Prisons and Prayer Part 55

We write you a few lines praying that G.o.d will allow you to call again and preach for us, for we believe that the Spirit of G.o.d is with you. We need thy aid here. So, our dear sister in the Lord, we do wish to hear you once more, so will come much good in the name of the living G.o.d!

THE PRISONERS.

Boise City Penitentiary, July 29, 1890.

Elizabeth Wheaton, Portland, Oregon.

Dear Madam: I am instructed to thank you in behalf of all of us for your kind visit. We fully appreciate your labor, your courage, and integrity; your singleness of heart and purpose, your purity of motives; but above all do we appreciate your sincerity. Your indefatigable efforts, even in your old age, to reach the criminal, to lead him upward and onward to his true destiny under so many disadvantages, without money and without price, without the support of state or church, and, I may add, without the support of public sentiment which appears to be against you and us--all this, I say, inspires us with faith and confidence in you. And when I am paying you this tribute, I am at the same time aware that I am paying it to Him who came on earth to seek and save us, for without Him you would not love us as you do.

Come again, say we all.

PRISONERS.

Lancaster, Nebr., Oct. 25, 1903.

Mrs. E. R. Wheaton,

Dear Mother: We, the undersigned, as a token of our appreciation of your efforts in our behalf, respectfully request that you accept our a.s.surance of appreciation of to-day's services, and especially the song service held in our cell-house, and best wishes for your future success.

Signed by 199 prisoners, each giving his number.

Bushy Mountain State Prison, Petros, Tenn., May 4, 1896.

Dear Mother Wheaton: We, the undersigned, unfortunate children, a.s.semble together to try to show you how grateful we are for the devout interest you are taking in the welfare of our souls. We hope and trust that the Lord will continue to be with you all along your journey, trusting that if we don't meet again on earth, that we may meet in Heaven.

Pray for us.

We enclose the following sums for each of us:

W. J. 25 cents W. S. 10 cents C. R. R. 10 cents

Walla Walla, July 11, 1889.

Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton,

Dear Friend: Your postal received. You have the appreciation and kind thoughts of many here for your kind remembrance of us all in our secluded prison home. Aside from your own particular means and the many other ways adopted by religious people to draw the attention of the indifferent to the subject of their spiritual welfare, the evident disinterested motive which characterizes your extended labors, is of itself sufficient, to highly recommend your kind endeavors to all fair-minded people, and to give you a hearty welcome, from prisoners especially, wherever you may find them.

We would all, therefore, send you a kind word of encouragement and G.o.dspeed in your good work and _labor of love_, believing that your gospel message is fully adapted to meet the spiritual wants of the whole human family under whatever condition found.

PRISONERS OF WALLA WALLA PENITENTIARY, Per F. S.

Richmond, Va., August 23, 1885.

Dear Madam: I take much pleasure to introduce myself to you, and stating to you how I first found rest for my sinful soul. I am a stranger to you by name, but not by the love of Jesus Christ, and I was highly delighted to hear you speak to us. It lifted up my downhearted feeling and caused me to look around myself, and I do truly hope that those words that you have spoken may be as seed sowed in good ground, and take root and the future may tell. And for myself, when I first came to this place I was a vile sinner and thanks be to the good Lord that I have my soul awakened in Christ Jesus, and if it had not been for this place I think that I would have been a sinner until now, but now all my trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. Although I have many crosses and trials and temptations, my trust is in the Lord, and I truly pray and trust the Lord that after awhile we shall all meet in heaven where there will be no more parting.

I trust you will be successful in this work of the Lord. I desire your prayers.

I am your humble servant, H. T.

Ma.s.sachusetts State Prison, October 25, 1885.

Dear Madam: It is with much pleasure that I listened to your address to-day. Please accept my thanks for the interest which you take in the poor unfortunate prisoners. There are many skeptic ones among us because we see so much hypocrisy. May G.o.d bless you, and let me inform you that your motherly-like appearance sank deep into the hearts of many.

Our chaplain tries to do all the good he can, but no one knows what a prisoner's life is but a prisoner.

My poor mother used to pray like you. I will not forget your earnest advice. I wish there were more like you, for then there would be a true reform in prisons. These places ruin young men. O it is not understood by those men who govern us even. Some of the officers are not fit to be over young men. Every officer should be a religious man, but we have few in accordance with the text: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Many of them take G.o.d's name in vain.

I shall try to think much upon what you said, with G.o.d's help.

Please pray for an unfortunate one. May G.o.d bless you.

J. J.

New York, Nov. 26, 1885.

My Dear Friend: Your postal reached me this morning and I can a.s.sure you it gave me pleasure to hear from you and see you had not forgotten Ludlow Street Jail. Today is Thanksgiving Day, and to us poor unfortunates I can a.s.sure you it is a gloomy one, but we must give thanks to our Heavenly Father that we are not in a worse place than this. I for one do pray to Him and thank Him for His kindness and pray to Him to give us strength of mind to resist all temptations.

I cannot remember who you enquire about. I am the small man who introduced you to my wife and sister the first time you called.

We were treated today by our kind warden to a good Thanksgiving dinner and I pray before another Thanksgiving Day that I may have the pleasure of seeing you under more favorable circ.u.mstances.

May G.o.d be with you in your good work is the prayer of,

Sincerely yours, I. L., Ludlow Street Jail, New York City.

Cell No. 35--Tombs, New York City, Sunday, Nov. 1, 1885.

Dear Sister Wheaton: Forgive me for calling you so as I cannot rightly call you otherwise. Your prayer today came from your very soul. I felt it deeply. It has entered into mine. I feel a new man. You were a G.o.dsend to me. Your words have given new life, they have inspired me to live in the future a real Christian. I feel so light of heart since you were here, that I cannot find words adequate to properly express myself. I pray your good work may be crowned with success. I feel now that I am again a child of G.o.d. I shall pray and try to live as Jesus desires. I pray to Him that He will give me all encouragement to lead a Christian life and do His will only. O! how I have learned to love Jesus through your inspiring words of comfort and goodness.

I shall daily pray for your health and prosperity in Jesus. Do likewise for me, and may we meet in Heaven. To this end I shall ever pray and so sign myself,

A brother in Jesus, J. M. S.