Through the kindness of the warden I am permitted to present a small sketch of my prison life. I am glad to avail myself of the opportunity of relating my experience in the earnest hope that some one as unfortunate as myself may be benefited thereby. That this is written within prison-walls will, I feel, prove none the less interesting. The first night I spent in prison will never be forgotten. When the cell-doors clanged, closing in upon me, I felt my very heart sink within me. Then with a contrite heart I looked to Jesus, and spent the night in prayer. Oh, what a comfort he has been to me! I then and there made up my mind to follow in his footsteps, and devote my life to him.
With a change of heart, Christ has ever been with and bountifully blessed me. I meet with great kindness from Christian people, and every consideration from our noble warden and his officers. Because I am in prison I need not be useless nor unhappy. I accept my situation as of divine appointment, and will try to be contented with it. Lamenting over the past will do no good, for I can not recall or change it. Complaining of the present will not mend but make myself and others wretched. Anxiety about the future will not make it any better. My heavenly Father has permitted things to be just as they are, and I know he loves me. I will therefore leave all to him. No rebellion shall be cherished in my heart, and no murmur shall escape my lips. My Savior has promised that his grace shall be sufficient for me. He will never leave me, but be a present help in time of need. Trusting in him and committing all to my loving Father’s care, I will do what I can. I will make the place where my lot is cast as bright and cheerful as possible, and work and wait with patience till I am permitted to go to my heavenly home.
I am indebted to many of my Christian friends, to all of whom I extend my heartfelt thanks for many acts of kindness, of which one is in supplying me with a fine Teachers’ Bible and other good religious reading matter. My Bible has been to me a constant source of pleasure, it has dispersed the dark cloud of sorrow and let in the sunlight of God’s love. There was a time when I believed every earthly friend had forsaken me, and that I was only known by a number—the number on the books of a prison. In a cell, yea, shut away from the full light of day, shut away from man, I was lonely, friendless, forgotten—a boy who was once free as heaven’s sunshine, free as the birds whose songs I loved to hear. I remembered my home, my mother, the good-night kisses, the lilacs, the roses, the orchard, the swing, the schoolhouse, and the playmates. Then I thought of that beautiful and pathetic hymn, “Oh, where is my wandering boy to-night?” and I resolved that I would flee to the One whom God had appointed to bring forth the prisoner from the prison-house of sin. My brothers, you are not forgotten. If mother is alive, she is praying for you, and the God to whom she prays loves you. “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love”; “and, lo, I am with you always.” He has all the angels of heaven working to help fallen humanity to be saved from sin. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”—Heb. 1:14. And I am glad that I can testify to the facts, that behind prison-walls, in the dark shadows of a prison-cell, are sons and daughters of God, heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, heirs of salvation, and to these heirs of salvation angels are sent forth to minister. The angel in your cell waits, brother. Kneel and pray. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”—1 Jno. 1:9.
Can I, can you, live a Christian life in bondage? My answer is in the affirmative. It has been tested and proved beyond a doubt. I will recall the incident of Joseph. When he was a mere boy he was sold by his brethren and cast into bondage. He resisted temptation, even when he knew that in so doing he was taking just so many steps toward the dungeon. Gen. 39:7-20. In adversity, as well as in prosperity, he gave all honor to God. Gen. 41:16. He forgave his brethren when most men would have been tempted to punish them. Gen. 50:15-21. We can learn from Joseph’s prison life a remarkable lesson. That God was with him in all things was unmistakably true. He was blessed and elevated to noble positions. This honor he gained by his uprightness in his daily walk before God. Gen. 39:21-23; Acts 7:9. God used him as an instrument to unfold his plans. Gen. 45:5-8; 50:20; Acts 7:9-14. If Joseph, a mere boy, could walk uprightly before God and receive a blessing in prison, I or any one else can do the same by the grace of God, and by his grace I will. And again, Peter, the apostle of Jesus Christ, was imprisoned by Herod and was delivered by an angel through the prayer of the church, yet he could not realize that he was released from his bonds and imprisonment, but thought that it was a vision. Acts 12:4-9. Paul and Silas suffered bonds of imprisonment, and stripes of persecution for proclaiming the gospel of Christ, and during all their persecution sang songs of praise and lifted their voices in prayer to the Lord. Acts 16:22-26. If all of these men could offer so much praise to God under such trying circumstances, I or any one else can do the same, but only through his grace. By his grace I will. When we fully submit our minds to God’s mind and plans, then God will teach us the sweet lesson that “all things work together for good to them that love God.”—Rom. 8:28. Trust him and open your heart to him and you will experience this peace which he gives to his followers, a peace such as the world can neither give nor take away.
In conclusion I must say, if the dear readers could but hear the pleading, fervent prayers and the touching testimonies of these unfortunates, they would place a higher estimate on the prisoner, and by word and act help him rise, as it were, above his surroundings. The prisoners are given to understand by our warden that the prayer-meeting services are theirs, and let me say there are about fifty of the boys here who try to make the best of it, and in no single instance have they violated the privilege granted to them during this service. I consider it a privilege to stand up for God, even within the confining bars of a penitentiary. My brother prisoner, the Master is calling for you. Think of it, whosoever believeth on God’s only Son, a free and a full salvation shall he have, for God is both willing and able to save. “What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”—Acts 16:30. Salvation is in the name of Jesus; “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”—Josh. 24:15. May God bless and uplift the fallen everywhere.
Serial No. 2282.
SAVED BEHIND PRISON-BARS.
Washington Co. Jail, Potasi, Mo., Sept. 23, 1900.
I was a very wicked man when I was put in here, but by reading books and tracts sent me I soon realized my condition, and oh, how I repented of my many sins and called on God for mercy! Now I am so happy to tell you that he freely forgave me all. Praise his dear name! Although I have been in here long time my hours have been sweet since I found Jesus. I expect to leave here in a few days for the state prison at Jefferson City, but oh, I have the sweet promise: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” I have promised God that the rest of my days shall be spent for him who has done so much for me. I expect to work for God all I can while in the penitentiary, distributing papers and books that are sent to me for that purpose. Dear ones, pray that God may ever use me.