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
Some gentlemen were once looking at a large building erected for
newsboys, that they might be brought under religious and refining
influences. One of the spectators asked a large contributor to the
benevolent institution this question: "Now you are erecting this
building at a cost of many thousands of dollars, and I admire your
motives, but suppose that after all this great expense only one boy
was saved here--would you still think it paid for time, labor and
money expended?" The man answered quickly and earnestly, "Yes, sir; if
it was my boy." The most precious thing in the sight of God is a soul.
For the redemption of every soul on earth was paid the precious blood
of the Lamb of God. Count it not then a light thing in His sight for
one to be saved or lost. For "There is joy in the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner that repenteth--more than over ninety
and nine just persons who need no repentance." Hundreds have been
saved under my observation and instrumentality both inside and outside
of prison walls, and my motto has been, "Throw out the lifeline across
the dark wave."
SAVED AND PREACHING THE GOSPEL.
Upon a warm July day, starting to walk out from Bismarck, N. D., to
what I took to be the state's prison, but which proved to be a large
water reservoir, being overcome by the heat I fell, and crawling to a
shade I lay down with my Bible under my head. After a time I saw some
distance away some persons driving in an open hack and signaled to
them till they saw me and came to me. They drove me to the home of the
warden of the prison where I was kindly received by the warden's wife
and made comfortable. Late that night I held service in the prison
corridors. This was in 1885, and in 1901 I was leading a meeting in a
mission in Portland, Oregon, and asked all who had something special
for which to praise the Lord to speak. A brother arose and said:
"I want to thank the Lord tonight for the privilege of hearing
'Mother' Wheaton preach outside of prison walls. I have heard her
in many a prison. Years ago, one night at 9 o'clock, when all the
prisoners had been locked in their cells, the officers unlocked
the doors to let this sister sing some hymns and hold services in
the corridors. One hymn that especially touched my heart was
'Throw out the life line.' I was an opium fiend, a morphine
fiend, a whisky fiend, and an all around bad man, and was ready
to despair. But God touched my heart and saved me and called me
to the ministry. At this time I was with my other sins a deserter
from the United States army. When my time expired I went and
gave myself up and was sentenced to five years more in prison.
But God had mercy on me and in seven months I was pardoned out.
Since that time I have lived an honest life, and for eight years
have preached the gospel."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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