The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-05-04
LORENZO DOW
Claimed To Be The Most Eccentric
Preacher That Ever Lived.


Perhaps the most eccentric preacher
that eyer lived was Lorenzo Dow. He
was born at Coventry, Conn, in TIT,
the year during which many battles of
the Revolutionary War were fought.
When he was only four years old, it is
said, strong religious impressions were
made upon his mind; but he later drift
ed into bad company. While the Rev.
Hope Hull, one of the pioneer Metho-
dist preachers, was preaching, he point
ed his finger at Dow, who was reck-
less youth, and said: Sinner there is
frowning Providence above your head,
and burning hell beneath your feet,
and nothing but the brittle thread of
life prevents your soul from falling into
endless perdition. But" says the
sinner, what must do?" you must
pray" Then, if you don't pray you
will be damned" and as he said this
the preacher stamped his foot. Dow
said: ut came like a dagger to my
heart. | came near falling backwards,
and caught hold of my cousin by my
side for fear | would fall into hell. 3"
He had many inward struggles, was
greatly distressed by terrible dreams
and at one time he thought he was a
reprobate and started to commit sui
eide; but he was finally converted and
! had great Deace of mind
At the age of eighteen he felt called
to preach the Gospel, but at first he
shrank from such responsibility. When
he later yielded to the call, and sought
admission into Methodist conference,
! such were his eccentric habits that the
! conference was slow to receive him on
trial. His personal appearance was
/ very striking. He wore long hair and
a long. flowing beard, and he moved
a bout in such a peculiar, mysterious
manner that he was regarded as little
/ less than prophet by the mutitudes
W no were always eager to hear him
Sometimes he would rush into the pull
pit, pull out his watch, hold 1t up be-
fore the congregation, and cry:
Watch that is my text" And then
would follow one of his inimitable ser
mons on "Watchtulness. Again he
would hastily ascend the pulpit and
whisper in soft tone: Hush" and
then proceed with solemn discourse.
He was often spoken Of as the Crazy
I preacher, " and some of the preachers
would not give out his appointments for
him. Sometimes he would preach I'M
der large oak tree, and at the close Of
/ the sermon say: Twelve months from
today, atsuch amour. Twill 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 named. He
did not travel long in the Methodist
connection; most of his life was spent
as an Independent evangelist.
There are many humorous anecdotes
related in connection with the labors of
/ this remarkable man.
He once fell into a dispute with
learned physician, who was an ldealist.
! Dow strove to convince him that there
were realities in nature. but in vain.
/ To all his arguments there came the
same reply: IT'S but the force of i'm
agination." At length the doctor. with
an air of much self Importance, laid his
! pipe on the table and, turning toward
the window, as he!sat in his arm chair,
said There. Mr.. Dow" pointing to
the opposite side of the street, lis
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 empted the contents into
the Doctors boot.
What in the name of thunder are
you about' he exclaimed, instantly
Selling the boot with both hands.
20, nothing but imagination. said
Dow, coolIy; nothing but magma
! ton, and Immediately departed. leav-
ing the doctor to dress his imaginary
wound. At his next appointment his
subject was, THE Force of Imagina-
| ton"
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,
a poor man met him, and with rueful
face informed him that someone 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, moved 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 certain. "
"Will he be at the meeting?"
Eyes, sir; he is sure to be there"
Dow said no more, but. picking IN a