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
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:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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