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
"Dad" repeated what he had said, and "Hinky Dink" said: "Come right over
here and I'll buy you a ticket." He took him over to the railroad
office, and bought him a limited ticket to Cincinnati. Dad said, when
telling us, "He thought he was shipping me in the quickest way possible,
but it was the Lord taking care of 'Old Dad,' and sending him in
first-class style."
Again he came back to our home, stayed several weeks, then we got him
$20 worth of religious books to travel around to the camp meetings to
sell, and to tell his experience, for the people were eager to hear this
wonderful experience of God's transforming power, wherever he went. We
started him off, and he soon felt his call to preach the gospel. He was
ordained in Indianapolis in 1905, and preached up and down the land,
winning lost men and women for Jesus. His life was a miracle of what
God's grace can do. He married a fine Christian woman, who was a great
help to him in his work.
In the fall of 1908 he died a triumphant death, leaving a glorious
testimony behind.
Jim O'Brien Passes Away
The Courier-Journal republishes herewith from the Indianapolis Herald an
editorial by the Rev. George E. Bueler, pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal church, Indianapolis, Ind.:
"The Rev. William H. Frazier, alias Jim O'Brien," died at Indianapolis
on Monday, October 30, 1908.
"At an early age Frazier began associating with bad boys on the streets
of Cincinnati and of course was soon drawn into sin. At the age of 14 he
began stealing, at first on a small scale, and increasing with the years
until he became one of the most daring and successful bank robbers known
in America. He was arrested and in prison many times, but when at
liberty he drifted back into crime again. For forty years he was a
criminal; of that time twenty-three years and six months was spent
behind prison bars. Although he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars
he was released from prison the last time in Louisville with only $2.40
left. What wages for forty years in the service of Satan! While
incarcerated in the Jefferson County jail, at Louisville, Ky.,
Missionary George L. Herr found this wretched man and through many
months of persistent effort found a way to his heart. At first the
missionary was met with curses and abuses, but love conquered, and the
result was Jim's conversion, a miracle indeed, for, from that time in
January, 1903, "Dad," as he was known, lived a godly life and retrieved
for the past by telling everywhere he went his life story, showing forth
the glory of God's redeeming grace. No one knew better than Bro. Frazier
what it meant for a man to be released from prison and again face the
world. With the disgrace and odium upon him it is well nigh impossible
for him to find honest employment, for no one knowing him to be an
exconvict wants him in their employ, the temptation to return to the old
life is strong. With this in view he began making homes for such men in
large cities. While Bro.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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