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
I went into one of our western cities to hold services at the jail. On
the way from the depot I stopped at a store, where a young clerk told
me of a horrible crime that had been committed in the jail. That the
prisoners had been trying to make their escape, and one young prisoner
had revealed the plot to the jailer, and thus saved his life. The
prison wall had been "worked" in a cunning manner, and the prisoners
were about to escape, when this poor boy informed the jailer of what
was being done. The other three prisoners were so enraged that they
threw coal oil over the boy, set fire to his clothing, and he was
burned alive in the cell. I was grieved at hearing this, and felt that
I could see them punished severely. They were in an underground prison
for safe-keeping until the wall could be repaired. The officers were
afraid to let me go in, but I told them I was not afraid, and went
down the stairs ahead of the officers. I saw only one dim candle
burning, and called for a light. A lamp was brought, and I went boldly
into the presence of those criminals. I sat down and thought of the
awfulness of it all. So, as I wept, I sang "Some Mother's Boy," and
they cried like their hearts were breaking. I went over to them, where
they were sitting together on an old bunk, and we cried together. They
were humble and convicted, and it was love that did it all--God's love
which showed them that though their sins were as scarlet, they shall
be white as snow, though red like crimson they shall be as wool. God
heard prayer for them and I trust they were forgiven.
THE INNOCENT IN BONDS.
In a certain state prison the officer called my attention to a man and
said, "That man is innocent of the crime he was sentenced for." "Then
why do you keep him here?" I asked. "Because he serves for his friend,
willingly allowing the guilt to be placed upon himself rather than see
this friend who was really guilty suffer." On leaving the prison I
came upon this man with an officer on the train, and had the pleasure
of talking to the man and hearing his story. I referred him to Psalms
15:1, 2, 4. "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell
in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness,
and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that sweareth to his own
hurt, and changeth not." He was being taken to another court for
trial.
CONFESSED HER GUILT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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