Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-28
Lorenzo DnM.

ground, which ia probably the oldest in our
region, excepting Rock Creek Parish Cemetery,
invites attention to the most notable Of its nhabi-
tants, Lorenzo Dow. Amongst the short, thick
cedars, and closely packed graves of this smal
place OF sepulture, lies the sandstone slab on
which are the words: "The repository of Lo.
renzo Dow, who was born in Coventry, Conn.
oct. 10, ~: Died February 2, 1884. Aged fifty
six. A Christian is the highest style of man.
de 10 slave to no sect; takes no private road TO
heaven; but Hooks through Nature up to Ma
This inscription is as mixed as Dow,s life. He
hoids a large place amongst oddities, apparent
ly Tor his consistent persistence in one style of
moving and having his being Nothing can be
more lugubrlous than his works, which are
never humorous and seldom quaint. He touched
the democratic sense of resistance to ecclesiast-
cal government and refused to occupy pulpits
field or Francis Asbury to omit no spot in tn
vineyard of God where he could preach to two
or three. Hence, every neighborhOod kept the
tfadlton OF him, and he was sure to return over
the same ground.
In principle he was Methodist, and was con-
verified by vision in 179l, the year John wes-
Administration, he yearned to preach, but the
Methodist presiding elders snubbed him, and he
barely escaped expulsion from the conference
which drove him half insane. Very poor, with
borrowed coat, feet on the ground, and not a
farthiDg In his pocket, the poor fellow fell upon
his face in the highway and besought God
to release him from the constraint to
preach, or else to raise him up friends
he fell in with another rejected candi-
date for the ministry, who told him that no
conciave bad right to stand between him aud
his call. Then began his wanderings, which
never ceased till he gave up the ghost In George
town. He travelled in Ireland and Throughout
the coasts Of the United States, and appears to
have entered the District Of Columbia about
January 1, 1903, Ths following entry in his
journal marks this event:
al proceeded on nv way, and met Bisbop
Whatc0at just as had crossed Georgetown
ferry. He treated me with love and tenderness,
and after he had inquired my journey. in
CURED his welfare, and he told me where to call
and put up in Alexandria and Dumfries, 50
found Brother Bryan and the assistant preach
er, Brother Rowen, to treat me kind. Thence
received Q dollar and . half, which, with two
service to me-"
In April 1904, Dow resolved to publish his
journal, cell the copies by hand, and apply the
proht to building meeting house in Washing
ton, where gentleman had offered to give him
spot of ground. The poor itinerant often had to
he was married, and his wife Peggy sccompa
MED him In his wanderinge. "It caused great
excite ment amongst the people," he says. In
isoS be again visited Europe starting With only
dom, which circumstance alone got him much
reputation In the provincial world. He appears
to have been an honest imitator Of Whitfield.
witnessed the battle Of Norfolk in 1878, and in
the text "Righteousness exsiteth : Nation;
s.e her e VIZ seq s r Do.
Yankee girl with peacAanf to marry preacher
spd sne accomPanied her husband to Europe
70 preach, and % ordered 10 Keep them. thst
they once rode all nightover the mountain from
frederick 10 the Potomac river, which they
efessee q I'VE o'clock In tAe morning.