitted to preach the gospel to the prisoners and they received us gladly4 ,as ,i left the jailer expressed his appreciation of the visit1 saying it was so good of us to come to help the prisoners--especially the girls4 ,arriving at ,lincoln1 ,nebraska1 we attended the evening service of the ,national ,campmeeting then in progress there and the next morning went to the prison4 ,the warden kindly granted us the privilege of a gospel service with the prisoners4 ,after holding this service and visiting the sick in the hospital we returned to the camp ground4 ,reached there during a testimony service just in time to be invited by the leader to sing a certain hymn4 ,instantly ,i was on my feet and soon on the platform saying1 ,yes1 ,i will sing1 but first ,i must sing1 ,the toils of the road will seem nothing ,when we get to the end of the way4 ,and shouts of praise went up to ,god all over that ground1 for ,he especially anointed me to sing that hymn4 ,i felt every word of it1 for though weary and tired from the journey1 ,i knew ,god had been with me and had given victory all along the way4 ,in this brief sketch ,i have failed to mention some services held in missions and also special services on all the trains on which we traveled--perhaps bringing to some their last warning4 ,one night during this week's journey a crowd of drunken men boarded the train4 ,they were so abusive to me that ,i went outside the car door4 ,when ,i went in the next car ,i found the same kind dining car conductor ,i have before mentioned4 ,at his inquiry as to what was the matter ,i just knelt and prayed and then told him how the drunken men had acted4 ,he said3 ,come with me4 ,this won't do4 ,i will see that you and your sister have a sleeper4 ,he went with me into the other car1 and when the men saw the man in uniform with me they tried to be very polite4 ,they were under the influence of drink and in a sense not responsible for their actions4 ,who is responsible8 ,the saloon1 the brewery1 the devil who uses these things to make men and women oftentimes more like fiends than creatures made in the image and likeness of ,god1 and all who fail to use their influence against the liquor traffic are responsible4 ,from ,lincoln we went to ,omaha where we parted feeling that the days had been spent for ,god and souls--the dear sister to return to her work in the missionary training home at ,tabor1 ,iowa1 ,i to hurry on to ,chicago1 taking with me one of the sisters ,i met for the first time in the slum mission work in ,omaha a week previous4 ,so we turned over that week's work to the ,lord of the harvest1 who will see that the seed scattered along life's pathway shall bring forth fruit unto eternal life4 ,a ,,profitable ,,trip4 ,walking along the street in ,chicago on my way to the ,cook ,county ,jail to see the car-barn bandits and one or two others under death sentence1 ,i was impressed that ,i must go to some ,state ,prison for ,easter1 only two days off4 ,i stopped and prayed1 inquiring of the ,lord where he would have me go4 ,i had been east and just arrived in the city1 weary and worn1 but ,i knew the voice of ,god was saying1 ,go6 but where and by what route ,i knew not4 ,i stood still until the ,lord made it plain to go westward--to what place ,i need not know1 but to go to the railroad office and get transportation4 ,when ,i entered the office the kind official said1 ,what can ,i do for you1 ,mother8 ,at first ,i answered1 ,i hardly know what to ask for1 as it is not yet plain to me just where to go2 but a little later ,i said to him1 ,i must go to ,canon ,city1 ,colorado4 ,all right1 he said1 and gave me transportation4 ,it was then too late1 under ordinary circumstances1 to visit the jail1 but ,i felt that ,i must see those condemned boys before their execution1 and ,i prayed that ,god would open my way and incline the heart of the jailer1 ,mr4 ,whitman1 to grant me the desired opportunity4 ,to my surprise ,i found ,mr4 ,whitman on the street car4 ,i told him that ,i must leave the city at once for western prisons and asked if he would kindly give me permission to see the condemned men who were in his charge1 before ,i left1 as ,i could not return before the day set for execution4 ,he was very kind and answered1 ,yes1 ,i will send an officer with you to see the boys4 ,that hour will never be forgotten4 ,instead of tough1 rough looking men ,i found mother's boys in the prime of their young manhood4 ,kindly1 tenderly ,i talked to them1 thinking to myself1 what if it were my boy1 now safe in ,heaven8 ,o sisters1 it seemed to me my heart would break as ,i placed my hands on their heads1 so soon to be cold in death and commended them to the ,god who sent ,his only begotten ,son1 who1 when on the cross1 said1 ,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do6 ,i left the prison1 praying that my message might not be in vain4 ,upon leaving ,chicago over the ,santa ,fe railroad on my way west1 ,i prayed earnestly for direction as to what prison ,i should visit on ,easter ,sunday and was impressed to stop at ,joliet4 ,the warden1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 and his estimable wife were kind and hospitable1 as they always are1 and the chaplain was willing that ,i should have a part in the services on the ,sabbath4 ,god was present in power in all the services4 ,many of the prisoners partook of the communion with their teachers and chaplain4 ,the ,lord alone can reward the warden's wife for her special kindness to me at this time1 for ,i was taken sick from overwork and detained over ,monday4 ,i then left at midnight for ,topeka1 ,kansas1 where the ,lord sent me to the railroad shops to hold services at the noon hour while the men were resting after lunch4 ,our meeting with them was signally owned and blessed of ,god4 ,at its close ,i shook hands with each of those hundreds of men and then went to the jail where the ,lord again graciously met with us4 ,reaching ,pueblo on our way to ,canon ,city we telephoned the jailer--also the matron of the ,rescue ,home--and obtained permission to hold services at each on our return4 ,at ,canon ,city the warden and his wife gave us a most kind and courteous welcome and he granted the privilege of holding services for the prisoners in the chapel1 also at the hospital and cell houses4 ,i visited their night school4 ,it was very interesting to see so many teaching other prisoners4 ,the most important part of my work at ,canon ,city1 however1 was seeing three young men who were under death sentence4 ,while ,i prayed day after day for them1 they came to see their true condition before ,god and1 ,i believe1 gave evidence of true repentance4 ,i hope to meet them all in ,heaven4 ,but oh1 what a sad sight to see those young men in the prime of life1 sentenced to die2 and all on account of strong drink4 ,how pitifully they talked of home and mother and innocent childhood days6 ,their hearts were melted and broken4 ,poor boys6 far away from home and friends1 with few to care and many to cry out1 ,they deserve to die--never seeing the cause1 the rum traffic4 ,why not stop that which sends our young men by the thousands to a drunkard's or a criminal's grave8 ,when ,i bade these young men farewell they were cheerful and confident that the ,lord had forgiven them4 ,arriving at ,pueblo on the return trip1 we went to the ,rescue ,home where we received a kind welcome2 also held services in the prison there4 ,i forgot to mention services held in jail and almshouse while in ,canon ,city4 ,at ,denver we found friends who received us kindly4 ,we held services in their mission church4 ,also held service in the large jail in which ,i conducted the first meeting ever held after it was built4 ,leaving ,denver we went to ,lincoln1 ,neb41 to hold services in the ,state ,prison on the ,sabbath4 ,found there my friends1 ,warden ,beemer and wife1 who have always been so kind to me4 ,our meetings were crowned with success and victory4 ,also did personal work1 which is important4 ,while ,i was there1 two new prisoners were brought in4 ,left ,monday for ,omaha and went at once to the ,county ,jail and held meetings in the three different wards4 ,god blessed ,his own word to the good of souls6 ,there1 as elsewhere1 ,i met some who knew me4 ,from ,omaha ,i went to ,chicago1 where ,i spent some time in missions1 etc4 ,,six ,,weeks' ,,service4 ,about ,july #a1 #aijd1 ,i spent some time in ,st4 ,louis1 visiting the slums1 dives and saloons1 faithfully warning the multitudes ,i found in sin4 ,left there for ,jefferson ,city1 where ,i held services in the ,state ,prison4 ,we give here the following extract written by the sister who accompanied me on this trip3 ,,my ,,trip ,,to ,,jefferson ,,city4 ,i was glad to have the opportunity of visiting the prison in ,jefferson ,city with ,mother ,wheaton1 who is one of our oldest and most successful prison workers4 ,we were off early ,saturday morning1 ,july #b1 and arrived there at #b3cj o'clock4 ,we had dinner1 then went to the prison4 ,the guard first took us to see the women4 ,they were all seated at machines1 sewing very rapidly1 and ,i was told ,i was not allowed to speak to them4 ,my heart ached and ,i could not keep back the tears as ,i looked on the precious girls ,i had labored with in the jail at ,st4 ,louis1 some seven or eight of them4 ,at #f o'clock we had a short meeting with a hundred and fifty shop girls4 ,many of them were moved to tears1 and we believe good was accomplished4 ,sunday morning we had a good meeting in the jail1 then at #b3cj went back to the prison and gave the gospel to twenty-two hundred convicts4 ,it was a blessed time4 ,i never saw such attention1 and while ,mother ,wheaton spoke and we sang ,he ,pardoned a ,rebel ,like ,me1 ,i saw some of them wiping the tears from their eyes4 ,these men are not all hard-hearted4 ,as ,i looked at them and heard almost all of them join in with us and sing ,we'll ,never ,say ,good-,bye in ,heaven1 somehow ,i lost sight of the stripes and prison walls and bars1 and thought how precious they are in ,god's sight1 and ,i believe many will be gathered to praise ,him1 who was pierced for us all4 ,after the meeting a young man asked permission to speak to us2 his face shone with the glory of ,god as he told how he had been there five years1 and had been saved two years and a half and called to preach the gospel4 ,he proved his earnestness when ,mother ,wheaton asked if he would let her try to get him pardoned1 and he answered3 ,no1 ,i am guilty1 and ,i not only feel it my duty to serve my time1 but will make restitution as soon as ,i am out4 ,then ,i shall give myself to the ,lord's work4 ,returning to ,st4 ,louis ,i next went to ,denver1 ,colo41 to see ,governor ,peabody in behalf of the three young men who were awaiting execution4 ,the governor was very kind and willing to do what was right4 ,in ,denver ,i had services in the jail1 also spoke at two meetings and preached at night at a mission church4 ,next visited the ,state ,reformatory for ,young ,men at ,buena ,vista1 ,colo4 ,most of the officers and all the boys attended the services4 ,leaving here in the evening arrived at ,salt ,lake ,city next day about noon4 ,i hurried to the ,state ,prison and was surprised to find a new warden1 as the former warden had died4 ,it being a working day had only a short service with the prisoners1 but it was blessed of the ,lord4 ,then visited the county and city jails1 holding three services4 ,leaving here1 traveling all night1 arrived the next evening at ,canon ,city1 ,colo4 ,hurrying to the ,state ,prison we were kindly received and permitted to hold services in the cell houses till #i o'clock4 ,the warden informed me that one of the boys under death sentence had gone insane just the day before and could not be seen4 ,one of the other boys under sentence of death said the last thing that this one had done was to write me a letter1 of which ,i here insert an extract3 ,,canon ,,city1 ,,colo41 ,july #ab1 #aijd4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3-- ,it is with pleasure that ,i answer your welcome letter1 which was appreciated4 ,we are waiting patiently to know the verdict4 ,if it is ,god's will that ,i must be taken out of this world1 ,i will go1 but it is very hard1 as ,i have done nothing worthy of death1 but they look at it different1 ,i suppose4 ,whatever got me into such a scrape ,i cannot tell4 ,i have always worked hard for my living4 ,dear ,mother1 ,i have done as you requested4 ,i commenced to read the ,new ,testament on the #bhth of ,june and completed it on the #ajth of ,july4 ,i never forget to read the ,holy ,bible and to pray4 ,you wished to know if we boys had any work to do4 ,it is beyond the warden's power to let us work under the circumstances1 though he is very kind to us2 also the other officials4 ,we are allowed all the reading matter we can use and have exercise each day4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton1 ,i hope that we will meet again on earth4 ,if not1 ,i pray we may in heaven4 ,and may our ,heavenly ,father protect you in the work of ,his cause4 ,i ever remain your son in ,jesus4 ,c----4 ,p----4 ,leaving ,canon ,city we hurry on1 visiting next the ,state ,prison at ,lincoln1 ,neb4 ,there we found another poor man under death sentence1 who gladly listened while ,i taught him the way of life4 ,oh1 the joy that filled my soul as ,i told him of the ,savior who would pardon all his sins4 ,after seeing the other prisoners who are always glad to see true friends1 we hastened on to ,omaha1 ,neb4 ,here ,i held four services in jails and ,rescue ,homes4 ,when leaving ,omaha as ,i was singing on the train ,i found some ladies crying2 one of them1 grasping my hand1 said1 ,when you sang ',my ,name in ,mother's ,prayer1' ,i thought how often my mother1 who is in the baggage coach1 has prayed for me1 and ,i will never hear her pray again4 ,i soon changed cars and bade farewell to the sorrowing friends1 hoping to meet them with that mother where there is no death nor tears4 ,illustration3 ,,criminal ,,insane ,,hospital1 ,,chester1 ,,ill4 ,resting for a short time at ,tabor1 ,iowa1 ,i then went to ,st4 ,louis and on to ,chester1 ,ill41 to hold services in the ,state ,prison4 ,we were here four days and held services in the ,state ,prison1 jail1 and ,criminal ,insane ,hospital1 where there are more than one hundred inmates4 ,once while holding services here one young man was saved and his mind restored4 ,he has now been preaching the ,gospel for several years4 ,is there anything too hard for the ,lord8 ,we next visited ,gatesville1 ,texas1 where is located the ,reform ,school for ,boys4 ,obtained permission to see the boys and it fortunately being a holiday ,i was allowed to hold services in both the white and colored wards4 ,the way the boys seemed to enjoy the meetings and to hear them sing was encouraging4 ,leaving for ,huntsville1 ,tex41 we went to different towns1 holding services in jails and on the streets till ,saturday1 when we arrived at ,rusk1 ,texas1 and were met by the chaplain1 ,mr4 ,dawson1 who treated us kindly and gave me the privilege of holding meetings on the ,sabbath4 ,had a very impressive service in the afternoon in the prison yard where we gathered round a coffin to pay the last tribute of love to a departed prisoner1 after which we held a meeting in the prison hospital4 ,we next visited the ,state ,prison at ,huntsville1 ,texas1 where we were kindly given the entire time in chapel service1 and also the privilege of holding services in the different wards of the hospital4 ,here all seemed encouraged and were much effected1 the tears flowing freely upon many of the pale faces4 ,i received upon this visit the following kind tribute from the ,assistant ,superintendent and ,prison ,physician3 ,i was present at the services conducted by ,mother ,wheaton at the ,huntsville ,penitentiary1 on ,august #g1 #aijd1 and noticed with much satisfaction that her remarks and singing were very much appreciated by the men1 and many of them seemed very much affected1 and ,i think that the service will be conducive to much good hereafter4 ,t4 ,h4 ,,brown1 ,assistant ,superintendent1 in charge ,huntsville ,penitentiary4 ,illustration3 ,,prison ,,at ,,huntsville1 ,,texas4 ,mother ,wheaton visited the ,huntsville ,prison ,hospital this morning and ,i think her words of cheer and advice given to the sick will be the means of doing great good4 ,w4 ,e4 ,,fowler1 ,prison ,physician4 ,at the ,woman's ,prison1 also located at ,huntsville1 we found over one hundred women prisoners all working on the farm except the few white women4 ,we held meetings with these women in the afternoon and evening for three days1 which were blessed of the ,lord4 ,while ,i wept with them ,i thought of the ,scripture1 ,weep with those that weep4 ,jesus loved me and saved me and has put a real love in my heart for those souls4 ,the kind chaplain took us with his invalid wife on ,sabbath afternoon to visit the consumptives' prison a few miles from ,huntsville4 ,here the prisoners sick with consumption are located on a farm4 ,had a blessed meeting with them4 ,the weather being so warm my health would not permit me to visit the several stockades in this state1 where are mines1 sugar refineries or farms4 ,returning to ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 worn and weary1 we were kindly entertained at the ,berachah ,home for ,girls4 ,again we visited the slums1 missions1 and dives4 ,the sin during these fairs and expositions is awful in the extreme4 ,i have no time or desire to go to see the sights1 but am after souls4 ,next we went to ,leavenworth1 ,kan42 was kindly given the hour for service ,sabbath morning1 at the ,state ,prison at ,lansing1 also a service with the women prisoners4 ,also visited the ,soldiers' ,home1 and by the kindness of the superintendent was permitted to speak to the aged soldiers4 ,we then found a welcome in the home of ,sister ,two-good1 who accompanied us to the ,old ,ladies' ,rest1 where ,i held services in their lovely new home4 ,in the evening till after #aj o'clock we were speaking to crowds on the streets who seldom attend church4 ,returning then to ,tabor1 ,iowa1 weary with this six weeks' constant service1 ,i was for some weeks unable to travel4 ,one night when as ,i thought1 near death1 ,i cried mightily to ,god and he heard my cry1 touched my body and healed me4 ,after a few weeks' rest1 yet scarcely able to travel1 ,i started again on my mission seeking the lost4 ,,recent ,,work4 ,during these weeks of waiting the responsibility of finishing this book then in preparation1 and getting it to its readers bore heavily upon me4 ,knowing that ,i could not attend to this and continue my work1 ,i was in answer to prayer assured that ,i should be relieved of the burden of managing the publication1 sale1 and distribution of the book4 ,after much prayer about the matter ,i was relieved of this burden in a very satisfactory manner1 ,bro4 ,c4 ,m4 ,kelley taking the management of the same for the ,lord4 ,while yet weak in body1 receiving indication from the ,lord that ,i should be about ,his work1 ,i went on my way1 taking with me a young sister from the ,training ,home1 who expects to devote her life's service as a missionary in ,japan1 the ,holy ,spirit assuring her also that she should accompany me on this trip4 ,i leave it for her to write the account of the following few weeks' work4 ,i was blessed with an opportunity to travel a few weeks with ,mother ,wheaton in her work in prisons1 etc4 ,leaving the ,home at ,tabor1 ,ia41 ,september #bh1 #aijd1 we first visited the jail at ,council ,bluffs1 where ,mother ,wheaton held a ,gospel service4 ,a number of the prisoners asked for prayer4 ,we next went to ,chicago1 where on the ,lord's day we visited the county jail1 where were about #edj men and a few women4 ,after their chapel service we were given access to the corridors where we could talk to all4 ,we also took part in several services at the ,beulah ,rescue ,homes1 some missions1 etc4 ,on ,october #ae1 we were at ,ft4 ,madison1 ,iowa1 and visited the several wards in the ,state ,prison and sang and prayed with the sick4 ,on ,sabbath ,mother ,wheaton conducted services in the chapel1 also at the county jail and the ,santa ,fe ,railroad ,hospital4 ,we next attended the ,national ,prison ,congress in session at ,quincy1 ,ill4 ,we here had opportunities to witness for ,god4 ,monday evening1 by invitation1 ,mother ,wheaton spoke at the ,soldiers' ,home1 where ,god poured out ,his ,spirit and melted the hearts of some who were steeped in sin4 ,the following morning we visited the hospital and prayed and sang with the sick who seemed very glad to hear the good old-time hymns4 ,we then went to the jail where one woman accused of murder was especially touched and broken up1 seeing there was someone who loved and cared for her4 ,it is the love of ,jesus that brings sinners to repentance4 ,the day following1 ,october #ah1 we held service at the ,chaddick ,boys' ,school which is under ,deaconess' management4 ,here ,mother ,wheaton spoke to ninety young boys4 ,provision was made for those in attendance at the ,prison ,congress to take an excursion down the river1 but instead of going with this company we went to the ,house of ,correction1 where the superintendent seemed glad to have ,mother ,wheaton speak to the prisoners1 both men and women1 even calling in the men from their work4 ,illustration3 ,,group ,,of ,,delegates ,,at ,,the ,,national ,,prison ,,congress1 ,,quincy1 ,,ill41 ,,october1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton in upper right hand corner4 ,october #ai we returned to ,chicago4 ,the next morning we took the train for ,marquette1 ,mich41 on the shore of ,lake ,superior1 where is located a ,state ,prison4 ,upon our arrival there we went to the chaplain1 who kindly gave permission to conduct the next ,sabbath morning services4 ,we then visited the poor house1 where we sang and prayed with those who were lonely and sad1 and knew nothing about ,jesus4 ,on ,saturday it was stormy1 but ,mother ,wheaton held a service at the county jail1 which ,god blessed4 ,the ,lord's day1 ,october #bc1 was a day long to be remembered by many of the prisoners1 who that day received a ray of hope4 ,the ,spirit of ,god so anointed ,mother ,wheaton to speak that the prisoners seemed to be held spellbound1 with hearts open to receive every word and song4 ,in the afternoon we were given the privilege of talking and singing in the corridors and speaking to the prisoners in their cells4 ,it was told us that these were the worst men in the state1 twenty-four of whom were serving life sentences4 ,but ,god touched their hearts1 many being moved to tears4 ,we left some of them with new hopes1 calling upon ,god for help and asking us to pray for them4 ,mother ,wheaton said they were all her own dear boys4 ,journeying eastward we held services in ,indianapolis1 ,ind41 also in the ,state ,prison at ,columbus1 ,ohio1 and in the ,woman's ,prison at ,allegheny1 ,pennsylvania4 ,sabbath morning1 ,november #e1 ,mother ,wheaton spoke in the corridors of the ,state ,prison in ,philadelphia1 and in the afternoon at the ,house of ,correction4 ,here the ,lord wonderfully spoke to the hearts of many young girls4 ,many men were moved upon by the ,spirit4 ,the officers looked on with amazement to see how attentive they all seemed to be4 ,at ,trenton1 ,n4 ,j41 at the county jail ,god moved upon hearts and many asked for prayer4 ,at the ,state ,prison at ,trenton1 ,n4 ,j41 we received a warm welcome and ,mother ,wheaton was given opportunity to preach on the following ,lord's day in the chapel4 ,we visited the woman's department and held a service with them1 all stopping their work and giving attention4 ,god melted the hearts of those women who have gone away from ,him4 ,jesus' blood is able to cleanse from every stain4 ,after a few busy days of service in ,new ,york city we returned to ,trenton1 for the service in the prison on the ,sabbath4 ,we then returned westward by way of ,baltimore and ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,we next held a service in the prison at ,canton1 ,ohio1 and then went to ,mansfield to the ,state ,reformatory1 where were nearly a thousand young men4 ,here ,god wonderfully answered prayer4 ,the superintendent and chaplain were very kind1 supplying us with such things as we had need of4 ,we arrived in ,chicago ,november #bj4 ,leaving there we went by way of ,marion and ,anamosa1 ,iowa1 where we held services4 ,we arrived at ,tabor on ,thanksgiving day1 ,november #bd1 which was truly a thanksgiving day with us1 for the wonderful way in which ,god had answered prayer and brought us safely through so many dangers and given us such glorious victories in ,his blessed service4 ,,rosa ,,mintle4 ,illustration3 ,,industrial ,,reform ,,school1 ,,hutchinson1 ,,kan4 ,leaving ,tabor ,december #ae1 taking with me ,sister ,taylor1 who for several years has accompanied me at intervals in my work1 silently praying for me while ,i preach1 sing or pray1 ,i started for ,san ,francisco1 ,california1 via ,santa ,fe1 ,new ,mexico4 ,we stopped at ,hutchison1 ,kansas1 where is located the ,state ,industrial ,reform ,school for ,young ,men4 ,we net the wife of the superintendent of that institution1 who kindly took us to the school4 ,i had held service here with prisoners who were working on the buildings when they were being erected4 ,the officers arranged for a service in the chapel though it was a week day and just before ,christmas4 ,the meeting was owned and blessed of the ,lord4 ,also at ,santa ,fe we were kindly entertained by the wife of the superintendent of the prison1 and the officers gave us a service in the chapel and the prisoners1 both men and women1 privilege to attend4 ,about half the prisoners being ,mexicans ,i had to speak to them by the aid of an interpreter4 ,this service was also signally owned of the ,lord4 ,we also held special service with the women4 ,we then left for the coast and had several services en route with the passengers and railroad men2 also with a hundred soldiers who were going to their winter quarters4 ,i had warned the soldiers about drinking4 ,it seemed so sad to see them drinking and gambling4 ,poor boys1 there seems to be no way of restraining them from strong drink so long as they can get it4 ,some trouble arose between them and other parties and one of the soldiers was badly cut in the throat4 ,in a town in ,california ,i held services in a number of saloons and dance halls4 ,it was ,christmas day and ,i never saw more drinking among the people and ,i never want to witness such again4 ,why will people indulge in strong drink1 when ,god has said no drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of heaven8 ,we arrived in ,san ,francisco and found many open doors to preach the ,gospel4 ,i visited the ,state ,prison at ,san ,quentin4 ,the chaplain was very kind1 giving me privileges of the chapel services and a special service with the women4 ,this prison was first opened to me in #ahih in direct answer to prayer4 ,i also held services in the city prisons4 ,we also visited the ,federal ,prison on ,alcatraz ,island1 where we held three services with the manifest blessing of ,god upon our souls4 ,the kindness of the officers and the appreciation shown by the prisoners there will not be forgotten4 ,i am sure ,god will reward those who are kind to ,his children1 and who assist ,his workers in any way4 ,during the first four months of #aije we found much to do for the ,lord in ,los ,angeles1 ,san ,pedro and other places in ,california1 one of these of special importance was the ,reformatory at ,whittier4 ,illustration3 ,,industrial ,,school1 ,,whittier1 ,,cal4 ,early in ,may1 having received a letter from one of the boys in ,colorado under sentence of death1 ,i hastened to that state to see the new governor in their behalf4 ,i was kindly received and heard by the governor1 but as the ,board of ,pardons was to soon meet he declined to make any promises4 ,tarrying several days for the board to meet1 ,i met with them and made a plea for the lives of the boys who had1 under the influence of drink1 accidentally1 as they claimed1 taken life4 ,they received a reprieve for four weeks1 but the two who were adjudged sane were executed ,june #af4 ,i give elsewhere an extract from a letter received from the mother of one of these boys shortly afterward4 ,also an extract from a paper concerning the mother of the other4 ,after returning to ,iowa and remaining but a few days1 accompanied by a young sister from the ,home1 ,i returned to ,colorado1 visiting1 en route1 the jail at ,council ,bluffs1 ,iowa1 and the ,state ,prison at ,lincoln1 ,nebraska1 where we held service on the ,lord's day4 ,we then proceeded to ,canon ,city to visit the condemned boys1 and held services in the corridors of the prison till late at night4 ,we next went to ,buena ,vista1 where we held service in the ,state ,reform ,school for ,boys1 and in the jail4 ,on our return east we stopped at a camp meeting at ,newton1 ,kansas1 where the ,lord blessed in the jail and in the work on the street4 ,going next to ,chicago we held service in the county jail with about four hundred men4 ,we next visited the prison at ,joliet1 ,illinois1 but only had service in the prison hospital and proceeded to ,sioux ,falls1 ,south ,dakota1 for services on the ,lord's day2 then returned to ,tabor1 stopping in ,omaha and holding a service in the county jail4 ,taking with me the young sister whom ,i have elsewhere mentioned as having first known as an orphan girl1 now starting for ,india1 ,i spent a day at ,plattsmouth1 ,nebraska1 where we talked and sang in a tent meeting1 on the street1 and in the jail4 ,the time set for the missionary band to sail being near1 we hurried westward1 stopping at but a few places till we reached ,sacramento1 where we had work to do for souls in the prison and other places4 ,we next visited the prison at ,salem1 ,oregon1 and also made a short stay at ,portland4 ,upon reaching ,tacoma we learned that the time of sailing had been put off a week1 so we improved the time seeking out the lost in mission work1 etc4 ,the company of nine missionaries1 including one child1 boarded the steamship ,minnesota1 and by the kindness of the general superintendent of the company we were permitted to spend a night before sailing on board the vessel with them1 which was a time very much enjoyed in the ,lord4 ,the parting was not one of sadness1 but of sweet peace and calmness4 ,as we looked into the faces of the dear ones as they were being borne away we rejoiced that ,god has a few whom ,he can trust to carry the precious ,gospel to the heathen4 ,as the vessel bearing its precious burden sailed from our view1 the little company of anxious watchers kneeled down and committed the dear ones to ,him who has said that ,his children are as dear to ,him as the apple of ,his eye4 ,we were afterward delighted to hear that they had a most delightful voyage1 reaching ,yokohama1 ,japan1 in eighteen days1 just in time to escape a very disastrous storm on the sea4 ,as a sister had accompanied some of the missionaries to the coast and was to return with me1 assisting me in the work1 we turned our attention to the needs of the lost ones about us4 ,i will let this sister here give a brief sketch of our return trip1 on which we trust much good was done for souls3 ,,return ,,from ,,pacific ,,coast4 ,mother ,wheaton's companion to the coast1 ,sister ,yarrett1 having sailed for ,india1 it was my privilege to accompany her from ,seattle to ,iowa4 ,from the wharf1 when we had committed the company of dear missionaries to the ,lord1 we went to the rooms of the ,y4 ,w4 ,c4 ,a4 and held religious service while the young ladies had lunch4 ,about two hundred young women lunch in these rooms daily4 ,at night ,mother ,wheaton spoke at the ,life ,boat ,mission with the anointing of the ,holy ,spirit1 and many hearts seemed touched4 ,early the next morning we left ,seattle on board the ,s4 ,s4 ,whatcom1 en route to ,victoria1 ,british ,columbia4 ,this was a most enjoyable trip to me4 ,at ,victoria we had a very profitable service in the ,w4 ,c4 ,t4 ,u4 ,rescue ,home1 and the ,lord especially blessed the visit and service4 ,later we spent five days very profitably in ,portland laboring in the ,exposition ,camp ,meeting1 visiting the jails1 saloons and slums1 preaching and singing the ,gospel4 ,we next went to ,boise1 ,idaho1 where we held services in the ,soldiers' ,home and in the ,state ,prison4 ,service with the women prisoners and prayer with the men under death sentence were special features of our visit to this place4 ,we next spent a day in ,rawlins1 ,wyoming1 visiting the state and county prisons1 holding short but profitable services in each4 ,in the county jail here a raving maniac was quieted by ,mother ,wheaton's singing4 ,another night and day's travel across the plains and beautiful country and we were in ,omaha1 ,nebraska4 ,here we spent several days1 being entertained in the ,tinley ,rescue ,home4 ,this indeed is a refuge for the fallen4 ,our time here was well occupied in the jails1 missions and churches4 ,then we hurried on to ,tabor4 ,i to resume duties in the school room1 and ,mother ,wheaton1 after a few days' rest1 to continue her pilgrimage seeking the wandering and the lost ones of earth till she shall be called from toil to her reward which shall surely be one worth gaining4 ,,emma ,h4 ,,herr4 ,,another ,,trip4 ,after attending ,prison ,congress at ,lincoln1 ,neb41 ,oct4 #ba to #bf1 ,i left for western prisons and other institutions4 ,held services at ,old ,soldiers' ,home1 ,grand ,island1 ,nebraska1 the #bgth1 then went to ,rawlings1 ,wyoming2 held services on ,sunday at the prison chapel with all the prisoners1 then at the county jail4 ,had great liberty in both prisons4 ,left at night for ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah4 ,found open doors4 ,held services at state prison jail on ,monday afternoon2 also in the county jail1 two services4 ,left that night for ,ogden2 held services in the county jail and at ,crittendon ,rescue ,home4 ,left for ,deer ,lodge1 ,montana1 where ,i was kindly received by the warden1 ,frank ,conley1 who has ever proved one of the best of friends to me in my work in prison--always arranging for services ,sunday or week day and entertaining myself and any one ,i brought with me1 and never letting me go away without something to help defray expenses along the way4 ,sunday afternoon at ,butte ,city held two services at the county jail2 took train at night for ,walla ,walla1 ,washington and arrived there at #c3cj a4 m41 and went to ,chaplain ,lacornu's home4 ,after resting1 prayer and breakfast1 we went to the state prison1 where ,i held services with the twelve women prisoners2 then in the dining room1 held services with the men--about eight hundred prisoners4 ,the ,lord was present in both services to own and bless and many were helped to a better life and higher aims4 ,left there for county jail where we had profitable service with men and women4 ,left that night for ,portland1 ,oregon4 ,was kindly entertained by one who has been preaching the gospel for nearly twenty years1 who was convicted in prison while ,i was preaching in the prison in ,bismark1 ,n4 ,d41 one night after nine o'clock4 ,he was converted and has done great good in the work1 both in prison and outside ever since4 ,much of his success is due to his faithful ,christian wife1 who has ever been his true friend and helpmeet4 ,called on ,mrs4 ,smith1 a prison missionary1 who for years has done mission work in ,salem and ,walla ,walla prisons4 ,then left for ,salem1 ,oregon1 where ,i held services with the prisoners in the jail on the ,sabbath day1 also with the women prisoners on ,saturday afternoon4 ,was kindly received by the ,superintendent of the prison and his family1 also by the ,bible school in charge of ,brother and ,sister ,ryan1 where ,i held services on ,sunday night in the chapel with students and citizens4 ,left ,monday morning for the ,south4 ,stopped in ,sacramento1 and went to the ,rescue ,home and held services for the girls while ,i waited for the train to ,carson ,city1 ,nevada4 ,changed cars at ,reno and waiting for neither rest or food hurried on to ,carson ,city to see the ,governor and the ,attorney ,general about prison work4 ,found four men under sentence of death4 ,i pleaded with the ,governor for a commutation of sentence4 ,governor ,sparks asked me if ,i could meet with the ,board of ,pardons and himself at #b p4 m41 and gave me a letter to the warden to allow me to see the condemned men and hold services with them--also with all of the prisoners4 ,the ,governor also arranged for me to go to the prison with one of the officers4 ,found the poor men heart broken over their condition1 and really sorry for their sin4 ,they had all been drinking1 and among the four of them they had killed a young man1 and all were doomed to die4 ,when ,i entered their prison with the death-watch ,i was overcome with sorrow for the poor unfortunates who so soon would be in eternity1 and as ,i came in the door one of the prisoners said1 ,o1 it is ,mother ,wheaton4 ,as ,i clasped his hand he said1 ,mother1 ,i knew you twenty years ago4 ,i said1 ,where8 and he said1 ,in ,san ,francisco4 ,reader1 you may try to sympathize or criticize at such a time1 with them and me1 but you never will know what the suffering is until you have passed through this ordeal of just standing alone with the good ,lord and the condemned1 so soon to die that horrible death4 ,you cannot picture it1 for death is awful to those not prepared to die--filled with remorse of conscience and sorrow for the deed done while under the influence of whiskey and possessed with the devil1 which the strong drink causes--and then to have no hope in this world or the world to come1 and alone with their conscience1 the death-watch1 myself and our ,god4 ,i knelt in prayer4 ,first to ask wisdom of the blessed ,christ who never turned anyone away1 and then1 taking each one by the hand through the iron bars1 ,i was lost to this world and its opinions and criticisms4 ,i entered into their heart-sorrow1 and at once took hold on ,god for the salvation of their immortal souls4 ,quietly1 but with strong faith in ,god and the atoning blood of ,jesus our ,saviour1 ,i believed for their salvation4 ,human sympathy will not avail4 ,it is the suffering and death of ,christ which avails in the face of death4 ,and ,i believe1 if ,jacob prevailed in prayer as a prince1 it is our privilege to believe ,god hears and answers prayer and saves to the uttermost the vilest sinner who truly repents of his sins1 and claims ,his promises4 ,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as white as snow2 though they be red like crimson1 they shall be as wool4 ,isa4 #a3ah4 ,we wept and prayed together1 and while ,i sang the good old hymns our mothers knew and loved and sung for us in childhood1 we took hold on ,god by faith for their souls' salvation1 and ,i believe ,god heard and answered our prayers1 that fifteenth day of ,november1 #aije1 in that prison1 and that those men that day were forgiven their sins4 ,i know ,god's ,word is sure1 and ,i depend daily on the ,bible and its holy teachings1 and accept ,his promise1 and receive the answer from ,god that ,his pardon is sure4 ,i told the men ,i had no hope for their lives to be spared--that the ,governor had not given me any encouragement for them1 but had invited me to meet with him and the ,board of ,pardons at #b p4 m41 and see what they would do in the case4 ,i pleaded with them to let go all hope of a life sentence1 and prepare to die1 for there was only one more day for them to live--that ,i had nothing to give them of hope1 only in the precious blood of ,jesus--that their days were numbered4 ,o1 the human heart is susceptible to suffering1 and my suffering was intense for them4 ,i was weak and weary1 having traveled two days and two nights without rest4 ,yet ,i could not rest when there was so much at stake for them4 ,i abandoned myself to the ,holy ,ghost to guide me in the service1 and then as ,i took each hand1 so soon to be cold in death1 ,i knew only ,god could save them4 ,i shall not forget the parting with those poor1 unfortunate men1 all in the prime of life and strength of manhood4 ,i will meet them again soon in the presence of ,god4 ,i was so weak in body that the officer kindly assisted me to the main prison1 where ,i was to hold services with all of the prisoners4 ,it was high noon1 and the warden and officers urged me to take refreshments4 ,i said1 ,no1 ,i am soon going to the judgment1 and ,i want to go with a clear conscience4 ,how could ,i eat1 when all these prisoners need the gospel so much8 ,and they kindly gave me the privilege of an hour's service4 ,then1 after a hurried lunch1 which was both breakfast and dinner1 the state carriage was ready to take me to the ,capitol to meet the ,governor and ,board of ,pardons4 ,but there was no hope1 the ,board refused to commute the sentence1 and all four were executed ,november #ag1 for the death of one young man4 ,soon ,i must stand together at the judgment bar of ,god1 with those whose lives were taken1 one by the four under the influence of whiskey1 which makes men and women crazy and worse than brutes2 licensed by the laws of our land--the others by the men who1 in their right minds1 as executors of the law1 put to death the helpless victims who had truly repented of their sins and promised to obey ,god and the rules1 and live good law-abiding citizens4 ,i want it understood that ,i believe in law and its enforcement4 ,i sympathize with both the murdered and the murderers4 ,i believe in obeying ,god and ,his laws and enforcing discipline1 and ,i assist the officers of the state to maintain law and order1 but ,i say1 give deliverance from the abominable saloon and all the evil that follows in its wake4 ,give us judges1 jurymen and officers1 who1 in every sense try to banish and abolish the liquor traffic and the dens of sin1 and there will be no need of our state officers having to take life which none can give4 ,leaving the ,capitol after the decision was made by the ,board of ,pardons and ,governor1 ,i went to the hotel to tell the two sisters of one of the condemned men that all hope of their brother's life was gone1 and that they must prepare to face the awful sorrow of losing their brother4 ,that scene was ,o1 so pitiful6 ,the brother and these two sisters were orphans4 ,he was a good boy and supported the two sisters after the parents had died1 but he had fallen into bad company who had led him astray4 ,the sisters were heart broken4 ,it seemed as if they could not give up that dear brother who had done so much for them4 ,i helped them on the train1 and went with them as far as ,reno1 ,nevada1 and we parted to meet again after all the sorrow and mistakes of our lives are forgotten and forgiven4 ,after leaving them ,i held services for the ,salvation ,army friends and on the street4 ,then left that night1 though very weary1 for the east4 ,after taking the train1 ,i could see in my mind those poor condemned men1 waiting the few last hours until the law should have its way4 ,eternity alone will reveal all hearts and lives4 ,arrived at ,ogden1 ,i went to the ,crittendon ,home1 then on to the ,state ,industrial ,school for ,boys and ,young ,men1 and had a service in all the cottages4 ,was with them two evenings4 ,they all seemed cheered by the old good songs and the services4 ,saying ,good-bye to all in their dining room at their daylight breakfast hour1 ,i left them for the east4 ,i stopped at ,columbus1 ,nebraska1 a day1 and at ,omaha1 where many railroad friends and others met and greeted me kindly4 ,then hurried on to ,joliet1 ,illinois1 ,state ,prison1 where dear ,mrs4 ,murphy1 wife of the warden1 gave me a warm welcome to her lovely home in the state prison4 ,went with the chaplain to visit the hospital and spoke with the men at the ,sabbath ,school hour1 and then to the women's prison1 where ,i was given the privilege of addressing all the female prisoners4 ,many were much affected1 and shed tears as ,i spoke or sang to them ,my ,name in ,mother's ,prayer1 ,is ,there ,anyone ,can ,help ,us and ,old ,time ,religion4 ,shook hands with most of the women1 prayed and sang for a sick girl in the prison hospital1 and left for the jail4 ,spoke there1 then on to ,chicago4 ,after some days in the city1 busy for the ,lord1 ,i made a trip to ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 and returned before the close of the year1 and proceeded to the ,pacific coast early in the new year4 ,o1 how ,i praise the ,lord for ,his grace and love1 and the strength and endurance ,he gives me to keep going to carry ,his messages of love and good cheer to the lost ones in low and in high pursuits of life4 ,dear ,reader3 ,we must here close the account of our travel and toil in the ,master's vineyard1 and we feel that it will all soon be over1 and the victory be won4 ,when ,i shall have finished my course ,i want to be able to say1 like ,paul of old1 that ,i have fought a good fight4 ,i want1 too1 to know that the crown is laid up for me as one of those who have been faithful and that love the appearing of my ,savior4 ,though but sixty-one years of age1 the excessive toil1 the wearisome journeys1 the heart-rending scenes and experiences for more than one-third of my life1 have told upon my once strong body until ,i am now a physical wreck4 ,only in the strength of ,jehovah and leaning upon ,his everlasting arm am ,i able to pursue the calling ,he has given me4 ,but the toils of the road will seem nothing when we get to the end of the way4 ,you and ,i shall meet again1 on that great ,judgment morning1 and must give an account to ,god4 ,grace be with all them that love our ,lord ,jesus ,christ in sincerity4 ,illustration3 ,,prisons ,,at ,,jackson1 ,,mich41 ,,deer ,,lodge1 ,,mont41 ,,and ,,folsom1 ,,cal4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,letters from ,prisoners4 ,the extracts from letters found in this chapter are gathered from my correspondence with those within prison walls who have been encouraged by the way and have received help2 many of them having borne testimony to a clear conversion and a life of service for the ,lord1 even within prison walls4 ,these will serve to show their appreciation of any effort made in their behalf4 ,they have been a source of great encouragement to me in my work4 ,i should like to give more of similar character1 and all more in detail1 would space permit1 but let these suffice as examples of the thousands of letters ,i have received during these twenty years from my children4 ,the names and that which might identify the individuals1 ,i have omitted2 for many of them are now good citizens and some are engaged in the work of the ,lord4 ,i have omitted many references to the instrumentality which ,god has seen fit to use in carrying ,his message of love to these souls1 giving only what others thought were needed to show the writers' appreciation and gratitude4 ,i have ever dealt with these1 when present and by correspondence1 as souls whom ,i must meet at the ,judgment4 ,the honor and praise for what good may have been accomplished belongs to ,him whom ,i serve1 and who has given me the commission1 ,go and preach the ,gospel4 ,inman1 ,tenn4 ,dear ,sister in the ,lord3 ,we write you a few lines praying that ,god will allow you to call again and preach for us1 for we believe that the ,spirit of ,god is with you4 ,we need thy aid here4 ,so1 our dear sister in the ,lord1 we do wish to hear you once more1 so will come much good in the name of the living ,god6 ,,the ,,prisoners4 99 99 99 99 99 ,boise ,city ,penitentiary1 ,july #bi1 #ahij4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 ,portland1 ,oregon4 ,dear ,madam3 ,i am instructed to thank you in behalf of all of us for your kind visit4 ,we fully appreciate your labor1 your courage1 and integrity2 your singleness of heart and purpose1 your purity of motives2 but above all do we appreciate your sincerity4 ,your indefatigable efforts1 even in your old age1 to reach the criminal1 to lead him upward and onward to his true destiny under so many disadvantages1 without money and without price1 without the support of state or church1 and1 ,i may add1 without the support of public sentiment which appears to be against you and us--all this1 ,i say1 inspires us with faith and confidence in you4 ,and when ,i am paying you this tribute1 ,i am at the same time aware that ,i am paying it to ,him who came on earth to seek and save us1 for without ,him you would not love us as you do4 ,come again1 say we all4 ,,prisoners4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lancaster1 ,nebr41 ,oct4 #be1 #aijc4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,dear ,mother3 ,we1 the undersigned1 as a token of our appreciation of your efforts in our behalf1 respectfully request that you accept our assurance of appreciation of to-day's services1 and especially the song service held in our cell-house1 and best wishes for your future success4 ,signed by #aii prisoners1 each giving his number4 99 99 99 99 99 ,bushy ,mountain ,state ,prison1 ,petros1 ,tenn41 ,may #d1 #ahif4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,we1 the undersigned1 unfortunate children1 assemble together to try to show you how grateful we are for the devout interest you are taking in the welfare of our souls4 ,we hope and trust that the ,lord will continue to be with you all along your journey1 trusting that if we don't meet again on earth1 that we may meet in ,heaven4 ,pray for us4 ,we enclose the following sums for each of us3 ,w4 ,j4 #be cents ,w4 ,s4 #aj cents ,c4 ,r4 ,r4 #aj cents 99 99 99 99 99 ,walla ,walla1 ,july #aa1 #ahhi4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,dear ,friend3 ,your postal received4 ,you have the appreciation and kind thoughts of many here for your kind remembrance of us all in our secluded prison home4 ,aside from your own particular means and the many other ways adopted by religious people to draw the attention of the indifferent to the subject of their spiritual welfare1 the evident disinterested motive which characterizes your extended labors1 is of itself sufficient1 to highly recommend your kind endeavors to all fair-minded people1 and to give you a hearty welcome1 from prisoners especially1 wherever you may find them4 ,we would all1 therefore1 send you a kind word of encouragement and ,godspeed in your good work and labor of love1 believing that your gospel message is fully adapted to meet the spiritual wants of the whole human family under whatever condition found4 ,,prisoners ,,of ,,walla ,,walla ,,penitentiary1 ,per ,f4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,richmond1 ,va41 ,august #bc1 #ahhe4 ,dear ,madam3 ,i take much pleasure to introduce myself to you1 and stating to you how ,i first found rest for my sinful soul4 ,i am a stranger to you by name1 but not by the love of ,jesus ,christ1 and ,i was highly delighted to hear you speak to us4 ,it lifted up my downhearted feeling and caused me to look around myself1 and ,i do truly hope that those words that you have spoken may be as seed sowed in good ground1 and take root and the future may tell4 ,and for myself1 when ,i first came to this place ,i was a vile sinner and thanks be to the good ,lord that ,i have my soul awakened in ,christ ,jesus1 and if it had not been for this place ,i think that ,i would have been a sinner until now1 but now all my trust is in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and ,him alone4 ,although ,i have many crosses and trials and temptations1 my trust is in the ,lord1 and ,i truly pray and trust the ,lord that after awhile we shall all meet in heaven where there will be no more parting4 ,i trust you will be successful in this work of the ,lord4 ,i desire your prayers4 ,i am your humble servant1 ,h4 ,t4 99 99 99 99 99 ,massachusetts ,state ,prison1 ,october #be1 #ahhe4 ,dear ,madam3 ,it is with much pleasure that ,i listened to your address to-day4 ,please accept my thanks for the interest which you take in the poor unfortunate prisoners4 ,there are many skeptic ones among us because we see so much hypocrisy4 ,may ,god bless you1 and let me inform you that your motherly-like appearance sank deep into the hearts of many4 ,our chaplain tries to do all the good he can1 but no one knows what a prisoner's life is but a prisoner4 ,my poor mother used to pray like you4 ,i will not forget your earnest advice4 ,i wish there were more like you1 for then there would be a true reform in prisons4 ,these places ruin young men4 ,o it is not understood by those men who govern us even4 ,some of the officers are not fit to be over young men4 ,every officer should be a religious man1 but we have few in accordance with the text3 ,love your neighbor as yourself4 ,many of them take ,god's name in vain4 ,i shall try to think much upon what you said1 with ,god's help4 ,please pray for an unfortunate one4 ,may ,god bless you4 ,j4 ,j4 99 99 99 99 99 ,new ,york1 ,nov4 #bf1 #ahhe4 ,my ,dear ,friend3 ,your postal reached me this morning and ,i can assure you it gave me pleasure to hear from you and see you had not forgotten ,ludlow ,street ,jail4 ,today is ,thanksgiving ,day1 and to us poor unfortunates ,i can assure you it is a gloomy one1 but we must give thanks to our ,heavenly ,father that we are not in a worse place than this4 ,i for one do pray to ,him and thank ,him for ,his kindness and pray to ,him to give us strength of mind to resist all temptations4 ,i cannot remember who you enquire about4 ,i am the small man who introduced you to my wife and sister the first time you called4 ,we were treated today by our kind warden to a good ,thanksgiving dinner and ,i pray before another ,thanksgiving ,day that ,i may have the pleasure of seeing you under more favorable circumstances4 ,may ,god be with you in your good work is the prayer of1 ,sincerely yours1 ,i4 ,l41 ,ludlow ,street ,jail1 ,new ,york ,city4 99 99 99 99 99 ,cell ,no4 #ce--,tombs1 ,new ,york ,city1 ,sunday1 ,nov4 #a1 #ahhe4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,forgive me for calling you so as ,i cannot rightly call you otherwise4 ,your prayer today came from your very soul4 ,i felt it deeply4 ,it has entered into mine4 ,i feel a new man4 ,you were a ,godsend to me4 ,your words have given new life1 they have inspired me to live in the future a real ,christian4 ,i feel so light of heart since you were here1 that ,i cannot find words adequate to properly express myself4 ,i pray your good work may be crowned with success4 ,i feel now that ,i am again a child of ,god4 ,i shall pray and try to live as ,jesus desires4 ,i pray to ,him that ,he will give me all encouragement to lead a ,christian life and do ,his will only4 ,o6 how ,i have learned to love ,jesus through your inspiring words of comfort and goodness4 ,i shall daily pray for your health and prosperity in ,jesus4 ,do likewise for me1 and may we meet in ,heaven4 ,to this end ,i shall ever pray and so sign myself1 ,a brother in ,jesus1 ,j4 ,m4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,new ,york1 ,november #aj1 #ahhe4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,many thanks for your kind visit today and for the memorandum book and envelopes you brought me4 ,i herewith reiterate every word and the combined meaning contained in my letter to you of last ,sabbath4 ,you were a ,godsend to me from heaven4 ,formerly it was a hard task for me to stop to think as ,i do now4 ,now ,i can pray so easy1 and it seems to do me so much good4 ,such a blessing ,i have never experienced heretofore4 ,with pleasure ,i give this evidence of the goodness of our beloved and only ,jesus4 ,him ,i shall worship daily1 aye1 at all times and in all places4 ,i think of nothing more grand and noble than to believe in our ,redeemer who offers ,his salvation for our souls4 ,he is my ,god and no other will ,i have but ,him4 ,i love ,him truly4 ,in my prayers ,i have vowed to devote the rest of my life for ,his good cause4 ,i sincerely hope that many1 through you1 may come out of darkness into light4 ,god grant you good health to do ,his good work here4 ,i will pray for you and ask you to do likewise for me1 and others4 ,i pray to ,god daily that ,he may give me renewed strength to keep on in the good path which ,i have chosen1 and may ,his spirit and love be alike with you and me1 is the wish of ,your brother in ,christ ,jesus4 ,j4 ,m4 ,s41 ,cell #ce1 ,tombs1 ,new ,york ,city4 99 99 99 99 99 ,charleston1 ,january #d1 #ahhf4 ,my ,dear and ,much ,esteemed ,friend3 ,as ,i sit here in the prison tonight ,i ponder upon the kind and good advice you gave me1 and my heart of hearts goes out to you in gratitude4 ,my past life has been a blank1 in fact1 an utter failure4 ,but since ,i saw you ,i have come to ,god in all simplicity and have asked ,him to give me a new spirit and pardon my past sins2 and since ,i have offered up this petition my heart seems lighter4 ,how often have ,i cried out in my despair1 ,o ,i am weary of the conflicts and strife of this life6 weary with the constant struggle for a higher and better life6 ,and when ,i see the lives of yourself and others--so ,christlike1 and hear you say mid darkest shadows3 ,not my will1 but thine be done1 then ,i think of the rebellion in my heart and so oft find when ,i feel the path ,i am treading leaves the sunshine all behind4 ,as the way looks dark before me and the end ,i cannot see1 ,oft ,i long to drop the burdens and from sorrow be set free1 ,but ,i know such thoughts are sinful2 ,god knows best the way ,that will lead from earth's dark shadows to the brighter realms of day4 ,words cannot express the comfort ,i have received since ,i saw you4 ,i have prayed to ,god to help me every night and morning since and as ,i sit and ponder upon the past and think of the wasted hours that have drifted by1 it puts me in mind of a song ,i learned when ,i was a child4 ,i will only write you a couple of verses to let you see how true they are4 ,oh1 the wasted hours of life that have drifted by2 ,oh1 the good we might have done1 lost without a sigh2 ,love that we might have sowed by a single word1 ,thoughts conceived but never penned1 perished all unheard4 ,take the proverb to thy heart1 take and hold it fast-- ,the mill will never grind with the water that is past4 ,oh1 love thy ,god and fellow men1 thyself consider last1 ,for come it will when thou must count dark errors of the past1 ,and when the fight of life is o'er1 and life recedes from view1 ,and heaven in all its glory shines midst the pure and good and true1 ,then you will see more clearly the proverb deep and vast-- ,the mill will never grind with water that is past4 ,may ,god bless you for what you have done for me4 ,you have saved me from that downward road to ruin4 ,may ,god bless you and permit you to return to us once more4 ,w41 ,charleston ,state ,prison4 99 99 99 99 99 ,nobesville1 ,neb41 ,april #ag1 #ahhf4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,kind ,lady3 ,i will1 according to promise1 drop you a few lines4 ,i am some better now than when you were here to see me4 ,how glad ,i am that ,i met you last ,sunday6 ,i have felt better ever since1 and ,i do believe that the good ,father will answer your prayers4 ,don't fail to pray for me1 that1 if it is ,god's will1 ,he will heal me1 for ,god has got the same power that ,he had when ,he raised ,christ from the tomb4 ,and pray that ,he will give me the guidance of ,his loving ,holy ,spirit to lead me into all truth and at the last take me to ,heaven4 ,there has not a day passed since you were here that ,i have not thought of you and prayed for you4 ,you did more good here than you know4 ,my candle is going out4 ,direct to ,,john ,w4 ,c41 ,nobesville1 ,nebraska4 99 99 99 99 99 ,charlestown1 ,mass41 ,jan4 #aj1 #ahhf4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,to ,my ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,whosoever believeth in ,him shall not perish but have everlasting life4 ,i believe and trust in ,god4 ,my faith and my belief grow stronger every day of my life4 ,i pray to ,god to keep me from evil1 and to make me worthy of ,his kingdom1 that ,i may meet you there1 for ,i am a better man for knowing you4 ,god bless you1 my dear sister6 ,my heart is full of love for my ,god1 and for my fellowman4 ,i cannot find words to express my feelings or to tell you how happy ,i am1 and how precious ,christ is to my soul4 ,it passes my understanding4 ,but ,i am satisfied1 for ,i know that ,christ has come into my heart to dwell4 ,there are no doubts1 no fears1 everything is well with me4 ,i thank ,god for it1 and ,i want to see every one around me enjoying this great gift which comes from ,god4 ,o how it would have rejoiced your soul to have been with us the last evening of the old year4 ,we had a prayer meeting4 ,i am told that there were one hundred and forty men in the chapel4 ,our warden was the first to testify4 ,many acknowledged ,christ to be precious to their souls4 ,there are many here that are feeling uncomfortable4 ,they will be at the feet of ,jesus yet1 crying for mercy4 ,pray for them4 ,pray for us all4 ,only think of it1 one hundred and forty prisoners on their knees and their warden kneeling with them6 ,o it was a blessed sight6 ,i never heard ,chaplain ,barnes pray as he did that night4 ,his whole soul went out to ,god4 ,how he did plead with ,god for the salvation of our souls4 ,god bless the chaplain4 ,god bless everyone on the face of the earth1 and may every one see as ,i see1 and enjoy what ,i am enjoying4 ,in ,his paths there is peace1 and that in keeping of ,his commandments there is great reward4 ,there is a young man here by the name of ,charles ,b4 ,he has formed good resolutions with beginning of the new year4 ,i tell him that he cannot keep them without he gets divine help4 ,i am praying for him4 ,please make mention of him in your prayers1 and with the help of ,god we will have him at the feet of ,jesus crying for mercy4 ,we had a prayer meeting last week and ,i am informed that we are to have them often4 ,how good it is of the warden6 ,god bless him4 ,he is always looking for some way to benefit us4 ,i praise the ,lord for it4 ,i leave the prison this year4 ,i hope that ,i may meet you again on earth4 ,if not permitted1 ,i will live a life that shall make me worthy of the kingdom and meet you there4 ,i thank you for the letter read this day to us by the chaplain4 ,your brother in ,christ ,jesus1 ,j4 ,l4 ,w4 99 99 99 99 99 ,jeffersonville1 ,ind41 ,may #bb1 #ahhg4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,my ,dear ,kind ,lady3 ,in answer to your request ,i address this note to you trusting that this may be the commencement of life in a different sphere to that which ,i have heretofore moved in1 so do not think that ,i am flattering if ,i tell you the truth4 ,i have traveled from the ,atlantic to the ,pacific1 from the ,british ,possessions to the ,gulf of ,mexico4 ,i have moved in all classes of society and have been a close observer4 ,i have made myself acquainted with all kinds of religious sects from the ,jewish synagogues to ,mormonism1 ,protestantism in all its various forms1 ,catholicism1 as well as ,spiritualism1 and ,i found so much hypocrisy and inconsistency existing that ,i felt inclined to believe ,christianity a fraud1 but ,i could see plainly that there were in every church some few that ,i could feel were true ,christians4 ,i could feel a secret convincing power almost irresistible when in their society1 but it always seemed strange to me why more true converts were not made in proportion to the great work done4 ,it seems to me that the handling of ,god's cause should only be entrusted to those that are godly--then the fruit will bear witness to the quality and health of the tree4 ,god will prosper ,his own1 but it is not natural that the ,lord can or will prosper one who is half ,god's and half ,satan's4 ,that is why ,i have remained in the world4 ,i am earnest in everything ,i do4 ,it is my nature1 ,i cannot help it4 ,therefore1 if ,i ever become a ,christian1 bold and true and faithful1 too1 ,i'll be4 ,i must refer to that now which ,i spoke of in the first of this note4 ,all the convicts in this prison have been moved by your godly advice and teaching as this prison has never been moved before1 either by man or woman4 ,you won the hearts of the hardest criminals and a noticeable change for the better has taken place4 ,we all pray ,god to bless and protect you wherever ,his wisdom may lead you1 and even though this prayer comes from convicts1 perhaps ,god will hear us4 ,some of us have been convicted by man1 while ,god1 being just1 and our own consciences declare us innocent4 ,those of us who are innocent and can suffer with patience1 what a virtue we possess4 ,such strength comes only of ,god4 ,i must close for want of room4 ,please answer if you have time4 ,we hope to see you soon again4 ,your humble servant1 ,h4 ,mc,l41 ,box #cdj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,tracy ,city1 ,tenn41 ,dec4 #c1 #ahhg4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 ,dear ,friend3 ,your visit to this place was a great blessing4 ,a great many of the men often speak of you and say that by the help of ,god they are going to live better the rest of their days4 ,i will thank you for every paper or good book you may send to us4 ,the way that we do about papers and books is to place them among our fellow prisoners4 ,you have our prayers and best wishes and we hope you will come to our prison again1 as your work will be remembered here for years to come4 ,may ,god bless you all the way along4 ,there have been deaths here since you were here4 ,neither of those parties belonged to the church4 ,lots of the men spoke of the great warning you gave before you left1 what you said about the last warning some of them would ever get1 and sure enough it was true4 ,yours in ,christ1 ,w4 ,a4 ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,carson ,city1 ,nev41 ,sept4 #bc1 #ahhh4 ,dear ,kind ,friend3 ,through the kindness of the ,warden1 we received your letter1 with the song and accompanying texts1 and ,i take the liberty of answering it and thanking you for your kindness in thus remembering us4 ,i was seriously impressed by your kind words of sympathy and exhortation when you came to the prison and ,i should have liked to have spoken to you1 but feared to trespass too much on your time4 ,i am here under a life sentence for the crime of murder1 committed during a fit of delirium resulting from drink4 ,i have been here three years4 ,hitherto my life has been anything but a happy one4 ,i was driven from home at the age of ten years1 after the death of my mother4 ,since then ,i have associated with gamblers and men of that stamp1 and the result of my ill-directed course is my present unhappy condition4 ,what ,i have suffered1 no one but myself will ever know4 ,i would gladly end my life1 if my death could blot out the crimes for which ,i suffer4 ,i have one friend1 who has taken an interest in me1 and who has written me several kind letters and ,i thank ,god for letting me have one kind and faithful friend4 ,she is weak in body1 but strong in mind1 and a faithful servant of ,god4 ,she has advised me to give myself to ,god1 and since you were here ,i have resolved to try to do so4 ,peace of mind is what ,i want1 but fear ,i shall never attain it4 ,i hope to hear from you again4 ,most of my fellow prisoners have read your letter and all entertain the greatest respect for you4 ,some to whom your kind words and motherly advice have brought tender memories1 desire to be remembered to you4 ,you are passing through 444 1 where ,i have lived and where ,i spent the happiest of my boyhood days1 but they are gone4 ,i hope you may meet some of my old companions and that they may be benefited by your kind words4 ,your humble1 grateful servant1 ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,stillwater1 ,nov4 #b1 #ahhh4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,i was pleased beyond expression to receive your letter4 ,it came like a benediction4 ,i shall never forget you4 ,the few words spoken have left an impress upon the tablets of memory that time can not efface4 ,you can tell the boys wherever you see them in prison or out that ,jesus is near--ever near4 ,tell them that ,i know that no locks ever were made that can lock the ,saviour out4 ,he came to me when ,i was1 oh1 so lonely1 so broken-hearted and despairing6 ,you know just how it was ,i was saved4 ,i am innocent in the presence of ,god1 and still ,i am here2 but never alone4 ,jesus is ever with me4 ,oh1 how ,i wish every one in the wide1 wide world could know our ,saviour6 ,how true is the fourteenth chapter of ,john1 and especially the eighteenth verse3 ,i will not leave you comfortless4 ,i will come unto you4 ,never in all my persecution and imprisonment has my ,lord failed in that promise4 ,i am very hopeful4 ,my innocence is recognized and ,i hope soon to be at liberty4 ,had any one told me twelve months ago that this was all for my good ,i should have laughed them to scorn2 but1 thank ,god1 ,i know it now4 ,this life is but a few days at most compared to the home beyond1 and ,i can and do say1 ,god's will be done4 ,he can do no wrong1 and right must prevail4 ,god bless and prosper you until you go home4 ,yours in ,his name1 ,h4 ,r4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,ward ,,in ,,prison ,,hospital4 99 99 99 99 99 ,stillwater1 ,nov4 #ad1 #ahhh4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i received your letter and it came just right to comfort me1 for ,i am in the hospital4 ,in prison--not alone4 ,in the hospital--not alone4 ,jesus is always with me4 ,how ,i love ,jesus who died for me6 ,my heart always turns to ,him1 and when ,i heard ,i had to come to the hospital ,i just prayed to ,jesus and left it all to ,him1 and ,i am cheerful and happy and hopeful even here4 ,he is the ,great ,physician4 ,i can do anything for ,jesus' sake but ,i am in such a queer position6 ,poor mother has been nearly killed and heart-broken about this1 and she claims my presence for a time at least if ,i get out4 ,poor mother is nearly worn out but full of faith and hope4 ,may ,god bless you and be with you forever4 ,your son and brother in ,christ1 ,h4 ,r4 99 99 99 99 99 ,little ,rock1 ,ark41 ,june #aj1 #ahhh4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister3 ,i will take the liberty and let you and ,sister ,m4 know who ,i am4 ,my name is ,c4 ,s4 ,i guess you remember the coal mines and that evening when ,i was singing with ,sister ,m4 in her book4 ,o ,i wish ,i had them songs6 ,i am so happy in ,christ4 ,i am going home to my mother above4 ,i hope it will be very soon4 ,that song ,a ,ruler once came to ,jesus by night ,to ask ,him the way of salvation and light1 made me a different man4 ,o the happy thoughts of a home which ,christ our ,redeemer has prepared for us and calls us to come to ,him4 ,come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden and ,i will give you rest4 ,o1 such a ,saviour6 ,pray for me and ,i hope we may meet above4 ,i hope to hear from you soon4 ,from your servant1 ,c4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,little ,rock1 ,january #ac1 #ahhi4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,m4 ,ryder1 ,indianapolis1 ,ind4 ,i received your most welcome letter and thank you for the information you have given me1 but ,i haven't heard yet from your sister4 ,the last letter ,i got she said that she was going to ,california4 ,at that time she was at ,salem1 ,oregon4 ,have you heard from her yet8 ,there are some boys and men here would like to hear from her1 for she came where some of us could not see the sun in a week1 and about #aej feet under the surface of the earth4 ,that was at a coal mine4 ,we all hope and pray to ,god1 our dear ,redeemer1 for her to come back to us again4 ,please answer this for ,i am a convict and glad to hear from such friends4 ,in hope to hear soon1 ,i remain1 ,yours sincerely1 ,c4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,germantown1 ,ark41 ,nov4 #bi1 #ahhi4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,i am at ,germantown at the present time working on ,mr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,ward's farm or plantation1 and the ,warden of the camp and the guards are followers of ,christ4 ,there are several of the boys with me which were at ,coal ,hill at the time you were there4 ,o sister1 ,god worked that all right1 ,his name be praised4 ,one of the ,coal ,hill wardens got five years in the penitentiary4 ,that is ,god's work4 ,god be with you and bless you is my daily prayer1 that you will keep strong and well to preach to the poor prisoners and pray for them that they will flee from the wrath to come4 ,o sister it is terrible to think and study over how the ,book of ,life tells us about that everlasting torment1 and how sweet it is to think that there is a life eternal4 ,sister1 there are three ways1 a broad road1 a narrow way and a highway1 that are thus brought to our attention in the ,scriptures4 ,the broad road to destruction1 the narrow way to life1 the highway to holiness4 ,and an highway shall be there1 and a way1 and it shall be called the way of holiness2 the unclean shall not pass over it2 but it shall be for those1 the wayfaring man1 though fools shall not err therein4 ,no lion shall be there1 nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon2 it shall not be found there1 but the redeemed shall walk there4 ,isa4 #ce3 #h1 #i4 ,sister1 am ,i right or wrong8 ,the first great judgment 7trial and sentence7 was at the beginning1 in ,eden1 when the whole human race1 as represented in its head1 ,adam1 stood on trial before ,god4 ,the result of that trial was the verdict--guilty1 disobedient1 unworthy of life2 and the penalty inflicted was ,death4 ,dying1 thou shalt die1 and so ,in ,adam all die4 ,but1 dear sister1 the sweet and dear thought in ,christ we all shall live is a great comfort to our poor souls4 ,ours is a rugged1 steep and narrow way1 and were it not that strength is furnished for each successive step of the journey1 we never could reach the goal1 but our ,captain's word is encouraging3 ,be of good courage1 ,i have overcome2 ,my grace is sufficient for thee1 and my strength is made perfect in weakness4 ,the difficulties of this way are to act as a separating principle to sanctify and refine a peculiar people1 to be ,heirs of ,god and joint-heirs with ,jesus ,christ4 ,in view of these things1 let us come boldly to the throne of grace1 that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need1 while we fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of the crown of life4 ,immortality1 the divine nature4 ,sister1 ,i hope that we may meet together here in this world once more in life so we can talk about what ,jesus has wrought1 ,god will be with you4 ,i know ,he is with me4 ,sister1 ,i gave myself to ,jesus and ,i feel more satisfied1 and how sweet it is to have ,jesus with you4 ,,the ,,day ,,is ,,at ,,hand4 ,poor1 fainting pilgrim1 still hold on thy way1 ,the dawn is near2 ,true1 thou art weary now1 but yon bright ray ,becomes more clear4 ,bear up a little longer2 wait for rest2 ,yield not to slumber1 though with toil oppressed4 ,the night of life is mournful1 but look on the judgment near4 ,soon will earth's shadowed scenes and forms be gone4 ,yield not to fear4 ,the mountain's summit will1 ere long1 be gained ,and the bright world of joy and peace attained4 ,joyful through hope1 thy motto still must be-- ,the dawn is near4 ,what glories will that dawn unfurl to thee6 ,be of good cheer4 ,gird up thy loins1 bind sandals on thy feet1 ,the way is dark and long1 the end is sweet4 ,i hope to hear soon from you1 dear sister4 ,meet me in heaven4 ,jesus is with me4 ,because ,he cometh to judge the earth1 let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice4 ,your brother1 ,c4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,germantown1 ,jan4 #bg1 #ahij4 ,dear ,sister3 ,i received yours of the #bhth4 ,i am so glad that you have not forgotten me1 and the words which ,i heard you say1 although it is a long time since you said them at ,coal ,hill4 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and thou shalt be saved4 ,acts xvi41 #ca4 ,jails are dark1 dull1 damp1 loathsome places even now2 but they were worse in the apostolic times4 ,i imagine tonight we are standing in the ,philippian ,dungeon4 ,do you not feel the chill8 ,do you not hear the groan of those incarcerated ones who for ten years have not seen the sunlight1 and the deep sigh of women who remember their father's house1 and mourn over their wasted estates8 ,listen again4 ,it is enough4 ,oh1 it is the cough of the consumptive1 or the struggle of one in a nightmare of a great horror4 ,you listen again1 and hear a culprit1 his chains rattling as he rolls over in his dreams1 and you say3 ,god pity the prisoner4 ,but there is another sound in that prison4 ,it is a song of joy and gladness4 ,what a place to sing in4 ,the music comes winding through the corridors of the prison and in all dark wards the whisper is heard3 ,what's that8 ,what's that8 ,it was the song of ,silas and ,paul in prison1 and they cannot sleep4 ,jesus went to prison then1 and as you say ,he will and does come nowadays also to visit the prisoners as they are shut up4 ,god will be and is our helper4 ,i will not fear1 ,he leadeth me in pastures green4 ,your brother in ,christ1 ,c4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,germantown1 ,may #af1 #ahij4 ,dear ,sister3 ,your letter of ,february #agth duly received1 and glad to hear from you4 ,but1 sister1 ,i am so glad to have some ,christian friend to write to me in a place of temptation and trouble4 ,i know that ,jesus is my rock and my salvation and a shelter in a storm4 ,jesus is with me right now4 ,he is waiting for us every day and hour4 ,o1 how many will there be that will call on ,christ on that day1 when the book of the ,lord will be opened1 with the seven seals1 and who will be able to open the seals8 ,no one is able to open it but the ,lamb4 ,sister1 this is my idea and opinion about that ,day3 ,there will be a great big scale1 with a cross beam and ,satan will be on one side of it and the people of all trades will be weighed1 and if ,christ the ,son of ,god and our ,redeemer is not there to balance them1 what will become of them8 ,won't they be thrown down in hell8 ,hoping and trusting faithfully that there be many of the poor prisoners among the hundred and forty and four thousand with the ,lamb on ,mount ,zion1 with the ,father's name written in their foreheads and the harpers will be harping with their harps and singing the new song which no man could learn1 but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth4 ,o1 what a day that will be6 ,o that song is so true4 ,o sinner give your heart to ,god and you shall have a new hiding place that day4 ,o the rocks in the mountain shall all fade away and you shall have a new hiding place that day4 ,o sinner turn1 why will ye die8 ,god in mercy asks you why4 ,o1 ,i am so happy tonight6 ,your brother1 ,c4 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,germantown1 ,ark41 ,dec4 #ah1 #ahij4 ,dear ,sister3 ,your kind words gladly received1 and may ,god bless you and give you strength in your undertakings4 ,sister1 forgive those wicked men who put you in prison for preaching the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 for ,he1 the ,lord1 said3 ,father forgive them1 for they know not what they do1 and ,silas and ,paul in prison sang praises to the ,lord our ,god and ,he delivered them from the prison in which they lay1 and the jailor got saved4 ,oh6 my dear sister1 ,i trust and pray to the ,lord that we could safely say with ,robert ,mc,chane1 the ascended minister of ,scotland1 who1 seated on the banks of ,galilee's ,lake1 wrote1 in his last sick days1 and just before he crossed the ,jordan 7not the ,jordan that empties into the ,lake of ,gallilee1 but the ,jordan that empties into the sea of glass mingled with fire71 these sweet words1 fit to be played by human fingers on strings of earthly lute1 or by angelic fingers on seraphic harps3 ,it is not that the mild gazelle ,comes down to drink thy tide1 ,but ,he that was pierced to save from hell1 ,oft wandered by thy side4 ,graceful around thee the mountains meet ,thou calm1 reposing sea2 ,but1 ah6 far more1 the beautiful feet ,of ,jesus walked o'er thee4 ,o ,saviour6 gone to ,god's right hand1 ,yet the same ,saviour still1 ,graved on thy heart is this lovely strand ,and every fragrant hill4 ,o6 is it not good to be with one's ,lord and to think how sweet ,he says in his ,book of ,books3 ,i am the way1 and in danger ,he speaks again3 ,fear not1 it is ,i4 ,the ,lord is with me for ,i do not have to work in the ranks any more1 and by ,his help ,i am assistant postmaster of this place4 ,until we leave1 and that time will be ,christmas1 address your next letter to ,little ,rock4 ,that you may save many souls from everlasting torture is my prayer every hour4 ,my love to the poor sinful prisoners and to you1 my dear sister in ,christ4 ,a happy ,christmas1 and may ,god bless you to live and see many more4 ,i will sing now3 ,i was once far away from the ,saviour and ,when ,jesus shall gather the nations before ,him at last to appear4 ,oh6 ,i am so happy6 ,goodnight1 ,ever1 ,s4 99 99 99 99 99 ,wichita1 ,kansas4 ,dear ,sister3 ,this is to acknowledge yours of the #aeth inst41 and was glad to hear that you have received my letter4 ,well1 sister1 we have our regular meeting every ,sunday1 and ,i will never cease praying to the ,lord that ,he may help me to live my life1 and that ,i can say1 like our great ,brother said1 that no man can measure the glories which ,god has revealed to us4 ,glory to ,thee1 ,o ,god1 glory to ,thee6 99 99 99 ,it is said that religionists make too much of the humanity of ,christ4 ,i respond that they make too little4 ,if some doctor or surgeon of ,his day1 standing under the cross1 had caught one drop of the blood on his hands and analyzed it1 it would have been found to have the same plasma1 the same disk1 the same fiber1 the same albumen4 ,it was unmistakably human blood4 ,it is a man that hangs there4 ,his bones are of the same material as ours4 ,his nerves are as sensitive as ours4 ,if it were an angel being despoiled1 ,i would not feel it so much1 for it belongs to a different being4 ,but my ,saviour is a man and my whole sympathy is aroused4 ,jesus our ,king is dying4 ,let couriers carry the swift dispatch4 ,his pains are worse2 ,he is breathing a last groan2 through his body quivers the last anguish4 ,the ,king is dying2 the ,king is dead6 ,his royal blood is shed4 ,i can imagine something of how the spikes felt2 of how the temples burned2 what deathly sickness seized ,his heart2 of how mountain and city and mob swam away from ,his dying vision2 something of that cry for help that makes the blood of all ages curdle with horror3 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast ,thou forsaken me8 99 99 99 ,o6 ,jerusalem1 my happy home1 ,when shall ,i come to thee2 ,when shall my sorrows have an end8 ,thy joys1 when shall ,i see8 ,jerusalem1 my happy home1 ,would ,god that ,i were there6 ,would ,god my tears were at an end1 ,thy joys1 that ,i might share4 ,i am so glad that ,i can write to you4 ,i never will cease praying for you4 ,i remain1 your brother4 ,c4 ,h4 ,z4 99 99 99 99 99 ,washington ,county ,jail4 ,greenville1 ,miss41 ,jan4 #bi1 #ahhi4 ,my ,dear ,sisters3 ,i cannot express my feelings when ,i read your kind letters4 ,they make me feel as though you were still at my prison door4 ,i know ,i am not the same boy that came to prison4 ,i feel much better in every way4 ,i read my ,bible instead of novels1 and find more pleasure in it4 ,i expect to get out of prison soon1 and when ,i do ,i want to write you a long letter4 ,mr4 ,mc,l4 was to see me to-day1 and read your letters4 ,he said he would also write you to-day4 ,there is a great change in him since you were here4 ,all the boys send love4 ,direct me as before1 care ,geo4 ,s4 ,if ,i get out ,i will work for him here4 ,i am1 as ever1 ,your true friend and brother1 ,j4 ,f4 ,d4 99 99 99 99 99 ,penitentiary at ,yuma1 ,ariz41 ,may #ai1 #ahhi4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,friend3 ,your kind letter1 written from ,los ,angeles1 ,cal41 has been received1 after much delay4 ,we are all glad to hear from you1 and thank you very much for your kind remembrance and the good advice given to us in your letter1 and when you spoke to us here in the prison4 ,most all the boys hold you in kind remembrance and often express their wishes to see you and hear you talk again1 and ,i sincerely hope it will be convenient for you to call and see us in the near future4 ,the short visit you paid us awakened earnest thought in a number of the boys1 and ,i am confident a few more such visits would result in much good to many of the inmates of this institution4 ,asking your prayers1 ,i remain1 ,respectfully1 ,j4 ,e4 ,w4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,,kitchen ,,and ,,dining ,,room ,,of ,,prison1 ,,deer ,,lodge1 ,,mont4 ,deer ,lodge1 ,july #ae1 #ahhi4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,madam3 ,i received your postal last ,friday1 and was very pleased to hear from you and to know that although far away you still hold us in kindly remembrance4 ,there are so few who think of us after the prison door has closed4 ,the boys who were so fortunate as to meet you1 and even those who only heard of your good work1 wish to be remembered to you4 ,so far as we are personally concerned1 there have been no changes1 and we will very probably go through the same routine day in and out until our several times have expired4 ,i can safely say that you have made a greater impression upon us than any others we have been privileged to hear4 ,in the intercessions you make with the ,ruler of ,all1 we ask to be remembered1 and hope that you will receive all the returns of good which your work so richly merits4 ,if you can find time in the future1 you can give us no greater pleasure than writing us1 even if only so much as may be placed upon a postal4 ,yours very sincerely1 ,,herbert ,a4 ,m4 7,librarian74 99 99 99 99 99 ,cole ,city1 ,dade ,co41 ,ga41 ,july #e1 #ahij4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton3 ,yours of ,may #beth received yesterday in this camp and contents duly noted4 ,how it thrills the hearts of the boys to hear the reading of a letter written by the hand of ,mother ,wheaton1 the friend of the unfortunate ones4 ,dear ,christian ,mother1 you can't imagine the encouragement it gives to the boys here1 especially those who are trying to do right4 ,your work has been implanted here so very deep that ,god cannot1 according to ,his promise1 obliterate it1 for ,he approves of all good works4 ,you shall have our prayers1 and we desire to have your presence again when possible4 ,i intended to take your letter to ,rattlesnake ,camp ,no4 #d to read to the boys up there1 as ,capt4 ,brock promised me ,i might go1 but for some reason1 ,i know not what1 ,i failed to get off1 but ,i do hope and believe the way will be opened for us prison-bound boys who desire to do a work for ,him to do it without fear4 ,i received also enclosed in your letter a most interesting pamphlet of ,capt4 ,ball's ,experience1 which is so grand4 ,also another of the ,widow and the ,judge4 ,we have a very good ,sunday school here now1 and ,i am trying to make it as interesting as ,i possibly can1 and any books and ,sunday school papers and catechisms you can send us will be quite a favor4 ,that would have been my business at ,no4 #d ,camp to-day1 if ,i could have gone1 to organize a ,sunday school4 ,i must close by asking an interest in your prayers4 ,write often4 ,your friend and brother in ,christ1 ,j4 ,w4 ,s41 ,camp ,no4 #c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,eastern ,penitentiary1 ,philadelphia1 ,dec4 #ae1 #ahij4 ,dear ,madam3 ,your invitation given any of the prisoners who may wish to write1 ,i for one accept4 ,i was greatly impressed with your words of truth and the earnest1 determined manner in which they were spoken4 ,i believe they proved an exception to the routine of professed ,christianity we are used to1 and have set more than one mind to thinking of their spiritual condition4 ,i assure you they were not without effect1 and that you are engaged in a noble work1 of which ,i and others would be glad to hear more4 ,true it is that in the world around us are many persons struggling with poverty as great as ours1 who are loaded with cares and anxieties which seem to hinder them in the service of ,god4 ,there are many who cannot offer him a pure heart which has never been stained by sin1 yet in the grief for misspent time and neglected grace would gladly atone for the past by fervent1 grateful love1 casting themselves upon the mercy of the ,saviour4 ,i am an old soldier1 have fought in the late war1 but the greatest battle ,i have yet to fight is with myself--the battle of reformation4 ,almighty ,god1 in ,his wondrous wisdom1 has chosen ,his saints from every rank of life--some poor and unknown to the world while they are in it2 others great and powerful2 no two have been exactly alike1 even in their way of pleasing the ,lord4 ,the boys here are satisfied your mission was for good1 and left them knowing that for once they were not locked up within the hearing of false professors4 ,to say that locks would not be necessary to hold a congregation within your hearing would be well founded4 ,for a great many others this could not be said4 ,the boys from ,block #i send you their respects1 and would be glad to hear from you again2 would be glad to hear that you received this and that our appreciation of your service be accepted4 ,respectfully yours1 ,a #beeb4 99 99 99 99 99 ,washington ,county ,jail4 ,greenville1 ,miss41 ,jan4 #i1 #ahij4 ,dear ,sister3 ,your postal of the #eth to hand4 ,the boys are all glad to hear from you4 ,mr4 ,mc,l4 was acquitted and was the proudest boy ,i ever saw4 ,the ,st4 ,louis boy also got free and went home to his mother4 ,there has been a great change in the prisoners since you were here4 ,they are always praying and singing1 and you are remembered in every prayer4 ,i don't think ,i am the same boy that came to jail2 ,i know my poor old mother will be proud of me when ,i see her again4 ,she lives in ,mobile1 ,alabama1 and it has been three years since she saw me1 but ,i am praying to meet her soon and be a son to her1 as ,i never was before4 ,i feel like ,i could teach young men some good lessons if ,i get out of this place4 ,we received some reading matter from you a few days ago4 ,please let me hear from you whenever you can spare the time to write4 ,all the boys join me in love and hope to hear from you again soon4 ,your friend and brother1 ,j4 ,d4 7alias the ,artist74 99 99 99 99 99 ,penitentiary1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah1 ,april #ad1 #aija4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,dear ,madam3 ,your welcome and interesting letter to hand and contents noted1 being exceedingly pleased to hear from you4 ,in response would state1 your letter1 though a great surprise1 has been read by many of the inmates of this institution with great interest1 you being the only one1 so far1 who has shown enough respect for us to address a few lines to us by mail4 ,for this kindly remembrance and respect1 please accept our united thanks1 with the wish that as you are journeying along life's pathway you may escape many of the annoyances which you have been subjected to in the past1 while dispensing the gospel tidings to a class of unfortunates4 ,after your departure from here1 am pleased to state1 the ,boys have taken a deeper interest in ,jesus and ,his works than ever before1 and ,i verily believe that were you to come again you would have no difficulty in bringing many of them to the foot of the ,cross4 ,bibles that have lain for months in cells1 covered with dust1 have been taken up and read with avidity1 selecting texts as you suggested for future guidance1 and many are the prayers and kind words which ascend nightly to the ,throne of ,grace in your behalf--prayers for your future guidance and welfare1 with health to sustain you in your glorious work of reclaiming the erring and fallen4 ,god speed the good work along6 ,we wish there were more like you1 to bring a few kind and cheering words to sustain us1 while undergoing this isolation4 ,your voice has lingered in our ears ever since you left1 and many of the boys here would like to secure1 if they possibly could1 a copy of that wonderful song you sang for us1 ,throw ,out the ,life-line4 ,if you would kindly forward a copy1 as it is not in our hymn-books1 it would be very acceptable4 ,you may rest assured1 no firmer1 truer or better friends are to be found than those you possess in the ,utah ,penitentiary4 ,allow us to hope that when comparing this institution with some of the grander ones you may visit in the ,east1 you will not speak disparagingly of your boys out ,west1 but remember there are as many honest hearts beating beneath striped jackets here as you will find anywhere1 with none more willing to do you a favor4 ,in conclusion1 accept our united and kindest regards4 ,hoping that after your life's labors are finished on this earth1 you may find that ,haven of ,rest1 where it shall be said to you1 ,well done1 thou good and faithful servant2 enter ye into the kingdom of ,heaven1 trusting these few lines may give you further encouragement1 and hoping to hear from you again1 with united thanks for past remembrance1 ,i remain1 ,yours most respectfully1 ,m4 ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,baton ,rouge1 ,la41 ,october #aa1 #ahia4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,yours addressed to the boys in prison here was received1 and ,i shall take the responsibility of answering your letter1 which is so full of the ,word of ,god4 ,your songs ,i shall never forget4 ,i wish you could come and pray for us and sing those sweet songs to us every day4 ,i have got a life sentence in this prison4 ,i do not know whether you remember me or not1 but ,i remember you and always will1 ,i hope1 and ,i pray to meet you in ,heaven4 ,since ,i listened to the songs you sang1 ,i have felt that ,i was nearer ,heaven than ever before4 ,your few minutes with us in this prison helped me more than all others that ,i ever heard preach the ,word of ,god4 ,your service enlightened me more4 ,i feel better and ,i think that every one in here will long remember your few minutes' talk with them on that blessed ,sunday morning4 ,i shall constantly pray and try to become as pure in heart as ,i think you are4 ,your home is surely in ,heaven1 and ,i will endeavor to reach that home and meet you there4 ,pray for me that ,i may become acceptable in the sight of our ,lord4 ,i pray the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ and the love of ,god and the communion of the ,holy ,ghost be with you4 ,b4 ,p4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lancaster1 ,neb41 ,oct4 #be1 #ahia4 ,our ,dear ,sister in the ,lord3 ,i received your kind note through our ,brother ,burge4 ,i am thankful for your words to us and for the encouragement ,i received through you4 ,i am trying to live a ,christian life1 to follow the teachings of the words of ,god in the book ,he has given4 ,i am persuaded of myself ,i can do nothing1 but by the help of ,god and our ,saviour ,i am able to resist temptations and sin4 ,the world looks down upon me from two standpoints--the one because of my color1 and the other because ,i try to serve the living ,god through ,christ our ,lord4 ,i feel that ,i am weak and need much help1 both from the ,lord and from the brethren and sisters4 ,i need your prayers daily to help me in my surroundings and trials4 ,we are hated and mocked1 but this does not move us4 ,my faith is strong and ,i will1 through the grace of ,god1 meet you in ,heaven4 ,in my imagination ,i still hear those words that you spoke to us1 and ,i hope they will continue to ring in my ear4 ,i do not fail to mention you in my prayer to ,god the ,father1 in the name of our ,lord and ,master4 ,our chaplain has just returned from the prison congress and he gave us a talk on prison reform4 ,from your brother that is colored1 that had a talk with you in the warden's office4 ,j4 ,h4 ,no4 #aegi4 99 99 99 99 99 ,west ,virginia ,penitentiary1 ,jan4 #ca1 #ahib4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,your letter to ,boys in the ,penitentiary was received1 and it gave me pleasure to read it to them in the chapel1 as also that enclosed for the female prisoners2 and after reading the latter the officer in charge gave it to the sisters1 and they can digest its helpful contents in the quietude of their own apartments4 ,at the very mention of a letter from you ,i could see many faces light up with interest1 and ,i am sure your earnest and faithful appeals for recruits to the ,master's cause on your visits to this place will never be forgotten2 also that many hearts feel to thank you for the kindly and unabated interest that prompted your letter of cheer and encouragement4 ,god bless you with power by ,his ,spirit in your noble work4 ,twenty-six lifetime men are confined here1 and ,i am one of the number2 but ,i am glad to tell you that even here ,i have learned a freedom which is not compassed by iron bars1 and ,i am looking forward with confidence when ,i will come into the full enjoyment of that inheritance which is incorruptible1 undefiled and fadeth not away4 ,have been here over thirteen years2 converted twelve years and nine months ago1 and have been trying to do something for my ,master ever since1 and ,i feel glad that ,he has wonderfully blessed and kept me in ,his love4 ,pray for us that ,god will save the fallen4 ,yours in ,christian love1 ,w4 ,s4 ,d4 99 99 99 99 99 ,oregon ,state ,penitentiary4 ,salem1 ,ore41 ,april #c1 #ahib4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,your kind letter was handed to me by our ,superintendent to-day1 and we were more than pleased to hear from you4 ,may our ,father in ,heaven protect and keep you for many years to come in the faithful work of rescuing the souls of men who are so far astray that each one saved seems like a miracle4 ,many a prayer has gone up from the solitudes of our prison cells for ,mother ,wheaton's health and success1 and many of us in conversation have oft repeated1 ,god bless ,mother ,wheaton6 ,but we have not lost sight of ,jesus1 always our ,friend4 ,we have services every ,sunday4 ,mother ,smith 7,god bless her67 comes once a month1 and each ,sunday our pulpit is occupied by some minister from the city4 ,then some night during the week our choir has rehearsal2 so you see1 we have plenty of opportunity to worship and listen to the divine ,word1 and in consequence we are very grateful to our kind officials1 who earnestly look out for our spiritual welfare1 especially ,mr4 ,downing1 our good ,christian ,superintendent1 who would not rest easy if he thought one of us was in want of anything that he could obtain for us that would be for our good4 ,we often think of the difference between some other prisons and ours4 ,oh1 ,father in ,heaven1 not as we will1 but as ,thou wilt1 but spread a little divine love in those quarters where it is so much needed--that is often our prayer4 ,god bless you and protect you in your noble work1 and may the jewels in your crown be many1 are the prayers of many of the inmates of this institution1 and when you come again many an honest hand will unite with yours in our expression of love and faithfulness for ,him who died on ,calvary1 not in the arms of a loving mother1 but between two such men as many of us have been2 yet one of them dwells with ,him in ,paradise1 which proves to a certainty that ,he saves to the uttermost4 ,god bless you again4 ,write us often1 and when you reach those pearly gates there will be those to meet you who will say1 ,you showed me the way4 ,yours in ,christ4 ,,wm4 ,,and ,,your ,,boys4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lancaster1 ,neb41 ,aug4 #bj1 #ahib4 ,dear ,sister in the ,lord3 ,yours of the #eth at hand4 ,i always rejoice to hear from you1 or to hear you speak1 for your words are words of comfort1 and are after the doctrine of our ,lord and ,master and according to the ,scripture4 ,it is a great comfort to me to hear or speak with those that live in ,christ ,jesus4 ,no ,i have no thought of turning back to the poor and weak elements of this world4 ,by the help of the ,lord ,i will press on to the ends that ,i may claim all the promises1 and ,i want to be found faithful in all good works1 and in doing good to those that have need4 ,the promise you spoke of can be found in ,revelation1 #ad3ab4 ,you ask if ,i will seek to be such4 ,yes1 with all my heart4 ,god1 that knows all our hearts1 knows that my desire is to live and work for ,his sake and for ,his glory4 ,as for me1 ,i am not worthy to be called ,his child1 but only a servant1 because ,i have wasted my life in sin when ,i ought to have served my ,god and ,lord4 ,but four years ago the ,lord drew me unto ,him4 ,i repented of my ways1 gave my heart and soul to ,god the ,father1 and ,jesus our ,lord4 ,i received forgiveness of my sins1 and not many days after ,i received the promise of my ,lord4 ,that was the promise of the ,comforter1 which came to me--even me4 ,and now shall ,i turn back8 ,no1 ,god helping me1 ,i will endure all things2 for ,he is able to keep me in the hour of temptation4 ,and oh6 ,his promises are so true to them that put their trust in ,him4 ,in ,isaiah1 #dast chapter and #ajth verse1 and again in #ast ,kings1 #aith chapter1 #gth verse1 we are told the journey is too great for us without ,god's help4 ,but if we accept the help we shall be faithful to the end4 ,and here is another promise that ,he will help in time of need3 ,lo6 ,i am with you always1 even unto the end of the world4 7,matt4 #bh3bj47 ,he has promised to reward us according to our works4 7,rev4 #bb3ab47 ,i have done nothing worthy of reward4 ,but you have labored and have kept the faith1 and ,god will reward you for all your trials and tribulations1 and give you a crown that will never fade4 ,yes1 ,god helping me1 ,i will meet you in ,heaven1 where there is no more sorrow and no more weeping1 but joy in our ,saviour4 ,may ,god bless you4 ,may ,he give you health and strength to the end1 is my prayer4 ,pray for me1 for the prayer of the righteous availeth much4 ,yours in ,jesus1 ,p4 ,b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ionia1 ,mich41 ,october #ba1 #ahid4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,madam3 ,i write to thank you for those pamphlets you sent me1 and ,i think ,i can say they did me good4 ,at any rate1 ,i am trying to faithfully follow their suggestions4 ,i practically devour any of that kind of reading1 for1 thank ,god1 ,i do hunger and thirst after instruction in ,his word--,i should like to have said righteousness1 but ,i don't--there6 ,i cannot finish what ,i was going to say1 for a blessed thought has just come to me--that is1 ,abraham believed ,god1 and it was counted to him for righteousness4 ,i not only believe ,god1 but ,jesus ,christ also4 ,so ,i believe ,i may say ,i hunger and thirst after righteousness4 ,anyhow1 ,i pray every day to get nearer to ,god4 ,you will be glad to hear that ,i have decided to leave all and follow ,him4 ,i have consecrated my life to ,his service4 ,when ,i get out1 wherever ,i feel that ,he calls me1 ,i shall go there1 if it is to ,china4 ,i am praying for sanctification4 ,i want to get so close to ,god as to always be able to feel ,his presence4 ,this is just two weeks since you were here1 and ,i started to serve ,god4 ,praise the ,lord1 ,i think ,i am justified in saying that ,i am a new lad4 ,i have given up tobacco and don't feel the need of it any more than if ,i had never tasted it4 ,i have given up profanity just as easily4 ,now ,i want to read the ,bible every day4 ,since you were here ,i have read ,corinthians ,i and ,,ii1 ,revelations1 ,proverbs1 ,ecclesiastes1 ,ruth1 and am now reading the ,acts of the ,apostles4 ,before you came ,i had thought a little of being a ,christian1 but had not taken any steps towards it1 but you decided me1 and ,i thank you for it4 ,i must close now or my paper will give out4 ,pray for me that ,i may receive sanctification and have the indwelling of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,god bless you4 ,i remain1 yours sincerely and respectfully1 ,m4 ,j4 ,b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lancaster1 ,neb41 ,feb4 #c1 #ahie4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,sister in ,christ3 ,yours was received with welcome and thanksgiving to our ,lord that comforts us through ,his ,holy ,spirit4 ,yes1 ,god has given me grace to overcome many temptations4 ,he is my whole trust and confidence1 and ,i know ,he hears my prayers1 and ,he will open a door for you here4 ,there are some hungry souls here for the truth4 ,i believe if you had been permitted to have service1 some would have been saved4 ,about the first of ,december there were some seeking quite sincerely4 ,my desire is that ,i might be found faithful to the end1 and ,i ask your prayers for me to ,him who is able to save to the uttermost4 ,i am so glad you had the ,spirit of ,god in your service in ,lincoln ,december #be4 ,we had the follies of this world without the ,spirit of ,god4 ,but the world knows its own and they please not our ,lord4 ,and because we are not of the world1 the world hates us1 and that without a cause4 ,i have been praying for you that ,god will give you the victory in all things4 ,and now may the peace and grace of ,god our ,lord be with all ,his saints and them that truly love ,him4 ,from your brother in ,jesus1 ,p4 ,b4 ,b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,cole ,city1 ,ga41 ,april #bf1 #ahif4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,mother3 ,i take the pleasure of writing you a few lines4 ,i do hope that ,i can meet you and tell you the good you have done me4 ,god is the one and the only one ,i look to4 ,i want to go to ,heaven and believe ,i will4 ,i believe some day1 if we do not meet on earth again1 that we will meet in ,heaven4 ,poor and needy though ,i be1 ,god1 my maker1 cares for me2 ,gives me clothing1 shelter1 food2 ,he will hear me when ,i pray4 ,he is with me night and day1 ,when ,i sleep and when ,i wake4 ,keeps me safe for ,jesus' sake1 ,he who reigns above the sky1 ,once became as poor as ,i4 ,he whose blood for me was shed1 ,had not where to lay ,his head4 ,though ,i labor here awhile1 ,he will bless me with ,his smile4 ,and when this short life is past1 ,i shall rest with ,him at last4 ,i hope and pray that you will have power and strength to obey the ,master's will4 ,good-bye1 ,p4 ,mc,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,boise ,city1 ,idaho1 ,may #aa1 #ahif4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,mother in ,christ3 ,i hope you are well and enjoying the love of the ,lord4 ,it is a great thing to be in a position to work for the ,lord ,jesus4 ,we are having good services now every ,sunday1 and we have a good ,bible class of our own4 ,the ,lord has wonderfully blessed this place1 and ,i hope to see many souls saved4 ,praise ,god6 ,all the boys send love and wish to see you1 and we all wish you success4 ,god bless you in your good work4 ,w4 ,b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,feb4 #bf1 #ahig4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ,kelly1 ,dear ,friends3 ,enclosed please find ,p4 ,o4 order for #f4ff1 which is sent you with the best wishes of the inmates of this institution1 as a slight token of the appreciation which we have of your efforts toward the uplifting of fallen beings like ourselves1 and the upbuilding of ,christ's ,kingdom4 ,although most of the contributions came from the ,c4 ,e4 members1 yet they were not confined strictly to them4 ,it was a surprise to me1 when in conversation with many of the boys1 during our short time of liberty on ,washington's ,birthday1 to find among them such a general feeling of friendliness and respect toward you1 even from those who usually scoff at everything religious1 and who are thoroughly hardened in sin and crime4 ,i am sure it will be gratifying to you to know that ,god so blesses your efforts that even the most hardened ones can feel the influence of ,his ,holy ,spirit in your ministrations4 ,rest assured that we shall always hold you in kindly remembrance1 and shall never cease to pray that ,god's richest blessing may crown your efforts4 ,while our contribution is very small1 we know that you will receive it remembering only the motive which prompts its bestowal1 which is the only method by which the value of a gift can be determined4 ,with renewed expression of our wishes and prayers for your success1 we are1 ,yours for ,christ1 ,,waupun ,,prison ,c4 ,e4 ,,society4 ,a4 ,i4 ,w41 ,,cor4 ,,sec4 ,p4 ,s4--,the enclosed order is sent in the chaplain's name1 ,w4 ,g4 ,bancroft4 99 99 99 99 99 ,eddyville1 ,ky41 ,april #ah1 #ahig4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,my ,dear ,christian ,friend3 ,it is with pleasure that ,i write you these few lines to let you know that your visit to ,eddyville was not in vain4 ,many of my brothers here express their appreciation of your visit4 ,we have some earnest workers for the salvation of men in this prison4 ,we are praying for you that ,god will strengthen you for ,his work4 ,we hope to see you again soon1 and receive a message from ,jesus1 for we receive you as ,his messenger4 ,all my brothers send their thanks to you1 for they say you seem like a mother to them4 ,some of us have not seen our mothers for thirteen or fourteen years1 and only live in hope of seeing them in heaven1 when we can lay down these stripes and greet them there4 ,o my dear ,christian friend1 when ,i think of a wasted life and how easy a poor frail being like myself is led off1 it almost crushes my heart1 but thank ,god that the blood of ,jesus ,christ cleanseth from all sin1 and that is my only hope4 ,i want to meet you in heaven and1 by the grace of ,god1 ,i'll be there4 ,we will not be in prison always4 ,jesus will come to claim his children soon4 ,those who oppress us now will all have to stand before that just ,judge and give an account of what they have done to crush the hearts of their fellowmen4 ,may ,god forgive them1 is my prayer1 for they know not what they do4 ,i hope to hear from you soon4 ,may ,god bless you in ,his service4 ,your friend in ,christ1 ,l4 ,p4 99 99 99 99 99 ,laramie1 ,wyo41 ,may #ca1 #ahig4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,i got your letter some time ago and also the papers4 ,was real glad to get them and to hear from you4 ,i also get the paper regularly1 and when we are through reading it ,i send it to a little boy in ,montana that ,i used to know4 ,we still continue our ,bible class and have several new members4 ,we have changed the time from ,thursday until ,sunday1 on account of some of the boys who work on the farm4 ,i got a good letter from a friend in ,kansas not long ago4 ,he tells me that my wife and little girls have joined the ,christian ,church4 ,the happiest days of my life were spent with them1 and if there is one of us four who has to be lost ,i hope it may be me4 ,i want your prayers for our ,bible class and that ,god will make me a better man2 and especially for my wife and children ,i want your prayers4 ,it will be four years to-morrow since ,i have seen them4 ,some of the boys often speak of you1 and ,i can assure you of a welcome by us if you ever come this way again4 ,may ,god bless you and sustain you in this world for many years to come1 is my prayer4 ,the text of the sermon we heard to-day was ,john #c3af4 ,w4 ,j4 ,t4 ,luke #ae3ae4 99 99 99 99 99 ,waupun1 ,wis41 ,july #d1 #ahig4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,madam3 ,the privilege of writing is accorded me by the rules of this institution1 and as ,i have no friends to whom ,i write1 ,i will address this letter to you4 ,i have not taken any great interest in your work1 but have heard you speak before you visited this place last ,february1 and under similar circumstances4 ,all are doing nicely here and are looking forward to the treat we shall get to-morrow by being allowed the liberty of the yard1 as we celebrate the ,fourth then4 ,the ,christian ,endeavor ,society is getting along nicely1 ,i guess1 though ,i have not been present at their last two or three meetings1 but some of the boys seem to take considerable interest in the work4 ,the front yard is very pretty4 ,all the flowers are in bloom and nature seems to bless the convicts as well as those whose conduct permits them to remain out in a cruel world4 ,flower ,mission ,day was observed here ,june #bjth4 ,some ladies of the ,w4 ,c4 ,t4 ,u4 distributed some flowers and spoke in the chapel4 ,told us of the sufferings of ,jennie ,cassidy of ,kentucky1 the originator of ,flower ,mission ,day1 invoked a divine blessing on us1 and sent us to our cells1 feeling that our lot was not so bad as others have had to endure4 ,the prison is about the same1 six hundred males and ten or twelve females2 some changes in the discipline2 the lock-step is dispensed with2 we are allowed two books a week from the library1 and other changes which lighten our burden4 ,believing you will pardon this liberty ,i have taken1 ,i am1 ,most respectfully1 ,no4 #fife4 99 99 99 99 99 ,laramie1 ,wyoming1 ,may1 #ahih4 ,dear ,mother3 ,mr4 ---- requests me to answer your kind and most welcome letter4 ,i was thinking of you this morning1 and of your mission on earth1 and how you had spent your life in the service of the ,lord1 and in trying to benefit others4 ,we regard you as the ,good ,samaritan1 and pray that the ,lord will bless you in your work wherever you may go4 ,the members of the ,bible class unite in sending you their love and best regards1 and will be delighted to have you visit us again4 ,according to nature1 your earthly mission will soon come to a close1 but your acts of kindness and deeds of mercy will live on forever4 ,remember us in your prayers4 ,it is written that the prayers of the righteous avail much4 ,our class has increased considerably since you were here4 ,some of the boys seem to be very much in earnest and sincerely repent of their past conduct4 ,i hope to live the remainder of my life in the service of the ,lord1 and ,i hope to meet you in a brighter and a better world1 where parting and sorrow are no more2 where our tears are all wiped away1 and the light of the ,lord shines forever4 ,sincerely yours1 ,f4 ,p4 #cji4 99 99 99 99 99 ,eddyville ,prison1 ,march #ag1 #aijj4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist3 ,though it has been one year the #eth of ,february past since ,i heard your kind1 sweet1 motherly voice1 how glad and proud ,i am to see you once again and hear your kind voice1 full of a mother's pity for her children4 ,may ,god bless you1 mother1 in your journey from prison to prison to teach fallen men that there is a ,jesus who loves them and will forgive their sins if they only believe on ,him4 ,thank ,god for ,his ,son ,he sent into the world to save sinners1 for ,jesus has pardoned all my sins1 and ,i mean to serve ,god for the remainder of my life4 ,you are welcome--thrice welcome4 ,if you did not love us you would not come to visit us each year so faithfully4 ,may ,god bless and go with you wherever you may be or go4 ,though ,i have only about three weeks to serve here yet1 ,i thank ,god ,i will leave a saved boy through the blood of ,jesus4 ,bless ,his holy name6 ,i highly appreciate your kind words and the advice you gave me4 ,i will take your advice4 ,i will close by saying1 ,may ,god watch between me and thee4 ,amen4 ,my motto through life is1 ,in ,god ,i trust4 ,i remain1 ,your son in ,jesus1 ,f4 ,p4 ,k41 ,jr4 99 99 99 99 99 ,yuma1 ,arizona1 ,may #be1 #aijc4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,our kind ,superintendent handed me your letter of the #bb;d inst41 also the tracts you sent1 which ,i distributed to those who ,i knew would read and appreciate them4 ,i also showed your letter to several1 and intended reading it1 or having it read1 during church yesterday morning1 but our minister was late1 so ,i thought best to wait till next ,sunday4 ,during the week ,i will pass it around to as many as ,i can4 ,all to whom ,i showed the letter seemed glad to hear from you1 and requested me to ask you to remember them in your prayers1 and said to tell you they hoped you would be able to visit the prison again soon4 ,i am sorry ,i haven't a more favorable report of ,christian progress in the prison2 but ,satan seems to hold the upper hand1 and there has been no conversion for some time1 and there has been quite a number of ,christian boys sent out1 and a great many new men came in of late1 which may account for the small attendance at services4 ,i hope the ,lord will open the way for some good revivalist to come to ,yuma and stay for a while at least4 ,this place needs a real stirring up4 ,i hope that the ,lord will continue to bless you in your work for ,him among fallen men and women1 and that you may lead many to live better lives and be prepared for heaven4 ,your brother in ,christ1 ,r4 ,c4 99 99 99 99 99 ,frankfort1 ,ky41 ,october #h1 #aijc4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,it is a matter of the deepest regret that ,i am in prison1 but ,i am very proud to have you call me one of your boys4 ,my dear mother was named ,elizabeth4 ,i was her pride and joy1 but rejoice to think that my fall did not occur until after her death4 ,it would please my sweet wife if you could write her a letter of encouragement and good cheer4 ,i hope that your latter years may be many1 and am certain they will be filled with the joy and blessedness which come to those who are serving the ,master in such a noble work as yours4 ,most respectfully yours1 ,h4 ,e4 ,y4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,,drug ,,department ,,in ,,prison ,,hospital4 ,frankfort1 ,kentucky1 ,november #ae1 #aijc4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,my ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,your visit to those who were confined to their beds in our prison hospital ,october #fth was a great blessing to them4 ,your gospel hymns gave them visions of angels singing the praises of their ,master1 and your prayers carried them before the great white throne for mercy and pardon4 ,prisoners need ,christianity more than any other class of men1 and when they get the love of ,god in their hearts they immediately become better prisoners1 are more contented1 and have more hope for this life and the life to come4 ,surely your work is a noble one1 and each song and prayer for prisoners makes your heavenly reward more glorious4 ,with many thanks for the kind words spoken to me1 ,i remain1 ,most respectfully1 ,h4 ,e4 ,y4 99 99 99 99 99 ,jefferson ,city1 ,mo41 ,sept4 #b1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,dear ,mother in ,jesus3 ,i thought ,i would address you in behalf of a ,christian friend by the name of ,j41 as he is sick4 ,he requested me to write to you1 and as ,i would like to hear from a ,christian from the outside world1 he said you would answer my letter4 ,i am trying to live a ,christian life4 ,when ,i was almost ready to give up and go back to my sinful life1 there was a bright light came in my pathway to refresh my soul and to point out the dark places wherein ,i stood4 ,and this light was ,brother ,j4 ,when he talks to any one it is in a loving way1 and to talk to him five minutes one can tell that he is one of ,god's true children4 ,i enjoy greatly to hear him talk of ,jesus' love1 for it does my soul good4 ,have you any ,christian papers and tracts that you would please send to me8 ,i would enjoy reading them greatly4 ,i am your boy1 saved in ,christ ,jesus4 ,geo4 ,w4 ,r4 99 99 99 99 99 ,huntsville1 ,texas1 ,feb4 #ag1 #aije4 ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,yours to our chaplain1 ,dr4 ,m41 has just been handed to me1 and it affords me great pleasure to write you1 for ,i often think of you1 and the good lady that was here with you1 and ,i knew it would be gratifying to you to know how sincerely the boys appreciate your words of kindness and ,christian advice for their spiritual welfare4 ,i have heard many of them speak of you1 and it was always with heartfelt wishes for your success and happiness4 ,i trust and pray that many lost souls will be brought to ,christ through your noble work in the meeting you mention4 ,through reading the ,christian ,herald ,i have been much impressed with the need of missionary work in ,india4 ,and ,i pray that ,miss ,grace1 who was with you here1 will be abundantly blessed in her undertaking4 ,i assure you that we will all be glad to see you at any time4 ,god's richest blessings upon you4 ,i beg to remain1 ,yours in ,christ1 ,w4 ,h4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,kind ,words from ,friends4 ,we give here a few letters from dear friends who have been especially interested in the ,master's work1 some of whom have given me many words of encouragement1 or otherwise been helpful to me in advancing the work of the gospel4 ,,from ,h4 ,l4 ,,hastings ,,and ,,wife4 #dg ,cornhill ,place1 ,boston1 ,mass41 ,january #bg1 #ahhf4 ,blessed ,sister3 ,your card came duly4 ,glad to hear4 ,sorry you could not call4 ,mrs4 ,hastings wanted to see you4 ,come to our house when you will4 ,if you go to ,new ,york1 call on ,miss ,annie ,delaney1 ,fruit and ,bible ,mission1 #daf ,e4 #bfth ,st41 ,new ,york1 opposite the ,bellevue ,hospital--right in the middle of prisons and prisoners4 ,tell them ,i sent you4 ,miss ,d4 is superintendent and has lived with us and can open doors there4 ,i was at ,state ,prison one night4 ,heard many good testimonies from your friends there4 ,surely1 your labors have been blessed4 ,may the ,lord direct your way in all these things1 and guide your endeavors4 ,how much you need the ,heavenly ,father's guidance4 ,he will guide you with ,his eye4 ,pray that you may know and do ,his will1 and pray for us that we may please ,him in all things4 ,do you need some tracts or papers8 ,let us know4 ,yours in the work1 ,h4 ,l4 ,,hastings4 99 99 99 99 99 ,goshen1 ,mass41 ,march #i1 #aijj4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,i am very glad indeed to hear from you1 and to know that you are still alive and still at work4 ,it was a great shock to me when ,mr4 ,hastings left us4 ,but the ,lord has been very good to me1 and ,i feel that ,he means what ,he says3 ,e'en down to old age ,i will never leave thee4 ,i'll never1 no1 never1 no1 never forsake4 ,this is a beautiful and a comforting thought to me at this time4 ,may ,god bless you1 my sister1 and keep you in health to do ,his work1 is the prayer of ,your friend1 ,,mrs4 ,h4 ,l4 ,,hastings4 7,per ,e4 ,b47 99 99 99 99 99 ,e4 ,e4 ,,byrum1 ,,author ,,and ,,editor4 ,september #aa1 #aijc4 ,during the past few years ,i have been acquainted with ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 and known of her earnestness and zeal in behalf of the unfortunate prisoners of our land4 ,for many years her time has been almost wholly given to the work of relieving the distressed and discouraged in their cells1 and in prison chapels4 ,her songs and words of encouragement1 mingled with tears1 have caused the feelings of depression and sadness to flee away1 and those bowed down with sorrow to grasp a ray of hope and look forward with renewed energy to a higher life1 trusting in ,him who is able to keep4 ,many years of continued evangelistic work in the penitentiaries and prisons of ,america have given her a wide range of experiences of prison life1 a description of which cannot fail to be of intense interest to every reader4 ,it was partially due to her untiring zeal that ,i was moved to write the book entitled ,behind the ,prison ,bars4 ,her written words will continue to warn and comfort after her departure from this world to her home beyond the cares of life4 ,e4 ,e4 ,,byrum4 ,moundsville1 ,w4 ,va4 ,,from ,,mother ,,of ,,prisoner4 ,chicago1 ,march #d1 #aijj4 ,dear ,friend3 ,i was greatly surprised and glad to hear from you1 for my son has often spoken of you and has regretted that the quarantine has kept you away4 ,i feel very grateful to you for taking an interest in my dear boy1 for he is still very dear to me4 ,you cannot imagine my feelings all these years1 knowing he was behind gloomy walls4 ,my health has given way two or three times on account of it4 ,like so many others1 he thought he knew best1 and left a good home to go roving4 ,the cause of his downfall is due to bad company1 but then1 his time is up in ,october4 ,i hope to see him once more and keep him with me1 for ,i am growing old--am nearly sixty-two4 ,i shall be very glad to welcome you to our home4 ,if you should see my dear boy before you come to ,chicago1 tell him ,i am waiting patiently until ,i see him4 ,this letter hardly expresses my feelings1 but1 sleeping or waking1 my thoughts are nearly always with my absent boy4 ,once more accept thanks from a broken-hearted mother4 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,e4 ,f4 ,,from ,a ,,prisoner',s ,,daughter4 ,denver1 ,colo41 ,jan4 #g1 #aijc4 ,my ,dear ,mother ,wheaton3 ,praise ,god for salvation this afternoon6 ,i am glad ,i found your address1 for ,i have wanted to write to you for a long time and tell you the result of your visit to ,r4 ,state ,prison1 where you talked with my precious father4 ,he wrote me soon after you left and said you left him under awful conviction4 ,he confessed and forsook his sins and is now a man saved by the blood that was shed on the cross for him4 ,he said that he was restless from the time you left until he found ,jesus4 ,he told how you and a young lady talked and prayed with him1 and how1 after he retired1 he rolled and tossed in awful agony until about eleven o'clock1 when he cried to ,god for mercy4 ,god heard his cries and came to his release4 ,o hallelujah6 ,it just makes me shout to read his letters now4 ,i can tell by them that he is really resting in ,jesus4 ,he before seldom wrote more than two pages1 and now he writes from fifteen to twenty-four4 ,and oh1 such letters6 ,i just can't help but cry for joy when ,i read them and realize that my precious papa is serving the only true and living ,god4 ,i give ,god the glory and all of the honor for what has been done2 and ,i praise ,god for using you as an instrument through whom ,he worked4 ,eternity alone can reveal the result4 ,my heart is full of praises to ,jesus my ,king this evening4 ,he has done so much for me lately4 ,he blesses me in soul and body and supplies all my needs4 ,i may go to ,c4 soon and try to do something for my father4 ,pray that ,god may lead me and that the devil may not hinder in any way1 if ,god sees fit to release papa from prison4 ,i am perfectly resigned to ,god's will4 ,your sister for ,jesus1 ,m4 ,h4 7,this daughter was a successful ,christian worker47 ,,from ,,an ,,editor4 ,ashburn1 ,ga41 ,may #ab1 #ahig4 ,dear ,sister3 ,grace and peace be multiplied to you4 ,i received your letter and communication for ,holiness ,advocate1 which will appear in the next issue4 ,always let me know where to find you4 ,i would have written sooner1 but have been away to ,macon1 where ,i saw ,sister ,perry4 ,she has been here and visited the convict camps since you were here4 ,i have been visiting those camps pretty regularly since you left here4 ,you put it on me and ,i am trying to be faithful4 ,you asked me in your letter if you knew me4 ,yes1 ,i met you here4 ,it was in front of my store4 ,you held the street service here at ,ashburn1 while waiting for the train1 and ,i was with you until the train left4 ,well1 sister1 ,i will never get done praising ,god for ever meeting you4 ,it marked a new epoch in my experience4 ,i want you to take my paper on your heart4 ,ask the ,holy ,spirit to run it for me and the ,father to supply financial help4 ,i am trusting ,him for it4 ,how glad the prisoners in the camp will be to hear from you in this way4 ,i will send up to both the camps a bundle of the issue containing your letter4 ,i want you all to pray for the ,south1 that a deeper work may be done in the hearts of the ,holiness people2 that the missionary spirit may get hold of us so that we will send out our sons and daughters to tell of ,jesus' love to a perishing1 dying world4 ,may the ,lord bless you and use you in the future even more powerfully than in the past4 ,come and see us when you can4 ,yours1 bound for ,heaven1 ,j4 ,,lawrence1 ,ed4 ,holiness ,advocate4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ashburn1 ,ga41 ,august #be1 #ahih4 ,dear ,sister ,wheaton3 ,your letter came to us all right1 and you have no idea what gladness it brings to us all to hear from you1 and yet conviction4 ,for it certainly convicts us for the little we are doing when we see how the ,lord is enabling you to put in full time4 ,pray for me that ,i may be more zealous4 ,things are taking a deeper move in the ,south4 ,a great number of the ,holiness people are getting down for a real experience4 ,we have been satisfied long enough with a profession4 ,so you may expect something from the ,south in the near future4 ,men and women giving themselves for the foreign field and for the home field1 working in the slums and in the prisons and wherever ,god may lead them4 ,love to all the saints at ,tabor4 ,i have never met any of them1 but ,i do love them and the work they are doing4 ,blessed be the tie that binds4 ,god bless you1 and may you be preserved blameless unto ,his coming4 ,yours in ,jesus' love1 ,j4 ,,lawrence4 ,,from ,,an ,,ex-,,prisoner4 ,sioux ,city1 ,ia41 ,jan4 #ca1 #aija4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,i don't suppose you will remember me1 but possibly you may1 as ,i think ,i was one of the most wretched in or out of prison at that time4 ,it was at ,sioux ,falls1 ,so4 ,dak41 between three and four years ago1 if ,i remember correctly4 ,you visited the prison and spoke to us in chapel1 and later in the day you and a lady with you1 came around to the cells4 ,i was in cell ,no4 #ac4 ,you shook hands with me and asked1 ,are you a ,christian8 ,i replied1 ,no4 ,again you asked1 ,have you ever been one8 ,no4 ,will you meet me in ,heaven8 you asked again1 and ,i answered1 ,i will try to4 ,you spoke only a few words1 saying1 ,do not be discouraged4 ,these few words and that warm hand-shake helped me very much4 ,i was indeed much discouraged4 ,life seemed dark indeed4 ,i was serving an eleven years' sentence4 ,i was under deep conviction of sin4 ,not long after that the blessed ,christ came into my heart4 ,i believed on ,his name and ,he saved my soul4 ,two years ago last ,august ,i was pardoned from the prison4 ,the #agth of last ,march ,i became ,superintendent of a ,rescue ,mission in ,dakota1 and for ten months or nearly that ,i was there and the ,lord blessed our efforts by saving souls4 ,i am now married4 ,my wife was converted in the mission last ,june4 ,she is an accomplished musician and singer and1 the ,lord being willing1 we expect to go out and preach the gospel among railroad men in the near future4 ,i have often thought of you and your labor of love among prisoners4 ,may ,god bless and encourage you in the work1 is my earnest prayer4 ,i heard that you were in ,sioux ,falls at the prison a short time ago4 ,i did not know it in time to see you4 ,if the prisoners only knew what joy and peace there is in the service of ,jesus1 it seems to me they would yield their hearts to ,him4 ,again ,i wish you godspeed in your work4 ,may you have many precious jewels for the ,master's crown4 ,to ,him belong the praise and glory4 ,good-bye1 and ,god bless you and the sister that was with you4 ,never be discouraged4 ,jesus loves and uses you4 ,yours1 in ,his service1 ,t4 ,f4 ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sioux ,falls1 ,s4 ,dak41 ,feb4 #i1 #aijd4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,dear ,sister3 ,your card of ,november was received4 ,hope you will pardon me for not writing before4 ,i am glad that you are still trusting ,jesus1 and working in ,his vineyard4 ,may ,god bless1 comfort1 strengthen and keep you4 ,jesus is coming again1 perhaps soon4 ,it may be that we shall be alive when ,he comes4 ,if so we shall be caught up together with the dead in ,christ to meet ,him in the air1 so shall we ever be with ,him4 ,blessed be ,his name4 7,i ,thess4 #d-ag47 ,i want to exalt ,him4 ,i want my daily life to be a testimony of ,his power to save and to keep4 ,many years of my life were spent in sin4 ,finally ,i was tried1 convicted and sentenced to state's prison for a long term of years4 ,god says3 ,whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap1 for ,he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption1 but he that soweth to the ,spirit shall of the ,spirit reap life everlasting4 7,galatians #f3g1 #h47 ,god's word is true4 ,i found my mind giving away and my body a physical wreck4 ,i read the ,bible and ,god showed me that ,i was a lost man4 ,i tried to destroy my life1 but ,god in his love and mercy would not permit it4 ,i was in great darkness4 ,i said to a friend1 there is no hope for me in this life or the life to come1 but ,i did not know ,jesus ,christ nor ,his saving power4 ,god sent ,his ministers each ,sunday morning to preach the blessed gospel1 and one ,sunday morning ,he sent ,mother ,wheaton to us4 ,in the afternoon1 ,i believe it was1 she visited us in our cells4 ,i had quarreled with my cell-mate1 and he had left me4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton came and shook hands with me1 and asked if ,i was a ,christian4 ,i said1 ,no4 ,again she asked1 ,have you ever been a ,christian8 ,i replied1 ,no4 ,she said1 ,will you meet me in ,heaven8 ,i said1 ,i will try4 ,with a warm hand-shake and a few words of encouragement1 she left me4 ,god helped me to believe in ,jesus ,christ1 and there came into my life joy and peace such as ,i had never known before1 even in my best days on the outside4 ,after my conversion ,i asked ,god if it was ,his will that ,i might be pardoned out4 ,he also heard and answered that prayer4 ,god is love4 ,he loves the vilest sinner4 ,to-day ,i have a loving ,christian wife and two lovely children4 ,i have no desire for the old life of drinking1 gambling1 etc41 but my desire is to love and serve ,god and help my fellowmen to find ,jesus1 who is mighty to save and to keep4 ,to ,jesus belongs all praise and glory4 ,if it is his will1 may ,he use this testimony to bring souls to ,himself4 ,t4 ,f4 ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 #djfd ,washington ,avenue1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 ,october #be1 #ahii4 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,wheaton3 ,i thank you so much for your letter4 ,i was greatly pleased in reading it4 ,i will be so glad to see you when you come4 ,i realize1 as you say1 that ,i have never fully let go of myself in the ,master's work1 but ,i have given my life to ,him1 and if ,i know my own heart1 ,i am willing to be and do anything ,he shall choose for me4 ,i love to help lost ones1 and if the ,lord should use me as ,he does you1 ,i believe ,i should be the happiest person in the world4 ,do pray for me1 won't you1 that the ,lord may lead me into all ,his will8 ,time is flying1 and soon all of our opportunities will be over and our ,lord will take us to ,himself4 ,pray that the ,lord will keep me busy serving ,him4 ,i love you and pray for you4 ,may you be kept rejoicing in hope even though you see nothing but sin and sorrow around you4 7,psalm #abe3e1 #f47 ,lovingly yours1 ,,tula ,d4 ,,ely4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sapphire1 ,n4 ,c41 ,august #ae1 #aija4 ,my ,dear ,sister3 ,i received your letter to-day4 ,i have been thinking about you and praying for you often1 and see by your letter that ,god has made all of your trials a blessing to you and know that ,god can make up for any loss ,he lets us have4 ,what a hard time you did have1 dear sister4 ,i praise ,god for bringing you through it with such joy4 ,sometimes it seems true ,he does with us like ,he did with ,job--just tells ,satan he may do everything but take our lives1 and when our self-justification and friends are gone1 ,he joins us in with ,himself and makes us powerful in ,his own power4 ,he knows whether we want ,him1 and if we do we will be taken through death to self and put to hard tests4 ,it seems sometimes as if ,he hides ,his face to let us suffer and say1 ,though ,he slay me yet will ,i trust ,him4 ,i am glad you are with the people who hold you up in prayer4 ,we need one another's prayers in these times when ,satan has so many snares4 ,tula is well4 ,she and ,mildred send love4 ,affectionately and in ,jesus1 love1 ,,clara ,d4 ,,ely4 99 99 99 99 99 ,s----1 ,colo41 ,june #bd1 #aijc4 ,dear ,mother in ,christ3 ,may this find you well and happy in the ,lord ,jesus4 ,we have not forgotten you and we never shall4 ,our gospel tent meeting at ,p4 was a blessed time4 ,souls were saved and sanctified4 ,we give all the glory to ,jesus4 ,we are holding meetings here in our tent4 ,the ,lord is blessing the preaching of ,his ,word4 ,the ,lord willing1 we will begin a meeting at ,raton1 ,new ,mexico1 the #bnd of ,august4 ,we would like to have you with us if it were the ,lord's will4 ,the ,lord is helping us while we are here to open a home for poor girls4 ,we have rented a five-room house and ,he is giving us everything we need for the home4 ,glory to ,god for all things6 ,my brother ,h4 is with us in the gospel work4 ,god is blessing him in singing the gospel4 ,remember us all in prayer4 ,may the ,lord give you many souls in your work4 ,we both send love to you4 ,your children1 ,j4 ,e4 ,,and ,,wife4 ,the above is of especial interest to me though the reader may have to read between the lines1 as it were1 to understand why it is so4 ,the writers are faithful and efficient workers in the ,master's cause4 ,a ,,testimonial4 ,columbia1 ,south ,carolina4 ,to ,christian ,women3 ,dear ,sisters3 ,we have long known the bearer1 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 and can testify as to her arduous labors for the most needy classes4 ,it was our privilege to have her in our ,home for one week and we certainly received the ,lord's blessing during that time4 ,we are working for ,christ1 but her labors are more abundant1 her trials far greater4 ,as she goes forth without commission or salary she must depend entirely upon ,god4 ,he usually supplies her through ,his people4 ,few of us could work where and as she does1 but we may lovingly minister to her necessity and the dear ,lord will surely bless in so doing4 ,yours in ,christ1 ,,maria ,,jones1 ,,ella ,f4 ,,brainard4 ,the writer of the following sketch was an orphan girl making her home1 when ,i first met her1 with some of my relatives in ,iowa4 ,she was raised by her aunt and was kept in school and in society till she was grown4 ,having been converted at the age of twelve years and engaging some in ,christian work1 soon after my first acquaintance with her she received a call from ,god to devote her life wholly to ,his service4 ,being an orphan the ,lord gave me a mother's love and care for her4 ,she went with me to the ,missionary ,training ,home at ,tabor1 from whence she went as a missionary to ,india4 ,while at the ,home she was faithful in caring for orphan children1 etc41 and traveled with me some1 staying at one time several months as a worker in a rescue home in ,chicago1 and later spending some time in evangelistic work4 ,i have elsewhere mentioned her trip with me to the ,pacific coast on her way to ,india4 ,it was my privilege in the fall of #aijc to travel with ,mother ,wheaton in ,gospel work in prisons1 jails1 missions1 churches1 etc4 ,god made her a blessing to many souls who needed a mother's love and sympathy4 ,she always lifts up ,jesus1 that souls might be drawn unto ,him and be saved4 ,we first visited the ,reformatory for ,girls at ,mitchelville1 ,iowa4 ,we were kindly received by the ,superintendent who had been a friend of ,mother ,wheaton's for several years4 ,he gave her the privilege of holding services in the chapel with the several hundred girls4 ,she also visited the girls in their cottages1 singing1 praying and talking with them4 ,we then visited the prisons at the following places3 ,moundsville1 ,w4 ,va42 ,baltimore1 ,md42 ,allegheny1 ,pa42 ,columbus1 ,ohio2 ,waupun1 ,wis42 ,stillwater1 ,minn42 ,frankfort1 ,ky42 ,nashville and ,brushy ,mountain1 ,tenn4 ,in the hospital of the prison at ,waupun we visited ,mr4 ,colgrove1 a prisoner who was converted fifteen years previously when ,mother ,wheaton was holding a service in the prison4 ,he was a life prisoner but he yielded to the conviction of the ,holy ,spirit and was saved4 ,during these years he proved by his daily walk that he was a ,christian4 ,he often conducted the devotional exercises1 and he had taught three ,bible classes1 two in ,german and one in ,english1 until his health failed4 ,as ,i bade him goodbye he said1 ,i will meet you in the better world if ,i never meet you here again4 ,he was in poor health and a few months later died a triumphant death4 ,the prison physicians gave permission to visit the sick1 for they know the words of comfort and songs of cheer by ,mother ,wheaton will give them encouragement and a desire to live for the better world4 ,in a ,gospel ,mission ,i heard an ex-convict testify to how ,god had saved him from a life of sin4 ,he said that he knew ,mother ,wheaton but perhaps she did not know him dressed as he was2 for when she had met him before he was behind prison bars4 ,he praised ,god for such a person who was willing to work among that class of people4 ,i am sure there is much good accomplished in the prisons for individuals as ,mother ,wheaton stands at the door after services and shakes hands with the hundreds of prisoners as they pass out4 ,her ,god bless you is not soon forgotten4 ,when her work is ended and the rewards of the righteous are given1 many will arise and call her blessed4 ,,grace ,,yarrett4 ,illustration3 ,,mother ,,wheaton4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,sketches from ,press ,reports4 ,my call being not only to the prison bound but to every creature1 the newspaper men have received their part of the ,gospel message and were often instrumental in heralding some truth to their readers whom ,i have been unable to reach in person4 ,i have often been interviewed by reporters regarding my work for the ,master and they frequently give accounts of meetings held in the prisons1 on the streets1 etc41 very correctly1 though sometimes in a humorous style and from that standpoint of the onlookers or the prisoners4 ,in this chapter ,i give a few sketches from reports of my work clipped from the papers4 ,a ,,labor ,,of ,,love4 ,a ,,woman ,,who ,,left ,a ,,luxurious ,,home ,,to ,,serve ,,the ,,unfortunate4 ,,mrs4 ,,wheaton ,,among ,,the ,,criminals ,,at ,,the ,,penitentiary4 ,,she ,,visits ,,the ,,hospitals1 ,,jail ,,and ,,work-,,house--,,affecting ,,scenes ,,while ,,she ,,preached4 ,a white-haird lady1 clad in deep mourning1 carrying a volume bound in morocco1 visited the penitentiary yesterday4 ,this was ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,in a few minutes she was delivering a sermon to the convicts4 ,she is a remarkable woman4 ,four years ago she left a luxurious home in ,ohio to preach the gospel to convicts1 and since then has exhorted in the penitentiaries of thirty-seven ,states4 ,she visits hospitals and the abodes of fallen women1 also1 and has ministered to the wants of thousands of unfortunates4 ,an ,american reporter asked her how she happened to be engaged in the work4 ,no member of my family was ever in a prison or afflicted as are those to whom ,i speak1 she exclaimed2 my evangelical work did not originate in any morbid sympathy because of personal bereavement4 ,i simply felt called of ,god to preach his word to the people1 and have entered upon it for the remainder of my life4 ,my heart and soul are in it1 and though ,i am far from my dear ones ,i am happy4 ,she had been speaking to the convicts but a few minutes when the effect of her words of exhortation was visible4 ,at first the majority were listless1 but as she warmed to her cause they responded with closer attention and in fifteen minutes every eye was fixed intently upon the gentle1 earnest woman1 who sought to save their souls and bring a divine light to their benighted lives4 ,when she closed her discourse and asked if any desired her prayers twenty hardened men of crime1 with tears in their eyes1 raised their hands and three advanced to the mourners' seat4 ,with these she prayed and every word was fraught with all the potent power with which the voice of woman in prayer is capable4 ,the three unfortunates were moved as men seldom are and at the close of the meeting professed conversion4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton then visited the hospital department of the penitentiary1 after which she went to the jail1 work-house and city hospital and at each place delivered a discourse4 ,to-day she will see fallen women4--,nashville ,american1 ,nashville1 ,tenn41 #ahhg4 ,a ,,prison ,,evangelist4 ,,elizabeth ,r4 ,,wheaton ,,talks ,,at ,,the ,,county ,,jail4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 the celebrated prison evangelist1 visited the ,buchanan county jail yesterday1 and conducted a religious service of forty minutes' length4 ,the evangelist pointed out the errors of her hearers and advised them to make early amends4 ,the evangelist assured the audience that all they needed to be saved was faith4 ,wife murderer ,bulling was one of the evangelist's most attentive hearers1 and the horse thieves1 burglars and other criminals were among her closest listeners4 ,sheriff ,spratt thinks much good will result from ,evangelist ,wheaton's visit to the bastile4--,st4 ,joe1 ,mo41 paper1 ,aug4 #h1 #ahhi4 ,,prison ,,evangelist4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 prison evangelist1 held services in the county jail this afternoon1 lecturing and singing to the eleven prisoners there4 ,she told in few words and four songs the whole plan of salvation1 and it didn't take her but twenty minutes to do it4 ,she talked a little while and sang ,i ,will ,tell the ,wondrous ,story1 following with a few words of comment her rich contralto voice burst into ,you ,must ,be ,born ,again1 followed in the same way4 ,then ,it ,pays to ,serve the ,lord1 and ,parting to ,meet no ,more1 closing with a short prayer4 ,these songs coming in the order they do1 tell the whole story and make a very pretty one4--,unidentified4 ,,evangelistic ,,service ,,at ,,prison4 ,elizabeth ,wheaton1 a noble ,christian woman who has consecrated her life to work in prisons1 jails1 reformatories1 houses of correction1 houses of refuge and hospitals1 visited our city ,saturday1 and after presenting her credentials was given hearty permission to hold services at the prison on ,sunday1 ,father ,murphy1 the ,catholic chaplain1 whose day it was to officiate1 kindly consenting to this arrangement4 ,her manner would probably not be agreeable to an sthetic ,christian audience in a fashionable1 upholstered church1 but she knows how to reach the hearts of the men and boys who wear the stripes1 one of the prisoners1 a ,catholic1 who has been behind the bars for almost seventeen years1 remarking that this was the best service they had had there during his long term of imprisonment4 ,no one1 be he ,christian or pagan1 could have listened to the service at the prison chapel last ,sunday without being convinced that there was an opening for unselfish work among prisoners and that this lady was pre-eminently fitted for such work4 ,there is no mawkish sentimentality about her1 but an all absorbing zeal in the work of leading the criminals1 the erring1 the lowly1 the sick and the afflicted to ,christ and a better life4 ,it is doubtful if there is an ordained minister in the land who can do as much good in this field as this plain1 unpretentious1 but thoroughly consecrated woman4 ,she has now been nearly five years in this work1 and has visited nearly every prison in the ,united ,states and ,canada1 a few in ,mexico1 and also the jails1 reformatories1 houses of refuge and hospitals in all the prominent cities through which she has passed4 ,she has traveled almost #ajj1jjj miles and has never met with an accident4 ,wherever she goes she is kindly received1 non-,christians in fact treat her better than those whose sympathy and co-operation she has a right to expect4 ,thus does the world ever recognize and honor earnest1 conscientious and capable laborers in the cause of ,god and humanity4 ,she never allows a collection to be taken up in her behalf1 though frequently invited to speak in churches1 but accepts such offerings as may come without solicitation4 ,last ,sunday1 while she and the citizens in the audience were retiring from the chapel1 a ,swedish servant girl1 whose name is unknown to the writer1 took from her scanty purse a silver dollar and gave it to ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,if the lesson of the story of the widow's mite be true this humble girl's gift was greater than that of the millionaire who gives thousands of dollars toward the erection of a magnificent church edifice4--,stillwater1 ,minn41 ,messenger1 ,oct4 #bg1 #ahhh4 ,,mrs4 ,,wheaton',s ,,eloquence4 ,,causes ,a ,,suffering ,,wife ,,to ,,forget ,,her ,,bruises ,,and ,,forgive ,,her ,,cruel ,,husband4 ,the case of ,henry ,cooper was brought up before ',squire ,f4 yesterday afternoon at #b o'clock4 ,catharine ,cooper stated that her husband had beat her brutally on last ,saturday afternoon and that this was not the first ill treatment she had received at his hands4 ,the court room was converted into a prayer meeting and ,mrs4 ,wheaton's prayers presented an affecting scene2 before the trial was ended ,mrs4 ,cooper asked to withdraw her prosecution and was willing to forgive her cruel husband4 ',squire ,f4 ordered the prisoner to be taken to the workhouse to work out the cost of the suit4--,chattanooga1 ,tenn41 paper4 ,,from ,a ,,prisoner ,,in ,,the ,,pratt ,,mines ,,stockade1 ,,alabama4 ,to the ,chronicle3 ,supposing a line or two from our prison1 its surroundings1 happenings1 etc41 would be acceptable1 prompts me to drop you this4 ,the monotony of prison life is such that hardly anything transpires1 that would command the notice of a news reporter1 or draw an article from a newspaper correspondent4 ,but1 ,mr4 ,editor1 we had something to take place here last night that beats anything we ever saw or heard of4 ,about the time all the convicts had finished eating the evening meal1 ,captain ,p4 ,j4 ,rogers announced that all should remain seated awhile1 to hear preaching4 ,now to hear preaching is no uncommon occurrence here1 ,brother ,rush preaches regularly for us1 and occasionally other ministers deliver discourses upon the importance of living the life of a ,christian1 so when ,capt4 ,r4 announced that we were about to have preaching1 no one experienced much motion of spirit4 ,the minds of those who gave the matter any thought were picturing in expectation1 a man1 perhaps baldheaded1 clad in a long priestly robe with ,bible and ,hymn-book in hand1 and of a solemn1 or sanctimonious countenance1 others1 perhaps1 drew a different man in appearance1 but none had drawn the picture correctly4 ,imagine our surprise when instead of a man1 a woman of mature age1 clad in the usual mourning apparel worn by the ladies1 armed with ,bible and ,hymn-book1 mounted the rostrum1 and announced that she was going to preach to us4 ,this announcement at once produced the most profound and reverential silence imaginable--every eye was at once riveted upon the face of the fair preacher1 whose countenance wore a pleasant smile and indicated an affectionate and amiable disposition1 and complete surprise or amazement was vivid upon the countenance of her entire audience4 ,the discourse was one worthy of the attention of all who heard it--the sufferings of ,jesus in and around ,jerusalem--,his temptation and trial of toil and misery--,his holy life--,his triumphant death and resurrection--,his grand ascension to the realms of the blessed1 were eloquently delineated4 ,the certainty of death--the shortness of life--the never ending of the life beyond the grave were theories eagerly pressed for reception upon the minds of her hearers4 ,taking all in all1 the discourse was well delivered and spiced with enough enthusiasm to produce good effect4 ,but1 ,mr4 ,editor1 the idea of a woman canvassing the world in behalf of the church is simply an incident so unusual that quite a number of us here eagerly inquire1 what has become of the men8 99 99 99 99 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 for such is the name of our distinguished visitor1 related among other things1 that she was called and led by the ,god of ,glory to go all over the world and preach the gospel to the lost children of men1 that the prisons1 saloons1 dens of sin and pollution were the places of her special care4 ,the huts of the poor and outcast were by her to be visited and that she did not ask for money1 that her ,master had promised to provide all things for her and did so daily4 ,,saw ,,mother ,,wheaton4 ,,the ,,noted ,,prison ,,evangelist ,,visited ,,the ,,county ,,jail ,,prisoners ,,today4 ,a kindly faced1 white-haired old lady walked into the county jail this morning and asked permission to address the prisoners4 ,she was ,mother ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 who is known from coast to coast4 ,as soon as her identity was made known ,turnkey ,reynolds and his corps of assistants did their utmost to assist the generous old lady4 ,she was shown through the building1 and then allowed to enter each ward4 ,from #aa o'clock until long after the noon hour she remained with the unfortunates1 visiting them separately and then preaching to all4 ,tears were in the eyes of many of these hardened criminals before she had finished4 ,mother ,wheaton was met at the jail entrance and asked to explain her system of working4 ,it is all done by faith1 she said4 ,i have faith in ,god1 and that is sufficient4 ,he will provide me with all that is necessary to carry on this work4 ,under whose guidance do you work8 was asked4 ,the ,lord's1 and ,his only1 was the reply4 ,but are you not employed by some religious sect8 ,no4 ,i do this on my own responsibility1 and for the glory of ,god4 ,for the past fifteen years this has been my life's work4 ,i go where ,i please and do as ,i please4 ,how far have you traveled8 ,thousands and thousands of miles4 ,last year ,i was in ,europe and have been all over ,america4 ,for the past forty years ,mother ,wheaton has been a professed believer in ,christianity4 ,fifteen years ago she started in the work of visiting prisons1 and has been in every place of detention in any city of note4 ,she is received with the utmost courtesy both by the officials and the prisoners4 ,many of the latter have met her at different places1 and most all the officials are acquainted with her and her work4--,a ,detroit paper4 ,,the ,,prison ,,evangelist4 ,,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,,wheaton ,,delivers ,,an ,,address ,,at ,,the ,,penitentiary ,,chapel ,,sunday ,,morning4 ,the service at the penitentiary chapel ,sunday was made memorable by the presence and discourse of ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 the world-known prison evangelist4 ,chaplain ,winget conducted the services and offered the invocation and in a few explanatory remarks introduced ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton's hair is white as silver1 but she still retains her ever-youthful appearance and sprightly step4 ,she sang in an indescribably sweet1 but powerful1 voice ,some ,mother's ,child4 ,at the conclusion of the singing ,mrs4 ,wheaton preached a wonderful discourse4 ,i was on my way to ,jerusalem1 said she1 and had gotten as far as ,london1 ,england1 when the ,lord turned me back to my own country and to my suffering boys in prison2 and ,i said ,god bless my children1 my boys1 for ,i am their mother4 ,oh6 how sad and discouraged many of you are1 but if you will believe in ,god and read your ,bible you will be comforted4 ,how can any man have the heart not to believe the ,bible and rest his case upon the bosom of the good ,lord who died for us8 ,i thank ,god that the good old-time religion still lives4 ,the devil1 my children1 causes you all your sufferings and sorrows4 ,exchange him for ,jesus4 ,he will keep you4 ,forgive your enemies and submit yourself to the officers of the prison4 ,you must obey--it is the ,lord's will4 ,he has placed you here for his own purpose1 maybe for your soul's good and salvation4 ,jesus says1 ',come to me all ye that are heavy laden and ,i will give you rest4' ,have faith4 ,i am so sorry when some of you do wrong for the innocent must suffer with the guilty and society becomes stern with you4 ,god bless you all4--,columbus1 ,ohio1 paper4 ,,mrs4 ,,elizabeth ,,rider ,,wheaton ,,preaches ,,to ,,unfortunates4 ,,visits ,,the ,,bridewell ,,and ,,hears ,,the ,,complaint ,,of ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,city',s ,,charges4 ,what's the use8 ,what have ,i to hope for8 ,who cares for me8 ,who'll help me8 ,what can ,i do when my time expires8 ,everybody's hand will be against me6 ,a hopeless drunkard is past redemption4 ,tears came to the eyes of ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton yesterday afternoon as she heard these words fall from the lips of a dejected prisoner at the bridewell4 ,the prison and train evangelist whose work for fifteen years among convicts had brought her many such questions1 which she was unable to answer to the satisfaction of the prisoners1 spoke to the wretched man in tender tones1 and told him of the consolation offered by religion4 ,but1 she said1 turning to a reporter1 what can ,i do in one conversation8 ,it needs many4 ,i'm going back to ,chicago next week1 and ,i intend to devote considerable time to every prison and house of refuge in the city4 ,i haven't done any work in the city since the anarchist execution4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton's methods of evangelizing are sometimes dramatic4 ,for instance1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton arrived in ,chicago from ,st4 ,louis on a ,wabash train early yesterday morning4 ,night before last1 while the train was speeding along in the darkness1 the occupants of the reclining chair car were startled4 ,look out6 cried a voice in shrill tones4 ,we're coming to a high bridge4 ,before we reach it we pass over a curve4 ,the rails may be all right1 the bridge may be safe2 but who knows8 ,the passengers turned around in their seats4 ,they looked frightened and appeared anxious to know whether there was really an impending danger4 ,they saw only a woman whose face1 softened by grief1 bore lines of pain and care4 ,she was ,mrs4 ,wheaton4 ,but the ,christian is not afraid to die1 she continued4 ,he welcomes death as a release from care and a blessing4 ,then the evangelist preached a sermon1 to which all listened with attention4 ,although ,mrs4 ,wheaton has visited every state in the ,union many times during her fifteen years of missionary work1 she has been in a sleeping car but once4 ,railroads give her passes4 ,she has no property1 and1 of course1 can collect no money from convicts1 though occasionally she receives a contribution on trains4 ,the trouble of it all1 said she after her talk with the man in the bridewell1 is not in the prisons4 ,it is after the convicts get out4 ,for that1 humanity is to blame4 ,prisoners have not much hope1 and some of them accept religion in a tentative sort of way4 ,when they are released they are hounded by the police1 marked by all citizens as ostracized men1 unable to get employment1 and1 in fact1 the second termers tell me they are reduced almost to the necessity of choosing between starvation and stealing4 ,those whose conversion is real do neither1 because no man need ever starve in this country1 but the weak go under and are brought back to jail4 ,what the world needs is more ,christian charity4 ,we should forgive1 as our ,saviour did1 seventy times seven4 ,in addition to her charm as a speaker1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton is a singer of no mean ability4 ,she is not a believer in men who accept religion for the sake of business and put on a sanctimonious air4 ,the view that she takes of life meets with favor among the convicts1 and she sings a song called ,the ,twin ,ballots1 which illustrates her opinion on the temperance question4 ,the song is about two rum votes that sanctioned the license plan1 but one was cast by a cunning brewer and one by a ,sunday-school man4 ,the evangelist left last night for ,pittsburg1 but will return next week4 ,she said she wished to impress upon people the fact that converted prisoners are not hypocrites1 although the guards often suspect insincerity and treat a converted man worse than any other1 because they think he is seeking to curry favor4--,a ,chicago paper4 ,a ,,disgraceful ,,proceeding4 ,thursday afternoon1 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 the noted prison evangelist1 accompanied by a sister1 asked permission from a policeman1 which was granted1 to hold a street meeting for religious purposes4 ,after singing some hymns1 which1 from their superior rendition1 attracted a large crowd1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 an elderly lady who has devoted seven years of her time entirely to prison evangelical work1 began an earnest exhortation to sinners4 ,after preaching for a few minutes ,officer ,c4 came up and said that the mayor had ordered him to put a stop to the proceedings4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton said she would do her duty without fear of man and continued for a moment longer4 ,then the party knelt on the snow and began to pray for the mayor and the policeman4 ,while they were praying the officer came up closely followed by ,mayor ,j41 and roughly pushed ,mrs4 ,wheaton over4 ,the mayor with fire in his eye as well as his complexion1 spoke in a very rude manner to the ladies1 practically endorsing the rough treatment already accorded the party4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton showed ,the ,dispatch credentials from very high sources and a very bulky bundle of railroad passes which gave substantial evidence of the manner in which she and her work are regarded elsewhere4 ,she has traveled over the ,united ,states and ,mexico1 and parts of ,europe1 and it remained for a ,leadville mayor to break the record and treat her with indignity4 ,she was very much shocked and grieved and said she felt deeply sorry for ,leadville1 which she had often heard spoken of as a wicked city4 ,the ,dispatch is free to say that ,mayor ,j4 acted without adequate provocation and displayed an unnecessary exercise of authority4 ,if the services had been prolonged to any great extent he might have sent a request to have them discontinued1 but there was no occasion for any such arbitrary exhibition of power as was made4 ,far greater blockades with less meritorious objects have existed without protest in ,leadville4 ,a medicine faker who pays a few dollars license can yell and sing and make night hideous for hours and it is all right1 but a humble evangelical missionary1 whose sincerity and good intentions are not doubted1 however persons may differ concerning the methods1 is unceremoniously made to move on4 ,if the authorities displayed as much zeal in suppressing vice as they do in shutting off missionaries1 ,leadville would be a model city4 ,the prison evangelists1 after having been ordered off ,harrison avenue1 visited both city and county jails1 where they were kindly received and permitted by the officers to hold services among the prisoners4 ,it is said that this is the first religious service held in the ,leadville jails4--,leadville1 ,colo41 ,dispatch1 ,march1 #ahia4 ,,disgraceful4 ,last night1 when the ladies who have been conducting religious services in the park1 were preparing to close1 some miscreant in human form threw a small torpedo at them and struck ,mrs4 ,wheaton above the right eye4 ,it did not produce any serious injury1 but was very painful at the time1 and may terminate worse than at first supposed4 ,this act evidently issued from some low1 depraved fiend whom the darkness of the hour shielded from justice4 ,the ladies departed from the city this morning1 and the exact result of the disgraceful episode cannot be learned4 ,as soon as it was done some man in the crowd offered #ajj reward for the identification of the party who did the dastardly trick1 but of course no one knew who the miscreant was except he himself4--,jacksonville1 ,ill41 paper1 ,june #bf1 #ahhg4 ,,the ,,prison ,,evangelist4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 prison evangelist1 ,chicago1 ,ill4 ,meet me in heaven4 ,no home but heaven4 ,this is what is printed on the card of a remarkable woman who visited the penitentiary and talked to the convicts at #aa o'clock on ,sunday4 ,this woman has been engaged in this work for about nine years1 and she has visited nearly every prison and jail in the ,united ,states1 ,canada and ,mexico4 ,she is the ,moody of the convict world4 ,she asks for no money4 ,she gives her services free1 and trusts to ,providence for her support4 ,the ,lord provides1 she says4 ,she has held services in a different state or territorial prison the past five ,sundays1 from ,stillwater1 ,minn4 7where ,cole ,younger is confined and assists in and sometimes leads religious services71 to ,salem1 ,oregon4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton also visits reform schools4 ,she is one of the chief advocates of the reformatory system being adopted in some of the ,eastern prisons whereby convicts of different classes are graded and kept separate1 wear different uniforms1 etc41 and are also let out on furloughs on trial or probation4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton devotes her whole time to prison work4 ,she certainly accomplishes some good from all this effort4 ,she was a ,methodist before taking up this life work1 but now holds to no sect4--,salem1 ,oregon1 paper1 ,nov4 #af1 #ahia4 ,a ,,noble ,,work4 ,among the evangelistic workers who go out among the people seeking the low and degraded and trying to lift them up to be better men and women1 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton is one of the chosen few who is well adapted to this work4 ,she asks no pay and receives none1 but with noble purpose and with heart and mind fully in the work which has been given her1 she travels from ,maine to ,california and from ,british ,columbia to the ,gulf of ,mexico4 ,her work is chiefly among the state prisons1 county jails and reform schools4 ,here she meets a class of people schooled in vice and who have been kept face to face with the different evils all their lives2 these are the people whom she seeks to save4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton has just returned from a successful trip through ,mexico and the ,south and is now on her way to ,walla ,walla1 ,portland and ,british ,columbia4 ,she stopped off here to visit our penitentiary and jail4 ,through the kindness of the warden she held a song service last ,sunday at the ,state penitentiary1 and the amount of good which she did was shown by the eager attention of the convicts1 and the tear-stained faces of some who1 when the good old-fashioned hymns were sung1 thought of their far-away homes and mothers4 ,sunday evening she held services at the jail and on the street1 both of which were much appreciated4--,unidentified4 ,,gospel ,,for ,,the ,,prisoners4 ,,the ,,inmates ,,of ,,atlanta',s ,,prisons ,,heard ,,preaching ,,yesterday4 ,the prisoners at police headquarters1 at the jail and at the city stockade listened to the gospel of ,christ yesterday4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 the famous prison evangelist1 of ,washington1 held services at all these places4 ,her talks were of the most interesting character and evidently made deep impressions upon her hearers4 ,the service at the jail was held in the morning1 the one at the stockade in the afternoon1 and the one at the police station at night4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton is perhaps the most famous evangelist of her kind in the country4 ,she makes a specialty of this work and follows it closely week after week4 ,she has preached to convicts and prisoners in every state in the ,union1 frequently traveling as far as #gjj miles between ,sundays in order to make an appointment4 ,she has letters of introduction from the governors of many states1 and free passes on railroads4 ,she is here with the ,christian ,workers1 but is not a delegate4--,atlanta1 ,ga41 paper1 ,nov4 #ad1 #ahic4 ,,prison ,,evangelists4 ,,the ,,inmates ,,of ,,the ,,county ,,jail ,,treated ,,to ,a ,,sermon4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 who has been traveling over the ,united ,states for ten years past1 and two sisters from ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 and ,kansas ,city1 arrived in the city this morning and held religious service in the county jail4 ,the twenty-four inmates of the bastile were much pleased with the service4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton and her companions held services yesterday at the prison at ,lansing1 ,kan41 where #ijj convicts are confined4 ,lately they have come from the convict camp of ,south ,carolina and ,mrs4 ,wheaton can tell many tales of the sufferings endured by the prisoners there4--,unidentified4 ,,the ,,news ,,at ,,leavenworth4 ,,mother ,,wheaton1 ,,prison ,,evangelist1 ,,visits ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,prison4 ,religious services at the federal penitentiary at ,fort ,leavenworth yesterday were somewhat out of the usual order4 ,mother ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 late of ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 now of ,iowa1 preached to the convicts at the morning hour4 ,her address was a most effective one and men all through the audience were moved to tears4 ,at the close of the service she stood at the chapel door and shook the hand of each prisoner as he went out4 ,her head is white with age1 yet she has visited the prisons of the ,united ,states and many in ,europe1 bearing messages of hope and cheer to the condemned4 ,she is not alone a woman of ready speech1 but is a sweet singer as well4 ,her life is dedicated to her work1 and many is the unfortunate who has cause to bless the visit of ,mother ,wheaton4 ,mrs4 ,t41 of this city1 accompanied her to the prison4--,leavenworth1 ,kan41 paper4 ,,jail ,,service4 ,the inmates of the county jail were honored yesterday by a visit from that well known prison evangelist1 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 who was accompanied by a ,mrs4 ,s41 of ,kansas4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton conducted religious services and her talk had a deep effect upon murderer ,williamson1 the old man being visibly moved4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton has made the visiting of prisons1 condemned men and fallen women her life work1 and in the course of her travels during the past seven years has visited ,europe1 the ,british provinces1 ,mexico and the ,united ,states4 ,as an example of her earnest efforts it may be mentioned that during the past thirteen ,sundays she has visited and held services in fourteen different state penitentiaries4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton is a lady of striking appearance4 ,she has a motherly countenance and a magnetism which attracts the closest attention to what she says4 ,her discourse yesterday was eloquent1 yet at times plain and pointed to severity4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton left yesterday on the afternoon train for the ,pacific coast4--,sedalia1 ,mo41 paper1 ,november1 #ahia4 ,,preached ,,to ,,convicts4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 the noted evangelist1 and ,mrs4 ,perry1 who are engaged in preaching and working among the prisons1 visited the ,virginia penitentiary yesterday and held services in each chapel4 ,their exhortations and singing were of a high order and produced a powerful effect among the prisoners4 ,many of them made a profession of faith4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton has preached in most of the penitentiaries of the ,united ,states4 ,she has also traveled and preached in ,canada and ,mexico as well as in the ,old ,world4 ,the ladies are being entertained by ,superintendent ,lynn and will remain in the city several days4 ,,police ,,station ,,services4 ,,mrs4 ,,elizabeth ,,rider ,,wheaton ,,talks ,,to ,,the ,,members ,,of ,,the ,,force4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 the evangelist1 was at the police station last night at roll call and held a short service for the benefit of the members of the police force4 ,she delivered an interesting address to the officers and offered a prayer1 after which she led them in a song4 ,the officers expressed themselves as having been greatly benefited by the service1 and the evangelist was invited to call again4--,unidentified4 ,,services ,,at ,,the ,,workhouse4 ,mother ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 who was mentioned last ,monday as holding meetings in ,island ,park the day before1 called at the police station this morning to ask permission to talk and sing to the prisoners confined in the workhouse4 ,the permission was granted4 ,the lady has traveled extensively in her evangelistic work1 making flying trips all over the ,united ,states especially4 ,within the last thirty days she has talked to prisoners at ,walla ,walla1 ,tacoma and in other northwestern cities4 ,while in this city she is the guest of her sister1 ,mrs4 ,huffman1 of ,kenwood4--,elkhart 7,ind47 ,paper4 ,a ,,strange ,,life ,,of ,,devotion ,,in ,,neglected ,,fields4 ,the prisoners in the ,dade coal mines made the acquaintance yesterday of two women--two religious tramps1 if you please1 using the word literally--whose adventures in evangelizing are probably without parallel4 ,they are ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 the famous prison evangelist1 and her temporary assistant1 ,mrs4 ,p4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton has for ten years been preaching in prisons1 convict camps1 houses of ill-fame and the like1 not only in the ,united ,states1 but in ,canada1 ,mexico and ,europe4 ,one1 upon meeting her1 would naturally be very uncertain as to where one might or might not meet next this spirit-led traveler--recognizing which uncertainty1 perhaps1 she has printed upon her cards1 in lieu of an earthly address3 ,meet me in heaven4 ,the two women visited the jail ,thursday1 becoming very much interested in the case of ,p4 ,s41 it seems1 on account of his relationship to ,rev4 ,s4 ,j4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton spoke of ,p4 as a beautiful black-eyed young married man4 ,they took part in the ,christian alliance meeting ,friday afternoon at #ea ,james street1 at which over thirty people were present4 ,they will hold special services at the coal mine convict camps to-day1 returning to ,atlanta within a few days4 ,they carry this letter--an open sesame to every prison and camp in ,georgia3 ,atlanta1 ,ga41 ,june #cj4--,to the captain in charge of convict camps in ,georgia3 ,i desire that each of you extend to these ladies1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton and ,mrs4 ----1 any courtesies possible during their stay with you2 that they may be given opportunities to talk to the men and women in your charge4 ,i will particularly appreciate any kindness shown them4 ,the governor also requests that they be shown courtesies4 ,it is signed by ,george ,h4 ,jones1 the principal keeper4 ,courtesies1 by the way1 is spelled curtisys in the letter1 but it's official1 and it goes4 ,return to ,atlanta--that is to say they will return unless the spirit moves ,mrs4 ,wheaton to go on from ,chattanooga to ,st4 ,louis1 or ,montreal1 or ,berlin1 or somewhere else4 ,coming to ,atlanta on the ,richmond and ,danville1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton was moved to hold services in the smoking car4 ,just as the train was rolling out of ,calhoun1 ,s4 ,c41 ,mrs4 ,wheaton spied some convicts at work4 ,convicts6 ,instantly she decided to stop over4 ,she and ,mrs4 ,p4 bundled up their wraps and packages and got off after the train had started4 ,they knew nobody there4 ,they had no money--that is1 not enough to count4 ,somehow or other they got transportation to and from the station1 and supper1 and to other works1 and arranged a meeting4 ,it was a glorious meeting1 they say4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton's faith--and railroad passes1 she adds laughingly--have kept her going for ten years4 ,she traveled #e1jjj miles between one ,sunday and the second ,sunday afterwards1 collecting only fifty cents on the way4 ,the ,lord will provide1 she knows4 ,the faith that removes mountains is here in reality4 ,always on the go--never stopping but a day or two in one place--meeting men to be hanged the next day--praying with fallen women--interceding with governors for human life--blindly following1 without regard to time or distance1 the mysterious dictates of what she calls the ,spirit4 ,she is so well known now throughout the ,united ,states--having been engaged in this work for ten years--that she is rarely refused a railroad pass4 ,she has letters of commendation from governors and prison authorities4 99 99 99 ,mrs4 ,wheaton's services in the jails and convict camps are unique1 remarkable for their fervency and impromptu character4 ,singing plays an important part4 99 99 99 ,mrs4 ,wheaton has made many wonderful conversions in the slums and prisons1 and has seen many famous criminals in their last hours4 ,she is the guest in ,atlanta of ,mrs4 ,j4 ,h4 ,murphy1 at #bfg ,east ,cain street4--,atlanta 7,ga47 ,herald1 ,july #b1 #ahic4 ,,preaching ,,on ,,the ,,streets4 ,thursday evening the sound of an alto voice singing a familiar hymn on ,sandy street1 near ,murphy's corner1 soon gathered a crowd1 when a lady1 whose hair was beginning to silver with gray1 mounted a box and preached to the mixed assemblage a sermon1 after which the singing was resumed1 the meeting concluding with a fervent and earnest prayer4 ,a reporter called at the hotel and learned that the lady was ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 a prison evangelist4 ,heretofore she has had a sister to travel with her4 ,she showed the reporter stacks of letters from the wardens of various state penitentiaries1 commending her1 and praising the work she has done in this specialty4 ,she has preserved files of newspaper criticisms1 many of which are complimentary of the work she has done1 and some from the secular press making light of her work4 ,that she is in earnest no one who considers that she has given up home and friends and roamed all over the ,united ,states1 ,canada1 ,mexico and in part of ,europe to preach to unappreciative street crowds1 prison convicts1 etc41 can doubt4 ,and whatever may be said of the method1 as was illustrated on the streets here last night1 there are many reached with a sermon that have not perhaps heard one for months4--,unidentified4 ,,prayer ,,service ,,in ,,jail4 ,through the efforts of ,mrs4 ,e4 ,r4 ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 the county jail was turned into a house of prayer last evening1 and for an hour or more the walls of the building resounded with the shouts of prayer and praise of this earnest woman4 ,during the afternoon ,mrs4 ,wheaton called on ,gregory1 the horsethief and desperado1 and was the first to bring to the surface in his case any signs of remorse or sentiment of any kind4 ,when the gray-haired and motherly woman took the hand of the confessed thief and ex-convict in hers and prayed for him great tears flowed down his cheeks and he was affected as none of the other prisoners had been4 ,gregory said he had known ,mrs4 ,wheaton for fourteen years4 ,she does not remember him1 but says it is not unlikely that he has seen her if he has been in the several prisons in which it is said he has served time1 as she has been visiting them all off and on in her work for a great many years4--,council ,bluffs1 ,iowa1 ,nonpareil1 ,jan4 #ai1 #aijj4 ,,their ,,work ,,is ,,in ,,prisons4 ,party of ,evangelists ,pay a ,visit to the ,county ,jail4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 was in ,butte for a short time yesterday on her way west1 and between trains conducted services in the corridor of the county jail4 ,in addition to being an earnest exhorter1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 despite the fact that she is well advanced in years1 is the possessor of a fine voice4 ,when she sings in a prison the most hardened criminals never fail to listen to her with great respect4 ,during the services in the jail yesterday clerks and court officers ceased from their duties and with the people who had business in the building1 blocked the passage ways leading to the jail to listen to her4 ,the other members of the party also delivered exhortations and joined in the singing4 ,the farewell hymn1 given in a clear soprano voice by ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 ,god be with you till we meet again1 was especially sweet4 ,whether the services made any lasting impression on the men behind the bars cannot be known1 but the fact remains that when they were over there was an unusual quiet in the jail and the air seemed more wholesome4 ,from ,butte she went to ,deer ,lodge to visit the penitentiary4--,butte1 ,montana1 paper1 #ahig4 ,,street ,,services4 ,on ,wednesday and ,thursday our town was visited by two lady missionaries or preachers of the gospel4 ,they were perfect strangers here and claimed that their mission was to try to open the eyes of sinful people and beg them to come to ,christ4 ,they sang1 prayed and preached upon the streets1 and at the colored church1 having been refused the use of some of the white churches4 ,we know not whom these persons are1 or from where they came1 but we do know that they were very lady-like in their conduct1 and there was a terrible earnestness about their work4 ,they preached pure gospel in the most ,christ-like manner that it was ever our privilege to hear--down upon their knees in the streets1 surrounded by a motley multitude1 begging ,god in a most pleading and fervent manner to save the sinners of this place1 and singing glorious praises to ,him on this beautiful day of national thanksgiving1 was a spectacle that we had never expected to witness4 ,whether or not this is proper in the eyes of the world we cannot say1 but if their work is earnest as it seems1 they will be rewarded in heaven4--,unidentified4 ,,for ,,prisoners4 ,,touching ,,scenes ,,in ,,bangor ,,jail4--,,good ,,deeds ,,that ,,shine ,,in ,,moral ,,darkness4 ,never were gospel hymns--words of comfort set to hopeful music1 sang more sweetly and earnestly1 or with better effect than were the songs of a plainly dressed woman of tranquil face and gentle manner in the echoing corridors of ,bangor jail ,tuesday afternoon4 ,this woman was ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton whose home is everywhere in earth's saddest ways4 ,she is a prison evangelist and her card bears the simple admonition3 ,prepare to ,meet ,thy ,god4 ,she came lately to ,maine1 and arrived in ,bangor ,tuesday noon from ,belfast4 ,on the train ,mrs4 ,wheaton talked of ,christian things1 and she sang hymns to the passengers--,throw ,out the ,life ,line and other well-remembered songs--in a way that reached the hearts of all4 ,when she got here she went for a few minutes to a low-priced hotel1 and thence to the county jail4 ,the officials received her kindly1 and the prisoners1 who1 after their dinner of soup1 had gone into the work shop1 were brought in to hear some of the kindest words and most touching songs that they had listened to for many a day4 ,those innocent and comfortable ,christians who have only heard hymns sung in churches or chapels to well-dressed and presumably good people can have no idea of the sweetly weird effect of gospel melodies swelling in the vast and dismal spaces of a jail1 while gathered around are the very lost sheep that the shepherds of churches are commanded to find4 ,it is a reproachful picture from the realism of blasted lives--a startling1 chilling glimpse of the depth of wretchedness1 lighted up by a feeble ray from the goodness that yet survives amid it all4 ,some old and hardened habitues of jails mock and sneer at the voices raised in their behalf and scoff at the hands held out to lift them up1 but most men1 in jail or out1 treat women like this with silent respect4 ,it was so in the jail ,tuesday4 ,when the men had filed out to the broom shop again ,mrs4 ,wheaton went to a cell occupied by two elderly women and talked and sang to them4 ,the women1 whose wickedness all lay in drink1 seemed pleased and affected4 ,they thought this evangelist the kindest they had ever met4 ,the evangelist may hold some meetings here before she leaves4 ,she was much pleased with her reception in ,bangor1 and would like to remain a few days4 ,she has letters of recommendation from the governors of several states and from the officials of numerous prisons4 ,she belongs to no army or organization1 but travels independently1 doing what good she can4--,bangor1 ,me41 paper4 ,,elizabeth ,r4 ,,wheaton4 ,,the ,,noted ,,prison ,,evangelist ,,pays ,,the ,,trinidad ,,jails ,a ,,visit4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 the well-known prison evangelist1 arrived in the city ,monday evening and yesterday visited the county and city jails1 where she talked and prayed with the poor unfortunates confined therein4 99 99 99 ,more than one poor fellow has blessed the short hour when her motherly presence and sweetly spoken words of comfort have made his fate seem easier to bear1 while repentant tears have filled the eyes of many a hardened criminal when listening to her pleadings4 ,she approaches the most degraded with a familiar motherly air1 which at once wins their most profound respect and reverence4 99 99 99 ,mrs4 ,wheaton expects to leave today for ,pueblo where she will be joined by a sister in the work1 when they will continue their journey together4 ,she spoke very highly of the courteous treatment received from the officers and of the cleanly condition of the jails4--,daily ,advertiser1 ,trinidad1 ,colo4 ,,visit ,,from ,,missionaries4 ,elizabeth ,rider ,wheaton1 better known as ,mother ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 and ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,taylor1 of ,tabor1 ,iowa1 called at the ,institution ,thursday afternoon on a missionary errand4 ,mother ,wheaton has spent fifteen years in evangelical work among the inmates of the various prisons throughout the ,united ,states4 ,her friends among the convicts are numbered by the thousands4 ,we so rarely meet with any one who really sympathizes with us in our misfortune that when these two good women come inside the walls for no other purpose but to encourage us to do better and give assurance of their love and good wishes1 we are made to feel that we are still human and may hope for a better day4 ,by reason of the chapel building undergoing repairs1 it was impossible for them to meet many of the boys or hold services4--,a ,prison ,paper4 ,a ,,remarkable ,,scene4 ,a ,,work ,,of ,,love ,,by ,,an ,,elderly ,,lady4--,,the ,,scenery ,,of ,,oak ,,cliff4 ,last night the moon shed its full luster slightly dimmed by thin clouds4 ,the crowd stood by a negro church at the point of the hill1 just above the creek banks at their intersection4 ,the view from the top of the hill was enchanting4 ,the lady passed the crowd and stopped in the moonshine in front of the church4 ,here she was joined by a party of three other ladies and two men1 whom she had preceded a little4 ,two of the ladies held babies in their arms4 ,in a strong and beautiful alto voice a song burst forth from the lips of the elderly lady3 ,i ,will ,tell the ,wondrous ,story of the ,christ ,who ,died for ,me4 ,her companions joined her in the song and the refrain echoed far and near over the hillsides3 ,of the ,christ who died for me4 ,the inhabitants heard it4 ,but this is the part of ,oak ,cliff inhabited by negroes4 ,in response they swarmed out as would have done the followers to the signal of ,roderick ,dhu4 ,pretty soon the church was filled and a few white people were among the audience drawn thither by the song4 ,the services were begun with prayer by the elderly lady1 whose hair1 when she had removed her bonnet1 shone silvery gray4 ,it was nothing out of the usual order of prayers except that it was accompanied with unusual fervor and simplicity being adapted to the circumstances4 ,if any had assembled through curiosity she prayed that their hearts would be turned4 ,then came other singing and prayer by a good colored sister named ,cynthia ,maria1 who wore a white bonnet1 and chanted her words1 making the scene a wierd one4 ,then the elderly lady rendered in beautiful solo1 ,oh ,christ1 ,i am lost forever4 ,i am to confront an angry ,god1 from which she began her discourse1 pleading to her colored hearers to open their hearts that night4 ,she said she had the old time religion4 ,this announcement was greeted with religious laughter from the congregation4 ,the women had not been allowed to preach and she thought that there were souls in perdition on this account4 ,people said that she had no business there last night4 ,she had business in glory and was going to help crown ,christ the ,lord of ,lords4 ,for seven years she had been a pilgrim and had traveled from ocean to ocean and from state to state without receiving a salary or taking up a cent4 ,there was the same ,god with her who was with ,daniel in the lions' den1 and who led the ,children of ,israel through the ,red ,sea4 ,she had seen sore trouble1 but there were few who knew it4 ,she had the old-time religion1 and that was what her hearers needed4 ,she forsook home and country to go and preach the gospel to convicts and fallen women and most of her friends had forsaken her for this4 ,she used to be proud4 ,she had given up pride and given up style4 ,she was glad that ,god had called the meeting4 ,she did not know that she was to preach there until yesterday afternoon when someone informed her that the colored people wanted her to preach4 ,she had visited the county jail last ,sunday and prayed and sang with the prisoners4 ,some of them had forgotten about the old-time religion and requested her to sing the song having that title4 ,here the woman began that song joined by the congregation1 a large number of whom got happy4 ,it required the efforts of several of the colored portion of the congregation to hold down one sister who wore a straw hat and got shouting happy and paid no attention to her surroundings4 ,after a short talk by ,rev4 ,b41 colored1 the congregation was dismissed4 ,,at ,,the ,,colored ,,church4 ,,mrs4 ,,elizabeth ,r4 ,,wheaton ,,lectures ,,on ,,the ,,importance ,,of ,,conversion--,,she ,,says ,,the ,,hardest ,,people ,,to ,,convert ,,are ,,preachers4 ,as a ,news reporter and a ,news special artist1 guided by a friendly star1 wended their muddy way last night to the little negro church upon the hill at ,oak ,cliff1 they overtook two solemn looking figures going up an incline4 ,one of them proved to be the famous prison evangelist1 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton4 ,this lady turned her face to the ,news emissaries and inquired in a sweet silvery tone3 ,going to church1 brothers8 ,yes1 ma'am4 ,oh1 ,god bless you1 brothers1 come on4 ,a few minutes later the church was reached4 ,the penitent sister with the white bonnet1 who was inspired on the previous night and started to shouting1 had already arrived1 as also had the good sister who called on the baseball man to run from the devil4 ,what influence drives those simple worshipers to shouting and to imitate flying1 is a question for the psychologists4 ,certain it is that the little and the great are linked together in this life and perhaps the present is linked to the future4 ,quien sabe4 ,the meeting last night was free from shouting1 but fervid with emotion4 ,on arriving in front of the church ,mrs4 ,wheaton turned her face to the pale moon1 which had sailed high in the heavens1 and sang ,sweet are the tidings that greet the pilgrims' ear4 ,as she sung she gesticulated and her gray hair shone like silver4 ,she had not gone beyond the third line of the said stirring hymn before the penitents inside of the church started to sing a hymn and then the scene was as impressive as the music was discordant4 ,the hymns over1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton knelt on the wet ground and prayed while ,deacon ,banks did likewise inside of the church4 ,the interjections were so many that he was forced to use short sentences4 ,come one1 come all1 while it is day4 ,o1 yes1 ,lord1 we come1 we'se a'comin'4 ,o ,lord1 put the move on and call us away4 ,o1 yes1 good ,lord1 we come4 ,at this point ,mrs4 ,wheaton entered and ascended the low pulpit from which1 for a moment1 she silently surveyed the assembled multitude of black faces4 ,she was wreathed in smiles1 looking like the sun of righteousness shining on a dark1 murky cloud of suffering humanity4 ,god grant1 she observed1 that nobody goes down to the lake of fire4 ,god grant it1 ma-a-a-m4 ,oh-oh-bo-bo4 ,nobody knows de trouble ,i see1 and any number of exclamations each giving vent to an exclamation suited to the feelings of the penitent4 ,the mention of fire seemed to cause a panic among the good colored people with a single exception4 ,he was a dude who did not deign to sit down1 but stood near the door seemingly watching the females4 ,only once did he drop on his knees and that was when he discovered the ,news artist in the act of tracing his outlines on the flyleaf of a prayer book4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton then lectured upon the importance of conversion4 ,as she proceeded1 describing the fate of convicts and other sufferers1 the iron of the ways of the world seemed to enter her soul and she wept4 ,nobody who hears her doubts her sincerity4 ,she does not criticise the fallen2 she weeps for them4 ,the folks in heaven do the same4 ,only once last night did she criticise1 and she said she did it for a benevolent purpose1 and as she did it 7as indeed throughout her entire remarks7 the colored woman with the man's straw hat interlarded her remarks with her own opinions rendered in a whanging1 chanting voice4 ,this was how it ran3 ,the churches have got away from the old land marks yes1 ma'am2 deed they has1 ma'am4 ,it is hard1 hard work to reach preachers yes1 ma'am2 yes1 ma'am4 ,the big white preachers and the colored preachers are nearly just as bad ,o ,lord1 yes2 good ,lord ye-e-s1 ma'am4 ,they put on plug hats1 jewelry and the trickery of the devil4 ,if preachers would do their duty ,i would not have to visit the penitentiaries4 ,oh1 the hardest work ,i have is to preach to preachers4 ,dat's so1 ma'am2 dat's so6 ,how many of you are living in lasciviousness1 the sin that's hidden but that ,god sees8 ,it is going on in the churches among some of the preachers4 ,ah1 yes1 ma'am3 good ,lord6 ,deed'n 'tis1 ma'am4 ,ah6 ,i have got to go to judgment and ,i will tell you the truth4 ,there are other sins1 but ,i do not want to mention them because ,i feel that you know all about them2 but they won't be hidden and unless you have a pure spirit and a clean heart you can never see the face of ,god4 ,now say you will sin no more4 ,several voices in alto3 ,a-a-a-men4 ,these white churches1 proceeded ,mrs4 ,wheaton1 are a little worse than the colored churches1 for there is a little ,holy ,ghost left in the colored churches4 ,oh1 how many of those white church members are going down to hell6 ,it grieves me to think of it4 ,i'm going to meet some of you in glory4 ,after ,i get there the first ones ,i want to see crowned are the poor convicts who have been murdered on the scaffold after they had turned their faces to ,god1 and those poor convicts who have suffered1 oh1 you know not how much1 how much1 without human sympathy4 ,at this point a sad-looking man volunteered a hymn1 during the singing of which much of ,mrs4 ,wheaton's remarks were drowned4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton resumed3 ,it troubles my heart to see the people drifting down1 down to hell4 ,i feel like getting down to the foot of the cross and crying mercy4 ,for the attractions of this world ,i have no use2 ,i have no use for newspaper puffs4 ,they's no good1 ma'am3 yes1 ma'am4 ,the way in which the penitents chimed in as ,mrs4 ,wheaton proceeded rendered it impossible to report her fully4 ,the best that could be done was to catch sentences on the fly4 ,the stronger she appeared to her colored listeners to seek for mercy the longer they sought it4 ,their bodies were moved by their souls4 ,some swayed from side to side2 others placed their faces on their hands and wept2 others wrung their hands1 and there was weeping and wailing4 ,this was the state of affairs at the conclusion of the address4 ,just then ,deacon ,banks started a hymn and a few others drifted off into different familiar hymns1 so that the music was varied4 ,it was a spontaneous outburst of songs of praise from away down in the bottom of afflicted hearts which pays no attention to the measures of music4 ,the singing was awful4 ,one female screeched and no two voices were in harmony4 ,at the conclusion of the hymn a deacon kneeling by a chair prayed1 striking the chair with his fists while a hundred voices accompanied him4 ,it was impossible to follow him throughout1 but among other things he said3 ,i know that hell is broad and eternity too long4 ,oh ,king1 ,king1 ,lord have mercy on us4 ,guide us by the still water's side and give us new pastures4 ,bless this congregation in the hollow of thy hand1 amen4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton informed the ,news reporter that she will not go to ,galveston4--,dallas ,news4 ,,prison ,,worker ,,visits ,,tacoma4 ,,mother ,,wheaton ,,calls ,,at ,,county ,,jail ,,and ,,federal ,,penitentiary4--,,known ,,all ,,over ,,the ,,world4-- ,,twenty-,,one ,,years ,,of ,,her ,,life ,,devoted ,,to ,,labor ,,among ,,unfortunates ,,of ,,many ,,nations4 ,i trust in ,god and the railroad men4 ,this is the explanation of her ability to carry on her work1 expressed by ,mother ,wheaton1 the prison evangelist1 who has an international reputation for her work in the penitentiaries of the ,united ,states1 ,canada1 ,mexico and ,europe4 ,mother ,wheaton is in ,tacoma carrying on her work among prisoners1 work that has taken her into every penitentiary in the ,united ,states and ,canada4 ,for over twenty-one years she has carried the gospel to the men in stripes and to those who wear the broad arrow of ,england's displeasure1 and it is ,mother ,wheaton's boast that during all that time she has never asked for a contribution or received a cent of salary4 ,mother ,wheaton came to ,tacoma from her headquarters in ,tabor1 ,ia41 accompanying ,miss ,grace ,yarrette1 a young woman who is going as a missionary to ,india4 ,,many ,,years ,,in ,,prison ,,work4 ,there is no woman in the world1 and perhaps no man1 who has had the prison experience of ,mother ,wheaton4 ,the last twenty years of her life have virtually been spent inside prison walls1 and there is not many in the country in which she is not a familiar figure4 ,long terms and lifers all over the land know her4 ,frequently she inquires for some prisoner whom death or the leniency of the law has released1 whom she has not seen or heard of for years4 ,dressed in a soft gray suit1 with a gray bonnet1 ,mother ,wheaton's appearance is distinctly motherly1 and her smile the personification of kindness and tenderness further bears out the ,mother by which she is known to thousands of unfortunates4 ,she is the guest of ,mrs4 ,ellen ,m4 ,bates1 #abaa ,north ,prospect street4 ,she is at work from the time she arises in the morning until services are over in the evening4 ,while her principal work is in the prisons and penitentiaries she takes part in evangelical and religious work and finds time to visit rescue homes where her advice is eagerly sought4 ,,many ,,experiences4 ,experiences8 ,mother ,wheaton exclaimed1 when asked if her life had not been productive of many events out of the ordinary run4 ,experiences1 why ,i have had so many and such varied experiences that they are all a jumble in my head4 ,i have been in nearly every prison in the land4 ,i have consoled men who were but a few feet from the gallows and ,i have held the hand of those unfortunates as they sank into their last sleep in a cheerless prison hospital4 ,i have seen sights that made my blood run cold and then ,i have had the joy of seeing the word of ,god prevail and the most case-hardened sinners the human mind could conceive of have reformed before me4 ,it has been a curious mixture of sunshine and shadows1 but after twenty-one years ,i think ,i can say that the sunshine has predominated4 ,i put my trust in ,god for my work and ,i trust the railroad men for transportation1 and between the two ,i believe ,i have been fairly successful4 ,,once ,,taken ,,for ,,carrie ,,nation4 ,i have spent nights in the toughest slums of ,new ,york1 ,chicago and ,st4 ,louis1 places where men by force of habit always carry their hand near their hip pocket1 and ,i have not always been welcomed4 ,sometimes ,i have been roughly handled1 yes1 indeed4 ,why1 one time ,i was mistaken for ,carrie ,nation4 ,of course ,i don't look like ,carrie ,nation1 and ,i would never think of adopting smashing methods4 ,i was holding services in ,san ,pedro1 ,california1 one night1 and went into a saloon4 ,there were two bright looking young men standing at the bar and ,i asked them to come with me4 ,the owner of the saloon was sitting at a faro table in the back end of the saloon1 and as soon as he caught sight of me he rushed at me and literally threw me out into the street4 ,when he learned afterwards who ,i was he was very sorry and avowed that he would never have treated me in that manner had he not thought that ,i was ,carrie ,nation and that ,i had a hatchet to chop up his expensive bar fixtures4 ,,opposes ,,capital ,,punishment4 ,as sad an experience as ,i ever had in my life was my effort to save the life of a young man who was condemned to hang in ,colorado4 ,i heard of the case through the young man's mother1 who was heart-broken4 ,i interceded with ,governor ,peabody and secured a reprieve for a year1 and when ,governor ,mc,donald took office he fixed the date for the death of the young man4 ,i tried to save him the second time1 but public sentiment demanded his death4 ,i don't believe in capital punishment4 ,i have seen how a man can be punished in prison and ,i don't believe in taking a life to avenge a life1 for stripped of all the specious arguments which surround capital punishment1 it simmers down to nothing more than revenge4 ,,establishes ,,new ,,record4 ,i think ,i established a prison visiting record upon one trip4 ,i visited five penitentiaries in as many states in a week4 ,i started at ,deer ,lodge1 ,montana2 from there ,i went to ,boise1 ,idaho2 then to ,rawlins1 ,wyo42 then to ,salt ,lake ,city1 and from ,salt ,lake ,city to ,lincoln1 ,nebraska1 all of which ,i call pretty fast traveling4 ,i hold meetings on the train1 in depots1 at water tanks1 any place ,i can gather a little knot of people together1 and ,i could tell of some queer conversions in out of the way places1 the last places in the world where you would expect the seed to sprout and bear fruit4 ,i was over to the federal prison on ,mc,neil's ,island ,saturday1 and this morning ,i went to the county hospital4 ,this afternoon ,i called at the county jail4 ,i will be here a day or so longer and then must start ,east1 as ,i have work to do in ,new ,york ,city4 ,you see ,i will have to stop at the prisons on the way back and ,i have to make allowances for delays4 ,mother ,wheaton has become interested in ,grace ,russell1 the young woman in the county jail1 who is addicted to the use of morphine4 ,mother ,wheaton will try to secure a place for her in some home4--,tacoma1 ,washington1 paper of ,july #ca1 #aije4 ,i give the following extract from a ,baltimore paper published while ,i was there attending the ,convocation of ,prayer in that city1 ,january1 #aijc3 ,,spiritual ,,adviser ,,of ,,famous ,,criminals4 ,,work ,,of ,,mother ,,wheaton ,,in ,,prisons ,,all ,,over ,,the ,,land4 ,for twenty years ,mrs4 ,wheaton has been traveling throughout the ,united ,states1 ,europe1 ,canada and ,mexico1 working among prisoners in hundreds of prisons and penitentiaries4 ,on a number of occasions she has converted criminals under death sentence4 ,she has preached in the ,maryland ,penitentiary4 ,mrs4 ,wheaton came to ,baltimore direct from ,ohio1 where she had been holding prayer in the cells of the state prison with eight men condemned to die4 ,she was in ,san ,francisco a number of years ago when ,alexander ,goldenson killed his sweetheart1 ,mamie ,kelly1 and after ,goldenson had been tried1 convicted and sentenced to death ,mother ,wheaton prayed with him for forty days4 ,the day of the execution1 ,september #ad1 #ahhh1 he was converted through her instrumentality1 and just before walking to the gallows she tied her silk handkerchief about the condemned man's neck4 ,,is ,,not ,a ,,stranger4 ,,old-,,timers ,,at ,,county ,,jail ,,greet ,,mrs4 ,,wheaton ,,as ,,long-,,time ,,friend4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 of ,tabor1 ,ia41 famous in this and other countries as a worker among the inmates of jails and penitentiaries1 yesterday morning went to the county jail and prayed and sang hymns with the prisoners in the tanks4 ,although her time was very much circumscribed1 ,mrs4 ,wheaton shook hands with most of the prisoners1 many of whom had heard of her1 and some of whom had met her in other prisons4 ,john ,king1 awaiting his transportation to ,walla ,walla1 and one of the most admittedly professional criminals in the jail1 stated that he had met ,mother ,wheaton several times before1 both at ,salem and at ,walla ,walla4 ,both he and ,j4 ,h4 ,le ,roy1 another old-timer1 had many anecdotes to tell of her kindnesses in past years4--,paper of ,august #i1 #aije4 ,the above sketch was accompanied by a cut from protograph taken by the reporter and a nicely finished photograph presented me4 ,from this photograph the cut was made that is inserted at the beginning of this chapter4--,e4 ,r4 ,w4 ,,prisoners ,,on ,,bended ,,knee4 ,,inmates ,,of ,,county ,,jail ,,bow ,,in ,,prayer ,,with ,,mother ,,wheaton4 ,on bended knees and with low bowed heads nine prisoners at the county jail reverently followed a prayer addressed to the throne of grace in their behalf yesterday by ,mother ,wheaton1 the noted prison evangelist4 ,under the remarkable influence of the woman who came among them as a messenger of soul-saving1 every rough instinct of the men was quelled and every scoffing word hushed on their lips4 ,no more devout prayer meeting was ever held in a sanctuary than that which took place in the jail corridor4 ,mother ,wheaton and a younger woman called upon the prisoners and sang a song such as the men might have heard their mothers or sisters sing in the long ago1 when their feet had not strayed from youthful paths of innocence4 ,if there was any inclination to ridicule or make light of the service at the start1 it was entirely subdued inside of five minutes4 ,mother ,wheaton talked to the men and told of the work she has been doing for twenty years among the inmates of jails and penitentiaries4 ,she declared that she and her assistant wanted to help save them4 ,there was no hesitation whatever when ,mother ,wheaton asked the prisoners to get down on their knees4 ,one and all1 the nine assumed the attitude of humble submission to the deity and remained in that position until their patroness had finished her petition for the pardoning of their sins4 ,some of the men were seen to blink significantly and wipe their eyes with handkerchiefs4 ,when the prayer was done and another hymn rendered1 the men joining in1 hands were shaken all around before the visitors departed4 ,mother ,wheaton has been coming to the ,council ,bluffs jail for several years4 ,she was in the city on her way from ,nevada to ,wisconsin4--,council ,bluffs ,paper4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,furnished unto ,every ,good ,work4 ,who will man the life-boat1 who the storm will brave8 ,many souls are drifting helpless on the wave2 ,see their hands uplifted2 hear their bitter cry3 ,save us ere we perish1 save us ere we die6 ,see6 amid the breakers yonder vessel toss'd1 ,onward to the rescue1 haste1 or all is lost2 ,waves that dash around us cannot overwhelm1 ,while our faithful ,pilot standeth at the helm4 ,darker yet1 and darker grows the fearful night1 ,sound the trump of mercy1 flash the signal light2 ,bear the joyful message o'er the raging wave1 ,christ1 the heavenly ,pilot1 comes the lost to save4 ,who will man the life-boat1 who will launch away8 ,who will help to rescue dying souls to-day8 ,who will man the life-boat1 who will breast the wave8 ,all its dangers braving1 precious souls to save8 --,sel4 ,the dear ,lord wants workers1 both men and women1 whom ,he can trust in every line of ,christian work1 and what do ,christians most need in order to be successful soul-winners for ,god8 ,first of all1 it is to be born of the ,spirit2 then to be filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 whereby we are sealed unto ,god4 ,then the fruits of the ,spirit will be manifest in our lives4 ,of course1 we should not presume to go out as mission workers without a divine call from ,god4 ,the first thing1 then1 is to know ,god and then to know ourselves as utterly helpless without the cleansing power of the blood of ,christ on our own souls4 ,then the especial anointing for service in the vineyard of the ,lord4 ,if to these be added a thorough knowledge of human nature and a sincere desire for the salvation of souls1 then the glory of ,god will be revealed in us and we will be forgetful of self and alive to the needs of others4 ,we must see men and women lost1 going down to eternal death and must reach them at any cost and be willing to gladly suffer the loss of all things that we might gain ,christ and win souls for ,him4 ,we should acquire from the ,lord the gift of adaptation to any and all kinds of work1 people and places4 ,we must see the people from their own standpoint and then from ,god's standpoint and then have implicit confidence in ,god and in the power of the blood of ,jesus to cleanse from all sin4 ,we must be humble and meek and yet strong1 through faith in ,god and ,his promises4 ,is anything too hard for the ,lord8 ,and has ,he not told us1 ,greater works than these shall ye do because ,i go unto my ,father8 ,is ,he not at the ,father's right hand1 interceding for us and for the souls to whom ,he sends us8 ,we must be all things to all men that we might win some4 ,we must watch for opportunities for service and be quick to use them when they are given us4 ,we must be ready to launch out into the deep at the ,master's command4 ,we must have grace1 not only to serve1 but if need be1 to die1 in order that souls might be saved--souls that are going to destruction for the want of a kind word or a helping hand at just the right time4 ,i have often found them upon the verge of suicide4 ,men and women in despair1 both in prison and outside1 were goaded into desperation and the enemy of their souls was urging them to end it all--that nobody cared1 and ,god had forgotten them4 ,how glad ,i have been to clasp their hand and tell them there was ,one who cared2 that ,he loved them still and ,i have seen the long pent-up tears start from their eyes and hope has sprung up once more in their desolate hearts4 ,i hope to hear ,god say in the ,day of ,judgment of some1 ,here are the discouraged1 the tempted and tried ones1 who were almost lost1 but who were won through your faithfulness4 ,to ,god be all the glory4 ,we must not seek our own ease4 ,jesus1 in the ,garden of ,gethsemane1 would have died in agony1 only that an angel came and ministered unto ,him1 yet he prayed1 ,not ,my will1 but ,thine be done4 ,such must be our heartfelt cry and we must abandon ourselves to ,god's will in all things and forgetting ourselves and the opinions of the ,world1 seek to please ,him only4 ,then ,he will make even our enemies be at peace with us4 ,multitudes all about us are going down to despair for want of true love such as ,jesus had when ,he said1 ,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do1 and ,neither do ,i condemn thee2 go and sin no more4 ,having this spirit1 ,god has promised to furnish us unto every good work4 ,that is1 every work to which ,he calls us4 ,we each have our responsibility to meet1 our especial capability1 our gift or talent4 ,then let us adapt ourselves to the work which ,god has given us to do--not ignoring the work of others1 nor lording it over ,god's heritage1 but each abiding in the calling wherein we are called1 having charity for all1 whether saints or sinners4 ,surely1 with the field so wide and the work so great1 there is the greatest need for love and the unity of the ,spirit among all ,christians4 ,why there are so many divisions1 ,i know not4 ,i find true and earnest hearts among all classes1 all denominations and all nationalities4 ,jesus prayed1 before ,he ascended on high1 for his children1 that they all might be one as ,he and the ,father were one--one in purpose and one in heart4 ,if we manifest this oneness1 sinners will come flocking home to ,god and souls will be saved and ,god will get all the glory4 ,the lack of oneness among ,god's people stands in the way of souls and the poor and ignorant are at a loss as to what to think or believe4 ,surely1 there was never greater need for ,holy ,ghost1 ,spirit-filled ,christian workers than now1 when false doctrine is proclaimed on every side and in every form4 ,but let ,christians unite1 losing sight of everything but ,god and souls and it will not be long until ,god will fulfill his promise that a nation shall be born in a day4 ,oh1 that there might be a rallying of all of ,god's true children of every class and nationality2 that they might1 with united forces1 charge upon the enemy and soon the world1 which now seems to be at variance1 would be won for ,god and for our ,christ4 ,,the ,,masses ,,are ,,not ,,reached through the ordinary channels of the churches4 ,look at the need of the ,gospel being carried to the railroad and street-car men1 the soldiers1 sailors1 policemen1 firemen1 and postmen4 ,are we seeking to reach the people8 ,we must get the love of ,god in our hearts to that degree that we will not only be willing to suffer1 but to die for them1 and mean it--mean business1 and fast and pray and call mightily on ,god for help and direction1 and look to ,him for results4 ,don't expect an easy time--don't let us expect to be above our ,master4 ,jesus had no place to lay ,his head4 ,he went among the despised1 the poor1 the fallen1 the lowest of earth2 and if ,he were to return now1 how many of us would ,he find filling the places appointed us8 ,the ,lord is ready to do exceeding abundantly above all we can think or ask1 and will bless every unselfish effort on our part to help save a lost world4 ,when the end comes for you and me1 dear one1 let us have our lamps trimmed and burning1 ready to go in to the marriage supper of the ,lamb1 which is to soon take place4 ,god help us do our part1 to be instant in season and out of season2 to keep free in our souls2 to be filled with the spirit of ,jesus2 to be ever ready with a kind word1 a ,god bless you1 a silent prayer1 a warm hand-clasp4 ,let us be quick to follow the leadings of the ,holy ,spirit1 humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of ,god4 ,let us take a firmer hold on ,god and be ourselves in ,his hands4 ,let us see our own responsibility as ,god sees it1 and by ,his grace measure up to it4 ,then the hosts of hell shall not be able to prevail against us and ,god will use us to his glory1 and with hearts filled with love and compassion1 we will go forward and ,god will go with us and give us victory4 ,,my ,,boy ,,in ,,india4 ,some years ago the ,lord made plain to me that ,i should support a famine orphan in ,india1 and since that time ,he has enabled me to give twenty dollars per year for the support of my adopted son1 ,john ,ryder ,wheaton1 named for my brother1 who departed this life a few years ago1 and for myself4 ,i give his picture and a copy of his first letter to me1 translated by one of the missionaries2 also some letters from ,brother and ,sister ,jarvis1 in charge of the ,orphanage in ,lahore1 ,india4 ,we ask the prayers of our readers for this dear boy1 and if ,god should lay it upon any of your hearts to provide for one of these famine orphans1 any money sent to the ,missionary ,home in ,tabor1 ,iowa1 will be promptly forwarded to any orphanage or missionary you may designate4 ,god has laid this boy upon my heart1 and the tie is dearer1 perhaps1 because ,i am alone in the world1 having laid my only child in the grave with my husband4 ,my heart was touched when ,i received this letter from ,john's own hand1 and sometimes ,i long to see and know him for myself4 ,he is being trained for a missionary1 and when my labors are ended1 ,i hope to see him coming home from ,india1 bringing his trophies with him--precious souls from his own native land1 and that there we may praise the ,lord through all eternity together4 ,lahore1 ,frontier ,faith ,mission1 ,april #ab1 #aijd4--;,dear ,mama3--,salam1 ,i am well by the grace of ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and hope you are well4 ,matter is this that ,i live here very happy1 few days ago that the fever and cough attacked me so ,i went to the hospital1 now ,i am well and do my duty4 ,i learned the work of ,gardener4 ,i pray every day4 ,may ,god help me and make me ,his true ,christian and grant me abundant grace4 ,i also hope that you do pray for me4 ,i pray for you4 ,here are all well4 ,i am also with other boys well4 ,my compliment to you1 ,your son1 ,,john ,,wheaton1 ,head ,gardener4 ,illustration3 ,,john ,,ryder ,,wheaton1 ,,india ,,famine ,,boy4 99 99 99 99 99 ,frontier ,faith ,mission and ,orphanage1 ,lahore1 ,n4 ,india1 ,dec4 #aa1 #aija4--;,dear ,sister ,wheaton--,we have chosen for you a bright little boy by the name of ,ruthena1 about ten years old4 ,he is one of our brightest little boys1 one that bids fair to be something for ,god4 ,he is a shoemaker by trade and is doing well at it4 ,we are endeavoring to teach the boys trades1 wanting them to be like ,paul where they can preach the ,gospel while they make tents for a living4 ,ruthena is a bright boy in every way and will be named ,john ,ryder as you wished4 ,we do not have time to write often but our hearts are with you4 ,yours for ,india's redemption1 ,,laura ,e4 ,,jarvis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lahore1 ,n4 ,india1 ,sept4 #ah1 #aijb4--,my ,dear ,sister--,your dear boy is healthy and well4 ,he is such a help1 and seems to know just what to do at the right time4 ,we feel that we can count on him at all times4 ,he is a precious ,christian boy1 and ,god is using him4 ,god is blessing our precious children1 and the work is going forward4 ,we are so glad to be on our own land4 ,our homes are only temporary1 but our faith is in ,god for the permanent ones4 ,he says no good thing will ,he withhold from them that walk uprightly4 ,your ,sister seeking the lost1 ,l4 ,e4 ,j4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lahore1 ,north ,india1 ,august #bj1 #aijc4--;,dear ,sister ,wheaton--,your kind offering of twenty dollars for the support of your boy1 ,john1 is very thankfully received4 ,the ,lord bless and repay you4 ,continue to pray for him1 and for the rest of our great family4 ,god is hearing prayer for us4 ,there are some slight fever cases among the children4 ,this is our sickly season4 ,unite in prayer that our workers may keep well4 ,we are all burdened because of the lack of workers and much has to remain undone4 ,though burdened1 we will stand at our post until ,jesus comes4 7,r4 ,v47 ,our faith is in ,god4 ,so many young people at home seem to be wasting their lives and talents1 when they might be doing so much for ,god in this land4 ,your brother seeking the lost1 ,,robert ,,jarvis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lahore1 ,n4 ,india1 ,march #af1 #aijd4 ,my ,dear ,sister ,wheaton--,greetings in ,jesus' name4 ,lift up your eyes1 and look on the fields1 for they are white already to harvest4 ,i write to tell you today that your boy ,john is quite poorly4 ,he has been having an attack of lung fever4 ,i believe that in answer to prayer ,god will raise him up4 ,i felt he would have better care in the hospital than we could give him1 so we took him there1 but we go to see him frequently1 and ,i will keep you posted as to how he is doing4 ,i know you are interested and are praying for him4 ,we thank you much for your interest1 and all you are doing for him4 ,i hope you are keeping well and seeing souls saved4 ,john was a real help in the garden outside of school hours4 ,he has always been a willing little worker4 ,god bless you much1 dear ,sister ,wheaton1 and use you greatly1 is our prayer4 ,your sister1 ,l4 ,e4 ,,jarvis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,lahore1 ,n4 ,india1 ,april #ab1 #aijd4 ,my ,dear ,sister ,wheaton--,greeting in ,jesus' name4 ,i am glad to write you this time that ,john is all right again4 ,i think his sickness has drawn him closer to ,god4 ,he is writing you a few lines that ,i will translate for him and send it with this4 ,yours to be faithful1 ,l4 ,e4 ,,jarvis4 ,,preaching ,,in ,,the ,,pest-,,house4 ,just why the dear ,lord saw best to permit me to take the loathsome disease of smallpox into my system1 ,i know not2 but ,i do know the same ,god that made man and pronounced him very good1 permitted ,job and many others of ,his people to suffer many things4 ,of one thing ,i am certain1 the ,lord permitted me to preach the ,gospel in the pest-house4 ,no one was allowed there but the physician of the ,board of ,health and those in charge1 and there were many lost ones there and no gospel services for years and not even the superintendent and his family were allowed to go to church4 ,i had held meetings in almost every other place and ,i now had opportunity to go there1 this being the only way to get to them4 ,during the summer of #aija ,i was taken very ill and the sixth doctor pronounced the disease smallpox4 ,there was no alternative but to prepare for the hospital1 which ,i did unaided4 ,this was remarkable2 for ,i had been very near death1 the suffering both mentally and physically was so intense and the agony so great4 ,surely ,god heard the prayers of ,his believing ones and raised me up to once more go forth to glorify ,his name by preaching ,his gospel and singing ,his praises4 ,bless ,his holy name6 ,i was hedged in with ,god4 ,he got the glory of my healing4 ,i bless the ,lord that in answer to prayer ,he never let one person take the disease from me that we knew of4 ,when leaving the minister's home where ,i was taken sick1 ,i was shouting and praising the ,lord4 ,i told the mission workers ,i was sure ,i could go to ,heaven even from the pest-house1 with the smallpox4 ,i told the young sister with me to bring the tracts for service in the hospital4 ,i had told her that morning that there would be several doctors call and hold a consultation and pronounce the disease smallpox and they would take me to the pest-house1 and ,i expected ,i would die there4 ,i had such victory in my soul that ,i just shouted and praised the ,lord4 ,in the hospital ,i was given the privilege of all the wards to sing and pray and talk with the patients4 ,some were in a very dangerous condition1 and others convalescent4 ,others were trembling with fear1 having been exposed and quarantined here to protect the public from contagion4 ,those were weeks of suffering1 although full of service and song4 ,the hymns were listened to with the greatest delight even by foreigners who could not understand our language4 ,i often wonder why professing ,christians are not as careful about the spread of sin as people are about the transmitting of disease4 ,the same day ,i left the hospital the ,lord sent me out on a long journey to preach the gospel on the train4 ,as ,i was talking with the conductor1 there was a sudden stop and he ran to find the cause4 ,our engine had become disabled on a bridge1 and as a train was coming behind us1 the trainmen ran to flag the coming train before it should overtake us2 but it was too late4 ,i dropped on my knees on the platform of the rear car and asked ,god to spare our lives4 ,i arose1 took in the situation1 went to my seat in the center of the car and again knelt in prayer4 ,i turned to look just as the engine struck our car1 raising it about five feet in the air1 crushing timbers and glass1 and causing a panic among the passengers4 ,i was blest of ,god through it all1 and went immediately to work holding meetings while we waited some hours for help to come4 ,i see so plainly the hand of the ,lord in all this4 ,i might have left the train when on the rear platform1 but ,i felt impressed to stay with those on board and call on ,god for help4 ,do you wonder that when all our lives were spared ,i felt that as the ,lord gave all on the ship into ,paul's hands1 so in this case1 as in many others1 the wise ,master gave me those who traveled with me8 ,as thy days so shall thy strength be4 ,a thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand1 but it shall not come nigh thee4 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,provides4 ,one night in ,san ,francisco while holding a meeting in the ,old ,adelphi ,theater1 ,i was impressed to give a dollar to a sister who often sang and exhorted in our service and who assisted me that night4 ,at the close of the meeting ,i handed her a silver dollar4 ,she seemed much surprised and said1 ,no1 ,i should not take this from you4 ,i told her ,god showed me to give her that dollar and ,i must obey ,him2 so she took the money4 ,the next day1 while waiting for the street car on a public thoroughfare1 ,i saw a man giving out ladies' fashion plates4 ,i spoke kindly to him and suggested how much more good he could do by giving out tracts4 ,he replied that that was the way he made his living--that the firm paid him for his services4 ,i told him that ,god would care for him if he only trusted and served ,him1 but he evidently thought me somewhat of a fanatic4 ,just then a well-dressed old gentleman spoke to me and said1 ,do you belong to the ,salvation ,army8 ,i said that ,i did not and he then asked1 ,what is your work8 ,i answered1 ,i am a missionary to the prisoners and lost girls4 ,he handed me a dollar and hurried on4 ,the man with whom ,i had been speaking looked on surprised and said1 ,who was that man8 ,i said1 ,i do not know2 ,i never saw him before and may never see him again4 ,he was evidently thinking1 for ,i had told him that ,god provided for me and would provide for him if he would but work for ,him1 and ,god was giving him an object lesson4 ,i said1 ,i believe the ,lord sent that man to convince you that what ,i said was true for ,i never ask any person for money1 but trust all to ,providence4 ,going on my way later in the day1 outside the city where ,i changed cars1 ,i saw hurrying toward me the same man who had given me the dollar in the morning4 ,he said1 ,i have been thinking all day about you and what you said and here is another dollar for you4 ,i told him how ,i felt ,god had used him to convince the fashion plate man1 that if we fully trust and serve the ,lord ,he will provide for us4 ,i have never seen either of these men again since that day1 but ,god sent me the two dollars in place of the one dollar ,i had given that poor woman the night before1 in the meeting4 ,the sequel was given me sometime after this when ,i again met that poor sister4 ,she said to me1 ,sister ,wheaton1 ,i want to tell you about the dollar you gave me that night in the meeting1 and then she said3 ,i had nothing in my house for my children to eat 7there was a large family of them71 and husband was out of work4 ,i had to wash next day and had neither soap nor starch1 and ,i had to go across the city to pray for a sick woman1 whose son had said that he would believe in ,god and serve him if his mother were healed in answer to prayer4 ,i had to take that young man with me and pay his car fare and my own4 ,the mother was healed and the young man1 being convinced1 yielded himself to ,god and was converted and became a ,christian4 ,and then she added1 ,all this your dollar did1 for ,i had prayed ,god to send me a dollar that night and you obeyed ,god and see what was accomplished through obedience to the ,god who hears the ravens when they cry and notes the sparrow's fall4 ,then ,i related to her my experience to show how the ,lord used a stranger to return me double1 or two dollars instead of one1 and perhaps saved two men--for ,god was evidently dealing both with the stranger who gave me the money and with the one with whom ,i was speaking on the street4 ,,miscellaneous ,,incidents4 ,i was once called upon to minister to the needs of a woman who was burned almost to death4 ,i assisted the doctor as best ,i could to dress the burns4 ,i took the scissors and cut the loose flesh from her arm1 and held her while the doctor filed the rings from her hands4 ,if ,i had not been previously convinced by the ,scriptures of the folly of wearing rings ,i think this awful sight would have been sufficient to satisfy any doubts in my mind1 as they cut so cruelly deep into the charred and swollen flesh4 ,she finally passed away to that land where there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,while being entertained at a certain place a few years ago1 a caller was announced one evening1 to see ,mother ,wheaton4 ,entering the parlor a tall1 handsome man1 dressed in the uniform of a policeman1 advanced to greet me4 ,i bowed politely1 but perhaps a little distantly1 as ,i did not know him4 ,he came forward and extended his hand cordially1 saying1 ,don't you know me1 ,mother8 ,i said1 ,no1 ,i do not know you4 ,he said ,i sang in ----prison in the choir4 ,i served a term there and heard you sing and preach there4 ,this is my daughter1 and he presented a nice looking young lady who was with him4 ,he said he now held a responsible position and was getting along nicely1 and invited me to come and visit his family4 99 99 99 99 99 ,while holding meetings in a little town in one of the southern states1 ,i was entertained at the home of a wealthy man who was accused of crime4 ,he had a beautiful wife and lovely children4 ,i was greatly troubled about his condition4 ,i held meetings there in the home4 ,i was treated very kindly and cordially welcomed1 but he would not yield to ,god4 ,i warned him faithfully1 and plead with him to repent of his sins and become a ,christian4 ,i told him that a terrible calamity awaited him if he did not yield himself to the ,lord4 ,i went away believing it was his last chance of salvation4 ,not long after that he laid in wait to kill a man against whom he had had a grudge for some time2 but the other man seeing his intention1 drew his revolver and fired in self-defence4 ,the man fell dead4 ,he had had his last call4 ,he had rejected the ,lord and was ushered into eternity without a moment's warning4 99 99 99 99 99 ,one day years ago1 in ,m----1 ,mississippi1 ,i went on the street to hold a meeting4 ,a policeman came along and forbade me after ,i had begun to sing1 saying it was against the law to hold religious services on the street4 ,my spirit was grieved as ,i felt the ,lord had a work for me to do among the poor and lowly who were too poorly clad to attend church services4 ,a sister 7a woman of ,god who entertained me7 was with me4 ,she then proposed taking me to see a sick child1 an infant4 ,when we reached the house we found the young parents weeping over their dying child4 ,my heart was touched with sympathy1 and kneeling down ,i asked ,him who said1 ,suffer little children to come unto me1 to heal the child for ,his glory4 ,i believed ,his word where it says1 ,the prayer of faith shall save the sick4 ,my faith touched divinity1 the child was healed and the young parents1 seeing the power of ,god manifested1 were converted1 and gave their lives to ,god for ,his service4 ,illustration3 ,height ,out ,arms ,trunk ,head ,length ,head ,width ,cheek ,width ,ear ,foot ,length ,finger ,l4 ,fore-arm ,color of ,eyes ,marks ,scars ,,bertillon ,,measurements ,illustration3 ,,prison ,,at ,,anamosa1 ,,iowa4 #a4 ,,female ,,department4 #b4 ,,cell ,,house4 #c4 ,,main ,,entrance4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,selections from ,my ,scrap ,book4 ,many of the selections given in this chapter were written by prisoners and given me by them4 ,the others may not all be new to the reader1 but ,i have thought them of sufficient value to thus preserve1 as they may be reread with profit1 and no doubt may be read here by many who have not seen them elsewhere4 ,such will surely feel the time it takes to read them well spent4 ,many of the songs ,i have sung are not in print here1 as they are familiar or may be found in popular books2 others ,i thought might be copyrighted and ,i do not know the owner1 etc4 ,i have not meant to use any copyright selections without procuring the right to do so1 but if through mistake any have been used ,i shall be glad to make due requital4 ,,the ,,author ,,of ,,flower ,,mission ,,day4 ,i once visited this sister1 a saint1 meekly lying upon her bed1 and when ,i asked if she would like for ,jesus to heal her1 she said ,god could use her better in that condition4 ,e4 ,r4 ,w4 ,jennie ,cassady was born in ,louisville1 ,kentucky1 ,june #i1 #ahdj4 ,she came to earth through no royal line of ancestry4 ,no booming cannon and flying flags proclaimed the birth of a princess4 ,no jeweled hand beckoned her to a place of rank and title4 ,nothing in babyhood or girlhood distinguished her above what is visible in ten thousand homes to-day4 ,but as she stepped over the threshold into womanhood1 there fell upon her a great calamity--a cruel accident made her a cripple and an invalid for life4 ,but in her afflictions she arose to a sublimity and sweetness of soul that has challenged the admiration of two continents4 ,and out of the awful shadows that fell upon her she has gathered up the sunbeams of ,god's smiles and scattered them into the dark places of earth4 ,out of that one little darkened room in ,kentucky there has gone forth an inspiration that has fired the heart of heroic ,christian womanhood4 ,and out of the darkness that smote her pathway leaped the lances of light that pierces the gloom of prison walls4 ,a gleam from that radiant life touches the poet's fancy1 and gives us these beautiful lines4 ,j4 ,m4 ,,crocker1 ,prison ,chaplain4 ,,flower ,,day ,,at ,,the ,,prison4 ,composed and read by ,f4 ,l4 ,platt at the ,iowa ,state ,prison at ,anamosa1 ,june #ith1 #ahid4 ,in a cottage in ,kentucky1 ,in the years that have gone by1 ,was a woman1 oh1 so lonely1 ,she'd been given up to die4 ,as she lay upon her sick bed1 ,ere the spark of life had flown1 ,neighbors called1 and strangers also1 ,whom before she had not known4 ,they had heard of her misfortune1 ,day and night she lingered there2 ,and to make her life more cheerful ,seemed to be their every care4 ,now they come1 with noiseless footsteps1 ,as the rose is kissed with dew1 ,each one bringing in some sunshine1 ,in these flowers ,i've brought for you4 ,as she looked into their faces1 ,realizing death had come1 ,take these flowers1 she said1 ,i'm dying1 ,they will brighten other homes4 ,take them1 give them to the children ,who in orphans' homes are found1 ,who have parents silent sleeping ,underneath some grassy mound4 ,take them1 place them by the bedside ,of some one whose life is drear2 ,they will bring a ray of sunshine1 ,they will drive away a tear4 ,take them1 bear them to the prison1 ,where the trembling convict stands2 ,they'll encourage and they'll cheer him1 ,and they'll help him be a man4 ,they will speak to him of ,heaven1 ,of a home with ,god above2 ,they'll dispel the gloom and heartache1 ,they'll recall a mother's love4 ,they'll remind him of a sister1 ,with youth's bloom upon her brow1 ,with whom he used to gather flowers ,when life was bright as yours is now4 ,they'll recall some little sweetheart ,in the early spring of life1 ,who1 when summer flowers were blooming1 ,he had asked to be his wife4 ,oh1 that wife6 may ,god's own blessing ,rest upon her loyal head2 ,though he's caused her many a heartache1 ,she would love him were he dead4 ,then with all these sacred memories ,welling in these hearts of ours1 ,who in all this land of sunshine ,could forbid this gift of flowers8 ,bring the flowers with sweetest perfume1 ,this is flower mission day2 ,some forlorn1 discouraged prisoner1 ,you may rescue1 you may save4 ,blest the home that knows no sorrow1 ,blest that wife1 whose tears are joy1 ,blest that mother who in old age1 ,can lean upon her darling boy4 ,men1 look up1 the clouds have gathered1 ,some of them are silver-lined2 ,there's a day when all creation ,will be marshalled into line4 ,when these prison walls are sundered2 ,when the grave gives up its dead1 ,all may march the streets of ,heaven ,who by ,jesus ,christ are led4 ,,lines ,,by ,a ,,prisoner ,,to ,,his ,,wife4 ,these lines were handed me by the author4 ,i insert them here because of their clear testimony to the saving grace of ,god and the love they manifest for wife and children3 ,dearest wife1 you know ,i love thee1 ,deep as yonder sky2 ,know that love can never fade1 ,affection never die4 ,though in prison ,i am cast1 ,and cannot now return1 ,yet on thee my love reclines1 ,for thee my heart will burn4 ,god has made us one indeed1 ,in ways the world can never know4 ,one1 like drops of water found ,within the pure white snow4 ,god has made us one indeed2 ,has joined us1 hand and heart2 ,what ,god has joined together1 wife1 ,let no man put apart4 ,as well might men uproot the earth ,as by their scoff or scorn ,think to accomplish parting us ,because our hearts now mourn4 ,nay1 dear wife1 ,i feel for thee1 ,as ne'er ,i felt before1 ,prizing thee with deeper strength ,for pining sad and sore4 ,while there you wait my glad release1 ,the day that sets me free1 ,await my coming home to wife2 ,yes1 wife and children three4 ,and ,i will come4 ,have patience1 wife1 ,the time will wear away1 ,and day by day approaches near ,that glad releasing day4 ,with little baby in your arms1 ,two others at your knee2 ,i know1 dear wife1 your heart is sad ,and longs to see me free4 ,to help you in your daily toil2 ,to earn for them their bread2 ,to clothe and help and comfort them1 ,and find a shelter for each head4 ,but cheer up1 wife1 and so will ,i1 ,as mankind surely may1 ,till darkness fade in morning light ,that ushers in the day4 ,and oh1 what joy will visit us1 ,what peace in that glad hour2 ,our home shall then renew its strength ,in all its silent power4 ,here as ,i lay me down to sleep1 ,in my narrow little cell1 ,i think of the happy times we've spent ,in the shady wooded dell4 ,how we plucked the flowers beside our path1 ,and strolled along the stream1 ,neither feeling aught of sorrow1 ,for life was like a pleasant dream4 ,but alas1 my dear one1 all is changed2 ,and we are parted now for years2 ,but well we know that ,god will come ,and wipe away our falling tears4 ,sin1 dear wife1 hast brought the change2 ,sin has caused our grief and pain2 ,but now that ,i trust in ,jesus ,i will never fall again4 ,in my very darkest moments ,would you know what comforts me8 ',tis my living faith in ,jesus1 ,in ,him who died on ,calvary4 ,he died on the cross for you1 dear wife1 ,his precious blood was shed for me2 ,all our sins on ,him were laid ,when they nailed ,him to the tree4 ,and now that blessed ,saviour1 ,who was born at ,bethlehem1 ,looks down from the heights of heaven ,on the sinful souls of men4 ,his thoughts are full of mercy1 ,his heart is filled with love4 ,he is pleading with the ,father ,that we might come above4 ,so we will trust our ,saviour1 ,and follow where ,he leads2 ,and say1 in faith believing1 ,he'll provide for all our needs4 ,so we'll walk close beside ,him ,and let ,him take our hand2 ,as ,he points1 with face all shining1 ,to that bright and happy land4 ,and oft to others round us ,the story we will tell1 ,how ,jesus ,christ saves sinners1 ,the heavenly hosts to swell4 ,you will tell them1 wife1 how ,he found me1 ,sinful and all cast down1 ,and how through love ,he raised me up ,and promised me a crown4 ,and when we see still others ,caught in ,satan's snare1 ,we'll lead them on to ,jesus1 ,and leave them in ,his care4 ,and when ,he treats them gently1 ,as ,he treats both you and me1 ,other sinners1 looking on1 ,to ,his bosom soon will flee4 ,for thus the world around us ,for ,christ could soon be won2 ,he'll end in glorious triumph ,the work ,he has begun4 ,all glory then to ,jesus6 ,sing praises to ,his name6 ,he saved lost sinners years gone by1 ,and today ,he'll do the same4 ,in language very simple ,i've told to you1 dear wife1 ,my love to you1 your love to me1 ,and the love of ,jesus ,christ4 ,so we'll just keep on trusting ,in the ,saviour ,god has given2 ,and ,he will fill with peace ,our journey on to heaven4 ,and we'll not forget the ,father1 ,but give thanks for all ,he's done1 ,in giving us our ,saviour1 ,in ,his own beloved ,son4 ,,woman',s ,,love4 ,,to ,,mrs4 ,,wheaton4 ,these lines are most respectfully presented as a prisoner's tribute of sincere respect3 ,o1 woman's love1 past understanding6 ,so near to ,god's1 so wondrous deep3 ,deep as the depths of space2 expanding ,till it blooms beyond death's mystic sleep ,throughout the earth1 the rich and lowly ,it reigns supreme within her breast4 ,o1 woman's love6 through its beauty holy ,she will win eternal rest4 ,born of woman1 purest1 dearest ,lily of fair ,bethlehem1 ,christ to her will be the nearest ,in his bright home--,jerusalem4 ,a fadeless flower in beauty blooming ',midst heaven's host of immortelles4 ,his peerless love her soul perfuming ,she'll reign a queen mid arch angels ,j4 ,w4 ,l4 ,cole ,city1 ,ga41 ,sunday night1 ,nov4 #ag1 #ahhi4 ,,take ,,this ,,message ,,to ,,my ,,mother4 7,written by a ,prisoner in ,jackson1 ,miss47 ,take this message to my mother1 ,it will fill her heart with joy2 ,tell her that her prayer is answered1 ,christ has saved her wandering boy3 ,tho' through sin from home ,i've wandered1 ,and ,i almost broke her heart2 ,tell her to be glad and cheerful1 ,never from the ,lord ,i'll part4 ,,chorus4 ,take this message to my mother1 ,it will fill her heart with joy2 ,tell her that her prayer is answered1 ,christ has saved her wandering boy4 ,how she wept when last we parted1 ,how her heart did ache with pain ,when she said3 ,good-bye1 ,god bless you1 ,we may never meet again4 ,o my boy1 just look to ,jesus1 ,what a friend ,he is to all6 ,only trust ,him1 ,he will save you-- ,can't you hear ,his sweet voice call8 ,in this world of sin are many ,who have wandered far from ,god4 ,will your mother's prayers be answered8 ,listen1 sinner1 you1 her boy4 ,you have ofttimes heard this warning1 ,in your heart conviction's deep2 ,god is calling to the wanderer ,who asks mercy at his feet4 ,,not ,,lonely ,,now4 ,i am not lonely1 mother1 now1 ,though far from me you roam4 ,one dried my tears and smoothed my brow1 ,and stilled the sob and groan4 ,i am not lonely1 mother1 dear1 ,for ,jesus dwells with me1 e'en here4 ,all day ,i feel ,him by my side2 ,and when betimes would come ,the ,evil ,one1 ,i quickly hide ,behind my ,precious ,one4 ,think you ,i'm lonely1 mother1 dear1 ,when ,jesus thus is ever near8 ,and when at night ,i think of thee1 ,as in my cell ,i sit1 ,bright vision of thy form ,i see ,by ,his own presence lit4 ,can ,i be lonely1 mother1 dear1 ,when thy pure spirit is so near8 ,farewell1 my darling mother-friend1 ,and if for aye1 ,oh6 fare thee well6 ,whate'er betide1 unto the end1 ,christ's love for me ,i'll gladly tell4 ,the following was written by a young brother who1 with his wife1 were with me for a time in my work4 ,in thanking them for a kindness done me ,i used the words1 ,jesus is looking on1 implying that ,he would reward them4 ,only an hour or so afterward the young brother handed me these lines1 suggested by my words3 ,little did ,i think when ,i spoke the words that they would make so deep an impression upon his mind4 ,how little we realize what a word may do4 ,,jesus ,,is ,,looking ,,on4 ,the eyes of the ,lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry4 ,ps4 #cd4 ,,tune1 ,,are ,,you ,,within ,,the ,,fold ,,tonight8 #a4 ,while traveling as a pilgrim ,across life's desert drear1 ,my feet ofttimes are weary1 ,mine eyes oft drop a tear2 ,but when ,i look to ,jesus1 ,all weariness is gone1 ,my heart then joys within me ,to know ,he's looking on4 ,,chorus4 ,yes1 ,he is ever looking on1 ,with anxious ear our cry to hear4 ,he hears each sigh1 ,he sees each tear2 ,he knows each heart with sorrow riven1 ,he hears each word of joy or moan1 ,and whispers gently in our ear1 ,i'm looking1 looking on4 #b4 ,when troubles rage around me1 ,and trials fiery come1 ,my thoughts are then directed ,to my eternal home4 ,though walking on the mountain1 ,or on the verdant lawn1 ,this is the thought that cheers me1 ,he's always looking on4 #c4 ,when friends do turn against me1 ,and frown and persecute1 ,i'm then brought nearer ,jesus1 ,than when my foes are mute4 ,while ,jesus walks beside me1 ,his arm ,i'll lean upon1 ,and ne'er forget the promise1 ,he's always looking on4 #d4 ,take courage1 brother pilgrim1 ,and let us journey on1 ,for soon life's many trials ,will all have passed and gone2 ,then sweeping up to glory ,we'll join the ransomed throng1 ,and sing ,god's endless praises1 ,while ,he is looking on4 ,,how ,,god ,,calls ,,missionaries ,,out ,,of ,,prison ,,cells4 ,s4 ,h4 ,,hadley4 ,superintendent of the ,old ,mc,auley ,mission4 ,some of the best missionaries this world ever knew are men who have been sentenced to long terms in prison4 ,wholly shut away from the world and its dreadful temptations1 ,god had a chance to speak to them4 ,jerry ,mc,auley was a wonderful example of this1 and that drunken loafer and thief was finally used so wonderfully by the ,lord ,god that his name has gone all over this world and has been an inspiration to millions4 ,he was sent to prison from the ,fourth ,ward of ,new ,york for fifteen years at the age of nineteen4 ,one ,sunday morning in the chapel the speaker was old ,awful ,gardener1 an old-time ruffian and prize-fighter in ,new ,york1 but ,god had got hold of him and he had been wonderfully saved4 ,with tears streaming down his face1 he told of the love of ,christ1 and he said1 ,boys1 ,i ought to be wearing the stripes the same as you are1 and ,i feel a deep sympathy for you4 ,he also quoted some verses from the ,scriptures1 and after the boys had gone back to their cells ,jerry found a ,bible in the ventilator of his cell1 and1 looking it over aimlessly1 tried to find the text that ,awful ,gardener had quoted1 but instead he found that ,christ came to save sinners1 and the ,holy ,spirit showed him his dreadful past life4 ,as the day grew into night1 ,jerry got down on his knees and began to pray4 ,he had never prayed before1 but now he cried to ,god for help and mercy4 ,how long he was there he does not know1 but some time during the night a glorious light dispelled the deep darkness of his soul1 and he cried out1 ,oh1 praise ,god1 ,i found ,jesus1 and ,he gives peace to my soul4 ,the unusual sound brought the keeper1 who asked1 ,what is the matter with you8 ,jerry answered1 ,i found ,jesus1 that's what's the matter with me4 ,he found some opportunities to breathe out the new-found hopes of his soul and the love of ,jesus to the prisoners about him4 ,soon a revival broke out in the prison such as never had been seen before or since1 and ,jerry was the center of it all4 ,he was pardoned in #ahfd1 but when he got home he had no friends1 no money1 and he soon fell into bad company1 and got to be a worse scoundrel than he ever was before4 ,it was after this he became known as the dangerous ,east ,river pirate4 ,he was reclaimed in #ahfh1 and although he fell five times after that during the first eight or nine months1 he was finally anchored to ,christ4 ,do you know that every drunkard uses tobacco8 ,jerry was no exception4 ,some faithful friends said to him4 ,jerry1 give up your tobacco for ,jesus' sake1 and he gave it up1 and then he never fell afterward4 ,he was afterward married to ,maria1 his faithful wife1 who also was redeemed from a drunkard's life1 and in #ahgb opened the world-renowned ,mc,auley ,mission1 at #caf ,water ,street1 down on the ,east ,side1 nearly under the ,brooklyn ,bridge4 ,he stayed here ten years1 and then opened the ,cremorne ,mission1 ,thirty-second ,street and ,sixth ,avenue1 where he died in #ahhd1 and had the largest funeral of any private citizen who was ever buried in ,new ,york4 ,the writer succeeded ,jerry ,mc,auley down there1 and the work is going on night and day4 ,drunkards and thieves come in by the thousand1 and1 thank ,god1 many of them are saved unto life eternal4 ,the writer is also a convert of ,jerry ,mc,auley ,mission4--,the ,life ,boat4 ,,outside ,,the ,,prison ,,walls4 ,free1 free at last he left the dreary jail1 ,and stepped into the dewy ,april night2 ,once more he breathed1 untainted1 ,god's pure air1 ,and saw the evening star's sweet trembling light4 ,how strange6 how strange6 and yet how strangely dear ,the old familiar turf beneath his feet6 ,how wonderful once more to be alone ,unwatched1 unguarded1 'neath the sky's broad sweep4 ,free6 free again--but ,o1 so old and worn-- ,so weary with his wasted1 ruined life-- ,full twenty years the cell1 his only home-- ,full twenty years with hopeless misery rife6 ,his thoughts sped backward till they reached that day ,when he had entered that grim house1 a boy-- ,naught but a boy in stature and in years1 ,but with a heart all bare of hope and joy4 ,for in a dreadful moment1 crazed with rum1 ,his hand had laid a fellow creature low1 ,and for that glass of brandy in his brain ,full twenty years of wretchedness and woe4 ,and now1 a gray-haired man1 he walked again ,the very path his boyish feet had pressed ,so many1 many years ago2 ,and now he wandered lonely1 seeking rest4 ,where should he go8 ,where now his footsteps turn8 ,no living soul was there to welcome him6 ,no friend of all his youthful days he knew ,would greet again this wanderer in sin4 ,unconsciously1 he sought his boyhood's home1 ,the low1 white cottage he had held so dear2 ',twas standing in its old accustomed place1 ,but strangers had dwelt there for many a year4 ,where next8 ,the tears stood in his mournful eyes2 ,his breath came thick and fast--he could not stir1 ,but leaned upon the old familiar gate ,with thoughts of mother--,o1 could he find her8 ,where was she now--that mother1 sweet and good1 ,who tried with tears and prayers to save her boy1 ,who knelt alone at midnight's solemn hour ,and mourned for him who should have been her joy4 ,his faltering steps at last he vaguely turned ,unto the silent churchyard near the sea1 ,and stood alone while pitying moonbeams spread ,around his form a veil of charity4 ,alone with ,god in that still1 solemn place1 ,alone with hundreds of the silent dead1 ,the outcast stood with lowly1 sin-sick heart1 ,the cold night dew upon his drooping head4 ,at last he found her in a place apart1 ,where moonbeams sparkled through the willow boughs1 ,and shone upon her simple headstone white ,that marked the limit of her narrow house4 ',twas but a snowy marble1 simple1 plain1 ,that bore her name1 her age1 and just below-- ,died of a broken heart--alas6 he knew ,the cause of all that life and death of woe4 ,he flung himself face down upon the grass1 ,alone between the living and the dead1 ,and wept and prayed beside the lonely grave ,until in sorrow's slumber sunk his head4 ,they found him in the morning1 stiff and cold1 ,his hands clasped o'er his mother's lowly grave1 ,his head upon its turf1 as though he thought ,that turf the bosom his poor heart had craved4 ,upon his pallid cheeks the trace of tears ,showed in the glowing ray of morning's sun1 ,but o'er that face there shone a wondrous peace1 ,a smile of joy now all his life was done4 ,men marveled that he looked so young again ,despite his crown of sorrow-silvered hair1 ,and tender-hearted women sighed and wept ,and smiled to think that they had found him there4 ,ah6 ,god is good6 with loving tenderness ,he saw the sad1 repentant soul alone ,weep out his sin upon his mother's grave1 ,and gently led the weary wanderer home4 ,this we believe3 ,that now in ,heaven's street ,the mother and her son are reconciled1 ,and all the pain and sin of earth below ,are blotted out1 and he is ,god's own child4 --,hattie ,f4 ,crocker1 in ,union ,signal4 ,,if ,,we ,,knew4 ,if we knew the heart's sad sighing ,in the secret hour2 ,if we knew the bitter crying ,o'er the tempter's power1 ,slower would we be to censure1 ,kinder in reproof2 ,from the erring1 peradventure1 ,we would not stand aloof4 ,if we knew the hard1 stern struggle ,of the one who fell1 ,toiling on 'mid grief and trouble ,that none but ,god can tell1 ,our thoughts1 perhaps1 would be kinder1 ,our help more pitiful-- ,be of ,god's love a reminder ,to the tempted soul4 ,if we knew the fierce temptation1 ,could we feel the pain ,of the deep humiliation1 ,the tears shed all in vain1 ,we1 perchance1 would be more gentle1 ,our tones more tender be2 ,o'er his fault we'd draw the mantle ,of fervent charity4 ,if we knew how dark and cheerless ,seem the coming years1 ,we might then appear more fearless ,of each other's cares4 ,could our eyes pierce through the smiling ,of the face so calm1 ,see the bitter self-reviling1 ,we'd apply the balm4 ,did we walk a little nearer ,to ,jesus in the way1 ,hear ,his voice a little clearer ,we would know how to pray4 ,he has words of comfort given ,that we to them should speak1 ,ere the hopeless soul is driven ,his faith with ,god to break4 ,we shall know each other better1 ,the mists shall roll away2 ,nevermore we'll feel the fetter ,of this toil-worn clay4 ,only let us love each other1 ',tis our ,lord's command1 ,to each fainting friend or brother ,reach a helping hand4 --,anna ,l4 ,dreyer1 of ,missionary ,training ,home at ,tabor1 ,iowa4 ,,little ,,graves4 ,you have your little grave2 ,i have mine4 ,you have your sad memories2 ,i have mine4 ,for1 ,there is no flock1 however tended1 ,but one dead lamb is there2 ,there is no fireside1 howsoe'er defended1 ,but hath its vacant chair4 ,the air is full of farewells to the dying1 ,and weepings for the dead2 ,the heart of ,rachel for her children crying ,will not be comforted4 ,i have pleasant thoughts sometimes about these little graves4 ,i think what a safe place the little grave is4 ,temptations never come there4 ,sins never pollute there4 ,tears1 pains1 disappointments1 bereavements1 trials1 cares1 and snares1 are all unknown in that silent resting place4 ,and then1 ,jesus has the keys1 and he keeps our treasures safely1 and guards them securely4 ,no mother's heart is anxious about a child that is laid in the little grave4 ,no prayers of anguish go up for it as for those tossed by the storms of passion1 sunk in the whirlpool of vice1 or lost in the wide wilderness of sorrow and of sin4 ,there is now no need of chiding1 reproving1 watching1 and restraining4 ,the chief ,shepherd bears the lamb on his own bosom1 and it is forever safe4 ,the little grave is a sacred place4 ,the ,lord of glory has passed into the sepulchre1 and from it he has opened up the path of life4 ,hope blooms there1 and hearts-ease and amaranth blossom amid the shadows that linger over it1 and ,jesus watches his treasures and counts his jewels in the little graves4 ,the little grave shall be opened by and by4 ,the night is dark1 but there is a flush of morn upon the mountains1 and a gleam of sunlight glows along the distant hills4 ,he who bears the keys of hell and of death1 shall come back to open the little graves1 and call the sleepers forth4 ,then cherub forms shall burst the silent tombs1 and these green hillocks shall bear their harvest for the garner of our ,god4--,sel4 ,,the ,,mother',s ,,warning4 ,touch it not--ye do not know1 ,unless you've borne a fate like mine1 ,how deep a curse1 how wild a woe1 ,is lurking in that ruby wine4 ,look on my cheek--'tis withered now2 ,it once was round and smooth as thine2 ,look on my deeply furrowed brow-- ',tis all the work of treacherous wine4 ,i had two sons1 two princely boys1 ,as noble men as ,god e'er gave2 ,i saw them fall from honor's joys ,to fill a common drunkard's grave4 ,i had a daughter1 young and fair1 ,as pure as ever woman bore4 ,where is she8 ,did you ask me where8 ,bend low1 ,i'll tell the tale once more4 ,i saw that fairy child of mine ,linked to a kingly bridegroom's side2 ,her heart was proud and light as thine1 ,oh1 would to ,god she then had died6 ,not many moons had filled their horn1 ,while she upon his bosom slept2 ',twas on a dark ,november morn1 ,she o'er a murdered husband wept2 ,her drunken father dealt the blow-- ,her brain grew wild1 her heart grew weak2 ,was ever tale of deeper woe ,a mother's lips had lived to speak8 ,she dwells in yonder darkened halls1 ,no ray of reason there does shine2 ,she on her murdered husband calls4 ',twas done by wine1 by cursed wine6 --,temperance ,banner4 ,,harry',s ,,remorse4 ,it's curious1 isn't it1 chaplain1 what a twelve months may bring8 ,last year ,i was in ,chicago1 gambling and living in sin2 ,was raking in pools at the races1 and feeing the waiters with ten1 ,was sipping mint juleps by twilight1 while today ,i am in the pen4 ,what led me to do it8 ,what always leads a man to destruction and crime8 ,the prodigal son you have read of has altered somewhat in his time4 ,he spends his money as freely as the ,biblical fellow of old1 ,and when it is gone he fancies the husks will turn into gold4 ,champagne1 a box at the opera1 high steps while fortune is flush2 ,the passionate kisses of women whose cheeks have forgotten to blush4 ,the old1 old story1 chaplain1 of pleasure that ends in tears1 ,the froth that foams for an hour and the dregs that are tasted for years4 ,last night as ,i sat here and pondered on the end of my evil ways1 ,there rose like a phantom before me the vision of boyhood days2 ,i thought of my old1 old home1 chaplain1 of the schoolhouse that stood on the hill1 ,of the brook that ran through the meadow--,i can hear its music still4 ,and again ,i thought of my mother1 of the mother who taught me to pray1 ,whose love was a precious treasure that ,i heedlessly cast away2 ,and again ,i saw in my vision the fresh-lipped1 careless boy1 ,to whom the future was boundless and the world but a mighty toy4 ,i saw all this as ,i sat there1 of my ruined and wasted life1 ,and the thoughts of my remorse were bitter1 they pierced my heart like a knife4 ,it takes some courage1 chaplain1 to laugh in the face of fate1 ,when the yearning ambition of manhood is blasted at twenty-eight4 --,composed and written by ,harry ,s----while taking a retrospection of the past4 ,,twenty--,,thirty-,,four4 ,the line of dingy-coated men stretched along the broad granite walk and like a great gray serpent wound in and out among the wagon shops and planing mills that filled the prison yard4 ,down beyond the foundry the beginning of the line1 the head of the serpent1 was lost at the stairway leading to the second floor of a long1 narrow building in which whisk brooms were manufactured4 ,an hour before1 on the sounding of a brass gong at the front1 the same line had wound round the same corners into the building whence now it crawled4 ,there1 the men had seated themselves on four-legged stools before benches that stretched across the room in rows4 ,before each man was set a tin plate of boiled meat2 a heavy cup of black coffee1 a knife1 a fork1 and a thick bowl of steaming1 odorous soup4 ,during the meal other men1 dressed like the hundreds who were sitting1 in suits of dull gray1 with little round-crowned1 peaked-visored caps to match1 moved in and out between the rows1 distributing chunks of fresh white bread from heavy baskets4 ,now and then one of the men would shake his head and the waiter would pass him by1 but usually a dozen hands were thrust into a basket at once to clutch the regulation bit of half a pound4 ,the men ate ravenously1 as if famished4 ,yet a silence that appalled hovered over the long bare dining-hall where eight hundred men were being fed4 ,there was no clatter of knives and forks2 there were no jests2 they moved about as noiselessly as ghosts4 ,there were faces stamped with indelible marks of depravity and vice1 but now and then the breadtossers would see uplifted a pair of frank blue eyes1 in which burned the light of hope4 ,men were there who dreamed of a day to come when all would be forgiven and forgotten2 when a hand would again be held out in welcome1 and a kiss again be pressed to quivering lips4 ,men there were of all kinds1 of all countenances1 young and old2 the waving1 sunlit hair of youth side by side with locks in which the snow was thickly sprinkled4 ,all these men were paying the penalty society imposes on proved criminals4 ,and now1 their dinner over1 they were marching back to the shops and mills of the prison1 where days and weeks were spent at labor4 ,those men employed in the wagon-works dropped out of the line when they came opposite the entrance to their building4 ,those behind pushed forward as their prison-mates disappeared1 and never for more than ten seconds was there a gap in the long1 gray line4 ,the whisk-broom factory occupied the second floor of the building at the far end of the prison yard4 ,on the ground floor men worked at lathes1 turning out the wooden handles to the brooms that were finished1 sorted and tied up-stairs4 ,at the corner the line divided1 sixty-five of the men climbed the stairway to the second floor1 the other thirty entered the lathe-room below4 ,a dozen men in blue uniforms marched beside the line on its way from the mess-hall1 six on each side1 at two yards' distance4 ,their caps bore ,guard in gold letters1 and each guard carried a short1 heavy1 crooked cane of polished white hickory4 ,on entering the work-room of the second floor1 the men assembled before a railed platform1 upon which a red-faced1 coatless man stood behind a big desk4 ,in cold1 metallic tones he called the numbers of the convicts who in turn replied ,here6 when their numbers were spoken4 ,twenty-thirty-four6 called the red-faced man4 ,there was no response4 ,twenty-thirty-four8 ,the red-faced man leaned over the desk and glared down4 ,then a voice from somewhere on the left answered ,here6 ,what was the matter with you the first time8 snapped the foreman4 ,the man thus questioned removed his cap and took three steps toward the platform4 ,in feature the word hard would describe him4 ,his head was long1 wide at the forehead1 and yet narrow between the temples4 ,his eyes were small and close together4 ,his nose was flat1 and mouth hardly more than a straight cut in the lower part of his face4 ,the lower jaw was square and heavy1 and the ears protruded abnormally4 ,a trifle above medium height with a pair of drooping1 twitching shoulders1 the man looked criminal4 ,to the question he replied doggedly1 ,i answered the first time1 sir1 but ,i guess you didn't hear me4 ,the foreman gazed steadily at the man4 ,their eyes met4 ,the foreman's did not waver1 but #bjcd lowered his and fumbled nervously at his cap4 ,all right1 said the foreman1 quickly1 but ,i guess you'd better report to the warden as soon as you get through in here4 ,don't wait for any piece-work4 ,go to him as soon as you have finished your task4 ,i'll tell him you're coming4 ,he'll be waiting for you at the front office4 ,yes1 sir4 ,the convict did not raise his eyes4 ,he stepped back into the line4 ,then1 at the clap of the foreman's hands1 the men broke ranks1 and each walked away to his own bench or machine4 ,five minutes later1 the swish on the corn-wisps as they were separated and tied into rough brooms1 and the occasional tap of a hammer1 were the only sounds in that long room where sixty-five men toiled4 ,now and then one of the men would go to the platform where the foreman sat bent over half a dozen little books1 in which it was his duty to record the number of tasks completed by each of the workmen on his contract--a task in the prison vernacular being the work each man is compelled to accomplish within a certain space of time4 ,on the approach of a workman the foreman would look up and a few whispered words would pass between the two4 ,then the broom-maker would dart into the stock room1 adjoining the factory1 where1 upon receiving a written requisition from the foreman1 the officer in charge would give him the material he needed in his work--a ball of twine1 or a strip of plush with which the handles of the brooms were decorated4 ,at ten minutes past three1 #bjcd crossed to the platform4 ,what do you want8 asked the foreman1 as he eyed keenly the man in the gray suit4 ,a paper of small tacks1 was the reply1 quickly spoken4 ,the order was written1 and as #bjcd moved towards the door leading toward the stock-room1 the man on the platform asked in an undertone1 ,anything wrong1 ,bill8 ,that's what ,i don't know1 ,george1 the foreman replied4 ,that man ,riley's been acting queer of late4 ,i've got an idea there's something up his sleeve4 ,there's not a harder nut on the contract than that fellow1 and by the way he's been carrying on1 sullen like and all that1 ,i'm fearing something's going to happen4 ,you remember1 don't you8 ,what1 no8 ,he's that ,riley from ,acorn4 ,he came in two years ago on a burglary job in ,clive1 where he shot a drug clerk that offered objections to his carrying off all there was in the shop4 ,they made it manslaughter and he's in for fifteen years4 ,there's another warrant ready for him when he gets out1 for a job done four years ago in ,kentucky4 ,he's a bad one4 ,a fellow like that is no good around this shop4 ,the guard smiled cynically at the foreman's suggestion that a convict may be too bad even for prison surroundings4 ,but ,i've got my eye on him1 continued the foreman4 ,i'm sending him up to the warden this afternoon4 ,say1 ,george1 when you go back1 will you tell the warden ,riley's coming up to call on him8 ,sure1 ,bill1 was the smiling reply of the guard as he moved away4 ,twenty-thirty-four had returned with a paper of tacks and gone directly to his bench4 ,it was a quarter of four by the foreman's watch when the door at the head of the stairway opened and the warden entered1 accompanied by two friends whom he was showing through the plant1 as he preferred to call the prison4 ,this is where the whisk-brooms are made1 said the warden4 ,on the floor below1 which we just left1 you will remember we saw the boys turning out broom-handles4 ,well1 here the brooms are tied and sewed through by hand1 over at those benches4 ,in the room beyond1 through that door1 we keep the stuff handy that is called for from time to time4 ,in a further room is stored the material used in the manufacture of the brooms1 the tin tips1 the tacks1 the twine1 and about ten or twelve tons of broom straw4 ,as the warden ceased speaking1 the foreman leaned across the desk and tapped him on the shoulder4 ,riley's coming up to see you this afternoon4 ,he's been acting queer--don't answer the call and the like4 ,the warden only nodded1 and continued his explanation to the visitors4 ,now1 he said1 moving towards the door of the stock-room1 if you will come over here ,i'll show you our store-room4 ,you see we have to keep a lot of material on hand4 ,beyond this second room the stuff is stored up1 and is taken into the stock-room as it is wanted4 ,between the rooms we have arranged these big sliding iron doors that1 in case of a fire1 could be dropped1 and thus1 for a few minutes at least1 cut the flames off from any room but that in which they originated4 ,you see1 pulling an iron lever which let the heavy iron sheet slide to the floor1 that completes the wall4 ,the visitor nodded4 ,now1 come on through the second room1 and into the third1 there1 ranged regularly on the floor were huge bales of broom straw1 and piled against the walls were boxes upon boxes of tacks1 velvet1 ornamental bits of metal1 and all the other separate parts of the commercial whisk broom4 ,the visitors examined the tacks and the tins and felt of the bales of straw4 ,very interesting1 observed one of the men1 as he drew his cigar case from his pocket1 and biting the tip from one of the cigars it contained1 struck a little wax match on the sole of his shoe4 ,he held the match in his hand till it had burned down1 then threw it on the floor1 and followed the warden and the other visitor under the heavy iron screen into the workingroom of the factory4 ,the foreman was busy at his books and did not observe the little party as it passed through on the other side of the broom-bins and out at the big door4 ,two minutes later1 #bjcd happened to look out through the window across his bench and he saw the warden with his friends crossing the prison yards to the foundry4 ,a guard just then sauntered into the room and stopped at the first of the bins4 ,he idly picked up one of the finished brooms and examined it4 ,his attention a moment later was attracted by some one pulling at his coat from behind4 ,he turned4 ,why1 ,tommy1 my boy1 what is it8 ,the two soft brown eyes of a little boy were turned up to him4 ,i'm looking for papa1 replied the little fellow4 ,the foreman down-stairs said he come up here4 ,uncle ,george is back in the house1 and mamma sent me out to find papa4 ,the guard patted the little fellow's head4 ,and we'll find him1 ,tommy1 he said4 ,he went over to the foreman's desk4 ,bill1 did the warden come up here8 ,tommy is looking for him2 his mother sent him out4 ,the foreman raised his eyes from his books4 ,yes1 he replied1 he went in there1 with a couple of gentlemen4 ,the guard looked down at the little boy4 ,he's in the store-room1 he said1 you'll find him in there1 ,tommy4 ,then he turned and walked out of the shop4 ,the child ran on into the room beyond4 ,his father was not there4 ,the stock-keeper did not observe the little boy as he tiptoed1 in a childish way1 past the desk4 ,tommy passed on into the farther room4 ,he knew he would find his father in there1 and he would crawl along between the tiers of straw bales and take him by surprise4 ,he had hardly passed when the stock-keeper1 raising his head from the list of material he was preparing1 held his face and sniffed the air4 ,quietly he rose from his revolving chair and went to the straw-room door4 ,he merely peered inside4 ,turning suddenly1 he pressed upon the lever near the door and the iron screen slid down into place1 cutting off the farther room4 ,then1 snatching a few books that lay on his desk1 he slipped out into the shop1 and at that door released the second screen4 ,as it fell into place with a slight crunching noise1 the foreman turned in his chair4 ,the eyes of the two met4 ,the stock-keeper raised his hand and touched his lip with the first finger4 ,he crossed rapidly to the desk4 ,get the men out6 ,get the men out6 he gasped4 ,the store-room is on fire6 ,the foreman rapped on the table twice4 ,every man in that room turned and faced the desk4 ,work is over for today1 said the foreman4 ,his manner was ominously calm1 and the men looked at one another wonderingly4 ,fall in6 ,at the order1 the dingy gray suits formed in the same old serpent1 and the line moved rapidly through the door at the end of the room and down the outside stairs4 ,there1 in front of the building1 they were halted1 and a guard dispatched to find the warden4 ,he was discovered in the foundry4 ,fire in the broom-shop6 whispered the guard4 ,the warden's face paled4 ,he dashed through the doorway1 and one minute later came around the corner of the building1 just in time to see the first signs of flames against the windows of the rear room up-stairs4 ,within five seconds1 a troop of fifteen guards had drawn the little hand-engine from its house and hitched the hose to the hydrant nearest the shop4 ,from all the other buildings the men were being marched to their cells4 ,these men6 hurriedly whispered the foreman to the warden4 ,what shall ,i do with them8 ,get 'em inside as soon as you can6 ,this won't last long1 the front of the building is cut off4 ,it'll all be over in ten minutes4 ,the foreman gave an order4 ,at that instant a woman came running down the prison yard4 ,reaching the warden's side1 she fell against him heavily4 ,why1 ,harriet1 he exclaimed1 what is the matter8 ,oh1 she gasped1 ,tommy6 ,tommy6 ,where is ,tommy8 ,a guard at the end of the engine rail turned ashy white4 ,he raised a hand to his head1 and with the other grasped the wheel to keep from falling4 ,then he cried1 ,mr4 ,jeffries1 ,i--,i believe ,tommy is up there in the stock-room4 ,he went to look-- ,the warden clutched the man's arm4 ,up there8 ,up there8 he cried4 ,the sudden approach of the woman and the words that followed had wrought so much confusion that the men had paid no attention to the foreman's command1 and he had even failed to notice their lack of attention1 in the excitement of that moment4 ,great ,god6 cried the warden4 ,what can ,i do--what can ,i do8 ,no one can live up there6 ,there was a crash4 ,one of the windows fell out4 ,get a ladder6 some one cried4 ,a guard ran back toward the prison-house4 ,then1 in the midst of the hubbub1 a man in a dingy gray suit stepped out a yard from the line of convicts4 ,his prison number was #bjcd4 ,he touched his little square cap4 ,if you'll give me permission1 ,i think ,i can get up there1 was all he said4 ,you6 you6 exclaimed the warden4 ,no1 no2 ,i will tell no man to do it6 ,there was a second crash4 ,another window had fallen out1 and now the tongues of flame were lapping the outer walls above4 ,the convict made no reply4 ,with a bound he was at the end of the line and dashing up the stairway4 ,the warden's wife was on her knees1 clinging to the hand of her husband4 ,in his eyes was a dead1 cold look4 ,a few men bit their lips1 and a faint shadow of a smile played about the mouths of others4 ,they all waited4 ,a convict had broken a regulation--had run from the line6 ,he would be punished6 ,even as he had clambered up the stairs a guard had cried1 shall ,i shoot8 ,the silence was broken by a shriek from the woman kneeling at the warden's feet4 ,look6 she cried1 and pointed towards the last of the up-stairs windows4 ,there1 surrounded by a halo of smoke1 and hemmed in on all sides by flames1 stood a man in a dingy gray suit4 ,one sleeve was on fire1 but he beat out the flames with his left hand4 ,those below heard him cry1 ,i've got him6 ,then the figure disappeared4 ,instantly it returned1 bearing something in its arms4 ,it was the limp form of a child4 ,all saw the man wrap smoking straw round the little body and tie round that two strands of heavy twine4 ,then that precious burden was lowered out of the window4 ,the father rushed forward and held up his hands to receive it4 ,another foot--he hugged the limp body of his boy to his breast6 ,on the ground a little way back lay a woman1 as if dead4 ,here's the ladder6 yelled the foreman1 and that moment the eyes that were still turned upon the window above where stood a man in a dingy gray suit1 witnessed a spectacle that will reappear before them again and again in visions of the night4 ,the coat the man wore was ablaze4 ,flames shot on either side of him and above him4 ,just as the ladder was placed against the wall1 a crackling was heard--not the crackling of the fire4 ,then like a thunderbolt1 a crash occurred that caused even the men in their cells to start4 ,the roof caved in4 ,in the prison yard that line of convicts saw #bjcd reel and fall backwards1 and heard1 as he fell1 his last cry1 ,i'm a-comin'1 warden6 ,he was a convicted criminal1 and died in prison gray4 ,but it would seem not wonderful to the warden if1 when that man's soul took flight1 the recording angel did write his name on the eternal ,book of ,record1 with a strange cabalistic sign1 a ring around a cross--that stands for good behavior4--,the ,youth's ,companion4 ,,his ,,mother',s ,,song4 ,beneath the hot midsummer sun ,the men had marched all day2 ,and now beside a rippling stream ,upon the grass they lay4 ,tiring of games and idle jest1 ,as swept the hours along1 ,they cried to one who mused apart1 ,come1 friend1 give us a song4 ,i fear ,i cannot please1 he said2 ,the only songs ,i know ,are those my mother used to sing ,for me1 long years ago4 ,sing one of those1 a rough voice cried1 ,there's none but true men here2 ,to every mother's son of us ,a mother's songs are dear4 ,then sweetly rose the singer's voice ,amid unwonted calm1 ,am ,i a soldier of the ,cross1 ,a follower of the ,lamb8 ,and shall ,i fear to own ,his ,cause8 ,the very stream was stilled1 ,and hearts that never throbbed with fear ,with tender thoughts were filled4 ,ended the song2 the singer said1 ,as to his feet he rose1 ,thanks to you all1 my friends1 good-night1 ,god grant us sweet repose4 ,sing us one more1 the captain begged1 ,the soldier bent his head1 ,then glancing round1 with smiling lips1 ,you'll join with me8 he said4 ,we'll sing this old familiar air1 ,sweet as the bugle call1 ',all hail the power of ,jesus' name1 ,let angels prostrate fall2' ,ah6 wondrous was the old tune's spell1 ,as on the soldier sang1 ,man after man fell into line1 ,and loud the voices rang4 ,the songs are done1 the camp is still1 ,naught but the stream is heard2 ,but ah6 the depths of every soul ,by those old hymns are stirred1 ,and up from many a bearded lip1 ,in whispers soft and low1 ,rises the prayer that mother taught ,her boy long years ago4 --,safeguard4 ,,perfect ,,peace4 ,lines written by a lady on the steamship ,mongolia1 near ,malta4 ,she was en route from ,china1 where she had been a missionary for seventeen years1 to her home in ,england4 ,she gave the verses to ,bishop ,bowman1 who was on the steamer with her1 and he sent them to his wife1 not knowing she had died a few days before he wrote his letter4--,a4 ,lowry4 ,lonely8 ,no1 not lonely ,while ,jesus stands by2 ,his presence always cheers me1 ,i know that ,he is nigh4 ,friendless8 ,no1 not friendless1 ,for ,jesus is my friend2 ,i change1 but ,he remaineth ,the same unto the end4 ,tired8 ,no1 not tired1 ,while leaning on ,his breast2 ,my soul hath full enjoyment1 ',tis ,his eternal rest4 ,saddened8 ,no1 not saddened ,by darkest scenes of woe2 ,i should be1 if ,i knew not ,that ,jesus loves me so4 ,helpless8 ,yes1 so helpless1 ,but ,i am leaning hard ,on the mighty arm of ,jesus1 ,and ,he is keeping guard4 ,waiting8 ,oh1 yes1 waiting1 ,he bade me watch and wait2 ,i only wonder often ,what makes my ,lord so late4 ,joyful8 ,yes1 so joyful1 ,with joy too deep for words2 ,a precious1 sure possession1 ,the joy that is my ,lord's4 --,divine ,life4 ,,sweet ,,revenge4 ,a few years ago while ,robert ,stewart was ,governor of ,missouri1 a steamboat man was brought in from the penitentiary for a pardon4 ,he was a large1 powerful fellow1 and when the governor looked at him he seemed strangely affected4 ,he scrutinized him long and closely4 ,finally he signed the document that restored to the prisoner his liberty4 ,before he handed it to him he said1 ,you will commit some other crime and be in the penitentiary again1 ,i fear4 ,the man solemnly promised that he would not4 ,the governor looked doubtful1 mused a few minutes and said1 ,you will go back on the river and be a mate again1 ,i suppose8 ,the man replied that he would4 ,well1 ,i want you to promise me one thing1 resumed the governor4 ,i want you to pledge your word that when you are mate again1 you will never take a billet of wood in your hand and drive a sick boy out of a bunk to help you load your boat on a stormy night4 ,the boatman said he would not1 and inquired what he meant by asking him such a question4 ,the governor replied1 ,because some day that boy may become a governor1 and you may want him to pardon you for a crime4 ,one dark stormy night many years ago you stopped your boat on the ,mississippi ,river to take on a load of wood4 ,there was a boy on board working his way from ,new ,orleans to ,st4 ,louis1 but he was very sick of fever and was lying in a bunk4 ,you had plenty of men to do the work but you went to that boy with a stick of wood in your hand and drove him with blows and curses out into the wretched night and kept him toiling like a slave until the load was completed4 ,i was that boy4 ,here is your pardon4 ,never again be guilty of such brutality4 ,the man1 cowering and hiding his face1 went out without a word4 ,what a noble revenge that was1 and what a lesson for a bully4--,success4 ,,no ,,telephone ,,in ,,heaven4 ,now1 ,i can wait on baby1 the smiling merchant said1 ,as he stooped and softly toyed with the golden1 curly head4 ,i want oo to tall up mamma1 came the answer full and free1 ,wif yo' telephone an' ast her when she's tummin' back to me4 ,tell her ,i so lonesome 'at ,i don't know what to do1 ,an' papa cries so much ,i dess he must be lonesome1 too2 ,tell her to tum to baby1 'tause at night ,i dit so 'fraid1 ,wif nobody here to tiss me1 when the light bedins to fade4 ,all froo de day ,i wants her1 for my dolly dot so tored ,fum the awful punchin' ,buddy gave it wif his little sword2 ,an' ain't nobody to fix it1 since mamma went away1 ,an' poor 'ittle lonesome dolly's dittin' thinner ever' day4 ,my child1 the merchant murmured1 as he stroked the anxious brow1 ,there's no telephone connection where your mother lives at now4 ,ain't no telephone in ,heaven8 and tears sprang to her eyes4 ,i fought dat ,god had every'fing wif ,him up in de skies4 --,atlanta ,constitution4 ,,perfect ,,through ,,faith4 ,god would not send you the darkness ,if ,he felt you could bear the light1 ,but you would not cling to ,his guiding hand ,if the way were always bright2 ,and you would not care to walk by faith ,could you always walk by sight4 ',tis true ,he has many an anguish ,for your sorrowing heart to bear1 ,and many a cruel thorn-crown ,for your tired head to wear2 ,he knows how few would reach home at all ,if pain did not guide them there4 ,if ,he sends you in blinding darkness1 ,and the furnace of seven-fold heat2 ',tis the only way1 believe me1 ,to keep you close to ,his feet2 ,for 'tis always so easy to wander ,when our lives are glad and sweet4 ,then nestle your hand in our ,father's ,and sing if you can as you go2 ,your song may cheer some one behind you ,whose courage is sinking low2 ,and1 well if your lips do quiver1 ,god will love you better so4 --,selected4 ,a ,,true ,,hero4 ,two men were sinking a shaft4 ,it was dangerous business1 for it was necessary to blast the rock4 ,it was their custom to cut the fuse with a sharp knife4 ,one man then entered the bucket and made a signal to be hauled up4 ,when the bucket again descended1 the other man entered it1 and with one hand on the signal rope and the other holding the fire1 he touched the fuse1 made the signal1 and was rapidly drawn up before the explosion took place4 ,one day they left the knife above1 and rather than ascend to procure it1 they cut the fuse with a sharp stone4 ,it took fire4 ,the fuse is on fire6 ,both men leaped into the bucket1 and made the signal2 but the windlass would haul up but one man at a time2 only one could escape4 ,one of the men instantly leaped out1 and said to the other1 ,up wi' ye2 ,i'll be in heaven in a minute4 ,with lightning speed the bucket was drawn up1 and the one man was saved4 ,the explosion took place4 ,men descended1 expecting to find the mangled body of the other miner2 but the blast had loosened a mass of rock1 and it lay diagonally across him2 and1 with the exception of a few bruises and a little scorching1 he was unhurt4 ,when asked why he urged his comrade to escape1 he gave a reason that sceptics would laugh at4 ,if there is any being on the face of the earth ,i pity1 it is a sceptic4 ,i would not be called a sceptic1 today for all this world's wealth4 ,they may call it superstition or fanaticism1 or whatever they choose4 ,but what did this hero say when asked1 ,why did you insist on this other man's ascending8 ,in his quaint dialect1 he replied1 ,because ,i knowed my soul was safe2 for ,i've give it in the hands of ,him of whom it is said1 that 'faithfulness is the girdle of his reins1' and ,i knowed that what ,i gied ,him ,he'd never gie up4 ,but t'other chap was an awful wicked lad1 and ,i wanted to gie him another chance4 ,all the infidelity in the world cannot produce such a signal act of heroism as that4--,selected4 ,,the ,,kid4 ,it was not a long procession or a pleasing one but it attracted much attention4 ,there was a policeman in the lead4 ,beside him walked a stockey1 bullnecked young fellow in a yellowish suit of loud plaid4 ,his face was bloody and his right wrist encircled by the bracelet of the twisters which shackled him to his captor4 ,the face of the policeman was also bloody and his clothes were torn4 ,behind these two walked three other patrolmen1 each with a handcuffed prisoner4 ,the kid and his gang had been caught in the act of robbing a saloon1 and the fight had been lively1 although short4 ,the prisoners had been taken to the detectives' office1 and photographed and registered for the rogues' gallery4 ,they were now on their way to court1 and thence1 in all probability1 to jail4 ,at ,broadway there was a jam of cars and heavy trucks1 and the procession had to wait4 ,nobody has been able to tell just what happened1 but they all agree as to the essential points4 ,first the bystanders saw a streak of yellow1 which was the kid2 then a streak of blue which was the policeman4 ,the prisoner had wrenched the twisters from his captors' hand1 and made a dash across the tracks4 ,the policeman1 thinking1 of course that he was trying to escape1 had followed4 ,then everybody saw a little child toddling along in the middle of the track4 ,a cable-car1 with clanging bell1 was bearing down upon it with a speed which the gripman seemed powerless to check4 ,the baby held up its hands1 and laughed at the sound of the gong4 ,on the other side of the street a woman was screaming and struggling in the arms of three or four men who were trying to keep her from sacrificing her own life to save that of her child4 ,then the kid stood there with the child safe in his arms1 the steel twisters hanging from his wrist4 ,he set the baby down gently at his feet1 loosened the clasp of the chubby hand on his big red fist1 and quietly held out his wrist to the policeman to be handcuffed again4 ,he had one chance in a million for his life when he made that desperate leap1 but he had not hesitated the fraction of a second4 ,,charged ,,with ,,murder4 ,prisoner at the bar1 have you anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed upon you8 ,a solemn hush fell over the crowded court-room1 and every person waited in almost breathless expectation for the answer to the judge's question4 ,i have1 your honor6 ,i stand here convicted of the murder of my wife4 ,witnesses have testified that ,i was a loafer1 a drunkard and a wretch2 that ,i returned from one of my debauches and fired the shot that killed the wife ,i had sworn to love1 cherish and protect4 ,while ,i have no remembrance of committing the awful deed1 ,i have no right to condemn the verdict of the jury1 for their verdict is in accordance with the evidence4 ,but1 may it please the court1 ,i wish to show that ,i am not alone responsible for the murder of my wife6 ,the judge on this bench1 the jury in the box1 the lawyers within this bar and most of the witnesses1 including the pastor of the church1 are also guilty before ,god and will have to stand with me before ,his judgment throne1 where we shall all be righteously judged4 ,if it had not been for the saloons of my town1 ,i never would have become a drunkard2 my wife would not have been murdered2 ,i would not be here now1 soon to be hurled into eternity4 ,for one year our town was without a saloon4 ,for one year ,i was a sober man4 ,for one year my wife and children were happy and our little home was a paradise4 ,i was one of those who signed remonstrances against re-opening the saloons of our town4 ,one-half of this jury1 the prosecuting attorney on this case1 and the judge who sits on this bench1 all voted for the saloons4 ,by their votes and influence the saloons were opened1 and they have made me what ,i am4 ,think you that the ,great ,judge will hold me--the poor1 weak1 helpless victim--alone responsible for the murder of my wife8 ,nay2 ,i1 in my drunken1 frenzied1 irresponsible condition have murdered one2 but you have deliberately voted for the saloons which have murdered thousands1 and they are in full operation today with your consent4 ,you legalized the saloons that made me a drunkard and a murderer1 and you are guilty with me before ,god and man for the murder of my wife4 ,i will close by solemnly asking ,god to open your blind eyes to your own individual responsibility1 so that you will cease to give your support to this hell-born traffic4--,sel4 ,,mother',s ,,face4 ,there's a feeling comes across me-- ,comes across me often now-- ,and it deepest seems when trouble ,lays her finger on my brow2 ,o it is a deep1 deep feeling1 ,neither happiness nor pain6 ',tis a mighty1 soulful longing ,to see mother's face again6 ',tis1 ,i think1 a natural feeling2 ,worst of me1 ,i can't control ,myself no more6 ,it seems to stir ,and thrill my very soul6 ,try to laugh it off--but useless6 ,oh6 my tears will fall like rain ,when ,i get this soulful longing ,just to see her face again6 ,you won't know how much you love her 7,your old mother7 till you roam ',way off where her voice can't reach you1 ,and with strangers make your home2 ,then you'll know how big your heart is1 ,think you never loved before1 ,when you get this mighty longing ,just to see her face once more4 ,mother6 tender1 loving soul6 ,heaven bless her dear old face6 ,i'd give half my years remaining ,just to give her one embrace2 ,or to shower love-warm kisses ,on her lips1 and cheeks1 and brow1 ,and appease this mighty longing ,that ,i get so often now6 --,sel4 ,,only ,,sixteen4 ,only sixteen1 so the papers say1 ,yet there on the cold1 stony ground he lay2 ',tis the same sad story we hear every day4 ,he came to his death in the public highway4 ,full of promise1 talent and pride1 ,yet the rum fiend conquered him--so he died4 ,did not the angels weep o'er the scene8 ,for he died a drunkard and only sixteen4 ,only sixteen4 ,oh6 it were sad he must die all alone1 ,that of all his friends1 not even one ,was there to list to his last faint moan1 ,or point the suffering soul to the throne ,of grace4 ,if1 perchance1 ,god's only ,son ,would say1 ,whosoever will may come4-- ,but we hasten to draw a veil over the scene1 ,with his ,god we leave him--only sixteen4 ,only sixteen4 ,rumseller1 come view the work you have wrought6 ,witness the suffering and pain you have brought ,to the poor boy's friends2 they loved him well1 ,and yet you dared the vile beverage to sell ,that beclouded his brain1 his reason dethroned1 ,and left him to die out there all alone4 ,what if 't were your son instead of another8 ,what if your wife were that poor boy's mother8 ,and he only sixteen4 ,ye freeholders who signed the petition to grant ,the license to sell1 do you think you will want ,that record to meet in the last great day ,when heaven and earth shall have passed away1 ,when the elements melting with fervent heat ,shall proclaim the triumph of right complete8 ,will you wish to have his blood on your hands ,when before the great throne you each shall stand8 ,and he only sixteen4 ,christian men6 rouse ye to stand for the right1 ,to action and duty2 into the light4 ,come with your banners inscribed3 ,death to rum4 ,let your conscience speak1 listen1 then come2 ,strike killing blows2 hew to the line2 ,make it a felony even to sign ,a petition to license2 you would do it ,i ween ,if that were your son and he only sixteen1 ,only sixteen4 ,,the ,,dress ,,question4 ,one day1 at ,louisville1 riding with ,mrs4 ,wheaton to visit the sick prisoners1 she said1 ,do you think it your duty to rebuke ,christians who wear jewelry8 ,i saw her question was a kindly reproof to me1 and said1 ,if the ,lord wants me to give up the jewelry ,i have1 ,he will show me4 ,yes1 ,he will1 she answered2 for ,i am praying for you4 ,the next morning the friend who was entertaining me told me her little eleven-year-old daughter1 ,emma1 just converted1 said1 ,mamma1 ,i wish you would read to me in the ,bible where it says not to wear jewelry4 ,the mother read the verses4 ,then the child said1 ,mamma1 if the ,lord does not want me to wear jewelry1 ,i don't want to2 and she brought her little pin and ring to her mother4 ,i took my ,bible and read1 ,whose adorning1 let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold1 or of putting on of apparel2 but let it be the hidden man of the heart1 in that which is not corruptible1 even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit1 which is in the sight of ,god of great price 7#a ,peter ii1 #c1 #d72 and1 ,in like manner also1 that women adorn themselves in modest apparel1 with shamefacedness and sobriety1 not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array1 but 7which becometh women professing godliness7 with good works4 7#a ,tim4 ii1 #i1 #aj47 ,then ,i thought3 ,the child is right4 ,the ,bible means just what it says4 ,then ,i recalled that ,mrs4 ,wheaton had told me how she went one day to visit a poor1 sick girl1 to whom she had talked of the love of ,christ until she was almost won4 ,she went again with a wealthy woman1 who was decked with diamonds4 ,as they entered the room1 the girl pointed to the jewels1 and said3 ,o mother1 mother6 ,i have wanted them all my life6 ,the rich woman tried to hide her diamonds1 and ,mrs4 ,wheaton tried to turn the girl's attention again to the ,savior1 but in vain4 ,her last thought was of the diamonds1 and her last words1 ,i have wanted them all my life6 ,sitting there1 with this incident fresh in my mind1 ,i quietly slipped off ring1 watch1 chain1 cuff-buttons1 and collar-stud2 and gold1 as an adornment1 was put away forever4--,abbie ,c4 ,morrow1 in ,revival ,advocate1 ,march #g1 #aija4 ,,songs ,,used ,,in ,,my ,,work4 ,,rock ,,me ,,to ,,sleep1 ,,mother4 ,backward1 turn backward1 oh time in your flight1 ,make me a child again just for tonight4 ,mother1 come back from that echoless shore1 ,take me again to your arms as of yore2 ,kiss from my forehead the furrows of care1 ,smooth the few silver threads out of my hair2 ,over my slumbers your loving watch keep1 ,rock me to sleep1 mother1 rock me to sleep4 ,,life',s ,,railway ,,to ,,heaven4 ,life is like a mountain railroad1 ,with an engineer that's brave2 ,we must make the run successful1 ,from the cradle to the grave2 ,watch the curves1 the fills1 the tunnels2 ,never falter1 never quail2 ,keep your hand upon the throttle1 ,and your eye upon the rail4 ,,chorus3 ,blessed ,savior1 ,thou wilt guide us ,till we reach that blissful shore2 ,where the angels wait to join us ,in ,thy praise forevermore4 ,you will roll up grades of trials2 ,you will cross the bridge of strife2 ,see that ,christ is your conductor ,on this lightning train of life2 ,always mindful of obstructions2 ,do your duty1 never fail2 ,keep your hand upon the throttle1 ,and your eye upon the rail4 ,you will often find obstructions2 ,look for storms of wind and rain2 ,on a fill1 or curve1 or trestle1 ,they will almost ditch your train2 ,put your trust alone in ,jesus2 ,never falter1 never fail2 ,keep your hand upon the throttle1 ,and your eye upon the rail4 ,as you roll across the trestle1 ,spanning ,jordan's swelling tide1 ,you behold the ,union ,depot ,into which your train will glide2 ,there you'll meet the ,superintendent1 ,god the ,father1 ,god the ,son ,with the hearty1 joyous plaudit1 ,weary pilgrim1 welcome home4 ,by permission of ,charlie ,d ,tillman1 owner of copyright4 ,,meet ,,me ,,there4 #a4 ,on the happy golden shore1 ,where the faithful part no more1 ,when the storms of life are o'er1 ,meet me there4 ,where the night dissolves away1 ,into pure and perfect day1 ,i am going home to stay1 ,meet me there4 ,,chorus3 ,meet me there1 ,meet me there1 ,where the tree of life is blooming ,meet me there4 ,when the storms of life are o'er1 ,on the happy golden shore1 ,where the faithful part no more1 ,meet me there4 #b4 ,here our fondest hopes are vain1 ,dearest links are rent in twain1 ,but in heav'n no throbs of pain1 ,meet me there4 ,by the river sparkling bright1 ,in the city of delight ,where our faith is lost in sight1 ,meet me there4 #c4 ,where the harps of angels ring1 ,and the blest forever sing1 ,in the palace of the king1 ,meet me there4 ,where in sweet communion blend1 ,heart with heart and friend with friend2 ,in a world that ne'er shall end1 ,meet me there4 ,words and music copyrighted by ,w4 ,j4 ,kirkpatrick1 ,philadelphia4 ,,god ,,bless ,,my ,,boy #a4 ,when shining stars their vigils keep1 ,and all the world is hushed in sleep1 ',tis then ,i breathe this pray'r so deep-- ,god bless my boy tonight4 ,,chorus3 ,god bless my boy1 my wandering boy1 ,and keep his honor bright2 ,may he come home--no longer roam-- ,god save my boy tonight4 #b4 ,i know not where his head may lie1 ,perchance beneath the open sky2 ,but this ,i ween1 ,god's watchful eye ,can see my boy tonight4 #c4 ,as pass the days1 the months and years1 ,with all the change1 the hopes and fears1 ,god make each step of duty clear1 ,and keep his honor bright4 #d4 ,and when at last his work is o'er1 ,and earthly toil shall be no more1 ,may angels guide him to the shore ,where there shall be no night4 ,,the ,,great ,,judgment ,,morning4 ,tune--,kathleen ,mavourneen4 ,one cold ,winter eve when the snow was fast falling ,in a small1 humble cottage a poor mother laid2 ,although racked with pain she lay there contented ,with ,christ as her ,friend and her peace with ,him made4 ,,chorus3 ,we shall all meet again on the great judgment morning1 ,the books will be opened1 the roll will be called2 ,how sad it will be if forever we're parted1 ,and shut out of heaven for not loving ,god6 ,that mother of yours has gone over death's river4 ,you promised you'd meet her as you knelt by her bed1 ,while the death sweat rolled from her and fell on the pillow2 ,her memory still speaketh1 although she is dead4 ,you remember the kiss and the last words she uttered1 ,the arms that embraced you are mouldering away2 ,as you stood by her grave and dropped tears on her coffin1 ,with a vow that you'd meet her1 you walked slowly away4 ,my brother1 my sister1 get ready to meet her1 ,the life that you now live is ebbing away1 ,but the life that's to come lasts forever and ever1 ,may we meet ne'er to part on that great judgment day6 ,,my ,,name ,,in ,,mother',s ,,prayer4 ',twas in the days of careless youth ,when life seemed fair and bright1 ,when ne'er a tear1 nor scarce a fear ,o'er cast my day or night4 ',twas in the quiet even tide1 ,i passed her kneeling there1 ,when just one word ,i tho't ,i heard ,my name1 my name in mother's prayer4 ,,chorus4 ,my name1 my name in mother's prayer1 ,my name in mother's prayer6 ,there is just one word ,i tho't ,i heard ,my name1 my name in mother's prayer4 ,i wandered on1 but heeded not ,god's oft repeated call1 ,to turn from sin and live for ,him1 ,and trust to ,him my all in all4 ,but when at last convinced of sin1 ,i sank in deep despair1 ,my soul awoke when memory spoke ,my name1 my name in mother's prayer4 ,that kneeling form1 those folded hands1 ,have vanished in the dust2 ,but still for me for years shall be ,the memory of her trust4 ,and when ,i cross dark ,jordan's tide1 ,i'll meet her over there2 ,i'll praise the ,lord1 and bless the word1 ,that word1 my name in mother's prayer6 ,,over ,,there4 ,come all ye scattered race1 ,and the ,savior's love embrace2 ,you may see ,his smiling face ,yet with care2 ,he is on the giving hand1 ,will you come at ,his command1 ,will you with the angels stand ,over there8 ,,chorus4 ,over there1 over there1 ,there's a land of pure delight ,over there1 ,we will lay our burdens down1 ,and at ,jesus' feet sit down1 ,and we'll wear a starry crown1 ,over there4 ,yes1 ,he went to ,calvary1 ,and they nailed ,him to the tree1 ,that poor sinners such as we1 ,he might spare2 ,from the bitter pangs of death1 ,he does with ,his dying breath1 ,seal an everlasting rest1 ,over there4 ,god has placed us on the field1 ,to the foe we will not yield1 ,on our tower we will stand1 ,by ,his care4 ,wave the ,christian's banner high1 ,hold it up until we die1 ,and go home to live with ,god1 ,over there4 ,,this ,,way4 ,our life is like a stormy sea1 ,swept by the gales of sin and grief1 ,while on the windward and the lee1 ,hangs heavy clouds of unbelief2 ,out o'er the deep a call we hear1 ,like harbor bell's inviting voice2 ,it tells the lost that hope is near1 ,and bids the trembling soul rejoice4 ,,chorus4 ,this way1 this way1 ,o heart oppressed1 ,so long by storm and tempest driven1 ,this way1 this way1 lo here is rest1 ,rings out the harbor bell of heaven4 ,o tempted one1 look up1 be strong2 ,the promise of the ,lord is sure1 ,that they shall sing the victor's song1 ,who faithful to the end endure2 ,god's ,holy ,spirit comes to thee1 ,of this abiding love to tell2 ,to blissful port1 o'er stormy sea1 ,calls heaven's inviting harbor bell4 ,,more ,,to ,,be ,,pitied ,,than ,,censured4 ,there's an old concert hall on the bowery ,where were assembled together one night ,a crowd of young fellows carousing1 ,to them life looked happy and bright4 ,at the very next table was seated ,a girl that had fallen to shame2 ,how the fellows they laughed at her downfall1 ,when they heard an old woman exclaim3 ,,chorus4 ,she's more to be pitied than censured1 ,she is more to be loved than despised2 ,she is only a poor girl who ventured ,on life's rugged path ill-advised4 ,don't scorn her with words fierce and bitter1 ,don't laugh at her shame and downfall1 ,just pause for a moment--consider1 ,that sin was the cause of it all4 ,there's an old-fashioned church 'round the corner1 ,where the neighbors all gathered one day1 ,to listen to words from the parson1 ,for a soul that had just passed away4 ',twas the same wayward girl from the bowery1 ,who a life of adventure had led2 ,did the parson then laugh at her downfall8 ,no1 he prayed and wept as he said3 ,,some ,,mother',s ,,child4 ,at home or away1 in the alley or street1 ,wherever ,i chance in this wide world to meet ,a girl that is thoughtless or a boy that is wild1 ,my heart echoes softly3 ,it is some mother's child4 ,,chorus4 ,some mother's child1 ,some mother's child1 ,my heart echoes softly3 ,it is some mother's child4 ,and when ,i see those o'er whom long years have rolled1 ,whose hearts have grown hardened1 whose spirits are cold2 ,be it woman all fallen1 or man all defiled1 ,a voice whispers sadly3 ,it is some mother's child4 ,no matter how far from right she hath strayed2 ,no matter what inroad dishonor hath made2 ,no matter what elements cankered the pearl2 ,though tarnished and sullied1 she is some mother's girl4 ,no matter how deep he is sunken in sin2 ,no matter how much he is shunned by his kin2 ,no matter how low is his standard of joy2 ,though guilty and loathsome2 he is some mother's boy4 ,that head hath been pillowed on tenderest breast2 ,that form hath been wept o'er1 those lips have been pressed2 ,that soul hath been prayed for in tones sweet and mild2 ,for her sake deal gently with some mother's child4 ,used by permission of ,charlie ,d4 ,tillman1 owner of copyright4 ,,just ,,tell ,,my ,,mother4 ',twas in a ,gospel ,mission1 in a distant western town1 ,the meeting there that night had just begun1 ,when in came a poor lost sinner who by sin had been cast down1 ,thinking perhaps that he might have some fun2 ,but as he heard of ,jesus' love1 of pardon full and free1 ,he sought it and the wanderer ceased to roam4 ,and going to his room that night1 his heart all filled with joy1 ,he wrote a letter to the folks at home4 ,,chorus4 ,just tell my dear old mother1 my wandering days are o'er1 ,just tell her that my sins are all forgiven1 ,just tell her that if on earth we chance to meet no more1 ,her prayers are answered and we'll meet in ,heaven4 ,his mother got the message as she lay at death's dark door1 ,which told her of her boy so far away1 ,how his sins were all forgiven and wandering days were o'er1 ,and that his feet were on the narrow way4 ,her heart was filled with gladness1 as it had not been for years1 ,her dear old face was all lit up with joy1 ,as on her dying pillow she said amid her tears1 ,god bless and keep my precious darling boy4 ,your mothers have prayed for you1 my friends1 for many and many a day1 ,perhaps these days of life will soon be o'er1 ,come1 give your hearts to ,jesus1 get on the narrow way1 ,and meet her on that happy golden shore4 ,oh1 come just now while still there's room1 and pardon free for all4 ,the ,savior pleads1 oh1 do not longer roam4 ,and then with ,jesus in your heart1 you will send the message ,to your dear mother1 praying still for you at home4 ,,soon ,,the ,,death-,,bell ,,will ,,toll4 ,when the last ,gospel message has been told in your ears1 ,and the last solemn warning has been given you in tears2 ,when hope shall escape from its place in your breast1 ,oh1 where will your poor weary soul find its rest8 ,,chorus4 ,soon the death-bell will toll--look after your soul2 ,o1 sinner be ready1 for the death-bell will toll4 ,when the darkness of death shall compass you round1 ,when the friends you have loved are all standing around2 ,unable to save you now from the tomb1 ,unable to alter your terrible doom4 ,when before the white throne of ,his ,judgment you stand1 ,what have you to answer8 the ,judge will demand2 ,oh1 terrible moment to be standing alone1 ,when mercy forever and forever is gone4 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,way4 ,the following beautiful lines were written by a girl in ,nova ,scotia1 an invalid for many years3 ,my life is a wearisome journey2 ,i'm sick of the dust and the heat2 ,the rays of the sun beat upon me1 ,the briars are wounding my feet4 ,but the city to which ,i am journeying ,will more than my trials repay2 ,all the toils of the road will seem nothing ,when ,i get to the end of the way4 ,there are so many hills to climb upward1 ,i often am longing for rest1 ,but ,he who appoints me the pathway ,knows what is needed and best4 ,i know in ,his word ,he has promised ,that my strength shall be as my day2 ,and the toils of the road will seem nothing ,when ,i get to the end of the way4 ,he loves me too well to forsake me1 ,or give me one trial too much2 ,all ,his people have been dearly purchased1 ,and ,satan can never claim such4 ,by and by ,i shall see ,him and praise ,him1 ,in the city of unending day2 ,and the toils of the road will seem nothing ,when ,i get to the end of the way4 ,when the last feeble steps have been taken1 ,and the gates of the city appear1 ,and the beautiful songs of the angels ,float out on my listening ear2 ,when all that now seems so mysterious ,will be plain and clear as the day-- ,yes1 the toils of the road will seem nothing ,when ,i get to the end of the way4 ,though now ,i am footsore and weary1 ,i shall rest when ,i'm safely at home2 ,i know ,i'll receive a glad welcome1 ,for the ,savior ,himself has said ,come4 ,so1 when ,i am weary in body1 ,and sinking in spirit ,i say1 ,all the toils of the road will seem nothing ,when ,i get to the end of the way4 ,cooling fountains are there for the thirsty1 ,there are cordials for those who are faint3 ,there are robes that are whiter and purer ,than any that fancy can paint4 ,then ,i'll try to press hopefully onward1 ,thinking often through each weary day1 ,the toils of the road will seem nothing ,when ,i get to the end of the way4 ,appendix4 ,the matter which ,i have here appended ,i thought of too much value to omit from this volume4 ,the first article is explanatory in itself4 ,the second is by a prisoner whom ,i have known for many years4 ,the third 7regarding ,christ in ,gethsemane7 was written by a prisoner as a letter to myself4 ,i hope the reader may profit by the reading of each page4 ,e4 ,r4 ,w4 ,,the ,,personnel ,,of ,,prison ,,management4 ,address of ,c4 ,e4 ,haddox1 warden of the ,west ,virginia penitentiary1 to the ,national ,prison ,association1 at its annual session1 ,louisville1 ,ky41 ,congress of #aijc3 ,this is the age of industrial development4 ,on every side we see colossal enterprises undertaken and prosecuted to a successful and profitable conclusion4 ,great railroad systems span the continent1 carrying millions of passengers and countless tons of freight1 with safety1 celerity and dispatch1 to the doors of factory1 workshop1 store and consumer4 ,immense industrial enterprises are constantly being projected1 consolidated and carried on in a manner to excite the admiration1 mayhap1 the wonder and fear of mankind4 ,colossal financial transactions amaze the minds of those uninitiated to the magnitude and the intricacies of such undertakings4 ,the unexplored recesses of the earth are exploited in a manner and on a scale heretofore undreamed of and unknown1 and every department of enterprise is carried on to a degree that distinctly stamps this decade as the acme of industrial enterprise and achievements1 the golden age of industrial prosperity1 and the acquirement of material improvement and material gain4 ,if it be asked why such strides have been made along industrial lines1 the answer is that it is due to ,,organization ,,and ,,specialization4 ,the ,,personnel of the management have devoted their lives1 their talent and their energies to the special work before them4 ,they have been drilled and educated along special lines2 they have been deaf and blind to outside matters not relevant to the work in hand1 and by close and careful study1 by unceasing and constant labor1 care and effort1 having evolved1 projected and carried on these immense enterprises4 ,the ,national ,prison ,congress at its meeting this year is mindful of the material progress of the country4 ,this association is equally ambitious along the lines peculiar to itself to obtain from the various penal institutions of the country the highest and best results morally1 educationally1 reformatively1 and as an incident1 punitively and financially4 ,how shall we keep pace in penal improvements with the great material progress of the outside world8 ,the answer necessarily must be1 that improvements in our department of work must come1 as they do elsewhere1 by the investigation1 the study1 the thought and the effort of those who are in actual control1 of those who are in a position to see1 to observe and to know4 ,in other words1 the question as to whether prisons are to improve1 whether their work shall continue to be of a higher and nobler character1 whether we are finally and forever to break away from the customs of the galleys of ,france1 the prisons of ,hawes in ,england1 of the ,mamertine of ,rome and of ,rothenburg in ,germany1 will depend utterly1 entirely and absolutely upon the personnel of the prison management of the country4 ,prof4 ,henderson1 in his admirable address delivered at the ,philadelphia meeting in #aijb1 on ,the ,social ,position of the ,prison ,warden1 says3 ,some institutions have no marked qualities2 they have walls1 cells1 machinery1 prisoners1 punishments1 but no distinct1 consistent and rational policy4 ,where this is true it means that the worst possible condition of affairs exists4 ,such an institution has the dry rot4 ,it is managed 7or rather mismanaged7 by time servers1 too careless to feel the high responsibility devolving upon them1 and too listless to acquaint themselves with the many opportunities spread before them to improve and keep pace with the onward march of progress4 ,such officers in their abuse1 by inaction1 of the opportunities afforded them1 commit ,crimes against criminals and through them against society4 ,on the contrary institutions which have distinct features and characteristics1 have them as the result of the careful investigation1 the patient research and thought of those who are in responsible and actual control1 and these characteristics and features reflect the wisdom and intelligence of those who have given their energies and their lives to the special work before them4 ,,the ,,board ,,of ,,directors4 ,in the management of penal institutions a ,board of ,directors or of ,control is1 ordinarily1 the nominal head4 ,by the laws of most states they are supposed to fix the administration policy1 to restrict and define the powers and duties of the officers in actual and intimate control4 ,in some institutions they meet a day or so each month1 in most institutions not so frequently4 ,their duties while at the institution may or may not be largely perfunctory1 and as they are generally active business men at home in other channels1 the day or two a month or quarter is apt to be regarded by the unthoughtful as a respite or surcease from other duties4 ,the main duty of a ,board of ,directors or of ,control may be said to be the determining of the general policy upon which the institution shall be conducted1 and a cursory oversight of the conduct of its affairs4 ,,the ,,warden4 ,the warden or superintendent is the one official who can give tone1 expression and color to the institution4 ,he is distinctly and positively its actual managing head1 and upon his intelligence1 interest1 zeal1 tact and discretion will depend1 almost entirely1 its weal or its woe4 ,he must be a man of intelligence1 and be willing and anxious to increase his fund of knowledge and information4 ,he should be a profound student not only of the ordinary subjects that attract the student1 but of prison systems1 of laws1 business1 government1 society as it exists1 and of human nature in all its many phases4 ,,he ,,must ,,be ,,an ,,organizer4 ,no difference how elaborate a system may be found in any institution of this kind1 the warden will always be an intensely busy and greatly occupied officer4 ,if he would prevent chaos and confusion and obtain from every official the highest and best work of which he is capable1 he must organize every department thoroughly4 ,every officer and every inmate must know his exact duties1 so far as it is possible to know them1 and be made responsible for those duties and the warden must be enabled to appreciate a high order of talent and the accomplishment of good work1 and to locate the blame for omissions and short comings1 and provide for their correction4 ,thorough system in every detail will conserve the capacities of all his subordinates and leave him in a measure free to observe the actual conditions and to plan and to put into effect improvements along moral1 industrial1 physical and financial lines4 ,,he ,,must ,,be ,a ,,financier4 ,the financial question in every prison in the land is an extremely important one4 ,funds for prisons are doled out grudgingly1 and the demand for absolutely necessary purposes is always far greater than the supply4 ,a warden performs no more important function than when he sees that the funds of the institution are so used as to effect the highest possible results1 and that all the forces of the prison are so energized and conserved as to permit1 under ordinary conditions1 a satisfactory and proper earning and economizing power4 ,with the many demands made upon him for means for increasing the usefulness of his institution1 a high order of financial aptitude is an absolutely necessary characteristic in a successful warden4 ,,discipline4 ,discipline in a prison is its first requisite4 ,nothing can be accomplished until officers and convicts are under its sway and control4 ,the warden who would have control of those under him must himself at all times1 be under self control4 ,the maxim ,no one knows how to command who has not first learned how to obey1 is a trite and a true one4 ,the population of a prison is made up of a heterogeneous collection of people whose first instincts have been and are1 not to obey4 ,to bring such people into habits of obedience and control requires the highest type of skill1 tact and discretion4 ,punishments and reward must be so blended and combined as to effect the needful results with the least possible friction1 and in the most humane and rational manner possible4 ,no warden can afford to delegate the matter of enforcing discipline entirely or partly1 if at all1 to another4 ,his first duty to himself1 that he may know actual conditions as they exist1 is to preside over or assist in1 the trial of offenders and to order discipline4 ,individual treatment is a necessity in our dealings with delinquents1 and a study of the many phases of delinquency is a prime requisite in a successful warden's repertoire4 ,brainard ,f4 ,smith says3 ,many a prisoner has been reformed--or1 if not reformed1 made a better prisoner--by punishment4 ,will the warden have any higher duty to perform than to face his delinquent delinquents and to order in merciful severity1 rational punishments for their short-comings8 ,but a warden's disciplinary powers are apt to be taxed more severely in another direction4 ,the great problem ordinarily1 is not so much the discipline of convicts as that of subordinate officers4 ,if subordinate officers will obey the spirit and the letter of the rules1 the convict has the potential influence of a powerful example to aid him4 ,like master like man4 ,in institutions where officers are appointed solely with reference to their fitness1 comparatively little trouble should be had in the matter of proper official discipline4 ,but where places are given to heelers1 ward-workers and political strikers1 the matter of efficient discipline is a question of grave concern to the warden4 ,in the absence of better material1 however1 he must address himself to organizing what he has to the highest efficiency possible1 and insist and require a rigid regimen and adhere to his demands and requirements with ,spartan firmness4 ,,the ,,prison ,,school4 ,the educational work of a prison is of the highest1 ,i may say1 of the first importance4 ,the education of the hands to work comes naturally1 partly as an incident of the necessary work carried on in prison4 ,nearly all convicts are densely ignorant4 ,the polished1 scholarly1 shrewd criminal of whom we hear so much1 and to whom the papers and books give so much prominence1 is the exception1 not the rule1 in prison4 ,if the prison is to have a reformatory feature1 it must come very largely through the school4 ,many prison schools are such only in name4 ,the work accomplished is very meager4 ,the results are very unsatisfactory4 ,to no part of prison work should a warden address himself with more ardor and determination than so to organize the prison school as to make it the great positive factor in dispelling ignorance and its attendant viciousness1 and in quickening and enlivening the moral sense in those whose moral judgment is exceedingly obtuse4 ,the course of study in a prison school is necessarily a very elementary one1 and unless followed by a supplementary course of reading and study1 will be of little permanent and practical benefit4 ,many prison libraries1 largely the result of indiscriminate and heterogeneous donations of all kinds of literature1 good1 bad and indifferent1 chiefly the latter1 are not in a position to be a positive force4 ,let the warden see that his library is so arranged1 classified and used as to be a source of information1 profit1 help and pleasure to the inmates1 and that a course of reading along rational lines is laid out1 encouraged1 and1 if possible1 adhered to1 in order that the preliminary school course may not have been in vain4 ,,courage ,,needed4 ,the warden must be a man of courage4 ,i do not refer to the kind of courage necessary to face a regiment of depraved and wicked men shorn of their power and their stimulus to do evil1 but that high moral courage necessary to clean the ,augean stables of abuses of customs1 to reverse policies of long standing that are nevertheless wrong in principle and in practice1 to fight against unjust1 improper and unwise legislative propositions concerning his institution2 the kind of courage that prompted the chaplain in ,chas4 ,reade's ,,never ,,too ,,late ,,to ,,mend1 to fight and destroy the iniquitous prison system of ,keeper ,hawes and his minions2 the courage that will keep to the fore-front a persistent opposition to prostituting penitentiaries into eleemosynary institutions and political cribs and feeding troughs for political strikers4 ,he must have the courage to weed out and eliminate useless barnacles in the shape of incompetent and worthless employes1 and substitute in their stead men of capacity1 character and intelligence1 who are in love with their work and believe in its dignity and usefulness2 the courage to face demagogues in their efforts to take from the prison its educative1 moral1 reformatory and economic force1 the right of the unfortunate inmates to learn the gospel of labor under right and just conditions4 ,,optimism ,,necessary4 ,the warden needs to be intensely optimistic4 ,he must have a reserve fund of enthusiasm4 ,he must believe profoundly in the high character of his office and educate others constantly to believe in it4 ,the ignorance of the great mass of the people as to the real function of penitentiaries and the methods by which they are carried on is amazing and mortifying to prison officials4 ,a part of the warden's mission is to acquaint the outside world with conditions as they exist inside1 and to inspire the interest and support of the general public in measures for bettering and improving prison conditions4 ,legislative bodies especially1 need to be brought into closer relations and the law makers made to realize their duty to the public and the convict in the enactment of wise1 proper and righteous legislation4 ,longfellow1 in his beautiful poem1 ,,the ,,building ,,of ,,the ,,ship1 tells why the master builder achieved success4 ,it was because ,his heart was in the work and the heart ,giveth grace to every art4 ,the warden's heart must be in his work4 ,his whole soul must be animated and permeated with an honest and sincere desire to bring penology up to a higher and nobler standard4 ,he must have a reserve force of enthusiasm that will not be daunted and destroyed by temporary failures or the lapses of some discharged or pardoned convicts1 who1 in spite of care and pains1 will return to their evil ways4 ,the enthusiasm that can bear the harsh and ignorant criticism and misrepresentations incident to his work2 the enthusiasm that in its contagion will inoculate directors1 subordinate officers1 the press and the people with a desire for more light on penal problems and a purpose to be governed by that light2 the enthusiasm that will beget great patience for the exacting1 difficult and trying problems before him2 that will make him believe that a convict saved is a man made2 that will make him believe with the great ,english novelist ,it is never too late to mend1 and that as infinite care and pains finally brought ,robinson1 the twice convicted thief1 up to the estate of honest manhood1 so1 infinite care and pains should be exerted with every man under his charge4 ,pessimism has no rightful place in a penitentiary4 ,in the language of ,socrates1 ,why should we who are never angry at an ill-conditioned body1 always be angry with an ill-conditioned soul8 ,the ignorant ,hawes believed in the profitless crank1 the black-hole1 the deprivation of food1 of bed1 of clothing1 the tortures of the waist jacket and the collar1 and a sign over the door1 ,,abandon ,,hope ,,all ,,ye ,,who ,,enter ,,here4 ,the twentieth century warden believes in the gospel of productive labor1 of education of hand1 head and heart1 in the deprivation of privileges1 largely as punishment1 the segregation of the desperate and nearly hopeless1 the enlightenment of an all-powerful1 all potential1 all influential example and the motto of ,pope ,clement1 ,it is of little advantage to restrain criminals by punishment unless you reform them with training and teaching4 ,,the ,,chaplain4 ,the chaplain occupies an extremely important but delicate position in prison management4 ,it is possible for him to be of vast influence and power for good4 ,the chaplain needs to be a man of large heart1 aided by an abundance of sound common sense4 ,he needs to bear in mind constantly1 in the difficult and delicate work he is called upon to perform1 that the discipline of the prison must be upheld and enforced4 ,associate officers are frequently disturbed with the fear that the chaplain's influence will subvert the discipline of the prison2 that the shrewd1 unprincipled convicts by pouring into his ears their imaginary tales of woe1 may succeed in working him4 ,the chaplain's first requirement1 if he would succeed1 is not to lose sight of the majesty of the law and of the prison rules4 ,the chaplain and the warden should go hand in hand1 the one sustaining the other4 ,they need to have a perfect understanding1 neither mistrusting the other4 ,frequent conferences ought to enable them to proceed along proper lines4 ,the chaplain's opportunities are limitless4 ,i do not undertake to say what direction his duties shall take him4 ,that will be discussed fully in the ,chaplain's ,association4 ,it is personal1 individual work that counts in a prison4 ,all the chaplain's work should be thought out beforehand1 be methodical1 premeditated1 intentional1 systematic and thorough4 ,his chapel service should be rational1 of the proper length1 with exercises1 song service and preaching service carefully chosen4 ,there should be no room in a prison service for the spectacular1 the highly emotional and the haphazard sermons and addresses of a chance visitor4 ,a reasonably rigid censorship ought to be exercised over the contributions of outsiders to the chapel service4 ,the influence of sight seers and idle visitors to prisons1 always bad1 reaches the acme of its perniciousness in the chapel service1 if unrestrained and unguided by prison officials of experience and firmness1 who alone are in a position to know that sickly sentimentality is the worst possible pabulum to offer men already too eager to justify their evil deeds4 ,,the ,,physician4 ,a physician's duties in a prison are necessarily onerous1 important and difficult4 ,convicts are constantly claiming that they are unable physically to do the work assigned them4 ,no one can determine the truthfulness of their statements except the physician1 and to determine whether the convict is really ill or exercising his usual finesse to shirk his duties1 requires keen judgment of human nature as well as an accurate knowledge of his profession4 ,the convict1 housed and hemmed in1 is peculiarly susceptible to hallucinations and to thinking that he is afflicted with imaginary ills4 ,a physician needs a large fund of good judgment1 will-power and common sense to combat successfully with this class of people4 ,how far he should use some of the subterfuges supposed to be employed by physicians in the outside world in dealing with people afflicted with hypochondria1 ,i am unable to say1 but a certain amount of cheerfulness coupled with firmness is undoubtedly of great value4 ,,subordinate ,,officers4 ,the subordinate officers of a prison are very important factors in the management of a prison4 ,they come in actual1 continual1 personal contact with the men4 ,no difference how capable and zealous may be the warden and his deputy1 unless they have men of character1 zeal1 intelligence and discretion to carry out their orders and wishes faithfully and well1 all their plans will come to naught4 ,guards1 keepers and watchmen should be of good moral character4 ,it is useless to talk about reforming convicts unless they have continually the benefit of good examples set before them4 ,precept amounts to nothing unless re-enforced by good examples4 ,they should be educated and intelligent4 ,their duties are largely discretionary1 and in their contact with convicts a high order of intelligence is necessary to know the right thing to do4 ,strict integrity and truthfulness are prime requisites4 ,an officer's word should be beyond question and he should be absolutely impartial in his dealings with his men4 ,no special system will bring the highest results with any kind of men behind it4 ,any system with men of character1 conscience and capacity will achieve great good4 ,any system with men of bad character1 ignorant1 careless and indifferent1 will fall to the ground4 ,a common impression prevails that any one is good enough for a prison guard1 and if he is too old1 too feeble and decrepit or too lazy for other work1 his political strikers will try to unload him on the penitentiary authorities4 ,prison ,directors1 ,wardens and all in authority should set their faces resolutely against this erroneous and terribly harmful idea4 ,partisan politics should not be a factor in the appointment or the retention of any prison officer4 ,all subordinates should be appointed under civil service rules and be required to pass a civil service examination1 and after entering upon his duties be required to take up a course of study on penological questions and problems and be otherwise carefully schooled and drilled along the lines of their work4 ,if time demonstrates their unfitness for the position they should be summarily removed4 ,if they manifest an aptitude and an interest in their work they should be encouraged1 promoted and protected against removal for partisan reasons4 ,whenever directors in banks are elected with reference to their political proclivities and not with reference to their business sagacity1 it will be proper to select prison officials for the same reason4 ,whenever great business firms discharge their managers because their political views do not coincide with those of the owners1 then and not till then should prison officials step down and out for political reasons4 ,what would be thought of directors of a business enterprise or the regents of a university who selected their business manager1 their teachers1 with regard to their views on finance or on the tariff1 or who would remove a faithful1 efficient and capable servant after years of experience in his work1 merely because he did not coincide with the political views of the majority of his directors in a matter in no way germane to his work8 ,as ,boards of ,directors spend but a small percentage of their time at the institutions they control1 it necessarily takes them years to get a clear insight into all the details of its work1 and to make a change just when1 through the process of time1 the director becomes fitted for his work1 is the height of unwisdom and folly4 ,boards of ,charity and ,correction having charge of all the institutions in the ,state would certainly be much more desirable4 ,such officers could devote their entire time and attention to the work1 and thus be able to give all the institutions of the ,state uniform treatment and attention4 ,boards of ,directors or of ,control should be appointed and reappointed as long as they are efficient and manifest an interest in the work4 ,and so with all other officers from the warden down1 and each should feel and know that faithfulness and efficiency is the only standard1 and that they would not be expected1 required or permitted to weaken their influence or their energies by undue or active participations in political effort or political manipulations4 ,the surest sign of unfitness for prison work and lack of interest in the work is an undue activity in political caucuses and conventions4 ,the official practically advertises that he cannot hope to hold his place on account of his efficiency1 but expects to do so because of his services as a political henchman4 ,,the ,,demands ,,of ,,the ,,age4 ,as this age demands a high order of talent and effort in the industrial1 so it should demand and require great ability and power in the penal world4 ,the third of a century of the life of the ,national ,prison ,congress has witnessed great progress in the domain over which it has advisory power4 ,many problems pressing for solution demand the highest functions of those in control4 ,do punishments deter men from crime8 ,do the universal customs of the times foster and beget much of the crime committed8 ,does war beget murder elsewhere8 ,is social vengeance a failure1 and are other means necessary to prevent crime8 ,should not executives now clothed with power to terminate or shorten sentences of imprisonment also have power to lengthen terms of imprisonment or to change from a definite to an indefinite term whenever they become in possession of facts regarding the convict's previous life or present character1 which were unknown to the sentencing judge8 ,should not ,united ,states prisoners incarcerated in the various state prisons have the restrictions of the indeterminate sentence and the parole1 thus securing a uniform system of treatment for all prisoners and greatly promoting the discipline8 ,should we go back of the commission of crimes and ascertain if the ,state itself is not committing a crime in imposing and permitting conditions that beget crime8 ,should not the pardoning power be exercised frequently before the convicted man ever reaches the prison at all8 ,could not many a man be saved by being put on probation from the start1 who otherwise would be in great danger of being lost8 ,does the discipline of prisons have anything to do with the commission of offenses by convicts when released8 ,does the enforced restraint exerted to the very last moment of his release and then wholly relaxed1 cause the released convict to swing to the other extreme like ,jean ,valjean1 who after nineteen years of imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread and an attempt to escape1 robbed his benefactor1 the ,bishop1 of his plate1 and upon being forgiven robbed little ,gervais of his forty sou piece1 but afterward got his bearings1 attained his balance and lived an honorable life8 ,should any prisoner ever be released at the prison door1 or should he not for his own sake as well as society's be required to live a period on probation and under oversight1 subject to return for violations2 in other words1 should not paroles be1 under proper restrictions1 the universal and only rule8 ,to the solution of these and countless other problems let the highest order of talent1 the best combination of head1 heart and brain be summoned3 let every prison be a school for study and investigation1 and be engineered and controlled by men of skill1 drilled and educated along these lines1 and who are animated by a desire to contribute their full share towards the upbuilding and uplifting of the race and the amelioration of the woes that beset mankind4 ,,meditations ,,of ,a ,,prisoner4 ,,preface4 ,to any one who may read these lines ,i will say3 ,do not criticise2 ,i know you will find many mistakes1 but ,i hope you will remember they are written by one who has not had the advantage of an education4 ,my school days ended when ,i was nine years old4 ,knowing this1 ,i hope you will excuse mistakes4 ,respectfully yours1 ,e4 ,s4 ,k4 ,i often wonder if the busy world ever gives a thought to the men incarcerated in places made for the punishment of crime and reformation of criminals1 but often failing of reaching the desired result4 ,why is this failure8 ,it must be from defect in the law or prison discipline4 ,some think perhaps the rigid enforcement of the law in its severest way is right1 and that the prisoner should be shown no mercy4 ,but this is wrong in every detail and should be just the reverse1 so far as consistent with good order and discipline4 ,a judge in sentencing a prisoner should give a sentence consistent with justice and mercy1 regardless of public sentiment1 considering his own judgment1 and not the possible consequences of his act on his future4 ,until this is more generally practiced1 ,i am afraid there will be many too severe sentences passed on minor criminals and first offenders1 as now1 which will work to the injury of the convicted instead of his reformation4 ,in my humble opinion1 one year would give the lesson desired to many a novice in crime who is now serving from three to ten years4 ,it should be remembered that short sentences give a novice in crime a wholesome dread of the law and fear of prison life1 while custom and association with criminals tend to harden4 ,the cases of old offenders1 require more severity as regards time of confinement4 ,nor can we say to the jurors--or1 rather1 gentlemen of the jury--be very careful of what you do4 ,don't treat the trust you have in charge too lightly2 give it all the consideration you are masters of4 ,remember you have the liberty1 and1 perhaps the life1 of your fellowman at stake4 ,be very careful of what you do4 ,allow no personal motive to interfere with your duty1 for1 if we believe in the ,bible1 those who do so will answer in the hereafter for actions in this life4 ,beware1 then1 of how you mete out justice to your fellowman4 ,do unto others as you would have others do unto you4 ,weigh well the evidence given against the prisoner4 ,if you find that there is a motive on the part of the witnesses to convict the prisoner being tried1 you may rest assured they will trifle with the truth4 ,in such cases a juror should try and put himself in the defendant's place and try to assume his feelings and condition1 as much as possible1 and see how he would act in a like case4 ,if all jurors would do this1 ,i think they would give a just and true verdict in nearly all cases4 ,but ,i fear as things are now they let the press have too much weight with the rendering of a just verdict1 and it may be of what their friends will say to them if they have a different opinion4 ,yet the man who does such a thing is a coward1 a devil incarnate1 and unfit to be at large4 ,such action may be the cause of making a criminal out of a so far really honest man4 ,may ,god forgive them who recklessly tamper with the liberty of their fellowman4 ,some may think ,i am not for punishment of crime4 ,if so1 they are wrong4 ,i believe in punishment of crime4 ,but ,i believe in tempering justice with mercy4 ,there should be no lingering doubt in a person's mind when he gives his verdict against the prisoner4 ,it is a very easy thing to place a man in prison1 but oh6 so hard to get him out4 ,a lie sworn to and believed is one of the hardest things in the world to get righted4 ,and ,i know from personal experience what it is4 ,though it seems hard to say a lie is more readily believed against a person charged with a crime than the truth1 yet it seems easier to a great many to believe bad rather than good of their neighbor4 ,yet1 thank ,god1 it is not so with all4 ,we have many noble and true ,christians yet in this vale of tears--gentlemen and ladies who practice what they say by many kindly acts to the poor1 unhappy men who are unfortunate enough to get behind prison bars4 ,god bless them for such acts4 ,it does not hurt them1 and gives to the unhappy prisoner a little happiness--a ray of sunshine through the clouds that surround him4 ,continue your noble work4 ,you will be the gainer in the end1 from the knowledge that you have done in the ,lord's work1 if in no other way4 ,oh1 could you see the happiness beam from the eyes of some of those here1 after the call of some who take friendly interest in them1 you would know the good they are doing4 ,others seem to say3 ,oh1 well1 ,i am forgotten by all4 ,poor heart2 what a sad lot4 ,it would seem the sooner that death ended their misery the better4 ,but while there is life there is hope4 ,i must say that many ladies of ,c---- are very kind in giving up their own pleasures on ,sundays that prisoners in this prison may have some little change in their life4 ,the visiting chaplains always bring a choir with them1 and to them we give our heartfelt thanks1 with a ,god bless you4 ,i love to read of the progress made in these penal institutions where reform is practiced4 ,i am sure the prisoners must take an interest in it all1 for it is all for their own good4 ,the ,stillwater prison and ,elmira prison must be models of neatness and good order1 with a perfect system of discipline4 ,it would be well for all prisons to copy them4 ,if prisons are supposed to be erected for the purpose of reformation1 why not make them in reality what they are intended to be8 ,of course1 there are many different kinds of crime committed by men of different temperaments1 all of which are thoroughly understood1 or as nearly as possible4 ,for example1 take the greatest crime committed in the eyes of the law--murder--which is often called murder when there is no ground for it4 ,the public outcry when one man is unfortunate enough to take the life of another at a time when he may have every reason to believe his own life is in the greatest danger4 ,the cry is raised by some one1 possibly an eye-witness--,murder6 ,it is taken up by the press and conveyed to every one1 and possibly a slight coloring given to it4 ,the people believe it all4 ,the consequence is the public mind is prejudiced against the prisoner1 and it takes a great amount of proof by the defendant to change that belief1 and should he not be able to produce this evidence1 in spite of all he can say he is convicted of the crime of murder1 when in reality he is guilty of manslaughter1 if anything4 ,for1 no matter how truthful a man he may be known to be1 his word1 unsustained by evidence1 is not accepted2 while1 on the other side1 no matter how untruthful a witness be known to be1 he is given credit for the truth4 ,what kind of a state of affairs is this8 ,no wonder we often hear the cry go up from some poor wounded or crushed heart saying3 ,o1 ,god1 is there no mercy left in man8 ,is humanity wholly dead8 ,must death overtake me here8 ,shunned ,i am by all whom ,i once called friends--wife1 children1 it may be a brother--but never by a mother1 ,god bless her4 ,let us take a look at this class of sufferers4 ,what will we find them8 ,idle8 ,no4 ,they are as a rule men attending to their work and submitting to all the courtesies of life1 only asking the same in return4 ,surely1 such cannot be very bad men1 who1 hearing the cry of distress1 respond at once to the appeal4 ,i know some such to have a heart as tender as a woman4 ,yet you will shut them up1 it may be forever4 ,don't understand me to say that murder is not committed4 ,of course it is1 and the law should deal with it accordingly4 ,all true men regret the taking of human life1 even on the field of battle4 ,how much more so under other circumstances8 ,and the causes are many which make men do this2 some of them hard to understand1 may be4 ,in many cases of this kind they deserve punishment and should be punished4 ,but1 for ,god's sake1 let the punishment be consistent with justice and mercy4 ,if ten years is not sufficient punishment to make man control himself in future1 why not be merciful and kill him at once8 ,for as we hope for mercy1 so must we show it to others4 ,all other crimes should be dealt with accordingly4 ,give a man a chance to reclaim himself4 ,should he return to a life of crime in preference to an honest one1 the law has its remedy and can act accordingly4 ,this is well worth a trial1 and by all means should be given one4 ,but ,i hear some one who never gave these things a thought say3 ,how is this to be done8 ,i will answer1 ,very easily1 if it receive the support of our legislative body1 by the recommendation of the state governor4 ,provide your prisons with workshops of different kinds--provide them with schools1 and teach the prisoners how to make a living by some useful trade4 ,give them a chance to improve themselves by an education4 ,make the prison a place of reformation1 one of improvement as well as punishment1 and instead of increasing crime you will reduce it1 which should be the aim of all having the good of their fellowman at heart1 and society will be the gainer4 ,i would give a prisoner who would show by his conduct a spirit of reform a parole after half of his time1 with conditions attached1 as is done in the ,minnesota state prison1 so that1 should he fall back into his old way of living1 he would be returned to prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence4 ,by this means you to all intents and purposes hold a power over him1 and he will be very careful as to what he is about4 ,this habit in time will grow upon him and be the cause of making him a good citizen and trustworthy member of society4 ,to men serving life sentences ,i would1 on the recommendation of the prison warden1 give a parole after manslaughter sentence has been served4 ,this is a class of men that deserve some looking after by the kindly interest of humane persons4 ,give them hope and encouragement4 ,do not leave them to their own morbid thoughts2 you cannot tell what drove them to an act they will regret1 whether in or out of prison4 ,if hasty once1 it is no reason to suppose they will be so again4 ,why not1 then1 look after them8 ,let some of you ,christian people talk with them1 and if you find they ought to be assisted1 help them4 ,you know not what good you may do1 and without such aid a poor and friendless man in prison is without hope4 ,will you1 as ,christians1 let him die believing the word ,christianity a mockery8 ,god forbid4 ,i know there are many good ,christians that feel and mean what they say4 ,but ,i am afraid that many of the less courageous are deterred from doing all they would like to do by the sneers of the hard1 cruel world4 ,but this should only spur you on4 ,if you feel you are right1 push on2 do not stop half way4 ,in connection with the parole law we should have our prisoners graded as first1 second and third class1 giving to the second grade or class advantages above the third1 and to the first above the second1 giving them a motive to reform their ways while yet in prison1 and their partial liberty from the first class by parole4 ,by this means you instill into the prisoner a habit for good which in time will take root and prove a blessing1 not only to the prisoner1 but also a source of pleasure to those bringing it about4 ,it must be expected that some will fall again2 but why should the many suffer for the few8 ,i have heard and read such sayings as this3 ,the worst men are the best behaved while in prison if there is anything to be gained by it4 ,i dispute this4 ,no man can control or hide his real nature for any great length of time4 ,nature is bound to come to the surface sooner or later4 ,the officers and guards of a prison should be men strict in the enforcement of the prison rules1 humane and just in all their actions1 men who by their own actions and deportment will gain and hold the respect of those under their charge4 ,they should reward the good as well as punish the evil in men4 ,it would1 in my humble opinion1 be nothing but true justice to the prisoner to put the whole power of pardoning1 commuting and paroling prisoners in the hands of the governor4 ,i do not say a judge will not give justice where clemency is asked4 ,but it may be the case that a judge on the board of pardons has sentenced the prisoner1 and probably in some way became prejudiced against the applicant1 and it might be the cause of influencing his vote2 consequently1 it would look like a piece of injustice to the prisoner to allow that judge to sit on his case4 ,i think it would be well for a governor to make himself perfectly acquainted with all pertaining to the mode of life of the prisoners1 as much as possible4 ,it ought to be remembered that when the prison doors close on a man your duty is only half done to yourself1 the prisoner and society at large4 ,he needs looking after mentally1 morally and physically4 ,do not leave him to his own morbid thoughts1 but help him to forget his surroundings as much as possible4 ,give him hope1 for without hope we are lost to ourselves and the world4 ,it is possible some will say they ought to be2 but it must be a very heartless person who makes this remark4 ,remember1 while you are walking about to-day1 feeling self-conscious of your own strength to resist any and everything in the line of temptation1 the time may come when you will lose control of yourself2 or1 it may be1 some one dear to you will fall4 ,in such cases1 how many excuses you can find for yourself or him4 ,can you find none for those now suffering for the same8 ,i feel impelled by some power to speak of those very people in a few lines4 ,perhaps it may catch their eye4 ,why will you follow one to prison with hate1 malice and persecution1 one who would not harm a single hair of your head1 one who never had or has a single bitter thought against you1 one that nightly asks ,god's protection to you and yours8 ,and yet you persecute him1 or it may be them1 with all the might you can4 ,is it not enough that he has lost home1 friends1 wife1 children and happiness at one false move8 ,is it not enough that he is condemned to a living death1 hearing every hour of the day the clang of the iron bars that shut him out from the world1 that separate him from all he loves8 ,i say to you1 is this not enough to satisfy the most bitter feelings of any avowed enemy8 ,it ought to be4 ,yes1 this ought to satisfy you without trying to obliterate the memory of the father from the child's heart and without denying him the privilege of communicating with them2 without denying him the pleasure of doing something for them and of one day seeing them1 which is all he has left to live for4 ,to all to whom these lines refer1 who read them1 ,i will say1 change all this4 ,ask ,god's help to give you strength to do right4 ,in time you will feel a restful peace come to you1 and it will make you content1 if not happy4 ,try this1 and may ,god in his mercy show you the way4 ,and to all prisoners who may be suffering from the persecution of injustice by others1 ,i will say the same4 ,say with all your heart3 ,god forgive them1 they know not what they do4 ,and you will always find a comfort in helping one another4 ,for as we hope to be forgiven1 so must we forgive4 ,what use in saying the ,lord's prayer--,forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us8 ,we must consider well the meaning of those lines1 and if we cannot or do not comply with all they mean it is better for us not to use them4 ,i thank ,god from my heart1 ,i can say ,i forgive all my enemies4 ,i have nothing but a kindly feeling for all mankind4 ,i do not mean to say that ,i am not ruffled at times1 for ,i am2 ,i would not be human if ,i were not4 ,there is one class of men who come to prison that should command the attention of our lawmakers--namely1 married men4 ,not on their own account1 for they should pay the penalty of the law as well as another1 but on account of their families4 ,it must be remembered that when you take away the father and supporter of a family you leave them without the means of support2 and if the mother happens to be a sick and weakly person1 what is to become of them8 ,to be sure1 we have the orphans' home and the alms-house1 but this is only taxing more heavily the already over-burdened taxpayers of the country4 ,then it would be a commendable act of the legislative bodies to enact laws to provide for the improvement of such married men and give the earnings of their labor to their families4 ,this1 to me1 looks reasonable and just1 and easy of accomplishment1 and should be acted upon by all means4 ,let me draw you a picture from my imagination3 ,we will visit a family who are in easy circumstances these cold nights4 ,what do we see8 ,well-clad and well-fed children1 a happy1 contented look rests upon the wife's and husband's faces4 ,why should it not be so8 ,they have plenty to eat and wear2 a full bin of coal4 ,again1 visit one where the husband may be languishing behind the prison bars1 but of the same class4 ,it is not so cheerful1 but still no want is felt1 and the father and husband1 although chafing at confinement1 feels that his family is not in want4 ,this1 of course1 will be a consolation to him4 ,now let us visit another house1 where they have always lived from hand to mouth4 ,the father is gone4 ,the mother and children1 poor souls1 ill-clad1 ill-fed1 and1 my ,god1 it may be1 no fire4 ,what a picture to contemplate4 ,it makes me shudder to think of it4 ,now come with me behind the prison bars and see the head of this family4 ,knowing the want and needs of his family1 and knowing how impossible it is for him to alleviate their suffering1 it is enough to drive a man insane4 ,but1 on the other hand1 if this man could earn something for his family's support1 it would relieve his mind of a heavy burden4 ,think well of this1 and in the name of ,god change the law that certainly works contrary to what it was intended for4 ,as it now stands1 you simply provide punishment for the criminals4 ,in so doing you cause untold suffering and shame to innocent ones4 ,in ,god's name1 let it cease to be so4 ,now1 then1 for fear ,i may tire the reader1 ,i will close4 ,very respectfully1 ,e4 ,,christ ,,in ,,gethsemane4 ---- ,state ,prison4 ,january #ah1 #ahhf4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,r4 ,wheaton1 ,prison ,evangelist4 ,my ,dearest ,sister3-- ,what might a single mind may wield1 ,with ,truth for sword and ,faith for shield1 ,and ,hope to lead the way3 ,thus all high triumphs are obtained1 ,from evil good--as ,god ordained ,the night before the day6 ,and being in an agony1 ,he prayed4--,st4 ,luke #bb3dd4 ,when the last supper was over1 and the last hymn had been sung1 our ,lord and ,his ,apostles--with the one traitor fatally absent from their number--went out of the city gate1 and down the steep valley of the ,kidron to the green slope of ,olivet beyond it4 ,solemn and sad was that last walk together2 and a weight of mysterious awe sank like lead upon the hearts of those few poor ,galileans as in almost unbroken silence1--through the deep hush of the ,oriental night1--through the dark shadows of the ancient olive-trees1--through the broken gleams of the ,paschal moonlight1--they followed ,him1 their ,lord and ,master1 who1 with bowed head and sorrowing heart1 walked before them to ,his willing doom4 ,that night they did not return as usual to ,bethany1 but stopped at the little familiar garden of ,gethsemane1 or the oilpress4 ,jesus knew that the hour of ,his uttermost humiliation was near1--that from this moment till the utterance of that great cry which broke ,his heart1 nothing remained for ,him on earth1 save all that the human frame can tolerate of torturing pain1 and all that the human soul can bear of poignant anguish--till in that torment of body and desolation of soul1 even the high and radiant serenity of ,his divine spirit should suffer a short but terrible eclipse4 ,one thing alone remained before that short hour began2 a short space was left ,him1 and in that space ,he had to brace ,his body1 to nerve ,his soul1 to calm ,his spirit by prayer and solitude1 until all that is evil in the power of evil should wreak its worst upon ,his innocent and holy head4 ,and ,he had to face that hour1--to win that victory1--as all the darkest hours must be faced1 as all the hardest victories must be won--alone4 ,it was not that ,he was above the need of sympathy1--no noble soul is2--and perhaps the noblest need it most4 ,though ,his friends did but sleep1 while the traitor toiled1 yet it helped ,him in ,his hour of darkness to feel at least that they were near and that those were nearest who loved ,him most4 ,stay here1 ,he said to the little group1 while ,i go yonder and pray4 ,leaving them to sleep1 each wrapped in his outer garment on the grass1 ,he took ,peter and ,james and ,john1 the chosen of the chosen1 and went about a stone's-throw off4 ,but soon even their presence was more than ,he could endure4 ,a grief beyond utterance1 a struggle beyond endurance1 a horror of great darkness1 overmastered ,him1 as with the sinking swoon of an anticipated death4 ,he must be yet more alone1 and alone with ,god4 ,reluctantly ,he tore ,himself away from their sustaining tenderness1 and amid the dark-brown trunks of those gnarled trees withdrew from the moonlight into the deeper shade1 where solitude might be for ,him the audience-chamber of ,his ,heavenly ,father4 ,and there1 till slumber overpowered them1 ,his three beloved ,apostles were conscious how dreadful was the paroxysm through which ,he passed4 ,they saw ,him sometimes with head bowed upon ,his knees1 sometimes lying on ,his face in prostrate suffering upon the ground4 ,and though amazement and sore distress fell on them1--though the whole place seemed to be haunted by ,presences of good and evil struggling in mighty but silent contest for the eternal victory1--yet1 before they sank under the oppression of troubled slumber1 they knew that they had been the dim witnesses of an unutterable agony1 in which the drops of anguish which dropped from ,his brow in that deathful struggle looked to them like gouts of blood1 and yet the burden of those broken murmurs in which ,he pleaded with ,his ,heavenly ,father had been ever this1 ,if it be possible1--yet not what ,i will1 but what ,thou wilt4 ,what is the meaning1 my beloved sister1 of this scene for us8 ,what was the cause of this midnight hour8 ,do you think that it was the fear of death1 and that that was sufficient to shake to its utmost center the pure and innocent soul of the ,son of ,man8 ,could not even a child see how inconsistent such a fear would be with all that followed2--with that heroic fortitude which fifteen consecutive hours of sleepless agony could not disturb2--with that majestic silence which overawed even the hard ,roman into respect and fear2--with that sovereign ascendency of soul which flung open the golden gate of ,paradise to the repentant malefactor1 and breathed its compassionate forgiveness on the apostate priest8 ,could ,he have been afraid of death1 in whose name1 and in whose strength1 and for whose sake alone1 trembling old men1 and feeble maidens1 and timid boys have faced it in its worst form without a shudder or a sigh8 ,my friend1 the dread of the mere act of dying is a cowardice so abject that the meanest passions of the mind can master it1 and many a coarse criminal has advanced to meet his end with unflinching confidence and steady step4 ,and ,jesus knew1 if any have ever known1 that it is as natural to die as to be born1--that it is the great birthright of all who love ,god2--that it is ,god who giveth ,his beloved sleep4 ,the sting of death--and its only sting--is sin2 the victory of the grave--and its only victory--is corruption4 ,and ,jesus knew no sin1 saw no corruption4 ,no1 that which stained ,his forehead with crimson drops was something far deadlier than death4 ,though sinless ,he was suffering for sin4 ,the burden and the mystery of man's strange and revolting wickedness lay heavy on ,his soul2 and with holy lips ,he was draining the bitter cup into which sin had infused its deadliest poison4 ,could perfect innocence endure without a shudder all that is detestable in human ingratitude and human rage8 ,should there be no recoil of horror in the bosom of perfect love to see ,his own1--for whom he came1--absorbed in one insane repulsion against infinite purity and tenderness and peace8 ,it was a willing agony1 but it was agony2 it was endured for our sakes2 the ,son of ,god suffered that ,he might through suffering become perfect in infinite sympathy as a ,savior strong to save4 ,and on all the full mysterious meaning of that agony and bloody sweat it would be impossible now to dwell1 but may we not for a short time dwell with profit--may not every one whose heart--being free from the fever of passion1 and unfretted by the pettiness of pride--is calm and meek and reverent enough to listen to the messages of ,god1 even be they spoken by the feeblest of human lips1--may we not all1 ,i say1 learn something from this fragment of that thrilling story that--being in an agony1 ,he prayed8 ,the chosen three1 on mountain height1 ,while ,jesus bowed in prayer1 ,beheld ,his vesture glow with light1 ,his face shine wondrous fair4 ,to every one of us1 ,i suppose1 sooner or later the ,gethsemane of life must come4 ,it may be the ,gethsemane of struggle1 and poverty and care2--it may be the ,gethsemane of long and weary sickness2--it may be the ,gethsemane of farewells that wring the heart by the deathbeds of those we love2--it may be the ,gethsemane of remorse1 and of well-nigh despair1 for sins that we will not--but which we say we cannot--overcome4 ,well1 my dearest sister1 in that ,gethsemane--aye1 even in that ,gethsemane of sin--no angel merely1--but ,christ ,himself who bore the burden of our sins1--will1 if we seek ,him1 come to comfort us4 ,he will1 if being in agony1 we pray4 ,he can be touched1 ,he is touched1 with the feeling of our infirmities4 ,he1 too1 has trodden the winepress of agony alone2 ,he1 too1 has lain face downwards in the night upon the ground2 and the comfort which then came to ,him ,he has bequeathed to us--even the comfort1 the help1 the peace1 the recovery1 the light1 the hope1 the faith1 the sustaining arm1 the healing anodyne of prayer4 ,it is indeed a natural comfort--and one to which the ,christian at least flies instinctively4 ,when the water-floods drown us1--when all ,god's waves and storms seem to be beating over our souls1--when ,calamity comes like a deluge1 and o'erfloods our crimes till sin is hidden in sorrow--oh1 then1 if we have not wholly quenched all spiritual life within us1 what can we do but fling ourselves at the foot of those great altar stairs that slope through darkness to ,god8 ,yes1 being in an agony1 we pray2 and the talisman against every agony is there4 ,and herein lies the great mercy and love of ,god1 that we may go to ,him in our agony even if we have never gone before4 ,oh1 if prayer were possible only for the always good and always true1 possible only for those who have never forsaken or forgotten ,god1--if it were not possible for sinners and penitents and those who have gone astray1--then of how infinitely less significance would it be for sinful and fallen man6 ,but our ,god is a ,god of ,love1 a ,god of ,mercy4 ,he is very good to us4 ,the soul may come bitter and disappointed1 with nothing left to offer ,him but the dregs of a misspent life2--the soul may come1 like that sad ,prodigal1 weary and broken1 and shivering1 and in rags2 but if it only come--the merciful door is open still1 and while yet we are a great way off our ,father will meet and forgive and comfort us4 ,and then what a change is there in our lives6 ,they are weak no longer2 they are discontented no longer2 they are the slaves of sin no longer4 ,you have seen the heavens gray with dull and leaden-colored clouds1 you have seen the earth chilly and comfortless under its drifts of unmelting snow3 but let the sun shine1 and then how rapidly does the sky resume its radiant blue1 and the fields laugh with green grass and vernal flower6 ,so will it be with even a withered and a wasted life when we return to ,god and suffer ,him to send ,his bright beams of light upon our heart4 ,i do not mean that the pain or misery under which we are suffering will necessarily be removed1--even for ,christ it was not so2 but peace will come and strength will come and resignation will come and hope will come1--and we shall feel able to bear anything which ,god shall send1 and though ,he slays us we still shall seek ,him1 and even if the blackest cloud of anguish seem to shroud ,his face from us1 even on that cloud shall the rainbow shine4 ,you do not think1 my sister1 that because ,god never rejects the prayer of sinner or sufferer1 that therefore we may go on sinning1 trusting to repent when we suffer4 ,that would be a shameful abuse of ,god's mercy and tenderness2 it would be a frame of mind which would need this solemn warning1 that agony by no means always leads to prayer2 that it may come when prayer is possible no longer to the long-hardened and long-prayerless soul4 ,i know no hope so senseless1 so utterly frustrated by all experience1 as the hope of what is called deathbed repentance4 ,those who are familiar with many deathbeds will tell you why4 ,but prayer--,god's blessed permission to us1 to see ,him and to know ,him1 and to trust in ,him--that is granted us not for the hours of death or agony alone1 but for all life1 almost from the very cradle quite to the very grave4 ,and it is a gift no less priceless for its alleviation of sorrow than for its intensification of all innocent joy4 ,for him who would live a true life it is as necessary in prosperity as in adversity1--in peace as in trouble1--in youth as in old age4 ,here1 too1 ,christ is our example4 ,he lived1 as we may live1 in the light of ,his ,father's face4 ,it was not only as the ,man of ,sorrows1 it was not only in the moonlit garden of ,his agony1 or on the darkening hills of ,his incessant toil1 that prayer had refreshed ,his soul2 but often during those long unknown years in the little ,galilean village1--daily1 and from childhood upwards1 in sweet hours of peace1 kneeling amid the mountain lilies or on the cottage floor4 ,those prayers are to the soul what the dew of ,god is to the flowers of the field2 the burning wind of the day may pass over them1 and the stems droop and the colors fade1 but when the dew steals down at evening1 they will revive4 ,why should not that gracious dew fall even now and always for all of us upon the fields of life8 ,a life which has been from the first a life of prayer1--a life which has thus from its earliest days looked up consciously to its ,father and its ,god1--will always be a happy life4 ,time may fleet1 and youth may fade1--as they will1 and there may be storm as well as sunshine in the earthly career2 yet it will inevitably be a happy career1 and with a happiness that cannot die4 ,yes1 this is the lesson which ,i would that we all might learn from the thought of ,christ in the garden of ,gethsemane2--the lesson that ,prayer may recall the sunshine even to the dark and the frozen heart2 but that there is no long winter1 there is no unbroken night1 to that soul on which the ,sun of ,righteousness has risen with healing in ,his wings4 ,and that because true prayer is always heard4 ,we read in the glorious old ,greek poet of prayers which1 before they reached the portals of heaven were scattered by the winds2 and indeed there are some prayers so deeply opposed to the will of ,god1 so utterly alien to the true interests of men1 that nothing could happen better for us than that ,god should refuse1 nothing more terrible than that ,he should grant them in anger4 ,so that if we pray for any earthly blessing we may pray for it solely if it be ,god's will2 if it be for our highest good1 but1 for all the best things we may pray without misgiving1 without reservation1 certain that if we ask ,god will grant them4 ,nay1 even in asking for them we may know that we have them1--for what we desire to ask1 and what we ask1 we aim at1 and what we aim at we shall attain4 ,no man ever yet asked to be1 as the days pass by1 more noble1 and sweet1 and pure1 and heavenly-minded1--no man ever yet prayed that the evil spirits of hatred1 and pride1 and passion1 and worldliness1 might be cast out of his soul1--without his petition being granted1 and granted to the letter4 ,and with all other gifts ,god then gives us ,his own self besides1--,he makes us know ,him1 and love ,him1 and live in ,him4 ,thou hast written well of me1 said the ,vision to the great teacher of ,aquinum1 what reward dost thou desire8 ,non aliam1 nisi te ,domine--no other than ,thyself1 ,o ,lord1 was the meek and rapt reply4 ,and when all our restless1 fretful1 discontented longings are reduced to this alone1 the desire to see ,god's face2--when we have none in ,heaven but ,him1 and none upon earth whom we desire in comparison of ,him2--then we are indeed happy beyond the reach of any evil thing1 for then we have but one absorbing wish1 and that wish cannot be refused4 ,least of all can it be refused when it has pleased ,god to afflict us4 ,ye now have sorrow1 said ,christ1 but ,i will see you again1 and your heart shall rejoice1 and your joy no man taketh from you4 ,yes1 when ,god's children pass under the shadows of the ,cross of ,calvary they know that through that shadow lies their passage to the ,great ,white ,throne4 ,for them ,gethsemane is as ,paradise4 ,god fills it with sacred presences2 its solemn silence is broken by the music of tender promises2 its awful darkness softened and brightened by the sunlight of heavenly faces1 and the music of angel wings4 ,i am baptized into thy name1 ,o ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost6 ,among thy seed a place ,i claim1 ,among thy consecrated host2 ,buried with ,christ and dead to sin1 ,thy ,spirit now shall live within4 ,and we have seen and do testify that the ,father sent the ,son to be the ,savior of the world4 ,your ,brother in ,christ1 ,l4 ,j4 ,,directory ,,of ,,penitentiaries1 ,,state ,,reform ,,schools1 ,,state ,,industrial ,,reformatories1 ,,etc41 ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,and ,,canada4 ,,united ,,states ,,prisons4 ,united ,states ,penitentiary1 ,fort ,leavenworth1 ,kansas4 ,united ,states ,penitentiary1 ,atlanta1 ,georgia4 ,united ,states ,penitentiary1 ,mc,neil ,island1 ,washington4 ,united ,states jails in the ,indian ,territory3 ,vinita1 ,muskogee1 ,south ,mc,alester and ,ardmore4 ,united ,states ,jail1 ,fort ,smith1 ,arkansas4 ,united ,states ,jail1 ,guthrie1 ,oklahoma4 ,,district ,,of ,,columbia4--,district ,jail1 ,reform ,school1 and ,reform ,school for ,girls1 ,washington4 ,there are several small ,united ,states jails in ,alaska and within the ,states occupying rented quarters4 ,,state ,,institutions4 ,,alabama4--,penitentiary1 ,wetumpka2 two prisons at ,pratt ,mines4 ,boys' ,industrial ,school1 ,east ,lake4 ,,arizona4--,territorial ,prison1 ,yuma4 ,,arkansas4--,penitentiary1 ,little ,rock4 ,,california4--,prisons1 ,folsom and ,san ,quentin4 ,state ,schools1 ,whittier and ,ione4 ,,colorado4--,penitentiary1 ,canon ,city4 ,reformatory1 ,buena ,vista4 ,reform ,school for ,girls1 ,denver4 ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,morrison4 ,industrial ,school for ,boys1 ,golden4 ,,connecticut4--,prison1 ,weathersfield4 ,reform ,school1 ,meridan4 ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,middletown4 ,,delaware4--,ferris ,industrial ,school and ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,wilmington4 ,,florida4--,stockade ,camps 7#ac in #aijj74 ,prisoners farmed out1 mining phosphate4 ,reform ,school1 ,marianna4 ,,georgia4--,woman's ,prison1 ,milledgville4 ,stockades at mines and farms2 prisoners leased4 ,,idaho4--,penitentiary1 ,boise ,city4 ,,illinois4--,penitentiaries1 ,joliet1 ,chester4 ,reformatory1 ,pontiac4 ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,south ,evanston4 ,home for ,female ,offenders1 ,geneva4 ,erring ,woman's ,refuge1 ,chicago4 ,,indiana4--,prisons1 ,jeffersonville1 ,michigan ,city4 ,woman's ,prison1 and ,reform ,school for ,girls1 ,indianapolis4 ,reform ,school for ,boys1 ,plainfield4 ,,iowa4--,penitentiaries1 ,fort ,madison1 ,animosa4 ,industrial ,schools3 ,boys1 ,eldora2 ,girls1 ,mitchelville4 ,,kansas4--,penitentiary1 ,lansing4 ,reform ,school1 ,topeka4 ,industrial ,reformatory1 ,hutchinson4 ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,beloit4 ,,kentucky4--,penitentiaries1 ,frankfort1 ,eddyville4 ,reform ,school1 ,lexington4 ,industrial ,school of ,reform1 ,louisville4 ,,louisiana4--,penitentiary1 ,baton ,rouge4 ,boys' ,house of ,refuge1 ,new ,orleans4 ,,maine4--,prison1 ,thomaston4 ,reform ,school1 ,south ,portland4 ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,hallowell4 ,,maryland4--,penitentiary1 ,baltimore4 ,house of ,refuge for ,boys1 ,female ,house of ,refuge1 and ,st4 ,mary's ,industrial ,school1 ,baltimore4 ,industrial ,home for ,colored ,girls1 ,melvale4 ,house of ,reformation for ,colored ,boys1 ,cheltenham4 ,,massachusetts4--,prison1 ,charlestown4 ,reformatory1 ,concord4 ,reformatory ,prison for ,women1 ,sherborn4 ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,lancaster4 ,lyman ,school for ,boys1 ,westboro4 ,state ,primary ,school1 ,monson4 ,,michigan4--,prison1 ,jackson4 ,branch prison and ,house of ,correction1 ,marquette4 ,house of ,correction and ,reformatory1 ,ionia4 ,industrial ,school for ,boys1 ,lansing4 ,industrial ,home for ,girls1 ,adrian4 ,,minnesota4--,prison1 ,stillwater4 ,reformatory 7for #af to #cj years old71 ,st4 ,cloud4 ,state ,training ,school1 ,redwing4 ,,mississippi4--,penitentiary1 ,jackson4 ,farms4 ,,missouri4--,penitentiary1 ,jefferson ,city4 ,reform ,school for ,boys1 ,boonville4 ,industrial ,home for ,girls1 ,chillicothe4 ,house of ,refuge1 ,st4 ,louis4 ,,montana4--,prisons1 ,deer ,lodge1 ,billings4 ,reform ,school1 ,miles ,city4 ,,nebraska4--,penitentiary1 ,lincoln4 ,industrial ,school for ,boys1 ,kearney4 ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,geneva4 ,,nevada4--,prison1 ,carson ,city4 ,,new ,,hampshire4--,prison1 ,concord4 ,industrial ,school1 ,manchester4 ,,new ,,jersey4--,prison and ,industrial ,school for ,girls1 ,trenton4 ,reform ,school1 ,jamesburg4 ,,new ,,mexico4--,penitentiary1 ,santa ,fe4 ,,new ,,york4--,prisons1 ,sing ,sing1 ,auburn 7also one for women74 ,reformatories1 ,elmira2 ,ellensville2 ,bedford4 ,institutions also at ,new ,york1 ,buffalo1 ,rochester1 ,syracuse1 ,hudson and ,albion4 ,,north ,,carolina4--,penitentiary1 ,raleigh4 ,prisoners mostly on ,state ,farms4 ,,north ,,dakota4--,penitentiary1 ,bismark4 ,,ohio4--,penitentiary1 ,columbus4 ,reformatory1 ,mansfield4 ,industrial ,school1 ,boys1 ,lancaster2 ,girls1 ,delaware4 ,house of ,refuge1 ,cincinnati4 ,,oregon4--,penitentiary1 ,reform ,school1 ,salem4 ,,pennsylvania4--,penitentiaries1 ,philadelphia1 ,allegheny4 ,industrial ,reformatory1 ,huntingdon4 ,reform ,school1 ,morganza4 ,house of ,correction1 ,philadelphia4 ,house of ,refuge1 ,glen ,mills4 ,,rhode ,,island4--,prison1 ,work ,house and ,house of ,correction1 ,sockanosset4 ,school for ,boys1 and ,oaklawn ,school for ,girls1 ,howard4 ,,south ,,carolina4--,penitentiary1 ,columbia4 ,state ,farms4 ,,south ,,dakota4--,penitentiary1 ,sioux ,falls4 ,reform ,school1 ,plankinton4 ,,tennessee4--,penitentiaries1 ,nashville1 ,petros4 ,industrial ,school1 ,nashville4 ,,texas4--,penitentiaries1 ,huntsville1 ,rusk4 ,house of ,correction and ,reformatory1 ,gatesville4 ,,utah4--,penitentiary1 ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,reform ,school1 ,ogden4 ,,vermont4--,prison1 ,windsor4 ,house of ,correction1 ,rutland4 ,industrial ,school1 ,vergenes4 ,,virginia4--,penitentiary1 ,richmond4 ,laurel ,industrial ,school1 ,glen ,allen4 ,,washington4--,penitentiary1 ,walla ,walla4 ,reform ,school1 ,chehalis4 ,,west ,,virginia4--,penitentiary1 ,moundsville4 ,reform ,school for ,boys1 ,pruntytown4 ,girls' ,industrial ,school1 ,salem4 ,,wisconsin4--,prison1 ,waupun4 ,reformatory1 near ,green ,bay4 ,industrial ,school for ,boys1 ,waukesha4 ,for ,girls and ,boys1 ,milwaukee4 ,,wyoming4--,penitentiary1 ,rawlins4 ,,prisons ,,in ,,canada4 ,penitentiaries or ,prisons1 ,kingston1 ,toronto1 ,st4 ,vincent de ,paul1 ,dorchester1 ,new ,westminster1 and ,stony ,mountain4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,it ,,will ,,stir ,,the ,,soul4 ,a ,,new ,,and ,,wonderful ,,book4 ,,old-,,time ,,religion4 ,,by ,,rev4 ,s4 ,b4 ,,shaw4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,old ,time ,religion book cover ,including an account of the ,greatest ,revivals since ,pentecostal ,days1 and telling how to bring about an old time revival4 ,also recording many remarkable answers to prayer4 ,,make ,,money ,,and ,,do ,,good ,by selling good books that the people want4 ,the first edition of #aj1jjj copies of this new book is already selling rapidly and is doing great good4 ,it will attract both saint and sinner4 ,some of the old time sermons that moved the multitudes toward ,god1 like men slain in battle1 until their cries seemed to rend the very heavens1 are recorded in this book4 ,the description of sin and depravity1 of hell and the judgment1 by such men as ,edwards1 ,bunyan1 ,fletcher1 ,whitfield1 ,finney1 ,caughey1 ,finley1 and many others1 will waken the slumbering conscience and reveal the wrath of ,god against sin and this evil generation4 ,,from ,,testimonials ,,received1 ,,we ,,select ,a ,,few4 ,michigan ,presbyterian3 ,a mine of gold4 ,thoroughly practical4 ,intensely interesting4 ,it will stir the soul4 ,the ,way of ,faith3 ,in this timely book the author discusses ',old ,time ,views of ,sin and ,depravity1' ',old ,time ,conviction and ,repentance1' ',old ,time ,conversion1' and so on through ten chapters4 ,old time revivals are described and incidents related which are calculated to thrill the reader and beget a longing desire for the return of the ,old ,time ,revival ,power4 ,bishop ,n4 ,castle3 ,it surely has the old time swing4 ,it is rich in sentiment1 thrilling1 heart-inspiring4 ,it certainly will have a large sale4 ,the ,free ,methodist3 ,an excellent compilation of facts in connection with old time revivals and contains much solid truth respecting old time repentance1 conversion1 and righteousness4 ,the author quotes from ',fletcher's ,appeal1' ,bunyan's ',pilgrim's ,progress1' ,james ,b4 ,finley1 ,james ,caughey1 and other noted 'old time' writers and evangelists4 ,the work is full of interest and can but do good4 ,we bespeak for it a large sale4 ,religious ,telescope3 ',the ,old-,time ,religion1' by ,s4 ,b4 ,,shaw1 is a new book1 which is a revelation of the awful corruption of sin and of the mighty transforming power of the grace of ,god4 ,other books by the same author have had a sale of nearly a ,,half ,,million copies1 and we consider this book fully equal1 if not superior1 to any of them4 #cbj ,,pages1 #e ,,by #h ,,inches4 ,price1 per copy1 post-paid3 ,cloth1 #a4jj2 ,paper1 #ce cents4 ,be early in the field4 ,secure a copy of the book4 ,it will be all the outfit needed4 ,write us at once for terms to agents4 ,s4 ,b4 ,,shaw1 ,publisher1 #bab ,west ,chicago ,avenue1 ,,chicago1 ,,ill4 ,illustration3 ,ad ,page ,,religious ,,books ,,that ,,stir ,,the ,,soul ,books worth having4 ,books that record facts4 ,books that do good and permanent good4 ,books that reveal heaven and hell4 ,books that melt hearts to tears4 ,books that awaken conviction and ,,win ,,souls4 ,books that people love ,,next ,,to ,,their ,,bibles4 ,see list below4 ,,half ,,million ,,sold ,,all ,,books ,,are ,,uniform ,,in ,,size4 #e x #h ,,inches ,the ,great ,revival in ,wales1 ,shaw4 ,compiled1 ,concise1 ,complete4 ,includes full account of ,great ,revival in ,ireland in #ahei4 ,in great demand #bef pages4 ,cloth #ge;c ,paper #be;c ,miracles in the ,slums1 ,rees4 ,timely1 ,true1 ,touching1 ,rightly named4 #dj illustrations4 ,selling fast4 #cjd pages4 ,cloth #a4jj ,spiritual ,flashlights1 ,perry4 ,new1 ,neat1 ,nothing like it4 ,selected from hundreds of writers4 #aec topics4 ,alphabetically arranged4 #djh pages4 ,cloth #a4jj ,old ,time ,religion1 ,shaw4 ,primitive1 ,pathetic1 ,powerful4 ,contains accounts of greatest revivals since ,pentecost4 ,stirs hearts1 wins souls1 and will help to bring about an old time revival4 #bhh pages4 ,cloth #a4jj paper #ce;c ,wayside ,sketches1 ,cooke4 ,bright1 ,bracing1 ,biographical4 #bh illustrations4 #chb pages4 ,cloth #a4jj ,touching ,incidents and ,remarkable ,answers to ,prayer1 ,shaw4 ,attractive1 ,absorbing1 ,authentic4 #cjj1jjj sold4 #cbj pages4 ,cloth #a4jj ,paper #ce;c ,children's ,edition of ,touching ,incidents1 ,shaw4 #db illustrations4 #abh pages4 #abe1jjj sold4 ,cloth #fj;c ,board #ce;c ,dying ,testimonies of ,saved and ,un-,saved1 ,shaw4 ,true1 ,thrilling1 ,triumphant4 #afj1jjj sold4 #cbj pages4 ,cloth #a4jj ,paper #ce;c ,the ,men ,behind the ,bars1 ,sanders4 ,interesting1 ,instructive1 ,illustrated4 #cbj pages4 ,cloth #a4jj ,god's ,financial ,plan1 ,shaw4 ,searching1 ,scriptural1 ,spiritual4 ,largest sale of any book of its theme ever published4 #cbj pages4 ,cloth #a4jj ,paper #ce;c ,traits of ,character1 ,kletzing4 ,elevating1 ,entertaining1 ,excellent4 #ahj illustrations4 ,cloth #a4jj ,any ,,four of the above books sent ,,post ,,paid to one address1 ,cloth #c4jj ,paper #a4aj ,any ,,three of the above books sent ,,post ,,paid to one address1 ,cloth #b4ej ,paper #ij;c ,,one ,,thousand ,,agents ,,wanted ,,write ,,for ,,terms ,,and ,,large ,,illustrated ,,catalogue ,address1 ,s4 ,b4 ,,shaw1 ,publisher1 #bab-bad ,w4 ,chicago ,avenue1 ,,chicago1 ,,illinois4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 ,page xviii3 ,in the table of contents for ,,chapter ,,xi41 the transcriber has changed the incorrect page number #hh to #hg4 ,page xix3 ,in the table of contents the words ,,chapter ,,xviii are missing and have been added by the transcriber4 ,page #afi3 who was chosen of ,god as the agent4 ,the transcriber has inserted the word as where a blank space occurred4 ,text enclosed by underscores is in italics 7italics74 ,text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face 7bold74 ,small capital text has been replaced with all capitals4 ,variations in spelling1 punctuation and hyphenation have been retained except in obvious cases of typographical error4