Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-17
APULPIT ORATOR.
SKETCH OF THE REV. THOMAS q.
LOWE, OF NORTH CAROLINA.
His Wonderful Inspired and Impassioned
Eloquence-A Great Caroer-Un-
marked Grave-A Monument.
lWritton Tor the DIspatch.l

| Written tor the Dlspatch.l
On the main highway seven miles from
the historic town Of Halifax, five miles
from Enfield. and right under the shadow
of Haywood's church, stands an humble,
dilapidated cottage. The stranger passing
along the road would not glance twice at
this dwelling, yet in this lowly abode in
tho year 1915 truly great man, and one OF
the most gifted natural orators that North
Carolina has ever roduced-Thomas G..
Lowe-.first saw the light and here he
lived for over fifty years. and now his re-
mains lie in an unmarked grave near by. in
place OF his own choosing. Several
years ago the friends and admirers
OF this remarkable man erected tho Love-
Memorial church at Haywood's. The
cornerstone was laid with impressive cere-
monies by the Masons of the State. DR.. L.
Il. kingsbury, of Wilmington, the lifelong
friend of Mr.. Lowe, delivering the ad-
dress. The question is now being agitated
of erecting simple monument TO his
memory; n step in the right direction and
one which should have been taken long
sgo. Blr. Lowe was born of poor, respecta-
bic parents, and joined the Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church when
quite young man. II was not long. how
ever, before his wonderful GIFT of o;atory
and great eloquence astonished the
elders and deacons Of the Church, de-
lighted the people. and placed him at the
head OF the great pulpit orators of his day.
DR.. John +. Edwards, Rev. L. b. Kings
bury, LII. D.. and other eminent diylnes
have contributed to tho religious press
interesting articles on the life, character.
and works of this truly great man.
AN INSPIRED ORATOR.
He received simply bsckwoods educa-
ton, and in ordinary conversation he was
rather dull. prosy, and commonplace, but
in the pulpit. when the spirit of inspira-
ton was upon him, his language was grand
beyond description. and his face would
light up as If by magic; he would be very
pale, and his eyes. looking up towards
Heaven. would seem to take on the
heavenly light, and then the words
of inspiration would pour from his lips IN
sweetest poetical harmony. His voice would
ring out as clear as a silver bell, and men,
women, and children would scramble TO
their feet and stand upon the seats even,
for il was impossible for his hearers 10
keep their seats when the spirit of inspira--
ton was upon him in his grand flights OF
elOauence. This is no eXaggeratlon,
TfAurI. NJ pen IltAuA1 itsh hp gA'NA'N ~
the wonderful pOetical sermons OF Mr..
Lowe, and there are numbers of readers OF
the Dispatch to-day who will gladly recall
his great power in the pulpit. lie was a
Mason, and 1t was the prevailing custom 10
send for MIN whenever Mason died, lie
preached all the Masonic funerals for
many miles around.
GEMS OF HEAVENLY ELoQUENCE.
xvhnn With
face aglow and sparkling eye, the rarest
gers of eloquence would fall from his lips
and in the most pathetic and exquisite
manner he would picture heaven; theJoys
of eternal life, and the rewards awaiting
the faithful. The word-painting was
grand and sublime. Many years ago, when
il was the custom TO have camD-meetings,
when Mr.. Lowe was quite young IN the
ministry. and before his reputation bad
gone beyond the border. he visited large
camp-meetiug on the Brunswick (Na.) cir
cult. This was when the Virginia and the
North Carolina Conferences OF the Metho-
dist Church were one. The Bruins
wick circuit extended TO the North Caro-
lima line. Mr.. Lowe found many OF the
leading ministers OF the Church at this
meeting, and it was here he first met the
late Rev. j. G.. Claiborne, and tor Dir. Clal-
horne and his accomplished daughters he
formed the warmest attachment. MIR.
Lowe, always a modest and unassumlng
man, did not attempt TO push himself Tor
ward. and the boy preacher did not APP
pear 10 very good advantage by the sac
OF the leading ministers OF Southslde VIZ
oinia. The meeting had been going on
for some days when Mr.. Lowe arrived and
the presiding elder, Rev. MIR. Claiborne,
and others had preached some grand
sernons but somehow the people
had not been moved and the
voung people were disposed to regard
il as q grand picnic, rs is too often the
case with the young and thoughtlesS. Inc
preachers and the elder decided. after
little consultation, TO ask the boy preacher
TO preach for them the next day, but not
before expressing many msglylngs. now
ever, as to the result. The elder said 1t
was a courtesy they owed the young
stranger, but he was fully confident Mr..
Lowe would break down in utter contu-
sion, and ne sincerely hoped he (Lowe)
would refuse 10 preach; but, contrary 70
the wishes of the elder, Mr.. Lowe readily
consented 10 preach for him the next day.
The morning arrived IN accordance with
the solar system of the universe, and it
was one of the loyeliest OF the season.
Nature seemed 10 smile in love upon her
works, the cool refreshing breeZeS stirred
the green leaves, and by the time the hrst
RAYS OF the sun were glStening upon the
dew-drops people were astir from their
tents. and the sweet songs Of Zion min
gled with the merry songs OF birds.
HIS GREAT VICTORY IN VIRGINIA.
Long before the appointed hour for ser
vice arrived carriages, buggles. and
wagons commenced 20 roll in, and az If by
common consent the crowd was the largest
3 .,la~ Il tiA fuAaffn0 and
when the elder saw ell the seats filed and
looked upon that sea of upturned faces he
regretted having to put up boy preach
er and greatly feared there would
be serious disappointment. The hour ar
rived for morning service, tho ministers
took their accustomed places, and the
elder promptly arose and announced that
Rev. Thomas q. Lowe. of North Carolina,
was present and would preach the morn
ing sermon. Brother Lowe is young
man" said the elder. by way of apology,
but comes well recommended, and | sin
cerely ask for him your undivided and
prayeriul attention" The hymn was then
sung in the good old-fashioned way: one
of the ministers led IN prayer; after which
Mr., Lowe arose and announced his text.
He used no manuscript whatever, but IN
a calm, deliberate manner commenced
his sermon. There was peculiar
ring in that voice and the elder was lit
tie hopeful. Now it changed, and rang out
sweet and clear. 1t warmed up the pulpit
and then went out into the large audience,
and before they could realize it an unmis-
taxable little thrill was running along
their nerves and the preacher had tho
riveted attention of every one present.
Then the remarkable inspiration seized
him. His face was shining like candle,
his eyes like stars. and his hair stood
straight upon his head. The audience was
spellbound. Mr.. Lowe was of on one of