The Nation Behind Prison Bars Part 6

-------- Be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land.--Num.

13:20.

But with all these graces and past experiences herein named the persecuted can rejoice and be exceedingly glad. And of such Jesus says, "Ye are salt and light." Would the reader be salt and light? Then pa.s.s through the program laid down in the sermon on the mount. One must be so poor in spirit that he will be such a mourner, that he will receive such comfort, that he will become so meek, that in him there will be such hungering and thirsting after righteousness, that he will be so filled with righteousness, that he will become so merciful and pure in heart, that he will be such a peacemaker, that he will be so persecuted, that he will so rejoice, that he will be salt and light, so s.h.i.+ning that men will see it and glorify our Father in heaven. It is folly to be striving to do something before. By the grace of G.o.d and his divine power we are ourselves made something. Make the tree good and the fruit will be good.

If by the power of the Holy Ghost we are made right it will be easy for us to do right. Salt salts, and light s.h.i.+nes without effort. So with true disciples of our Christ. They cannot exist without proving a blessing to those with whom they come in contact.

-------- Pray for them which despitefully use you.--Luke 6:28.

CHAPTER SIX

REFORMATION OF CRIMINALS

[Louisville Times]

In a sermon delivered in the Nashville penitentiary, the Rev. George L.

Herr, formerly chaplain of the jail here, spoke encouragingly to the inmates, citing cases of reformation where reform seemed impossible. The Rev. Mr. Herr took occasion to pay a high tribute to Jailer John R.

Pflanz, of Louisville. He said in part:

-------- Repent ye therefore and be converted.--Acts 3:19.

When I address you upon this subject I speak from the standpoint of one who knows by bitter experience. I know that sin can rob man of fortune, and all the luxuries of life. I know that it can rob him of the love of all who ever loved him; I know that it can drag him down from a position of prominence, and make him a habitue of the dives; I know that it will cause him to place a rope around his neck and hang himself to a rafter in his own barn; I know that sin will lead him to pause at the railing of a bridge, his mind set upon the awful deed of self-destruction; I know that it will tempt him to take a razor in hand and draw it across his throat. I know that sin will reduce him from a position of influence, a welcome visitor to the homes of the elite, to a degraded drunkard, homeless upon the streets of his native city, robed in a short linen duster and a straw hat in the dead of a bitter winter's night.

[Ill.u.s.tration: REV. JOHN PAUL

He gave the t.i.tle to this book after reading the ma.n.u.script]

River Thief's Reformation.

Jerry McAuley was a river thief, and, while serving a term in the penitentiary, caught a glimpse of what the life beyond with Christ would be, and the verse, "G.o.d so loved the world," etc, (John iii., 16), won his heart and life, and this poor, weak vessel in the few years he labored for Christ has planted the gospel light through some convert at every port where a s.h.i.+p now lands throughout the world.

Case of Sam Hadley.

Sam Hadley, who was saved through this man of G.o.d, was a poor friendless drunkard, and at the time G.o.d spoke peace to his soul had committed almost every crime in the calendar; over one hundred forgeries looked him in the face when he confessed, but he had faith in G.o.d, and he led him through all the dark valleys. Sam Hadley, was delivered.

-------- If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.--Isa, 7:9.

I met in the office of the prison every day the jailer, and I can safely state, without any fear of contradiction, that I have never met a warden or jailer who has such mercy and charity.

A Jail "Miracle."

I shall speak now of a miracle of the prison cell. Several years ago the great D. L. Moody was holding meetings in St. Louis, Mo. The Globe Democrat announced that it was going to publish Mr. Moody's sermons. He made up his mind that he would weave in plenty of Scripture for the newspaper to carry into places that he could never enter. One night he preached on the Philippian jailer, and next morning the paper came out with a sensational headline, "How the Jailer of Philippi Was Caught." A copy of the paper was carried into the city jail, and fell into the hands of a notorious prisoner. This man was one of the worst characters known to the St. Louis police. He was about forty years old at that time, and had spent about twenty years in prison, and was then awaiting trial on a serious charge. As he glanced over the morning paper, the headline caught his eyes. Thinking that it was some jail news he began to read it.

-------- This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith,--1 John 5:4.

G.o.d used it to convict him, and a sense of his responsibility before G.o.d rushed upon him. There in his cell at midnight he prayed for the first time in his life. On the following Sunday he talked with Christian friends who held service in the jail, and was led into the light of the gospel. From that night he was a changed man. The sheriff thought he was playing the "pious dodge," and had no confidence in his professed conversion. But when he came to trial the case against him was not pressed, and he escaped through some technicality.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DWIGHT L. MOODY

Who sent the Gospel through the daily press that fell into the hands of Valentine Burke. He was always interested in the lost man.]

Unexpected Good Fortune.

For some months after his release Burke tried to find work, but no one would take him, knowing his past history. He thought perhaps it was because of his ugly face. He went to New York and was taken in by a member of the police force, who knew him, and who told him he would shoot him dead if he abused his confidence.

Being unsuccessful in New York, he returned to St. Louis. One day this man who had realized what the "enemy" had done for his life received a message from the sheriff that he was wanted at the courthouse. He obeyed with a heavy heart.

-------- Thy G.o.d whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.--Dan. 16:6.

"Some old case they've got against me," he said, "but if I'm guilty I'll tell them so; I've quit lying." The sheriff greeted him kindly.

"Where have you been Burke?"

"In New York."

"What have you been doing there?"

"Trying to find an honest job."

"Have you kept a good grip on the religion you told me about?" inquired the sheriff.

"Yes," answered Burke; "I've had a hard time, sheriff, but I haven't lost my religion."

"Burke," said the sheriff, "I have had you shadowed ever since you left jail. I suspected your religion was a fraud, but I am convinced that you are sincere, as you have lived an honest life, and I have sent for you to offer you a deputys.h.i.+p under me. You can begin at once."

-------- Yea, he shall be holden up; for G.o.d is able to make him stand.--Rom. 14:4.

Tribute to Burke's Honesty.

This was in 1880. When Mr. Moody was preaching in Chicago in 1890, Burke, who had not been off duty for the ten years, came to see him.

During all that time there had been many changes in the administration of the sheriff's office, and they had changed every deputy but him.

Finally they appointed the ex-convict treasurer of the sheriff's office. Mr. Moody preached in St. Louis again in 1895. A short time before his visit an evangelist was called away in the middle of the revival meetings. The committee wanted Burke to come and preach in his absence, but the sheriff said he had just levied on a jeweler's store and had not had time to take an inventory, and Burke was the man he could trust to put in charge of it.

[Ill.u.s.tration: VALENTINE BURKE