COPIES OF LORENZO'S PASSPORTS. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 00000000000 THE O O NOTARY'S O STATE OF NEW YORK, SS "BY this public instrument, be it known SEAL. O to all to whom the same may or doth con00000000000 cern, that I, CADWALLADER D. COL. DEN, a Public Notary, in and for the State of New York, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the said State, duly commissioned and sworn, and in and by the said Letters Patent, invested, with full powers and authority to attest deeds, wills, testaments, codicils, agreements, and other instruments in writing, and to administer any oath or oaths to any person or persons,' do hereby certify, that on the day of the date hereof, personally appeared before me the said Notary, the Reverend Lorenzo Dow, whose person being by me particularly examined, appears to me to be of the age of twenty-eight years, or thereabouts; of the height of five feet ten inches: rather light com. plexioned, and much marked with the small-pox; having small light eyes, dark brown hair and eye-brows, small features, and a short visage, a scrofulous mark on his neck, under the chin, on the right side: and the said Lorenzo Dow being by me duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, that he was born in the town of Coventry, in the State of Connecticut, in the United States of America, of Humphrey B. Dow, and Tabitha his wife, who was Tabitha Parker; that his said parents were also born in the said town that his mother is dead, but his father is yet living, and resides in the same place. And the said deponent further saith, that he is the person named, intended and described as Lorenzo Dow, in all and each of the several documents hereunto annexed, which are respectively lettered A. B. C. D., and which are now produced to me, the said Notary, and lettered as aforesaid by me, the said Notary, and my notarial firm thereon written. Cadwallader D. Colden, Not. Pub. To all to whom these presents shall concern, Greeting. THE BEAREr hereof, Lorenzo DOW, casion to pass into foreign countries, about his lawful A Citizen of the United States of America, having ocaffairs, these are to pray all whom it may concern, to perand peaceably,) to pass wheresoever his lawful pursuits mit the same Lorenzo Dow, (he demeaning himself well may call him, freely without let or molestation in going, staying, or returning, and to give him all friendly aid and protection, as these United States would do in the like case. OF STATE'S I have caused the seal of the Department of State for the said United States, to be hereunto affixed. Done at Washington, this 23d day of October, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Five, and of the Independence of these States the thirtieth. ᏚᎬᏁᏞ "And I the said Notary, do further certify, that on the same day and year last aforesaid, also appeared before me, the Reverend Nicholas Snethen, of New York, and James GRATIS.] Quackenbush, of the State of New York, gentlemen, who being by me also sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, depose and say, and first the said Nicholas Snethen saith, that he is well acquainted with the said Lorenzo Dow, and known him from his youth to this time; and this deponent has been also well acquainted with the Parents of the said Lorenzo Dow; that the said Lorenzo Dow is a native of the United States of America, and a Minister of the Holy Gospel, and the said deponent doth verily believe that all the facts herein stated and set forth by the said Lorenzo Dow, are true. And the said James Quackenbush saith, that he hath known the said Lorenzo Dow, for four years last past, and upwards-that he hath always understood, and doth believe, him to be a native citizen of the United States of America, and doth believe that all the facts to which the said Lorenzo Dow hath above deposed, are true. And the said Lorenzo Dow being such native citizen as aforesaid, of the United States of America, is entitled to all the advantages and privileges thereof, and to the friendly aid and protection of all persons, Potentates and States with JAMES MADISON, Secretary of State. B Cadwallader D. Colden, Not. Pub. VIRGINIA, to wit. BE it known to all whom it may concern, that the Reverend Lorenzo Dow, who declares himself a native of Connecticut, one of the United States of America, has for two or three years past occasionally travelled through this commonwealth, as an itinerant Preacher of the Gos pel; that his appointments to preach have, according to report, been attended by considerable numbers of the inhabitants of this state; that on all occasions his conduct has been inoffensive, and his manners impressive: it is believed that his views are confined to the promotion of human happiness, by diffusing, to the utmost of his abili ties, a knowledge of the Christian Religion, and by a "JONATHAN TRUMBULL.” conviction, on his part, of its tendency to that desirable of New Haven, in said State, this 15th day of October, in object. This certificate is granted to the said Reverend the year of our Lord 1805. Lorenzo Dow, at the request of his friends, in consequence of a meditated voyage to Europe for the restoration of his impaired health. "I, The subscriber, do hereby certify that by the law of the State aforesaid, all marriages, births and deaths are to be recorded in the records of their respective towns; and Nathan Howard, Esq. who hath attested the aforesaid from the town records, is the clerk of said town, duly app iated and sworn, and that the above signature is in his own proper hand writing, and that faith and credit is to be given to his attestation in court and country." "In testimony hereof I have subscribed my hand and seal." JESSE ROOT, SEAL. Chief Justice of the Superior Court. STATE OF CONNECTICUT, SS. TOLLAND COUNTY, COVENTRY. October 15th, 1805. "This certifies that the above Lorenzo Dow was born in Coventry, as above stated, of a reputable family, and Ire the said Lorenzo is by profession a Methodist Preach er, he is a man of decent morals and of peaceable behavior, so far as our knowledge of him extends. And that the abovesaid Jesse Root is the Chief Justice of the Superior Court in the State of Connecticut, and that full credit is to be given to his certificate in Court and Country. SEAL. "JEREMIAH RIPLEY, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas County of Tolland. "ELEAZER POMEROY, Justice of Peace." HIS EXCELLENCY JONATHAN TRUMBULL, GOVERNOR IN AND OVER THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. "TO ALL who may see these presents-maketh known, "That Jesse Root, Esq., the person whose signature is set to the within Certificate, is Chief Judge of the Superior Court within said State.-That Jeremiah Ripley, Esq. signer of the within Certificate, is one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, for the county of Tolland in said State. That Eleazer Pomeroy, Esq, also one of the within signers is a Justice of Peace, within and for the mentioned County. "That each of the above named gentlemen have been legally qualified and duly appointed to do and perform all and singular the duties appertaining to their several offices. And that full faith and credit is to be given to their several acts and signatures in their respective capacities. In faith and testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at the City D KNOW YE, that Abraham Jackson, Rizden Moore, Bolling Anthony, Zechariah Lamar, James Lerrell, John Clark, David Dickson, Solomon Slatter, Walter Drane, Jared Irwin, Thompson Bird, Robert Hughes, Drury Jones, George Moore, Wormly Rose, Joel Barnet, Wil. liam H. Crawford, Samuel Alexander, Geo. Phillips, John Hampton, Elijah Clark William W. Bibb, David Bates, Buckner Harris, Allen Daniel, Wiiliam Fitzpatrick, James H. Little, John Davis, and James Jones, Esquires, who have severally subscribed their names to the annexed recommendation in favor of the Reverend Lorenzo Dow, are Members of the Legislature of this State, and now in Session. THEREFORE all due Faith, Credit and authority, are and ought to be had and given to their signatures as such. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have here. To all whom these presents shall come or concern: BE it known, that the Reverend Lorenzo Dow, an Itinerant Preacher of the Gospel, hath travelled through this State several times, in the course of two years, and has maintained the character of a useful and acceptable Gos pel Preacher; and now being about to leave the State, We, in testimony of our high regard for him, recommend him to all Christians and lovers of Virtue, as a man whose sole aim appears to be the propagating useful principles through the Christian Religion. Given under our Hands at Louisville, this 3d December, 1803. Abraham Jackson. Risden Moore. Bolling Anthony.. Joel Barnet. W. H. Crawford. Buckner Harris. Z. Lamar. James Terrell. John Clarke. David Dickson. Solomon Slatter. W. Drane. Jared Irwin. Thompson Bird. Robert Hughes. Drury Jones. George Moore. W'y. Rose. DR. COKE said he saw, at Br. Harper's, a "CREDENTIAL" also, from the GOVERNOR, &c. of South Carolina, but it never was suffered to fall into my hands. William Fitzpatrick. Some Rev. Gentlemen, having access to my trunk at the Mississippi, after Asbury sent his bull after methe foregoing Credentials could afterwards never be found!!! LETTERS REFERRED TO IN LORENZO'S JOURNAL. CONTINENT OF AMERICA. State of Virginia, Richmond Dist. 4th February, 1806. DEAR LORENZO.-I expect you will be surprised and disappointed on the arrival of this letter, without com. plying with your request-"send on your manuscript." I do assure you it is not for want of inclination, but the want of time to collect the materials for such a work. The vacancy wherein I flattered myself (when with you) I could occupy in the business you required. On my arrival at Lynchburg and New London, from the state of things I was continually upon the push; I went so far as to take with me the scattered accounts, in order to select therefrom, but could not take nor make time, so as to be composed for such a work; but as I cannot comply with your request in that, I will inclose to you "Dr. Jenning's Vindication of Camp Meetings," and "a short account of a Camp Meeting in North America.* I received yours from New York a little before you embarked for Europe, together with your Companion's inclusive, and doubt not but that you have had the prayers and well wishes of numbers of your American Brethren and Friends, as well as myself, for your health and preservation at sea, and safe landing in Europe, and also for your friendly reception and usefulness among our European Brethren We are informed in Scripture, that we should "render to all their dues," and if you have yours, it cannot be denied that your ministerial labors, amidst your indefatiga ble exertions, has been, and still remains a blessing to hundreds and thousands; and as I have been much in your company for the term of about four years, I have tracked your way in Georgia as P. Elder of the District there, as also in Virginia-and have had an opportunity of forming a considerable judgment-am conscious that many stub born Infidels will praise God in time and eternity, that they ever heard the sound of your voice. Yet sensible I am that you have many enemies, and not confined to the irreligious alone. Yet for my own part, (although your manner has been much out of the common order,) that piety and extensive usefulness, as an instrument to pull down Calvinism, and Deism, and that accompanied with visible and sudden awakenings on the conscience of Sin ners, and which has terminated in (as I believe) the sound conversion of many, has ever been a motive in me to bear with your apparent irregularities, and to encourage, by every possible effort consistent with propriety, rather than to "forbid one so evidently casting out Devils in the name of the Lord;" and, withal, one whom I conceived to be orthodox in the doctrine, and a friend to the cause of METHODISM. Had you been with me the Camp Meeting following at Kingswood Chapel, in the Amherst Circuit the first of November, from Friday until Tuesday, you would have discovered on your arrival a much better prospect than we saw by the first appearance at the Marquest Roads in Louisa. Providence so ordered that the week preceding which was the Quarterly Meeting at Keys, the weather *Copies of these works may be found in Vol. 2 of this work. was wet and cold and attended with snow, which in all The meet on his or her bare back, well laid on." The work from The meeting at Roper's Chapel in New Kent, where Two of the old lady's daughters converted, who granted our opposition was greatest, has been wonderfully blessed. us the privilege of the Camp ground, and many others. ed since-OLD SAM'S MONUMENT yet sticks to the treeSome of those daring opposers have been severely scourg it was a providence sure enough that it rained as we agreed. I am told since, the Collegians at Williamsburg, backed by their President, the Bishop, say, had it not rained they would have been upon us. So the beloved clouds came and helped us. The work is going on in a lively degree about Roper's yet; our preacher, the Magistrate John Saunders, who was afraid to befriend us at that time, writes me since thus, "When you appointed our camp meeting some time last summer, so weak was my faith, and so hardened did I believe the people in our neighborhood to be, that it was a query with me whether one soul would get converted at it; yea, I feared, (although I can truly say I was a friend to the institution that through the wickedness of the wicked it would be productive of more harm than good accidentally.) But oh! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God; how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out! may light ever shine on that day that the camp at Roper's commenced. Whenever you see Doctor Jennings, of Campbell, please present my compliments to him, and inform him that if there was but one of his pamphlets in the world on the subject of de. fending camp meetings, I would willingly, gladly, give its weight in gold than see it no more " I am just now from the Virginia Conference at Norfolk. The Bishop Asbury and Whatcoat were well, and we had a time similar to a Camp meeting. Preaching went on by night and day in both towns, and souls were awakened and converted; and although Satan raged, some spat in the faces of the Ministers, and one Minister had his nose wrung, they bore it with Christian fortitude, and I trust one hundred souls were converted during the time. Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will to men. My respects to Sister Dow. The Lord bless you both and bring us all to glory, prays your brother and friend in Jesus. STITH MEAD. I had but few opportunities of attending your meet. ings; when I did. I had no doubt of the divine blessing attending your ministry: on other occasions, I have had the fullest proof, that although you were confined in your place of preaching, the word of the Lord was not bound, but became the power of God to the salvation of many precious souls. I suppose not less than thirty of these have, on your recommendation, joined the society; several of whom are rejoicing in God, and living to his glory in newness of life. When you formerly visited Ireland, I witnessed the power of God attending your ministry in several instances, and I rejoice in the continuation of his grace to you. From all I have seen and heard respecting you, I acknowledge the hand of God, who is now as formerly, abasing the pride of man in the instruments by whom he works. --(See 1 Cor. i. 26-29.) I have no doubt of your candid attachment to the Methodists, in affection and interest as well as doctrine. I believe your aim is to spend and he spent in bringing sinners to the Lord Jesus, and do therefore cordially "bid you God speed." May you have many souls given you in every place, to form your crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord! May the eternal God be your refuge, and protect you, and your dear wife and little one, is the prayer of Your affectionate brother in Christ, MATTHEW LANKTREE.* REV. LORENZO Dow. GREAT BRITAIN. Warrington, April 16th, 1807. To the Church of God in every place: This cometh in behalf of Lorenzo Dow, itinerant preacher of the Gospel of God our Saviour: We, the undersigned ministers and members of the people (called Methodist Quakers) late in connexion with the old body of Methodists, do testify, that although his appearance amongst us was in much weakness, many suspicions, good and evil report, his word was with power and the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven. From the time we have been favored with his labors, he hath conducted himself on all occasions (in prosperity and adversity) as one whose sole aim is the glory of God and the welfare of mankind, far beyond his strength in labors more abun dant, travelling night and day for the accomplishment of his vast desire to preach the gospel of the kingdom to many perishing for lack of knowledge, and we are wit nesses his labor hath not been in vain in the Lord: Many of the stones of the street hath been raised to be sons and daughters of Abraham--backsliders reclaimed, and many of infidel principles shaken. From the impressive manner of his life, many, sunk into Laodicean ease, have been stirred up to glorify God with their body, soul, and substance, whom we trust and pray will remain stars in the church militant, and afterwards form one part of his crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord. Amen. Being about to depart from this to his native land, we pray that the guidance of the same Holy Hand, which through a train of Divine Providence cast his lot among us, may conduct and protect him over the great deep to the American shores in peace and safety.. Amen. My dear Brother Dow, Dublin, April 21st, 1807. I was in expectation of hearing from you ever since your departure. At present I must be brief Whatever be the ultimate result of the emigrating spirit which is at present moving so many of our dear friends to leave us, I cannot tell this I know, we already feel in a distressing way its painful effects. Our hands hang down, and onr enemies rejoice. May the Lord interpose, and order it for our good! ther Joyce from proceeding along with you. I fear he I cannot unravel the providence which prevented browas not in the will of God. testimony of all I have conversed with has been, that the With respect to the fruit of your labors, the general Lord has owned your ministry in various parts of Ire land. My desire and prayer for you is, that you may feel the Lord's presence and the power of God with you more fore you leave England. My love in the Lord Jesus to fully than ever. I would thank you for a few lines besister Dow, and all our friends who accompany you. I am your affectionate brother in Christ, Mr. DOW, Liverpool. The class under her care is going on well in general. My dear wife sends her love to sister Dow and you. MATTHEW LANKTREE. The following letter was from an old friend, and once a Colleague, who lives in a BARN, on the road from Utica to Buffalo-as the Methodists are able to afford him no better. I had not seen him for about eight years, until this summer, at his residence. As we were parting, he asked me if I knew what I had come into that part of the country for? I told him I did not know-only a desire led me to that sudden excursion! Sullivan, Sept. 24, 1816. My Dear Brother, and Faithful in the Lord,I and mine are in health, and two, if not three, of my * Superintendent Preacher of the Methodist Society in Dublin. little boys happy in the Lord since you left me, and numbers of others date their conviction from your visit-it was not in vain. Preachers generally, and people universally, bid you God speed, and pray for your return. In eternity, if not before, you will be satisfied your visit was from God. It was to me like the coming of Titus. I am your friend-I never was your enemy, and I trust in God I never shall be--and mountains rise, and oceans roll, to sever us, in vain. Five or six hundred of your Journal can be sold in this country; you may send as many as you think proper-I will devote my time, and do the best I can. I have seen Smith M. and he seems satisfied. I have wrote a little, and almost wish it had been less. I am not fond of novelty. I have been a cypher for many years-a number placed at the left hand, might attract attention, and set me as a mark for poisoned arrows to throw their deadly hate of wormwood, slander and envenomed lies. But you are welcome to what I have wrote to use it as you please. I have not finished, neither could I, for the more I write, the more I hate the B's power-such power in all its grades as overleaps the bounds of Christian liberty civil or religious. As for names, they are nothing. Bishop, elder, priest, deacon, dean or preacher-it is all the same. It is the power they exercise; but how this power extends is not easily defined. But some power they must have, or they could not lord it over God's heritage. Yet it was limited pow. er, or they would not have been enjoined to obey them that had the rule over them--for if unlimited, they would force them to obey-Did I say obey? 'Tis not obedience. I see nought but power. A medium then is best, where all distinctions fall-and names that imply equality; as brethren, friends, disciples-and each to act and speak for the good of the whole. Then in proportion to the good they do, their influence would extend, and no further, and this would be agreeable to our Lord's words-He that will be chief shall be servant of all The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship, &c. but it shall not be so among you. No bishop of bishops-no arbitrary power-no lordly authority-no unlimited exercise of power-no say. ing to this one, Go, or to that one, Do-but, submit your selves one to another, as is fit in the Lord, as the servants of Christ, and not the servants of men. An instance we have of one casting out devils in the name of Christ, and the apostles forbidding him, because he did not follow them that is, he went alone, and this they concluded was not right. Therefore they must exercise their au thority-put a stop to the disorder-let the devil keep possession, rather than break in upon good order-steady habits. But hear the decision of the Judge: Forbid him not for there is no man that can do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of me. This does not look much like the despotic government too much exercised every where among the clergy over the commonalty. I see no gospel law that authorises any man, or set of men, to forbid, or put up bars to hinder or stop any man from preaching the gospel, who casts out devils in the name of Christ-that is, reforms and turns the sinner from his sinful ways. Hence all power usurped or delegated, that can stop, that does stop men from doing good, is not of God. Hence, to confine them in prison-to put them on the limits, within parish lines, as the standing order, or to station them on circuits, are nothing but prisons of a larger size, and saying in effect, you must abide within bounds of such a place, or be considered criminally guilty. For they are indirectly forbid to preach the gospel beyond their circuit, bounds, or parish lines. But the master says, Go ye into all the world-not, stay in narrow bounds, by walls and grates confined-preach the gospel to every creature-elect and reprobate, and not, preach by the year or years together, to a little number of cold, formal professors, because a great man, or num. I am yours, in the bonds of a peaceful Gospel. |