The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1893-04-08
THE HOUSE OF PRAYER.
A Prison Poem by Convict 400.


The expiration of the lease of the
penitentiary having set all the
prisoners free from labor, time which
hangs heavily on their hands is en-
ployed in games and all kinds of
social amusement Convict 400, who
, witnessed the turning Of the chapel
into play ground, was inspired to
write of the discretion in the lines
published below. At his request his
name and crime are omitted:
TIT is written, My house shall be called the
house OF prayer, but ye have made 10 den OF
thieves. Matt. XXI-l3
Twas written that His house henceforth should
be house OF prayer,
But, To- as in the days of old, again the Spirit
To see this sacred temple changed into den of
house Of prayer? Oh God, what shame that
every seat within
Tobacco fumes, that faint the air, the only in
cense here
Thy word is blasphemed everywhere but few
Here incnbate embryo plans for future villlany-
Hell finds pastime for idle minds which work so
willingly!
The sing the dance, stories of crime-murder
and obtery-
Repeated Oft! no word subllme--no thought of
Heaven OF Thee!
Great G0dl what shocking scenes and crude OBJ
scenlty within!
o can the angel help but weep who writes down
all this sin?
ITO pass the time" the prisoners say contlnu-
Ing their sport,
Alasl that Time should seem so long-Eternity
so short!
Oh must we "1chabod' inScribe upon these
sacred walls,
From which the faded evergreen in withered
fragment falls?
An emblem me,t of brighter days-sweet Easter
tide, t may be,
Reminding of our risen Lord and songs of praise
to Thee.
One day In seven the Chapaln's voice repeats
Come unto Mep'
The other six? HELPS carnival Of sin and rev.
elry
No thought OF God! no hope, no prayer no look,
no sigh for Heaven
He'll blinds their souls to outward care, six days
OF every seven!
And then to meet in such den. when comes the
Sabb til day
No wonder God refuses then to answer when We
pray.
Like Noah's doventhe preachers call "COme
Is echoed back from barren wall, and finds no
place to rest.
Come! tho thy sins as scarlet be, or red like
crimson glow,
The blood OF thy Redeemer makes each stain
whittier than snow;
Return backslidIng Israel, ye hear his voice to-
Oh harden not thy sinful heart He'll wash thy
sins away"
DIT thus, In vain the Chaplain pleads with I'M |
told fervency
But to such hardened men as these, it seems like
m0ckeryj
10 house 81 prayer! the chapel seems indeed
den OF thieyesl
1 lodging house at nightly day, arookrey meath
whose caves
The sparrow builds her nest, and swallows thro'
admitted by the holes thro' which we look and
see the sky!
The plaster falling from the walls-no mercy
While Heaven seems both blind and deaf TO
every offered prayer!
md then the WindOws-iron- barred-the light
comes scarcely thro',
t seems likewise, sometimes, as If our souls
we're fettered too!
10 .gaudy temple did they rear-'t was but an
prison chapel built to cheer the few who might
be thine.
What field for Christian labor here-what Chris
he harvest ready for the sheaf-God's laborers
'ho' he'll assails it seems that Thou art deaf to
Cast out the money changers" now, and help us
from on high.
vhatl fifteen thousand dollers given the work
shops to repair,
'et but a farthing to improve the sacred shine of
prayer?
We have robbed GOdr taking His house for
place where convicts sleep,
last that flesh and bloOd's so dear-lmmortal
souls so cheapl
Weighed In the balance for the work their hands
are apt to do
here is no profit on SOUL or man would lease
that too.
lark ye! wise Legislators, now II you would gain
true fame,
rect this prison mo ument inscribed to Jesus
name.
house of prayer to fit our souls to meet Him In
the skies.
instead of barterng day by day In human mer-
chandiSe.
ord give US back this hallowed spot where we
may sometimes kneel,
nd know that It's the house Of prayer, while we
thy presence feel!
Ill then. at close of each sad day. our lonely
cells vel seek, i
nd there I'm silence weep away the thoughts we
dare notlspeak.
ENTUoKY PENlTENTIARF, April 4th, 1898.