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
One of the worst women I ever knew was converted in the spring of 1885
on the streets of Kansas City, Mo., where I was holding meetings. She
came to the meeting to abuse and ridicule me. She heard my voice, she
said, two blocks away, and became convicted. She came to where I was
standing on a box preaching. I asked if there was any one there who
would seek God and live a Christian life. I said if there was one
such, let them come and kneel with me by the box and I would pray for
them. She knelt there and cried mightily to God for mercy. But she
went away unsaved and prayed and wept day and night. She could neither
eat nor sleep. She saw herself a lost sinner. Her father had been a
minister of the Gospel, but had died when she was very young. She had
drifted to this wicked city in search of work, and you may know the
rest. For it is but the story of many a poor orphan girl in her
struggle for bread. She fell as thousands fall with none to pity or
care. She was driven from one sin to another, until at last disgraced
and filled with shame, she had tried twelve times to take her own
life. Thus I found her a miserable woman. She came again to the
meeting, this time alone, and was gloriously saved, and is still saved
so far as I know. She became a successful preacher of righteousness,
for she knew how to reach such as she had been. She became a terror to
evil doers, brave in danger, and hopeful before discouraging
obstacles. She has since told me she has saved many young girls' lives
and characters by taking them in and giving them food and shelter
when every other door except brothels and saloons was closed against
them. Bless God for the homes open to shelter and protect the
unfortunate girls.
THE BLIND ENCOURAGED.
One day while traveling in Montana, I went into a smoking car to hold
a little Gospel meeting, singing and distributing tracts, when I found
a blind lady there who seemed to be alone and neglected. I spoke to
her kindly about her soul and invited her to go with me into the other
car. I said, "I am always glad to do anything I can to help a blind
person. My grandmother was blind several years before her death." She
accepted it all gratefully and seemed very sorry to part from me when
we changed cars. I exhorted her to a life of Christian service and to
meet me in Heaven.
I never expected to meet her again, but some two years later I was
holding an open air meeting in California and a lady said, "Would you
allow me to testify?" and I said, "Certainly, if you are a Christian.
Would be glad to have you." When she began to speak she said: "This
lady don't know me, but I know her. We met once. Although I have never
seen her, as I am deprived of sight, yet I know her. I met with her on
the train one day," and she related the foregoing facts, stating that
my kindness had won her heart and she had never forgotten my advice,
and was now living a Christian life.
FORBIDDEN TO PREACH ON THE STREET.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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