Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1877 — Sermons in Coal. [ARTICLE]

Sermons in Coal.

Some few years ago, two or three gentlemen went from London to Birmingham to deliver a course of lectures on Infidelity, and to prove that men were better without religion than with it. Amongst the rest of the workingmen that went to hear them were two miners, who were members ot the Wesleyan Society, and very regular in their attendance at the chapel services and meetings. Having listened attentively to the arguments of. the lecturers, these two men came to the conclusion that what the gentlemen said was very true, and both of them agreed to give up religion and have no more to do with it. About twelve months afterward another course of lectures on the same subject was announced at the same place, but this time only one of these two men Dut in an appearance. At the close of the first lecture, this man stepped up to the lecturer and asked him if he could have a woid with him. Hereplied:” Certainly.’’ The man said: " You remetrber, sir, coming down here twelve months ago. and giving a course of lectured F* The lecturer repHwl: “Perfectly.” “Well,sir,” said the man, “Jem and me, that was my mate, came to hear yon, and we thought that what you said was very true, so we both gave up religion.” “ Good,” replied the lecturer; “ 1 am very pleased to hear it; and you felt very much better, ,did you notf" “ Well, sir,” said the man, “ just hold hard a bit, and let me have my say out. We got on all very well until about six months ago, when Jem and me was working together lb the mine, blasting the coal, when a great lump of coal of about half a ton weight fell on Jem, on the lower part or his body, and crushed him; and what do you think he began to cry out when the lump of coal was on Him V' “ I don’t know,” replied the lecturer “ Why, sir,” said the man, “he began to halloa out, * O, Lord Jesus! O.Lord Jesus! have mercy upon my poor soul!’ Now, sir, yonr religion may be all very well when a man is all right aqd square, but when be gets a lump of coal on him it makes him sing, out.” —London City Mimum Magazine.