1

Chapter6:INLABOURSMOREABUNDANT.LORENZODOWundertookhisperilousjourneys‘withseriousness,andfromaconvictionthatGodrequiredthem.’DowstartedforthecityofSavannah,thecapitalofGeorgiaCounty,whereashesays:‘ThecurseofGodseemstorestsincethedaysinwhichtheytreatedJohnWesleyill,andconfiscatedthepropertyofGeorgeWhitefield,’whichhadbeenleftforreligiousandcharitablepurposes.AtLanear’sFerry,ontheOgeecheeRiver,aplatformhadbeenerectedintheshelteringshadowofthewoods,fromwhichDowpreachedtoalargenumberofpeople,fewofwhomhadseenhimbefore.Inthemeeting,Dowperceivedamanwhocontinuallygotupandsatdown,andwalkedroundthecompany,andinotherwaysmanifestedunusualuneasinessofmind.AtthecloseofthemeetinghesaidtoDow:‘Iunderstandyoucantellfortunes,andifyoucantellwhatistocome,youcantellwhatispast.TellmedidIeverkillanybody?IfIdidIwillconfessitbeforethepeople.‘Thisman’sstatementmadeasolemnimpressiononDow’smind,whogavehimnoanswer.Dowsubsequentlylearnedthatthemanwassuspectedofhavingbeenassociatedwithaprisoner,who,atthetimeofthemeeting,wasundersentenceofdeathforthecommittalofmurder.Aftersomeconsiderabledifficulty,DowreachedthetownofAugusta,wheretheMethodistConferencewasassembled.Dr.Cokegavehimakindlywelcome,andremarkedthat,‘yourwarningtothepeopleofDublinhadlikedtohaveprovedtootrue.’IntheopenConferencethedoctorstatedthatLorenzoDow‘haddonetheMethodistSocietiesnoinjurythatheknewof,butinsundryinstancesthereverse.’AttherequestofBishopAsbury,DowpreachedbeforetheConference.HesubsequentlypublishedhissermonunderthetitleofTheChainofLorenzoDow,bytherequestofhisfriends,ashisFarewelltoGeorgia.TheentireproceedsarisingfromthesaleofthepamphletshegenerouslygavetotheAugustaMethodistMeeting-house,whichwasindebt.WithtearfuleyesandanachingheartDowlefttheConferenceandstartedforSouthCarolina.DowcrossedtheSavannahriveronhorseback.InromanticlanguageDowdescribeshisjourneytoTennesse.Hesays:‘IncrossingtheCeludamountains,thewaywasnarrow,withprecipicesononeside,whiletheotherwasquiteperpendicular-whichwouldhaverendereditdangeroustravellinginthenighthadnotthemountainsbeenonfire;butthisbeingthecasethefireilluminatedtheheavenstomyconvenience.Icrossedtheriver-French-Broad,inacanoe,andsetoutformyappointment;butfearingIshouldbebehindthetime,Ihiredamantotakemefivemilesinhaste.InourspeedheobservedtherewasanearwaybywhichIcouldclimbtherocks,andcutoffsomemiles.ItooktomyfeetthenighwayasfastasIcould–intricateasitwas.Icametoahorridledgeofrocksonthebankoftheriver,wheretherewasnosuchthingasgoinground,andtoclimboverwouldbetoriskmylife,astherewasdangerofslippingintotheriver.However,beingunwillingtodisappointthepeople,Itookoffmyshoes,andwithmyhandkerchieffastenedthemaboutmyneck,andcreepinguponmyhandsandfeet,withmyfingersandtoesinthecracksoftherock.Withdifficulty,Igotsafelyover,andgottomyappointmentatNewportintime.’AtTursell,Dowpreachedtoalargecongregation,whoweregatheredinanaturalamphitheatre,whichhadbeenformedbytheinnermovementsoftheearth.IncrossingthehighmountainsofClinch,whichwerecoveredwithsnowtoaconsiderabledepth,Dowbeinginsufficientlyclad,nearly

2

losthislife.HepreachedatWhiteCourtHouseandatFrontRoyal,andthenrodeallnightacrossaspuroftheBlue-ridgeMountainsinordertogettohisnextday’sappointment.AfterholdingservicesinCulpepperCourt-house,herodefiftymilestoCharlotsvilleinAlbermarleCounty.AdjoiningtheresidenceofthePresident,Dowpreachedtofourthousandpeople.InthevastcompanywasoneofthePresident’sdaughters,whodiedshortlyafterwards.DuringthemonthofMarch,LorenzoDowwasexceedinglyunwell,butheprosecutedhismissionnotwithstandinghisphysicalprostration;herodeelevenmiles,andearlythenextmorningspokeanhourtohundredsofpeople.Atmid-dayhespokeatFranklinCourtHouse,andoffendedsomeofthefastidiousbyhisplainnessofspeech.Intheeveningherodetwelvemilesandconductedaservice.ThenextdayheaddressedfifteenhundredpeopleinHenryCourtHouse.OnMarch30thhestartedanhourbeforebreak-of-dayandhavingriddenthirtymiles,hepreachedatPittyIvania,whereawholefamilywereconvertedthroughDow’slabours,oneofthesonsbecomingaMethodistminister.AtPrinceEdwardTown,thecivilcourtadjourneditssessions,whileDow,standinguponthetownpillory,preachedtothreethousandattentivelistenersonthesubjectof‘PredestinationandDeism.’Thusshowingashesays:‘Theonetobethefoundationprincipleoftheother.’AtLynchburgh,whichwasanotedplaceforwickedness,Dowwasaskedwhatshallbedonewiththeprofitsofyourpamphlet,whichamountedtofivehundreddollars?Dowmagnanimouslyreplied:‘IgivetheprofitstobuildabrickchapelinLynchburghfortheMethodists,reservingonlytheprivilegeofpreachinginit,whennotoccupiedbythem,andwhilstmyconductshallcontinueasunexceptionableasitnowis.’InPortsmouthhegaveonehundreddollarsworthofhisbookstowardstheerectionofachapel.Inthesametownheconductedaseriesofmeetingsandmanysoulsweresaved.AfterserviceatTarwallet,Dowaskedanoldladyofninetyyearsofagewhethersheeverprayed?TheoldladythoughtwhatshouldIprayfor,unlessitbetogethomesafelyfromthemeeting.Inthesilenceofthenightthevoiceofconsciencesaid:Whathaveyoubeenaboutallyourlife-time?Youarenearlyonehundredyearsold,andneverconsideredaboutthefuturestate.Nextmorningshewenttoherson’s,anddesiredhimtoprayonherbehalf.Inthecourseofaweekshewasenabledtorejoiceonaccountofsinsforgiven.AtPetersburghDowpreachedundertheshadowofthewide-branchedoak-treestoaboutseventeenhundredpeople.OnaMaySabbathherodethirtymilesandstoodforsixhoursconductingservices.InJune,1804,DowhavingcompletedhislonglistofappointmentsintheStateofGeorgia,embarkedforNewYork.Afterashortstaywithhisfriendsinthecity,hevisitedthescenesofhisyouth.Hismotherwasdead.Hesays:‘Icannotmourn:mylossishergain:Itrusttomeetherwheresorrowandpartingarenomore.’Therestofhisfamilyaredescribedasbeing‘wellinbody,butlowinreligion.’HevisitedBoston-notedforitsintellectualactivity,whereheheldseveralmeetings,andmanypersonswereawakenedtoasenseoftheirlostcondition.HetravelledthroughDuchessCircuit-thescenesofhisearlierlabours,wheresomeofthemembersstillretainedtheiroldfeelingsofprejudice.InAlbanyheheldaseriesofmeetings,whereagreatamountofspiritualgoodwasaccomplished.Atconsiderablelength,Dowinhisjournalsgiveshisviewsonmatrimony,andalso,adetailedaccountofhisowncourtshipandmarriage.Dowinhisowncharacteristicmannersays:‘WhenIwas

3

inIreland,IsawthefirstpairthatIeverthoughtwerehappyinmarriage.Iheardalsoofayoungmanwhomadeaproposalofmarriage;theyoungwomanpossessingpietyandconsideration,agreedtomakeitamatteroffastingandprayer,toknowtheDivinewillonthesubject.Shealsotoldaconsideratefriend,whogaveheradviceonthematter.Atthetimeappointedtheymettoreturntheiranswers.ThemansaidhethoughtitwasthewillofGodthattheyshouldproceed,butthetwowomen’sopinionswerethereverse.Itwasthensubmittedformyopinion-whytheyoungman’sminddifferedfromtheirs?Irepliedthatmanypersonsdesireathing,andwishitmightbethewillofGoditshouldbeso,andfromthencereasonthemselvesintothebeliefthatitisHiswill,wheninfactitisnothingbuttheirownsubstitutedforGod’s,andsostandintheirownlightanddeceivethemselves.Itappearstome,concerningeverypersonwhoismarriageable,andwhosedutyitistomarry,thatthereissomeparticularpersonwhomheorsheoughttohave;butIbelieveitpossibletomissthatperson,andobtainonewhoisnotaproperone.Ihaveseensomemenandwomenincourtshipputthebestfootforemost,andthebestsideout,andfromthistheirwayswouldappearpleasing,andfancywouldbeconceivedandtakenforlove;butwhentheygetacquaintedwitheachothers’weaknessesaftertheknotwastied,thewayswhichonceappearedagreeablebecameodious.Thusthedearbecomescheap,andthehoneyisgallandvinegar;butalas!itistoolatetorepent.Theirdispositionsbeingsodifferentitisasmuchimpossibleforthemtoliveagreeablyandhappyinlovetogether,asforthedogandthecattoagree.Thusafoundationislaidforunhappinessforlife.AsthereisaProvidenceofGodattendingeveryperson,ineverysituationoflife,andthereisnosuchthingasmerechance,itismyopinionifpeoplewerebutresignedtothedispensationofDivineProvidence,sothatinsteadofbeingtheirownchooserstheirwillwereresignedtoHisdisposal,theywouldfindHisProvidencetoguideanddirectthemtotheobjectproperforthem-asthecallsofHisSpiritandtheopeningsofHisProvidencegohandinhand.’WhenLorenzoDowentereduponhispubliclife,hedeterminedthat‘nocreatedobjectshouldrivalmyGod,andofcoursenottoaltermysituationinlife,unlessawayshouldseemtoopenintheorderofProvidence,inwhichbychangingmysituation,myextensiveusefulnessshouldseemlikelytobeextended,ratherthancontracted.’Dow’seccentriccourtshipandmarriagewereinkeepingwithhisgeneralirregularconduct.Mr.SmithMillerkeptanopen-housefortheaccommodationoftheItinerantPreachers,whichwaslocallyknownas‘AMethodistTavern.’OneofDow’sappointmentsbeingintheneighbourhoodofMiller’sresidencehereceivedandacceptedaninvitationtostaythenightwiththehospitableMethodistduringthemonthofSeptember,1802.ThefamilycircleconsistedofMillerandhiswife,andanadopteddaughter,whowasfamiliarlyknowninthehouseholdasPeggy.Dowstayedthenight,butfromextravagantlyprudentialcausesheneverspoketoPeggy.Thenextday,however,‘

4

Whilstpreaching,’Dowsays,‘Ifeltanuncommonexercise(knownonlytomyselfandmyGod)torunthroughmymind,whichcausedmetopauseforsometime.Ingoingtomyevening’sappointmentIhadtoreturnbythehouse;Mr.Millerbeingincompanywithme,IaskedhimifhewouldobjectifIshouldtalktohisdaughteraboutmatrimony.’Mr.Millerreplied,‘Ihavenothingtosay,onlyIhaverequestedherifshehathanyregardformenottomarrysoastoleavemyhouse.’InaninterviewthatDowhadwithMrs.Miller,shetoldhim‘thatPeggywasresolvednevertomarryunlesstoapreacher,andonewhocouldcontinuetravelling.’Dowsays,‘Thisresolutionbeingsimilartomyown,asshesteppedintotheroomImadefreetoaskherifitwereso.Sheansweredintheaffirmative.’Hethenasked,‘DoyouthinkyoucouldacceptofsuchanobjectasI?’Dowsays,‘Shemadenoanswer,butretiredfromtheroom.Thiswasthefirsttimeofmyspeakingtoher.Itookdinner,askedheronequestionmoreandwenttomyneighbouringmeetings,whichoccupiedsomedays,buthavingacloakmakingofoilcloth,itdrewmebacktogetit.Istayedallnight,andinthemorningwhengoingaway,IobservedtoPeggyandhersister-whohadbroughtherupasamother-thatIwasgoingtothewarmcountries,whereIneverhadspentawarmseason,anditwasprobableIshoulddie,asthewarmclimatemostlydestroysthosewhogofromacoldcountry,but(saidI)ifIbepreservedaboutayear-and-a-halffromnow,Iaminhopesofseeingthisnortherncountryagain,andifduringthistimeyoulive,andremainsingle,andfindnoonethatyoulikebetterthanyoudome,andwouldbewillingtogiveupelevenmonthsoutoftwelve,orthreeyearsoutoffourtotravel,andthatinforeignlands,andneversay‘Donotgotoyourappointment,’(forifyoushouldstandinmyway,IshouldpraytoGodtoremoveyou,whichIbelieveHewouldanswer),andifIfindnoonethatIlikebetterthanIdoyou,perhapssomethingfurthermaybesaidonthesubject.Findinghercharactertostandfair,Itookmydeparture.’Dow,indescribinghisbrief,matter-of-factcourtship,continues:‘InmytravelsIwenttotheNatchezcountry,whereIfoundreligionlow,andhadhardtimes;butIthoughtthiscountrymightbecomethegardenofAmerica,andthatifMiller’sfamilywouldremovetoit,theywouldproveaneverlastingblessingtotheinhabitants.Itlayonmymindforsomeweeks,whenIwrotetothemonthesubject,thoughIhadnoreasontosupposetheywouldgo,consideringthevastdistanceofnearlytwothousandmileswhichintervened.ButnowIfoundPeggywasstillsingle,andtheywereallwillingtocomplywithmyrequest,whichremovedmanyscruplesfrommymind,knowingthatitwasamatterthathadturnedupintheorderofProvidence,insteadofbymyownseeking;soourbargainwasdrawntoaclose.Butstill,IthoughtnottohavetheceremonyperformeduntilIshouldreturnfromEurope;butuponreflection-consideringthecircumstancewouldrequirecorrespondence,thatmylettersmightbeinterceptedandthesubjectbecomeknown;thatprejudicemightarise,jealousyensue,andmuchneedlessconversationandevilbetheresult-topreventthesame,apreachercomingin,weweremarriedthatnight;thoughonlywefivewerepresent,thisbeingthethirddayofSeptember,1804.’Atthetimeofhissingularmarriage,LorenzoDowwastwentysevenyearsofage.EarlyinthemorningoftheseconddayaftermarriageDowstartedforthedistantWest.Duringthefollowingnight,atHerodsburgh,Dowwasrobbedofallhisclothesandmoney,withtheexceptionofonesolitarycent.ThenextmorninghisjacketwasfoundinthePiazza.InNovemberhecrossedtheMississippiandvisitedthenewsettlements,andheldreligiousservicesinLouisiana.Dowproceeded

5

throughtheIndiansettlement,holdingmeetingswherevertheycouldbearranged,andwithgoodresults.OnthedaybeforeChristmasLorenzoDowrodefortymilesthroughSixtownoftheChoctaws.Hewasshowntheplacewheretheyscaffoldedthedeadandwherethefleshwasputwhenthebone-pickerhaddonehiswork.Forastatedtermthefriendsofthedeceasedweeptwiceperday,andiftheycannotcryenoughthemselvestheyhireotherstohelpthem.ItwasweepingtimewhenDowpassedthe

placeandtheunearthlynoisesfrightenedhishorse.InFebruary,1805,hepreachedatStoke’scourt-housetothreethousandhearers.Writingaboutthistime,Dowsays:‘Ihavespokentomanycongregationsintheopen-airoflate,andnothadonedayofrestsinceIgotoutofthewildernessintoGeorgia,soIfeelconsiderablyamaciated,andalmostbrokendown.WhatisbeforemeIcannottell.MyheartfeelsdrawnandboundtoEurope,whereIbelievetheLordwillgivemetoseedayinthatweary,disturbed,distressedland.’__________________________________________________________________________________ReferencesChristian Messenger 1900/164