The Nation Behind Prison Bars Part 11

(this being all Greek to him), as it was not in his line, he knew.

"Dad" repeated what he had said, and "Hinky d.i.n.k" said: "Come right over here and I'll buy you a ticket." He took him over to the railroad office, and bought him a limited ticket to Cincinnati. Dad said, when telling us, "He thought he was s.h.i.+pping me in the quickest way possible, but it was the Lord taking care of 'Old Dad,' and sending him in first-cla.s.s style."

Again he came back to our home, stayed several weeks, then we got him $20 worth of religious books to travel around to the camp meetings to sell, and to tell his experience, for the people were eager to hear this wonderful experience of G.o.d's transforming power, wherever he went. We started him off, and he soon felt his call to preach the gospel. He was ordained in Indianapolis in 1905, and preached up and down the land, winning lost men and women for Jesus. His life was a miracle of what G.o.d's grace can do. He married a fine Christian woman, who was a great help to him in his work.

In the fall of 1908 he died a triumphant death, leaving a glorious testimony behind.

Jim O'Brien Pa.s.ses Away

The Courier-Journal republishes herewith from the Indianapolis Herald an editorial by the Rev. George E. Bueler, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, Indianapolis, Ind.:

"The Rev. William H. Frazier, alias Jim O'Brien," died at Indianapolis on Monday, October 30, 1908.

"At an early age Frazier began a.s.sociating with bad boys on the streets of Cincinnati and of course was soon drawn into sin. At the age of 14 he began stealing, at first on a small scale, and increasing with the years until he became one of the most daring and successful bank robbers known in America. He was arrested and in prison many times, but when at liberty he drifted back into crime again. For forty years he was a criminal; of that time twenty-three years and six months was spent behind prison bars. Although he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars he was released from prison the last time in Louisville with only $2.40 left. What wages for forty years in the service of Satan! While incarcerated in the Jefferson County jail, at Louisville, Ky., Missionary George L. Herr found this wretched man and through many months of persistent effort found a way to his heart. At first the missionary was met with curses and abuses, but love conquered, and the result was Jim's conversion, a miracle indeed, for, from that time in January, 1903, "Dad," as he was known, lived a G.o.dly life and retrieved for the past by telling everywhere he went his life story, showing forth the glory of G.o.d's redeeming grace. No one knew better than Bro. Frazier what it meant for a man to be released from prison and again face the world. With the disgrace and odium upon him it is well nigh impossible for him to find honest employment, for no one knowing him to be an exconvict wants him in their employ, the temptation to return to the old life is strong. With this in view he began making homes for such men in large cities. While Bro. Frazier was working and starting a home in Cincinnati he was made prison chaplain for the entire city. During the past summer he and his wife came to Indianapolis. While here his physical condition gave way; he knew his end was near. To those who waited on him in his last hours he constantly affirmed his faith in G.o.d and pa.s.sed peacefully away. The funeral was conducted by the Revs.

Parker, Stevens and Bueler, with special singing by Mr. Maxwell, Mrs.

Bueler and Mrs. Nelson. All who want a more complete account of this wonderful life should read his book, "From Crime to Christ."

CHAPTER TEN

COLUMBUS OHIO PRISON

[Ohio Penitentiary News]

The Rev. George L. Herr, prison evangelist, returned yesterday from St.

Louis, where he went in the interest of the men "behind the bars." The Rev. Mr. Herr also had a delightful visit with his son, of St. Louis.

Mr. Herr, on his return home, received the following letter from the Rev. D. J. Starr, D.D., chaplain at Columbus, O., penitentiary:

Dear Brother: I thank you for your letter informing me that you will spend Sunday, March 8, with us at this prison. We intend to make good use of you for the Master's cause. We will wish you, unless it will weary you to do so, to speak to our Sunday-school at 8 o'clock; address the prayer meeting at 9 o'clock; preach in chapel at 10 o'clock; attend Female Bible cla.s.s and talk at 3 p.m., and men's Bible cla.s.s at 7 p.m.

-------- "I was in prison, and ye came unto me."--Matt. 25:36.

The Courier-Journal republishes herewith from the Ohio Penitentiary News an editorial by the Rev. D. J. Starr, D.D., chaplain at the Columbus, O., prison:

"The Rev. George L. Herr, whose address delivered in our chapel last Sunday morning was charmingly refres.h.i.+ng, is a man whose vicissitudes of life lead through a labyrinth that would require a half century of years to make its journey at an ordinary pace. But George L. Herr is not the man to do anything in an ordinary way. The itinerary of his life shows few curves--mostly acute angles. He was born in an old Kentucky family of the city of Louisville. His ancestral stock was golden, and his infancy was fed with a golden spoon on sugar and cream. When he was three months old his Christian mother went to be with G.o.d. When he was 18 years old his father, Richard S. Herr, a capitalist of Louisville, died and left George the heir of a large patrimony.

"The orphan was genial, sportive, rich and without domestic restraint.

Men seized the opportunity to take advantage of his tendencies and youth to filch from him his wealth. He yielded, and threw on the neck of appet.i.te the slackened rein and became woefully dissipated. He mounted the toboggan and went down the slide, landing in a few years in the gulch of dest.i.tution and near the precipice of suicide.

-------- Teach me thy way, O Lord.--Ps. 86:11.

"Here in dest.i.tution and despair on the day after Christmas, 1893, the Rev. S. P. Holcombe, of Louisville, found the prodigal and led him into the Union Gospel Mission, where he sought and came to know G.o.d as a personal Saviour. What a change! New bottles for the new wine of the Spirit! As language cannot picture the degradation of the prodigal, neither can it picture the exaltation of the son restored to the Father.

George was as whole-hearted in his new life as in his old. He had beauty for ashes and a spirit of praise instead of heaviness. After nearly five years of the new life George L. Herr, in the city of his fall and his recovery, was married by the Rev. Dr. Carter H. Jones, pastor of Broadway Baptist Church, to Miss Lillie M. Joyce. George says that if a man ever outmarried himself he's the man. He says G.o.d gave him this priceless treasure of a Christian wife in answer to prayer. Those who know Mrs. Herr speak of her as sweet-spirited, n.o.ble, devout, gifted in song and speech and one in spirit with her husband in the work of saving those who are out of the way. Their home is filled with the aroma of grace and their united lives are spent in doing good. How wonderfully G.o.d fulfills His ancient promise to present-day prodigals: 'As ye were a curse, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing.'"

The Big Ohio "Pen" Week by Week

Weekly Budget of Personal, Local and Other Newsbits.

To-morrow in the Chapel.

Sunday School 8 A.M.

Prayer Meeting 9 A.M.

The Great Congregation 10 A.M.

Entry March Band (Thomas McCaskie, Leader.) Gloria Patri Entire Congregation (Directed by Choirmaster Prof. J. H. Chavers.)

Invocation.

Songs By Miss Luale Bethel

"A Rose in Heaven."

"Life's Lullaby."

First Scripture Lesson.

Anthem Choir Morning Prayer Chaplain Lord's Prayer Response by Choir

Second Scripture Lesson.

Hymn No. 3 Choir

"Within Thy Courts."

Sermon Rev. George L. Herr Hymn No. 355 Choir

"Calvary."

Doxology. Benediction.

Band. March. Exit.

Chapel Services

In the Bible-school at 8 o'clock through the doorway of life beyond, which Christ left open that men might both look in and go in, the 300 students saw some of the things that "G.o.d hath prepared for them that love Him." The germinal thoughts of John 14:1-14 are that heaven is a place--a roomy place, a prepared place, a place where the Lord abides and where he will have his prepared people to abide with him. And that in this doctrine is the cure for human sorrow. "Let not your heart be troubled * * believe."

At the 9 o'clock meeting the quotation of Scripture verses appeared like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Rev. George L. Herr was introduced and the hearts of hearers beat warm under their jackets as the speaker sang and talked to them of Jesus and His love. It was good to be there.

The Great Congregation gathered at 10 o'clock and was welcomed with the stirring notes of the band men. The many voices lifted in the chant, "Gloria Patri," showed how grand the effect would be if all would join in the song. Why not all?

-------- Give me understanding.--Ps. 119:34.