TESTIMONIES OF CONVICTS.
Moundsville, W. Va.
Through the kindness of the warden I am permitted to present a small sketch of my prison life. I am glad to avail myself of the opportunity of relating my experience in the earnest hope that some one as unfortunate as myself may be benefited thereby. That this is written within prison-walls will, I feel, prove none the less interesting. The first night I spent in prison will never be forgotten. When the cell-doors clanged, closing in upon me, I felt my very heart sink within me. Then with a contrite heart I looked to Jesus, and spent the night in prayer. Oh, what a comfort he has been to me! I then and there made up my mind to follow in his footsteps, and devote my life to him.
With a change of heart, Christ has ever been with and bountifully blessed me. I meet with great kindness from Christian people, and every consideration from our noble warden and his officers. Because I am in prison I need not be useless nor unhappy. I accept my situation as of divine appointment, and will try to be contented with it. Lamenting over the past will dono good, for I can not recall or change it. Complaining of the present will not mend but make myself and others wretched. Anxiety about the future will not make it any better. My heavenly Father has permitted things to be just as they are, and I know he loves me. I will therefore leave all to him. No rebellion shall be cherished in my heart, and no murmur shall escape my lips. My Savior has promised that his grace shall be sufficient for me. He will never leave me, but be a present help in time of need. Trusting in him and committing all to my loving Father’s care, I will do what I can. I will make the place where my lot is cast as bright and cheerful as possible, and work and wait with patience till I am permitted to go to my heavenly home.
I am indebted to many of my Christian friends, to all of whom I extend my heartfelt thanks for many acts of kindness, of which one is in supplying me with a fine Teachers’ Bible and other good religious reading matter. My Bible has been to me a constant source of pleasure, it has dispersed the dark cloud of sorrow and let in the sunlight of God’s love. There was a time when I believed every earthly friend had forsaken me, and that I was only known by a number—the number on the books of a prison. In a cell, yea, shut away from the full light of day, shut away from man, I was lonely, friendless, forgotten—a boy who was once free as heaven’s sunshine, free as the birds whose songs I loved to hear. I remembered myhome, my mother, the good-night kisses, the lilacs, the roses, the orchard, the swing, the schoolhouse, and the playmates. Then I thought of that beautiful and pathetic hymn, “Oh, where is my wandering boy to-night?” and I resolved that I would flee to the One whom God had appointed to bring forth the prisoner from the prison-house of sin. My brothers, you are not forgotten. If mother is alive, she is praying for you, and the God to whom she prays loves you. “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love”; “and, lo, I am with you always.” He has all the angels of heaven working to help fallen humanity to be saved from sin. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”—Heb. 1:14. And I am glad that I can testify to the facts, that behind prison-walls, in the dark shadows of a prison-cell, are sons and daughters of God, heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, heirs of salvation, and to these heirs of salvation angels are sent forth to minister. The angel in your cell waits, brother. Kneel and pray. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”—1 Jno. 1:9.
Can I, can you, live a Christian life in bondage? My answer is in the affirmative. It has been tested and proved beyond a doubt. I will recall the incident of Joseph. When he was a mere boy he was sold by his brethren and cast into bondage. He resisted temptation, even when he knew that in so doing he wastaking just so many steps toward the dungeon. Gen. 39:7-20. In adversity, as well as in prosperity, he gave all honor to God. Gen. 41:16. He forgave his brethren when most men would have been tempted to punish them. Gen. 50:15-21. We can learn from Joseph’s prison life a remarkable lesson. That God was with him in all things was unmistakably true. He was blessed and elevated to noble positions. This honor he gained by his uprightness in his daily walk before God. Gen. 39:21-23; Acts 7:9. God used him as an instrument to unfold his plans. Gen. 45:5-8; 50:20; Acts 7:9-14. If Joseph, a mere boy, could walk uprightly before God and receive a blessing in prison, I or any one else can do the same by the grace of God, and by his grace I will. And again, Peter, the apostle of Jesus Christ, was imprisoned by Herod and was delivered by an angel through the prayer of the church, yet he could not realize that he was released from his bonds and imprisonment, but thought that it was a vision. Acts 12:4-9. Paul and Silas suffered bonds of imprisonment, and stripes of persecution for proclaiming the gospel of Christ, and during all their persecution sang songs of praise and lifted their voices in prayer to the Lord. Acts 16:22-26. If all of these men could offer so much praise to God under such trying circumstances, I or any one else can do the same, but only through his grace. By his grace I will. When we fully submit our minds to God’s mind and plans, then God will teach us thesweet lesson that “all things work together for good to them that love God.”—Rom. 8:28. Trust him and open your heart to him and you will experience this peace which he gives to his followers, a peace such as the world can neither give nor take away.
In conclusion I must say, if the dear readers could but hear the pleading, fervent prayers and the touching testimonies of these unfortunates, they would place a higher estimate on the prisoner, and by word and act help him rise, as it were, above his surroundings. The prisoners are given to understand by our warden that the prayer-meeting services are theirs, and let me say there are about fifty of the boys here who try to make the best of it, and in no single instance have they violated the privilege granted to them during this service. I consider it a privilege to stand up for God, even within the confining bars of a penitentiary. My brother prisoner, the Master is calling for you. Think of it, whosoever believeth on God’s only Son, a free and a full salvation shall he have, for God is both willing and able to save. “What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”—Acts 16:30. Salvation is in the name of Jesus; “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”—Josh. 24:15. May God bless and uplift the fallen everywhere.
Serial No. 2282.
Washington Co. Jail, Potasi, Mo., Sept. 23, 1900.
I was a very wicked man when I was put in here, but by reading books and tracts sent me I soon realized my condition, and oh, how I repented of my many sins and called on God for mercy! Now I am so happy to tell you that he freely forgave me all. Praise his dear name! Although I have been in here long time my hours have been sweet since I found Jesus. I expect to leave here in a few days for the state prison at Jefferson City, but oh, I have the sweet promise: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” I have promised God that the rest of my days shall be spent for him who has done so much for me. I expect to work for God all I can while in the penitentiary, distributing papers and books that are sent to me for that purpose. Dear ones, pray that God may ever use me.
J. H. R.
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Through the kindness of a lady in California a few copies of your paper, the Gospel Trumpet, have found their way into this prison (Santa Fe, New Mexico). Each copy has been met with a hearty welcome, and well read. This prison has about 230 men behind its walls. About one hundred of these men can read the English language, and are in need of the true gospel.If any of God’s children who read this feel that they would like to send a few copies of the Trumpet, or tracts, or any other spiritual literature to this prison, the writer will take pleasure in distributing the same.
I am happy to say that I feel the effects of the many earnest prayers that are rising daily in my behalf. I am a condemned man and have been lying under a death sentence for over thirteen months. My case will be disposed of in August, and I need the prayers of all God’s dear people. Brothers and sisters, pray for me. I have many friends and loved ones praying that it may be God’s will to give me my liberty next spring. Will every one who may read this join us in this prayer, and always close with “God’s will be done.” Dear ones, I am only in one of God’s schools, and his great Spirit gives me strength to rejoice with all my sad trouble. I was placed in this dungeon April 4, 1899, and have not seen a star since. Oh, I know they would look beautiful! The sun never reaches my little palace; but I am happy to say, “There is sunshine in my soul to-day.” Have not been sick an hour since here. All the praise to my dear Savior. I am expecting to get my case reversed in August, am putting my trust in higher power than man. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”—Rom. 8:31. I know that I have the prayers and sympathy of every one that loves Jesus Christ and his cause, and when my case is decided I will let you all know the verdict through the Trumpet. My enemies are many, and Iwill ask you all to remember them daily, in your prayers. I love their souls, and my earnest prayer is that I may meet them all in heaven. Reader, meet me at Jesus’ feet.
W. B. H., Box 426.
Territorial Prison of Arizona.
Yuma, Ariz., Nov. 17, 1900.
Dear Sirs: Our honorable superintendent gave me your letter accompanying some books and tracts you sent to the prisoners in the Territorial Prison at Yuma, Arizona, a few days ago. As it happens to be my misfortune to be one of the number incarcerated in this place, I take pleasure in writing you and telling my experience of what Jesus can do for a man behind the prison-walls. Like many others behind the prison-bars, no doubt, I enjoyed the blessing of being brought up in a Christian community, but had never been brought to the realization of the fact that I needed the protection of a loving Savior to guide me through this life, and like the prodigal son I thought I could take care of myself. But like so many hundreds of others that take no heed to their earlier training, fell into bad company, which finally led to the cause of my misfortune that placed me behind the prison-walls.
At first the thought of being in prison, and loved ones at home, almost drove me wild. The days were too long, the nights too long; I could not content myselfwith reading, and could scarcely work. I thought I was the most miserable man on earth, and almost wished I could die. Finally I concluded to try to read the Bible. I had scarcely looked in a Bible for nine years, much less read a single chapter. So I secured a Bible and began at the first chapter of Genesis, and read a few chapters at leisure hours. I would mark the place where I left off and commence there when I had another opportunity to read. The more I read the more interesting it became; so I finally read it through. By the time I read it through I had become so interested I would take the Bible to the cell with me at night and read till the lights were turned out, and I concluded to read it through again and take more time in reading and try to get a better understanding of it. Before I got through the second time I was convicted by the Spirit of God. I realized that I was not only a convict, but a sinner. I accepted Christ as my Savior, and have been trying to serve him ever since.
It has made a new man of me. The days and nights are now not too long, and I can work as though I were drawing a salary. The Bible is the most precious book in the world to me, and the longer I serve Christ the more I am determined to serve him the remainder of my life. My prayer is that every man behind the prison-bars may accept Christ as their Savior, while in prison; for if they wait until they get out, the temptations are too great and the chances are against them.My advice to my fellow convicts is to read the Bible; if it is not interesting at first it will become interesting; it will broaden your minds, it will make better men and women of you, it will help you to bear your burdens, and may be the means of saving your souls.
I thank you for the books and tracts, and assure you they will be read and appreciated by quite a number of the men here, and trust God will bless you in your efforts to lead fallen men to the Savior.
R. C.
Jackson, Mo., April 4, 1900.
We, the prisoners of Jackson, Missouri, thank you for sending us those good papers. We would to God we were able to express our gratitude for the Gospel Trumpet and to you for your great desire to help us to be better men. I wish we had thousands of such men and women as you are. I do wish that every poor soul in this world could get a Gospel Trumpet and read and see the great light it gives to any one trying to serve the true God. I desire your faithful prayers to help me bear the cross, and also wish the prayers of all your brothers and friends that I may be a better man. Pray God to deliver me from my enemies and out of this prison. I have a dear wife and six little children and want to return home to them. I will leave here to-morrow for Jefferson City Mo. prison, and hope to hear from you again. May God help you to help every poor soul.
L. L. B.
Charleston, Mo., April 18, 1900.
In reply to your letter of April 16, it was kindly received by the prisoners in jail, and we were very thankful to you for those papers you sent. All the boys send their many thanks. There are nine here and expect to be here for quite a while, and would like very much if you only had some one come here and talk to us and bring us papers. Hoping to hear from you again and receive some more papers. Many thanks from all the prisoners in jail.
——
Greenville, Mo., March 27, 1900.
Yours of the 26th received with roll of papers. Must say we were glad to get them. We are glad to have plenty at all times. As may be expected, there are some in this prison who need something to encourage them, and should you deem it expedient you may send us some papers, such as you may think best to send. I for one need reformation and will be pleased to have your assistance in trying to follow the steps of the Savior. Your well wisher.
Jefferson City, Mo., April 10, 1900.
We, the prisoners of Cole County Jail, received your kind letter and papers this morning. We are very thankful to you for your good wishes and appreciate your interest in us to help us to be better men. Itis a matter to be deplored that in the great state of Mo. there are so few who would put out the hand of mercy to fallen humanity. Your papers will always be welcome, and we hope they will do the good you intend. With sincere good wishes we subscribe ourselves
Prisoners of Cole County Jail.
P. S. A Bible and gospel hymn-book would be very much appreciated.
Nevada, Mo., April 19, 1900.
It is with pleasure I answer your most kind and welcome letter received the 18th with joy and delight. There are ten men in this jail and each sends his thanks to you for your kindness. Nearly every word in the papers has been read. I am not a Christian, but I ofttimes wish I could be converted, for the Christians seem to be so happy, and I cherish a hope that I may soon get out of darkness into light. I was in here four months without any Christian influence or Christian papers to read, and my mind seemed to wander away to some unknown realm of darkness until the last night of March, when the door opened and we were presented with some little books, and on the first day of April we received another roll and also some papers which were sent to us by the good Christian ladies of Nevada, and you do not know how it brightened my hopes and prospects. It made me think that I had some friends to speak a word of encouragementto me. We like the Gospel Trumpet. It is a splendid paper for any one to read, and I hope I may have the pleasure of reading more of them. Your true friend,
——.
Centerville, Ala., Sept. 9, 1900.
I will answer your letter. I was glad to get your books; they gave me much light. I have been in jail a long time and you are the first one that has ever sent me anything to read. I would like to have some more books to read. Yours,
J. D. W.
Will County Jail, Joliet, Ill., April 7, 1900.
We, the inmates of this institution, surely appreciate the consideration which you have taken in us. And as the County of Will does not furnish a library we the inmates will be pleased to receive any literature which you have to spare.
Inmates.
Georgetown, Del., Aug. 7, 1900.
We received those little books and tracts, and we prisoners were very glad to receive them, although we are all sinners in this place. There are nineteen of us at present—seven white men and twelve colored men. We are treated very kindly by the keepers. Please send us more books.
From the Prisoners.
Hartford, Conn., Aug. 12, 1900.
We have to again thank you for sending us books, tracts, etc. We fully appreciate the motives with which these books are sent, and are sure that they will bear fruit in due season. The books, etc., are very interesting and are looked forward to with great pleasure. We trust that everybody who reads them will be benefited by their teachings. And when we are permitted to go forth into the world again, we trust we may be able to render assistance to some needy brother or sister who is seeking to find Jesus. May God bless you in your good work. In behalf of the prisoners in Hartford Jail. I beg to remain yours sincerely,
J. W. C.
Jefferson City, Mo., Aug. 22, 1900.
I will drop you a few lines in answer to yours, which I received, and also a package of books which I was also glad to receive, and pleased to hear from you. I am still trusting in God, and will trust in him until death. There are five boys in here beside myself, who are reading those books that you sent me. They think them good. It does me good to know they like them. I am going to live for God the rest of my days, and keep out of trouble. I have sadly repented of this, and I know God forgives me. I have promised my God that I will serve him the rest of my days, andI am going to keep it by the help of God. Many thanks for those books. From your saved brother,
H. T. B.
San Quentin, Cal., March 8, 1901.
Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
My Dear Friends: Your very kind letter addressed to the prisoners has been given to me by the chaplain to answer. It is a great consolation to the prisoners to know that there are good people in the world who sympathize with the unfortunate. The Gospel Trumpet has been eagerly sought after and read with interest and benefit by many of the boys. It is casting bread upon the waters of life. We frequently have it thrown in our faces—those who are trying to live the Christian life—that state’s prison is a poor place to come to get religion. Now I admit that this is true, also that it is a poor place to come to for any purpose provided that we are obliged to come as so many of us are; however, I thank God that I have found the way to a better life notwithstanding I am in state’s prison. It is better to find Christ in prison than not to find him at all. If we repent and ask Christ to forgive us, he is willing and able to forgive us in prison as well as anywhere else, and to cleanse us from all sin. I thank God that I can report victory throughgrace. Christ is able to save me and keep me in prison. The farther along, the brighter the way grows. Salvation has made such a radical change in my life that I can scarcely recognize my former self. God has so strengthened my faith as to banish all doubts and fears and filled me with humble, peaceful love. Thank God for this glorious change. I am indeed in full possession of a new nature; old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new. I received from our chaplain the elegant Bible which you sent. I assure you that I appreciate it very much and will keep it as a great treasure while I live. Those other books are highly appreciated. Surely it is casting your bread upon the waters of life. Christ said he that giveth unto the least of God’s creatures a cup of cold water will receive his reward. Your gift is a well of water flowing over, and God will reward you in proportion. Your brother in Christ,
——, Serial Number 1055.
Walla Walla, Washington, Feb. 19, 1901.
Mr. E. E. Byrum,Moundsville, W. Va.
My Dear Sir: A fellow inmate of this, the Washington State Penitentiary, has been kind enough, on two or three occasions, to permit me a perusal of your most excellent publication, the Gospel Trumpet. Ifeel certain that I have been benefited through the privilege, as within a sinful environment, such as obtained here, one needs the wholesome and uplifting encouragement that is breathed through the columns of your magazine. In one of your issues I note that you have a fund set aside the proceeds of which are devoted to furnishing Christian literature to those whose lack of means precludes them from otherwise obtaining it. Had I the money I would gladly remit for a supply, but isolated as I am I am unable to provide it, and therefore, if I may presume upon your charity, I assure you that I shall feel truly grateful for any remembrance which your goodness may prompt you to tender. Thanking you in advance for a response, I remain, Yours very truly,
——, Prisoner.
Nevada State Prison.
Carson City, Nev., April 18, 1901.
The Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,Moundsville, W. Va.
Dear Friends: Your kind letter and the books were duly received, for which please accept my thanks. I read your letter to the men one Sunday morning just at the opening of service. The effect of its kindly expressions upon the men in general I am unable tostate, but personally I wish to thank you. I have read your books and like them. I like the plain speaking which I find there, in denouncing this makebelieve Christianity. Above all men, the prisoner is quick to see the non-practice of the teachings of Jesus by his professed followers, and seeing it, they conclude it is all pretense. I speak of those who read the Bible. Consequently very few make any effort to lead a true life, and care very little for Christian reading. Of course they are wrong in that respect, as they have been in many others, but being blind they are unable to see, I know, and so does any one who thinks or reads, that our penal systems are of the most unChristlike nature possible, breathing more of the spirit of hell than of the spirit that lifts heavenward. Why our people will continue in this spirit I know not. Perhaps some time a true soul will arise in this special subject and bring about more righteous conditions. God grant that it be so.
With many thanks for your kindly interest in the prisoner, and for the books sent, I am, with Christian love, Respectfully yours,
E. S. ——, Life Prisoner.
Jonesboro, Ark.
Dear Friend: We received your letter and books. We were so glad to get them. We were playing cards when the sheriff handed them to us. We laid thecards away and went to reading, and the more we read the more interested we became. I have prayed to God to forgive me of my sins and I believe he does, and I want you to pray for me. There are three other men in here that have turned to God, and it all came about through the letters and books. We thank you for the Testament. Pray for us and please send us more of those books and papers. They help us so much.
The prison work is growing and precious souls are being saved. It is wonderful how readily these men accept the full teaching of the Bible, taking Christ as their Savior and Healer. When I read their letters so cheerful and so happy in Jesus, it makes me to rejoice. The work is spreading from state to state and calls are coming in for pure literature. The state prisons have libraries in them, but they are filled with novels (so the prisoners tell me), and they desire something better. When these books and papers are put in their hands they forsake the cards and novels and read something that will do them good. We thank God for those who have helped us so much in this work, but our need this morning is greater than ever because the work is greater, and we are praying God to touch the hearts of his people to supply the free-literature fund with ample means to send us another shipment of books and tracts. A prisoner in Jefferson City and one in Menard, Ill. have permission to distributebooks and tracts they receive and they are faithfully discharging their duty. May God help us to keep them supplied, and not them only but other prisons as well. We do not feel like it is God’s will for us to quit the field now and turn it over to the enemy when souls are being saved. Let each one do his duty and the work can be carried on without any one feeling the burden. Your co-laborer in the work,
L. P——.