Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of LoveWheaton, Elizabeth Ryder
Religion
Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of Love
Wheaton, Elizabeth Ryder
Evangelistic work; Prisons
Again God spoke to me by His
Holy Spirit, saying, "Go and honor my Son's name, and I will go with
you." I prayed, "O Lord, if this is Thy voice, speak once more." The
same words came again. I obeyed and God did most wonderfully reveal
Himself to me. I knew I was called to His service and to work for lost
souls.
[Illustration: STATE PRISON, COLUMBUS, OHIO.]
MY CALL TO PRISON WORK.
The question is often asked me, "How did you become interested in this
work, and learn to understand the needs of the prisoner?" It was
through this call from God. None of my relatives or friends were ever
convicted of crime. When I was a young woman I attended the state fair
at Columbus, Ohio, and with a delegation visited the state-prison at
that place. While waiting for a guide to show us through the prison a
young man was brought in by an officer. I saw him searched, and later
as the heavy iron doors closed behind him with a clang, my sympathies
were aroused. While being shown through the prison I saw this young
man with his hair close cut, dressed in prisoners' garb, placed by the
side of hardened criminals. There my first interest was awakened to
try to make the burdens lighter for the prison-bound. As we were
leaving the prison I noticed some small articles which had been made
by the inmates in their spare moments. Among these I saw and was
especially impressed with a miniature statue of a prisoner dressed in
stripes, holding in one hand a ball and chain, the other hand shading
the eyes. Upon the pedestal of the statue were these words, "What
shall the harvest be?" I shall never forget the impression then made
upon my mind. It is still fresh in my memory.
Years after this, shortly after my commission to preach the gospel, as
I was traveling one night to reach an appointment, stopping at a
station in Iowa to change cars, three prisoners in handcuffs, who were
being taken to the state-prison, were brought in. My heart was moved
with deep compassion for them. Many were curiously inspecting them, as
if they thought they had no tender feelings. Approaching these men, I
gave them my hand, saying, "I am sorry for you, but God can help you
in this hour of trial," and I tried to cheer them, and told them I
would sometime visit them in the prison if I could. I did not then
know I was so soon to enter upon my mission. But the burden of those
in prison kept coming heavier upon me. I told my friends I must go and
PREACH THE GOSPEL TO PRISONERS
but they for a time thought me almost crazy. But as one of old, I
felt that "Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." So I gladly obeyed
the divine call and went forward.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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