The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-26
New Publications.
CHARLES LOWE.

CdAhLEc LOWE.
1t is inevitable that the memoir of Charles
Lowe should be compared With the recently
Published memoir OF another Unitarian niuis-
ter. DR.. Orville Dewey. In one sense both Dr.
Dewey and Mr.. Lowe were leaders in tue Uni
tartan denomination-the former as one of its
most eloquent and powerful preachers, the i T..
ter ss the energetic Secrsta of the Associa-
ton and the founder of the 'Upitsrian
Review" Bot in all ether respects there is a
marked dissimilarity in the men and in the
records of their lives.
The leading characteristics of DR.. Dewey
as revealed by his autobiography and letters,
are vigor of mind, breadth aud tolerance of
Judgment, genial humor that fairly amounts
to vita large, ripe, strong nature. The spec
ial feature of Mr.. loves character is q certain
sweetness or loyableDess of disposition. He ia
one of those who are "born good" Men who
knew him in his school days testify that he
was "without guile" In college and Divinity
School be had "such hearty love, such over
towering desire to do for others, and such
charming gentleness, that he seemed an excep-
ton to humapitR."
These traits ara predominant in the record
of his ministry. Without being at all re-
markabe preacher and his wife never claims
such distinction for hint is evident that his
preaching was not without power-the power
of sweet, pure and harmonious character.
The people to whom he ministers have evil
IDENTITY q deep feeling of love and respect for
him. One listener voices the common feeling
when she says: 81 like our dear young minis
ter. lie is simple, earnest, and his teachings
fall like dew" This earnestness and simplici-
ty, this gracious charm of personality seems to
have marked Mr.. Love In all his ministry in
New Bedford, 10 Salem and in Somsryille. If
he were not "great preacher it is probable
that he did quite as valuable service as many
more illustrious.
But the subject of this memoir had also con-
siderable executive ability. AS the Secretary
of the Unitarian Association, ia what must
now be- regarded as somewhat trying, aud even
perilous times, when there was DAGGER of de-
cided "spiit' in the denomination, Mr.. Lowe
showed great vigor and breadth OF mind, and
By his wise policy-if his earnest and simple
words could ever wear the garb OF policy-did
much to keep Unitarianism honored by the
most thoughtful and jndicious minds. Later,
as the editor of the Unitarian Review"-ihe
darling project of his last years-Mr Lowe
brought out much of the deepest thought aud
wisest scholarship Of the denomination.
It must be reluctantly admitted that this vol
ume is too long and too full of comparativelylun-
important incident for the average reader, who
ay be neither particularly interested in the
man, nor in the denomination he represents
Especially are there too many harrow ing de-
tails of Mr.. loves struggle for health for his
short lie of forty-six years was one long fight
with an insidious disease. The loving wife
doubtless felt that she could not leave out a
single trait that should help the reader to I'M
derstand how much of courage and noDleness
lay in this good man who, with SO insufficient
a stock of physical life, fought such a good
fight. But surely fey touches would have
served as we'll as these Constant portrayals of
the painful symptoms of his disease and the
treatment adopted.
There is also far too much of detail in the
record of his ministerial life. We can we'll be
spared the account Of the number OF calls made.
the number of tea-drinkings the young minis
ter lived through, and even an exact record OF
the sermons which we're thought particularly
good. What we want from mans life is one
strong, clear impression; and that is quite as
surely given through a few comprehensive
statements as by endless repetitions of minor
incidents. Had the Memoirs been shortened
by one-third-posslby one-half-the reader
would have had as strong and valuable an i'm
preston Of Charles Lowe as is now derived
from these six hundred pages. Yet for those
H.
directly participated in the events which the
volume describes. the memoir will possess
sweet and tend interest-that interest which