The Pious Collier

The readers of this tract are probably aware of the gracious provision for the civilization and comfort of the human race, which the Almighty Creator, by his wisdom and mercy, has made, in the formation of those coal-beds, which are to be found in such abundance in various parts of the earth, and especially in this country. They lie very deep beneath the surface of the ground; and by the labor of man, and in aid of machinery, the coal is dug out, and brought up from the pit for use. Usually a shaft, or large well, is sunk, to the level of the coal-bed, down which the colliers, by the aid of a steam engine, descend in a kind of bucket fastened to a rope or chain; and the coals by the same means are brought up.

The colliers are a hardy race of men, rough in their exterior, and unhappily much given to intemperance. They are a class by themselves. Their occupation exposes them to great and numerous dangers, from the collection in the pits of one kind of gas which is destructive of human life by stopping the breathing; and of another which is highly inflammable, and when a candle is brought in causes the most terrible explosions and loss of life. These accidents from the inflammable gas happen often from the carelessness of the men. Sir Humphrey Davy, by a bright triumph of science, invented a safety lamp, by which a candle may be kept burning without setting the gas on fire and causing an explosion. But the men sometimes neglect to take the lamp with them, and carry about a lighted candle uncovered, and the most dreadful consequences follow. Besides this, accidents often occur by the falling in of the earth from above, and of the coal which the men are digging out. Hence great numbers of them are killed, and others maimed.

Colliers are a much improved class of late; and this may be traced to the pious labors of various Christian ministers, and the diffusion among them of the benefits of education. As we shall see in the following narrative, the voice of instruction has followed them into the dark and dreary abodes of their daily toil, and the coal pit has resounded with the prayer of faith, and the song of praise.

Joseph Round was a native of Dudley, a town on the borders of the Staffordshire coal fields, from the picturesque castle-hill of which may every night be seen hundreds of fires from the blast furnaces, which light up the region around, and make it look as if in a universal conflagration. Joseph received his education in the Dudley Blue Coat School, and at the age of twelve years was sent to work in a coal-pit, where he soon imitated the vices of people older and more wicked than himself. As he grew up he became awfully profane, and was so notoriously addicted to cursing and swearing, that when told by the manager, on a particular occasion, to drive the horses employed about the pit's mouth, one of his companions cried out, "Oh, don't send Round, for he will curse and swear all the way." This vice stood not alone. He was wicked in other ways. Unhappily, he had not the advantage of a pious example in his parents. His father feared not God; and when the son became religious, was far more displeased with his prayers, than he formerly had been with his oaths: and when kindly admonished by his son would gruffly say, "Joe, mend yourself; mend yourself." Happy had it been for the father, if he had taken home this admonition to his own heart, and mended his own conduct.

When about the age of sixteen, one of Joseph's relations, who saw and lamented the course he was pursuing, prevailed upon him after much entreaty, to go and hear a minister of the gospel who was to preach not far from the house of his father. The text was announced, and it fell like thunder upon his ear, while it revealed to him, with terror, the danger of his condition: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." The power of the Spirit sent these words like an arrow to his heart. He heard his sins declared, and his doom denounced. He saw for the first time what a wicked life he had been leading, and that his whole course had been rebellion against God. He went away a convinced and trembling sinner, and with the deep anxiety expressed in the Philippian jailor's question, "What must I do to be saved?"

For nine days he continued in distressing anxiety. At home and in the coal pit, the uppermost thoughts of his mind, and the strongest feelings of his heart, were about his sin and his salvation. Neither what he saw and heard in his father's house, or in the dark scene of his daily toil, was allowed to turn away his attention from these great and momentous subjects. A soul in earnest for salvation, and all who would be saved must be in earnest, can allow nothing to divert it from this new object of desire. Finding little opportunity for prayer and reflection at home, Joseph walked into the fields in an agony of mind under the burden of his sins, and falling upon his knees, sent up a cry to heaven, for mercy to pardon the guilt, and for grace to subdue the power of his sin.

When did God ever turn away from the prayer of the penitent, and the groan of the broken-hearted sinner? He who is near to all that call upon Him, heard and immediately answered his supplication. Various passages of Scripture came vividly to his recollection, especially our Lord's words to the woman who had been a sinner, "Go in peace; your faith has saved you; your sins are forgiven you." He was then enabled to "behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." Having now really believed in Christ, it was a natural consequence that he should have joy and peace. For if we have no peace, how can it be known that we have faith? Joseph now went on his way rejoicing. From that time his faith worked by love, and proved its genuineness by the good works which it produced. Swearing was exchanged for praying and praising; sabbath-breaking for a right observance of God's holy day; and neglect of the house of God, for a regular attendance upon religious ordinances. In short, he became a new creature in Christ Jesus; old things had passed away and all things had become new. He was a converted man.

Religion, where it is genuine, implants in the soul a strong desire to be useful. One of the best evidences of our own salvation is an eager desire after the salvation of others. This evidence Joseph Round manifested. His first concern was for his own parents; for surely our unconverted relatives should lie nearest our hearts. He did not meet with the success in this quarter which he longed after, prayed for, and diligently sought. Though his charity began at home, it did not end there. He looked round upon the moral and religious condition of his fellow colliers and others, with a heart that yearned for their salvation. The first object of his zeal was the Sunday school, in which he became an earnest and devoted teacher. But it was not enough for him to do good to the children, he was concerned also for their parents. He began by entreating his companions in the pit to break off their sins by righteousness, and turn to the Lord.

To aid him in this work he entered upon that labor of love which ever afterwards distinguished him, and became a distributer of religious tracts. He saw the adaptation and power of these little messengers of truth, and heralds of salvation, to instruct, awaken, and convince the sinner, and to lead him to Christ; and he went to the work of distribution with all his heart. At first, it is probable, he purchased tracts by his hard earnings. His means, however, were too slender for his zeal and its sphere, and he made many journeys to Birmingham, to obtain from benevolent individuals a more adequate supply. When those excellent clergymen, Dr. Marsh and Mr Mozeley, were living there, he frequently called upon them, and became known to them. He was also a frequent visitor, for his favorite object of obtaining tracts, at the house of the writer of this narrative, who, with would sometimes say, "What, come again, Round?" To which he would always reply with a smile, or some talk about the men in the pit. After a while he received a regular supply of tracts from a society connected with Carr's-lane chapel, Birmingham.

His first introduction of the tracts to these underground abodes was marked by as much prudence as zeal. He engaged the help and countenance of one of his companions, who was also a pious man, to sustain his courage and aid his exertions: and one day at meal-time he took out a tract, and said he had a nice little book, and asked leave to read it to those who were eating their dinner. This was granted. The men were so much pleased, that they declared if Round or his friend did not read a tract to them every day they would lose their share of the beer which was brought into the pit for dinner. To this they agreed upon condition that, on the other hand, those that did not listen to the reading, or should swear or tell an untruth, or should utter an indecent expression, during the day, should be subject to a like penalty. This law of the pit was kept in force until the pit was worked out, and, unusual as it was, answered its purpose of effecting a moral reformation in the conduct of the miners.

As one good thing generally leads to another, this practice of tract-reading soon gave rise to a prayer meeting among the men in the pit. This however was not at their master's cost by being held during the work-time. They were allowed an hour for dinner, half of this they took for eating their food, and the other half they appropriated to their holy fellowship round the throne of the Majesty of heaven and earth. And would they go with less strength or willingness to their toil after this double refreshment of both body and soul or with less preparation to meet the perils of sudden death, to which their labors exposed them? And can we think that He who delights to hear the voice of prayer, would turn away his ear from the supplications of those petitioners of the coal-mine? He did not—for many of them who had lived irreligious lives were converted by the grace of God, and souls were there "born again" of the Spirit. These pious habits were not confined to the pit in which Round worked, but were extended to others in the neighborhood and from many a shaft could be heard the song of the colliers' praises rising to heaven.

All this while Round's tract labors went on, and he engaged others to join him in this useful work. If he went to his club, he was seen to take a bundle of tracts with him, and was never terrified by a frown, (which indeed he rarely received,) nor was he dispirited by a refusal, nor made to blush by a sneer. His demeanor was so meek, so loving, and so gentle, (which is an essential qualification for a good tract distributor,) that very few were ever offended by his zeal. He called one day at the house of an aged man with a wooden leg, and offered him a tract, but he was repulsed with a frowning look and an angry refusal. Round gently expostulated, and retired. Nothing daunted, he went a second time, and having spoken a few loving words from a loving heart, and with a smiling countenance, again offered a tract. The man was somewhat subdued, and took it. On the third visit the tract was willingly and thankfully received, and was made a blessing to his soul. The lame man then became a distributor himself.

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