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
Trusting the Lord to in some way provide means for me to get back to
the camp, I went to the janitress of the depot, an intelligent
mulatto, and told her of my need, as she had previously assisted me in
securing half-fare rates on the railroad, she having known the
officials since their childhood. She insisted that I should go to the
office of the general manager of the L. & N. R. R. and ask for a
half-fare rate to the prison camp at New Castle, Ala. Oh, how I
dreaded to go to that office! But tremblingly and prayerfully I went,
and presenting to him the letter which I was to carry with me to the
camp, I told him my desires. Upon reading this letter he handed me
what I supposed was a half-fare permit. I humbly thanked him and
returned to my lodging. After making preparation to start early in the
morning on my journey, before retiring for the night I knelt by my
bedside to thank God for the permit. Thinking I would see just how it
read before I prayed, I took it up and began reading, "Pass Mrs.
_Elizabeth R. Wheaton_ From _Montgomery_ to _Birmingham, Ala., Prison,
Missionary_." What! Did my eyes deceive me, or was it a mistake. No.
It was a free pass, and the following note was enclosed to the
Superintendent at the other end of the route regarding a return pass
if I should ask for it:
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co.,
Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 15, 1885.
L. Hage, Esq., Supt., Birmingham, Ala.
Dear Sir: This lady, Mrs. Elizabeth Wheaton, bears credentials
showing her to be a prison missionary. Any courtesy you may
extend to her, in the way of pass, will be properly applied.
Yours truly,
M. S. BELKNAP, Supt.
Oh, how I did thank God for this manifestation of His goodness to
me--doing above that which I could ask or think! Mr. Belknap, that
kind R. R. officer, has been dead many years, and perhaps is forgotten
by some who knew him better than I, but I shall never forget his
unexpected kindness to me. Since then, through the goodness of God and
the favor and confidence of the railroad officials, I have received
transportation throughout the country, to carry the Gospel of Jesus to
men and women of every class.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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