Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of Love

Many of the selections given in this chapter were written by prisoners and given me by them. The others may not all be new to the reader, but I have thought them of sufficient v...

If there ever is a time in our lives when we need a friend, it is when we are sick, in trouble, or about to die. The last words of our loved ones are very dear to us all. Nearly...

The extracts from letters found in this chapter are gathered from my correspondence with those within prison walls who have been encouraged by the way and have received help; ma...

My call being not only to the prison bound but to every creature, the newspaper men have received their part of the Gospel message and were often instrumental in heralding some...

The writer of the following letters was one of the most remarkably conscientious persons I ever knew. As a prisoner, he was very highly respected by the officers. His chaplain h...

At one time when suffering from nervous prostration I was lovingly cared for for some weeks in the home of dear brother H. L. Hastings, of Boston. One night while there I said t...

I once had a novel experience in a prison lumber camp. I was being entertained at the home of the superintendent of the camp and was to hold service with the prisoners at twilig...

During the first years of my missionary work I was led to stay much of the time in the South. I was learning lessons in patience, faith and humility before God. The cross was ve...

We are writing you from within these dark grim walls. Although we are condemned as the outcasts of society and separated from friends and loved ones and continually laboring und...

I had greatly desired to preach the gospel in other lands and held myself ever ready to go at a moment's warning, anywhere the Lord should lead, and had been given letters of in...

Have ye looked for my sheep in the desert, For those who have missed their way? Have ye been in the wild waste places, Where the lost and wandering stray? Have ye trodden the lo...

Among the others who were saved that fourth day of November, 1888, at Waupun, Wis., was the very remarkable case of Geo. H. Colgrove. Years afterwards the chaplain said of him,...

As stated in preface I have always as opportunity offered been ready to preach the gospel to all men. In this chapter I speak very briefly of some of the work done in churches a...

In speaking of prisoners or of those within prison walls many think only of men being found there. This is due doubtless to the few women compared to the number of men found in...

The young man on the front of the engine in the foregoing illustration was my sister's son. I give here an extract from the account of his death June 7, 1890, as published at th...

So tenderly reared in the pure country air, So innocent, gracious and true, A sweet loving daughter, so gentle and fair. Of the great wicked world naught she knew, She roamed on...

Soon after starting out in my work, when changing cars in an Iowa town I saw a crowd of people who were curiously gazing upon three young men who were handcuffed, and bound toge...

From the great number of letters which I have received, of the character indicated by the title of this chapter, I give a few which may be of interest to the reader. These will...

Who will man the life-boat, who the storm will brave? Many souls are drifting helpless on the wave; See their hands uplifted; hear their bitter cry: "Save us ere we perish, save...

I was born May 10, 1844, in Wayne County, Ohio. My parents, John and Mary Van Nest Ryder, were honest, hard working people, and were earnest Christians. One year after my birth,...

(The writer of this poem was a personal acquaintance and friend. At the time the poem was written her father was warden of the penitentiary at Fort Madison, Iowa, and she took g...

We give here a few letters from dear friends who have been especially interested in the Master's work, some of whom have given me many words of encouragement, or otherwise been...

During the fall of 1888, I was deeply impressed that I should visit the state prison at Waupun, Wis. Following the guidance of the Spirit, I reached the place, after a long jour...

In my several visits to the prisons of Canada I have generally found the officers very courteous. There are sometimes there, as here, changes of administration, making the work...

For the instruction of children and others who have never visited one of our large penitentiaries I insert the following sketch of such a visit written by Mrs. F. M. Lambert, au...

You, dear ones, are my especial care and have been for over twenty long years; and your eternal good will continue in a sense to be first in my thoughts while life lasts.

Author of Flower Mission Day--Flower Day at the Prison--Lines by a Prisoner--Take This Message to My Mother--Not Lonely Now--Jesus Is Looking On--How God Calls Missionaries Out...

Letter from the Prisoners at Chester, Ill.--Extract of Chaplain's Report--Suicide of a Prisoner--"I Have no Friends"--Letters from Chaplain Starr--A Way Opened in Answer to Pray...

Poem--Permits to Hold Street Meetings--From a Missionary--My First Street Meeting--A Wonderful Conversion--Became a Preacher--The Blind Encouraged--Forbidden to Preach on the St...

Accidental Death of My Nephew--My First Trip by Rail--Experience of a Railroad Man--Transportation--A Kind Conductor--Interesting Services--Train Saved from Wreck--A Train in Da...

Special Mission to Doomed Men--Indifferent but Finally Converted--Letters--Mother's Prayers--Claimed to Be Innocent-- Hardened in Crime--Ten Men under Death Sentence--Conversion...

Race Question--Letters of Introduction and Recommendation--A Stockade--Letter to a Governor--Reply of Prison Manager--Plea for Women Convicts--Bloodhounds--Coal Mines--A Touchin...

On the Ocean--In a Foreign Land--Preaching in Glasgow--My Life in Danger--A Song Stops a Row--Arrested for Singing-- Tumult in a Dive--Mob of Drunken Women--Letter from America-...

Provided with Food in Answer to Prayer--A Great Revival--A Man Saved from Suicide--Letters from Pastors and Others--Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore--Successful Meetings--You...

My First Effort for Service in a Prison--Kindness of Officers and Men--Letters from Officials--Work in Santa Fe, N. Mex.-- Three Christian Men Pardoned--A Forty Years' Sentence-...

Novel Conveyances--Assisting a Colored Minister--Through Danger Alone--Prostrate Among Prisoners--A Meeting at Day Dawn--Helping to Bury a Prisoner--Wreck of a Coal Train--Sugar...

Street Meetings in Hamilton--In London, Ontario--A Girl Rescued--In Kingston--Stoned in Quebec--Victory in Toronto-- In Victoria, B. C.--Work in Mexico--A Bull Fight--Wept with...