Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-13

TO many, the prison crowd, those men would be so many convicts. bur- lock in the faces Of ti1ose audiences you do not have to ask what they have done, but what may those men become. what of the future. It is right to close the door of the past and fling open the door Of hope and the future to them. They can rise up and lay the founda- ton there for new, happy, earnest career, which may become theirs. It is Gods work, as it is only the Divine nand which can accomplish such work. It Is also the work of "the boys" as she termed the prisoners.
 Prison League Started.
 She related how a certain number Tn Sing Sing had taken their stand for the better and asked her to organize them, feeling that in union there was strength, and the Volunteers of the Prism League was started 1e years ago. Over fifty joined and received the white button with the blue star, the motto being Look Up and Hope. Since then over 10000 have been enrolled in the prisons of the country, and they have become earnest, practical and faithful Christians. Theorists can talk convict, but Christians dare not. There is no letter which can bind a man s soul in opposition to God.
 Work at Two Homes.
 
 She told of the establishment of two homes for those who have been dis charged from prison, and there have been over 5000 who have gone to them, and the greater number of those have become good citizens, taken positions of trust, and become a benefit to man kind.
 Realizing that their prison life was the transformation from darkness to light. one of her pleasantest experi-- ences was that the very men pointed out as the most desperate and hope less criminals have responded most quickly and shown the effect in after life. She told of the man who was considered the most dangerous of all writing her and she giving him a chance to talk with her. She encour- aged him to think that there was hope for him, and he at once was changed man. Leaving prison, he went to their home and lived as a Christian and his employers later spoke of his faithful ness to his work and his uprightness. He learned a trade and in three years became a foreman at skilled labor. He was hopeful. happy and showed the strength and courage of manhood. Others profted by his change and said: If he can be straight there is hope for every man. The message of new hope Is what tells. Do we realize the ever never had the touch of 8 Christian mothers hand, but if they can come forth and work for God what an influ- ence is your life and mine.
 She also referred to the work that is being done for the families of those who are in prison, and closed her ad- mirable talk with an appeal to all to remember '.her boys" and speak @ good word for them and their work. She was loudly applauded at the close. The benediction was given by Rev. c. H. Ricketts. after which two other selec- lions were given by the band, which also won loud applause. The collec- ton amounted to about $100.
 At Central Baptist Church. The Central Baptist church was packed in the evening so that it was necessary to open the annex. Her story of the great work she is engaged in was told to this audience in similar vein and made profound impress sion. At the close many enrolled their names in the work and the collection was taken up for her work.
 She made particular reference in the evening to the fact that of the 5000 who have gone to the Homes of Hope that over 75 per cent. have become Christians; of the remainder. 20 per cent have been made much better, and have done better than before, while only per cent. have ever gone back to prison, and those went back be- cause of strong drink.
 It is ile- belief that the families of the 100000 prisoners are the ones upon whom the big suffering comes, and her organization is doing great work for them. She believes that when the prisoners have earned the expenses of the institution wherein they are kept that all further earnings there should go to a fund for the care of their fam flies, and she referred to the state of Texas making million year off it's prison labor while the wives and chil- dren suffer and starve.