King's Business - 1914-03

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THE KING’S BUSINESS

the requests and do all in my power to help. In reading this note the first thing that drew my attention was a book mark which dropped from the slip of paper. The only other thing that was inside of the paper was the following, which goes to show how men feel who are touched by God and whose hearts respond to its message: Dear Sir ¿-j—1f the authorities allowed us to man­ ufacture things with our own hands here, I would make you a present more worth while than the little book-mark herein in­ closed. It is, I am aware a very small thank offering, but it, and my promise to be good, are the only ways I have of showing my ap­ preciation of the many kind deeds as well as your unfaltering labors in behalf of me and the rest of our “boys” who are shut in here. So won’t you take it as my New Year’s gift and best wishes that our good Lord may keep you many more years, that you may continue your good work among us fellows. We need you! Sincerely, No. 26913. This number was all I received of identification, as he refrained from placing his name on the paper, not that he didn’t want me to know because I may learn who he is by inquiring at the office, but I believe because he wanted to present the token in appreciation, and took this way of doing so. This is some of the fruit of the opening of the Word of God, even in a penitentiary where the general public expect to find men ready to spring at you and tear you asun­ der if they should get half a chance, but where men much the same as you and me are found, who stumbled and fell by the wayside and whose hearts -are as responsive to the best things as any o f us. — Geo. W. Hunter. and misleading to the unsuspecting student. This woman, who was a professing Christian though untaught in the Word of God, was thankful indeed for the warning and the proven danger o f the book and promptly burned it lest someone else equally ignorant o f danger should be harmed by it.

that some place should be provided for the men who cannot find work and who, be­ cause of their long confinement in prison atmosphere with its discipline and depress­ ing effect on a man’s self-confidence, in­ capacitates him to face the world of men he left, sometimes years ago, when things were different, and it is the burden on the writer’s heart for ability to meet these needs, and his prayer is that God will raise up some man or men among His stewards to assist the worthy ones to. make good again after their long period of confinement. The appreciation expressed by .men who were indifferent to the Bible and its mes­ sage before getting into trouble, but who are earnest students of it today in prison is indeed splendid, and one feels that his min­ istry just in connection with the prison is well worth a lifetime work. Just one instance will show how the men feel who are responding to the ministry of the Word in San Quentin: A few days ago a man came to me just after he finished the afternoon lesson and, like many others be­ fore, gave to me a slip of paper, which he thought was a plea for help to get work for a paroled man. In the rush of events that crowd the few minutes between the closing of the lesson and the departure of the men for supper, I try to speak as many words to as many men as possible, giving encouragement here and cheer there, and to the man who brings a note of praise for the way God leads, and in this way give the men all possible help in the few minutes al­ lotted. The note was dropped into the bag with my Bible, and passed by till I should get to the city, where I usually look over A h o m e was visited in which the mother of five children was found reading “Mil- lenial Dawn'’ which the agent had been ready to give her without cost if they were unable to purchase. The book had much Scripture, but the quotations were like those of Satan’s, a half truth and woefully subtle

Bible Women’s Notes,

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