The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-25
A MODERN PROPHET.
The Resting-Place of Lorenzo Dow-A Striking
Figure of the Early Part of This Century.

a rev steps from the plain granite smart THAI
marks the last resting place of Secretary STAN
ton, in Oak Hill Cemetery. Georgetown, l
CHANGED upon slab so weather beaten that the
inscription is not easy to read But for the fact
that it lies prone the turf, one would scarcely
notice it. unless specially on the lookout for
memorials of the humber sort,
with uncouth rhymes and shapeless sculpture
decked.'
Although close to what may be called a good
neighborhood, where some of the most costly
and imposing monuments are grouped, it is a
little down hill and nearer to Rock creek, one
of the most lovely of streams, which forever
murmurs its requiem.
The inscription is as follows:
REPOSITORY OF LORENZO Dow WHO WAS BORN
IN COVENTRY. CONNECTICUT, Der. TO-
1777. DIED FEBY 2, 1884,
II. Sc.
A Christian is the highest style of man.
lie is slave to no sect takes private road,
But looks through nature up to natures God.
have mentioned the grave of the great War
Secretary merely for the purpose of locating that
OF the "crazy preacher" though, if one were dis
posed. he might find certain basis for fanci-
full comparison between the men. In their aims
ways of thinking and outward circumstances
they were as unlike as possible In the strong
Will, SteadfastnesS of purpose, uncomfortable
energy. and the directness and persistence with
which each enforced his ideas. likeness might
be found Their years on the earth were about
the same, Stanton dying at ffty-fve.
My purpose here is to give a very brief sketch
OF the man who lies beneath the humble slab,
whose life was a continuous and tremendous
warfare. / shall not here enter upon any dis
cussion of his character. nor try to estimate the
results of his labors but shall merely endeavor
to show the man himself.
When between three and four years DID, while
playing with companion. he tells US: Il sudden
ly fell into muse about God and those places
called heaven and hell, which heard people con
verse about, SO that forgot my play, which my
companion observing, desired to know the cause
asked him if ever he said his prayers morning
or plight, to which he replied. Mo- Then.
said |, you are wicked, and will net play with
you So quit his company and went into the
house" When seven or eight years old his
parents removed to different locality. and he
says that he got into bad company. What par
ticular crimes he was guilty of does not appear.
It is likely they were not very heinous. He
killed bird one day, and was overcome with
agonies Of remorse and terror at the
thought Of death He does not appear
PRAYER" than the boy with whom he refused to
play. But about this time he tried expert
ment to see whether God would answer prayer.
There was lottery in the neishborhood. the
grand capital prize" being nine shllings. He
promised to serve God if he got that prize. He
did get it. but broke his promise.
When he was twelve years old he taken
very i'll and his life was despaired of. He partly
recovered. butwas greatly troubled with asthma,
which, for many years. prevented his sleeping in
bed About this tinre he dreamed that he saw
the prophet Nathan, who, in answer to his ques-
ton, told him he would live until he was twenty
two. When he thirteen years Old.
he dreamed that an old man came
to him by MONDAY. having a
staff in his hand, and said: ''Do you ever pray2
He came again with the question, receiving
negative answer both times "After his depart
ure went out of doors, and taken up By
whirlwind and carried above the skies" Then
follows a vision Of heaven and angels. He was
not permitted to enter, but received promise
that he should come back at last if he was faith
full Then he was taken back to the earth, and
was visited for the third time by the old man,
who asked him if he had prayed. and was an
swered, 'Yes." "rhen,' said he ''be faithful,
and will come and let you know again." This,
he thought referred to the time when he was to
be best and so he awoke. This was suffi-
GENTLY remarkable dream for a thirteen-ye old
boy
He breaks away from his companions and
commences praying, but finds no peace. He
finally concludes that he is a reprobate, and de-
termines to take his own life. He loads gun
wait. The conflict going on in his mind is ter
rife. Coming home from meeting he falls
down by the road again and again unconsciously.
He prays pretty much all night, and falling
asleep, sees TWO U6VliS, Win chains, enter MS
room. They bind him about the neck and feet
and fly away with him, and try to drag him down
to the pit. He saw the blue blazes
ascending and heard 'the screeches and
groans Of devils and damned spirits" When the
awoke the old debate went on in his mind The
selves AT last he cried outs Lord. / give up;
I submit; yield. If there Do mercy in heaven
for me, let me know it, and if not. let me go
down to hell and know the worst OF my case"
A A. Il g. = A.
Mediator step in, as it were, between the
Fathers justice and my SOUL and these words
were applied to my mind with great power:
Son, thy sins. which are many, are forgiven
thee; go in peace The burden of sin and guilt
and the fear Of hell vanished as perceptibly as
hundred-pound weight falling from q mans
shoulder" he tells US.
These things are cited to show the character
of the mans mind and the ever present and tre
mendous reality, to him, of the unseen world.
This is tht keynote to his life. It is what
drove him, at the age of sixteen. against his
own inclination, the opposition of his
parents, the discussion of ministers in the
body of Christians to which he was attached.
and the total lack, apparently. OF physical
health and strength absolutely essential, upon
those long wanderings and exhortations that
ended only with his death, Again and again
he was dismissed from the circuit to which
he had been assigned until at last, with no
church to back him, with no visible means of
support like prophet Of old, he went every
where, in out-of-theway places. subssting on
such chance charity as offered. often declining
to receive the voluntary contributions raised to
provide him with absolutely necessary clothing.
lest his motives in preaching might be suspect
ed. In his iourneyings he slept on the floor,
since his asthma would not allow him to
sleep in bed. Often, with a single blanket.
he lay where he could look up
through the bark roofs at the clear shining stars,
the frost nipping him so that. as he says, he
lost the skin from face, hands and feet. He
preached from ten to fifteen times a week. riding
twenty, thirty forty miles to an appointment.
After an all-nght's ride he sometimes went to
his appointment without breakfast.
He rode once twenty-five hours-117 miles
stopping only long enough to bait his horse.
After long experience of this sort, riding through
storms. breaking the path through deep SHOWS.
hunger and cold, his most familiar companions.
he is at last seized with a fever The house TO