Evening star., 1938-10-10
Pastor Leads Prisoners to Better Life
Through Music, Candy and Wise Aduice
Req. George ". Crabtree
of CatIett, Va., Aids
in Penal Reforms.
BY THOMAS C. HARDMAN
Star Stan Correspondent.

ana every one OF CneSe mas neard
the wise advice and counsel of a man
who has spent large part Of his life
in prison evangelism and prison re-
form-in intimate association with
men who can find no place for them
selves in society.
Even today, at his farm home near
this little village located in the foot
hills few miles south of Manassas,
where he came to find complete rest
more than Is years ago, the minister
thinks of prison reform. He travels
over the State talking with prisoners
in road camps and preaching to church
congregations the methods of better
ing penal institutions.
In the back yard Of his home, which
is flanked on the right by his little
country church, is small plot of
ground fenced off from a pasture A
horse stretches his neck over the fence
to MUNICH grass from around three
graves.
In them lie the remains Of three ex-
convicts who came to Mr.. Crabtree,
whom they knew as their friend and
benefactor, to help them find some
place in a life from which they had
been divorced. They had lived and
worked for him until they died.
Visits Camp Each Sunday.
Each Sunday the kindly, energetic
minister visits Virginia road camp.
He has the commendaiton of his
church, the Presbyterian demonina-
ton. and permission of State officials:
He takes along phonograph, gener-
Gus supply Of records and big bag Of
candy.
Il play some funny recordings, such
as those made by Amos and Andy"
Mr.. Crabtree will tell you. Then I
have along some blues music and other
popular tunes and, of course, plenty
of religious recordings. Then we all
sing for a while. The boys seem to
enjoy singing. Later talk to them
tell them of a greater life. Before I
leave I always give them a handful
of sweets
These prison camp visits are made
in addition to regular weekly services
at Mr.. Crabtree's own church. There
are IS members. The church was built
for "the people in the neighborhood"
and the scores of former prisoners
who once hocked to the minister's lit
tie farm home before he succeeded in
pushing his reform suggestions
through the Virginia Legislature,
which provided for the first time gate
money" to tide released convicts over
until they could adjust themselves to
the free life.
They used to come at his suggestion
to work on the farm until they could
find a place for themselves without
having to resort to more crime in order
to survive. The three who died were
among them.
Today, even when released prisoners
are provided for, few coE1e to ask
advice and express their gratitude for
what the minister has done for them.
Mr.. Crabtree never turns them away
without a nights lodging and several
good meals prepared by his helpful
wife and daughter.
Inmates of prisons in other Southern
States have felt the influence of this
Father Flanagan Of Virginia. From
the time he first began his penal re-
form work in 1910, starting out from
Washington, he has had a hand in
cleaning up the prison systems of
North Carolina. Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Texas, Minnesota, Colorado and
others.
This 65-year-old man has seen un-
imaginable brutality and suffering in
prisons and road camps and has braved
the wrath Of powerful politicians and
governmental officials to see that such
conditions were alleviated.
His plans of action were not alto
gether unusual. He would find the
rotten conditions existing in the prison
systems by first hand observation. He
then would reveal these conditions to
church congregations, soliciting funds
to aid in bringing about the cleanup.
There were times when my life
wasn't worth 2 cents" he recalled
yesterday, his eyes twinkling as he told
of his experiences. But kept blast
ing away from the pulpit until l.ews-
papers and public officials became
aroused and then things would happen.
Investigations would get under way.
Oncials here and there would be
ousted. And soon the penal sky would
brighten considerably"
But during the last IS years, Mr.
Crabtree has concentrated on his
"boys" in Virginia road camps. In
that time he has had 10000 converts
among the prisoners.
prisoners No Different"
"But you realize, Of course, prisoners
are no different from many members
of every church congregation" he
said. "They may repent but they
don't always remain repentant."
Nevertheless, the minister can point
to case after case in which the prisoner
has "seen right and stayed right"
Some haven't turned out so we'll"
he will admit, "but on the whole I
think my work has meant something.
A fellow gets the most out of this
world when he feels he's done little
something for humanity"
There was a sick colored preacher
who left North Carolina prison more
than 20 years ago. He had served
seven years of q long sentence for q
crime he did not commit. The man
knew he was soon to die but he wanted
to see Mr.. Crabtree. In the bitter cold
of winter he trudged wearily for many
miles until he finally reached the little
Virginia farm home.
Reverend" he said weakly, II am
now q happy man. I am free" He
was free but he died two days later.
In the center of the little fenced-in
plot is a grave marker which reads:
REV. Nathan Glenn, died January %,
1917. He was 40 years old"
1t is a symbol of the lifework OF the
Rev. George w. Crabtree.