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Chapter8:EVANGELISMINENGLAND.DR.DOWLING,ofNewYork,inaprefatorynotetoaneweditionofLorenzoDow’sworks,observes‘Hewasaremarkableindividual.Hiswholeappearancewassuchastoawakenahighdegreeofinterestandcuriosity.Onemonthhewouldbeheardof,labouringforthegoodofsouls,inhisNewEnglandhome;thenext,bravingtheforestsandsnowsofaCanadianwinter;thenext,onhiswaytoIrelandorEngland,intheprosecutionofsomebenevolententerprise.’OwingtoDow’sexcessivelabours,hisphysicalstrengthwasgraduallydeclining.Asherequiredrestand,believingthathehadaninwardcalltoEurope,hedeterminedonaseavoyagetoEngland.Afteratediouspassageofsomeforty-fourdays’duration,LorenzoDow,incompanywithhiswife,landedinLiverpoolonChristmasEve,1805.HisfirstserviceinEnglandwasheldinaLiverpoolchapel,belongingtotheMethodistNewConnexion.ItwasDow’sgreatjoytowitnesstheconversionofawomanatthisfirstEnglishservice,whichwasthecommencementofareligiousrevivalinthecityontheMersey.Mr.P.Phillips,ofWarrington,founderoftheIndependentMethodists,attendedoneoftheservicesconductedbyDow.HegavetheAmericanEvangelistanearnestinvitationtoconductaseriesofmeetingsintheIndependentMethodistChapel,Warrington.Onthefirstevening,DowandthemembersoftheChurchenteredintoasolemncovenanttoprayandlabourforagenuinerevivaloftheworkofGod.Afterconductingafortnight’sservicesinLondon,atwhichgoodwasaccomplished,DowreturnedtoWarrington,whereheheldbothin-doorandout-doorservices.Athisfirstopen-airserviceheldattheCross,anincidentoccurredwhichmadeadeepimpressionuponthemindsofthosepresent.Whilsthewaspraying,hesuddenlystoppedand,afterasolemnpause,exclaimed:‘OLord,Thouknowestwhataheinoussiniscommittedinthistown,butThouwiltverysoonbringittolight.’AfewdaysafterwardsamancalleduponDowatMr.Phillips’andintroducedhimselfbysaying:‘Iamagreatsinner,andhavecomeforyoutopraywithme.’Dowlookedattheman,andinanabruptmannersaid:‘Gointothesittingroom,andMrs.Phillipsandmywifewillpraywithyou.’Afterearnestprayer,theman-whowasanentirestrangertoDow,leftthehouse.Dowremarkedtohishost,‘ThatmanissowickedIdarenotaskGodtoblesshim.’Shortlyafterwards,itwasaccidentlyascertainedthatagangofmenlivinginthetownwerebandedtogetherforunlawfulpurposes-thisparticularmanbeingoneoftheringleaders.Hewassubsequentlyarrested,triedattheLancasterAssizes,foundguilty,andhangedforhismisdeeds.AnotherremarkableincidentoccurredattheneighbouringtownofFrodsham.WhileDowwaspreachinginahouse,hesuddenlystoppedinthemiddleofhissermon,andapproachedayoungwoman,whoappearedtobeinthebestofhealth,andwhowaswearingabeautifulrose.Takingtheflowerfromherdress,itimmediatelyshed,leavingthebarestalkinhishand,Hesaid,‘Inlessthantwelvemonthsyouwillfalllikethisrose,bydeath.’Hethenresumedhisdiscourse.Hisremarksmadeadeepimpressionupontheyoungwoman’smind.Sheremainedtotheafter-meeting,andgotconverted.Afewmonthslater,shegraduallybegantodroop,rapidlysickened,andultimatelydiedtriumphantintheChristianfaith.TheseremarkableincidentsledthepeopleofWarringtonandneighbourhoodtolookuponDowinthelightofaprophet.

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DowvisitedDublin,wherehemetwithacordialreceptionfromDr.PaulJohnson,whohadmanifestedsuchgreatkindnessduringhisformervisittoIreland.HeentereduponaspiritualCampaign,whichlastedforseveralmonths.TheChurcheshevisitedwerequickened,andmanypersonsprofessedconversion.IncompanywiththepiousdoctorhereturnedtoWarrington.Theyentereduponanevangelistictourinsouth-westernLancashireandthevillagesskirtingtheCheshireForest.InthisneighbourhoodthegospelhadbeenfaithfullypreachedbyJamesCrawfoot,whosubsequentlybecamethefirstministerinthePrimitiveMethodistChurch.ThisvisitwasattendedwithanoutpouringoftheDivineSpirit,andmuchlastinggoodwasaccomplished.DowvisitedMacclesfield,atownfamousinMethodistannalsasbeingthebirth-placeofthesaintlyHesterAnnRogers,andthesceneoftheRev.DavidSimpson’searnestministry.Thetowns-peoplewerestronglyprejudicedagainsttheAmericanEvangelist,andhisreceptionwasmostunfavourable.Apoormanwhohadsufferedfromanafflictionwhichhadrobbedhimofbothspeechandhearing,attendedoneofDow’sopen-airservices.Anextraordinaryspiritualinfluenceresteduponthepeople.Tothegreatastonishmentofthebystanders,theman,whohadbeenbothdeafanddumb,suddenlybegantoclaphishands,andpraiseGodforwhatHehaddoneforhim.ThisremarkableoccurrencewasthemeansofpopularisingDow,andpeopleflockedtohisservicesbyhundreds.Agreatreligiousawakeningwastheresultofhisvisit.LorenzoDowvisitedtheneighbouringtownofCongleton,notedforitsbullandbear-baitings,andotherdemoralisingpastimes.Dow'spreachingandrevivalisticfamehadprecededhim.Theinhabitantseagerlyanticipatedhisvisit,andtheyflockedinhundredstohisservices.Agreatrevivaltookplace,andmanypersonswereconverted.InApril,1807,aftervisitingIreland,Warrington,andLiverpool,hepaidasecondvisittoMacclesfieldandCongleton.AlthoughDowwasexceedinglyunwell,heacceptedtherequestofHughBournetopreachintheHarriseaheadMethodistChapel,abuildingwhichhadbeenerectedthroughBourne’senergeticlabours,andwhichisstillstandingandusedasaSundayschool.AtthisserviceHughBournesawandheardDowforthefirsttime.TheAmericancamp-meetingsformedthethemeofDow'saddress,inwhichheobservedthat‘occasionallysomethingofaPentecostalpowerattendedthem,andthatforaconsiderabletimeinAmericaasmuchgoodhadbeendoneandasmanysoulsbroughttoGodatthecamp-meetingsasatallothermeetingsputtogether.’ThiswonderfuldescriptionofAmericancamp-meetingsmadeadeepimpressionuponthemindofHughBourne.ThesamedayDowpreachedattheunusualhouroffouro’clockintheafternoonintheMethodistChapelatBurslem.HeaskedthosepresenttoenterintoacovenanttomeethimtwicedailyatthethroneofGracetoprayforarevivalofreligion,andtoexpresstheirwillingnessbyashowofhands.IntheeveninghepreachedatTunstall.AftertheexhaustiveservicesandjourneyingsofthedayhereturnedthesamenighttoCongleton.

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ThefollowingmorningDowpreachedattheLawtonStreetendofKinseyStreet,asearlyasfiveo’clock,tothefactoryoperativesbeforetheybegantheirdailylabourinthesilkmills.Byastrangesingularity,inthisCongletoncongregationweretwomenwhoultimatelybecamethepioneersoftheEnglishcamp-meetingmovementandwhosenamesareknownfarandwide.OnthatSpringmorningHughBournehadwalkedsomesevenmilesfromhishomeatBemersley,andWilliamCloweshadtravelledninemilesfromBurslem,intheheartoftheStaffordshirePotterles.Ateighto’clock,thebreakfasthourofthesilk-workers,DowdeliveredhisfarewelladdresstoalargeassemblyintheCongletonstreets.DowsubsequentlyvisitedLymm,PrestonBrook,Frodsham,andChester.AfterbeinginEnglandandIrelandforabouteighteenmonthsheandhiswifeleftLiverpoolfortheUnitedStates,onMay6th,1807.ThememorablevisitofLorenzoDowtoEnglandresultedintheholdingofthefirstEnglishcamp-meetingandtheultimateformationofthePrimitiveMethodistChurch.AtDow’sfarewellserviceatCongleton,Bournepurchasedfromhimtwopamphlets.Theone,writtenbyDow,gaveageneraldescriptionoftheholdingofcamp-meetingsandthegreatgoodresultingtherefrom.Theotherwasentitled:ADefenceofCamp-meetingsandwaswrittenbytheRev.S.K.Jennings,M.A.ThereadingofthesepublicationsenkindledHughBourne’sreligiousenthusiasm.Hedeterminedtoholdacamp-meetingatNorton-thevillageadjoiningBemersley,tocounteracttheriotingsanddrinkingcustomsoftheWake,whichistheParishannualfeast.OnthefollowingMondayevening,atthecloseoftheHarriseaheadclassMeeting,Bournelaidhisproposalsbeforethemembers.Theyreadilyassentedandpromisedtheirassistance.SomeoneinthemeetingremindedthemofDanielShubotham’slong-talked-aboutandunfulfilledpromisethattheyshould‘haveameetinguponMowsomeSundayandhaveawholeday’sprayingandthenyou’llbesatisfied.’TheseearnestStaffordshirecolliersandreclaimeddrunkardsandcockfightersexaminedtheBurslemMethodistCircuitplan.Oneoftheirownpreachers,ThomasCottonbyname,andanardentbelieverincamp-meetings,whowaspresentthatnight,wasappointedforHarriseaheadforMay31st.Thedaywasopportune.Thenandthereitwasunanimouslydecidedbythatnumericallysmallchurchthatthecamp-meetingshouldbeheldonMowCoponthelastSundayinMay.ThemembersearnestlykneltinprayerandbesoughtGod’sblessingtorestuponboththeforthcomingMowandNortoncamp-meetings,andtocrownthemwithgreatspiritualsuccess.AsThomasCottonwaswishfultoinformhisfriendsintheCongletonCircuit,Mr.Bournewroteseveralannouncementsand‘thereportflewthroughthecountryasifithadgoneonthewingsofangels.’PrayerwasunceasinglyofferedbytheLord’speoplethroughouttheentireneighbourhood.Thisever-memorableCampMeetingwasheldinafieldbelongingtoMr.JosephPointon,ontheCheshireslopesofMowCop.Itcommencedattheearlyhourofsixo’clock.ThegraphicaccountgivenbyDowinthetownsofLancashire,Cheshire,andStaffordshireoftheAmericanCampMeetingsinfluencedmanypeopletoarriveonSaturdaynight,sothattheymightbereadytotakepartintheopeningservicesofthefirstEnglishCampMeeting.PreacherswerepresentfromCongleton,Macclesfield,Wheelock,Knutsford,Burslem,Tunstall,andfromplacesinmoreremoteYorkshireandIreland.Bourne,inhisdescriptionofthisepoch-makingday,says:‘Thousandsheardwithattentionsolemnasdeath.Allthepreachersseemedtobestrengthenedintheirwork,persuasiondweltupontheirtongues,whilethemultitudesweretremblingorrejoicingaround.The

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congregationincreasedsorapidlythatafourthpreaching-standwascalledfor,andfourpreacherswerepreachingwithalltheirmight.Abouthalf-pasteightthisextraordinarymeetingclosed-ameetingsuchasoureyeshadneverbeheld,andforwhichmanywillpraiseGodbothintimeandeternity.’WilliamClowesgivesasimilar,strikingtestimony.Hesays:‘themeetingpresentedamagnificentspectacle-fourpreacherssimultaneouslycryingtosinnerstofleefromthewrathtocome.Thousandslisteningwithdevoutattention,manyindeepdistress,andotherspleadingwithheavenintheirbehalf.SomepraisingGodaloudforthegreatthingsbroughttopass,andothersrejoicinginthetestimonyofsinsforgiven.Theglorythatfilledmysoulfarexceedsmypowersofdescription.Muchofthegoodwroughtatthegreatmeetingremains,butthefullamountofthatgoodeternityalonewilldevelop.MyriadsofsaintsandangelswilleverlastinglylaudtheEternalMajestyonaccountofthedaysprayingonMow.’AsecondCampMeetingonMowCopfollowedinthemonthofJulylastingthreedays.FortypersonswereconvertedontheSunday,andtwentyontheMonday.Thesamemonth,athirdCampMeetingwasheldatBrownEdge-amountainousrangerunningparallelwithMowCop,andBemersley,thehomeoftheBournes.CampMeetingswerebecomingvastlypopular.Theyhadpassedthroughtheexperimentalperiod,andwerelikelytobecomeapermanentinstitution.TheholdingofthesemeetingsraisedconsiderableoppositiononthepartoftheMethodistsuperintendentsoftheBurslem,Congleton,andneighbouringcircuits.Conjointly,theypublishedamanifestodisclaimingallconnectionwiththem.TheConferenceofthatyear,heldinLiverpool,passedresolutionswhichwerenotonlyprintedintheofficialMinutesbut,togivethemwiderpublicity,theywerealsoprintedintheSeptembernumberoftheMethodistMagazine.OnthesubjectofCampMeetings,theConferencedecided:‘Thatitisourjudgment,thatevensupposingsuchmeetingstobeallowableinAmerica,theyarehighlyimproperinEngland,andlikelytobeproductiveofconsiderablemischief;andwedisclaimallconnectionwiththem.’AtthisConferencethequestionwasofficiallyasked‘Haveourpeoplebeensufficientlycautiousrespectingthepermissionofstrangerstopreachtoourcongregations?’Thefollowingresolutionwasthereonadopted,viz:‘Wefearnot.Andwethereforeagaindirect,thatnostranger,fromAmericaorelsewhere,besufferedtopreachinanyofourplaces,unlesshecomesfullyaccredited;ifanItinerantPreacher,byhavinghisnameenteredontheMinutesoftheConferenceofwhichheisamember;andifaLocalPreacherbyarecommendatorynotefromhisSuperintendent.’Readingbetweenthelinesofthisresolution,thereisacensureuponthosesocietiesthathademployedtheAmericanEvangelistinconductingservices.TheConferencemayhavebeensincereinadoptingtheseresolutions,butlookingatthemafteranintervalofyears,theyhavetheappearanceofimprudence.SomesixdaysafterDow’sdeparturefromNewYorkforEurope,lettershadbeenwrittenbyNicholasSnethen,oneoftheAmericanMethodistpreachers,totheRev.JosephBenson,ofcommentaryfame,andthethenEditoroftheMethodistMagazines;andalsotoRev.MatthiasJoyce,theDublin

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Book-Steward.InpenningtheselettersMr.SnethensofarforgothisChristiancharityastodenounceDowas‘anape,’‘ashamelessintruder,’and‘amostdaringimposter.’Theconsequencewas,theleadersoftheMethodistConferencedidnotrejoiceathisappearanceonEnglishshores.Dr.JabezBunting,thenstationedinManchester,wouldnotgiveDowaninterview.TheRev.CharlesAtmoreshutthedoorinhisface.TheRev.Thos.TaylorthoughtthatDow‘wasnotsettledinhishead.’AtthetimeofLorenzoDow’svisit,Mr.TaylorwaschairmanoftheManchesterWesleyanDistrict.Hisbiographer,inspeakingofhim,says:‘NexttoMr.WesleyMr.ThomasTaylorfilledtheplaceofaneffectivemanconsiderablylongerthananyotherMethodistpreacher.ThelearnedDr.AdamClarke,however,‘treatedDowasagentleman,‘buthewastoofondofreligiousordertounbendtoDow'sfervour,noise,andirregularities.ThesewerethemenwholedtheConferenceof1807,andissuedtheiranathemasagainsttheholdingofEnglishcamp-meetings.Thefourthcamp-meetingwasheldatNortononSunday,August23rd,someelevendaysaftertheclosingoftheConferencewhichhadprohibitedtheholdingofcamp-meetings.ItwasconductedbytheBournesandtheirfriends.ThismeetingwasattendedbyDr.PaulJohnson,thefriendofLorenzoDow,who

hadtraveldfromDublintotakepartinanEnglishcamp-meeting.HughBournewrites:‘Dr.Johnsonwasanexcellentspeaker,andhiscomingwaslookeduponasanextraordinaryinterpositionofDivineprovidence.’BothBourneandhisbrotherwerefully‘satisfiedthatcamp-meetingswereoftheLord.’NotwithstandingtheuncompromisingobjectionofcircuitauthoritiesandConferenceadministrators,Bournearrangedfortheholdingofsubsequentcamp-meetings.InSeptember,1810,thecamp-meetingMethodists,includingtheStanleyclass,werenumberedatonehundredandthirty-six.In1812thislittlecommunityhadtwoministers,seventeenpreachingplaces,andtwohundredmembers,whentheyissuedtheirfirstprintedplanasPrimitiveMethodists.

DowregardedhimselfasbeingoneoftheoriginatorsofthePrimitiveMethodistChurch.Intheyear1818DowpaidasecondvisittoEngland.InhispublishedjournalshereferstotheMowCopcamp-meetingofMay31st,1807.Hewrites:‘VisitedthePotteriesinStaffordshire.HereIfoundanewsectofpeople,knownbythenameofPrimitiveMethodists,astheycallthemselves.Theiroriginappearstohavebeensomethinginthefollowingorderinminiature.WhenIwasinthiscountrybefore,ameetingonMowHillhadbeentalkedabout,andIwasdrawntospeakparticularlyontheorigin,progress,andconsequencesofcamp-meetingsinAmerica.Thisaffectedthemindsofthepeople,

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whowereinthespiritofarevival,andfromacombinationofantecedentcircumstances,theynowresolvedtospendawholeSabbath-dayinprayertogetherforanoutpouringoftheSpiritofGod,whichtheyhadagitated,butcouldnotbringtobearuntilnow.’ReferringtotheactionoftheMethodistministers,heremarks:‘Theoldpreachershadopposedthemeeting,andstrovetopreventitfromtakingplace.’Someonehaspithilysaid:

‘IftherehadbeennoDowTherewouldhavebeennoMow,’

thusmeaningthatifLorenzoDowhadnotvisitedthiscountry,inallhumanprobabilitytherewouldnothavebeenanEnglishcamp-meetingnoraPrimitiveMethodistChurch.__________________________________________________________________________________ReferencesChristian Messenger 1900/228