The Nation Behind Prison Bars Part 12

"A Rose in Heaven," and "Life's Lullaby," were admirably sung by Miss Lucile Bethel with her sister Miss Bethel as accompanist at the piano.

The anthem, "Ashamed of Jesus? Never, No Never," was sung by the choir as the author of the song might have wished to hear it rendered.

That old story of the prodigal son was the subject on which Rev. George L. Herr of Louisville, Ky., preached to the inmates of the penitentiary Sunday morning in the chapel, but it was the twentieth century prodigal who formed his main theme.

Mr. Herr is known all over the country as the prison missionary. He has all the vivacity and warmth of the Southerner. He illuminated the old parable with the story of his descent from the position of a son of a wealthy Kentucky home, possessing a large estate, to the dest.i.tution of a linen duster for a December coat, and from a seat in a Pullman to riding the b.u.mpers of a cattle train. That was his condition sixteen years ago. The men enjoyed the object lesson and cheered the moral heroism evinced in the life-story of the missionary.

-------- I am understanding.--Prov. 8:14.

The Courier-Journal republishes herewith from the Evangel an editorial by the Rev. L. B. Haines at Columbus, O.:

"The editors of the Evangel were pleased to meet Mr. George L. Herr while in Columbus a few days ago. He addressed the prisoners at the Ohio penitentiary and was heartily received by all who heard him. He is doing a n.o.ble work in the prisons all over our country. We spent a pleasant afternoon together, visiting the sick in the prison hospital, and we believe G.o.d blessed the seed sown. The Evangel wishes him and his dear wife G.o.d speed in their self-sacrificing efforts for the lost. We take great pleasure in calling the attention of the readers of the Evangel to Herr's new book ent.i.tled "The Nation Behind Prison Bars," a notice of which you will find on another page of this issue.--Eds."

-------- For G.o.d so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.--Jno. 3:16.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

INCONTESTABLE PROOF

OUR MOTTO:

"Seeking the Lost."

"Helping the Helpless to Help Themselves."

JAILER PFLANZ PAYS A HIGH COMPLIMENT TO EVANGELIST GEO. L. HERR

Louisville, Ky., March 12, 1901.

Mr. Geo. L. Herr,

Dear Sir: I have recently been asked by several persons on different occasions if I thought much good could come out of the rescue work done at the county jail. In every instance I would answer "yes." A great deal of good is done through the Christian workers, and especially by you, who not only give your time and attention to this work, preaching the gospel on the Sabbath, but on every day of your life doing everything in your power to lighten the burden of the unfortunates confined in the jail.

-------- My glad heart says in the language of the Psalmist: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

[Ill.u.s.tration: REV. C. S. HANLEY

President of International Federation of Christian Workers, by whom we were ordained in Chicago, Ill., in 1907.]

I have known prisoners of all cla.s.ses look forward to your arrival each day with gladness, knowing that if you did not have something to distribute among them you would give them a cheery good morning.

As a rule you always have something to give them, which gladden their hearts and make them think better of our harsh world, wherein they are buffeted around like so many things to be despised.

I have never known you to come to this jail that you were not interested in some poor fellow's case, and often have I known you to call on either the Judge of the Police or Criminal Court to intercede for some person confined in our jail. I have noticed that whenever you come you are asked by more than one of our prisoners to go on some mission, either to a father, mother, or some other relative. Distance and barriers have no terror for you, as was evidenced in your recent trip fifteen hundred miles for one of our prisoners to see his parents.

In every case you have with promptness attended to requests, always with a cheerfulness that is surprising to those who cannot understand and will not learn. These are the things that lift up the hearts of the poor unfortunate prisoner and make him feel that there is something worth living for.

-------- Draw nigh unto my soul and redeem it.--Ps. 69:18.

My wish and prayer is that you may go on in the good work you are doing.

Sincerely yours, JOHN R. PFLANZ.

Following are letters of endors.e.m.e.nt to Missionary George L. Herr and his wife in their life-work among outcasts, fallen ones and victims of sin. Among those who have lent substantial aid and hearty encouragement to the work will be noted many of our leading citizens, men of irreproachable character and standing in society, who have not hesitated to add their quota of praise to the universal word of approbation accorded the missionary in his efforts to lead the wayward ones back into the path of self-respect and manhood.

-------- Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; Lord be thou my helper.--Ps. 30:10.

Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 22, 1904.

Dear Bro. Herr: I regret that you and your good wife and "Suns.h.i.+ne" can not be with us in our services next week at the Frankfort Penitentiary, but am glad to have you promise to be with us soon. No one understands this work for the salvation and elevation of those in our penal inst.i.tutions,--the possibilities, the discouragements, the trials, the triumphs, the rejoicing--as we do who are constantly engaged in it. Your frequent visits to us are always appreciated both by the chaplain and the prisoners, and your sermons and talks and songs are blessed by G.o.d to the furtherance of the work of grace in our midst. I can truly say there are eyes that "mark your coming and look brighter when you come."

I wish also to say for your encouragement and those who work with you that your faithful labors are plainly manifest in the lives of many whom you come in contact with--the deep and lasting impressions made upon their minds and hearts so we are enabled to take up the well begun work and by G.o.d's help carry it on to salvation of the soul. May G.o.d bless you abundantly in your n.o.ble work.

Truly yours, T. T. TALIAFERRO, Chaplain Ky. State Penitentiary.

-------- Forsake me not, O Lord.--Ps. 38:21.

Rev. H. C. Morrison, D.D., Editor Pentecostal Herald, Louisville, Ky., and President Wilmore College, Wilmore, Ky., says:

I take pleasure in commending my friend and brother, Geo. L. Herr, as a devout Christian and earnest worker for the salvation of men. He has had wide experience on both sides of the line, and has been greatly blessed in rescuing men who have gone down into the depths of sin. He has been especially blessed in prison work. Those who help him forward in the good work in which he is now engaged will do me a personal favor.

Wis.h.i.+ng him and his wife great success as they shall go from prison to prison seeking after the lost,

I am Respectfully yours, H. C. MORRISON.

Rev. James M. Taylor, world-wide evangelist, says:

I have read with soul-stirring interest the sad, heart-rending experience of Bro. Herr, and the miraculous deliverance by the grace of G.o.d, how by a life of sin he squandered a fortune, how G.o.d found him a bond slave of appet.i.te and other sins and delivered him, the romantic way in which his G.o.d-given companion entered his life, and how they are being used perhaps as no other persons today in helping those "behind the bars." This story will warn the reckless, encourage the "cast out"

and put a desire in the heart to help the fallen.