Chapter 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. It is 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 encouragement to 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, and I am going to keep it by the help of God. Many thanks for those books. From your saved brother,

H. T. B.

FROM A CALIFORNIA PRISONER.

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 through grace. 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.

PAPERS AND BOOKS SOLICITED.

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. I feel 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.

FROM A LIFE 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 to state, 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 the cards 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.

FROM A PRISON WORKER.

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 distribute books 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,