The Nation Behind Prison Bars Part 14

Speaks to Prisoners

The Rev. J. A. Holton, Chaplain Eddyville Penitentiary, commends Rev.

Herr's work:

The Rev. George L. Herr, the well-known Louisville prison evangelist, conducted the chapel services at the Eddyville State penitentiary, Eddyville, Ky., on Sunday, February 16. Mr. Herr's address to the prisoners made a very decided impression upon the men. In a letter to Louisville, J. A. Holton, Chaplain of the penitentiary, writes of Mr.

Herr's visit to Eddyville as follows:

"Brother Herr is a fluent and earnest talker and speaks from personal experience and observation with telling effect, timely words that tend to the betterment of his hearers. No one who is acquainted with his personal history and present effort in the cause of prison reform could doubt his sincerity. It is not a surprise, therefore, that from every sphere of his labor along the line of evangelistic work in the prisons of the land come unsolicited testimonials commending him and his work."--The Louisville Times.

-------- And G.o.d spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy G.o.d, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.--Ex. 20:1-2.

Sad and Pitiful Stories

[The Louisville Herald]

For fifteen years Mr. Herr has carried the great truths to the outcasts, giving warning of the danger, and thousands have repented and have been rescued from lives of sin and shame and are now blessings to the community. Hundreds of thousands of tracts, sermons, books, papers, etc., have been distributed, the results of which can never be known.

"One of the saddest features of this work is that we are constantly beset by the sad-faced, grief-stricken, broken-hearted mothers and wives who have been so unfortunate as to lose their loved ones in sin,"

declared Rev. Herr. "They come to us and plead for us to help find the wanderer.

"The pitiful stories of disgrace, shame and disappointment that come from the broken hearts who are victims are beyond expression and almost enough to melt the heart of stone into a river of tears, and to stir us who hear them and see the helplessness of unfortunate ones.

"There never was a place where the gospel was needed more and where it would do more good, than in the prison houses of our beautiful land."

-------- Open them mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.--Ps. 119:18.

Resolution That Was Never Broken

"I am done with a life of thieving."--E. B.

Another of the days in jail that will long be remembered by some of the poor unfortunates who have been making this place their residence for some time. The missionary who makes prison work the work of his life preached to the men today, the service being in the place of the regular Sat.u.r.day services, because the convicted men were to go to the penitentiary Sat.u.r.day morning, and Brother Herr intended to go to Cincinnati, Ohio, this evening. So the good brother gave the men some good, wholesome advice.

And in opening the services, that always appropriate song of "Let a little suns.h.i.+ne in" was sung, and the good G.o.d knows that if any one in this world needs "suns.h.i.+ne" that person is the one who is behind prison bars.

-------- Thou shalt have no other G.o.ds before me.

I have seen some curious things in my wandering life, and some very curious and saddening sights are to be seen in jail. To see men right in the prime of their manhood going to a living tomb, to actually bury themselves for years, is a sight not easily forgotten. Oh, the misery, the shame, and the degradation of it all. It is no wonder that some of the unfortunates weep. The sight of so much misery seen at one time is enough to melt the heart of the most hardened criminal. As I watched the men put up their hands in reply to the question of "How many of you men want to lead a better life?" I could not blame any one of the prisoners for putting up their hands in a resolve to lead a clean life.

My sympathy is with the unfortunate. I have been placed in positions just like these men are placed in, but never again! Oh, I hope that when I finish this term of imprisonment that I may find some means of employment that will bring me in enough money to keep body and soul together. From this time forward I am done with stealing. I hope that my right hand may lose its cunning and my eyes grow dimmer, so dim that I cannot see anything to steal. I am done, done with a life of thieving. I don't know how I am going to exist, but I am not going to steal any more. By the help of the good Lord I intend to reform.

-------- For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my G.o.d will lighten my darkness.--Ps. 18:28.

What Is A Friend?

A friend is the first person who comes in when the world has gone out.

A bank of credit on which we can draw supplies of confidence, counsel, sympathy, help and love.

One who considers my need before my deservings.

The triple alliance of the three great powers--love, sympathy and help.

One who understands our silence.

A jewel whose l.u.s.tre the strong acids of poverty and misfortune cannot dim.

One who smiles on our fortunes, frowns on our faults, sympathizes with our sorrow, weeps at our bereavement, and is a safe fortress at all times of trouble.

One who, gaining the top of the ladder, won't forget you if you remain at the bottom.

The holly of life, whose qualities are overshadowed in the summer of prosperity, but blossom forth in the winter of adversity.

He who does not adhere to the saying that No. 1 should come first.

-------- G.o.d is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.--Psalm 41:6.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

When the author left Louisville to 1905 for Chicago to be ordained, he was greatly helped by his friend Chas. F. Grainger, kindness never to be forgotten.

HON. CHAS. F. GRAINGER

Former Mayor of Louisville; now President Louisville Water Co.

Mr. Grainger says, "Mr. Herr's work among prisoners has been very successful, and through his efforts many have reformed."]

A watch which beats true, for all time, and never "runs down."