LETTERS FROM PRISON OFFICIALS.
Nebraska State Penitentiary.Lancaster, Neb., March 7, 1901.
Dear Sirs: Your consignment of eight books at hand, which is very much appreciated. We are doubly unfortunate at the present time, as we have just lost our entire library by fire. We realize too with you that imprisonment is the turning-point for the better in some men’s lives, as we see it exemplified here. At some future time we will send you for publication the views of some of the above men who believe they have been benefited by their prison experience.
Thanking you again for the books sent, and in advance for any books you may see fit to send us, we remain, Yours respectfully,
——, Librarian.
Clinton Prison.
Dannemora, N. Y., March 8, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Publishing Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gentlemen: The books and tracts so kindly forwarded by you for the use of the prisoners in this prison have been received, and the note enclosed to the warden handed me for reply. Having charge of allliterary material that comes into the prison, I take great pleasure in acknowledging receipt of same; and would extend to you my personal thanks, as also the gratitude of those whom this material was designed to benefit.
I am glad that the spirit of the “inasmuch” as inculcated by the Lord Jesus, in relation to those who are in prison, is occasionally manifested, and that the rush and friction of wordliness does not wholly shut out from view the moral and religious needs of the “men behind the bars.” The good people to whom you refer in your letter, who are endeavoring to supply our prisons with good and wholesome literature, are entitled to great credit for their efforts in this direction, in these last days of the dispensation. May the blessings of our Divine Master be with them in their good work. Sincerely yours,
——, Chaplain.
Iowa State Penitentiary.
Fort Madison, Iowa, March 17, 1901.
The Gospel Trumpet Publishing Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gentlemen: The books sent by you to the penitentiary have been received, and will be placed in the hands of the men. Thanking you for the same, I am, Sincerely yours,
——, Chaplain.
Onondaga County Penitentiary.
Syracuse, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1901.
Dear Sirs: Received three packages of books from Gospel Trumpet Publishing Co., Moundsville, W. Va., for the benefit of the convicts in our institution. Hope the gift is accompanied by the prayers of all concerned in the donation. Yours truly,
——, Chaplain.
Kansas State Prison.
Lansing, Kans., March 6, 1901.
The Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gentlemen: We have received to-day your donation of books to this prison. We assure you that this gift of books is highly appreciated by us, and will be of great benefit to the inmates of this institution. We wish to thank you and others who are placing these books in the prisons of this country. Thank you for donations of the “Gospel Trumpet” to prisoners each week. Yours truly,
——, Chaplain.
Penitentiary at Anamosa.
Anamosa, Ia., March 6, 1901.
The Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
We received this day one copy each of “The Kingdom of God,” “The Better Testament,” “Mothers’Counsel to Their Sons,” “Divine Healing,” “The Secret of Salvation” (English and German editions), “Songs of the Evening Light,” a Bagster’s Teachers’ Bible. I find we have now seven copies of the book “The Secret of Salvation” in our library. We are obliged for copies of these and shall hope to inclose them in our revised catalogue which we hope soon to publish. You perhaps are not aware that we have a female department to the prison, but seeing “Letters of Love and Counsel for Our Girls” listed, leads me to refer to this fact. Your letter to the inmates is appreciated. Yours truly,
——, Acting Chaplain.
New Jersey State Prison.
Trenton, March 5, 1901.
E. E. Byrum.
Dear Sir: The package of books and tracts which you sent for the benefit of the prisoners in our state prison came duly to hand, and the warden desires me to thank you for your timely gift. I will see that the books and tracts are judiciously distributed, so that good under the divine blessing may come through the reading of such good literature.... I will be glad to have you send religious reading matter for the prisoners, knowing that with His blessing much good can and will be accomplished by such a course. One of the factors leading to a life of crime has been thecharacter of reading allowed in the home. Parents, ignorant or indifferent, have permitted their boys to devour dime novels and kindred literature until their minds have become saturated with evil. Now the antidote is good reading for the poor victims of parental neglect such as you propose to furnish.... Thanking you for the interest you have taken in the welfare of those incarcerated here, and praying the blessing of the Great Head of the church upon you, I am, Yours truly,
——, Chaplain.
Louisiana Penitentiary.
Baton Rouge, La., March 13, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.
My Dear Friends: Please allow me to thank you in behalf of the prisoners for the six books and Bibles you so kindly sent recently. We all appreciate the kind interest you take in us in sending the Gospel Trumpet and sincerely trust you will continue sending same, as we all very eagerly look forward to receiving it. If you have any more good books to spare we will be very glad to receive them, as we all enjoy reading very much. Again sincerely thanking you for past favors. Very respectfully,
——, Librarian.
Allegheny Penitentiary.
Allegheny, Pa., March 20, 1901.
Dear Sir: I feel very glad that you are now and have been for some time so deeply interested in an uplift of the moral forces in prisons, and that your laudable work may result in much good, is my sincere desire. We have no prison paper published here to send you. We have a school six hours every day except Sunday for the illiterate, a Bible and hymn-book for each man that will use them, a library of 8,500 volumes, hundreds of daily and weekly papers and magazines, Moody’s books and tracts, etc., by which we are striving to give light and spiritual help to the prisoners. Sincerely,
——, Chaplain.
Connecticut State Prison.
Wethersfield, Conn., March 6, 1901.
The Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gentlemen: The eight books sent this institution, including a Bagster Bible and song-book, came duly to hand. The Bible has been given a life prisoner, the song-book went to the choir, and the other books were turned over to the chaplain—who is the librarian—to be placed in general circulation. Respectfully yours,
——, Warden.
Idaho State Penitentiary.
Boise City, Idaho, March 8, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gentlemen: Yours of recent date enclosing letter to prisoners and referring to printed matter sent under separate cover at hand. The letter referred to shall be placed in a conspicuous place for review by the inmates of our institution. The reading matter will also be placed at their disposal. Be assured that this effort on the part of the “friend” who has paid for them is appreciated by the present Idaho Prison management. Yours sincerely,
——, Warden.
Georgia State Prison Farms.
Statefarm, Ga., March 5, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
My Dear Sir: Your books received, and the Bible which is a very nice one. The song-book was sent to the female congregation for use by them. We have eighty-eight women there, some of them with good voices, and they sing well. We hope the words may prove a savor of life to them. The other books were sent to the male department, where we have one hundred and forty men and boys. We hope they too will prove a blessing, for the thing most important for a convict is salvation. I was pleased with the very excellent quality of books sent.
——, Supt.
Wheaton, Ill., April 23, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.
Dear Sirs: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of a package of books and tracts sent me for the use of prisoners under my charge. Please accept my thanks for same. I heartily commend your efforts and work. Very truly yours,
——, Sheriff.
Jackson, Mich., March 22, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gentlemen: The above named society desire you to know of their grateful appreciation for the donation of several valuable books. They comprise a splendid addition to our C. E. S. Library, which is eagerly read by the members and others. Thanking you for remembering us, I remain, Sincerely yours,
6890, Corresponding Secretary.
Maine State Prison.
Thornston, Maine, April 30, 1901.
Sirs: Your letter to the warden has been passed on to me. We are pleased to receive religious reading tobe distributed to the convicts in this prison. I have an arrangement with many Christian friends who aid, so I am able to furnish some Christian book or paper to each convict each week. Yours in the work of saving the fallen,
——, Chaplain.
Sing Sing Prison.
Sing Sing, N. Y., March 7, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Dear Sirs: The books you sent for use of the prisoners in this prison have been received, and I thank you for the same. They have been placed in the library. It is always a pleasure to know that we are in the thoughts and consciences of the people on the great outside world.... Thanking you for your gift and wishing you success in your efforts to lift up fallen humanity, I remain, Fraternally yours,
——, Chaplain and Librarian.
Alva, Woods Co., Okla., Dec. 20, 1900.
Dear Sirs: Yours along with the books you sent were received last week and, as directed, the library was placed within the steel cage, where the prisoners could have free access to it. We would love to say a word of encouragement to the good people who areinteresting themselves in behalf of the poor unfortunates behind iron bars, but we have not the command of language to express our admiration of this most commendable and noble work. No one can tell the good that may result from these silent companions, read by the poor unfortunates when shut in from the world. While we have never hoped to start a reform in prison life, we have often asked for more Christian interest in behalf of the prisoners. Accept our humble thanks for this most generous gift.
——, Former Jailer.
California State Prison.
Represa, Sacramento Co., Cal., Feb. 13, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gentlemen: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of eight books for prison library. We are very grateful to receive anything in this line, and any sent will be thankfully received. Respectfully,
——, General Overseer.
Guthrie, Logan Co., Okla., June 14, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Publishing Co.:
I am glad to address you with a few lines to inform you that I received a package of books and tracts forthe prisoners in my charge. The same have been handed them to read. I am glad to say that they enjoy reading them very much. I take an interest in reading them myself and think they are the best books and papers I ever read, and a great gift to the prisoners. They seem to condemn them of the crimes that they have committed. I am glad to say that the gospel can not be preached plainer than your books and papers preach it. I learn through your books and papers what it takes to constitute the church of God. The prisoners of this jail send their many thanks for the literature sent them.
——, Turnkey.
California Prison.
San Quentin, Cal., March 8, 1901.
Editor Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.
Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind favor of books and one fine Bible for the prisoners. I have added the books to the library and presented the Bible to one of the most worthy and appreciative of the prisoners, whose letter I have enclosed. I believe our prisoners have been much helped by the distribution of your excellent religious literature and kindly gifts. I shall be pleased to receive any further contributions in this direction. Thanking you in the name of the prisoners, I am, Yours,
——, Chaplain.
North Dakota State Penitentiary.
Bismarck, N. D., April 11, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Publishing Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gents: I have to acknowledge receipt of yours of March 21st and owe you an apology for not giving you an earlier answer to same. You are doing a good work which is, I believe, appreciated by the unfortunates whom you are seeking to benefit, as well as by those who have them in charge. This is a small institution; we have at this date one hundred and fifteen inmates, all men. The moral conditions are, I believe, fairly good in the institution but there is great chance for improvement and I will be grateful for anything you may be able to do to assist in that direction, and trust that I may be able later on to assist you in the noble work in which you are engaged. Respectfully,
——, Warden.
Kentucky Penitentiary.
Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 8, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
We have received from your publishing house a nice package of good books. I take this opportunity to acknowledge receipt of same, and to thank you kindly for this generous donation. The books are turnedinto the hands of the prisoners, who take them eagerly, and are very grateful for them. They are passed from one to another until they are literally worn out. Allow me to say in this connection, that the problem of criminology in this country must be solved by other means than the punitive, and retributive idea. We have been more than a century trying every plan that man can devise to check and cure this growing curse. We must turn to the means provided by God Almighty. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only and true remedy. Disseminating good literature, and instructing in the ways of life, is a step in the right direction. I have made a study of the subjects under my charge, for nearly three years, and find that the man who fails to accept Jesus, and have his soul washed in his blood, in most cases leaves this place still a criminal. May God help us to lead them into the light. Many blessings upon you for your act of mercy. Very truly, your brother and co-worker,
——, Chaplain.
Michigan State Prison.
Jackson, Mich., March 11, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Gentlemen: We are in receipt of the very excellent collection of books you sent us for the use of the men in our institution. Please accept our grateful thanksfor the same, and be assured they will be eagerly read and highly prized by the men. Too much can not be said of the beneficial influence of good books in the prison. Men will carefully read books in here that they would not look at outside. And then too they have time to digest what they read. Again thanking you for your kind remembrance of us, I beg leave to remain, Yours truly,
——, Chaplain.
Dover, Del., Aug. 6, 1900.
I received the tracts that you sent, and distributed them among the prisoners. They seem to enjoy them more than anything they have ever had in the way of reading. I shall be more than glad to distribute all such reading as that proves to be. Yours respectfully,
——, Warden of the Kent County Prison.