08 - The Miners - Before and After
8 THE MINERS-BEFORE AND AFTER
PERHAPS the greatest wonder was the transforming effect that the revival produced upon the minds and conduct of the coal miners. A coal mine seemed to be the next thing to hell itself. Infuriated colliers, in moments of senseless swagger, have been known to challenge God to send an explosion to wipe them out. Incredible as it may seem, in boyhood I knew a man to stand beside the miner’s tram that had left the rails and curse until he was almost too weak to stand, to stretch himself out beside the derailed tub and bite its wheels. Because the thing that he was insanely attacking made no protest, he rose, went back a few steps, rushed upon the wagon and kicked it several times until he fell headlong on the ground. Then, with infernal audacity, he cursed God for the pain. Such manifestations of imbecility often occurred in the mines where daybreak never comes, and sunshine never scatters the gloom. Nevertheless, darkness cannot hide from the eyes of a holy God the sins that are committed below the earth’s surface. No portrayal could do justice to the miserable condition of poor mules and horses, flogged, kicked, and cursed. Sometimes they responded most eloquently with hoofs that sent the sparks flying. Foul language clouded the air of the mine. Poor dumb animals! They did not understand, in many cases, any language but that of the blasphemer.
Some animals were very sagacious. They would respond to kind treatment. If patience and wisdom were exercised in training them when they first descended the mine, they were capable of helping the men. When the doors controlling the passage of air through the mines blocked their pathway, in spite of the fact they were pulling two or three wagons, they would push their noses against the door and force it open for traffic. Thus time and labor were saved. Sometimes when a well-trained animal was placed behind a heavy tub of coal, he would lean his breast against the back of the tram and push it forward rapidly and easily, the hauler walking complacently behind or beside the animal. In one mine near where the revival broke out, horses were brought to the surface at the end of every shift. All the horses when they came up from the mine would be held at the pithead until the drivers came up, usually in the next cage. When all the horses, standing in rank, were mounted by their drivers, they would dash down the road, turn into the common, make for a pond and plunge into a pool of water to receive a well-earned daily or nightly bath. Thus refreshed they were ready for another shift. The riders had to know how to ride through the waters, legs upraised, or receive a cold ducking. What a cloud of dust would be raised when the horses raced for first place back at the stables! The revival had its effect even on these dumb animals. So revolutionary was the change in the hearts of some of these swearing haulers that the horses were bewildered. They heard singing from the beginning to the end of the shift! Hymn-singing was altogether unusual! Instead of the customary lunge with the steel-sprag, there was a friendly pat. Ah! that was different! How could they work to this new language which they did not understand? They were living in a rarified atmosphere. "Glory to God! ... Haleliwia! ... Diolch-Iddo! ... Praise the Lord!" were the new expressions. How could they work without someone bullying them? They used to start up when the driver cursed loudly and fiercely. Yes, they could understand that. But who could understand all this praying when wagons went off the rails? "Come, laddie ... Well done, Boyo ... Try again, old chap" were heard when there was a difficult task to perform which did not succeed at first attempt. But the conversation of the miners with each other had undergone a change also which was most apparent when they met at mealtime. It was then that they had opportunity to open their hearts. Occasionally, as they talked of the revival meetings which they had attended, their souls would be filled with praises and the old mine would resound with their splendid voices as they testified to the goodness of the Lord. No talk of the coming prizefight! Football was not so popular. They would recount the names of famous Welsh preachers to whom they had listened in the past-great men, who had preached great sermons which had produced little effect upon their own moral characters. Nevertheless, those sermons were now being rehearsed with gusto and enthusiasm-they were living again in the memories of these newly saved miners. On one occasion, we were told, the manager happened to "come around" a mine for inspection, as was the daily custom. These fine fellows were congregated around their food-boxes, lamps stuck in the timber, hilariously comparing their new spiritual experiences. The manager knew that these men were speaking with "new tongues." The change in their manner and speech was astonishing. One of them, touching his cap politely, ventured to ask permission to give his testimony. With trembling voice and tear-stained face, he rehearsed dramatically how the Holy Spirit had guided him to a revival meeting where scores of young men and women were speaking of their joy in their new-found salvation. On the spot, he was so stabbed with conviction that he shouted aloud-"yelled" was the word he used-for forgiveness, which he received instantaneously, although he could not give any detailed explanation of how it happened. His bright, glowing face gave undeniable proof that something marvelous had taken place in his life. He turned to his manager and asked, "Mr. Beynon, have you experienced this? Have you, sir, been saved?" The answer was pathetic.
"No, Tom, I certainly cannot say, like you, that I am saved. Although, as you know, I have been a deacon of my church for twenty-five years, no one ever asked me this very important question, until you did so just now." He spoke with a tremor in his voice and under great physical exertion. Then Tom answered his superior officer, "Mr. Beynon, listen to God’s Word. ’Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.’’’ There and then the rough miner, with his equally rough friends, knelt around their manager in fervent prayer and pointed him to Christ, the Saviour of men. On that very spot he was saved through the instrumentality of these simple men. That piece of earth became sacred to the official, to be remembered as the place where he surrendered to the claims of Christ. There was great joy among those colliers. The verse that Tom had quoted had been taught him in his Sunday school days. He did not know where to find it or whether he was quoting it correctly. The Holy Spirit saw to that!