National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-16
EXHUMING a PROPHET.
REMOVAL OF THE REMAINS OF Lo-
RENO DOW

EXHUMING- A PROPHET
REMOVAL OF THE REMAINS OF Lo-
RENO DOW.
1t is known to many of the older citizens Of
Washington that there has slept in the quiet
shades of Holmesd's burying- ground for the past
forty -four years all that was earthly Of one Of the
most peculiar" men whose presence ever graced
the thoroughfares of the national capital. He
has become known to posterity by the familiar
title Of Lorenzo Dow. He was an ecclesiastic by
profession, and identified with the Methodist
Church, and is remembered as q most eccentric
type of the selEsacrcing spirit of the tinerancy.
His economy was SO rigid that he would not SO
much as tolerate buttons upon his coat holding 1t
to Be a superhuity, and therefore useless waste
of money, which should DO devoted to religious
purposes. His life was more that Of q modern
coIporteur than o regular pastor, and he consid-
cred the world his parish, and opportunity the
measure of his duty to do good.
His preaching was not q Sabbath vocation, his
praying not q pulpit or church ceremony, but to
pray without ceaslug" was his habit and teach.
ing, and to preach whenever and wherever people
could be found to listen was his sacred calling.
Acting thus upon his plain liberal conceptions OF
Bible teaching, It was his custom to enter any
open door and engage with the household in
prayer, to advise reigiously with lettering crowds
at street corners and In places Of vicious rendeE-
vous. On the outskirts OF the town, in the woods
and on the river banks he ever sought auditors
ior the message Oh salfaIion' anu suffered hinsei,
70 DC as naugnt among nen iol tne eA'eiien0y VI
| the unadulterated religion Of Christ
Thus he was wont to sojourl among the carly
scenes OF the national metropolis until he became
known and appreciated as q messenger Of God,
and the fear engendered by his eccentylcities
| gave way to q sincere appreciation and respect
lor ms laOor oi tore, hesiuen. ministers VI ING
Gospei accoroeo 20 MN tne OF tner pull
PIT, IN Whlcn no frequently served, craving the
nui'l.uae 70 nsst Nun ~ MS petspIouisy o.
shoush', ssrenStn VI Sisuneu' anu seinal oi1
nasIey ot iansuAse winch nAve aocoraea 70 mn,
an enViaole es'este ~ tns IneHorl VI many Vi
Washington most prominent oiuzens.
oHlng 10 the recent action OF the Board 0!
heaHn, concerning holmeads Durying-Sround
as an impairment 70 sanitary reforms ana order
lns Tue leiloEai VI ahe ueau Ouried tnereln' II De
came 70 the sleeping dust OF TINS
rensious "1nueref, mno having aiea IN TINS CITY
iolty-'our years ago nsu oeen peaceIuiiy laia 10
rest oeneasn tne sieuuer oeuars "nien nave SINCE
stO"H w ktAhS PtoPOf'Ious eoofe MS s,He anu
iolneu Auofe II au Sroh"uy oi oehse iohage'
'hrough "hton no snow nor ram, nor even tne
pe'cnS suhnsn NJ eouiu gam Aumit'ance 70 us 500
~. sniSH a, uuDre euSeioPeu ~ snHe ~ sun,
snino "uu IN ssorn' anu oecame stransey 'ypieai
Of ms constant NE o. set,oeaiAi upon lne patn'
~ W
Vi ~ - VI ou'
RIVALRY TO SECURE THE REstAiHs.
| ING iact oeeonins Known Vi tne necessitateu
removal Oh ms remains prominent masonic
| Iodge In the state Oh Observation-Disclosures DOW
having Deen Mtson curing MS ihetme-made
enaoavCts 70 secure tne remains lot reinsermen'
Ths Ms,SoS,s, cIsrsS If ,ha oItv ~
| .ho,t ~ -, ~ % ,,Io,r,.. sa-roJ a. ~,
.orro-,.r" Ia 81, tnt,,.tns go ~ -. .hs
rorrstrs Irororir - - r.
-. r. 49, 'e 49, anu S.sIou wi, ou'' 10
Metbodi,t cIsrgv IF The nI.,ri"t di.cnssod ~ ~
,,o,,ar a. tb.,, ,, .o,,na ~ Las, wo,dS, ~. .,,N
noIntsd a c"rn,i,too - IoOs o.. ., AAD Ap'
Rev. E. D. Owen, the pastor of Union chapel,
| was appointed chairman of the committed and
with his usual commendable energy went At onco
| 20 wv w Corooror &C. "a .,o,as a.. -
| y C H o' ~, oHu $3.50 .o e"eo
nr. Ooreoren peing known aQmiter OF the de-
ceased, who used to preach in the chapel formed
| by the forests which stood upon the ground now
20 elegantly adorned and chris,sned Oek Hin Tbs
millionaire ut once responded generously to the
announcement and donated choice site In the
Deautlul cemetery on the banks oil Rock creek, In
which the remains OF Lorenzo Dow VIII In all
PROBABILITY rest In honor until the last trump shall
bid the fragments come again to form the glori-
NED man. .-.--
The site designated BY Mr.. Corcoran for the In
terment OF the remains is at the triangular inter-
section OF the pathway leading from the Office to
the newly-purchssed ground, with the first road
way In the newly laid-out ground, and cannot fail
| TO De one OF prominence.
The committee OF clergymen at once employed
MIR. Lemuel Williams, an undertaken Of expert.
enco and Intelligence, to remove the remains from
THE OLD TOMB At HoI2sAD's.
which was uncovered on the sth instant and found
to be of the old style with side and end walls Of
brick, and covered with stone slab over which
was sprung a brick archway laid in cement. The
stone slab bears the following superscrlption:
neutrality-suspicious.. .tE.++sts.ts.k......
THE REPOSITORY .
OF
.- LORENZO DOW,
~ VINO was porn ~
OoTonER IL III
DIED FEBRUARY 2, 1884, 4
A. L. SO.
road bnt IooEs tbrnHoS n.,nro @ ~ u. p,irate .
God. ~ W NA'u''
*ft*s*tst*s*.sttAf+1** AH*s#H*EEHs#.*.++s.
The removal Of this slab revealed the remains.
The skeleton was all preserved, the long snowy
beard lay in lifelike naturaIness upon tho bre
bone, beneath which the vest was in good preser
walton, and fully buttoned. The right sleeve of
t1e coat was In preservation and the greater part
ID the pants. Tho mahogany coffin had almost
entirely crumbled, tho largest portion being not
eighteen inches long.
These were carefully placed in handsome mod.
ern Casket, and removed at once to the vault ut
Oak Hill, where they viii remain until
THE REFINEMENT ON FRIDAY
afternoon next at three O'clock when 1t is expect
cd that the clergy Of the District will be present.
At the first burial it is stated that the Masons
took charge Of the cortege, betrayed expenses,
and laid the great prophet away with the cere-
monies Of the Order. 1t Is supposed that many
prominent Masons will be present on the occasion
Of the renterment-if no lodge Is out In full force
to perform again the solemn Offices Of the dead.
BY the COMMITTEES Of oIereyrep IN his m liter and