The Nation Behind Prison Bars Part 8

Sitting tonight in our lonesome cell, bounded on three sides by blank and barren walls of steel, through our two-by-six door, constructed of ma.s.sive bars of iron, there comes to us the conversation of our fellow prisoners, as with head pressed close against the bars to catch the other fellow's words, we listen to the talk of the men "committed for crime"--men strong and healthy, who should be engaged in some honest labor, but, instead, are "doing time" for a broken law. We had no idea of the meaning of the words "doing time" until being placed behind these bars, we took up the daily life of a prisoner, and with nothing but "time" to look to, began the task of trying to be contented. We believe from our own past ideas of prison life that very few of the outside world have any conception of what the prisoner's life really is, or what it means to be sentenced to a term in prison.

-------- No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.--Psalm 84:11.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL, LOUISVILLE, KY.

Members of the International Prison Congress p.r.o.nounced this prison the model jail of the world.]

Judge Does Not Understand.

The judge who p.r.o.nounces sentence upon the evil and unfortunate knows as little of the meaning of the terms he uses in meting out punishment as the mail clerk knows of the contents of the letters he handles at his daily task. "Danger" conveys but little meaning to the mind of the engineer who has never had a wreck. By the standard of freedom, a day in prison is a year, and it is only those who mingle daily in our midst can talk to the "man behind the bars," who can have a fair idea of what the prisoner suffers daily in "doing time." The world that lies beneath the bars is a strange world to the average citizen, the citizen blessed with average good fortune. Prison life is a queer and twisted one, and a law to itself.

-------- Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ--Ph. 1:27.

But to return to the prisoners' conversation, of which we spoke.

Vile--yes, dear reader, this word does not convey to you the full measure within the writer's mind. At times it seems that some have sunk so low that all conception of honor and truth have pa.s.sed entirely away.

No reverence whatever for such words as "mother, home or heaven" left within their minds, for they are rendered entirely void of good thoughts or honest ideas, having been so long filled with the one thought--crime.

Prison Record for Life.

Men who started on their "career of crime" as mere boys, with years of youth spent in reform schools only to be developed into men of crime, have prison records to follow them through life. Many of these men feel that they have lost all hope of any but the criminal's life. Many of them have been forsaken by family and friends. So to the man or woman who is at all interested in the uplift of his fellow man, can you think of any field where the labor of an evangelist is more needed than it is among the men we have attempted to describe to you?

-------- Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong--1 Corinthians 16:13.

Then there is the paramount reason why the evangelist is needed. Men who would not on the outside of prison give one minute of their time to listen to the evangelist as he tried to persuade them to take a new lease on life let him engage their attention by the hour as he shows them the error of their way and points them to a better life. There are those that listen to his talk and turn away in scorn to ridicule his teaching. But as the days follow on, and the newness of the prison life begins to wear away, they listen with more respect to the "man of G.o.d."

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LATE HON. J. C. BOHART

of Chicago, one of the Author's main supporters while living in Chicago, Ill.]

We have seen men behind the bars who never before bent their knee in prayer. After listening to the evangelist's story of G.o.d and his love, they go to their cells, and upon bended knees, beg for mercy and help.

Brother George L. Herr has taken the word of the Master into many of the prisons of the United States, but the jails and penitentiaries of his native State of Kentucky have claimed much of his time and attention. We must confess when first coming in contact with him, our feeling against him was bitter, we did not want his friends.h.i.+p nor his help, only because we were angered by his denouncing our pet sins. But as days lengthened into weeks, and weeks into months, the truth of his kindly spoken words came home to us. Life was stripped of all its so-called pleasure, with nothing but its disgrace and shame left to mock us, having sold out to the "demon of crime."

-------- Why art thou cast down? Hope thou in G.o.d.--Psalm 42:5.

Then we began to feel the need of his wise counsel and to realize the good of having him among us. He was always ready and willing to help each and every man, not only with advice and counsel, but in so many substantial ways, trying to lighten the prisoner's burden and make his life better and brighter.

He has also devoted part of his time to writing books. Those we call to mind are "Light in Dark Places," "You Are My Prisoners," "The Life Line," "Man's Worst Enemy," "Nothing Better," "The Missionary," "The Bethel," "Lost and is Found," "A Glorious Rescue," and his new book, "The Nation Behind Prison Bars," soon to be brought out. Hundreds of thousands of these books have been sent broadcast over the world, and through them great good has been accomplished. Well might he be called the "Prisoner's Friend," for his desire to aid each and every man gives to him this well-earned t.i.tle.

Full of generosity, kind far beyond the ordinary meaning of the word, always ready to forgive the aggressor and to forget the offense, he wins his way into the hearts of wicked and violent men in a manner that makes them his lasting friends, and turns their words of condemnation into words of praise.

-------- He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of G.o.d abideth on him.--John 3:36.

We fancy, as we write tonight, while, for the moment, the stillness of death has fallen upon the entire prison, we can hear his voice, as it rings out in righteous indignation, through the prison corridors, calling some man to account for his vile language or his taking in vain the name of G.o.d.

Works Without Pay.

If you were to ask a prisoner to what church Brother Herr belongs he would no doubt plead ignorance, as no faith nor creed is known in his work among the men. He makes no distinction between chapel-goers and non-attendants, and will do a favor for the worst man in prison as readily as for the leader of the chapel quartet; but ask the same prisoner, "Who is it that speaks to judge and the warden about the sick mother who longs to see her imprisoned son before she dies? Ask him.

Who pleads with the Governor?

Who tries to soften the heart of the prosecutor?

Who provides shoes and clothing for the poor prisoners?

What unpaid messenger runs the errands of the prisoners?

Who reconciles the erring son in prison with his mother and father?

He will answer, "Brother Herr."

-------- I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.--Psalm 101:2.

Now, the average prisoner may be deficient in the matter of mental balance, but he is not an imbecile. He is a better judge of character and a keener observer than the more honest and commonplace fellow man.

By the same keen powers of observation that belong to the criminal type, he notes that Brother Herr differs from many other prison evangelists, for he helps without asking questions. He has no theory or dogma to exploit, and he labors for the uplift of humanity.

Tribute to Jailer.

Much that we have written of this great work was made possible by Jailer John R. Pflanz, who for the past twelve years has been at the head of the Jefferson County jail. He is constantly laboring to better the conditions of the prisoners and give to the people an honest administration and progressive system of prison management.

To him Louisville and Jefferson County owe a great deal for the good work accomplished among the criminals. Brother Herr says:

-------- Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.--2 Ch.

19:11.

"If such men as John R. Pflanz, of Louisville; John L. Whittman, of Chicago; Co. E. E. Mudd, of Frankfort, and Col. Dan Bartley, of Cincinnati, were placed in office for life the criminal world would greatly decrease every year, instead of being on the increase."

[Ill.u.s.tration: HON. JOHN R. PFLANZ

Jailer of Jefferson County. A friend of the unfortunate.]

We have never heard of any prisoner complain of unjust treatment by him, but on the other hand, many are the unfortunate men who leave this prison to take their places in business again, because of a.s.sistance given them by Mr. Pflanz.

His regular rounds through the entire prison are always hailed with delight by the prisoners, as he is ever ready to hear their complaints and remedy any existing evil. He listens to all the appeals for help by the prisoners and leaves no unfulfilled promises.

His personal inspection of the "cell-house" and inquiries about the health and general welfare of all the prisoners, make him always a welcome visitor among the men.

Mr. Pflanz's desire to change the criminal into a respected citizen and the a.s.sistance he gives to bring about this result proves his thorough understanding, brought about by years of study and personal contact, of how to deal with this cla.s.s of our citizens.h.i.+p.