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
In April, 1891, I was in Kansas City, Mo. After waiting upon the Lord
for some days asking Him where He would have me go next I was
impressed to go to the depot and that there it would be shown me what
I must do. I did so, but even then was left for several hours in
uncertainty as to what train to take, as I had passes on four
different lines. I spent the time in earnest prayer. At last, toward
evening, I was led to take the Rock Island train for Chicago and
impressed that the Lord would show me when and where to stop. I had
two sisters and a little boy with me and they could not understand my
indecision.
As our train hurried on during the night, I kept asking the Lord where
I should stop, and He made it very plain to me that I was to stop at
Ottawa, Ill. I knew no one there, and there was no state-prison there,
but the Lord showed me to go to the county jail and when I did so
found there were several men there soon to be executed. I was told
that no one was permitted to see them; but we went praying and the
Lord touched the hearts of the officers and we were permitted to hold
a service. We were much helped of the Holy Spirit and I believe some
of these condemned men were saved--at least they seemed to give
evidence of it. One of them afterwards wrote me two letters. These I
give to my readers. It is well to remember, however, that not many
such prisoners are accustomed to expressing their thoughts in writing
and hence their letters fail to express the depth of feeling clearly
shown in their words and manner when I am with them. Again all their
letters are to be read before they leave the prison, so they do not
open their hearts as freely when writing as when speaking with me
alone.
La Salle County Jail,
Ottawa, Ill., April 28, 1891.
Elizabeth R. Wheaton.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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