The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-06-03


very discouraging. Many mountain
men and boys had never heard Of the
Lords prayer, and very few could
read.
Eighteen years ago we organized
the christian Endeavor Society" in
prison. AZ first the white society
insisted upon having separate meet
ings and refused 10 unite with the
colored society. but that has all pass
cd away. and now they have grown
very helpful to each other.
When 7 first organized these Chris
tian Endeavor Societies had TO per-
form the duties Of president, secre-
tary and musical director, but they
were so ambitious to NJ themselves
for these positions that IL was won
derful how quickly they learned
with no books but the Bibles, (which
7 supplied. and sentence prayers
which would write for them, -
truly "The entrance Of Thy Word
giveth light. Illiteracy has dec
creased greatly.
The mountain feudists (of whom
we have many are very interest
ing class. One who looked like a
mere hoy told me quite boastfully
that he "came to prison for helping
to kill two neighbor boys, and had
two more to kill"
When expostulated with him, he
said 20, they owed us four corps
es-having killed four Of my faith
er's brothers. many years ago, and |
promised my father on his DEATH
bed 10 see that this debt was paid"
Like the Highlanders Of Scotland,
these feuds run through many gen.
erations. This mountain boy, who
had such a busy time ahead Of him,
when asked il he could read, said
mo ma'am: I don't know nothin'-
amt never had no chance. l
supplied books and writing material
and his progress was wonderful
his thirst for knowledge exceeded
any I've ever known,-except other
mountain boys of this pitiful class,
who "aint never had no chance.
He became a most efficient, faithful
worker in our C. f. Society-and
after nearly nine years in prison
induced our governor to pardon him.
He went into an adjoining State,
worked all day and went to night
school. and later to college, and was
finally ordained a Baptist minister.
He writes me that he often thanks
the Lord for his term in prison.
Many of the members Of our Chris
tian Endeavor Society who have gone
out are now Christian workers on
the outside. They have had no train
ing except what they received in
prison. still receive letters from
some who went out eight or ten
years ago, teliing me that they are
still faithful to their pledges, and
grateful for the teaching l gave
them, nd are prosperous and happy.
Before we can obtain a parole for
a prisoner, we have to provide en-
ployment for him. I've never asked
fer a parole or pardon for man
until he has shown by several years
Of faithful service in our Christian
work that he has turned to the
better life.
OF the many, many men for whom
I've been able to secure pardons, not
one has ever returned to prison,
which we regard as a wonderful re-
cord. as so many OF the unconverted
do return for second or third term.
I regret that these considerations
have not had any weight with our
prison officials, of the. past.
1t is estimated that ninety out OF
every one hundred prisoners come
to prison as a result of drink. Many
of them tell me that giving up the
use of tobacco relieved their fever
ISM tITbdlS anu l'uh away 'h''A
thirst. thus proving an old proverb
that Tobacco creates an island in
the throat that has to be washed
down with liquor"
We have two large American flags
on our chapel walls, made entirely
Of small temperance pledge cards,
signed by our C. f. boys.
The tales of woe that have been
poured into my ears would fill a
volume-sp many bitter regrets, and
binding tears. that I've sometimes
felt that my "wells Of sympathetic
tears" would be exhausted.
II takes much moral courage 10
work and teach in prison, and cour-
age on the part of the prisoner TO
attend these services, for in all those
years of discouraging, depressing
work | knew ! was regarded as a
fanatic, my work was ridiculed, and
-.