The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1914-06-05
THE PRISON
ERS' FRIEND
Rev.R.P. Johnson Works
to Make Life Less
Hard for Them.

teachers who make good are landed TO
the skies; lawyers and dSctors who do
anything worth noting i'm this section are
praised, hut there is one unassuming
preacher of the gospel whose everyday
life testifies To his fitness for his chosen
worS, of whom little is written buG much
il said by those Who come i'm contact with
him and are familiar with his efforts TO
better the condition of mankind.
Rev. X. Z. Johnson, pastor of the
Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Kim
ball il the only Negro preacher of his
faith in this state, but it is not of lis
church work that this article will deal
but il is of his work among the prisoners
on the county road near kimball that
the public shonld know.
WORK IN PRISON CAMP.
About two years ago Rev. Johnson
saw that none Of the preachers i'm thi-
field were giving any time to the work
among the large number OF prisoners up
-on the roads OF Mcdowell county 50 he
began preaching and working among the
inmates OF the camp near kimball.
Two sundays i'm each month except
when the weather Was very severe this
earnest disciple of Christ went To the
camp, preached, talked, sang, gave lit
eraturer. and advised with the men who
broke the laws of the state and did al in
his power Ia lead them To ''the better
life" lie is doing a. Christ commanded,
''go into the highways and hedges and
COMPEL men u come tO the least.
REMEMBERED ON HOLIDAYS.
Two Christmases have passed since he
began this goood work and upon each OF
the anniversaries of the birth of Christ,
every man regardless of rare, i'm the Kim
bail camp received token of remem-
branee and On Thank sgiving day fruit
was served every man, furnished by Rev.
johnson with money solicited from
friends.
Aside from the sunday work in the
camps the prisoners friend talked
with them and did what he could To help
them while they were working on the
roads and sought in every way possible
tO get them to l'ecOme good men and
obey the laws Of the state and become
beneGciaries OF society instead Of it,
menace.
WORK APPROVED.
The work done by Rev. X. 4. John
son met with the hearty approval of all
men and women in this -ertion who hal
the welfare Of the community at heart.
Ii was also approved 10y Hon. W. J.
McClaren, county road engineer, Hon.
r. &. Cook, prosecuting attorney. the
members of the county court and other
officials and plans were in the cOIrse OF
development for having the work system
atically done in each prison camp in the
county at the eounty's expense until a
lew preachers raiscd the question Of de-
nOrnlnatIOnalism and opposed the move
ment becau-e they thought the prime
mover would receive some financial a.
sistance from the county, 80 the system
ailc plan recommended by Rev. johnson
and accepted by the road engineer and
menbers Of the county court was aban-
dOned and Rev. Johnson j. still doing
the work at the krmball camp without
financial assistance from any source AMI
the good CD ministers wlio Knocked the
plan are doing nothing in the CAMPS
near them % ',ettcr the condition Of the
men.
WORK WORTH WHILE.
This j. work worth while, il mean,
more o. society than all the -tilte,l -er.
mons in the churches AMI really rrsclls-
the people, or a part of them who nee,I
honest, faithful. interested Christian
work the un-elli-l.. humanitarian work
that Wa done ~ Christ and j. recouniz
ed tplay ~ the l--t means of makins
men better and raising the standard oI
society.
MICH GOOD DONE.
Rev. X. r. Johnson has done mucI
good ~ the prisoners frienj'' becau-e
many II the large numiEr 81 men whs
served time on the road and who came
under his influcncc are nov leading hon
e-t. Law abiding livcs and are makins
good IN the communities in which tley
live. There were always from ~ to ~
men in the camp in which he worke,
and many of that number have stated q
him and b. others that they I'VE theii
start ON the right road b. the work an,
advice 81 this good man.
As ~ do il unto one Of my little one,
" have done il al-D unto me-" but un.
les there y money in sight a large mum
Ter of the pretended opponents oi TN
doctrine Of tl,e brotherhood of man
will not pa-- ''cup of cold water b on,
Of my little one-in my name" and knccl
every other man or woman who seeks ..
better the condition of mankind.
Mcdowell county, W. Va, and tn
whole world would he better Il there va
larger number Of unsel6sh, e4rnes