The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-04-15
WING. ELKToN MARYLAND. SATURDAY APRIL l5 1916

watch, hold it up before the congre-
cation, and cry: Watch! that is my
text" And then would follow one of
| his inimitable sermons on "Watchful-
| the pulpit and whisper in a soft tone:
"Hush," and then proceed with SOL
emn discourse. He was often spok en-
of as the "Crazv preacher" and some
| of the preachers would not give out
| his Appointments for him. Sometimes
he would preach under a large oak
| tree, and at the close of the sermon
| say: Twelve months from today. at
| such an hour, / will preach on this
spot again." mount his horse, not to
be seen any more till the twelve
months rolled around. Then he would
appear at the exact hour he had nam
ed. He did not travel long in the Me-
| thodist connecticut most of his life
was spent as an independent evange-
list.
There are many humorous ancc-
dotes related in connection with the
labors of this remarkable man.
He once fell into dispute with a
learned physician, who was an ideal
list. Dow strove to convince him that
there were realities in nature, but in
vain. To all his arguments there came
the same reply: cts but the force of
Imagination" At length the doctor,
with an air of much Importance, laid
his pipe on the table and, turning to-
ward the window, as he sat in his arm
chair, said: There, Mr.. Dow" point
ing to the opposite side of the street,
"is wagon. as imagined; but it is
all the force Of"
Before he could finish the sentence,
Dow took up the pipe, which still held
live coal, and emptied the contents
into the doctors boot.
What III the name of thunder are
you about" he exclaimed, instantly
selling the boot with both hands.
80. nothing but Imagination SAID
Dow, coolly; nothing but magma
tlon," and Immediately departed leav-
ing the doctor to dress his imagin-
airy wound. At his next appointment
his subject was The Force of Imagi-
nation"
The story Of his finding the stolen
axe is very interesting. The scene of
this anecdote is laid in Maryland. AS
he rode up to one of his appointments,
q IOOl man IIlSN MN, anu Will d ut-
full face informed him that some one
had stolen his axe. and begged that he
would be good enough to tell him
where it was. Dow assured him that
he had no power of knowing such
things, but he would not be put off
He was sure the preacher could find
his axe if he would. At length, NOV
ed by his entreaties, Dow promised to
do the best he could for him.
DO you suspect any one of stealing
it ?" asked Dow.
"Yes," replied the man; 81 think |
know the person, but cannot be GER
tain"
will he be at the meeting?"
Yes. sir; he is sure to be there"
Dow said no more, but picking up a
good-sized stone, took it with him
into the pull pit and placed it on the
desk in full view of the congregation.
Of course the people were sadly puz-
zled to know the meaning of this. AT
ter closing his sermon. he took up the
stone and said to the audience. "Some-
one has stolen an axe belonging to Mr..
A.. poor man. The thief is here-he
is before me now-and | intend, after
turning round three times, to hit him
on the head with this stone" He then
turned slowly round twice; the third
time he turned with great force, as if
he intended to hurl the stone into the
midst of the congregation Instantly
a man lodged his head behind the pew.
Now" said Dow, 81 will expose you
no further; but if you don't leave that
axe tonight where you got it, | will
nl,h1ich +o Tla
promptly returned The truth of this
story has been vouched for.
Some of these anecdotes have the
air of incredibility and extravaganza,
when related to minister of the Cos
pei; but when We remember the motor
lous eccentricities of Dow we shall be
disposed to receive them as true. We
shall relate some others that well ac-
cord with this character.
After long and tiresome journey,
he stopped about nightfall at the door
of a country tavern in Western Viz
ginia. He retired to his apartment.
but was much disturbed by a party Of
reve!ers who sat at their cups and
cards until late hour. Near midnight
one of the company discovered that he
had lost his pocketbook. and search
was proposed. The landlord here re-
marked that Lerenzo Dow was in the
house and that if the money had been
lost there. he could certainly find it.
The suggestion was adopted at once,
and Dow was aroused and requested
to find the rogue. As he entered the
room he glanced searchinglv around,
but could see no signs of guilt on any
face The lOSpr Wnc in f,oI1b1a