AUTHOR’S PREFACE.
Help a man who is in trouble and manifest a care for his soul, even though he is an enemy; it touches a tender chord of his hardened heart, tends to loose the binding powers of sin, causing him to look up with hope. Realizing the great neglect of duty toward them who are behind the prison-bars, unable to help themselves in many respects, inspired the writing of this volume. It was not the intention of the author to write a thorough work on this subject, but to call attention to a few facts concerning the prisons and jails, also the treatment and privileges of the inmates, and thus awaken the people to a sense of duty and the manifestation of a feeling of sympathy. The majority of people have never visited a jail or state prison, consequently know but little about them, and feel little, if any, responsibility on that line.
About two years ago the Gospel Trumpet Publishing Company of Moundsville, W. Va., established a fund for sending out literature free to the poor, to jails, prisons, and wherever most needed. As much as ten thousand dollars’ worth of books, tracts, and papers have in this way been sent out during one year to various parts of the United States, Canada, Europe, and other foreign countries. Yet it seems only a drop in the bucket, as it were, in consideration of what should be done. It is our earnest prayer that the readers of this little volume will at once put forth the greatest possible effort to properly supply the prisoners and thus aid in bringing about a reformation in their lives.
In order to show the result of some of the efforts put forth to supply the prisoners with good literature and their appreciation of the same, quite a number of letters from prisoners and prison officials have been inserted. While these letters have quite a similarity, yet it is hoped that their sameness will not destroy their interest in consideration of the fact that thereby the prisoners from a broad scope of territory have the privilege of giving expression to their feeling of gratitude toward those who have thus manifested their friendship.
The names have been omitted of those who have written letters and testimonies; however, they appear in full in the original manuscript and are genuine. Only the serial numbers are given to those whose biographies appear in the book. We are grateful for the kind assistance of prison officials and prisoners who have kindly contributed. Further communications, or letters, from prisoners or any one interested in this line of work will be gladly received by the author. With an earnest prayer for the salvation of every prisoner, I remain,
Yours in Him,
E. E. Byrum.
Moundsville, W. Va., July 4, 1901.