Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-02-01

lleve he was for a time a member OF
Brown University, and graduated at
Union College, Those who were his as
sociates in college can relate numerous
touching incidents, illustrative of the self
denying ardor Of his benevolence. No
sacrifice seemed too great, no labor too ar
duous, for him, if called for by the wants
of others or by opportunities to promote
the salvation of men. About this time he
performed two laborlousagencie in Rhode
Island, one for Tracts and the other for
Sabbath Schools. His name will long be
like precious ointment to many pious peo-
pie in that state, to whom his labors and
his Christian spirit made him dear.
After this he went to pursue his theo-
logical studies at Princeton. While a
member of the seminary, he, with fell
low student, looking about to find how
they could employ coming vacation in
doing the most good, at length determined
to spend it in looking up Sabbath school
children among the neglected population
in our city. AS they traversed around
the Five Points, they came to some houses
ofIll fame, and as their manner was in ev-
cry house, conversed with the inmates on
religious subjects. Some to whom they
spoke of the guilt Of their conduct and the
necessity of speedy repentance, told them
in return such stories oftheir feelings and
their condition, as deeply affected their
hearts. M'Dowall said to his companion,
"Here is new work for us to do" They
therefore made it one of their objects to
converse with these people on the concerns
of their souls And so deeply wrought
upon was Mr.. NJ DowalI, that he then re-
solved to devote his life, if need be, in en-
deavoring to break up the system of vice
and misery created by RIGHTEOUSNESS in the
city of New Y ork He saw wide field
of wretchedness hitherto wholly neglect
ed. The question rung in his cars, " Can
not something be done for these outcasts
as we'll as for other sinners, for whom
Christ has died ?" | believe a Sabbath
schoo! in the neighborhood was one OF the
} fruits of this vacation, which has done
much good, and still continues. And out
of this Sabbath school | suppose the for
) mer Magdalen society TO have sprung.
Mr. Mcdowell was soon engaged in
: the service of that society, as chaplain, and
left the seminary before he had completed
his regular course When that society
in 1881, yielded, Ito the regret of many,
to the clamors Of the licentious out of the
, church and the discouragements and OBJ
jections Of the Indifferent in it, be was left
alone, and thrown Lack upon his origina,
resolution. The question was brought
before his mind Shall 60 on, alone, anC
; in face of all these discouragements, OF
shall withdraw my pledge TO the Lord
He dared not withdraw his pledge. He
; went on alone. He did what he could
: He visited among the wicked and tried tc
u turn them from their sins But there wa!
Z little prospect of this, while there was nc
+ house of refuge open totheir penitent feet
u He visited the ministers, and other benev
Il client individuals, urging that some sys
) tematc effort should again be made. Blu
so great was the feeling of discouragemen
: produced by the abandonment ofthe Mag
D dalen Society, that he got no encourage
y ment He had little property Of his own
about $1,000, which he saw wasting away
by his expenditures. Some of his brethren
in the ministry spake kindly to him; DR.
Cox and others advised him in the earl,
Il part of the year 1882 TO make the expert
= ment of laboring three months longer, il
i hopes something favorable would turn up
y He at length prepared pamphlet, calIec
u Magdalen Facts, expecting to reimburs
the expense of publishing by sales, an,
Il hoping to awaken the benevolent public Il
{ another effort in the cause. But to hi
distress, his book did not sell, and he foun,
y himself without funds and without friends
l. and what above all distressed his senstv
g. mind, burdened with debt to his printe
which he could not pay. (3)
" In the month of March or April, 1882
~ a pious brother, who was engaged in pro
- curing subscribers for the Missionar,
3 Herald, called at house in Monroe-stree
- and after making known his errand to tn
~ two families that occupied it, happened t
ask if there was any other family in tn
5 house. They told him there was, in tn
re garnet He determined to pass none, an
ID went up to the room. On opening tn
Of door, whom should he see but Mr. Nc
in DowaIl with whom he had been former
c, ly acquainted) discouraged, his funds ex
hausted, and in want of the necessares c
IL life. 1t was with much difficulty he drew
out the acknowledgement, that they ha
nothing in the house to make single com
Portable meal. He lost no time in max
err ing known to some friends what he hal
seem AT the first house he called, Their
y. was most kind hearted lady, then Twin!
- in Charlton street, but now removed t
III Michigan, who gave him dollar, all tn
er --@ - ------- -
h (3) 1t was during these months that h
10 married lady, widow of deceased minis
ID ter, whose heart had, like his own, becom