1879 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 



279 



through, the man that was sleepy came and 

 joined ns, singing a very fair tenor. This 

 was too much for the sick man, and he came 

 and joined in. Finally, all came out, and 

 during the last verse, I thanked God for 

 having answered my prayer. Alter singing 

 another piece, they asked me if 1 could sing 

 the pieces in that "other" book. 

 '/Other book," said IV 

 '"'Yes ; the hook you left the other night." 

 For a wonder ! The book they would not 

 listen to or heed, when the minister and I 

 sang out of it, they had taken hold of after I 

 had left, and during the long dreary days 

 while they were wanting something to do, 

 they had sung, or tried to sing, almost every 

 hymn in it. This was the strange, beautiful 

 music I heard on that night. I found out 

 what piece it was and asked them to sing it. 

 How strange it seemed when I found that 

 the favorite hymn with these saloon keepers 

 was the one entitled "The Wandering 

 Sheep." I learned it from them. The 

 strange and touching way in which they 

 sung it moved me deeply. There was a life 

 and feeling in their tones, an inspiration, 

 that we certainly did not have in the brick 

 church across the way. I began wondering 

 if it was not often "the case, that we sing 

 hymns in our Sabbath schools and churches, 

 without fully realizing the meaning and 

 spirit of the words on our lips. These men, 

 unused to hearing sermons, and, in one 

 sense, callous to the results of the business 

 in which they were engaged, had caught the 

 spirit of this hymn, in a way that was to me 

 inexplicable. I made up my mind that I 

 would never more decide that any class of 

 individuals is without gentle and noble im- 

 pulses which may be drawn out by the use 

 of the right means. After our singing, we 

 had a general and friendly talk. They 

 spoke of their early training, and of the les- 

 sons of childhood. Without awakening in 

 them the least feeling that I was intruding, 

 I brought the conversation around to the 

 nature of the business in which they were 

 engaged. It was fully discussed. You can 

 imagine somewhat how earnestly I prayed 

 that God would give me wisdom in using 

 the brief time that was allowed me, for 

 these closing remarks. I had studied my 

 audience, and knew pretty well their feel- 

 ings, and their sensitiveness, on general 

 points. I tell you, my friends, saloon keep- 

 ers have feelings, and they are keenly sensi- 

 tive, too. You can now understand why, 

 as a general thing, I prefer to go to the jail 

 alone. 1 had caught the spirit of the mo- 

 ment, and my lingers seemed to clasp the 

 loose threads', as it were, as a driver would 

 gather up the lines of a four horse team. 

 The minds of these men were softening — 

 softening even towards those who had been 

 the means of having them imprisoned. 

 Pretty soon, one declared lie would give up 

 the business to-morrow, if the people would 

 buy out his stock of liquors. Another said 

 "So will I," and although the rest did not 

 say it. I knew they were inclined strongly 

 that way. 



"It is not by might, it is not by power, but it is by 

 my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." 



I mentioned some of the above named cir- 



cumstances over at the brick church, to 

 their large Sabbath school, an hour later, 

 and I asked them to sing that same hymn, 

 "The Wandering Sheep," in their regular 

 church hymn book. Do you suppose they 

 sung it as did those men in jail? No; it was 

 simply impossible. I then got a glimpse of 

 the power Moody finds, in having men of 

 this class assist him in his work. Before 

 the class of people that most need reclaim- 

 ing in our cities, towns, and villages, the 

 hymn sung as it was by these men would 

 possess a power in comparison with which, 

 I am afraid, all the fashionable Sunday 

 schools massed together would be found 

 weak and feeble. 



Now, my friends, the point I wish to bring 

 out particularly in what I have narrated is 

 this: These men, confined as they are, get 

 very restless and want something to do, and, 

 especially after a while, something to read. 

 I have rarely seen a person, even though he 

 was not in the habit of looking to books 

 much as a source of amusement, who did 

 not sooner or later take to reading while in 

 jail. JVIany times have they asked me to 

 bring or send them something to read. The 

 book I have spoken of, giving sketches of 

 Moody's life and sermons, has been read by 

 almost every inmate, until it is nearly worn 

 out. And you remember, too, the dry old 

 hook of hymns, as many of you would term 

 it, perhaps. During the long dull week that 

 followed, these men bad doubtless, as they 

 said, sung, or tried to sing, almost every 

 song in the book; and, no doubt, before 

 they got out the book had proved to them a 

 blessing indeed. 



Christian people are, in a measure, re- 

 sponsible for every man or boy who gets in- 

 to jail. Recall what the young man told me 

 about having never been to church, and that 

 no one, minister or layman, had ever called 

 to talk with them in regard to the subject of 

 religion. It is bad to have them get so far 

 as to have to be put into jail, but what shall 

 we do for them after they are there? What 

 shall we do for the men and boys that are 

 languishing in jail this minute? What do 

 you think about supplying them with good 

 books and papers? On one of my visits to 

 the jail, I found one young man, who was 

 put in for intemperance, reading a book on 

 infidelity. What do you suppose the effect 

 of such reading would he? Would it ever 

 cause him to repent and reform? Did any 

 body ever hear of such a thing's happening? 

 Suppose a report should go round like this : 

 Young Mr. A. got hold of a book on infidel- 

 ity, and he was so impressed with the truth 

 of its teachings, that he reformed and be- 

 came a better man from that time forward. 

 Did any one ever hear of such a thing? If 

 the boys of our nation who are confined in 

 our jails are begging for something to read. 

 what kind of hooks shall we give them? 

 What do our people think about it? Listen, 

 and I will tell you what some, at least, of 

 Hit' people think about it. 



Our friend who wrote the excellent article 

 in March GLEANINGS in regard to bee cul- 

 ture for women, as well as myself, it seems, 

 has been thinking of the boys in jail, and 

 she sends me the following. 



