The Nation Behind Prison Bars Part 13

JAMES M. TAYLOR, Evangelist.

Knoxville, Tenn.

(Frankfort Journal.)

The Rev. Geo. L. Herr, of Louisville, will spend the fourth as the guest of Rev. Jos. Severance, chaplain of the State prison, today. Rev. Herr is a widely known, talented and enthusiastic prison evangelist, and has a national reputation as such. He will shortly publish his famous sermon, "Man's Worst Enemy," and will place numerous copies of it in every penal inst.i.tution of the United States.

Prison Evangelist's Good Work

(Courier-Journal.)

Prison evangelists published in 1906-07 36,000 sermons in booklet form and sent them North, South, East and West. The Rev. George L. Herr and wife closed a most remarkable year. The meetings which they have held for the most part have been in large prison houses, erected for sinful men and women.

Mr. Herr has delivered sermons to many thousand listeners; many have professed conversion and thousands have asked for prayer. The good that this work has done will probably never be fully known until the business of this old world has been brought to a close. Influences have been set in motion that are going to roll on until time shall be no more.

Rev. W. O. Vreeland, chaplain Frankfort Reformatory, says:

It gives me great pleasure to testify of the splendid work among the prisoners done by a man I believe to be deeply consecrated to the work of rescuing the "fallen brother." George Herr is worthy of the highest commendation.

W. O. VREELAND.

Oct. 12, 1912.

A Grand Work Highly Commended

Louisville, Ky., July 24, 1902.

Rev. Geo. L. Herr,

Dear Brother Herr: I regret very much to learn of your departure from the city, and the work you have so n.o.bly, and for so long a time, engaged in at this inst.i.tution and elsewhere. To say that you will be missed by us is but faintly expressing my feelings at your departure.

You will not only be missed by myself and other officials at the jail, but by the poor unfortunates placed in my custody, for I know I can truthfully say we will never be able to get any one who will take the pains and do the great good you have done for all with whom you have come in contact.

-------- I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.--Heb. 13:5.

I can a.s.sure you that your farewell sermon to all of the one hundred and eighty prisoners in this jail on yesterday was the cause of great depression in the spirits of all who heard you on that occasion, for every one of them felt that he or she was about to lose their best friend, who had not only ministered to their spiritual wants but made their troubles his own, and in every way in his power relieved them of their every ailment.

You and your good wife were as father and mother to them, their guardian angels, who made their rugged paths smooth and their futures bright and happy.

It is with much sorrow that I write you today, and my only consolation is in the hope that you may some day return and take up the good work again for the betterment of the unfortunates who may be confined in this and other inst.i.tutions in which you have worked in this city.

Sincerely yours, JOHN R. PFLANZ.

-------- O Lord, make haste to help me.--Ps. 40:13.

I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.--Is. 41:14.

"Worked Wonders"

Declares Dr. Garvin, Physician Jefferson County Jail

Louisville, Ky., July 24th, 1902.

Rev. George L. Herr,

My Dear Brother Herr: It is with much regret I have heard of your determination to leave us. You and your good wife have now been engaged, for about four years, in the n.o.ble work of saving souls in the Jefferson County jail, and to the success of your efforts I can truly bear testimony.

I must confess that at first I had little hope of much good being accomplished, but your constant devotion at all hours, night and day, has worked wonders, and I am satisfied that many who came steeped in sin and in their own minds hopelessly lost, have left the prison at peace with G.o.d, and with a determination in the future to lead a better life.

Wherever you go, may G.o.d be with you, is the wish of all who know you, and especially that of your friend,

SAM'L H. GARVIN.

Physician to Jefferson County Jail.

Strong Endors.e.m.e.nts

Evangelist Herr's work commended by Minister.

[Louisville Evening Times]

Louisville, Ky., June 21, 1905.

Rev. Horace G. Ogden, D.D., Pastor Trinity M. E. Church, Louisville, Ky., says:

To Whom It May Concern:

I take pleasure in commending Mr. Geo. Herr to the esteem and confidence of the public. I have been placed where I have known intimately his work as Prison Evangelist in Jefferson County Jail--a place incomparable in my opinion for testing the character and power of a Christian worker. I can say he has made a superb record and been able by divine a.s.sistance to rescue many from the life of crime. He has taken an enlarged field of work because he has been convinced it was the call of the Highest, and I have every confidence in his increased usefulness. I cheerfully commend him and his work. His book is true and merits large circulation. Mr.

Herr is a fine public speaker.

Sincerely, HORACE G. OGDEN.