The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-02-15
Good Advice From ssIngomar.o

Editor Mirror:
There has been much said concerning re.
formation by many of our contributors OF
late. and while l have carefully watched
each article and endeavored to learn if pos
sible. form the tone, the actual feelings of
the writer. l am led to make the assertion
that [ firmly believe our little MIRROR has
secret faults and mistakes that a world OF
sin, and never-ceaSng strife has heretofore
kept hidden from their gaze. There are
periods of mans life when. no matter how
he may be situated. he is compelled to be
honest with himself; when his deeds
of the past, whether they be good or bad
pass before him in his memory. l firmly
believe that it is but the warning given by
a merciful God. and one that but few of Us
are prone to heed. am afraid.
What wonderful mass of heartaches,
secret tears, blasted hopes, and ruined
homes there are represented in our little
colony here! Wonder if people on the
outside ever give this subject serious con.
sideratiOn-I mean the same as we in here
give it. am afraid not, and who can ex-
peCC IHO WOrlU 10 90 so.
1t may seem rather unfriendly in one tC
criticise the expressions of fellow unfor.
tunate. but | cannot refrain from expressing
the sincere pity have for one who profes
seS to have reformed, and cannot determine
in his own mind what he had done to re-
form of. Yet this man writes touchingly OF
the great mercy of our Heavenly Father
and that although we are behind strong
bars, and the lock is snapped quickly or
us. yet they cannot flock God out" ETC.
Glance on the next page of the same issue
OF our little MIRROR and you will see the
other side OF this reformation" NOwm\
unfortunate 1865" do not suppose l criti-
else you from any other mOtive than that OF
pure brOtherly feeling. | will admit that
DO not credit everyone with possessing a
penitent heart. and a sincere desire to LEAD
honest upright, and manly lives in the flu.
ture. who write or otherwise express them
selves as reformed men. but l DO believe
that many. possibly very large majority
OF our writers. are truly sincere in all they
say. and it is due them, as we'll as source
of encouragement to Others that those who
have as yet failed to experience true feel
ing OF remOrSe for past sin and to humbly
ask pardon and grace from God to help
them, should refrain from ridiculing the
subject in the eyes of all fair minded peO-
pie. What must man do to become truly
reformed? This question has been the
most difficult one for many men to satisfac-
tOrily answer to themselves, yet the answer
is so simple and easy that one hardly credits
it at first. because he has drawn up long
list OF what he feels he must necessarily re-
nOunce. and the list of the condemned So
called pleasures and vices is so large, and
his stock of moral courage and self-will Sc
small. that he is for the moment overcome
with his inability in himself to accomplish his
desire; and to reform HONESTLY, seems to
him task more difficult than he is able
to accomplish. To man who has been
used to exercising his genius to work that
aids the wrong, it seems hard for him to
link his conscience to common sense in eff
forts that are pure and manly. 1t is diff
ficult matter to make him believe that he
would be happier in the possession of honest
labOr'S pay, than in riches gained by fraud.
or that his deeds inspired by his sin even
though they impart success are not to be
compared to one single act of kindness
prompted solely through frindship, to an
aching heart. He cannot see how honest
reputation gained by manly action is far
better than all the fame he could gain by
sacrificing his manhOOd'S honor; or that
virtue, even though clad in homespun cloth
is better than vice clad in purple, rare and
rich: and home where true affection is
found, be it but one room. and ever so plain
ly furnished, is better than a palace of
richest splendOr where sweet love has never
regned. So might go On and mention
innumerable imaginary obstacles that Satan
constantly sets before us whenever we think
seriously of reform. The greatest obstacle
for one Situated aS Ua ara in hara RI ovar.
come is popular disbelief in our professions,
and while it is sadly to be admitted that
there are good grounds for such a feeling to
exist in the minds of people outside, yet /
must assert that it is largely over estimated
in our own minds. We must not, and do
not think truly reformed man will expect
to be raceiyed into full falIo111chi1a nd ,,itL