FROM A LIFE PRISONER.
Nevada State Prison.
Carson City, Nev., April 18, 1901.
The Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.,
Moundsville, W. Va.
Dear Friends: Your kind letter and the books were duly received, for which please accept my thanks. I read your letter to the men one Sunday morning just at the opening of service. The effect of its kindly expressions upon the men in general I am unable to state, but personally I wish to thank you. I have read your books and like them. I like the plain speaking which I find there, in denouncing this makebelieve Christianity. Above all men, the prisoner is quick to see the non-practice of the teachings of Jesus by his professed followers, and seeing it, they conclude it is all pretense. I speak of those who read the Bible. Consequently very few make any effort to lead a true life, and care very little for Christian reading. Of course they are wrong in that respect, as they have been in many others, but being blind they are unable to see, I know, and so does any one who thinks or reads, that our penal systems are of the most unChristlike nature possible, breathing more of the spirit of hell than of the spirit that lifts heavenward. Why our people will continue in this spirit I know not. Perhaps some time a true soul will arise in this special subject and bring about more righteous conditions. God grant that it be so.
With many thanks for your kindly interest in the prisoner, and for the books sent, I am, with Christian love, Respectfully yours,
E. S. ——, Life Prisoner.
Jonesboro, Ark.
Dear Friend: We received your letter and books. We were so glad to get them. We were playing cards when the sheriff handed them to us. We laid the cards away and went to reading, and the more we read the more interested we became. I have prayed to God to forgive me of my sins and I believe he does, and I want you to pray for me. There are three other men in here that have turned to God, and it all came about through the letters and books. We thank you for the Testament. Pray for us and please send us more of those books and papers. They help us so much.