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ELIZABETH R. WHEATON
ELIZABETH R. WHEATON
Prison Evangelist An account of nearly Twenty-two Years of Gospel Work, seeking the lost, in Prisons, Reformatories, Stockades, Rescue Homes, Saloons and Dives, and on the Streets, Railway Trains, etc. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psa. 126:6. "For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
Dear Reader : Over twenty years have passed since God called and commissioned me to go to those that were bound. Within five years from the time I entered upon the work, I had been enabled to preach the gospel in every state and territory and had held meetings in nearly every state-prison in the United States and in the prisons in Canada and Mexico. My first trip to Europe was made in 1890. I have not only held meetings in prison, but have endeavored to "preach the gospel to every creature"—to t
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INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
This world is, to a large extent, a great prison house. Nearly all of its inhabitants are prisoners surrounded by walls of sin and darkness. Many are bound down by the curse of rum, others by the besetting sins of lust, unholy temper, envy, revenge, malice, hatred, jealousy, prejudice, pride, covetousness, or selfishness resulting from a carnal mind. Out of the vast multitudes that are led captive by the devil at his will, a few that have violated human law have been sentenced to various prisons
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Biography and Call to the Work.
Biography and Call to the Work.
I was born May 10, 1844, in Wayne County, Ohio. My parents, John and Mary Van Nest Ryder, were honest, hard working people, and were earnest Christians. One year after my birth, my father died, leaving my mother with five little children—three boys and two girls. Mother married again and had two children. The little girl was buried the day before mother died. My half-brother, J. P. Thompson, still lives in Ohio. Five years after my father's death my mother followed him to the better land, and I,
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A Letter to My Prison Children.
A Letter to My Prison Children.
You, dear ones, are my especial care and have been for over twenty long years; and your eternal good will continue in a sense to be first in my thoughts while life lasts. My own childhood was lonely and desolate. As I have already told you, my father died when I was one year old, and mother died when I was only six. I was taken from my mother's grave by an old man who had, with his wife, asked mother for me before she died. My stepfather went to law with my grandfather, who was guardian for myse
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A Plea for the Prisoner.
A Plea for the Prisoner.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE WALL. By Olla F. Beard. (The writer of this poem was a personal acquaintance and friend. At the time the poem was written her father was warden of the penitentiary at Fort Madison, Iowa, and she took great interest in his work.—E. R. W.) Dear Prison Managers : You and I are trying to help the prisoners to a better life. We want to elevate, to lift up these men and women to a higher plane of existence. How are you to proceed? What are you to do, is the question. How are you t
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A Brief Pen Picture of Prison Life.
A Brief Pen Picture of Prison Life.
For the instruction of children and others who have never visited one of our large penitentiaries I insert the following sketch of such a visit written by Mrs. F. M. Lambert, author of "Holy Maternity," which was written for this work: The prisons and buildings connected with them are enclosed by a high stone wall. Of course there is a gate, or gates, opening upon driveways leading into the yard where the shops are located. The gate is securely locked and guarded, the guard having a little room
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Letters of Introduction and Kind Words from Governors, Prison Officials, Etc.
Letters of Introduction and Kind Words from Governors, Prison Officials, Etc.
From the great number of letters which I have received, of the character indicated by the title of this chapter, I give a few which may be of interest to the reader. These will suffice to show the general interest of those in positions of honor and trust and their willingness to share a part in the work I have tried to perform for humanity, by making it possible for me to prosecute and carry it on. Many letters of like topic have been lost or destroyed, and, space being limited, I hope those who
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Some of My Prison Boys.
Some of My Prison Boys.
The writer of the following letters was one of the most remarkably conscientious persons I ever knew. As a prisoner, he was very highly respected by the officers. His chaplain has ever remained his sincere friend and counselor. Years have passed since he left prison life and he still remains an earnest Christian and an honorable member of society. No one but his pastor, employer and former friends know his past history. He was converted in prison during services I held in 1884 or 1885. He presen
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Letters from Co-workers, and Some of My Prison Girls.
Letters from Co-workers, and Some of My Prison Girls.
In speaking of prisoners or of those within prison walls many think only of men being found there. This is due doubtless to the few women compared to the number of men found in these places. In my efforts to do good to all, I have been especially mindful of those of my own sex, and have ever endeavored to encourage and lift up my sisters who have fallen victims to sin and misfortune. I give in this chapter a few letters from sisters who are directly interested in the care and work for the prison
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Incidents in My Prison Work.
Incidents in My Prison Work.
Southern Illinois Penitentiary, Menard, Ill., Nov. 27, 1902. Dear Mother: We are writing you from within these dark grim walls. Although we are condemned as the outcasts of society and separated from friends and loved ones and continually laboring under great mental strain and worry, still there is no pain or sorrow great enough to destroy our happiness in our thoughts of you. Your love and thoughtfulness for us and our spiritual welfare is a priceless jewel that all the wealth of the world cann
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Conversion of Desperate Prisoners Prevents a Terrible Mutiny.
Conversion of Desperate Prisoners Prevents a Terrible Mutiny.
During the fall of 1888, I was deeply impressed that I should visit the state prison at Waupun, Wis. Following the guidance of the Spirit, I reached the place, after a long journey, on the evening of November third. A dear Christian girl was with me. It was a lovely moonlight night and as we came to the prison, the yard was plainly visible through the heavy iron grating. My companion called my attention to its beauty but my heart was heavy and I could only reply, "Sister, pray! O do pray! There
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Remarkable Conversion and Experience of George H. Colgrove.
Remarkable Conversion and Experience of George H. Colgrove.
Among the others who were saved that fourth day of November, 1888, at Waupun, Wis., was the very remarkable case of Geo. H. Colgrove. Years afterwards the chaplain said of him, "I regard him as an ideal—one of whom you would expect this report: 'If ever there was a good Christian man on earth he is one.'" At one time he had three Bible classes in prison each week—one in English and two in German—and was the means of the accomplishment of much good in the conversion of prisoners. The story of his
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Work in Stockades and Prison Camps in Southern States.
Work in Stockades and Prison Camps in Southern States.
During the first years of my missionary work I was led to stay much of the time in the South. I was learning lessons in patience, faith and humility before God. The cross was very heavy. In many places I was not allowed to stay with white people if I preached to the negroes. THE RACE QUESTION ran high and the color line was very closely drawn. In those days I could not understand why this should be. I was taught in the word of God that all nations were made of one blood and that God was the Fath
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Work in Stockades and Prison Camps—Continued.
Work in Stockades and Prison Camps—Continued.
I once had a novel experience in a prison lumber camp. I was being entertained at the home of the superintendent of the camp and was to hold service with the prisoners at twilight. The superintendent came to the parlor and asked if I was ready for the service. We had not far to go, but I was unable to walk the distance; so a carriage, drawn by some of the prisoners, had been brought to the gate for me. I answered that I was ready, but as I was waiting he again asked if I was ready and why I was
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Work in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Santa Fe, New Mexico
Work in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Santa Fe, New Mexico
Soon after starting out in my work, when changing cars in an Iowa town I saw a crowd of people who were curiously gazing upon three young men who were handcuffed, and bound together being taken to the state's prison at Fort Madison. I went up to them, shook hands, and said, "I am sorry for you. Don't be discouraged. Cheer up. Give God your hearts. Obey the rules. Do the best you can and God will do the rest." They seemed cheered and relieved seeing I neither feared nor shunned them. I inquired t
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Gone Home from the Scaffold.
Gone Home from the Scaffold.
"Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die."—Psalms 79:11. "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." One of the most touching things, and to me the most important of all this God-appointed work, has been my special mission to those who are doomed to execution. If there ever is a time in our lives when we need a friend, it is when we are sick, in trouble, or about to die. The last words of our loved
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Work in Churches and Missions.
Work in Churches and Missions.
As stated in preface I have always as opportunity offered been ready to preach the gospel to all men. In this chapter I speak very briefly of some of the work done in churches and missions and give some letters from pastors and friends referring to this part of my labors. I once had a young sister with me whom I had taken from Toronto, Canada. I had told her mother I would return her safely and had given her money to pay her fare home. As we returned through a field to the city from the poor far
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LETTERS FROM OTHER FRIENDS.
LETTERS FROM OTHER FRIENDS.
Wetumpka, Ala., Jan. 12, 1885. My Dear Sister: It would be impossible for me to express in words the Christian sympathy and love I have for you—one that has left all; yes, all—denying yourself and taking up the cross of Jesus, carrying the glad tidings of salvation to the despised, to the outcast, to the poor in spirit and to the oppressed. I pray daily that the good Lord may bless you. Dear sister, those in the world whose minds are carnal, cannot understand your work, for your life is hidden i
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Preaching the Gospel on Railway Trains.
Preaching the Gospel on Railway Trains.
The young man on the front of the engine in the foregoing illustration was my sister's son. I give here an extract from the account of his death June 7, 1890, as published at the time in the daily of Huntington, Ind., where it occurred: A. C. Hoffman, a switchman in the Chicago & Atlantic yards, was run over and killed this morning. He was employed at night and about 5 o'clock this morning went to the coal dock to run down two cars that had been unloaded there. The track is very much inc
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Street and Open Air Work.
Street and Open Air Work.
THE MASTER'S QUESTIONS. Many are the shocking sights and sad experiences I have witnessed in street and slum work. I have endured hardships and privations, suffered arrests and ridicule, and faced many dangers. But withal, the glorious victories have been many and precious souls have been saved: I might give copies of many permits to hold open air services received in the earlier years of my labors, but perhaps these would not be of interest or profit, so I give only a few. CITY OF BOSTON, EXECU
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Rescue Work.
Rescue Work.
A Mother's Plea for Her Fallen Daughter. — Mary Weems Chapman. Chicago, Ill. For some years I have been quite intimately associated with friends who have, perhaps, the largest Rescue Home in the world. I am told that they have taken in more girls than any other Home of the kind. Over 1,250 girls have there been confined and never have they lost one of these young mothers by death. But, oh, it is a sad sight to see them, day after day carrying their load of sorrow in their hearts. Often when I am
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Work in Canada and Mexico.
Work in Canada and Mexico.
In my several visits to the prisons of Canada I have generally found the officers very courteous. There are sometimes there, as here, changes of administration, making the work of reaching the prisoners more difficult. In the large prison at Toronto the officers were especially kind and gave me the privilege of preaching the gospel to the prisoners as often as I could attend chapel services. Much interest was manifested and I trust good was accomplished. was in Hamilton, Canada. There for weeks,
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Across the Sea.
Across the Sea.
I had greatly desired to preach the gospel in other lands and held myself ever ready to go at a moment's warning, anywhere the Lord should lead, and had been given letters of introduction to prominent people in Great Britain. In the year 1890 my mind was much exercised about the regions beyond—and without time for preparation, with but an hour's notice, the call came to go forward. I was in Philadelphia walking along the street praying—"O Lord, where next—what wilt Thou have me to do?" Looking u
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Travel and Toil.
Travel and Toil.
At one time when suffering from nervous prostration I was lovingly cared for for some weeks in the home of dear brother H. L. Hastings, of Boston. One night while there I said to him: "I must go to the city tonight." He replied: "Sister Wheaton, have you prayed about it?" I said, "Yes." He answered, "Go and pray again." I did so and returned to his office, saying, "I must go to the city tonight." They were having watchnight service in the city. Again he replied: "The night is very cold and you a
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Letters from Prisoners.
Letters from Prisoners.
The extracts from letters found in this chapter are gathered from my correspondence with those within prison walls who have been encouraged by the way and have received help; many of them having borne testimony to a clear conversion and a life of service for the Lord, even within prison walls. These will serve to show their appreciation of any effort made in their behalf. They have been a source of great encouragement to me in my work. I should like to give more of similar character, and all mor
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Kind Words from Friends.
Kind Words from Friends.
We give here a few letters from dear friends who have been especially interested in the Master's work, some of whom have given me many words of encouragement, or otherwise been helpful to me in advancing the work of the gospel. 47 Cornhill Place, Boston, Mass., January 27, 1886. Blessed Sister: Your card came duly. Glad to hear. Sorry you could not call. Mrs. Hastings wanted to see you. Come to our house when you will. If you go to New York, call on Miss Annie Delaney, Fruit and Bible Mission, 4
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Sketches from Press Reports.
Sketches from Press Reports.
My call being not only to the prison bound but to every creature, the newspaper men have received their part of the Gospel message and were often instrumental in heralding some truth to their readers whom I have been unable to reach in person. I have often been interviewed by reporters regarding my work for the Master and they frequently give accounts of meetings held in the prisons, on the streets, etc., very correctly, though sometimes in a humorous style and from that standpoint of the onlook
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Furnished unto Every Good Work.
Furnished unto Every Good Work.
— Sel. The dear Lord wants workers, both men and women, whom He can trust in every line of Christian work, and what do Christians most need in order to be successful soul-winners for God? First of all, it is to be born of the Spirit; then to be filled with the Holy Spirit, whereby we are sealed unto God. Then the fruits of the Spirit will be manifest in our lives. Of course, we should not presume to go out as mission workers without a divine call from God. The first thing, then, is to know God a
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Selections from My Scrap Book.
Selections from My Scrap Book.
Many of the selections given in this chapter were written by prisoners and given me by them. The others may not all be new to the reader, but I have thought them of sufficient value to thus preserve, as they may be reread with profit, and no doubt may be read here by many who have not seen them elsewhere. Such will surely feel the time it takes to read them well spent. Many of the songs I have sung are not in print here, as they are familiar or may be found in popular books; others I thought mig
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WOMAN'S LOVE.
WOMAN'S LOVE.
TO MRS. WHEATON. These lines are most respectfully presented as a prisoner's tribute of sincere respect: J. W. L. Cole City, Ga., Sunday night, Nov. 17, 1889. (Written by a Prisoner in Jackson, Miss.) The following was written by a young brother who, with his wife, were with me for a time in my work. In thanking them for a kindness done me I used the words, "Jesus is looking on," implying that He would reward them. Only an hour or so afterward the young brother handed me these lines, suggested b
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SONGS USED IN MY WORK.
SONGS USED IN MY WORK.
By permission of Charlie D Tillman, owner of copyright. Words and music copyrighted by W. J. Kirkpatrick, Philadelphia. Tune—"Kathleen Mavourneen." Used by permission of Charlie D. Tillman, owner of copyright. The following beautiful lines were written by a girl in Nova Scotia, an invalid for many years: The matter which I have here appended I thought of too much value to omit from this volume. The first article is explanatory in itself. The second is by a prisoner whom I have known for many yea
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The Personnel of Prison Management.
The Personnel of Prison Management.
Address of C. E. Haddox, warden of the West Virginia penitentiary, to the National Prison Association, at its annual session, Louisville, Ky., Congress of 1903: This is the age of industrial development. On every side we see colossal enterprises undertaken and prosecuted to a successful and profitable conclusion. Great railroad systems span the continent, carrying millions of passengers and countless tons of freight, with safety, celerity and dispatch, to the doors of factory, workshop, store an
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
In the management of penal institutions a Board of Directors or of Control is, ordinarily, the nominal head. By the laws of most states they are supposed to fix the administration policy, to restrict and define the powers and duties of the officers in actual and intimate control. In some institutions they meet a day or so each month, in most institutions not so frequently. Their duties while at the institution may or may not be largely perfunctory, and as they are generally active business men a
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THE WARDEN.
THE WARDEN.
The warden or superintendent is the one official who can give tone, expression and color to the institution. He is distinctly and positively its actual managing head, and upon his intelligence, interest, zeal, tact and discretion will depend, almost entirely, its weal or its woe. He must be a man of intelligence, and be willing and anxious to increase his fund of knowledge and information. He should be a profound student not only of the ordinary subjects that attract the student, but of prison s
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HE MUST BE AN ORGANIZER.
HE MUST BE AN ORGANIZER.
No difference how elaborate a system may be found in any institution of this kind, the warden will always be an intensely busy and greatly occupied officer. If he would prevent chaos and confusion and obtain from every official the highest and best work of which he is capable, he must organize every department thoroughly. Every officer and every inmate must know his exact duties, so far as it is possible to know them, and be made responsible for those duties and the warden must be enabled to app
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HE MUST BE A FINANCIER.
HE MUST BE A FINANCIER.
The financial question in every prison in the land is an extremely important one. Funds for prisons are doled out grudgingly, and the demand for absolutely necessary purposes is always far greater than the supply. A warden performs no more important function than when he sees that the funds of the institution are so used as to effect the highest possible results, and that all the forces of the prison are so energized and conserved as to permit, under ordinary conditions, a satisfactory and prope
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DISCIPLINE.
DISCIPLINE.
Discipline in a prison is its first requisite. Nothing can be accomplished until officers and convicts are under its sway and control. The warden who would have control of those under him must himself at all times, be under self control. The maxim "No one knows how to command who has not first learned how to obey," is a trite and a true one. The population of a prison is made up of a heterogeneous collection of people whose first instincts have been and are, not to obey. To bring such people int
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THE PRISON SCHOOL.
THE PRISON SCHOOL.
The educational work of a prison is of the highest, I may say, of the first importance. The education of the hands to work comes naturally, partly as an incident of the necessary work carried on in prison. Nearly all convicts are densely ignorant. The polished, scholarly, shrewd criminal of whom we hear so much, and to whom the papers and books give so much prominence, is the exception, not the rule, in prison. If the prison is to have a reformatory feature, it must come very largely through the
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COURAGE NEEDED.
COURAGE NEEDED.
The warden must be a man of courage. I do not refer to the kind of courage necessary to face a regiment of depraved and wicked men shorn of their power and their stimulus to do evil, but that high moral courage necessary to clean the Augean stables of abuses of customs, to reverse policies of long standing that are nevertheless wrong in principle and in practice, to fight against unjust, improper and unwise legislative propositions concerning his institution; the kind of courage that prompted th
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OPTIMISM NECESSARY.
OPTIMISM NECESSARY.
The warden needs to be intensely optimistic. He must have a reserve fund of enthusiasm. He must believe profoundly in the high character of his office and educate others constantly to believe in it. The ignorance of the great mass of the people as to the real function of penitentiaries and the methods by which they are carried on is amazing and mortifying to prison officials. A part of the warden's mission is to acquaint the outside world with conditions as they exist inside, and to inspire the
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THE CHAPLAIN.
THE CHAPLAIN.
The chaplain occupies an extremely important but delicate position in prison management. It is possible for him to be of vast influence and power for good. The chaplain needs to be a man of large heart, aided by an abundance of sound common sense. He needs to bear in mind constantly, in the difficult and delicate work he is called upon to perform, that the discipline of the prison must be upheld and enforced. Associate officers are frequently disturbed with the fear that the chaplain's influence
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THE PHYSICIAN.
THE PHYSICIAN.
A physician's duties in a prison are necessarily onerous, important and difficult. Convicts are constantly claiming that they are unable physically to do the work assigned them. No one can determine the truthfulness of their statements except the physician, and to determine whether the convict is really ill or exercising his usual finesse to shirk his duties, requires keen judgment of human nature as well as an accurate knowledge of his profession. The convict, housed and hemmed in, is peculiarl
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SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.
SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.
The subordinate officers of a prison are very important factors in the management of a prison. They come in actual, continual, personal contact with the men. No difference how capable and zealous may be the warden and his deputy, unless they have men of character, zeal, intelligence and discretion to carry out their orders and wishes faithfully and well, all their plans will come to naught. Guards, keepers and watchmen should be of good moral character. It is useless to talk about reforming conv
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THE DEMANDS OF THE AGE.
THE DEMANDS OF THE AGE.
As this age demands a high order of talent and effort in the industrial, so it should demand and require great ability and power in the penal world. The third of a century of the life of the National Prison Congress has witnessed great progress in the domain over which it has advisory power. Many problems pressing for solution demand the highest functions of those in control. Do punishments deter men from crime? Do the universal customs of the times foster and beget much of the crime committed?
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Meditations of a Prisoner.
Meditations of a Prisoner.
PREFACE. To any one who may read these lines I will say: Do not criticise; I know you will find many mistakes, but I hope you will remember they are written by one who has not had the advantage of an education. My school days ended when I was nine years old. Knowing this, I hope you will excuse mistakes. Respectfully yours, E. S. K. I often wonder if the busy world ever gives a thought to the men incarcerated in places made for the punishment of crime and reformation of criminals, but often fail
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Christ in Gethsemane.
Christ in Gethsemane.
—— State Prison. January 18, 1886. Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton, Prison Evangelist. My Dearest Sister:— "And being in an agony, He prayed."—St. Luke 22:44. When the last supper was over, and the last hymn had been sung, our Lord and His Apostles—with the one traitor fatally absent from their number—went out of the city gate, and down the steep valley of the Kidron to the green slope of Olivet beyond it. Solemn and sad was that last walk together; and a weight of mysterious awe sank like lead upon t
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DIRECTORY OF PENITENTIARIES, STATE REFORM SCHOOLS, STATE INDUSTRIAL REFORMATORIES, ETC., OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
DIRECTORY OF PENITENTIARIES, STATE REFORM SCHOOLS, STATE INDUSTRIAL REFORMATORIES, ETC., OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
United States Penitentiary, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. United States Penitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia. United States Penitentiary, McNeil Island, Washington. United States jails in the Indian Territory: Vinita, Muskogee, South McAlester and Ardmore. United States Jail, Fort Smith, Arkansas. United States Jail, Guthrie, Oklahoma. District of Columbia. —District Jail, Reform School, and Reform School for Girls, Washington. There are several small United States jails in Alaska and within the States oc
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