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SidelightsontheHistoryandPersonalityoftheVenerableWilliamClowes

ChapterVI

TranscriptionofArticleinthePrimitiveMethodistMagazinebyJ.T.HorneWegetsuccessiveglimpsesofClowesafterhisconversionwhicharedistinctlyrevealing.Theconsciousnesswhichhepossessedinthefirstmomentsofforgiveness-theassuranceofhisnewrelationshipwiththeGreatFather,continuedtogrow.Mightyrevelationscametohim,stupendousexperiencesoftrialandsufferingwroughtuponhim;hishorizonscontinuallywidened,andthisprocesswasapartofthegreatwork,withwhichnothingiscomparableininterestandvalue,thegrowingofhissoul.WewishtoemphasisethefactthatthesoulofWilliamClowesreallygrew.Thelowerdesiresofhisnaturewereannihilated,andhissenseofthespiritualworldmadehimgrandlyindifferenttotheconditionsofhisearthlylot;hispowerofinfluencewassuchthatthroughordinarywordsandcommonactshecouldthrillmysteriousforcesandshakeandinspiretheheartsofmen;hispowerofenjoymentswhichweredrawnfromsourcesthattheworldcouldnotcontrol,reachedattimesanintensitythattranscendsthelimitsofexpression.Wehavenotspacetoparticulariseallthestepsbywhichtheseresultswereobtained,anditmustthereforesufficetosimplynotethe‘factthathebecameenrichedwithsuchavictoriouslife.ButitcamebywayofGethsemaneandCalvary.Personalityisalwaystheonethingthatinterestsusinallregionsofthought.Tocreatealivingpicturethecoloursmustbemixedwithhumanblood.Tomaketruthpowerfulitmustbeincarnated.ApplyingthistesttoClowesweseethatgreatconsequencesfollowedthechangeinhispersonality,andasheproceededalongthewaytospiritualenrichmenthereachedatimeoffierceconflict.Hetriedtopraybutfeltthathehadnohearttoengageintheexercise,andattimeshewassubjecttothetemptationthattheSpiritofGodhadlefthim.Forawhilehestaggeredundertheidea,andhewrites,“Therestrucklikeathunderboltintomysoultheawfulthought;‘itisnowallover;thouhastsinnedagainsttheHolyGhost,andinlyingtotheHolyGhost,bytellingthepeoplethouartpardoned,whereasthouartnot.’”Itisnotoriousthatsuchafeelinghasoftencometothosewhohavepassedtotheextremesofspiritualexperience.ForfiveyearsCloweshadbeenputtingalltheforceofhisbeingintothewildpleasuresoflife,andhadreachedsuchaconditionofdeadnessandsuchapitchofunhappiness,thathisveryblundersandmisdeedsandlostopportunitieshadallspelledhisfailureinlife,andcreatedapoignanthumiliationofsoul.Nowhehasgonetotheotherextremeandthetransformationaccompanyinghisconversionwasnecessarilyattendedwithalternatecolouringexperiences.Everythingwasstrange,andtroopsofquestionsarose.“HowshouldIlive?Canthisberight?WillthatbeWrong?”andwithsuchenquirieshehadseasonsofexcitementandinterestalternatedwithdiscomfortandsuffering.Althoughhehadbrokenwithhisoldlife,invisibleforcesimpelledhim

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hitherandthithercreatingindescribablesufferingswhichhethusdescribes:“Underthesepowerfultemptationsmyheart,almostdiedwithinme.Mystrengthdeparted;andIwastoldthatIlookedlikeacorpse.”Thisdepression,thissenseofincompleteness,wastheresultofhisentireconsciousnessbeingsochokedbyevil,causedbyhisdissipation,thatthesenseofgoodhadtostruggletoassertitself.HereceivedgreathelpinthedifficultyfromthetestimoniesgivenatalovefeastheldatHarriseahead.AcompanyofMethodistsfromTunstallarrangedtoattendthismeeting,includingJamesSteele,ThomasWoodnorth,andthetwobrothers,JamesandJosephNixon,andtheyinvitedClowestojointhem.ThejourneytookthemthroughPittsHillandBrindleyFordtotheoldMethodistChapelwhichHughBournehadbuiltin1801,inwhichthelovefeastwasheld.Thisappearstohavebeenaremarkablemeetinginmanyrespects.Mr.Kendall,onpage45intheNewHistory,regardsitasmarkingadistinctadvanceinourConnexionalevolution,butourconcernwithitatthispointrelatestoitsinfluenceonClowes.Therearetwooutstandingfeaturesconnectedwiththisvisittowhichwewishtocallattention.First:itwasatthislovefeastthatClowesfirstmetDanielShubotham,theauthorofthefamoussaying,“YoushallhaveameetinguponMowsomeSunday,andhaveawholeday’spraying,andthenyou’llbesatisfied.”Afewwordsrelatingtothisdistinguishedcharactermaybeofinterest.TherearedescendantsofthisDanielstilllivingatTunstall,andfromoneofthemwehavelearnedthefollowing:DanielwasacousinofHughBourne,andwasanoffspringofafamilyofgreatwealth.Atonetimeheownedmanyfarmsbutlosttheminconsequenceofhisdrinkinghabits.HeisburiedinNewchapelChurchyard,notfarfromthegraveofthefamousJamesBrindley,thegreatCanalEngineer.Hehadtwosons,JosephandTrubshaw.Theelder,Joseph,wasbornatHarriseahead,onJuly25th,1807,anddiedatthesameplaceMarch15th,1889.InfeaturesandgeneralbuildJosephwasalwaysverymuchlikehisfather.Copyingfrommynotesoftheinterview,myinformantdescribesDanielas“abig,raw-bonedmanstandingoversixfeethigh,whowalkedwithastoop.HissonJosephchangedthefamilynamefromShubothamtoShufflebotham,andformanyyearswasundergroundbailiffintheTrubshawcoal-pit.”“DidyouknowmuchofClowes?”“No.Ihaveseenhimafewtimes,butIknewHughBourneverywell.IrememberfathersayingthatgrandfatherusedtoaccompanyHughwhenhereturnedtoBemersley,asfarastheBlackBullpublichouse,andthenHughwouldcomebackwithhimalmosttoHarriseahead,andtheywouldthuswalktogetherbackwardsandforwardsforhours,eagerlyinterestedintheirconversation.”"IsupposeyoucanremembermanyincidentsconnectedwithBourne?”“0yes.IoncemethimasIwascrossingafield.Iwasthenaboutelevenyearsofage.Hestoppedme,andlookinginmyfaceasked,‘Whatisyourname?’WhenItoldhimhesaid,‘DoyouloveJesus?’andhethenputhishanduponmyhead,andtoldmetobeagoodboy.Icanfeelthattouchnow.Manyyearshavepassedsincethen,butthattouchliveswithmeto-day.”

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“LetmetellyouofanothertimewhenIsawhim.MymotherwasthekeeperoftheoldchapelwhichhebuiltatHarriseahead.Iwasoncepresentwhenhevisitedthechapel,ashewasgettinganoldman.Mygrandmother,Daniel’swifewentwithusintotheplace.WhenHughenteredhelookedupatthegallery,andthenswepthiseyeroundthebuilding.Thenheturnedtograndmother,withbigtearsrunningdownhischeeks,andsaid,‘Hannah,wehavehadmanyhappytimeshere;therearesweetremembrancesofthisoldplace.’”ThesecondoutstandingfeatureofthelovefeastrelatestoClowes’personalexperiencewhichhegivesinthesewords:“Inthatmeetingthecloudsofdarknessandtemptationwhichhadsettledonmysoulweredispersed,andtheflameofGod’sloveexpandedthroughoutallmypowers;bothbodyandsoulroseinstrengthandmajesty.Ishouted‘GlorytoGod’inthemeetingwithallmymight,tellingthepeoplewhatGodhaddoneformysoul.TheplacewasfilledwiththegloryofGod.Believersgreatlyrejoiced,andtearsofjoyrolleddownthecheeksofnumbersofpeople.”ItisperfectlyclearfromwhathasbeensaidthatwhenCloweswenttothislovefeasthewasinapeculiarspiritualandemotionalcondition,andwasthoroughlypreparedforthisluminousvisionofGod’spresenceinhissoul,anditscomingcausedasenseofindescribablehappiness.Hispersonalitywaschanged-themanwastwiceborn-andhetouchedhisownupperlimits.Hewasliftedtothehighestcentreofenergy-thenewlevelofspiritualvitality,arelativelyheroiclevel-inwhichimpossiblebecamepossible,andnewenergiesandnewendeavourswereshown.Renansays,“AssoonassacrificebecomesadutyandanecessitytoamanIseenolimittothehorizonwhichopensbeforehim.”Mrs.ThelwellalwaysspokeofClowesashavingbeen“sanctified’attheHarriseaheadlovefeast,andwearequitepreparedtoacceptthistheologicaltermforthericherexperienceintowhichheentered.Itseemstousthatitcannotbedefinedpsychologicallyintermsofhowithappened,butitcanbestatedintermsofwhatwasattained,andweseethenewCloweswithhissoulregal,gracefulandpleasant,andwethankGodthatDivineGracesoWorkeduponhispersonalitythatitproducedsuchastrikingresult.ThisexperienceinthelifeofCloweshasbeenilluminatedbythelaterwritingsofmentalscientists,anda“sidelight”fromthissourcemaybehelpfultoabetterunderstandingofthesubject.Lookedatfromthepsychologicalpointtherearetwothingsinthemindofeverycandidateforconversion.First,apresentdeepsenseofsinfromwhichheiseagertoescape,andtheSecondmaybeexpressedasthepositiveidealwhichthesoullongstocompass.Withmostpersons,andcertainlywithClowes,thesenseofpresentwrongness,isafarmoredistinctpieceofconsciousnessthantheimaginationofanypositiveidealtowhichthesoulcanhopetoattain.Inthemajorityofcasesthedeepsenseofsinalmostexclusivelyengrossestheattention,andconversionconsistsinaprocessofstrugglingawayfromsin,ratherthanofstrivingafterortowardsrighteousness.Dr.Starbuckseemstoputhisfingerontherootofthematterwhenhesaysthat,“toexercisethepersonalwillisstilltoliveintheregionwheretheimperfectselfisthethingmostemphasised.Whereonthecontrary,thesubconsciousforcestakethelead,itisthemoreprobablythebetterselfinpossewhichdirectstheoperation.Insteadofbeingclumsilyandvaguelyaimedatfromwithout,itisthenitselftheorganizingcentre.”Whatthenmustthepersondo?““Hemustrelax,”saysDr.Starbuck,“thatis,hemustfallbackonthelargerpowerthatmakesforrighteousness,whichhasbeenwellingupinhisownbeing,andletitfinishinitsownwaytheworkithasbegun....Theactofyielding,inthispointofview,isgivingone’sselfovertothenewlife,makingitthecentreofanewpersonality,andlivingfromwithinthetruthofwhichhadbeforebeenviewedobjectively.

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Thisratherlengthyextractfromtheteachingofthenewpsychology,byoneofitsablestexponents,isbeautifullyillustratedbytheexperiencethroughwhichClowespassedatthisperiodofhislife.HemadeanabsolutesurrenderofselfatthisHarriseaheadlovefeast,andhenceforthsoughttoshapehisconductincompleteobediencetowhatheconceivedtobetheDivineWill.Wehaveheardfromlivinglipsofhisrulesfordomesticgovernment,andalthoughacloseobservanceofsomeoftheseregulationsseemedtosavourofmediaevalausterity,yet,consideringhistemperament,itwaspossiblyforthebestthatheshouldadheretosuchasystem.Hisniecetoldusthatonedayhehadbeenforalongwalk,andreturninghomewasovertakenbyaheavyshower,drenchinghimtotheskin.Nowhiscustomwastoretiretoprivateprayerassoonasheenteredthehouse,accordingtohisfourthregulation.Butundertheseconditionshereasonedthatheoughtfirsttochangehisclothes,lestheshouldreceiveachillbykeepingonhiswetgarments.ButtoWilliamClowessuchathoughtwasatemptationfromtheevilone,andheforthwithproceededtohischamberandfollowedhiscustom.Whilstthusemployedhereceivedsuchaninflowofjoythathecoulddonothingbutshout“Glory”continuouslyforupwardsoftwohours.Theeffectofsuchvociferationswecaneasilysurmise.Mrs.Clowesandhermotherwerealarmed,andtheneighbourscrowdedaroundthedoorconcludingthathehadsuddenlybecomementallyderanged;andthemoreprudententeredthecottagetoseekhisexplanationforsuchanoutcry.Thiswasonlyaddingfueltothefire.Nosoonerdidtheycrossthethresholdandcommencetheirenquiriesthanhesprangtohisfeetandclosingthedoor,felluponhiskneesagainbeseechingGodtolayHishanduponthem.TheresultIhadbettergiveinthewordsofhisniece:“Theybecamesoaffrightedthattheyrushedoutoftheroomasthoughtheyhadbeenelectrified.”CloweswasnotamanwhocouldserveGodquietly.Hiswickednesshadbeenknowneverywhere,butnowthathehadabandonedsinandleftthedominionofSatanheresolvedtowrestleandpleadwithmenonChrist'sbehalf.Oneoutcomeoftherevivalwhichhadthencometothechurches,wasthepracticeofholdingcottagemeetings,andmanyremarkableincidentsarestilltoldastheresultofsuchgatherings.Would-besuicides,attractedbythesinging,weredrawnintothemeetingsandrescuedfromtheirdestruction;drunkardswereledtothecottagesbytheirworkfellowsandbroughtintothelight.Followinghisconversion,andthatofhiswife,whichtookplaceafewdaysaftertheHarriseaheadlovefeast,heofferedhiscottageforaprayermeeting,andMrs.Kaye,hisniece,tellsofwonderfultimesattheseservices.Theyinstitutedtwopublicprayermeetings,twoclassmeetings,andabandmeetingperweek.Theprayermeetingsweresooncrowdedtooverflowing;everypartofthehousewasfilled,andeveryroom,thepantrynotexcepted;andthenumerousconversionswhichoccurredincreasedtheirpopularitytosuchadegreethatitbecameimpossibletoaccommodateallwhowishedtoattend.ThingsreachedsuchacrisisthatCloweshadeithertogivenoticethathecouldnotaccommodatethecrowdedmeetings,ormakesomeprovisiontomeettheemergency.Theformerwascontrarytohisevangelisticspirit,andthelattermeantextratoilandexpense;butwithatrulyliberalsoulheremovedtoamoresuitablehousewithampleraccommodation.(Tobecontinued.)__________________________________________________________________________________ReferencesPrimitive Methodist Magazine 1906/520