Letters to the Editor
"AND TO SHEW THY PITY TO ALL PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES."
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sta,—For all who will listen : a Message for Forgiveness. The Fast of Good Friday is turned into the Feast of Forgive- ness. It is for those who are not good that I want this for- giveness; and coals of fire as well : for they are in prison and in misery.
Put yourselves in their place, you good people. Think of lives which have had little chance of being good. Think of yourselves as having been in prison. Of yourselves coming out some morning to find the world against you : to find that employers won't employ you, and that workers won't work with you. I think with such an outlook we would all understand how much forgiveness means a little better than we do. I might write much of economic reasons why these poor friends of mine should have just a chance to earn their living honestly, but I would speak as a fool, for who wants to hear of economics this sweetly lengthening April day ?
No: . on. Good Friday I can think of better things : of that scene of Salvation on the Green Hill far away : of that plea from the Cross : of the lover of our souls as He passes on His way. And with Him ? Lo: who is this ? No warrior, . prince or prelate, but. the soul of a crucified and forgiven thief.
Rush off upon. your holidays, all you good people, and God bless you. Thousands of you will pass under these very walls to southern seas and western hills. Will you give a thought to the hundreds these walls shut in ? Many are little more than children : some not far from the grave. On the lintel of every cell the word " failure " might be written: Calvary seemed a failure too.
Will you give them just a chance ? I ask you to do so in His name who pleads forgiveness for us to-day ; for we know what we do little better than we did two thousand years ago.—I am, Sir, Ste., MALCOLM MACNAUGHTAN. Hon. Treas., The Surrey and London Prisoners' . Aid Society, Wandsworth Prison, S.W.18.
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