Some of My Prison Boys.
The writer of the following letters was one of the most remarkably
conscientious persons I ever knew. As a prisoner, he was very highly
respected by the officers. His chaplain has ever remained his sincere
friend and counselor. Years have passed since he left prison life and
he still remains an earnest Christian and an honorable member of
society. No one but his pastor, employer and former friends know his
past history.
He was converted in prison during services I held in 1884 or 1885. He
presented me some years ago with a book of poems of his own writing.
Not being able to carry them with me, I have lost trace of them.
Otherwise would be glad to furnish some of them to my readers.
* * * * *
To Mrs. Wheaton, My Dear Mother in the Lord:
I call you by this name because I am young and have lost my
mother in the flesh, and I am writing this letter because, as you
have given up all for Jesus' sake, you only can help me as I
wish. You can pray for me as a mother prays for a son. I am
twenty-four years old, have an eighteen years' sentence, have
served four years of it and expect to serve the whole of it for I
have no influential friends to help me.
I had not been here a year until I realized what eighteen years
of prison life meant--the deprivation of all earthly pleasures,
and the wasting away of youthful hopes and ambitions in vain
regret. Grief, misery and despair overwhelmed me every night, and
every night I wished that I were dead. A great struggle was going
on in my soul. A struggle for either life or death, and, thank
God, life had the victory.
I am now a Christian. A night of revelation came to me in which
God, as Judge, and Jesus, as Saviour, revealed to me--the one,
the power and glory; the other, the love of God.
But my way is not like the peaceful flow of a river, but like a
stream of cascades. By leaps I draw nearer to God. In the
meantime I do not keep the image of Jesus before me. Pray, dear
mother, this special prayer for me, that my faith may be
constant; that self shall no more come between it and Jesus; that
surroundings shall not weaken it; that youth shall not neglect
it. Jesus has stamped my soul with his blood. It can never be
effaced, but my soul does not thrill as often as I wish with the
joy of right-doing. Belief in Jesus permeates my whole being. Why
do I sometimes stray from his love? Repentance is doubly grievous
then, and repent I must. My conscience compels me. The prayers of
a saintly woman will be heard. You will pray for me for Jesus'
sake.
Yours in the Lord,
SIGNED.
* * * * *
Thanksgiving Day, 1885.
Dear Mother in the Lord:
With what mingled emotions of joy, gratitude and love, I read
your faith inspiring letter. I did not expect it, for one Sunday
in the chapel the Chaplain read one from you addressed to us all
in general. He also told us something about your way--what a
lonely, weary way. What a sorrow yours has been! Can we poor
mortals ever forget our sorrow? Does it not rise to the surface
at times and overwhelm us, so that nothing but the soothing
presence of Jesus can comfort us? "I will not leave you
comfortless; I will come to you."
A common saying here is: "I don't believe in a man coming to
prison to reform." Ah! little they know what reform is, for where
on earth does one need the Spirit that reforms more than in
prison? Our poets tell us that prisons are the types of hell. I
bless God for bringing me to this prison. Out of its depths I
cried and He heard me, nor do I pray to be free from its thrall.
Indeed I do pray for His will to be done in me and beseech Him to
keep me here until He calls me to Himself, rather than I should
go free again and forget Him. That I never can. Though I fell to
the lowest depths, I could never forget Him. Dear Mother, we
will meet Him--Jesus--in Heaven. Oh! I do not want the pleasures
of this life! I do want to be, like you, His humble follower. How
I wish I could be near you always that your faith might ever
increase my own. I need, very much I need, the pure and tender
influence of a holy praying "mother." My own mother had a loving
heart, but neither she nor my father did I ever see praying. My
precious Saviour was never revealed to me from the lips of
either. What would have become of me had God deferred this
discipline? Would I not have gone on in sin until too late, even
had I been sent here for a short term of years? My only thought
would be for them to end, that I might pursue again the delusive
hopes of sin.
I fully realize my position here. I see the providence of God
that makes it a blessing.
I would tell you the way Jesus came to me, or rather how I came
to Him. When first I came here I did not think of what was in
store for me--eighteen years of prison life. I was wild and
thoughtless. The strangeness of the place helped to divert my
mind, but the solitude of my cell at night forced me to look into
the future. At length my fate dawned upon me. Oh! it was
terrible! During the day I would try to forget the thoughts of
the night by being more wild than ever, but the night brought the
ordeal again and it was driving me to despair. I longed to be
dead, but one night the thought came: "Suppose you were dead,
what then? Would you be at rest?" I say thought, but if ever the
Holy Spirit spoke to the soul of man, it spoke to mine that
night. In an instant I saw the enormity of my sins and the
punishment in store for me. In terror I cried: "O, what shall I
do? Oh, I cannot die! I cannot meet this doom!" Need I say that
my cry was not in vain? No, the spirit of Jesus taught me of
Himself that night, and the Chaplain showed me some words in the
gospel of John. I never read the Bible before, but there were
Christ's words, and those words I now read often. The Psalms and
St. John contain for me the Way of Life.
I do not forget you in my feeble prayers morning and night, and I
hope you will be indeed my "Mother" for Jesus' sake. Amen.
* * * * *
June 16, 1890.
My Dear Friend and Spiritual Mother:
I thank you very much for your kind letter, which I received
today. I pray that you may die in the harness, leaving your work
to just pass over the river into Heaven.
Have you heard that our dear Chaplain's helpmeet has recently
taken this journey? The Chaplain takes it just as one would
expect he would, calmly, with faith unabated, rather increased,
for he said to me the day after the funeral: "The peace of God in
my heart passeth understanding." This evidence of real trust in
God's mercy, and that He is and heaven is, has been the means of
bringing me nearer to God.
I am reading a book by "H. W. S." entitled "Frank: the Record of
a Happy Life." It is very inspiring. I have been convinced for
some time that the higher Christian life was a reality, and had
experienced its blessings. But I lived upon the experience,
drawing my strength from it and not God, consequently I soon got
back to where I was before. But the Holy Spirit has of late been
urging me to seek it again, so that I have consecrated myself
anew to the Lord, and he has blessed me wonderfully, taking away
the irritable feeling that certain trials were sure to bring me.
I forget self and think only of doing good to those who before I
felt like shunning. It makes me very humble in my happiness. Dear
Mother, I am sure you have enjoyed this blessed experience of
living moment by moment to God, being kept by Him from all sin
and the power of temptation.
I have read that many Christians do not believe that the blood of
Christ cleanseth from all sin. This appears very strange to me. I
don't see how they can be so blind. When this blessed thought was
shown me I could not help believing it, it seemed so plain, and
was really needful for us to have in order to live up to the
commands of the gospel.
Tuesday P. M., 17th.
They are celebrating the Battle of Bunker Hill today. We have had
our holiday and are now in our rooms for the rest of the day. It
is a perfect summer day, mild, with a refreshing breeze floating
through the windows. My bird hangs above me chirping, enjoying
himself, while the murmur of voices in the guard room, with now
and then the joyous shout of a baby, make me feel like shutting
my eyes and imagining myself far away from these stones and bars.
I firmly believe that an educated Christian who is wholly
consecrated shall be used by the Lord where an uneducated one
would not. You know it was to Paul, the highly educated, that was
intrusted the greatest work of the Apostles, viz: To convert the
heathen world. In Athens, the center of intellectual life, he
preached, quoting to them from their own poets and converting
certain philosophers of whom was Dionysius, one of the city's
judges. Intellectual ability is a talent which the Lord requires
us to use for His kingdom. We need never fear for education,
"While near the school the church spire stands," as the Quaker
poet, Whittier, puts it.
Our prayer meeting is growing both in numbers and in interest. We
hold an election of officers today. I resigned the leadership
owing to my duties in the library being such that I could not
attend regularly. I, however, accepted the place of chairman of
the standing committee. The Warden has allowed the teachers of
the night school to organize a society for the purpose of general
culture. Last Friday the constitution and by-laws were submitted
for approval. Next Friday the election of officers will be held.
I have been embarrassed by several members asking me to accept
the position of president. I know that I am not qualified for the
position, but they think otherwise and are persistent. These, and
other tokens of regard and respect for me by my fellow prisoners,
I am very grateful for.
It makes me feel, too, that my Christian life here has not been
without results among them. They respect my scruples--something I
hardly think people outside are in the habit of doing. You will
understand that I look upon all this as the Lord's doings, and
feel no self-praise over it. To Him be all the praise for giving
me the courage and strength to let my light shine before the men
in this prison. O! it is good to be on the Lord's side, to let
Him order my way. I pray that I may never have a will of my own
in this respect. I feel so perfectly willing to remain here and
serve Him in my feeble way, only praying that if a larger
opportunity comes to me I shall not be found wanting, only
believing that with the opportunity will come added strength and
power from on high. The Holy Spirit has so witnessed to my
spirit that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek Him, and that Jesus is my Saviour, that the bare
thought of being unfaithful brings intense pain to my soul. No, I
can never be happy away from my Saviour. With His faith filling
my being, His peace shall abide with me.
I pray daily for my spiritual "Mother," that the Lord shall bless
her in all heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that the Holy Spirit
shall rest upon you, giving you the word of truth to speak to the
lost souls in all the places you go to.
With much love, I remain
Your son and brother in the Lord,
---- ----.
* * * * *
Oct. 23, 1894.
My Dear Mother:
I have been waiting to hear from you so I could write and let you
know of the good news that has come to me. I am no longer in
prison. I have been let out on parole. This means that I am still
a prisoner, but am given larger liberty. I shall not be allowed
to leave this city nor engage in mission work, that is to give my
whole time to it. I have to report to the secretary of the Board
of Prison Commissioners every month. When I get a room I am going
to devote the most of my spare time to study. I go to a mission
at the North End, but have no regular church connections. I have
been living with Mr. ---- since coming out, but will leave him
within a week. He has been a good friend to me. He has been so
ill all this year that he has been to the prison only a few
times.
I am happy in my new life. The Lord is blessing me wonderfully.
There is no other life worth living here below but following in
the way of the Lord.
With much love, I remain
Your son in the Lord,
---- ----.
A TALENTED YOUNG MAN.
Soon after entering upon prison work, I found in one of our eastern
prisons the writer of the following letters and articles. He was at
that time young, gifted, scholarly and very prepossessing in
appearance. His penmanship was beautiful, perhaps the most so I have
ever seen, but he had fallen under evil influences and the very gift
that should have been used for a better purpose proved a curse and at
the time I first saw him he was under sentence for forgery. He seemed
to be clearly converted in a meeting I held in the prison and proved
faithful during the remainder of his term. But after he went out into
the world I lost trace of him. He was only one among thousands who
need sympathy and help and encouragement. I trust that, if living, he
is still true to himself and to God. Some of his letters follow, also
the discourse on the Agony in the Garden in the form of a letter found
in the appendix is of his writing.
Oct. 29, 1885.
To Mrs. ---- Wheaton.
Madame: Not being able to shake hands, and having thus been
deprived of the pleasure of verbally telling you what we had to
say, we now have recourse to our pen. Our hearts have heard,
understood and treasured your words of last Sunday.
Dear Lady, yours is a special task. In your field of labor are
gathered crowds unnumbered, inert, inanimate, forming, as it
were, a great desert, a Dead Sea uninhabited by any living thing.
There lies a small world to be reconquered; such are the men who
are to be reclaimed. How act upon them? How move their hearts?
How gain mastery over them? In these questions lies the secret of
the future.
Holiness in your heart and the omnipotent hand of Jesus in yours
cannot fail to bring about the reformation of a host of
criminals. He will save them. Oh! climb the heights, display the
brilliancy of those universal truths in whose presence every
being gifted with reason and accessible to reflection feels
compelled to bend the knee. Deeds, examples, striking evidence
and incontestable proofs of abnegation, devotedness, charity and
sacrifices are required. These are the sermons that awaken souls
from their torpor; these the weapons that triumph over the
world, however criminal, careless, frivolous and hardened it may
be.
SIGNED.
* * * * *
December 1, 1885.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton,
Somewhere in America.
Let me begin this letter by saying something very true concerning
RUM.
Let thy devotees extol thee,
And thy wondrous virtues sum;
But the worst of names I'll call thee,
O, thou hydra monster, Rum!
Pimple-maker, visage-bloater,
Health-corrupter, idler's mate;
Mischief breeder, vice promoter,
Credit spoiler, devil's bait.
Almshouse builder, pauper maker,
Trust betrayer, sorrow's source;
Pocket emptier, Sabbath breaker,
Conscience stifler, guilt's resource.
Nerve enfeebler, system shatterer,
Thirst increaser, vagrant thief;
Cough producer, treacherous flatterer,
Mud bedauber, mock relief.
Business hinderer, spleen instiller,
Woe begetter, friendship's bane;
Anger heater, Bridewell filler,
Debt involver, toper's chain.
Memory drowner, honor wrecker,
Judgment warper, blue-faced quack;
Feud beginner, rags bedecker,
Strife enkindler, fortune's wreck.
Summer's cooler, winter's warmer,
Blood polluter, specious snare;
Mob collector, man transformer,
Bond undoer, gambler's fare.
Speech bewrangler, headlong bringer,
Vitals burner, deadly fire;
Riot mover, firebrand flinger,
Discord kindler, misery's sire.
Sinews robber, worth depriver,
Strength subduer, hideous foe;
Reason thwarter, fraud contriver,
Money waster, nations' woe.
Vile seducer, joy dispeller,
Peace disturber, blackguard guest;
Sloth implanter, liver sweller,
Brain distracter, hateful pest.
Wit destroyer, joy impairer,
Scandal dealer, foul-mouthed scourge;
Senses blunter, youth ensnarer,
Crime inventor, ruin's verge.
Virtue blaster, base deceiver,
Spite displayer, sot's delight;
Noise exciter, stomach heaver,
Falsehood spreader, scorpion's bite.
Quarrel plotter, rage discharger,
Giant conqueror, wasteful sway;
Chin carbuncler, tongue enlarger,
Malice venter, death's broadway.
Household scatterer, high-hope dasher,
Death's forerunner, hell's dire brink;
Ravenous murderer, windpipe slasher,
Drunkard's lodging, meat and drink!
The rum vender's power is something enormous. We do not delude
ourselves into thinking that the fight for national prohibition
will be easily won. In many respects the liquor dealers will
prove an enemy harder to vanquish than the slave dealers were.
For slavery was an institution with a local habitation. It was
restricted to certain well-defined limits. The whole world knew
where it was and what it was doing. But rum is everywhere. Its
upholders are woven into the warp and woof of society in every
city and hamlet. It has a thousand heads, and it can hide them in
times of danger with wonderful facility. Slavery was bold, brazen
and defiant. It could be nothing else. But the liquor dealers,
with equal bravado and strength, are enabled to resort to the
cunning and subtlety of the serpent, when bravado is imprudent.
Then the liquor dealer's influence over his victims does not end
with control of the bodies. His slaves are his allies. He owns
them, many of them, body and soul for such a cause. They will
fight for rum and vote for rum as persistently as the saloonist
himself. These facts may as well be appreciated. When it comes to
defiant antagonism, when temperance men boldly array themselves
in professed opposition to the traffic in alcohol, the struggle
will be severe. But it is certain there will come no time in the
future when it will be less severe. The liquor power is _a
rapidly growing power_. God knows it is strong enough now, but it
becomes stronger with each passing day.
Are we willing that such a class of men not only hold such an
enormous power, but add to it indefinitely? In the census for
1880 the capital employed in the manufacture of liquor was over
one hundred and eighteen million of dollars, and the number of
persons employed in the manufactories and in saloons aggregated
over one hundred thousand. No nation can afford to leave such
power in the hands of such men. It is suicidal.
Having _said my say_ about "Old Devil" and his "Clerks" I guess
I'll write a _little_ letter to
My Dear Sister:
Your good, kind letter was duly received. We sincerely thank you.
When meeting with savages who don't treat you respectfully please
ever remember that in M---- everybody who knows you or about you
loves you. Mrs. D. told me to write to Mrs. Wheaton because "_she
is a lovely Christian_."
"O taste and see that the Lord is good." Psa. 34:8.
That is the right way to find out that He is good. We may think
He is good, we may have some idea that He is so--but to know it,
and to know how very good the Lord is, we must taste his
goodness. He alone is good. He is goodness itself; and because He
is this, He wants us to taste, to enjoy Him.
Good men and women, and good children, will one day be like the
angels in heaven; and they begin to be such already in this
world. If it were not for them, if they were not here to be the
bearers of peace and happiness, the ministers of mercy and of
love, to wretchedness and woe, to the weary and the bowed down,
how wretched would this world be! A thousand blessings upon you,
beloved sisters, who, from the goodness of your great big heart,
endeavor to do good to others. It is through such holy and
devoted daughters of our thrice holy King and Father as Sister
Elizabeth that we taste and see how good the Lord is.
"You see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own
hand." Galatians 6:11. "I thank my God, making mention of thee
always in my prayers." Philemon, 4.
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing
that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy
Ghost." Romans 15:13.
"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them
which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."
Hebrews 13:3.
We salute thee, sister.
Your real brother in Jesus,
L. J.
* * * * *
Charlestown, Mass., Oct. 18, 1886.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton.
Dear Sister--John 17:20, 21: "Everyone members one of another."
"If one suffer all suffer." I do not know that the relation and
consequent influence of member upon member can be better
illustrated than by the connection of the body, mind and spirit,
and the power that any one of the three has over the other two.
The mind depends upon the body to carry out its desires, and the
mind is in constant subjection to the body in health and in
sickness. The body is controlled by the mind as the ship is
directed in her course by the man at the helm. The spirit looks
out through the eyes of the body and is entranced with the scene
of beauty, or is crushed with the sorrow with which it is seized,
according as we look upon a thing of beauty or the eye rests upon
things withered and dead.
The life and experience of every man attest the fact that thought
and emotion, and the body in which the organs of thought and
feeling are placed, are inter-related in such a way and to such
an extent that the mind and body control, to a very great extent,
the activity of each other. The wise man, looking at the inner
life and the outer manifestation of it, from a little different
point of view, expresses it thus: "As a man thinketh in his heart
so is he. The spirit of a man will sustain his _infirmity_, but a
wounded or broken spirit who can bear?" Says a writer in the Laws
of Health: "If a man thinks he is an invalid he is one; if he
thinks himself incompetent he is incompetent, and so through the
whole list." By faith in Christ, as true and confiding as the
trust of a child; by boldness at the throne of grace; by firmness
in resisting temptation, and by resolution in the performance of
every duty we are able to maintain the connection we have formed
with Christ, the head of the body; to bear the fruit of the vine;
to suffer with each other; to be honored with the members of the
body, and to rejoice with those who rejoice.
As the connection of the body, mind, moral nature and spirit is
such as to give one part influence over the other parts and the
power to modify their health and action, so the relation which is
formed with the household of faith, when we come into Christ, is
to be honored by striving for the faith of the gospel and by an
effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
If one in Christ now, this oneness can be maintained among the
brotherhood in but one way, and that is by being one with Christ
and God in purpose, plan and effort for the salvation of men and
by striving together for _the faith_ of the gospel. The unity of
God's people cannot be maintained by erecting standards of our
own--by making our own opinions bonds of fellowship and tests of
soundness--by prescribing this and forbidding that. The unity is
to be maintained by striving together for _the faith_ of the
gospel. The same thing is true with reference to the multitudes
who are following Christ as they have learned him. The unity of
all these distracted bodies is not to be brought about by any
effort to form a union, but by an effort on the part of each one
to grow up into Christ, the living Head; by all agreeing to
disagree in their opinions; and by all striving together for _the
faith_ of the gospel. This lesson is to be taught the world by
the disciples of Christ, and if we do not teach the lesson
aright, we may expect, and we ought to receive the question: What
do ye more than others?
When we are growing in favor with God and man; when we are
increasing in the knowledge of divine things; when our lives are
hid with Christ in God; when we are appropriating the spiritual
food which God has furnished; when we are proving to the world
that we have passed from death unto life; when we are loving each
other with pure hearts fervently; when we are continuing
steadfast in the apostles' doctrines and in the fellowship, in
the breaking of bread and in prayers, we are giving to the world
and to professed Christians everywhere a living demonstration
that we are striving together for the faith of the gospel.
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that
bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good
tidings of good that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion,
Thy God reigneth!"
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be
in health, even as thy soul prospereth. III John 2.
Yours in His love,
L. J.
UNDER DEATH SENTENCE.
In 1887, I found the writer of the following letters, with nine other
men, under sentence of death in the prison at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
Before his cell door stood his wife and four little children. They all
seemed heart-broken and I was deeply impressed with the sad, touching
scene. After talking with them and praying for them, I was led to
believe that the man was innocent of the crime for which he and
another young man had been condemned. The evidence against them was
purely circumstantial. The other man was afterward given his liberty,
but this one was held, as many believed, for want of money to hire
lawyers to properly plead his case. I still believe him to be an
innocent man.
I left the state a short time before the day set for the execution,
but prayed the Lord to let his life be spared if he was innocent. Some
time after I learned that he, with several others, had been given a
life sentence in the Ohio penitentiary. I went to the President and
Attorney General in Washington, D. C., several times, trying, if
possible, to secure his pardon. They were kind and courteous and after
looking up the evidence would have granted him a pardon if the judge
who had passed the sentence would request it, but he refused to do so
and finally died. Then all hope seemed gone. The wife died of a broken
heart. The children all died and the dear old parents, broken-hearted,
lingered on, hoping against hope, until now they, too, may have passed
away. But the poor man lingered in prison, with health, hope, friends,
youth, all gone; forgotten by the world, waiting for death to end his
misery. I say hope gone; I mean, hope for freedom here. His hope of
heaven proved an anchor to his sorrowing heart. He proved himself a
consistent Christian and a good, quiet, obedient prisoner. A letter
from Chaplain Starr, Columbus, Ohio, tells me that he had been finally
pardoned and was released January 4, 1904.
I find in my possession two papers received from Washington regarding
his case of which I give the reader verbatim copies:
* * * * *
Department of Justice.
Washington.
Case of M----, Western District of Arkansas.
Offense--Murder.
Sentence--To be hanged.
Petition for pardon filed March 11, 1899.
Commuted to life imprisonment on June 7, 1899.
JAMES F. REED, ESQ.,
U. S. Dist. Atty., Western Dist. of Ark.,
Fort Smith, Ark.
* * * * *
Department of Justice.
Washington, D. C., March 8, 1895.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton,
902 H. Street, N. E.
Sir: The papers in the above case have been referred, in
accordance with Department practice, to the United States
Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas for his
consideration, and he has reported adversely thereon, being of
the opinion that the case is not one in which executive clemency
should be exercised, trial judge concurring.
In the absence of a counter showing, the report of the United
States Attorney will be considered as disposing of the case.
By direction of the Attorney General.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT,
Attorney in Charge of Pardons.
* * * * *
Fort Smith, Ark., Feb. 20, 1889.
Dear Sister in Christ:
Yours at hand. It found a small portion of us praying to God for
aid. We keep up our prayer meeting. There is but three of us who
attend regular. It is myself and Mr. M. and T. We want to do all
we can to save our souls. I am one who is to be executed on the
19th and I am ready to go if God says for me to go. I am sure to
meet you in Heaven where there is no unjust court. I want you to
pray for me in good faith, for the prayers of the righteous are
powerful and I want you to remember the day I am to die and pray
for my soul to go to God where I can see everlasting enjoyment.
I am sad, sister. It hurts my heart to think I have been a good,
affectionate man on earth and now I must die for the wicked world
or man's evil. I forgive all and will die an innocent man. "God
receive my soul" is my prayer.
Brother and sister B. came and prayed for us last week. Write me
again and I will give you all the news.
Yours truly,
M----.
I had to stop writing to get to prayer meeting and I tell you, we
had a good time. It does me good to get to say a word for Jesus,
in jail or out. I am as happy as anyone could be in prison, I am
sure. I am blessed with a sure love of God who can save or
destroy. We don't have preaching very often in here. There are
ten in here who are found guilty of murder. It is no wonder
people think they can't get justice. I am sure it is on account
of so many bad people being in the territory and around it.
I am thankful I am even spared to see a few more days and to let
me have more time to try for justice. I am doing all I can and so
are my friends and relatives. I have a good father and mother to
pray for me day and night and am sure there is many a prayer gone
to Jesus in my behalf.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I say good-bye. I am,
Yours very truly, M----.
* * * * *
Fort Smith, Arkansas, March 13, 1889.
Dear Sister in Christ:
Yours at hand. It found me well and still pleading to God to
prepare my soul to meet my fate on the 19th of April. It is an
awful day for me to think of. I do hope and pray to God I won't
be put to death in such a cruel manner. I don't deserve such a
death, or any punishment at all for the accused crime. I don't
fear death, but I don't want to disgrace so many good people as
it will be a disgrace on all my relatives and me as clear of
murder as a child, and I don't believe God will allow me to be
put to death without a cause, but if God tells me to go on the
scaffold I will obey Him.
I had a dear brother come to see me this week, and when he left
me it just looked like it was the last sight of the dear brother,
although he said, "I will come to see you again before ----,"
then he choked down and went away. He meant, "Before you are
executed." It would do my dear old parents an awful sight of good
to get a letter from you, stating what I said in regard to a
future home. I do wish you would write them.
We keep up our prayer meeting as regular as the time comes,
except we are hindered by a good cause. Seldom we miss our
meeting and prayers together. I am sorry to say there is only
three of us and I am all the doomed one of the three. I want you
when you are visiting prisons in Texas to inquire for a man by
the name of John H., as I have heard he was arrested in Texas
somewhere and was in jail. This is the same name as the man we
are accused of killing, and it may be the same man. I wrote to
Paris, Texas, but he was not there. If you find him let me know
at once. You can ask him if he ever knew Henry M. and William W.
He might deny us, so you can give me a description and I can tell
if it is him. Ask him of what nationality he is.
God bless you all and send me relief at the last hour. Amen. I
am,
Your true and affectionate brother in Christ,
M----.
* * * * *
Fort Smith, Arkansas, April 11, 1889.
Mrs. Wheaton,
Dear Sister in Christ:
Your kind and welcome letter at hand. I hope you are being
blessed by our Almighty God. I am sure you are worthy of great
praise in well-doing. I am very sorry to inform you I am not
pardoned yet, but I thank God I have been respited till June 29.
It was thankful news for me and I am sure it is the power of our
God who wants justice done in everything here on earth. Oh, what
a great promise Jesus has promised us all if we will humble
ourselves and get low down at his feet! I am one that wants to
bow as low as I am required. I am a servant for Jesus as long as
I remain in this sinful world.
I am so glad my dear old pa wrote you. I don't get any letters
from him. I suppose he writes so pitiful to me the jailer won't
let me have his letters. I do not know any other cause. I receive
letters from my brothers and sisters regular. I thank you for the
letter father sent you. My misfortune is an awful burden on their
poor, old and feeble hearts, but I pray God to stay them and help
them to bear their sorrows and I am sure He will do so.
Mr. W., my partner, is granted a free pardon and the President
did not have time to investigate the evidence in my behalf, so he
respited me for further investigation. Several of the senators
are taking an anxious part for me and it is thought I will get a
pardon. I trust in God I will be set free and can be able to help
catch sinners for Jesus; I am sure I am willing.
I am sorry to inform you Brother M. was convicted of a brutal
murder as the evidence shows. I hope he is not guilty, but we
must not say.
It is a sad place here. Brother George B. and Brother T. have
gone back in the world. There is nothing done for Brother George
yet and his time is short.
The President refused to do anything for M., that one-armed
colored man, so he must meet his Jesus on the 19th of this month.
There is three more, but the President has not ruled on their
cases yet. I don't know whether they will be hung or not. I hope
not. God help them all.
I want you to please write me. It does me good to read a letter
from you. Write soon.
M----.
* * * * *
Fort Smith, Ark., May 1, 1889.
Dear Sister in Christ:
Yours at hand. It found us all in good health, and for myself, I
am looking to Jesus. We still keep up our prayer meeting. It is
a great comfort for me to get to tell Jesus how I feel and to
hear the other brothers pray and talk for Him. Of course I know
it is hard for me and some others to bear this punishment, yet I
feel the kindness of our kind Saviour in my poor, sad heart. I
only ask God to save my life and I am willing to spend the rest
of my days in his service. I can only trust God that all will
come out right.
I will tell you of the dear ones who were hung on the 19th. It
was J. M. and A. Both were colored men. M. had the Catholic
priest pray for him and he said he was going to heaven. He was
very moody and pale; but he seemed to know his doom. Poor fellow!
God pity us all, for we have souls to save. A. joined the
Methodist church and was baptized the same day he was hung. He
was the bravest soldier I ever heard of. He smiled and said,
"Good-bye, Henry." I had to shed tears to see and feel the nerves
quivering when he and I both knew that it was death caused the
quivering of his pulse. Poor boys! They are better off than I am,
if they had made their peace with God.
Brother M. was convicted and is sentenced to be hung July 17.
There is five to be hung on that day. One colored man and one
Indian woman and one Indian man and F. C. and Brother M. Myself
and George B. got a respite. His is till June 21 and mine till
June 29. W. got a free pardon and I am held on the same evidence.
It is because I was poor and did not send a man to plead for me
at Washington, but people think I will come out all right yet. I
leave it all to God, who can do me justice without money.
For the sake of each poor unfortunate soul you may chance to
meet, I ask God to be near you and show and tell you a word to
say to the poor condemned ones--a comforting word for their
souls' sake. Joy and peace be with you. You have my prayers, as
weak as they are. Jesus be with us all. Amen.
Write me soon.
M----.
* * * * *
Ft. Smith, Ark., May 20, 1889.
Dear Sister in Christ:
Yours at hand. It found us all well but Mr. T. He has been
complaining, but he is better now. We were blessed with Mr. and
Mrs. B. to sing and pray for us this morning and it was a great
comfort to us all. She was refused at first, but after she came
in and told us we sent her to Mr. C. and he told her to "sing and
pray for those men as much as she wanted to." It is queer for a
living being to not want the distressed to find relief, but it
seems as though there was but little mercy shown us here, and,
dear sister, I am sure there are some good hearts in here and God
surely will not allow them to be put to death. Yet it has been
done, and it can be done again, and I am not trusting in a single
word or act of man. I am reading my Bible and asking God to open
my heart to all faith and charity and reveal all the required
secrets to my heart so I can become one of his children in faith
and be sanctified in Him. I am so glad you wrote me. It does me
good to hear from you. Write soon, as I can only stay here till
June 21. Good-bye.
M----.
* * * * *
Columbus, Ohio, March 30, 1890.
Dear Sister in Christ:
Yours found me in some better health than I was when you last saw
me. I am so glad you will continue to write me. Like all other
persecuted souls, I sometimes think I have no friends. But it
cannot be so in my case.
I do not faint or shudder at the idea of dying in prison. It is
just as near heaven from this prison as it would be if I was at
home in the tender care of dear parents and brothers and sisters.
Yet I cannot say I am as happy here as there at home. I am not. I
feel sure my time is short in this world. I have a hard time. I
am in a sea of tears daily. Oh, it is so hard to be bound and
shut out from a free world, but this is all for some purpose,
unknown to me at present, but by the help of God, I my burden
will bear.
"I'll praise my Maker while I've breath,
And when my voice is lost in death,
Praise shall my nobler powers employ
In that Eternal World of joy."
"Lord, remember me for good,
Passing through this mortal veil;
Show me the atoning blood
When my strength and spirit fall.
Give my sorrowing soul to see
Jesus crucified for me."
"May God be your helper and bless you," is my prayer continually.
I do not aim to impress on your mind that I am punished by the
prison laws, for I am not. I haven't had a bit of trouble with
any one since I came into this institution. I have to work hard
and I do more than I ought to, but I am afraid I won't please my
superiors in power over me. I put in many a sleepless night from
weariness of my daily labors. But I could not stand any
punishment, so I had better over-do myself than to be over-done.
My sorrow is now as much as I can bear. I am in need of all good
praying people's prayers, so I ask you and your friends to pray
for me.
I am honored with all the attire of a first-grade-prison man. I
have the red stripes you told me to get and my mustache. The boys
you know are well.
M----.
* * * * *
Columbus, Ohio.
Dear Sister in Christ:
Blessed be our God! He has saved us thus far and has given us an
ark to carry us over Jordan, safe to Eternity. We, as fallen men,
sometimes err in thinking we are not under God's protection, but
I say we are. Jesus came, not to bring saints, but sinners to
repentance. It is not the righteous that are called, but sinners.
There is only one way and that is by Jesus Christ, and that is to
humble ourselves to all that is right. Life has yet many
opportunities for serving God and his Church. Hitherto the Lord
has brought me and still in his loving hands I will cheerfully,
hopefully rest and trust till the shadows of earth shall be
changed for the sunlight of eternity, when my heavenly home is
reached, to be blessed forever with the Lord.
Sister, Brother M. says "God bless you," and you have his
prayers. Bro. F. C. says he hopes to see you soon. Bro. B. is all
right as far as I know. They all say write to them. Bro. T. has
forgotten his pledge. May God soften his heart again to say "Thy
will be done."
I close by asking you to write soon. God bless you and all
co-workers.
Good-bye, M. ----.
SENTENCED FOR LIFE.
Early in my prison work I found in one of our penitentiaries a man
sentenced for life who claimed to have acted only with the motive of
self-defense. That man is still confined in prison, though he is one
of the best of prisoners and has given evidence of being a good,
Christian man, worthy of pardon. I wrote to the governor once in his
behalf, but too late to avail anything, as his term of office was just
expiring. While that poor man has been held there, pardons have been
granted to Chinamen, Spaniards and other foreigners who were wicked
and guilty, yet this Christian man has been kept in confinement all
these long years, until there is only one other besides himself who is
now left of the prisoners who were there on my first visit. The other
has gone insane and I have feared that the one of whom I write would
lose his mind also. His article on the need of prison reform entitled
"Meditations of a Prisoner," found in another chapter, will, I
believe, commend itself to every fair-minded reader.
I give a few selections from his letters. I feel sure he should be a
free man. O the indifference of those who have the power to free such
worthy cases and will not! May God give power to the faint and grace
to the afflicted and let us pray God to show the governors of our land
to whom to give pardon and freedom and from whom to withhold.
* * * * *
State Prison, December 21, 1902.
Dear Mrs. Wheaton:
Your kind and welcome letter received and I was very glad to hear
from you and I do hope you will soon be strong again. The world
needs many Mother Wheatons, so it can ill afford to lose you, but
if the Lord calls you home we must all submit, for He does all
things for the best.
I was much surprised to see by your letter that you had written
to Governor S. in my behalf. From my heart I thank you, dear
Sister, and may God bless you for your kindly interest in me. But
Governor S. will leave the office tomorrow and the newly-elected
Governor will take his seat. It is too bad that you have gone to
all that trouble for nothing. But the fact that you did so will
always be most gratefully remembered by myself and Charles G. He
also wants me to send his kind regards and thanks for your good
will to him.
When you have your book ready please send me one. Could you say
about when it will be ready? I suppose you would like to know how
we spent Christmas. It was spent in the dining-room, but we had a
nice dinner and were kindly remembered by the Warden and Chaplain
and everything was very nice and pleasant.
I will close with kind regards and best wishes, and may God bless
you.
Sincerely yours in the Master's service,
E.
* * * * *
State Prison, Aug. 19, 1903.
Dear Mrs. Wheaton:
I have just received your welcome letter and was very glad to
hear from you, also to know that you were well. It is a wonder
you never get tired of traveling so much. When I think of how you
are constantly battling for the right in the interest of lost
sinners as we are it brings forth the thought in my mind--does it
pay? If one only looks at the general result he can but say--it
does not pay that one pure life should be worn out in the cause
when so few are made to see the error of their ways and turn to
the path of truth and right along the way of righteousness.
But again, if one life is truly brought into the light and a soul
saved, then we must admit it pays. And I know that your
pilgrimage of mercy brings forth good, for all who know you speak
kindly of you. Well, if a little spark of love is kindled in the
heart of the most hardened by the kindly deeds of another, who
can tell how great that spark may become? So let us not weary of
well doing but press on, hoping for the best and accepting the
worst in true Christian resignation.
I gave your message of love to all the men here. All were glad to
hear from you. O, my dear friend, I am so often troubled in heart
by the attitude of some people. Certainly I have been very
sinful. I have fully realized all that was wrong in my life. It
has been my endeavor to cast it all out of my life and to build
on a foundation of righteousness and faith in its place. I have
been blessed in my effort by the help of many who I feel have a
personal interest in me. At the same time no man has been more
inhumanly treated by those who profess to be Christians than I
have been and am.
Yes, my friend, we are commanded to pray for such people. This I
have done for nine years, but the persecution still goes on. May
God forgive them.
Now, a few words about the prison. Everything is changed here. We
have all new officers and guards, also another Governor. The
Chinese cook you spoke to was pardoned last January. I was
denied.
I am, with love, your sincere friend,
E.
* * * * *
January 24, 1904.
Dear Sister:
Your welcome letter duly received and I was glad to hear from you
and to know that you were well.
Well, sister, I am again denied a pardon. Guess I must die here.
Well, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." Still the lack
of a Christian spirit is felt as rendered to me. You remember the
Chinaman who was cook for the Warden? Well, he was pardoned,
likewise several Indians and many others who were without faith,
but Christians--oh, well, prison is a good place for them it
seems.
With kind love and best wishes to you, I remain,
Yours in His service,
E.
* * * * *
State Prison, Feb. 29, 1904.
Mrs. E. R. Wheaton:
Yours received and I was glad to hear from you. I am getting
along very nicely, but the heart is often sad. Oh, I was so much
disappointed, and while I was almost heart broken over it I have
also felt sorry for the friends that stood by me. Why, just think
of it--there are five members on the Board of Pardon, and they
all voted against me! So you see it is not the Governor alone who
is against me, but every one of them.
My dear friend, I don't think you would be able to do anything
for me. The Lord is strong certainly, but the ones who have my
freedom in their power leave the commands of the Lord out of the
question. Read the 18th chapter of Matthew, from the 21st verse
to the last of the chapter, and you will see what I mean.
Now, dear sister, may God help, bless and comfort you in this
seemingly cold world of ours, is the prayer of your friend,
E.
FAITHFUL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF PRISON WALLS.
Another case with which I was very much impressed in the early days of
my missionary work was that of a young man of rare ability, gifted and
sensible, who was spending a term in one of our United States prisons.
He was converted and began working for God among the other prisoners.
After faithfully serving his time, he left the prison with good
prospects. He was taken into an office and did exceedingly good
service for the company, also for God and souls,--his past being known
only to his pastor, employers and prison officials. After several
years he married a most estimable lady who was doing missionary work.
They prospered well. He was promoted from one position to another. For
nineteen years he has lived a devoted Christian. All who know him
honor and respect him. His wife has recently passed over to the
kingdom of heaven. He is still living a true and noble life and he is
only one of many who have served time inside of prison walls, who are
living for God outside and for Heaven at last. I quote a few extracts
from letters received from him during the time of his incarceration.
* * * * *
In Prison, January 12, 1885.
My Dear Friend:
Your kind note was received and I was very much pleased to hear
from you, but was pained that you should think for a moment that
I was forgetting you. Since you left us we have had several very
earnest and interesting meetings--the fruit of your presence and
labor among us. Praise God, He can find his way inside prison
walls as well as outside. He is no respector of person. Many men,
not before confessing Christ or even anxious sinners, have stood
up manfully for prayers and may God give them grace to accept and
believe. It is very simple, my dear sister, is it not? How I wish
that all could see it! It only means total surrender to Him, to
give up the old longings and desires and trust Him from day to
day. Then comes the "perfect peace" which is vouchsafed to them
whose mind is stayed on God. Of course, you will see us again.
Our dear Chaplain and Warden are doing everything possible for
the spiritual welfare of all the men. The Warden dignified our
first meeting by giving us his personal religious experience at
the commencement of the service, and he is willing and anxious to
encourage in every way possible the religious sentiment now
prevailing. As for our Chaplain, I do not believe there is his
equal. I who am so closely associated with him can truly testify
to his untiring zeal in behalf of all of us. If ever there was a
living man, free from any selfish or worldly motives, I believe
it is he. The moral tone has been increasing ever since he came
among us. I shall not feel at all slighted if you save your
strength and time by not writing to me. Just send me some little
message by F. or any others (for I see them all daily), and I
shall be just as well pleased. It is not because I do not like to
have you write me, but I had rather spare you, or help you.
If you will let me know the address of that dear lady at Raleigh
whom you stayed with, I will gladly make her something and would
like very much to make something for any other of the dear
friends who are good to you on your pilgrimage of love and mercy.
Shall not forget to make something for your brother. May God
bless and keep you and make his face to shine upon you for many
years yet to come, and may we finally meet in heaven where there
shall be no more parting and sorrow.
Your loving brother in Christ,
C. W.
* * * * *
August 8, 1886.
My Dear Friend:
Do you think we have forgotten you? Why, no indeed! We think and
speak of you almost daily, but you are moving so that we hardly
know where to locate you. A day or two ago L., who is my friend,
got a postal card from you, and as he cannot write, by permission
just now and I have the privilege to do so, I drop these few
lines for him as well as for myself.
How glad we are to know the Lord has prospered your work. How
literally is the promise of Christ fulfilled, "Lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world." It seems so wonderful
that all people are opening their doors to Christian workers, the
doors which a few years ago were closed and to be opened only
through the power of God, who, as Daniel said, would "set up a
kingdom which shall never be destroyed," but it shall break in
pieces and consume all these kingdoms and shall stand forever.
Our Sabbath School is not in session this month but will renew
its course the first of September. We like our new Warden very
well. Our dear Chaplain is still with us and is quite well and
engaged as ever in his life work. His place would be very hard to
fill here. I have been reading this morning the 34th Psalm--"all
my fears," "all his troubles," "all his afflictions"--a
deliverance from all. "There is no want to them that fear Him."
This Psalm is full of comfort. Praise His name! We can find help
and comfort in any part of His holy Word. We all pray for God's
blessing upon you and your work and for the conversion and
salvation of all whom you minister unto. It does not seem too
great a thing to ask of the Lord. Both L. and F. send their love
to you and L. will write you soon. Also Mr. A. and Mr. R. and
many more send love and best wishes. I shall always consider you
my friend, and if in the Providence of God we shall never meet in
this world I hope to meet you with recognition in our eternal and
glorious home above.
Truly your friend,
C.
* * * * *
January 29, 1890.
My Dear Friend and Mother:
Your letter received yesterday made me very happy. It was so good
of you to write so soon and send such a nice long letter, too. I
trust I am getting to value a letter from you as I ought, as I
realize more and more how your time is so zealously occupied and
needed. I have ever valued your letters for the help they gave
me, but I value them now for their scarcity. In the future, when
perhaps you may be no more, I shall esteem them among my most
valued treasures. Yet I may be called first! We know not the
hour, whether in youth, or old age, or in our prime when the
angel of death shall come to summon us to eternity. "Watch
therefore, be ye also ready," are words that I try to keep ever
in mind, or rather to keep my mind so stayed on Christ that
moment by moment He shall keep me saved so that I shall never
need to whip myself into keeping watch for my Lord. I am glad you
believe in and have the blood cleansing freedom from all sin. It
is an experience that meets with much opposition from worldly
Christians and from some whose good works follow them. These
latter really enjoy the experience, but are prejudiced at the
name given to it by others. I know that it meets with much
opposition. The "Christian Witness" comes to the prison every
week. It is an exponent of holiness and very interesting, as well
as spiritual. I have a magazine which contains a story of an
ex-convict which would do some good to those who think there is
no hope or reform for such an individual. I shall mail you the
magazine, and if you can read it do so and give it to others to
read.
After a silence of several years my father has written me again.
You know he is living in C. and was formerly an instructor in the
State Prison at S. He is now old and broken in health, making him
incapable for steady work, so he is residing at a soldiers' home.
He expresses great anxiety in regard to my future, thinking me
friendless, etc. I have written him a long letter reviewing the
principal incidents of my prison life. How good God has been to
me and how my mind is at rest as regards the future because I
have left it in His hands. To find favor with my God is all I
desire. Having that, whatever my condition I shall be like St.
Paul, content. That is my view of a successful future or life.
Wealth, power, ability, all things that men aspire to in this
life, do not make or lead to success in my mind. Nothing but the
favor of God brings it to man, and that favor comes through the
"washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." Oh,
I am so glad that I know this--even me! How can man doubt the
wondrous love of God when He is so patient to all who will but
look and see. Well, said someone, that they do not want to look
and see lest they should be healed and be saved. My poor old
father is a church-member, but I fear he knows nothing about Holy
Ghost religion, Jesus Christ's religion, pure and undefiled. I
want to do just right all of the time. I know my heart is right
because I hate sin and love righteousness. If the Lord has no
other work for me when I leave here, I would like to labor under
your guidance. When are you coming this way again? I would love
to greet you once more before I die.
C.
* * * * *
From every nodding flower, from every whispering breeze
From mountain's lofty height, from towering trees,
From softly twinkling star, from lightning's giddy flash,
From the softest twitter of a bird and thunder's awful crash,
From hills the ants may call their own,
From crested elders 'round their throne,
From babbling brook, from storm-lashed wave,
From nature smiling, nature grave,
From earth and air, from sky and sea,
There comes the self same voice to me,
Like softest note of cooing dove,
And sweetly whispers, "GOD IS LOVE."
--_A Prisoner._
[Illustration: ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, MITCHELVILLE, IOWA.]
[Illustration: CAMPUS AND PLAYGROUND, GIRLS' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,
MITCHELVILLE, IOWA.]