The Redemption of Freetown

"The Redemption of Freetown" by Charles M. Sheldon is a novel written in the late 19th century. Set in the fictional town of Merton, the story explores the social and moral dilemmas faced by the characters against a backdrop of crime and racial tension, particularly focusing on a troubled district known as Freetown. The book aims to tackle themes of redemption, personal responsibility, and the impact of community involvement in addressing social issues. The narrative begins with Judge Vernon sentencing a young African American man, Burke Williams, for a crime related to the tumultuous environment of Freetown, which is plagued by lawlessness and immorality. As the story unfolds, the lives of several prominent figures, including the judge's family and the local minister, Howard Douglass, intersect with the plight of the community in Freetown. Following a tragic incident involving the judge's son, the characters come together to devise a plan to redeem Freetown, leading to the establishment of a social settlement aimed at uplifting its inhabitants. The novel highlights the transformative power of love and commitment as the community rallies to address the deep-rooted problems, emphasizing that true change comes from individual and collective action. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Monroe Sheldon was an American Congregationalist minister and a leader of the Social Gospel movement. His 1896 novel In His Steps introduced the principle "What would Jesus do?", which articulated an approach to Christian theology that became popular at the turn of the 20th century and enjoyed a revival almost one hundred years later. The stretch of US-24 on the north side of Topeka, Kansas, between US-75 and K-4 is named the "Charles Sheldon Trafficway" in his honor.