Litchfield enquirer., 1846-09-10
THE ECCENTRIC LORENZO


In 1917, at camp meeting held at Ms
kenua, between Troy and Schenectady, |
Hfot became acquainted with the eccentric
Lorenzo Dow, VINO was at that time think
IA possession Of a truly Christian spirit
;aough extremely odd and exceptionable in
ms "a 4nnerS. lie seemed to possess the abil-
lly or art 10 transform himself into almost
any, and every human character. lie coull
become ludlCr0uS in the extreme could
>alIriLe, or SPEAK ironically to admiration.
aid yet l have heard him deliver some OF the
most solemn discouIseS, to which ever lis
tened. Al this campmeeting, he had given
oLence to some of the multitude, oy his cut.
llng remarks, and number had associated
together withou; the camp, and formed d
company of tlum fifty to one hundred, and
chosen 4 leader or captain, and having arm
cd themselves with clubs, were preparing to
march into The camp-ground, and lake Dow
ny force, and carry MIN OF and punish hin.
at their leisure, for The insult wnlcn he haa
offered them.
Dow got information Of their movements.
before they were ready to enter the camp,
and determined to 80 out and meet them.-
several friends stroye to di>suade him from
tits, but he had made up his mind, and ia
Ain5 Peggy, his wife, by the arm, he imme
uialcy started for the road, which was
some fifty rods distant. Immediately fol-
lowed, to see what would be the result. On
coming TO the highway, where were hun
dreds, perhaps thousands of people, he ask
ed leave of the owner of a huckSteI'S eSlab
iishmenl. to stand in the door Of his shanty,
and address the people. But the occupant
objected, saying that should he do ii, his
bu Ling would be torn down at once, and his
gOoIs destroyed. lie then made application
10 Que or TWO others who had similar estab-
liShments, but being refused by all, he wen,
to stump where large oak tree had lately
bt en- fallen and there taking his stand, coin
menced addressing the multitude, who i'm
med alely gathered around him. Presently
the hostile band were seen approaching and
pressing through the crowd, preceded by
their leader, large and lion-like looking
man, whose mouth, like that of many who
follow cd h m was fu!l Of cursin3 and bitter
ness They pressed on until their leader
stood directly facing Dow, al the foot of the
stump.
| lie there paused for moment or two
while the speaker looked him full in the face
and continued his discourse. Some one Of
the band from the rear, called out with an
oath, 'Why don't you knock him down p
and many voices were soon sed, crying
i Pull him down, knock him down. But
the speaker continued, and the leader stood
silent and almost motionless, when some
who were in the rear attempted to press
through to the stump, being impatient al
the delay of their leader. But on theil
coming up, and making an attempt to pull
Dow from the stump, the leader called out
Lei him alone until he has finished his
speech But many voices replied with aw'
full oaths, that they would have him down
at once. Their captain then raising his
club, cried out in threatening voice, LIE
him alone until he has finished his dis.
course and added, i will knock down tAe
! irst man that attempts 10 disturb him un
| I'll he has finished his speech This brongh
them to a full stand for l suppose they
| knew the man whom they had chosen "a
| their leader. and did not think it safe to pro
woke his wrath against themselves.
Dow went on with solemn address fOl
the space of thirty minutes or more, anl
when he had closed, this captain or leade
offered him his hand TO ass st him dowr
from the stump, and asked him in very
civil manner, where he wished to go. Dow
informed him that his design was to retmI
10 the camp, ground. The other replied
here are men that will injure you if the!
can, but ify you will accept my services
will not leave you until l see you safe anon:
your frieuds.' Dow thanked him, and h
then called out, 'who of you will unite witt
me 70 see this man safe among his friend
on the camp-ground?' Some twenty vol
ces responded, wili.' Dow then took hi
wife by the arm, and these volunteers for
med around them, and in that order the
marched TO the ground, the leader havin
notified all, that If any one offered any vi
olence, it would be at his peril
AT this meeting, Dow gave somethin
like prophetic view of the future state c
the world and cf the church, which made
deep impression on my mind, and led me ,