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Show Society for the Friendless Latch String Is Always Out A retired Salt Lake City minister, who helps "down-and-outers" get back "on their feet," Monday advocated placing Bibles in every cell in American penal Institutions. He la ths Rev. John Pearson," who, since his retirement as pastor of the Rio Grande Baptist church, haa conducted at hia home, U J street, the Intermountain headquarters headquar-ters of the Society for the Friendless. "I believe every unfortunsts person per-son who Is lodged In a prison cell should have access to a Bible," he said. "There are 300 Bibles at the Utah stats prison, and I'm trying to have more placed for use by Inmates." In-mates." Door Always Opea The front entrance to hla home la never closed. He welcomes guests who desire favors at all hours of the day. A pot of coffee alwaya la simmering on a stove, snd a tray of doughnuts) sandwiches sand-wiches and fruit Is in a conspicuous conspic-uous place In the living room. The Rev. Mr. Pearson Is western auperlntendent of the society. His Jurisdiction extends over Utah, Wyoming and Montana. He has been connected with the organisation organisa-tion since ISIS. "The society's principal aim," the short, portly, soft-spoken, often tie-leas tie-leas preacher said, "is to promote the prevention and cure of crime, the reclamation and restoration of the criminal and the relief of the friendless and distressed." "We can't a'ways take care of the men who come here, though," he said. "Only today I turned away a man who needed a pair of trousers. trous-ers. I hope be gets a pair." Clothing Needed His society is sager to receive discarded clothing, bedding and shoes, which are distributed without with-out charge to needy persons. Money for the society's work is donated by volunteers. "Not everyone who comes here Is a man or woman who served time In prison." ha aald. "Sometimes "Some-times they're mere youths, hungry, hun-gry, looking for work. Others are unemployed In need of clothing or medical attention." The Rev. Mr. Pearson has been active In religious and social welfare wel-fare work in the Intermountain region re-gion (or nearly half a century. |