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THE K I N G ' S B US I NE S S
1. The privileges enjoyed draw out no gratitude, are not appreciated by the recipients, and are made the basis for greedy demands- for more. 2. While a few now and then go straight after release, the majority of men in prison are “ re-re-repeat ers.” (that’s my own word, but it tells the truth. Even the prison records usually fail to tell the story, but convicts freely unbosom themselves when no officials are a- round). Most of these men have enjoyed the full uplift course— ■ night schools and all— and have hurried back into crime as soon as they got out with the result that they are behind the walls again. 3. It is the hardened, unteachable, un reachable, hopelessly doomed type of crook who clamors most loudly for these things. Prison is his home by spells; it is but natural that he should want to “ take it easy.” In so short an article, it is impossible for me to deal with all the phases of prison life and its problems and present the proof of all my positions. No opin ions I express are written in*haste; all are based on a careful study of over two thousand prisoners in a Federal institution. I can name or count on the fingers of my two hands all the men who exhibited any indications of turning to a straight life as thé result of considerate treatment through pris on days. Men are not in prison because of he redity, sickness, disease, environment or difficult circumstances. Nor is the war to blame for the rising tide of criminal ity. All the books and articles that leave such an impression are the worst sort of buncombe. Men are in prison because they would not tell the truth, and would lie; be cause they would not be honest and would steal; because they are lazy arid would not work and would live on the
fraud-gained earnings taken from other people. They are there because they HATE right ways and LOVE whole heartedly things that are wrong, and vile, and selfish. And, any policy of prison management that does not lead men to FACE THE TRUTH about themselves, about law, about right, a- bout God, has in it no hope of genuine and abiding reform. Is the criminal hopeless? I think not. Nothing in the universe is more needed in prison than the REAL Gos pel. Not a message of salvation by character; not a perfumed essay on the power of man to “ will” himself into nobler things. Too much of that is presented from our chapel platforms by men who fear the criticisms of Chris tian Scientists or Jews. The message ought to be this— that the Lord Jesus Christ died to redeem us from all iniquity; that “ all to Him I owe;” that “ nothing in my hands I bring;” that “only Jesus can do help less sinners good.” Any other mes sage is a farce and a waste of time. The messenger ought to be a man who knows the Gospel in experience, who knows prisons and prisoners, and who has some sense. My word! but that’s a rigorous set of qualifications, but I assure you any other man might as well stay at home. The propagandists of all the “ isms” are on the job. This is no fault of the prison management or of the chaplain. The institution belongs to the public; the officials are public servants. I count the Chaplain of the prison where I did time, as one of the squarest, most sin cere men I ever knew, and (as he will say) my true friend^ But, anything can be mailed to a prisoner if sent by the publisher. Be sure this chance for making converts to those vagaries of thought is not neglected. Christian Science has its teachers in the prison Sunday School, and spreads its dastard ly dogmas with a zeal worthy of a bet- (Continued on page 214)
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