The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, March 1884, No. 6Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
History
The Chautauquan, Vol. 04, March 1884, No. 6
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Institution -- Periodicals; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle -- Periodicals
“If during that time,” he said to her, “you live and remain
single, and find no one that you like better than you do me, and
would be willing to give me up twelve months out of thirteen, or
three years out of four, to travel, and that in foreign lands,
and never say, ‘Do not go to your appointment,’—for if you should
stand in my way I should pray God to remove you, which I believe
he would answer, and if I find no one that I like better than I
do you—_perhaps something farther may be said on the subject_.”
An ardent popping of the question, surely! But she waited, and they were
married, and were happy. He was a very devoted husband, subsidiary to
his appointments. He was away preaching when both their children were
born, and on one occasion left his wife among strangers in England,
ill, so that her death was hourly expected, and their infant child also
being ill and dying in another place, for a chance to preach. Neither
parent attended the child’s funeral. Peggy never murmured. She was as
consecrated to his work as he—perhaps more unselfishly so. Minister’s
wives often are, I have heard.
Applying to Lorenzo Dow a purely intellectual analysis, I should say
he was a man born with a morbidly nervous temperament, which only
ceaseless activity could satisfy. Rest was physical and mental poison
to him. This helps explain his extraordinary energy. Egotism took the
form of conceit for haranguing and influencing masses of people, and of
believing himself competent to fill a world-wide field. Consciousness
of his own weakness and supersensitiveness led him to shrink from the
restraint and criticisms and evade the duties of church affiliation. He
wanted the notoriety and gratification of ministerial life, without its
responsibilities; he could not take the responsibility of becoming the
founder of a sect.
In short, as I read Lorenzo Dow, he had a mania for haranguing people,
and he gratified it in the easiest and most popular way then open to an
uncultured, lawless, irresponsible nature, with strong natural tendencies
toward religious exercises. If Dow had been born seventy-five years
later, he would have made a first-rate demagogue and communist, but it is
doubtful if he could have got any one to hear him preach in these days.
He served the time and purpose well, and reached hundreds whom perhaps no
one else could have influenced.
His eccentric behavior was due partly to lack of education and culture,
and partly to physical causes, viz.: A morbid, nervous organization,
which could only keep keyed up by excitement. His seeming violence and
extravagance were probably assumed at first to cover diffidence and
sensitiveness, and afterward became habits of pulpit address. He was
affectionate, honest, sincere and brave.
HYACINTH BULBS.
By GRANT ALLEN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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