The Nation Behind Prison BarsHerr, George L. (George Lewis)
Religion
The Nation Behind Prison Bars
Herr, George L. (George Lewis)
Church work with criminals; Evangelists
Mr. Pflanz's desire to change the criminal into a respected citizen and
the assistance he gives to bring about this result proves his thorough
understanding, brought about by years of study and personal contact, of
how to deal with this class of our citizenship.
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Be strong and of a good courage; for the Lord thy God is with
thee whithersoever thou goest.--Joshua 1:9.
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Youtsey, Kentucky's Famous Prisoner
[Louisville Herald]
Henry E. Youtsey, sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary for
his complicity in the murder of Governor Goebel, and at the present time
the most distinguished prisoner confined behind the cold, gray walls of
the State prison at Frankfort, has at last "got religion."
The man who has succeeded in reaching the heart of this man whose name
emblazened the front pages of newspapers from coast to coast almost ten
years ago, is the Louisville prison evangelist, the Rev. George L. Herr.
The medium he employed was a little pamphlet containing the simple story
of the reformation of one Dad O'Brien, an erstwhile scalawag who was
finally converted to a new life.
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As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
transgressions from us.--Psalm 103:11.
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Rev. Herr, who has carried the gospel into the cells of many a poor,
crime-stained wretch, not only here in Louisville, but in every
prison-house in the country and has accomplished a great amount of good
among the outcasts of society, recently received a letter dated October
16, 1909, which reads:
"I am delighted to learn that you visited all the cells today and left
in each one the tract, 'How Dad O'Brien Became Converted.' I have read
it, and it is simply an additional evidence of a truth that has long
been known to sincere evangelists like yourself to the effect that no
matter how hardened and steeped in sin a poor fellow may be, the love of
God can win him and Jesus can save him, and he can start life anew,
singing praises to his Redeemer, and winning the lives of his old
companions for the Master. I believe that the happiness of O'Brien's
latter years more than made up for all he suffered--for he enjoyed a
portion of the most glorious life that could be lived here below. When
you get into heaven, as you surely will, Dad O'Brien will be the
brightest star in your crown. Yours most sincerely,
HENRY E. YOUTSEY."
Practical Religious Work in County Jail
Dear Brother Herr:
Whenever I think of my confinement in the Louisville jail, a picture
arises before me in which I can clearly see in the main corridor in the
building, down the center of which extended a long table covered with a
snowy cloth, and then in charge of the Hon. John R. Pflanz, than whom
there never was a kinder-hearted jailer in all the world.
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Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
I will receive you.--2 Cor. 6:12.
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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