The Wisdom of Lorenzo Dow - Glenn Conjurske

The Wisdom of Lorenzo Dow

by Glenn Conjurske

Lorenzo Dow began his preaching career among the Methodists, but being of an independent spirit, he was impatient of their authority, and early left them, to travel the country at large as an evangelist. “At his death in the Thirties,” according to his biographer, “he was probably the most widely travelled man in America, and certainly the most widely known.” His eccentricities no doubt contributed more than anything else to his notoriety. In some of his eccentric acts, however, we may see examples of the best sort of wisdom. He was reputed to have supernatural powers, but the fact was, he simply knew human nature. He knew the heart and the conscience of the human race, and knew what men would do in certain circumstances. This was the strength of many of the old Methodist preachers. Most of them had little enough of book learning, but they had a better wisdom. I give a few examples from the life of Lorenzo:

When a young man, David Marks crossed paths with Lorenzo—-both of them itinerating to preach the gospel. Young Marks attended several of Lorenzo’s meetings, sat with him on the platform, had some conversation with him, and preached to the crowds which gathered to hear the well known man.

Thereupon Marks relates, “The next morning, hearing a wagon pass at break of day, I arose and looking out at a window, saw Lorenzo, who had lodged at another house, hastening on his way to Tully corner, seven miles distant, where he had an appointment at eight o’clock, A. M. I made ready, went to the place, and called at a public house. The landlord met me at the door, and said; ‘Are you the Levite?’ As I queried concerning his meaning, he said; ‘Mr. Dow called for breakfast for himself, his wife, and a little Levite, that he said would soon come.’ He then led me to the room where Lorenzo and his wife were seated at the table. Lorenzo said, ‘There comes the Levite.’ A seat, plate, &c. had already been prepared for me, though I had not intimated to any one the slightest intention of coming to the place at this hour.”

This is a very plain example of the wisdom of which I speak. The simple fact is, Lorenzo knew his man. He knew what to expect from him, and he was not mistaken. And this he knew though he had but slight acquaintance with David Marks, for he knew human nature. Such knowledge is not gained from books, but from observation, experience, and meditation.

Another example is given by the publisher of Lorenzo’s Works, as follows:

The Cock and the Dinner Pot

One night after Mr. Dow had retired to bed, after a hard day’s travel, in the western part of Virginia, a number of persons collected in the bar-room to enjoy their usual revelries, as was the custom in that part of the country. At a late hour in the night, the alarm was given that one of the company had lost his pocket book, and a search proposed. Whereupon the landlord remarked, that Lorenzo Dow was in the house, and that if the money was there, he knew that Lorenzo could find it. The suggestion was instantly received with approbation, and accordingly Mr. Dow was aroused from his slumber, and brought forth to find the money. As he entered the room, his eyes ran through the company with searching enquiry, but nothing appeared that could fix guilt upon any one. The loser appeared with a countenance expressive of great concern, and besought Mr. Dow, for heaven’s sake, to find him his money. “Have any left the company since you lost your money,” said Mr. Dow. “None,” said the loser, “none!” “Then,” said Lorenzo, turning to the landlady, “go and bring me your large dinner pot.” This created no little surprise. But as supernatural powers were universally conceded, his directions were unhesitatingly obeyed. Accordingly the pot was brought forward, and set in the middle of the room. “Now,” said Lorenzo, “go and bring the old chicken-cock from the roost.” This was also done, and at Lorenzo’s directions, the cock placed in the pot, and covered over with a board, or lid. “Let the doors now be fastened, and the lights extinguished,” said Mr. Dow, which was also done. “Now,” said he, “every person in the room must rub his hands hard against the pot, and when the guilty hand touches, the cock will crow.” Accordingly, all came forward, and rubbed, or pretended to rub against the pot. But no cock crew. “Let the candles now be lighted,” said Lorenzo, “there is no guilty person here. If the man ever had any money, he must have lost it some place else. But stop,” said Lorenzo, when all things were prepared, “let us now examine the hands.” This was the important part of his arrangement. For on examination, it was found that one man had not rubbed against the pot. The others’ hands being black with the soot of the pot, was a proof of their innocence. “There,” said Lorenzo, pointing to the man with clean hands, “there is the man who picked your pocket.” The culprit, seeing his detection, at once acknowledged his guilt, and gave up the money.

This looks very much like the wisdom of Solomon. Solomon did not know the two women who were brought before him, but he knew human nature. He knew a mother’s heart, and knew that that heart is the same in every mother, though she be a harlot. Lorenzo knew the workings of the human conscience, and knew therefore that the guilty party would be afraid to touch the dinner pot. He knew also that the rooster would not crow in the dark, so that the innocent were safe from suspicion.

A similar example follows:

Finding the Stolen Axe

While Mr. Dow was traveling through Maryland, a poor man came and informed him that some one had stolen his axe, and wished Mr. Dow to be good enough to tell him where it was. Lorenzo informed him that he possessed no power of knowing such things. But the man had heard that Lorenzo Dow knew everything, and could not be persuaded to believe anything else. At length, when it was evident that the man could not be otherwise disposed of, Mr. Dow said he would find the axe if he could. “But do you suspect any person of stealing it,” said Mr. Dow. “Yes,” said the man very promptly, “I think I know the very man, but cannot be certain.” “Will he be at the meeting?” “Yes, sir; he is sure to be there.” Mr. Dow said no more, but picking up a stone about as large as his two fists, carried it to church with him and laid it on the desk beside him, so that all the congregation might see it. How many inquiries ran through their minds about the stone during the sermon no one knows. But, after he had finished preaching, he took the stone in his hand, and, addressing the audience, said, “some one has stolen an axe, belonging to Mr. A., a poor man—-the thief is here, he is before me now, and I intend after turning round three times to hit him on the head with this stone.” Accordingly, he turned round twice rather slowly, but the third time came around with great fury as if going to throw the stone into the midst of the men before him, when to the no little amusement of the company, and the satisfaction of the man who lost the axe, the very man who was suspected of the theft, dodged his head behind the pew. “Now,” said Dow, “I will not expose you any further, but if you do n’t leave that axe tonight where you got it, I will publish you to-morrow.” The axe was accordingly returned. A merchant of veracity in Cincinnati, vouches for the truth of this story.

Here again Lorenzo simply made use of his knowledge of the workings of conscience. No doubt the success of these antics was dependent upon the popular belief in the miraculous powers of Lorenzo Dow, but it must also be understood that he must have gained that reputation by just such wisdom as this.

He used that wisdom for the eternal as well as the temporal benefit of souls. “It is related that a wagoner, urging his long team up a hill, was adding to the creak and grinding of his wheels, the stamping of hoofs and crack of his whip, a most blasphemous outpouring of profanity, after the manner of teamsters in all generations. In the midst of a cataract of venomous and diabolical imprecations, there suddenly appeared from behind his wagon the lank and bearded, black-cloaked figure, mounted on a lean horse which, considering its condition, was travelling at an unnatural speed. Without a trace of any emotion upon his face, the stranger as he came alongside reached out and offered the wagoner a dollar if he would continue to curse and swear in the same manner for the rest of his life. This was easy money for the wagoner, and he took the silver at once. In a few minutes the man on the lean horse had vanished over the hill. Then upon the blasphemer came a terrible apprehension: Who was this black hairy man? What mortal would come as from nowhere, pay money for such a purpose, and vanish again like a shadow? Thus in one soul, otherwise forever foreign to religion, was installed that heart-shivering dread which led into conversion.”

Glenn Conjurske