Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-26
OUR DUTY TO THE FALLEN.
Need OF Helpers, Money, and BooEs ih
the neutrality-suspicious. Work
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RICHMOND, bldICu ~ i5'N'
To he Editor Of he Dispatch:
There are numbers of persons who 90
not believe that any good IL done 10y
preaching. prayeT-meetings, Saooath-
schools. or anything OF the kind IN tIg
%penitsntIary. They conscientiously holu
10 this opinion and have not the opportu-
nifty. nor do they seek IT. 10 test the truth
by observation or inquiry. There. arc
Others who are utterly u~nmindtul or TUE
claims that these "shut-in people" nave
upon society. "Once a criminal always y
criminal" has been accepted as q fact ana
(sLall | say IT = sometimes as an excuse lol
neglect of duty. There are others VINO
with all their hearts desire to carry tne
bread Of lite 10 this most desolate, mos.
%forlorn class Of our people. Believing IL
to be an lmperative duty, they Law aside
other things. pleasures (perhaps duties 40
some would say and. give themselves 10
this work.
The work is large and the number OF
prisoners Is increasing so rapidly that IL !
appalling. How to meet the demands OF
this work, how to find suitable SabOaIu-
school teachers, how to induce ministers
TO offer 10 preach here, how TO get MONEY
for Bibles aud hymn-bOok5 10 a proolth
yet unsoiyed and daily presses upon the
thoughts and tries the faith OF those VINO
have IL IN their hearts to labor IN this sor-
rowful field.
THEY DRIFT Z or SIGHT.
The belief that no good is done Is
strengthened by the fact that after serving
n torn IN the peuitentiary the man or
woman who cOes out into the world seems
10 drift away and Is lost to sight. and CALI
not be found to prove that the grace OF
God j. sufficient to keep in peace ever the
poor disCraced one. who goes often TREND
loss To face the bitter scOrn of the heart
less, cruel world. Bellevlngthet the 90
ing out " Is the greatest trial OF all, / haNe
tired to keep up a connection with many
who in prison rnade profession of re;
llgiOn and some who dld nor. l
have been encouraged by hndlhg
that the seed sown in tears Is
bringing forth fruit, and that words
evep the SIMPLEST that kindness could nc
tate, have saved from utter despair solhs
ready TO perish. There was one, n young
man. who often said to me, - cannot make
a profession of religion nolc-some ons
would say was pretending Just 10 get
that day more han during the whole term
of his imprisonment. | have since hau
letters from HIM. He Is doing well ~
hopeful. facing the world which he SAYS
led him astray and then cast HIM ont
He writes The lessons learned IN prison
Will help me 90 retrieve ms character ald
do me good Tor time and for eternity lie
attributes his ability to resist the temptH-
ton to end hls life to words spoken by
those who cared for ms soul IN prison.
TIE sUNDAY-sCIooL WORK.
Colonel C%olston, who ~ well known and
honored IN richmond, IL the superlnteni-
cnt Of the Sabbath school IN the mems
ward. lie Is doing faithfully his part OF
the work. but there are many evenings
when he cannot find teachers 70 put over
the classes. lie feels the burden when
bears so heavily upon HIM and would be
clad to have the help that IS 50 much
needed. Some gentlemen can give the
time. Others can give money 10 buy lhe
needed literature. 4 little from every
church II Richmond would supply the
demaud-d r,cg llUie. Think Of the
churches with large congregations that
90 W to worship. processing to worship
Him who will say, II was in prison and SO
came not to Me-" Colonel COlston Will DO
clad 70 receive any sum, however small, 10
heip IN hIs work. and there should be No
need Of begging for this cause. About
LOO men and over a hundred women arc
behind those high white walls and we must
answer 10 God II We fail Of our duty 10
them. That the public may see that good
/, beng done by the request of those most
Interested III this work / make extracts
from letters received by me from some
who have served their term and gone out,
who have written TO me having known me
ia prison only. | suppress the names be-
cause 1t Is best to do 30. but the letters axe
the genuine and encouraging result OK
prayer and work done perhaps Is Il very
feeble aud imperfect manner, but SUI
blessed to the good OF perisLing souls.
TO ENTER THE MINISTRY.
The following was received not long
since from u who IS how out IN the world
doing well:
Il want YOU 10 know that I am needing
the advice SO kindly gwen the, end that 10
the influence thrown around me IN prison
| attribute my. cOnyersi9n. l want you 70
learn Il and 10 take cottage. Much good
that IS done Will never be known until the
day when the Lord shall come u make up
HIS Jewels. Iku0r, for while IN Richmond
I had an opportunity Of knowing that a
blessing is on the laboTs bestowed upon
many OF the poor bows IN PRISON. l pray
God 10 bless the teachers n preachers
and all who care for the sinful and suffer
inc III prison. q As sOOn rs ! can
earn a little money | will enter the -
l~heOlOglcal Seminary, for | feel that |
must preach the Gospel, and | give myself:
my life. my all to the lifelong service II
Him VINO loved me- and ave Himself for
me-"
Another, alluding to religious meetings
be had been attending, writes : lie Dir.
Moody did great work IN this place where
Christ is much loved and hOnOred. But
cannot forget yOnd,r place where J received
from the Lord Jesus so great "A blessing ~
bringing me into the knowledge OF the
truth. Ny hope l. set on Heaven. and |
have been called 10 the work IN the yIne-
yard Of the Master. / will obey the same.
and | pray the Lord will OestOw upon me a
double portion that | may preach the peace
of Jesus. care not where / 20,
but | would like to 20 where there Is much
sin, so that | can help those who. like ms
self, were down in the depths OF wicked
ness. Wherever lie wants me TO 90 i 90,
with my Bible in my hand. Tel! your
kind husband and oil the lovers OF Jesus
] am ready TO preach tho Gospel, but AIN
wiling to die tor the name OF the Lord
Jesus, who died for all. Please give my
respects 10 MIR. Lynn. and tell the prison
ers that | pray for them; that 10 one but
Jesus took me cut OF the house Of bond
age. He was pardoned. Tell them TO
trust HIM who can save and bless and pro
mote all, both black and white. Pray Tor
me-"
PERSONAL HELP IS NEEDED.
Many such letters az these encourage those
h have given themselves 70 this braach
of religious Work. 1 have received many
letters upon the subject OF prison reform,
especially asking information about what
is being done for the peniteutiary III a re-
ligious line. To all such 1 reply that l
believe all is being done that can be
done under the circumstances. The
Board of Directors IS III full sympathy
with all efforts al reform that are
right, and no permission IL denied those
VINO are trying to do good which the laws
say that | am under many obligations TO
the Board of Directors, the Superlntend-
ent, and subordinate officials for courte-
sizes and cooperation IN the efforts we
make to carry light into This dark place OF
STA and sorrow. Every Sabbath morning
when any one comes to lead the services
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