The record-union., 1897-01-27
The Brotherhood of Man.

10 the ordinary reporter, VINO gives TO
the public the required report Of surface
deta1i-1 may say the material view OF
things which seem most pleasing to the
large majority who skim mentally over
the surface, and says, "Oh, who cares to
go deeper; this and that just has to be
and that is all there is to it." There are
those who look from the rock crusher
at Folsom to the great heart crushing
machinery of mans inhumanity to
man." and who do see and feel that be-
meath the stoical, defiant visor of human
faces there is suffering unknown save
to those like Mrs. Booth (Ballington),
who calls the prisoners My boys" and
who pierces the outer crust of person
ality with the x-ray of faith and sees
the indestructable soul, Gods thought
or gift, as real man, and this brings me
to the one incident out of several which
was to me interesting.
While the many had gone to view the
sights promised and fingered to pass
away time, I had a desire after seeing
all to talk a little with some of the
TRUSTEES" not in regard to workings of
the prison, which as seen were as all
right as present conditions of the world
allow, at present; but better ways will
come. The cleanliness of the prison, the
culinary perfection which was delight
to the guests, and the delightful music Of
the prison band to which light feet and
happy hearts responded, was faultless.
AS l sat thinking and looking at the
picture before me of contrast, happy
freedom and unhappy bondage, |
thought where does the dividing line
begin, when out in the worlds freedom,
under heavens blue dome, with external
good as protection, we hear one say,
"Oh, this just has to be-; is there not
soul imprisoned in flesh bondage? Are
there not worse prisons in the fashion
able world Of environment which cramp
and bind the mind and heart as cruelty
as prison bars?
On the other hand found some of the
soul freedom behind the prison walls
which st. Paul speaks Of soul freedom
often born Of sad experiences, expert
ences which crush to refine. 1t was not
| long before my opportunity came.
Going to a "trusty' "a prisoner who has
won a degree Of freedom by good con-
duct) I inquired about Mrs. Booth and
asked what 'the boys" thought of her.
He replied, ooh, we love her! though she
was not here long" I could see in his
| look, hear In his voice, and feel from
his soul he was sincere; that the good
in him had found in Mrs. Booth the ideal
good, shorn Of all doctrines and creed,
which the long waiting. sin-incumbered
world is looking for-the unadulterated
truth Of conscious souls, which see be-
f11n.E Efoif ~
of the Father lend divine ray of light
to quicken the soul and unfold the light
that lighteth every man that cometh
into the world
Growing more confidential, until I lost
all realization that this man was a con-
vict save when he said people come
and 60 but they never think that we are
some mothers boy" he said, some come
here and talk to us about religion and
urge us to find Jesus and to accept him
into our hearts, but it all seems so in
definite, so intangible; why can't it be
made palmer as other things are?" /
said, ut pleases me to see that you even
desire to understand. Desire is the
promise of supply. To make it less con-
fusing we will face the plain problem,
| God is and I am Gods thought or
idea was made manifest in man. In our
elder brother Christ, as spiritually per-
feet, the humble Nazarine dwelling
among men, master mind showing the
way into higher life. life independent of
earths methods, submitting as did he,
to what the world respected as its high
est ideal of good, when he came, even to
submit himself to the symbol Of the
baptism Of spirit which John declared
higher and which, after preaching
and teaching and overcoming, Christ
promised to send; his spirit or his mind
then freed of earthly embodiment was
at one with the all-lfe, the Father. The
ideal struggle Of the worlds best
thought Is the brotherhood of man, as
did Christ make possible a universal
Christhood which is even now manifest
ing through the more direct influence of
the spirit Gods life or mind which
quickens man to think Gods thoughts
otter him.
''It is with you, with me, to know that
real being is our gift of worship, the
prince Of the house in which we seem to
live, though unawakened as yet and as
dormant seed is as pure as the imaged
| OHt, OlLiS NdiLluS- -NC"f o-o tAAN e1ii ~
atmosphere contains all that is neces
| sary to grow the seed into activity, so
| the spirit quickens and gives con-
scious unfoldment to Gods thought as
| soul in US. it becomes clothed in right
eousness (right thoughts) and so If L
| be lifted I will lift. Your sorrow and
| self condemnation is atoning, but choos-
ing to live the Christ life by taking into
| your consciousness the spirit, you Will
| be unfolded into all things good, which
are the souls attributes Turn to this
clean, white page, poor mistaken one,
and begin to live your life. You will
| find your work even here, and prison
| locks will loose their seeming cruelty,
when you feel what cruel jailer you
| have been and others are, who limit the
| soul to prison life of flesh"
| Looking earnestly at me came these
words Il understand as I never did be-
| fore, and I am going to write to my
mother and tell her so, and now many
thanks for your interest and kind words.
I must go, good by" Oh, what field
| of work there is among the doubly i'm
prisoned conviets, and out in the world
in freeing the Imprisoned souls of men,
buried amidst. the debris of earthly ig-
norance or innocence of mans great and
grand possibilities.
From another man came an earnest
regret that young men, almost boys,
were compelled to associate with old,
hardened criminals and that they were
made familiar with recitals of crime and
criminal methods. Far better for the
world that feels secure in putting its
criminals behind bars If the youth We're