cquainted with a multitude of charitable institutions for the benefit
both of body and soul. I saw schools and other educational
organizations, alms-houses, orphanages, hospitals, prisons, and
societies for the reformation of prisoners, Bible and missionary
societies, etc., and at the same time I observed that it was a living
faith in Christ which had called almost every one of these institutions
and societies into life, and still preserved them in activity. This
evidence of the practical power, and fertility of such a principle had a
most powerful influence in strengthening my own faith, as yet weak." It
was while in Holland that he wrote to Kloenne concerning the deaconesses,
whose duties he had observed among the Mennonites. After his return he
applied himself with zeal and success to his pastoral duties. Work was a
delight to him, and his energy and force of character were constantly
seeking new ways by which to make his church services more attractive,
and to increase his influence over each member of his congregation. "He
never asked himself what he _must_ do, but always what he _might_
do."[27] But, work as industriously as he would, his small society left
him time for other activities. While in London he had been profoundly
impressed by the noble labors of Elizabeth Fry in the prisons of
England. It was this woman's hand that pointed out the way for Fliedner
in Germany. The prisons in his own land had remained untouched by any
spirit of reform. The convicts were crowded together in small, filthy
cells, and often in damp cellars without light or air; boys, who had
thoughtlessly committed some trifling misdemeanor, with gray-headed,
corrupt sinners; young girls with the most vicious old women. There was
no attempt at classification of prisoners. Some of them might be
innocent people waiting for trial. Neither was there oversight, save to
keep the prisoners from escaping. No work was provided, and as for
schools, where the larger number of convicts could neither read nor
write, no one thought of such a thing.[28] That such idleness, the
beginning of all vice, was here especially pernicious and corrupting can
be readily seen. But few knew of this state of things, and those few
left it for the government to provide a remedy.

Fliedner, however, could not rest in this indifference. He says: "The
smallness of my charge left me more leisure than most of my clerical
brethren, and the opportunities I had enjoyed on my trav