Chapter SEVEN: Does Prison Work Pay?

Who will ever know the vast number that attribute the first impulse to a better life, formed while in the seclusion of a prison cell--alone with God.

The world will never know how many, when sitting in judgment upon themselves, have learned the great secret that it takes an _Omnipotent Power_ to change the current of their lives, and give them deliverance from the power of sin, and enabling them to go forth not to live a new purpose, but a new life.

Many of these unfortunate ones, not remaining criminals from choice, but because they have never known there was an antidote provided for the deepest-dyed criminals, "a scarlet atonement for a scarlet sin," whereby the power of evil possessing them could be eradicated from their lives, and they no longer victims. While some do not seemingly heed the kindly admonition given, yet we believe the promise of God will be fulfilled, that "His word will not return void," and some time--somewhere--the fruition of their hopes will be realized.

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Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.--Eph. 6:11.
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Who aided the Author in securing a pardon from Gov. Beckham for a young man who is now at the head of a great firm]

If Mr. A. could speak for himself when 14 years ago he bowed in his cell as a poor forlorn sinner, and surrendered himself to God, and has since been testifying of his saving grace; Mr. B., after leading a criminal life for years, but when touched by the mighty power of God, came forth to become a preacher of the gospel, and has since been magnifying the grace that brought his deliverance; Mr. C., a desponding infidel, persuaded to believe there was efficacy in prayer, and in the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; if the multitude of witnesses who have been saved through the faithfulness of prison workers were known, the verdict would be--_it pays_.

Louisville, Ky., February 15, 1912.

Dear Brother Herr:

When you handed me your little book "Lost and is Found" I had no idea what a treasure you were placing in my hands. Undisturbed in my cell tonight I read it through and wished for more. I read it the second and third time, and your sermon so impressed me I read it the fourth time,

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Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues
of life.--Proverbs 4:23.
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Before I wandered away from my mother's teaching and fell into my awful sin and disgrace, I had heard many sermons on the "Prodigal Son," but none that in such a convincing way drives home the awfulness of sin as does your description of this, to me, the dearest of Christ's parables.

What I like about you most in all your talks with the prisoners is this, you never show a man how bad he is or how low he has fallen without showing him how good he can become or how high he may rise, and it's always in a way that appeals to the heart of the man.

God grant that while under your influence and in the knowledge of "your way back to Christ" I and many of the lost ones within the prison may be able to throw off the shackles of sin and return to our Father's love.

Your noble work among fallen men will never be known in its entirety in this world, but in that to come God will surely number you among those who have brought unto him a great harvest of precious souls.

May God bless you and your dear Christian wife in uplifting the fallen ones, is the earnest prayer of one who desires your influence over the remainder of his life.

Yours for a better life,
CURTIS.

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My foot standeth in an even place; in the congregation I will
bless the Lord.--Psalm 26:12.
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Louisville, Ky., Dec. 26, 1911.

Rev. Geo. L. Herr,
Jefferson County Jail.

Dear Brother Herr:

I want to thank you for the Christmas service which you held in the chapel yesterday afternoon.

I was greatly helped in my own spirit and I was profoundly impressed with the very evident influence of the occasion and your address upon the hearts and spirits of all the other prisoners.

May God richly reward you in your labors of love for these people.

Faithfully yours,
HENRY.

The Work of a Prison Evangelist

By Geo. Wm. Wood

[From the Courier-Journal Nov. 17, 1912]

To the right-thinking man there can be but one answer to the question, does the work of an evangelist pay? As well might we ask does the beautiful life of a true Christian pay? As well might we ask the farmer, as he carefully tills the soil and sows the seed and labors to cultivate the grain, does it pay? What answer would you expect from the shrewd business man of today should you ask him the question does it pay, when he labors and advises to keep down expenses. He would promptly answer in the affirmative. Let us bring the question closer home. Ask the prisoner behind the bars, does it pay to respect the law? He will answer yes. So for the question does the work of an evangelist pay behind prison bars there can be but one answer--yes.

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Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly.--1
Ch. 19:13.
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Sitting tonight in our lonesome cell, bounded on three sides by blank and barren walls of steel, through our two-by-six door, constructed of massive bars of iron, there comes to us the conversation of our fellow prisoners, as with head pressed close against the bars to catch the other fellow's words, we listen to the talk of the men "committed for crime"--men strong and healthy, who should be engaged in some honest labor, but, instead, are "doing time" for a broken law. We had no idea of the meaning of the words "doing time" until being placed behind these bars, we took up the daily life of a prisoner, and with nothing but "time" to look to, began the task of trying to be contented. We believe from our own past ideas of prison life that very few of the outside world have any conception of what the prisoner's life really is, or what it means to be sentenced to a term in prison.

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No good thing will he withhold from them that walk
uprightly.--Psalm 84:11.
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Members of the International Prison Congress pronounced this prison the model jail of the world.]

Judge Does Not Understand.

The judge who pronounces sentence upon the evil and unfortunate knows as little of the meaning of the terms he uses in meting out punishment as the mail clerk knows of the contents of the letters he handles at his daily task. "Danger" conveys but little meaning to the mind of the engineer who has never had a wreck. By the standard of freedom, a day in prison is a year, and it is only those who mingle daily in our midst can talk to the "man behind the bars," who can have a fair idea of what the prisoner suffers daily in "doing time." The world that lies beneath the bars is a strange world to the average citizen, the citizen blessed with average good fortune. Prison life is a queer and twisted one, and a law to itself.

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Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of
Christ--Ph. 1:27.
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But to return to the prisoners' conversation, of which we spoke. Vile--yes, dear reader, this word does not convey to you the full measure within the writer's mind. At times it seems that some have sunk so low that all conception of honor and truth have passed entirely away. No reverence whatever for such words as "mother, home or heaven" left within their minds, for they are rendered entirely void of good thoughts or honest ideas, having been so long filled with the one thought--crime.

Prison Record for Life.

Men who started on their "career of crime" as mere boys, with years of youth spent in reform schools only to be developed into men of crime, have prison records to follow them through life. Many of these men feel that they have lost all hope of any but the criminal's life. Many of them have been forsaken by family and friends. So to the man or woman who is at all interested in the uplift of his fellow man, can you think of any field where the labor of an evangelist is more needed than it is among the men we have attempted to describe to you?

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Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong--1
Corinthians 16:13.
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Then there is the paramount reason why the evangelist is needed. Men who would not on the outside of prison give one minute of their time to listen to the evangelist as he tried to persuade them to take a new lease on life let him engage their attention by the hour as he shows them the error of their way and points them to a better life. There are those that listen to his talk and turn away in scorn to ridicule his teaching. But as the days follow on, and the newness of the prison life begins to wear away, they listen with more respect to the "man of God."

of Chicago, one of the Author's main supporters while living in Chicago, Ill.]

We have seen men behind the bars who never before bent their knee in prayer. After listening to the evangelist's story of God and his love, they go to their cells, and upon bended knees, beg for mercy and help.

Brother George L. Herr has taken the word of the Master into many of the prisons of the United States, but the jails and penitentiaries of his native State of Kentucky have claimed much of his time and attention. We must confess when first coming in contact with him, our feeling against him was bitter, we did not want his friendship nor his help, only because we were angered by his denouncing our pet sins. But as days lengthened into weeks, and weeks into months, the truth of his kindly spoken words came home to us. Life was stripped of all its so-called pleasure, with nothing but its disgrace and shame left to mock us, having sold out to the "demon of crime."

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Why art thou cast down? Hope thou in God.--Psalm 42:5.
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Then we began to feel the need of his wise counsel and to realize the good of having him among us. He was always ready and willing to help each and every man, not only with advice and counsel, but in so many substantial ways, trying to lighten the prisoner's burden and make his life better and brighter.

He has also devoted part of his time to writing books. Those we call to mind are "Light in Dark Places," "You Are My Prisoners," "The Life Line," "Man's Worst Enemy," "Nothing Better," "The Missionary," "The Bethel," "Lost and is Found," "A Glorious Rescue," and his new book, "The Nation Behind Prison Bars," soon to be brought out. Hundreds of thousands of these books have been sent broadcast over the world, and through them great good has been accomplished. Well might he be called the "Prisoner's Friend," for his desire to aid each and every man gives to him this well-earned title.

Full of generosity, kind far beyond the ordinary meaning of the word, always ready to forgive the aggressor and to forget the offense, he wins his way into the hearts of wicked and violent men in a manner that makes them his lasting friends, and turns their words of condemnation into words of praise.

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He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him.--John 3:36.
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We fancy, as we write tonight, while, for the moment, the stillness of death has fallen upon the entire prison, we can hear his voice, as it rings out in righteous indignation, through the prison corridors, calling some man to account for his vile language or his taking in vain the name of God.

Works Without Pay.

If you were to ask a prisoner to what church Brother Herr belongs he would no doubt plead ignorance, as no faith nor creed is known in his work among the men. He makes no distinction between chapel-goers and non-attendants, and will do a favor for the worst man in prison as readily as for the leader of the chapel quartet; but ask the same prisoner, "Who is it that speaks to judge and the warden about the sick mother who longs to see her imprisoned son before she dies? Ask him.

Who pleads with the Governor?

Who tries to soften the heart of the prosecutor?

Who provides shoes and clothing for the poor prisoners?

What unpaid messenger runs the errands of the prisoners?

Who reconciles the erring son in prison with his mother and father?

He will answer, "Brother Herr."

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I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.--Psalm 101:2.
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Now, the average prisoner may be deficient in the matter of mental balance, but he is not an imbecile. He is a better judge of character and a keener observer than the more honest and commonplace fellow man. By the same keen powers of observation that belong to the criminal type, he notes that Brother Herr differs from many other prison evangelists, for he helps without asking questions. He has no theory or dogma to exploit, and he labors for the uplift of humanity.

Tribute to Jailer.

Much that we have written of this great work was made possible by Jailer John R. Pflanz, who for the past twelve years has been at the head of the Jefferson County jail. He is constantly laboring to better the conditions of the prisoners and give to the people an honest administration and progressive system of prison management.

To him Louisville and Jefferson County owe a great deal for the good work accomplished among the criminals. Brother Herr says:

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Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.--2 Ch.
19:11.
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"If such men as John R. Pflanz, of Louisville; John L. Whittman, of Chicago; Co. E. E. Mudd, of Frankfort, and Col. Dan Bartley, of Cincinnati, were placed in office for life the criminal world would greatly decrease every year, instead of being on the increase."

Jailer of Jefferson County. A friend of the unfortunate.]

We have never heard of any prisoner complain of unjust treatment by him, but on the other hand, many are the unfortunate men who leave this prison to take their places in business again, because of assistance given them by Mr. Pflanz.

His regular rounds through the entire prison are always hailed with delight by the prisoners, as he is ever ready to hear their complaints and remedy any existing evil. He listens to all the appeals for help by the prisoners and leaves no unfulfilled promises.

His personal inspection of the "cell-house" and inquiries about the health and general welfare of all the prisoners, make him always a welcome visitor among the men.

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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But that table and its delicious burden: Turkey after turkey, four of which weighed more than twenty-five pounds each, with all the trimmings, including dressing, cranberry sauce, etc. There were oysters fried, and oyster soup, with crackers and celery. And what an array of cakes! As I remember, there were chocolate and caramel, layer and black ones, in short, almost every kind of cakes and pies known to the culinary art. Then there were bushels of oranges, apples and mixed nuts, and for a time all of us forgot about stone walls and iron bars, for what a merry time we did have discussing that repast!

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For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.--John 3:16.
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Whence came all of those good things? Why, the little man who has so often walked a square or two further in the rain to buy one banana more for a nickel for some poor prisoner, and who has worn out more shoe-leather in helping unfortunate men in durance vile than any other man in Kentucky: the Rev. Geo. L. Herr, affectionately called "The Little Missionary," made personal calls on the wealthy and charitable merchants in the city of Louisville, soliciting this food and dinner in the name of humanity, and may God richly bless all those who helped him make it such a grand success.

HENRY E. YOUTSEY.

Praise for Prison Evangelist

[Courier-Journal]

To the tributes that have been paid to the Rev. George Herr, after filling the pulpit of the Clifton Baptist church, of Louisville, the Rev. James A. Clark yesterday added a testimonial, in which he praised the prison evangelist for work which he considers "little short of wonderful."

"It gives me pleasure to add my testimonial to the many I have seen concerning the work of the Rev. George Herr as prison evangelist," says the Clifton Baptist church pastor. "Three times I have heard him tell the simple gospel story of Jesus and his love. He has a message few preachers have, and tells it with power and effect. He has a message the world needs to hear, because it is an example of the power of God to save to the uttermost.

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My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.--Prov. 1:10.
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"Mr. Herr has had a wonderful, but costly experience, which fits him peculiarly for the special work among prisoners. From a wealthy man, living in a mansion, sin blindly led him to poverty, robbed him of his money, property and friends; but God came into his life and now he rejoices that he is a child of the King.

"George Herr is doing a work little short of wonderful. He deserves the co-operation of the Christian brotherhood, and I take pleasure in commending him."

Sermon in State Prison

Rev. Jos. Severance, Chaplain, says in the Courier-Journal:

One of the most remarkable meetings in the annals of the prison was held in the chapel of the penitentiary at Frankfort, Ky., Sunday morning. George L. Herr, of Louisville, a friend of Chaplain Severance, was present and spoke from the fourth and twelfth verses of the 103rd Psalm. The sermon was a strong appeal to the men for gratitude to God for the rich provision for the redemption of the race and urging them to accept the mercy of God and allow him to remove their sins from them "as far as the East is from the West." The chapel was crowded to the doors, and during the sermon that lasted for an hoar no one moved and none went out.

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My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped.--Psalm
73:2.
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At the close of the sermon the gospel invitation was given and a total of forty-two men came forward, some to confess faith in Christ (of these there were thirty-seven) and others to renew their vows. Hundreds asked for prayer in their behalf. Among those who came were some of the hardest men in the prison and more noted for insubordination and disobedience than for piety and morality.

But the Chaplain believes that the per cent. of those who remain true is as great among prisoners as among those outside.

Bro. Herr knows the prison work as few men do. He is a man of large sympathy, and having had an experience of fifteen years as an evangelist knows how to reach the hearts of the men. He has the entire confidence of both prisoners and officials and is always given a most hearty welcome by all.

The baptism of the thirty-seven men who made confession Sunday will be attended to next Sunday morning. Mr. Herr will return to the baptism.

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Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my
brethren, ye have done it unto me.--Matt. 25:40.
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Revival Stirs Up Inmates

[Courier-Journal]

The Rev. George L. Herr preached yesterday at the Frankfort penitentiary for the Rev. Joseph Severance, who was filling another engagement. Several hundred men and women asked for prayer, and fourteen confessed Christ and were baptized in the prison pool in the afternoon by the chaplain, assisted by the Rev. C. R. Hudson and the Rev. Herr, prison evangelist.

* * * * *

The prisoners in the Frankfort penitentiary were again blessed by a visit from Bro. Geo. L. Herr, the Louisville prison evangelist, who came unexpectedly to us. It was doubly fortunate, for the reason that Bro. Jos. Severance, the chaplain, was absent from the city and therefore could not fill his appointment.

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He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.--John 3:18.
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Bro. Herr read that most beautiful 37th Psalm, which is replete with comfort for those who are in dire distress and in need of consolation, placing special emphasis on those passages which teach patience and faith in "The God who is mighty to save and strong to deliver."

Bro. Herr never fails to extend the invitation of the gospel; in fact, that is his strong point, and is recognized by him to be the most important part of his work as an evangelist. His labor was rewarded, as he won eight souls for our Lord and Saviour.

The following representatives, members of the present General Assembly, were present at the morning services: W. H. Jones, Princeton, Ky.; John T. Shanklin, Johnson, Ky.; W. A. B. Davis, Mt. Vernon, Ky.; Albert Butler. These gentlemen have been coming regularly, which proves that they are interested in our welfare, and also devoted to the church services. We are always proud of their presence, and invite all their colleagues.

At the afternoon Christian Endeavor service, Bro. Herr made an extemporaneous address in which he revealed the secret of his wonderful success as a soul-winner, which the writer would call unlimited charity, and inexhaustible brotherly love; the love that always instantly forgives, and as quickly extends a hand to help a fallen brother rise.

The eulogy he paid his wife, whom he acknowledged to be the inspiration to his life, was most beautiful. At this service he won five more souls for his hire, making thirteen for the day. HENRY E. YOUTSEY.