Liberty Prison Ministries Tracts

Weir Seir of the Prison

By Walter L. Wilson, M.D.

In the center of the old gray prison yard, stands a brick building which has been converted into a chapel. It will seat about eight hundred men, and is often filled when men of God from time to time bring to these inmates the message of salvation.

One Sunday afternoon, on a dark and dreary day as the rain was falling, the men congregated in the auditorium to hear a message from the Word of God. The Negro prisoners sat on one side of the center aisle and near the front. There were perhaps two hundred of these, the white prisoners filling up the remainder of the room.

In one corner, near the platform, a choir arose to sing, as each hymn was announced. Strangely enough, in the choir there were groups from both the white and colored races. Some were old and some young, but all dressed alike in prison garb. A group of Christians assembled themselves on the platform, prepared to render the service of prayer or song, or the ministry of the Word, as the leader might request.

As the meeting progressed and the time came for the sermon, I announced that the subject for the hour would be found in Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." One of the prisoners in the colored section, I observed, was paying very close attention. He heeded not those at his side, who at times were joking and calling attention to the peculiarities of other prisoners; but his attention was riveted altogether upon the minister and his message.

The earlier part of the sermon was devoted to the preceding verse, in which the Lord Jesus said, "All things are delivered unto me." I called attention to the fact that what they had tried to obtain in paths of sin, they could receive as a gift from Christ Jesus the Lord. They were reminded that because the heart is hungry for many things, God gave Christ to supply that hunger and to satisfy every craving of the heart.

Frequently during this part of the message, Weir was seen to hang his head, as though agreeing with the fact, and remembering with sorrow his path of sin. He had found that "the way of transgressors is hard." (Proverbs 13:15) His life had not been an easy one, having been cast upon his own resources for some years. Although he seemed to be not over thirty-five years of age, yet in those few years he had seen much of sorrow and sin.

Far distant, in western Kansas, Weir had been arrested upon a rather serious charge, and being without friends or money, was soon sentenced to serve a term in the state penitentiary. Having been an inmate in the prison for three years at the time of this incident, he would soon be eligible for parole, although he realized that when he was paroled he would be expelled from the country as an alien.

In his young manhood, he had stolen away from Liberia, NW Africa, and made his way on a tramp steamer to the great United States, because he had heard that gold lay in the streets and wealth was the portion of all who came. Such was his hallucination and his subsequent disappointment, that for a livelihood he resorted to the business of robbing by day and by night, which of course led to his final apprehension.

As the sermon continued and verse twenty-eight was explained in detail, Weir realized that Christ was calling him to Himself. It was not religion he needed but Christ, who alone could satisfy his restless, sinful heart. The "all" was stressed, and he realized that it included him. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden," appealed to his heart as a personal invitation for him to come to Christ with his sins and his sorrows. He had been seeking peace for many years, being heavy laden with the guilt and sorrow of a life of disobedience; wanting rest and surely needing rest.

When the invitation was given, Weir did not immediately respond. He remained seated, unable even to indicate that he would like to come to the Saviour and trust in the efficacy of His precious blood. Others professed to make Christ their own, but we were disappointed in Weir, for he did not come and would not accept the Saviour. Ours was a feeling of grief and disappointment over his failure to respond, for he seemed to be the most interested one in the congregation; and to all outward appearance, he listened with intelligence and seemingly understood the message as it was presented.

At the close of the address, the guards dismissed the prisoners, and immediately they formed in line to return to the cell houses. In one of these lines stood Weir Seir with bowed head. He passed out with the crowd, and we returned to the city to pray that the Holy Spirit would finish in that dark heart the good work which He had begun.

After a few days, I found it necessary to go to the Pacific Coast and left word in my office that personal mail be forwarded. Two days following my arrival at my destination, I received a letter from Weir in which he related the wonderful story of his meeting with the Lord in his cell.

As soon as he left the chapel that Sunday afternoon, he had gone to his cell, took his Testament and found Matthew 11:27-28, which he read while kneeling beside his bunk.

His burdened heart yearned for that Saviour, and his guilty soul wanted to hear the Judge say, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." (Mark 2:5) He said to Christ: "You told me to come, and I am coming right now. You said You would give me rest, and I have come for it. I believe You do have everything I need and that You will pardon and forgive me right now. Here I am, Lord. I accept You and I give myself to You." What peace and joy filled his heart, only his own lips could tell! The burden rolled away and was lost at the foot of the Cross.

Shortly after this happy meeting with his Lord, the warden sent word to Weir that he was eligible for parole if he wished to apply for such, having served the required time. So great was the change in Weir’s life, that it was quite noticeable to the other prisoners, who began to call him nicknames, such as "The Parson," "The Preacher," "The Good Man," etc. Not only were scoffers attracted to him, but others with hungry hearts and darkened minds sought him out to find the way of salvation.

When word reached him that he might apply for parole, he asked for and received permission to see the warden personally. There in the warden’s office, he related the story of his conversion and requested permission to remain the full length of his term, in order that he might be of the greatest possible help to those with whom he was associated.

The warden granted Weir’s strange request, and during the remainder of his term, the Lord blessed his testimony to many hearts. When he was finally discharged from the prison, having completed his full time, a government officer met him at the gate of the prison and informed him that he was to be deported as an undesirable alien. Weir had never been naturalized, therefore the government sent him back to Liberia, — a procedure which is constantly followed with aliens who receive prison terms.

Weir rejoiced in this procedure, and wrote me a wonderful letter of thanksgiving to God for the privilege of returning to his native land with his fare all paid, a new suit of clothes and with some money in his pocket which has been given him by the government authorities.

In Liberia today, Weir Seir is preaching Christ, teaching the Bible, and winning souls for his Lord and Saviour. In one of his messages, he said: "How I thank God that He permitted me to be put in prison. While I roamed around the United Sates, no one cared for my soul; no one spoke to me of Christ. In the prison, however, the Lord sent His servant with the message of salvation, and I heard of Jesus Christ who loved me in spite of my sins, and saved me both from the penalty and the power of my wickedness."

Let me urge every friend to read carefully Matthew 11:27-28 and see if you too may not find there the rest and the peace which Christ so freely gives.

First printed in 1935 by The Moody Colportage Library

Friend, the story of Weir Seir is truly amazing. Imagine choosing to turn down a parole so he could stay in prison to be a witness to other inmates! It is strange but true. Often when a sinner trusts Christ as Saviour, a person’s life will change dramatically.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

We see Weir Seir turning from his old ways to a totally new and exciting life. In John 2:1-11 Jesus Christ performs His first miracle. Here the Lord Jesus turns the water into wine.

My friend, Jesus Christ is still in the "turning business." He can turn a sinner into a saint, a drunkard into a deacon, and a pervert into a preacher.

You, like Weir Seir must start by coming to Christ. This is another way of saying "receiving Christ as Saviour," or "trusting Jesus for salvation." We pray the following scriptures and comments will help you understand completely.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. —Isaiah 1:18

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the water, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. —Isaiah 55:1

An old Puritan preacher said, "Come to Jesus, sinner, and if you are lame, come lame. If you say you have no feet, come on your stumps. Come as you can, for He cannot reject you till He denies himself."

When preaching on Matthew 11:28 the great English Baptist preacher, Charles H. Spurgeon commented, "If you cannot come with a broken heart, come for a broken heart. If you cannot come with faith, come for faith. If you cannot come repenting, come and ask the Lord to give you repentance. Come empty-handed, bankrupt, ruined, condemned, and you will find rest."

The world famous Evangelist D.L. Moody was preaching, and he said, "Sinners, won’t you come and receive Jesus Christ as Saviour?" One sinner stood and gripped the pew and cried, "I cannot come." D.L. Moody said, "You CAN come." He said, "I cannot come. I’m chained. I have a ball and chain on me. I can’t come!" D.L. Moody said, "Pick up the ball and chain and bring it with you."

Friend, what ball and chain keeps you from Christ? Drugs? Alcohol? Pornography? Lying? Stealing? Come to the foot of Calvary’s cross. The Lord Jesus will help you with it!

It is said that Evangelist "Uncle Bud" Robinson would at times become so burdened for the lost souls he was preaching to that he would stand behind the pulpit with tears streaming down his face. He would be able to speak but six words, and he would repeat them over and over, "Come to Jesus. He loves you." and the people would walk the aisle to the alter and simply come to Jesus.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. —John 6:37

Charles H. Spurgeon said, "Let it ring down the corridors of hell, and let every devil dance for joy as he hears that Christ has broken His promise and is untrue to His character, whenever you hear of one who comes to Him whom He casts out. I challenge all time, I challenge heaven and earth and hell to bring a case in which my Lord and Master ever cast out a soul that put its trust in Him. It cannot be.

"If Jesus Christ casts anyone of you out when you come to Him, please let me know, for I do not want to go up and down the country telling lies. If my Lord does cast out one poor soul that comes to Him, let me know it, and I will give up preaching."

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. —John 14:6

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. —Revelation 22:17

...Come; for all things are now ready. —Luke 14:17

And you, my friend, will you come to Jesus? He loves you. If you would like to trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour, please read the following prayer several times.

These are the same words that Weir Seir used. When you are certain that you understand the message of this tract and this prayer, please pray and ask Jesus to save you. You may use your own words if you prefer.

"You told me to come, and I am coming right now. You said You would give me rest, and I have come for it. I believe You do have everything I need and that You will pardon and forgive me right now. Here I am, Lord. I accept You and I give myself to You."

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

I reckon him a Christian indeed that is neither ashamed of the Gospel nor a shame to it. — Matthew Henry

Man is looking for a better plan; God is looking for a better man. Lord, help me to be that man. Help me to remember that my times are in Thy hands. —Lester Roloff

Live the Christian life. Men will admire you; women will respect you; little children will love you; God will crown your life with success. And when the twilight of your life mingles with the purpling dawn of eternity, men will speak your name with honor and baptize your grave with tears. —Billy Sunday

If you have been helped or have trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour because of this wonderful testimony of Weir Seir, would you please write and let us know? We would like to rejoice with you. lpm8998@core.com

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Revised: August 03, 2000