<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap">xt7fxp6txn30 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7fxp6txn30/data/mets.xml Herr, George L. (George Lewis) 1913  books b92-60-27078142 English Carter, : Louisville, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Church work with criminals. Evangelists. Nation behind prison bars  / by George L. Herr, prison evangelist. text Nation behind prison bars  / by George L. Herr, prison evangelist. 1913 2002 true xt7fxp6txn30 section xt7fxp6txn30 


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                   THE


NATION BEHIND PRISON BARS


                     BY
        GEORGE L. HERR, Prison Evangeligl


" I was in prison, and ye came unto me"


             kUBLISHED BY
      THE CARTER PRINTING COMPANY
          LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

 
       COPYRIGHT 1913
             BY
GEORGE L, HERR, LOUISVILLE, KY.

 
           To zAd Wife
      WHOSE CONSTANT HELP AND
           ENCOURAGEMENT
MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO THE WORK
             TO WHICH

               0ob
    HAS CALLED ME. THIS VOLUME IS
         INSCRIBED WITH THE
            PRAYER THAT

               1ob
    WILL USE IT TO SAVE MANY SOULS

 
The Nation Behind Prison Bars

                         BY


    GEORGE L. HERR, Prison Evangelist
Author of "Light in Dark Places," "You Are My Prisoner,"
   "The Life Line," "Man's Worst Enemy," "Nothing
       Better," "The Missionary," "The Bethel,"
           "Lost and Is Found," and "A
                  Glorious Rescue."


THE WORLD OF PRISONERS UNKNOWN TO MANY
     BROU'GHT FORWARD IN DESCRIPTIVE
          SPEECH AND VIVID PICTURES


  There are enough people in prison in these United States
to furnish a citizenship to a considerable territory, or to
populate a good-sized city. For the psychological student.
they form the most interesting of all objects of study. For
the philanthropist, and for the Christian missionary, they
constitute a wonderful field of activity. How to lift them
out of the criminal strata is the question to which Mr.
Herr is devoting his life, in an effort to answer. In a good
measure he is answering it. Many prisoners to whom the
grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation, will rise to
call him blessed.-Rev. Jno. Paul, Mississippi.


iv

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MY DEVOTED FATHER


THE LATE HON. RICHARD S. HERR

    '-And their works do follow them."

 
MY PRECIOUS MOTHER


   THE LATE MRS. RICHARD S. HERR
- Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works
            praise her in the gates."

 This page in the original text is blank.

 
Foreword


  Gathered within these pages are recitals of scenes
and incidents in a field of existence fortunately un-
familiar to the majority of our readers. The subject
has been handled without any attempt to embellish
the hard facts or gloss over the cruel details--the par-
amount desire upon the part of the author being an
endeavor to show the crying necessity for a constant,
earnest labor among the unfortunates who are shut
away from God's sunshine; whom God still loves, de-
spite their sins of omission and commission. If the
perusal of this volume brings to the reader a belief
that the cause is worthy, that labor in this field brings
a reward which amply compensates for the time and
effort expended, the author will rest in the knowledge
of a duty well performed. There has been no effort
at exaggeration in presenting these sketches of daily
experiences among the outcasts of society, no strain-
ing for effect, no striving to paint word pictures that


V

 
vi      The Nation Behind Prison Bars

may touch the heart. It is simply the story of every-
day life in the field of the prison missionary's labor,
and is given to the public with a fervent prayer that
God, in His infinite wisdom, will instill in the hearts
of our readers a feeling of charity toward those whose
burden is almost greater than they can bear.
                        Faithfully,
                                       G. L. H.


Contents


Title .....  ..  .. . . . ..  .. . . . ..  .. .   .  i
Copyright ..ii
Dedication        ........... .... . . . .. . . .   .  iii
Advertisement...............                   . .. iv
Foreword ...... .   . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . ..  v
Contents        .           .vii
Illustrations...... . .   ....... .    . .. . .   .   ix
Commendations from Louisville Miniglers . ......... .  x
Story of the Life of Geo. L. Herr..... . ... . .   . xiii
Subscription Card..... . .        .                 xvi
Chapter First-Life of Geo. L. Herr .1 . . . . . I
       Second-" Lost, and Is Found ".10
       Third-" Political Peril," Sermon by Dr. E. L.
           Powell ...... .   .  .. . . . . .. .   .  23
  "   Fourth-" Chris the Interpreter," Sermon by Dr.
           Hawes ..34
       Fifth-Throwing Out the Life Line . . . . . . 41
       Sixth-Reformation of Criminals.               46
          Visit to Nashville Prison.  .52
       Seven-Does Prison Work Pay . . .. . .. . 54
          The Work of a Prison Evangelift . . . . . . 57
          Youtsey, Kentucky's Famous Prisoner . . . 66
          Pratical Religious Work in County Jail . . . 67
          Praise for Prison Evangelifl  . . .. . .. . 69
          Sermon in State Prison .                  70
          Revival Stirs Up Inmates..                72
       Eight-A Man of Honor.           .74
       Nine-Jim O'Brien, the Modern Miracle       76
          Jim O'Brien Passes Away . . .. . . . .    83

 
Viii   The Nation Behind Prison Bars


Chapter Ten-Columb'_s Ohio Prison                   85
           The Big Ohio " Pen " Week by Week . . . 88
           Chapel Services. .... .                  89
   "   Eleven-Incontetable Proof    .               92
Prison Evangelist's Good Work.... . .. . . . .      97
A Grand Work Highly Commended-John R. Pflanz    .   98
" Worked Wonders ".100
Strong Endorsement .101
Speaks to Prisoners.... ..    ..       ....... 102
Sad and Pitiful Story.... . ..... ......      . . . 103
Resolution Never Broken.. .........                104
What is a Friend... .. . .. .. . .. . . .. . . 106
"Another Chance I Crave ".108
Letter from Col.Will S. Hays.  . . ......... 10
Letter from Capt. Scheider.... . .. .              111
Profanity Shows Mental Deficiency.                 112
Cincinnati Work House..     ........               115
Extermination of Habitual Criminals                116
Criminal Becomes Minister. . . . . .. . . . . .. . 120
Poem to Brother Herr .122
Success of Reform Criminals-Wm. A. Pinkerton . . . . 124
Letter from Editor Star of Hope..                   137
Lost and is Found .. .   .. .............. 138
Christmas at the Frankfort Prison ........ . . . 139
Hundreds of Letters..  . . .. . . . .. . . . .. .  144
A Tribute from Jos. M. O'Hara.                     145
Fishing for Men .147
Branch Library in the Jail . . .   ............ 149
Change comes in Curt Jett... . . .. .. .. .. . 151
ChristianEndeavor at Frankfort Prison .158
Capital Punishment. . . . . .    . .. . . . .. . . 165
Indiana Reformatory.. . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . 168
Indiana Reformatory Chapel Services.               169
Clinging to the Bible..... .. .. .. .. .. . . 172
Tree of Life and Knowledge.                        173
The World Dying for Love .174
George L. Herr's New Book. . . . . .. . . . .. . . 176


                   Illustrations


Geo. L. Herr and Wife-Frontispiece . . . . .. . . .  i
The Late Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Herr . .iv
Rev. Chas. R. Hemphill, D.D  .      ..... . . .    xv
Rev. Steve P. Holcombe ..6
The Late Mr. George Gaulbert.                  8
Rev. Carter Helm Jones .          .               9
The Late Rev. E. A. Ferguson  .  .10
Rev. E. L. Powell..                                22
First Christian Church and Presbyterian Theological
    Seminary                                       28
Rev. T. M. Hawes, D .D.34
Rev. Henry Clay Morrison, D.D  .  .40
Rev. John Paul      .         .46
Dwight L. Moody      .         .48
Valentine Burke     .         .50
The Late Col. Mat. Ragland  .   .54
JeffersonCounty Jail. .. . . . .. . . . . . . .    58
The Late Hon. J. C. Bohart  .   .60
Hon. John R. Pflanz    .        .64
Rev. C. S. Hanley                                  92
Hon. Chas. F. Grainger           .106
Judge Aaron Kohn      .. . .... .....             108
Rt. Rev. Chas. E. Woodcock, D.D.    .112
The Hon. and Mrs. John L. Whitman .  .116
Gospel Service at the County Jail, Chicago, Ill. .  118
Wm. A. Pinkerton                                  124
Louisville Free Public Library  . .149
Curtis Jett.... . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .  151
Henry E. Youtsey. ....... . .. . . . . ...        158


ix

 
      Commendation from Louisville
                    MiniIers
                    Louisville, Ky., Jan. 27, 1910.
To His Honor Judge Muir Weissinger,
      Judge of the County Court,
             Jefferson County, Ky.
Dear Sir:
  The undersigned Ministers of the Gospel in the city
of Louisville, being members of the Ministerial Asso-
ciation, do hereby recommend to your Honor the ap-
pointment of the Rev. George L. Herr, a regular or-
dained minister of the gospel, as Chaplain of the
Jefferson County Jail, in accordance with Part 9, Sec-
tions 627-632 Russell Statutes, 1909, inclusive.
  The Rev. Mr. Herr is thoroughly well qualified to
fill the position of Chaplain at the County Jail, he
having for seven years previous to the enactment of
the present law given up his time and money in this
noble work, without compensation from any source
whatever, either state, county or city, as the present
Jailer of Jefferson County and many other will tes-
tify.
     R. D. SMART,
          Pastor Broadway Methodist Church.
     CHARLES R. HEMPHILL,
          Professor Presbyterian Theological Seminary.


I

 
The Nation Behind Prison Bars


xi


W. N. BRINEY,
     Pastor Broadway Christian Church.
W. J. CLARKE,
     Minister Clifton Church.
A. R. KASEY,
     Pastor Clifton Crescent Hill Methodist Church.
S. G. SHELLEY,
     Pastor Jefferson St. Methodist Church.
THAD. S. TINSLEY,                       '
     Pastor Third Christian Church.
W. F. IRWIN,
     4th Ave. Presbyterian Church.
E. B. PATTERSON,
     Pastor Trinity Church.
W. R. HENDRIX,
     Pastor Methodist Temple.
J. T. RUSHING,
     Pastor Virginia Ave. M. E. Church, South.
D. B. GREGORY,
     Pastor Woodland Pres. Church U. S.
G. W. NUTTER,
     Pastor Parkland Christian Church.
B. F. ATKINSON,
     Pastor Rivers Memorial M. E. Church, South.
C. F. WIMBERTY,
     Marcus Lindsay Memorial.
CHAS. A. HUMPHREY,
     Pastor Portland M. E. Church, South.
J. D. SIGLER,

 
xii _ The Nation Behind Prison Bars


    E. L. POWELL,
          Pastor First Christian Church.
    S. H. LOVELACE,
         Pastor Oakdale Methodist Church.
    C. R. CROWE,
         Pastor Highland Park and Hill Street.
    T. R. KENDALL,
         Lander Memorial Church.
    T. L. CRANDELL,
         Dumesnil M. E. Church.
    C. E. CARTER,
         Asbury M. E. Church.
    ARTHUR W. BROOK,
         M. E. Church, South.
    W. B. BEATUCHAMP,
         Pastor Fourth Ave. M. E. Church, South.
    J. R. McAFEE,
         West Broadway M. E. Church, South.

 
Story of the Life of Geo. L. Herr


   The Rev. George L. Herr, prison evangelist, has re-
ceived from Chicago his book entitled "The Story of His
Life," by Edward De Alma. Mr. Herr distributed 10)
copies yesterday in the Jefferson County jail, and the men
received them with great eagerness. Mr. Herr will place
the story in all penal institutions. A letter from the Rev.
James M. Taylor, complimenting the book, says: "I have
read with soul-stirring interest the sad, heart-rending ex-
perience of Brother Herr, and the miraculous deliverance
by the grace of God; how, by a life of sin, he squandered a
fortune; how God found him and gave him deliverance;
the romantic way in which his God-given companion en-
tered his life and how they are being used, perhaps, as no
other persons to-day in helping those behind the bars. This
story will warn the reckless, encourage the 'outcast,' and
put a desire in the hearts of thousands to lead better
lives."- Loisville Courier-fournial
   The Rev. Paul, of Meridian, Miss., says: "The story of
Brother Herr's life, 'Redeemed from the depths of sin to
the mountain top of salvation,' is a thrilling narrative, pub-
lished as a warning to the fallen."
   The. Rev. J. B. Foote, chaplain of the Onondaga county
penitentiary, in New York, acknowledging receipt of the
life story of Mr. Herr and thanking him for it, states in his
letter that he will use the book in his preaching in prison.
  When asked if prison work paid, Mr. Herr said: "Who
will ever know the vast number that will attribute their
first impulse to a better life, formed while in the seclusion
of a prison cell, while reading this book. The world will
never know how many, when sitting in judgment upon
themselves, have learned the great secret, that it takes an


xiii

 
xiv


The Nation Behind Prison Bars


omnipotent power to change the current of their lives and
give them deliverance from the power of sin, and enabling
them to go forth, not to live a new purpose, but a new
life."
   In 1909 Mr. Herr published 150,000 sermons, books and
tracts.

   The Rev. George L. Herr, whose address delivered in
our chapel last Sunday morning was charmingly refresh-
ing, is a man.whose vicissitudes of life lead through a laby-
rinth that would require a half century of years to make
its journey at an ordinary pace.-Rev. D. J. Starr, D.D.,
Ohio Penitentiary.

   Bro. Herr knows the prison work as few men do. He is
a man of large sympathy, and having had an experience of
fifteen years as an evangelist, knows how to reach the
hearts of the men. He has the entire confidence of both
prisoners and officials and is always given a most hearty
welcome by all.-Jos. Severance, Chaplain.

   "The large number who have been helped by hearing
your message will be still further benefited by reading your
book."-Rev. Albert J. Steelman, Ph.D., Chaplain, Illinois
State Penitentiary.

   Get Rev. Herr's book for your good, but chiefly for the
good of others.

   Rev. C. R. Hemphill, D.D., Louisville, Ky.: "I believe
Rev. George L. Herr especially equipped for the difficult
work of an evangelist to those in prison and to the
neglected."

   Rev. Wm. Edmond Foster: "His love for lost souls and
his zeal knows no bounds. I bespeak for him a life of
great usefulness to his fellowmen without hope and' with-
out God."


REV. CHAS. R. HEMPHILL, D.D.


  President. Presbyterian Theological
Seminary, Louisville, Ky. One of the
South's greatest scholars and teachers;
whose heart is full of sympathy for
and helpfulness of the unfortunate.

 This page in the original text is blank.

 
The Nation Behind Prison Bars


xv


    Rev. Horace G. Ogden, D.D., New York: "I have been
 placed where I have known intimately his work as prison
 evangelist. I can say he has made a superb record. He
 has taken an enlarged field of work, and I have every con-
 fidence in his increased usefulness. His book merits a
 large circulation."
   Rev. Ed. Ferguson: "For years he, with his most es-
timable wife, have given their time and talent to the up-
lifting of the down-trodden of this great metropolis and
they have the respect and hearty co-operation of the best
people in Louisville."
   Rev. James M. Taylor: "The story will warn the reck-
less, encourage the 'outcast,' and put desire in the hearts
of thousands to lead better lives."
   Rev. T. T. Taliaferro, Chaplain Kentucky State Prison:
"Your sermons are blessed of God to the furtherance of
the works of grace in our midst. May God bless you in
your noble work."
   Rev. W. 0. Vreeland, Chaplain Kentucky State Prison:
"You are worthy of the highest commendation."
   Men's Bible Class, James Lee Memorial Presbyterian
Church: "Rev. George L. Herr's talk at last Sunday's ses-
sion was a treat."
   Rev. George L. Herr, 195 Coral Avenue, Louisville, Ky.:
"Who will ever know the vast number that will attribute
their first impulse to a better life, formed while in seclu-
sion of a prison cell while reading this book."
   The Rev. George L. Herr is bringing out a book on pris-
on life which is abundantly capable of two effects, namely:
Enlisting the attention of readers, like a romance, and ben-
efitting the class of whom he writes. It is a two-hundred
page book, illustrated with pictures of prisons, and scenes
behind the bars.

 
Xvi   The Nation Behind Prison Bars


DEAR PRIEND:
  We know you will rejoice with us in the work being
accomplished behind prison bars. Many thousands we
are preaching the gospel to every year. There are
converts all over the United States that we hear from.
The outlook of the work was never more encouraging.
May we submit to you our plan to secure auxiliary
memberships at 10.00 each
  Will you be onie
                      GEo. L. HERR AND WIFE,
                              Prison Evangelists.


             DE"PARTMTENTS OF WORK.
  Distribution of thousands of papers, tracts, and
o)ther religious reading.
  Visiting the sick and poor.
  Street work in the slums.
  Evangelistic work in the different penitentiaries a
specialty.


CHAPTER FIRST


LIFE OF GEORGE L. HERR
                 BY EDWARD DEALMA
     A BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING.
            "As we sow so shall we reap."
  Born in the city of Louisville, of an old Kentucky
family, whose escutcheon had never been shadowed by
smirch or breath of shame or ignominy, it might truth-
fully be said of George L. Herr that he had been
ushered into this world with the proverbial "gold
spoon in his mouth," his father, the late Richard S.
Herr, being a prominent and highly esteemed and
wealthy citizen of the grand old state of Kentucky.
Though surrounded by the luxuries of life, by envi-
ronments unusually favorable for the development of
a strong, healthy, vigorous and clean life, yet Brother
Herr's life from his youth up to the period of this
writing, presents an aspect checkered with the lights
and shadows of temptation, sin, remorse, repentance,
redemption and restful peace of heart in salvation
through Jesus.

  Give us help from trouble; for vain is the help of manm
-Ps. 108:12.
  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help In
trouble.-Ps. 46:1.

 
2       The Nation Behind Prison Bars


   At the age of three months, the death of his pre-
cious mother caused him to be given into the keeping
of his aunt, a noble Christian woman, and it was due
to her teachings that the seeds of reverence for God,
belief in his dearly beloved Son and faith in the
promise of a life of everlasting happiness were
planted deep in the recesses of George Herr's heart,
while his father, a Christian gentleman, spared no
efforts in his endeavor to bring up his son in the way
he should go.
  At the age of eighteen years, through the death of
his father, he came into the possession of a large es-
tate, but lacking the experience which usually comes
with maturity, he developed a spirit of independence
which soon brought in its train of attendant evils.
  The story of George Herr's experience is the recital
of a man's gradual surrender to the power of drink,
until the enormity of his fall can but be depicted by
contrasting his condition with that as it was a few
years before. Then he was a well known young man of
Louisville's elite society, wealthy, respected, esteemed
and sought after. Friends without number, well
wishers innumerable, the door of any refined home in

  Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord; for I am weak; 0 Lord,
heal me.-Ps. 6:2.
  My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made
perfect in weakness.-2 Cor. 12:9.

 
The Nation Behind Prison Bars


the city would have swung wide open in welcome at
his knock. Now the other picture: A drunken outcast,
a prey to the buffetings of every chance wind of fate,
deprived of friends, stripped of wealth, position and
reputation; exposed to every form of evil, subject to
the cruelty of every character of temptation that as-
sails human nature. Ostracized from society, barred
from contact with any self-respecting acquaintance of
former days, can you imagine a more potent example
of the victory of Satan through the agency of his chief
field marshal, Drink Glod grant that this may come
as a warning to some one of the thousands of young
men who, with prospects as bright or even more flat-
tering than were those of George Herr at the age of
eighteen, are at this moment entering upon the path
which will lead them, as it has countless thousands,
into the abyss of eternal destruction! God grant that
the moral to be drawn from this picture will burn it-
self in indelible letters of fire upon the very soul of
each young man who reads this.
  These were indeed dark days, the past a record of
sin, the present a nightmare of misery and shame, the
future black with the darkness of despair, with not

  I am poor and needy; make haste unto me, 0 God.-
Ps. 70:5.
  My God shall supply all your need, according to his
riches in glory by Christ Jesus.-Phil. 4:19.


3

 
4       The Nation Behind Prison Bars


the faintest gleam of hope to pierce the gloom. "Poor
fellow," you say, "only one of a multitude."  Yes,
only the prototype of one of the thousands who are
traveling the same broad thoroughfare at this mo-
ment.
  It was at this critical juncture, when reputation
was blasted, hope departed and the future barren of
promises, that a remnant of respect for his home and
the associates of better days awakened the residuum
of pride remaining and brought the determination to
remove his unwelcome presence from the scenes of
former pleasures. He went West, but his hopes were
blasted, and penniless, homeless, wretched, obliged to
accept any kind of menial work in order to eke out
a bare living, he wandered about until an overwhelm-
ing homesickness brought him back to Kentucky.
There was, perhaps, a flickering intention to do better,
to cut loose from the bands that bound him, but good
resolutions were made only to be broken, and the
cords of sin drawn tighter than ever.
  None but God can realize the extreme bitterness of
thlt bondage, the depths of that dark and unrelieved
despair. Without light, without hope, without rest,
and worst of all, without Christ With not one

  Lord, what wilt thou have me to do-Acts 9:6.
  Follow thou me.-John 21:22.

 
         The Nation Behind Prison Bars            5

 friendly hand held out to greet him, with not one
 word of encouragement, but rather the cold glance of
 scorn, the bitter sneer of contempt, it is not' strange
 that there stretched out before him apparently noth-
 ing but a drunkard's life, a drunkard's death and an
 endless eternity in a drunkard's hell.
 Then the fearful temptation of suicide met him;
 but God, in his infinite mercy, destined him to pass
 through even this fearful ordeal unharmed and spared
 him that he might carry the gospel of a Savior's love
 to a lost and ruined world. Then a helping hand was
 extended. A lifelong friend, meeting him one day,
 and overcome with pity, gave him one more chance
 to make a man of himself, fitted him out with clothes,
 gave him a railroad ticket and money, advising him
 to leave Louisville and start life afresh elsewhere. But
 the fetters of sin were riveted so strongly that the
 well-meant advice of his boyhood friend was un-
 heeded, and a few hours found him in as fearful a
 plight as ever. Then there came into this, the darkest
 hour in all his life, the experience of the prodigal son.
 A determination came into his life to sever forever
 all ties binding him to the life of degradation he was
 then living and to take the first step back into the nar-
row path of righteousness.

  Show me thy ways, 0 Lord.-Ps. 25:4.

 
6       The Nation Behind Prison Bars


  It was then that the Rev. Steve P. Holcombe of
Louisville, Ky., took him to the Union Gospel Mission.
  At this critical period there came within the radius
of his sphere of existence a noble, devout woman, who
proved to be the one thing needful to round out the
life now  worth living.   In spite of all remon-
strances on the part of her friends, she was greatly
interested in the welfare of this man and prayed earn-
estly that God would make him a strong Christian
man.
  Her tireless energies, endless prayers and earnest
teachings were ever present to hold him up and help
him onward in the new life. God placed her in the
sphere of George Herr's experience at a critical stage,
using her as a medium for cementing his faith and de-
termining his purpose to devote his remaining years
to the work of redeeming unfortunates sunk in the
darkness of sin. Their destinies were welded together
by mutual interest in the work of saving lost men and
the affinity of feeling between them developed into a
bond of love, each seeing within the other those quali-
ties necessary to happiness in wedded life, and on the
14th of April, 1898, George L. Herr and Miss Lillie M.

  The meek will he teach his way.-Ps. 25:9.
  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy
Holy Spirit from me.-Ps. 51:11.


    REV. STEVE P. HOLCOMBE
 The founder of the Holcombe Mission
of Louisville, Ky.

 This page in the original text is blank.

 
The Nation Behind Prison Bars


Joyce, the woman who was such an essential portion
of his existence, were joined in the holy bonds of mat-
rimony by the Rev. Carter Helm Jones, D. D., pastor
of the Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky.
  George Herr says that the old life, with its bondage
in sin and its darkness of evil, is a thing of the elim4
inated past. Finding happiness in his new life, lie
has consecrated 'his time, energy, ability and talents
to continuous devotion to the task of spreading the
gospel among the fallen. Into the gloomiest recesses
of penitentiaries, workhouses and jails, beyond por-
tals where visitors are excluded, he has carried the
message of Christ's saving grace into the darkness of
despairing men's and women's lives.
  God has blessed George L. Herr in many ways, giv-
ing him daily recompense for the days of misery,
shame and degradation, giving him a happy home,
glorifield by the presence of a loving, devoted wife
and the precious daughter, and this story is sent forth
with the earnest prayer that God may use it, with its
message of hope and cheer, for the salvation of many
despairing, discouraged ones who are bound by the
awful fetters of sin as he once was.
  One of the greatest privileges accorded man is to
  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and
him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.-John
6:37.


7

 
8       The Nation Behind Prison Bars


be a messenger for Christ. George Herr has tasted
the sweets of liberty in Christ and he loves to tell
those in the terrible bondage of sin that there is an
avenue of escape. In his rescue work he has been able
to take a great number of homeless, friendless and
hopeless men and women by the hand.
  Does it pay The results of George Herr's labors
among the unfortunates are a satisfactory answer to
this question. It pays a hundredfold in the feeling of
duty well done, in the knowledge of many useful lives
saved. It pays in words of gratitude feelingly uttered
by noble men and women, who, formerly sunk in the
quicksands of despair, are now restored to a world
of happiness and peace.
  It is our earnest prayer to the Father of all good,
that this story of George Herr's redemption from the
clutches of sin may, through his unfailing love for
all suffering ones, carry its message of hope, its prom-
ise of salvation from eternal despair, into the hearts
of many who are despondent, discouraged, despairing.
May it instill into the hearts of the unfortunate a
desire to come back into the fold of the Father's un-
ending love, bringing with it the sweet conviction that
no matter how far we have wandered from within the

  Jesus own words are: "They that be whole need not a
physician, but they that are sick, for I am not come to call
the righteous, but sinners to repentance."-Matt. 9:12, 13.


THE LATE MR. GEORGE GAULBERT

One of my beal friends. Many heart-to-heart
     talks I have had with this grand
         and wealthy merchant

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        The Nation Behind Prison Bars          9

radius of his love, we are still his children, the err-
ing ones for whose redemption he gave his Son to
be offered upon the altar of human sacrifice that we,
through the atonement of his innocent blood, should
inherit the kingdom of heaven.

  Hold up my goings in thy path, that my footsteps slip
not.-Ps. 17:6.


CHAPTER TWO


     "sLOST AND IS FOUND"

  Jesus said, "A man had two sons; and the younger
one of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my
share of the inheritance!' so the father divided the
property between them. A few days later the younger
son got together all that he had and went away into
a distant land; and there he squandered his inheri-
tance by leading a dissolute life. After he had spent
all that he had, there was a severe famine through all
that country, and he began to be in actual want. So
he went and engaged himself to one of the people of
that country, who sent him into his field to tend pigs.
He even longed to satisfy his hunger with the bean
pods on which the pigs were feeding; and no one gave
him anything. But when he came to himself he said,
'How many of my father's hired servants have more
bread than they can eat, while here am I starving to
death; I will get up and go to my father and say to
him, 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and
against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son;
  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.-Isa. 9:6.


REV. CARTER HFLM JONES, D.D.
The late Pastor Broadway Baptist Church
           Louisville. Ky.

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The Nation Behind Prison Bars


make me as one of your hired servants.' And he got
up and went to his father. But while he was still a
long way off, his father saw him and was deeply
moved; he ran and threw his arms around his neck
and kissed him. 'Father,' the son said, 'I sinned
against Heaven and against you; I am no longer fit
to be called your son; make me one of your hired ser-
vants.' But the father turned to his servants and
said, 'Be quick and bring a robe, the very best, and
put it on him; give him a ring for his finger and san-
dals for his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill
it, and let us eat and make merry; for here is my son
who was dead, and is alive again, was lost and is
found. "
  This younger son thought he was wiser than his
father and wanted to manage his own affairs. So it
is with men who think they can manage their own
affairs without God.
  A case in hand: An acquaintance of mine in Louis-
ville, a young man of handsome face and fine phy-
sique, with all the advantages wealth, education and
social position could give him, started out at the age
of twenty-one with unfaltering prospects of a pros-
perous, useful and happy life, but, like the young man
in our lesson, thought he could manage his own affairs

  He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee
in all thy ways.-Ps. 91:11.

 
12     The Nation Behind Prison Bars


without God; in other words, he refused to give his
heart and life to Jesus Christ, and not having Christ
to protect, shield, restrain, and assist him, in a time
of temptation he was led along little by little, almost
without knowing it, until he was ready to commit any
crime. One day in a house of ill repute he shot and
killed a young man; for this crime he was arrested,
tried and convicted, but the wealth and influence of
his family secured him a pardon. Even this bitter
experience failed to teach him that he had made a
mistake in thinking he could manage his own affairs,
for, after regaining his liberty, he plunged deeper
and deeper into sin, ending in himself being mur-
dered.
  As the prodigal in the parable wanted to get as far
from his father's presence as possible, "into a far
country, " so the man when he determines to give him-</pre>