Professional Documents
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The Personal Letters of John Alexander Dowie
The Personal Letters of John Alexander Dowie
The Personal Letters of John Alexander Dowie
’
T o discov er the inner springs whence a man s ac
tions flow is to know the Man— and i s rarely vouch
,
”
taught the doctrine of D ivine H eal i ng p reached ,
“ ”
bought a large downtown hotel as a Home and
headquarters rented another established a college
, ,
“
i n g dedicated to G od ” and practically held in per
e t u i t the talents of o n e o f the best corporation
p y ,
q ui s i ti o n ,
nor has a more W holesome citi z en b een added
to th e United S tates ”
.
“ ”
and earnestly said : W rite write tell it -
, .
o r plan ,
my step s led me to an attic filled with rub ,
,
—
due to my over sight in rescuing them .
E D NA S H E LD R A K E .
T HE P ER SO NA L L ETT ER S
J O H N A L EXA N D ER DO W IE
( E xplanatory )
kn o wn of th e an ces try of J oh n A lexan der D o wie H
B ut l ittle is .
f a th er J oh n Mu rray D o wie wi th
, you n ger br o th r es cap d a cholera , a e , e
D o wi n d o th r m m b rs f th f mi ly
e, a e e e o e a .
m o th r b in g A n n M cf ar l n e M Har di
e e a wi do w wh o p r evi ou s to h er
a a -
c e, , ,
twen ty a ta i lo r by tr de
, Sh was c o n s idera bly old r th an h e n d is
a . e e a
r ep u t d to h ve b e n a wo m n
e f tr n g c h arac ter tho u gh i ll i tera te
a e a o s o , .
d n y th is p a t rn i ty an d was th ca us e f a b i tt r
e e , s tran gemen t be e o e e
d a th
e .
r g is t r d in th
e e e s m e o ffi e a so n s of J oh n Murray D o wie an d h is
e a c s
sp ou s A n n M cf r l n
e, a a a e.
O f h i c h i ldhoo d h e wr o te :
s We were p oo r 1 wa o f ten sick my
, , s ,
t s c hool p r tly b
o us f th c o n di tio n f my c lo th s n d p ar tly
, a eca e o e o e , a
c um t n s a w r c o n c rn d
c es n d i t wa e e o n ly my in ten s e lo ve f r G d
e e , a s o o
a n d Hi wo r k th t g v m e n y j y
s I cco mp an i d my goo d f a th er
a a e a o . a e
t C r gi
o o n d Ha wtho r c a d ci tt n di g th
a s tr et p r each in g of H n ry
ne n e n e e e
I suff r f r o m th e o s q u
e s f th e in t mp r n c f s o me I d ar ly
c n e en c e o e e a e o e
lov d Th is l d m t s ign th e p l dg wh en I wa o ly ix y rs o l d
e . e e o e e s n s ea .
I g v mys e lf t G d wh en a ch i l d
a e n d a l though so p oo r
o o n d h avin g , a a
13
T HE P E R SO N A L L E T T E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
b k wh ich I r ea d
oo s, g r ly ea e .
Upo n th rr iv l f th f mi ly in A d l id
e a a S o u th A u s tra lia th e
o e a e a e, ,
you n g boy a t o w t t wo r k f or h is u c l A l x n d r D o wi wh
n ce en o n e, e a e e. o
A ft r f w m o n ths h l f t to b tt r h ims lf
e a e dv n cin g f r o m tim
, e e e e e , a a e
t tim
o n d i n v r i ous pos i tio s u n ti l wh i l e s ti ll i n h i
e a a m i o r i ty h e c m n s n o
m nd d
a ec o s i d r bl a s l ry an d wa
n e aou n t d m o r th o r di ry
e a a s ac c e a e an na
p r o m is i g bus in ss m
n e an .
A t th a g f tw ty h l f t c o mm er i l pu rsu i ts
e e o en d took u p s tu dy
e e c a , an ,
is try .
Wh i le in th e m i ds t ho m e by o f s tu dy an d wo r k h e was ca ll e d a
ca b l gram f r o m h i f th r th r so n b in g u k o wn t h im H soo n
e s a e , e ea e n n o . e
f ou d upo n x m i tio
n , f th b k of th p r tn r sh ip firm f wh ich
e a na n o e oo s e a e o
A f t r th wi di g up f afi ir th you g m an h an dicapp d by th
e e n n o a s, e n , e e
d b t in u rr d i
e br i g in g h im out f r o m S o tl n d e t h ims lf to h i
c e n n c a , s e s
It w t th is tim h b ga n to k p th e r ec o r d f h is c o rr sp o n d n ce
as a e e e ee o e e
wh i h x t n ds o v r th whol
c e e f h i l if e an d t wh ic h p o i t th is volu m
e e e o s , a n e
b gin s
e .
Th firs t th r e l tt rs re d t d t A lm S ou th A us tra li h is fir s t
ee e e a a e a a, a,
fi ld f l bo r M y 18 72
e o a , a , .
My D ear R
Yours o f M arch 2 n d reached me duly ; but I de
laye d an answer until I could s ay something definite
as t o my position .
14
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N AL E XAN DE R D OWI E
a friend .
ordination servi ce .
for the last five years I have much time for study
. .
o f my b est stations .
16
at th e b gi
e i
nn ng
A s P a s to r in S i dn ey .
TH E PE R SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N AL EXANDER DOWI E
’
regular hearers at M r B arr s out of the township o f .
,
t o all .
Your a ff ectionate s o n ,
( T wo m o n th s l a te r —J u ly 5 l h— fin ds dis c o u g ra em en t s in ne w fie ld ) .
18
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
is too great faithfulness and diligence mo t sleepy half
heartedness in preaching o r action S o they seem . .
deacons meeting M r F
’
is now sole deacon
. . .
19
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
20
TH E PERSO NAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
“ ”
stirrups I came o ff flying ; but excepting a little
,
’
ley s p addock they found her there and sent her home
,
all .
Your a ff ectionate s o n ,
( S ep t 2 5 th —m o ve d to
. ac ti o n by h avo c wr o u gh t h o u gh
t r in temper
an ce . )
’
Murray s p eople to retire it fo r me I shall p robably ,
21
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
c areful a s I am this is o n e of the things which
,
ought
”
not s o to b e .
—
supp ress s o man destroying and Go d dishonoring a
-
”
trade . Y o u know that I have for years past deter
mined to work from the i n s i d e o f the church fo r the ,
—
surely that would b e a triumph the grace o f G o d
which bringeth salvation .
Trade is o n e .
Your a ff ectionate s on ,
23
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
,
“ ”
sp ent in the s u n at N ellie s b est sp eed ,
’
.
’
L ast night s exp erience o f A lma has quite filled up
the measure o f my discontent ; and my mind is now
fully made up to leave
O nly think usual service and monthly church
,
whom I invite d M r D Mr F M r M cD
, and . . .
f —
think o the church two members ! It would be a
sinful waste of my life when s o many would gladly ,
—
b e monstrous to delay i t will be utter ruin almost ,
24
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDE R DOWI E
“
Until then may the G o d of p eace make y o u perfect
,
”
in every good work to do H is will .
“
o usl y : That this church hereby with profound sor ,
My D ear F ri end
S ince writing to you on N ovemb er 22 I have t e
c e i v e d— indeed O nly yesterday— your letter dated N ov
26
TH E PERSONAL L E TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDE R DOWI E
o n wi t h me here
' ’
.
creasing numbers .
’
laden with God s goo dness to all men and that whether ,
27
TH E PER SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
words o f the bairn s hymn
’
It is n ot fo r m e to b e seeking my bliss ,
“ ”
more keenly the fact that rest i s not here that
, ,
- —
fear destroying melody sweet and strong causing o u r ,
28
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
‘
who is he that overcometh the world but h e that b e ,
f
l i ev e th that J esus is the S o n o God ?
’
grims sink and fall to the world s eye j ust as others
,
“
geon s Morning by Morning
’
There i s a companion
volume entitled E vening by E vening wh ich you
“ ”
,
”
thing drawn by the light It i s goo d fo r me to feel
.
,
u n —
desires y o have had o my behalf these things are
”
things drawn by the light true photographs upon , ,
my heart .
29
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N AL EXAN DER DOWIE
“ ”
W atch and p ray lest ye enter into temptation
, .
30
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DOWI E
’
have happ ened very recently It is the L ord s doing .
,
31
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N AL E XANDER DOWI E
A fi e c t i o n at el y your friend
‘
,
( Th r ee m o ths l
n )
a ter .
D ear F riend :
You will rememb er that I promised more fully to
reply to your last letter .
,
.
32
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
into B ritish social life in every way you can : for gen
e r al l y S peaking colonials are dreadfully ignorant o f
,
’
writing I am reminded O f quaint o l d George H erbert s
,
“
words in that wise O l d poem o f his The Church
”
P orch
“
P itch thy b ehaviour low thy proj ects high ;
,
“
S O sha l t thou humble and magnanimous be :
S i nk n o t i n s p i r i t : w h o a i m e th at the s k y
S hoots higher much than he that means a tree .
”
Cures both a fe ver and l e th ar gi ck n e s s e .
—
verse greatly needed to be O b served by all pen and
voi ce preachers
“
B e calm in arguing : for fi er c e n e s s e makes
E r r o u r a fault and truth d i s c o u r t e s i e .
34
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOW I E
“
Take for i nstance his poem M an It is a grand c o n .
what y o u think o f it .
“
O h m i gh ti e love ! M an i s o n e world and hath
, ,
“
A nother to attend him
E ff ectual c alling by God s gracious S p i r i t i t is
,
’
~~
, .
35
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N AL E XANDER DOWI E
’
ways there are S igns of God s presence ; b ut how I
long to hear O f decisions for Christ ! N O doubt we are
“
being blessed but God s promise is to bless us until
,
’
”
there shall n o t be room enough to receive W hat a .
D ear C
Though I have neither married nor died— and
sometimes it h ad b een better to die than to marry for
not a few sons o f A dam— yet my delay is capable of
explanation I have b een overworking and have
.
,
”
M eetings enables me to do this in some measure ; and
I have also in a fortnight s series of united evangelisti c
,
’
36
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
and help for the greater part Of both weeks The awful .
37
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
Is it n o t d e s te s t ab l e ? W h o ? A ll ! H o w ? I n every
possible form ! W h e n ? N o w and at all times !
W h er e ? E verywhere ! F or w hat ? N othing fo r -
’
Christ s p eople will o r ought to see al l Christ s fo l
, ,
’
38
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
that the L ord may p rotect and direct you in all your
ways ever enabling y o u to adorn the doctrine of G o d
, ,
“
A nd we o n divers S hores now cast
, ,
”
A ll in o u r F ather s house at last ’
.
Yours in J esus ,
39
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
n e n t l y silly angelic ministrations stamp the whole ,
—
anti Chri stian from whatever source it proceeds
,
.
’
W hen I find God s revealed will insufficient fo r my
spiritual guid ance ; when I find nobler precepts and
greater principles O f truth than J esus has declared ;
when there directly comes t o me a more blessed C o n
soler and Guide than the S pirit which daily helpeth “
”
my infirmity and teaches me how to pray as well as ,
“ ”
pleads with unutterable groanings within me when
I am weak and err — then and n o t till then when I
, ,
-
,
“ ”
the words o f foolish n ess to them wh o are p erishing .
40
TH E PERSONA L LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
, ,
“
To think o f retiring from it all is not what a ’
”
A ll powerless and b enighted seems .
”
H ad heaven held o u t the martyr s crown ’
.
— h ere a n d hereafte r — we
” “
doing : for in due season
shall reap if we faint n o t
,
”
O ld words ever true .
, .
42
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DO WI E
or any who are like him for ti m e will soon b e all gone
,
.
, .
43
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DOWI E
—
pay his fare to Manly o the Thursday i t was a Tues
n
e st s o n — 2 l —
h e s 6 years o d o i the late R ev C
i E din .
“ ”
forsaken him and that it was to o late My answer .
“ ’
was By God s help n o ! W e S hall at least h ave a
, ,
44
TH E PERSONAL L E TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
There and t h en I fed and clothed him angels work
’
( Wr i tes g g la tter s wo rk )
'
to f r ien d r e ar din th e .
—
The press h as fast b ecome the newspaper
press I mean— so wholly secular that it i s fast develop
,
46
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
the p ress train is S peeding L ook o u t fo r the train !
.
c oal wagons and turnip s atta c hed with here and there ,
, ,
“ ” “ ” “
or Highly honoured o r Greatly esteemed o r W ell
—
known fellow townsman Get rid O f it It is the
. .
,
-
,
” “ ”
keep er and the country attorney element have the
app etite o f the horse leech and her daughters for this
sort o f fl a tt e r
y
— and when it is with held are greatly -
t e r i e s alone
46
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAND ER DOWI E
beauti f ul I know
The L ord has b een very gracious to us and con ,
( Ju ly 28 ,
’
47
TH E PE R SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
48
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
a j est .
“
minister I would say that seeing a good wife is from
,
i —
if n o o n e comes then s o be t and that is final
,
.
“
are worse thi n gs far than a tim hoose and auld ser
”
vant and a cat : fo r a bad wif e seems a gift from the
D evil and would make a hell of what might b e a
,
49
THE PERSO N AL LE TT E RS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
doubtless he trusts , .
”
believer s ear ; and more and more do I feel how
’
“ ”
but in H im who wearily s at down O ften in H is toil
some j ourneys through a world which hated and ‘
salvation ?
H e i s the glorious Intercessor H e is the eternal .
ious beside us
?
p araphras e are o little acted upon If we cast away
s
50
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
W e come to make our sorrows known ;
A nd ask the aids o f heavenly power
To help u s in this evil hour .
a s p e c1 m en
A S way o f looking at his
S
'
of W — ’
.
,
“ ”
represents mysel f and W o u r friend .
,
How .
“
O h pretty well fairly y o u know
,
They have had so , ,
.
”
many changes you know and the population i s thin , ,
.
” “
begin to s ee things improving ? W W ell a little .
, ,
”
it would take about two years to do any thing .
fo r work it a m az e s me ,
.
workers .
’
Tis very sad to s e e this A nd sadder still to hear .
51
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XAND ER DOWI E
, ,
p r i a t e d The
. L ord knoweth and I know h o w in writ , ,
sin I trust
, .
52
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAND ER DOWI E
much as h i s n ature
Hodge s O utlines are highly spoken o f and y o u
’
,
“
ular that the terms System and S ystematic Theol
“ ”
a
”
Ogy are n o w s o generally and I think deserv edly , ,
“ ”
Christianity and A n ti c h r i s ti an i c s in J un e issue I .
53
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E ‘
( O ct . 12 ,
'
74 — o s id
c n er n i g h an g e
c o f fi l d—
edecides to r ema in in
A u s tr li )
a a.
D ear C
The quiet evening hour has come and I s i t now to ,
’
I have b een doing a long hard day s reading and ,
to reading .
54
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
, ,
weep with her as you look upon the sins and sorrows
o f the city .
“ ”
mand B e ye holy implied in M atthew
, ,
and ,
—
ings o that most awful of nights the midnight o f
n
56
T HE PERSON A L LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOW I E
“
A bout your question were not the su ff erings of ,
”
Christ complete in themselves ? That question shows
’
a misapprehension o f the meaning of the A postle s
words in Collossians Christ s o wn atoning suf
,
’
, ,
’
hence the su ff erings o f Christians for Christ s cause
“ ”
becomes the su ff er i ngs of Christ The whole of the .
”
Christ wrought o u t in the persons o f its members ;
,
57
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
’
is at such a time as this that L ady Guyon s beautiful
’
hymn recalls the wondrous fullness of God s thoughts
toward u s and I have b een feeling th e third verse
, ,
“
W hile place we seek or place We shun ,
o n s last verse )
’
’
Therefore I will to God s Throne now rep air ,
’
I may be faithful and fitted to d o and suff er God s
will in all things and to find therein my highest pleas
,
58
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
, ,
worthy fear .
an d re ligious o
m ve m en t s—f ls ee n ee d o f a wif e )
.
Yo u
ask about o u r United R eligious Move
ments in S ydney of which I am the clerical secretary
, .
,
“ ”
coats O ff metaphorically sp eaking in the thickest
, ,
o f the fray .
59
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
60
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N A LEXAND E R DOWI E
, ,
’
hiele fo r expression and takes more time than I can
devote in defense o f the faith that i s in me in this
,
,
e from public expres ,
.
,
61
T HE PERSO N A L LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAN DER DOWI E
“ ”
polecat
I am glad y o u are happy in working fo r J esus the ,
”
wrote all men are after self It reminded me o f .
’ “
D avid s words I said in min e ha s t e all men are
,
62
TH E PERSO N AL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
o f mammas and maidens pouted and cried shame !
in fashionable musical discord ,
.
“ ”
engaged me at least s i x times to widows and maid
, ,
“
what is f u n to you is death to fi s ! ”
“
j ust the opposite it is adding a tail ,
W ell never .
,
“ ”
saying true and gang the way we ve a tae gang
,
’ ’
.
“ ”
, N o w that i s plain
, .
,
” “
you s ay .B ut who ? How can I tell ? B ut do y o u
”
n o t know ? N o I do n o t know ; but the B ible tells
,
“
m e that a good wi f e i s from the L ord and sin c e I ,
send her to me .
, ,
64
THE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
see the camels coming across the lonely fields o f ,
’
You s e e I have b een studying I saac s story
,
.
die .
( D a te d at D vo sh i
e n re H ous e , N e wto wn , S idn ey , N ov 2 5 . , 75
te lls f h i lov f r h i ous i J
o s e o s c n ean e i — make s plea f or h e r— ar gu es a a n g i st
b loo d r l tio sh ip b i g b r t m
e a n e n a o a rr a i g )
e.
65
TH E P ERSONAL L E TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
some very interesting items and news one item being
of very painful interest .
and who can lead them to dwell forever where sor row
and sighing c annot enter I who am alone as to h u .
,
man near ties can feel for them God has made us n o t .
possible to u s here .
66
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
n o t be afraid .
67
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
.
—
w as welcomed by M r s Clark s mother an elderly lady
’
mony with the stillness and the starry sky 7— God sent“
,
68
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
” ?
you s i r ! God sent y o u ! W as it not true
,
I asked
myself How co uld I doubt
.
? E very little circum
stance surroun ding the scene convinced me it was true ;
and something of the awe of J acob the wanderer and ,
—
years ago I had the shall I call it misfortune — to
.
,
“ ”
what the world c alls fall in love with my cousin ,
—
little unused as I was o t i t— until I found o u t the
nature o f my complaint .
69
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
.
,
h
s e was r u n n rn g i nto danger — H enning s B all — and I ’
”
the cat out o f the b ag in plain language telling her ,
and left A delaide in less than six weeks from that time .
70
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
advi c e to her .
72
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
which was the most sorrowful i t was a strange woo
—
ing I only know that fo r some time b efore and since ,
73
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
d o write when s h e go t home and so forth Upon .
That is all .
than y o u can .
74
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAND ER DOWI E
o f vital moment to me .
your help .
to be .
“ ”
siderations b earing upon the physical question to
'
75
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
adverse to o u r wishes .
“
b e it obs erved B ut I contend that the disputed
.
co d e e v e r e xi s t e d th a n th a t o f t h e J e w s w h i c h m o r e
,
o v e r w a s O f D i v i n e au t h o r i t T o take an instance
y . .
76
TH E PERSONAL LE T T ERS O F JOH N ALEXAND ER DOWI E
—
daughters o f h i s uncle L aban his mother s b rother
’
, ,
“
held interma rriages b et w een cousins are quite l egi
’
e
”
timate . N o legislation o f modern times in the world
except in Roman Catholic countries h as p roscribed it ,
77
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
n 1 ec e s . D r E lliot in his D elineation of R omanism
.
( 14 3 7 ) remarks — “
It is unlawful f o r the Church o f
R om e to restrain other degrees than those which are
commanded in S cripture ” “
T o for b id he continues
.
, ,
“
more degrees in m arriage than what are either di
r e c t l y or indirectly by necessary consequence p r o
h i b i t e d by law is presumptuous as the Most High
, ,
. —
one by any means from which we are not yet free .
78
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JOH N ALEXANDER DOWI E
gether .
—
tion about my b eing right in this and I have sought
D ivine guidance earnestly to write every word in
simple truth w i thout exaggeration and my reason my , ,
”
trust and not be afraid
, F rom that time the convi e
.
80
H a n d wr i tin g o f J oh n A l e xa n de r D o wi e a t th e a g
e o y f ou r
f twe n t - .
Ten y ea r s l a te r .
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
, ,
“ ”
A nd now this very long brief b egun on Thursday
closes o n S aturday ; and as I wish to post it in time -
—
and care sometimes but it i s fo r a gracious M aster I .
’
have three sermons fo r tomorr ow an d they are all
s p e ci a l t wo o r three meetings o n Monday
, two o n ,
, .
me this .
81
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAN D ER DOWI E
.
I hop e this will find y o u and mother well Tell me .
I am
Your aff ectionate s o n ,
My D ear F riend :
I feel quite ashamed when I look at my letter book
,
82
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
I accepted .
83
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO HN ALEXAND ER DOW I E
reasons .
“ ” —
named Camden are all in and about N ewtown .
, ,
“ ”
pounds a communion roll ( now a church ) was
formed many o f these members b eing converted under
,
84
TH E PE R SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE X AND ER DOWI E
86
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
A nd they shall be mine saith the L ord o f hosts in , ,
87
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
O n e to another .
“
L ord wa s the o l d cry and I will tell y o u what H e
, ,
’
together in the little white house on Carter s farm at
A lma P lains It seems only yesterday since I used to
.
,
“
sp eed along on your N ellie under the hills o n my ,
88
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
same ; ay and more radical than ever Y o u know I m
,
.
prayer of
Your a ff ectionate friend in Christ J esus ,
shall as k God every day to cha s e all self love and s elf -
, .
89
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
and s o get back again to the King s H ighway .
’
W hat twas to tread upon forbidden ground
A nd let them that come after have a care ,
”
pa 1 r .
’
R everse the weaver s beautiful silken bril , ,
—
upon which y o u look S o with life the side from .
’
plans ; but it is n o t s o E very man s life is a plan o f
.
G o d in o n e sense
, O that we could rise o n the wings
.
90
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEX ANDER DOWI E
H is design .
’
and a most wonderful genius Twas strange . .
'
day God will show us all T 0 get the spirit and tem
per w
.
91
TH E PERSON AL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XAND E R DOWIE
A nd follow in H i s way ;
O h could we but our hearts resign
,
“
Commanding P eace b e still , , ,
—
O ur storm tossed souls shall reach the land ,
—
home to o u r hom e I too have a home once more
.
, , ,
“ ”
my house .
92
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE X AND ER DOWI E
p i l 7 76—w it s f h i pp o h i g m
(A r
'
c ec n a rr a e a ra e c ca n or m irac le of gr ce ) a .
W e canna tell to o n y .
” “
runs deep waters in eve ry soul which n o sounding ,
”
own ; and there are quiet under currents whose
existence is often for long years unrecogni z ed These .
“
M ay 1 2 by P and O branch steamer A voca tran
, . .
,
94
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF J O H N ALEXANDER DOWI E ‘
severe scrutiny .
—
a great mystery a type o f the highest mysteries o f
o u r spiritual a ffinity with Christ— and is the only i n
95
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
fore to see J esus there I do n o t want the crowd
, .
—
to shut o u t my view of Him then I can see them -
“ ”
for u s then and manifest forth H i s glory so that
, ,
chorus .
“
shall be less gloriously attended ? W e are o f the sec
o n d A dam
”
—the L ord from heaven and claim the
sympathy of a more glorious throng than even that
whi c h sung the marriage songs o f E den .
t o o an E den here ?
,
96
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
( S ep t . 18 ,
'
—
s l
76 i
e tt n g do wn to m ar r i e d l if —d p lo r
e e es l n gu id
a
st
a te o hu r h s )
f c c e .
“
I am ready to s ay any work would b e better than
”
this . Then some cheering prospect will unfold itself
and all will be hop e in a moment again God is very .
98
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOW I E
what i s b est fo r us .
’
evidences here and there of a lady s presence and taste
are taking away the look of sti ff ness which used to
pervade it .
j o r i t y of workers in o u r —
vineyard o r rather this part
of the L ord s vineyard By and by when we have
’
.
99
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
none who can love the L ord and who can love the
souls o f men without meeting the malice of men and ,
1 00
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
long s ensational accounts o f the S port at R and
,
—
wick where every blackleg and scoundrel wh o can
get from S ydney and M elbourne assembles to in
i
“ ”
d u l ge in the noble p astime which occupies the at
,
”
tention O f the gentlemen O f the country whose names
are enrolled in the scroll o f sporting fame by the so
called first gentlemen m it .
l o2
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO HN ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
o f God s temple only
’
a den o f thieves ? H o w can
we wonder when instead O f b eing living e pi s tl es
, ,
1 03
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAND ER DOWI E
’
and we shall rest from earthly toil Ti s worth all .
—
during then earthly gold the Crown o f L ife will
then replace the Crown o f Thorns and the welcome
.
the portals first let him o r her find that we are each
,
1 04
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
'
“
elsewhere that P luto shall b e prop itious so that will ,
”
it pay ? is the primary question in every case and ,
"
aris es either f rom the cause I name o r an even less ,
this colony .
1 06
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
pressed me .
G o d and F ather may bless you and yours for His dear ,
forever ,
My dear W ife :
Your most welcome letter o f 1 5t h reached me this
morning and I was glad to know you were stronger ,
1 07
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N AL EXAN DER DOWIE
man that oppress eth the poor i s like a sweep ing rain
”
which leaveth no food .
f o r j ust about that very time p rob ably from what you
,
o f M atthew ,
l ot h vers e — “
W hen they s aw the star ,
”
they rej oi c ed with ex c eeding great j oy I have seldom .
1 08
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
I rememb er well
O n e j ourney how I feared the track was missed
,
”
go back before you are ruined !
,
110
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXA NDER DOWI E
”
n o w done ? Is there n o t a cau s e ?
Then turning to my o wn heart having first turned ,
‘
everybody thinks o r says if that is contrary to God s
’ ’
‘
thoughts and ways : fo r I will hear what God
the L ord will sp eak — I don t believe it would ’ ’
, ,
111
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
‘
fo r N ever man spake like this man is always their ’
‘
the Treasu r y of Gra c e for all things ( i s it n O t written ’
ay ,
and H e c a n open the hearts o f men to s e e that all
my prop er wants are supplied in H is service fo r all ,
in ch s o l o ng as G o d ple as e s t o s ay go f o r ward A nd
,
‘ ’
.
‘
why ? f o r though I am a worm and no man yet to all ’
‘
who are convenant with Christ God h as said F ear , ,
in th e H oly O n e o f
N ow this is my strength these are my resources , ,
—
is my glory W ith all humility and prayer for deep
.
112
THE P ERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
“ ”
I will n e v e r le ave th e e n o r f o r s ak e th e e I too may , ,
“ ”
cry H e saved others himself he cannot save which , ,
’
through my errors and t h rough my o v e r co n fi d e n c e i n
,
'
,
ever they were when manna fell from heaven for every ,
with all due resp ect in word and deed yet he shall not ,
“
the flesh fo r which they have lusted is still within
their teeth — no I don t want quails from heaven
“
,
’
,
“ ”
in case I may get the p lague too .
1 14
TH E PE R SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXA NDER DOWI E
O ctob er 2 3 r d .
’
need that I should s ay that I don t hate your father
fo r what he sai d though I very heartily hate and strike
,
“
t o shout G O back ! Y o u will fall and kill yourself if
”
you go a single step further ! A nd though I will not
s ay that is really my position f o r viewing it from the ,
116
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
build upon ?
I had rather though I am myself o n e o f the very
,
a ff ords and sail with its current and wear its ho n ours
, , ,
“
and win its applause and cry L et u s eat and drink for
,
“
tomorrow we die S oul take thine ease eat drink
, , , ,
117
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAN DER DOWI E
—
by the D evil they are fools as well as knaves .
“ ”
responses of I am glad to hear it and I hop e you ,
”
will remain there s lots o f room and we want y o u
,
’
”
here etc E sp ecially i s this the case among city men
,
.
,
pronounced P r et e s tan t s .
118
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
and three fourths o f the time went in twaddle M r . .
deli vered the address last night but I was not there , ,
’
c oul d n o t though I don t think I was very sorry
go ,
.
1 20
TH E PERSO NAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER D O WI E
—
There i s no lack o p ower in Christ i n H im is all
f
“
” “
power and all fullness ”
—the lack i s m His people
and because the re is with them a mixed multitude ”
-
,
‘
,
when I shrink from the Cross the pain and the shame , ,
1 21
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
1 22
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XAND ER DOWI E
1 24
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF J O H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
, ,
” “
knee shall bow b efore H im when every heart shall ,
—
all His wide D omain shall break forth into song fi r s t
the A rmy of the Royal Guards and then the whole ,
”
A rmy o f Kings and P riests w h o o n ce were the lost '
—
the King s enemy might have gone the great H ar
’
“
come a voice from the Th rone saying P raise o u r ,
”
small and great !
A nd then immediately the Mighty Hosts will reply
as the voice o f a great multitude and as the voice ,
”
reigneth . A nd then the King ( J esus ) will marry the
Queen ( the Chur c h— y o u will read all about this in
the 1 9 th o f R evelation ) and then the last enemies will
,
“ ” ’
be destroyed and the King s Great E nemy and all
,
”
goeth forth o ut o f Hi s mouth will do all these things .
“
A fter that you will tell them of the new heaven and
the new earth — the B eautiful City and the L oving
”
1 25
TH E PERSONAL L E TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
, , ,
D ear W ife :
Your letter o f 22 n d received today .
“ ”
I do think it hard and more I think it full o f ,
—
married a tone which y o u will rememb er caused me
to write an d leave y o u free to withdraw from o u r e n
a e m t— a tone which I never could nor would use
g g e n
1 26
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
,
'
“ ”
things y o u have thoroughly endorsed I am said to .
“
have caused you to go through an ordeal mortifying
in the extreme to all concerned but more esp ecially in
her who is your wife and who has su c h a fine s ensitive ,
” ’
natur e . D on t you think that I was surprised to fi n d
y o u e ndorsing the s entiment that selling o ff o u r fur
n i t u r e was such an ordeal wh e n you never once ex
,
“ ”
misrepresents y o u Then y o u thoroughly endorse
.
“ ” “
that I have made a bad b eginning o r rather sh e
“
also that under the circumstances ( I J ohn A lexander ,
“
D owie your wicked and cruel husband ) y o u ought
,
“ ”
th at my wife thoroughly endorses such a kindly
estimate o f all my unceasing devo tion and love as to
“ ”
dub it all fo r a year and a hal f as a bad beginning .
“
T hen to follow thi s request to make a clean
”
breast as if I were a monster o f iniquity is it not
, ,
“
pleasant t o read the very next words as being thor ,
”
oughly endorsed by you ? vi z : an d f o r t h e fu tur e tru s t
your wi f e with the s pending of th e m o n ey D on t y o u .
’
1 28
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
,
for any help at any time nor gave him any warrant
“
”
t h oroughly endorsed which it may be well for y o u,
1
. Y o u s ay I am a deceiver : fo r I am charged with
concealing the matter from u s all even from your ,
”
o w n wi f e until o u were obliged Is this a true and
, y .
1 29
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
traducer ?
c harge ?
position .
1 30
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
3
. Y o u s ay I am guilty o f that worst o f human
“ ”
crimes ingratitude : for you endorse the charge
,
“
Y o u app ear to have not been thankful enough for
your mercies
N o w if ever you endorsed a falsehood against
anyone you did it then against me : for y o u know that
, ,
fo r all H is mercies to me .
4
. Yo u s ay I have left you destitute : for you e u
dorse the charge your father makes in these words
“
Yo u have no other place to go to an d y o u have nothing
,
children .
1 32
TH E P ERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
than I can be .
a m O ctober 3 0th , 1 1 . .
”
T o continue regarding endorsement number four
“ ”
It i s asserted I have n o place to go t o 4
“ ”
O h yes you s ay but what is meant is that y o u
, , ,
1 33
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
n o place to go to ? D o you s e e the point ?
s ay it it i s true
,
—,
there was n o t a more popular minis
ter in o u r body in less than a year from the day that
I entered M anly an unknown weak and s a d hearted
, , ,
-
1 34
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
there as stay here D on t b e afraid ; y o u need n o t go
.
y o,
u and show y o u the way so far as I can and if y o u ,
“ ”
a helpmeet n o t a hinderer nor an endorser o f
,
, , ,
“
me back from the right o r cause me to pluck the ,
1 36
T HE P ER SO N A L L ET TE R S O F JO H N A L E XA N DE R DOWI E
“
any degree c hanged my mind and replied n o I will ,
“
D o y o u not s e e that it i s not true that I have no
”
pla c e to go to when I leave N ewtown ?
I must tell y o u though that I declined W aterloo
, ,
“
tions and in n o roundabout way one said The day
, ,
, ,
, , ,
” “
will come to hear y o u and the t hird Its the noblest
, ,
137
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
“ ”
in ev ery way o f the Congregational Union which ,
1 38
TH E PE RSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XAN DE R D OWI E
f —
and I am not a raid to die H e would if necessary , ,
_
r
The e are other o f your endorsements which I
might mention whi c h are equally obnoxious and
,
n o small for c e
y o u will s e e with the principal ones
, , ,
“
your o w n letter Y o u s ay at the end D o y o u think
.
,
“ ”
might have added little : fo r s o little love and s y m
pathy and s o much blame and distrust is in it that
,
1 40
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
last letter that I had feared this would take place from
"
make me a slave .
“ ” “
s ay ,
h o w can you go ? I answer the L ord will ,
”
provide if H e wants me to go ; and I have never yet
b een fi n al l y kept back from attaining an obj ect o n
’
1 41
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
, ,
'
o f action .
’
bristling with its unkindness and th en your father s ,
“
f alse accusations and abuse with your thoroughly
”
endorsed app ended to it I felt fo r a few hours that ,
the world was empty o f all love and was hard and ,
I did.
“
were very bitter and my feet were almost gone
,
“ ”
my step s had well nigh slipp ed for the time ; but
blessed b e God I have over c ome the dark thoughts
,
whi c h tempted me .
1 42
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
O ctober 3 l st , 1 0 a m . .
D ear W i f e :
I have j ust r e read all that I have written and
'
-
used are the bitter words which have been written and
endorsed by those w h o are nearest to me It i s a sin .
loves even where the eye cannot pi erce and the mind
cannot fully comp rehend ? Therein consists the true
love which binds true hearts forever W hy make it .
1 44
G r a ve o f j oh n A lx e an de r D o wi e in L a k e C ou ty Illi o is
n , n , wi th in
th e bou d ry
n a of th e i ty
c h e f ou n de d . Th e t ry p lo t i
c em e e sow ne d by
th e cou ty
n .
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DOWI E
to Him who alone can help this very moment and pray
that y o u may receive this power and many have His ,
”
ledge rather than choice gold D oes it not seem
.
“ ”
i s the o n e thing needful which must b e our guide
and strength o n earth an d o u r passport to H eaven W e .
A re paint ed clay .
it not
Is I am sure Chri st and H i s inspired
so ?
s
, ,
—
earthly will fade decay and pa s away tis b ut ’
painted clay .
1 46
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
my S aviour I would live ;
T i s to
To H im w h o for my ransom died ;
N o r could untainted E den give
S u c h bliss as blossoms at His side .
'
F riend .
in closing it at once .
letter
The first i s it conveys my wish that y o u should
,
1 47
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
-
especially as I had myself done and said all that man
could in reversing my impolicy and errors and con ,
—
and I whom G o d had j oined together which I feel
more than all the rest— y e t notwithstanding all I can , ,
, ,
y o u ,
and my own father whose ki n d letter i s in strange
,
f actory .
—
my heart kiss him n o w for me M ay H e bring good .
148
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
years fully when I took a new departure for my life .
—
If I go ba k to that then m y whole life si n ce has been
c
,
f —
a huge a miserable ailure then I must throw up the ,
—
ness and o n that day I will s e rv e M ammon and
, , ,
“
my darling let us remember the world passeth away
, ,
”
the will of God abideth forever .
1 50
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
matters n o t that y o u promised to do whatever I may
”
desire a fter I read what your father writes and con
,
—
S iders it ; you are meanwhile divorced self divorced
from me in one o f the essentials of true marriage— and
your father n o t me is your head H e has put u s
, , .
”
—
asunder thus far money won t mend that breach ’
,
y o u —
to me God I b elieved gave y o u to m e and now
,
— ,
—
had it never been made and I am sure I would .
1 51
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
S o n and S pirit
“
If ye love me keep my command
.
,
”
ments are H i s word s again and again W e may be
'
.
, ,
but we are none the less sinful— yea all the more sin ,
marriage bond — “
as the church i s subj ect unto Christ ,
—
G o d knows I have striven no not s triv e n— have ,
“
for you my part Of the bond s o far as I could
,
to , ,
”
love honour and comfo rt y o u since o u r marriage
, , .
the fullest sense of that term ; but you must not break
1 52
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
as k y o u again I S hall n o t s o long as y o u have ,
“ ”
that word of mine Come at once in your hands and , ,
memory .
’
which I had never designed ; but you don t b ear it
well it s eems to me thus far D ep end upon it n o let
, , .
,
, ,
n o t have b e f ore
, W hen I see how S atan has tempted
.
—
A nd do o t misunderstand me I do not say I am
n
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
O f everlasting strength ;
A nd S i t down under the shadow
O f H i s smile ,
T o rest awhile .
,
“ ”
Make room fo r me and take me home ; but remem
’
bering the poor day s work my life would S how I am ,
at times
So
The thought of my S hortcomings in this life
F alls like a S hadow o n the life to come
, , .
S carcely a word of
cheer seems to come j ust now
t o help me onward in my path from anywhere ; yet
1 55
TH E PERSONAL LET T ERS OF JO HN ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
o f G o d hath touched me ! B ut I am wrong to cry thus
at all— I turn to God whos e hand h ath touched me
H e i s my F ri end were there none other and there is
, ,
and peace .
, ,
f
sake o the work Christ th e L ord hath given me for —
all these reasons I expect to hear from you at once
,
which case you had b etter stay where you are until
your heart i s right f o r I could n o t wish y o u back again
,
i f that were so .
1 56
TH E PE R SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
no ne .
the poor that c ried and the fatherless and him that
, ,
”
o w s heart to S ing for j oy
’
I h ave not lived for self
.
,
will not c ease to live for God and to live fo r men and , ,
“ ”
the past has n o t been all a bad beginning and to ,
1 58
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
f eel
that I may say with that grand old man D r ,
.
Guthrie that ,
A nd waits my coming to o ; ,
called it a tonic,
It is a farce to treat a man and
Christian minister o f over thirty years o f age w h o ,
has b een fighting the battle o f life alone for ten years
of no ordinary temptation trial and toil and who
, , ,
’
of fool and knave and ne er do well - -
.
1 59
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
toward y o u .
—
that position for who can tell what may follow ?
My hands are stil l very full of work and yesterday ,
to P eter — “
S imon S imon b ehold S atan hath desired
, ,
”
abundance o f the heart the mouth S p eaketh and I ,
—
and from similar causes I fear a defective water
supply a n d the want of drainage etc N ewtown is by
, , .
y o u
,
and bring y o u to me so o n in safety agam D o .
I am ,
1 60
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
bosom — —
m y o w dear wife will not be enticed away
n
y o u needlessly .
and prayer to G o d .
“
t h e Convention and made what D r S called a first .
1 62
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
S o y o u s e e your letter help ed me greatly i t was
a L ove Cordial and that is a million times better than
,
“
I hate strife amongst the herdsmen for I know ,
1 63
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
1 64
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
1 66
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
-
.
1 67
T HE PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXAND ER DOWI E
D ivine direction .
1 68
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
than ever to you and esp ecially from the time when
,
—
S hall b e wise to instruct each other and o u r darling
one to o and s o S hall we walk aright and walk in ,
’
E ach other s faults to su ff er with true meekness ;
,
1 70
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
name and the memory of a good life I have no higher
wish and no other except to see them well cared fo r
, ,
1 71
T HE PE RSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DOWI E
’
ever I toiled o n and o n to reach the lion s den through
,
’
I get your father s letter I will act at once to settle
the best I can at the bank and wit h others anything
rather than that serp ent even were I left with bare ,
1 72
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
noonday is : Thine expectation S hall not b e cut o ff .
A nd really it is s o —
with me I trust only that when
o n e is n o t over well o n e is apt t o look at the darkest
—
along b est with spiritual sunshine and I know I S ha l l
get it soon again L et your heart b e at p erfect rest
.
’
turn b ack b ecause I can t s ee all I would like o f the '
road b efore me .
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ’
L anguage is slow Yet there s a lore
.
,
bop eep and give him rides upon my head and laugh
, ,
best gifts above all the gift o f D ivine love the greatest
, ,
o f God s gifts
’
.
1 75
TH E PERSO N AL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
received quite an unexp ected jo y a letter from y o u ;
and I am delighted my darling with a p icture which it
,
.
,
“
their chambers o f im agery closed up darkened con , ,
1 76
TH E PERSONAL L E TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
, , .
“
and mother and think H o w did y o u look with your
,
1 78
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
little boy and h o w did you train him ? I expect they
,
D uring the last nine years from home my life has b een
very busy but I have never forgotten her and my
,
’
has b een folded in his grandmother s arms and that ,
1 79
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
L ord sustain her and when heart and flesh fail be her , ,
, ,
y o u my dearest
, love A nd as for o u r little gift from .
and love .
( Wr i tten in an sw r
e to a p rs o l l
e na e tter f r o m th e S ecr e ta ry f th e
o
Mi is t r i l
n e a A sso ci a ti o n , f da te Nov 28
o . , l 8 77 ) .
My D ear S ir
'
work .
1 80
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
contrary to fact .
”
measu r e b rought myself into that alleged position ,
fi ce .
p e c t e d w as
,
made at a time when various inherited
difficulties and di fficulty creators had been mos t com
p l e t e l y o r,
very largely overcome and was I venture , ,
’
to s ay a source o f real regret of nineteen twentieth s o f
,
-
1 82
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
with all the bumptiousness of a pedantic S ir O racle
“
“ —
whether it is n o t your ext raordinary self co n fi d en c e ,
”
always willing to give advice and never to take it
—
which has brought me to this position m y only r e
mark upon which i s that I have n o confidence in m y ,
, ,
“ ” “
warn me that I shall bitterly rue it if I plunge into ,
“
b i t i o u s aspirations y o u s ay that it i s only men o f rare
,
1 83
TH E PE R SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDE R DOWI E
“ ” “ ”
disp ense with that sympathy throughout my
whole connection with the said Union and have dur , ,
—
of the clique wh o managed the Union and y o u were
a sp ecially active o ff ender in that matter for you are ,
1 84
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDE R DOWI E
”
ism ( what is that ism I wonder ?) my connection ,
“
can s ee fo r me whi c h is found in the many brethren
,
1 86
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALE XANDE R DOWI E
ears .
fo r y o u my poor deluded
, b rother b ecause this
, ,
“
upon the fact that I have p rayed over the matter
”
and that God has S hown me t h e p l ai n p ath of duty ;
and further inspired by this said ghost you utter this
, ,
e m p l ifi e d by my
“
whole career — how much do y o u
”
187
THE PE RSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
W ord .
1 88
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
I am ,
S ir :
one o f many I desire to raise an emphatic p rotest
A S
1 90
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DOWI E
—
S econd the facts alleged to b e the fruits o f hi s
labors are not facts but illusions resting upon a mi s ,
1 91
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
D Is r ae l i s b row
’
— “
H i s l i f e i s a l i ving l i e
’ ”
A nd when .
“
the I rish orator s hand went to nail him to The cross
’
“
o f the impenitent thief whose name he said I verily , , ,
”
b elieve must have b een D Is r a el i he expressed in ’
,
t h at he i s still unchanged .
“ ”
paraded it dressed up in true blue in quite an orig
inal style declaring that the little dear was his o wn
,
1 92
TH E PERSON A L LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
,
“ ”
and other sublime things R ussia stepped in to en
.
B ritain did not then p rotest nor has she S ince that
, ,
'
the Czar was the only one o f the lawyers b rave enough
to serve the writ o f public law decreed at Constan
t i n o p l e acting therein as a kind of Inspector o f Turk
,
“
form ; but since war is recognized by the public law
”
o f E urop e as a legitimate thing no o n e can say that
, ,
“ ”
the question o f Treaty R ights W hy if the expres
.
,
o f P aris ,
then Great B ritain has so modi fi ed that
Treaty fo r example by the B lack S ea concessions to
,
“ ”
tion o f public law s o forfeited the protection which
that Treaty guaranteed her that it is a screaming
,
’
still a wife s rights and a thief an honest man s rights
’
,
1 94
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
has also still intact her Treaty R ights though her ,
“
the blessings o f peace whilst resolutely maintaining
,
and fo r this very good rea son among others that the , ,
1 95
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DOWIE
“ ”
amongst them to talk o f p eace as being secured ? If
,
“
maintained the interests and honor o f the B ritish
E mpire in which the A ustralian Colonies as an integral
”
portion o f that E mpire are deeply interested E ve r y .
“ ”
B ritish interests have never b een threatened by
R ussia and let thos e w h o assert that they have prove
,
1 96
T HE PE R SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
1 . It has largely caused the recent R usso Turkish -
W ar .
“
selves to support their diplomatic action by the sanc
tion o f an agreement with a view to such eff icacious ,
1 98
’
TH E P ER S O N A L L E T T E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
the responsibility will rest solely with the S ultan
”
and his advisers B ut the P orte did rej ect them al
.
D i s r ae l i ti s h
cunning he calculated that he could deal
more e ff ectually with that R ussia whom he has always
hated when it was enfeebled by terribly exhausting
, ,
2 00
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
the action This is in every age the tyrant s plea
.
“
necessity .
2 02
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
as an integral part o f the E mpire to allow such a ,
o f brotherhood .
’
ence aggravates L ord B e aco n s fi e l d s o ff ense .
2 03
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
“ ” “
the N i neteenth C entury for J une : IS i t po ssible
that this can work ? W ill India be content ? Can
Indi a b e content ? O ught Indi a to b e content ?
In di stant and to her children uncongenial climes
’
, ,
i s well : for the stupid act will make them yet more
widely known and the j ustification which the debate
, ,
famous .
2 04
THE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
mysel f ,
. , , a an o
th e G o sp e l is r evi e we d ) .
My D ear F ather :
It is j ust six months since I last wrote you and s o ,
l i g e n t every day .
.
1 o ften feel myself as o n e who i s being led onward
step by step in an utterly unknown way and were ,
206
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
purposes and it i s H i s glory to conceal a matter as”
I am sure o f 1 am w
.
, ,
—
think was a mistake w e removed o u t services to the
e
w as filled .
2 07
TH E PERSO N AL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
at night .
2 08
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
might b e given to the 3 00 whose battle cry was the
”
sword o f the Lord and of Gideon ? Tis worth reading ’
on e,
to my o w n circumstances W e have all been .
“ ”
could with a mixed multitude many o f whom might ,
, , ,
“ ”
sections o f the L aodiceans whom I s ee thriving ,
’
in their own eyes though I b elieve in God s sight many
,
“
o f them are wretched and miserable and poor and
”
blind and naked The vast maj ority o f the
.
“ ”
souls are utterly untouched by the lukewarm ch u rch
es around who seem to return indi ff erence by taking
‘
in all classes .
21 0
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
The p eople are greatly taken by big S hows o f any
kind and ob j ect s interest them generally much more
,
“
cases A n o l d Greek saying was A gainst stupi dity
.
,
”
even the gods are powerless It is this dullness and .
s i b il i ty .
21 1
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
, , ‘
,
at them ?
O h no they are o n friendly terms with him and
, ,
“
wrote to his friends at Corinth B ut I will tar r y !
21 2
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
S hin ing .
“
S hining by day and when it is night I know H is
,
21 4
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
are in all parts of the city and among all classes some, ,
21 5
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAND E R DOWI E
”
thing I want to do and to make all else subserve this
,
‘
The L o rd will
21 6
TH E PERSO N AL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
.
,
myself t o H i s servi c e .
,
.
here ; and with her love for thos e I love how can I ,
quarrel ?
S he really must forgive me and restore me to her
love again and then p erhaps I shall tell her a secret
, ,
I am ,
Your a ff ectionate s o n ,
D ear S ir
In reply to
.
your rude note of yesterday I have , to
219
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
ence much less your S abb ath S chool has never been
, ,
4
. It may interest y o u to know that n o fewer than
“ ”
o f these very obnoxious p apers have been cir
c u l at e d and that the liquor dealers and modern P har
,
“
5 I wish I knew w h o distributed these obnoxious
.
Truly yours ,
J o h n A lexander D owi e .
22 0
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
like to know and I to tell more than time and pen and ,
“
visible and very visible too ; and in p erils amongst
,
”
false brethren H e has brought me through This day .
“
W hat shall we s ay then to these things ? If G O D
b e for us W H O can b e against us
,
H e that spared
n o t Hi s own S on but delivered H im up fo r us all how
, ,
222
TH E PERSO N AL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
to b e done .
“
tempt a word o f reply to my lectures o n The D rama ,
”
the P ress and the P ulpit and to other severe critic
,
“
a mutual admiration society and flatter each other
,
“ ” “ ”
the tyranny o f the scribe as well as the P harisees .
”
the people : fo r all hold J ohn as a prophet .
2 23
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
is M ammon .
God in Christ .
tical and social life these are ser i ous hindrances to real
p rogress in spiritual life They who despise the L ord
.
are the honoured o f the land and false and foul and ,
—
can b e no more debasing idolatry none more cruel
o r h eartless V i ce 1 8 under high patronage and money
.
,
22 4
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
the great maj ority walk about as in an O pium eater s
dream s o far as acute perception of p resent danger s is
,
’
social intercourse business pursuits etc where God s
, ,
.
,
truth shall purify and bless the people so that they toil
n o t in vain This revival will not proceed from the
.
’
The work i s the L ord s and wondrous in my eye s .
h eartless .
22 6
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
that there are sheep from all their fol ds who are get
ting to o much attached to us fo r their liking .
22 7
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
soldier must b e ready to fight any enemy at any time '
, ,
, .
.
,
“
k eenest sorrow is to err from the way that will s o
l ovingly appoints .
22 8
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
ness.
—
How can I praise H im m y tongue cannot ,
“
n o w and ever t o d o s o upon Him W ho not in vain
,
”
experienced every human pain and there I find it ,
23 0
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
( Wr i tten h is f a th er d mo th er . tu M h 18 79 S idn ey N 3
'
to an ar c , , , . .
” “
and political a ff airs I want to occupy these p ro.
son and noble men yet to arise that they may carry
, ,
23 1
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E ‘
’
B ut by God s mercy I go t over it qui ckly and the
, , ,
232
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
234
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
.
, ,
.
,
“
me with those who have denied the faith and are
worse than i n fi d e l s he tells me that I have incurred
God s curse by bringing to H im robb ery fo r a burnt
’
”
o ffering ; he declares to me your ( that is my ) con ,
“
shown an ungovernable temp er ; he tells me that
“
it n o w appears that your work in S ydney i s a failure
“ ”
he calls me a fool in half a dozen places ; ignores
all I have written misrepresents facts which were set
,
235
TH E PERSONA L L E TT ERS OF JO HN ALE XANDER DOWI E
,
”
words Tho u F ool I s ay to him h e should read
'
.
,
”
the glo ry That p roud fool was eaten up with worms
.
,
”
t i r e l y in my own strength and my o w n wisdom !
“
D idst thou never read Trust in the L ord with all ,
”
ing ; o r H e that trusteth i n his riches i s a fool ;
“
,
“ ”
or,
H e that trusteth in his o w heart i s a fool
n ?
These words are D ivine and will last long after thou ,
“
it will pierce thy heart through with many sorrows ,
“
and then fling thee overboard to drown in s i n and
p erdition unless thou hast a care for thy soul s true
,
’
welfare .
’
Tis in these words that I would reply to such
blasphemous boasting and pride .
236
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
conquerer s song ; fo r the L ord h as delivered me o r
’
’
I dare say when Gideon s host melted away from
,
“ ”
B ut the L ord took the fearful and afraid away ay ,
“
and thousands beside lest Israel vaunt themselves ,
”
against me saying M ine o wn hand hath saved me
, ,
-
all exp enses was guaranteed for the next three months
,
23 8
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
owe n o man anything but to love them as God r e ,
I remember Go d s love to me ’
.
”
L ord s doing in fi nitely better fo r me than if I lean
’
,
” “
on n o on e or trust entirely in my o wn energies and
,
”
good management In fact I have such confidence .
”
,
ine enemy , ,
“ ”
those who have put th ei r tru s t in H im which can -
b e said o f no other .
”
those who make a house o f merchandise of God s ’
“ ”
Temple and who reckoned their prosp erity and that
,
23 9
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
c ongregations .
24 0
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
had very little food and had only four pence left and
,
o f his speech and the emotion which fills his eyes with
242
T HE P ER SO N A L L ET T E R S O F JO HN A LEXANDER DOWI E
to attend my ministry .
’
W e are by God s mercy building up a church
, ,
”
di fficulties which stand like lions in the way if ,
243
T HE P E R S O N A L LE TT ERS OF J O HN ALEXANDER DOWI E
.
, ,
2 44
THE
-
PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ” “ ” “ ”
ideas o f morals religious tea ching and ideals
'
, ,
246
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
I am ,
(A n s w rs e an o y m ous
n wr i ter wh o i ss
cr i t c i e wo r k —f an . 8 ,
My D ear Mr E ditor : .
”
they s ay ? N ow although n o cynic and by no means
, ,
24 7
T HE PERSONAL L ETT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
in self de f ense
-
F requently I have b een attacked
.
,
“ ”
by all four newspap ers in o n e day The H erald .
,
“ ”
portant way at my fanaticism concerning the
“ ”
’
”
Telegraph must needs have its little fling to please
, ,
“ ”
tempting to fight these valiant we p eople on their
own midden heap s : fo r there would b e nothing gained
worth the e ffort n o r would I be wiser in pursuing
,
24 8
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
name .
“
S pectator that the M ission was all the while in full
”
“ ”
are ask i ng with tears W hat must I do to b e saved ?
,
’
to find G o d thus signally blessing my O ff er o f Christ s
’
glorious salvation as a N ew Year s gift and I take it ,
25 0
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
collap sed ”?
S urely the wish was father to the lie .
“
H e says that while s o m e good has b een e ff ected it
, ,
”
has been an utter failure p ecuniarily .
alike .
25 1
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAN DER DOWI E
its results .
252
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
s ay , I yield myself to Christ and trust Him a s my
S aviour o r I will drink n o more or I doubt n o
“
,
”
,
“
, ,
” “ ”
more o r I have done with the Church O f R ome
, , .
”
A nd n o w what O f S p ectator s statement It has ’
254
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N A LE XANDER DOWI E
“
glories that for o u r sakes H e became poor that we
”
through H i s p o v e r ty m i gh t be made rich ? A nd if
’
“ ”
J ohn W esley as failures b ecaus e they cared more
for the souls O f Christ s sheep than for their golden
’
“
allow the M ission to b e b randed an utter failure
p ecuniarily More money has b een raised and spent
upon it during the tw o years than was raised and
sp ent in actual work apart from ministerial salary
, ,
“ ”
good pay even although He keeps His servants
,
ti v el y
. I have a shrewd s u s p 1 c 1 o n that S pectator
“ ”
“ ” “ ”
done some good he has b een no good pecuniarily
,
25 5
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALE XAND ER DOWI E
”
“
S pectator may yet b e found to be o n e o f the gr eedy
”
shepherds who feed themselves with whom I am no ,
”
b elongeth unto God alone I say I will tarry at .
,
”
O p ened u n t o m e and there are many adversaries
‘
.
,
’
The D evil and I we can t agree , ,
“
have b een called b y R o b e r t Hall liquid fire and distilled
”
damnation which is an apt description N ow all men
,
.
25 6
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
t ai n e d in it It was like cold water to a thirsty soul
.
“
p ass ed by Go d s hosts and no evil can hurt y o u The
’
,
.
“
but J esus w h o s ays L O I am with you alway M ay
, , ,
.
258
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
ally to s e e that politics a r e n o t synonomous with
,
“ ”
tion I want the p eople to know that politics rightly
.
“
inte l ligent action and purity O f speech an d life
, Sa .
”
l u s populi suprema est lex w as the nobl e O l d L ati n
—
motto that s i — “
The safety o r welfare O f the p eopl e
”
i s the supreme law A nd s o every Christian man must
.
“ ”
I desire to labour H ence politics i s an essential par t
.
“
and study fi ttings and a sofa bed I will stay at Cool
,
.
”
abah as much as possible o f the week and get th e
, ,
”
shape O f politics which when climb ed will I doubt , ,
“ ”
not lead to the House that is called B eautiful as
, ,
259
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
i n g a good deal easier and I hope if it b e God s will , , ,
time .
1 —
R ent is 2 5 6 ( 1 per week 2 s 6 d for cleaning
. . . .
,
—
etc extra and I can get my meals at the Co ff ee P a
.
letter love shining like the sun with its radiant beauty
,
c annot fail .
2 60
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
doing this good work for if I save a soul from death ,
y o u know .
—
upon t hard work no sleep sometimes and all
i , , .
262
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
y o in spirit
u B e O f good c h eer there i s much to live
.
end this life those they have left b ehind may bless the
world through ages y et to come I shall with y o u o n e .
, ,
'
263
T HE PE R SONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
r oo m above me .
“ ”
me to s ay to the wanderer : Come in ! and then to
seat them at the B anquet O f L ove I want to see your .
“
letters whi ch shone like gold the words H ave F aith ,
”
in God I entered the door thrilled to my heart by
'
.
,
tier the seats rose upon every side from the platform
‘
God is L o ve ! ”
A n d above the speaker s head o n a
’
,
26 4
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
God s goo d ness to me was very g r eat and I was won ,
“
Mam mon are the rulers and they love to have it ,
”
so. N othing c an b e clearer than that awful fact .
2 66
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
dangers .
2 67
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO HN ALE XA N DER DOWI E
“ ” “ ”
day and in the H erald and Telegraph O f Monday
and Tuesday Ten thousand cop ies of it were printed
. .
— —
were S plendid I had three and had unanimous
votes W hen the week closed I had addressed about
.
“
p raising my address and said W e know y o u are the , ,
”
and help y o u all we can the next General E lection .
“
I said Gentlemen y o u have brought your answer
, , .
“
They asked me what I m eant I replied If you tell .
,
2 68
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
policy s sake refrained from attacking me to any great
,
the polling booths and rep eated that and similar lies .
victory w o n .
2 70
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
, ,
“
my p reface I warned the country that the true fri end s
o f N ational E ducation should arouse and look to th e
”
at present artfully veiled u n d e r l i b e r al phrases On
‘
“
Hidden S prings under another name I had d el i v
”
, .
271
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
fl i ct
. N o he reaped what I and others sowed and he
, ,
2 72
TH E PERSON AL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
e r an ce p rinciples I suppose
,
.
“
H urrah for stunting the mind and muddling the
”
brai n ! should b e the rallying cry O f these new
re formers .
2 74
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
su ff iciently cautious .
2 75
T HE PERSONAL LE TT ER S O F JO HN ALEXAND ER DOWI E
This would have b een all very well had it not b een fo r
t wo facts the first O f which they should have susp ected
,
!
thos e O n the spot to see These were the fact that the
'
.
,
next .
2 76
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO HN ALEXAND ER DO WI E
national H all but it has pr o ved too small for our even
,
cerned .
2 78
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
'
“
are c alled friends and who have really for a time
been friends but who have gone back and walked
,
with me n o more .
2 79
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF J O H N ALEXAND ER DOWI E
. .
p pr o r i at e on e in E xodus — “
A nd the bush
burned with fire yet the b ush was not consumed
,
.
28 0
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
Mr A
. and a M r M c I— have stood by me most nobly
.
28 2
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
—
.
’
not worry about it The matter is in the L ord s hands
. .
“
H e will p rovide I will do my utmo st to raise The
.
”
F ree Christian Tab ernacle whenever the L ord sets it
before me an d raised it will b e I believe ,
.
28 3
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAN D ER DOWI E
“ ”
we are ready or nearly so to go forward exercising
, , ,
half an hour daily in prayer for the Tab ernacle for the
’
with H is will .
p ray long ere the first money will be sent for this p ur
pose and all the rest in due tim e L et us especially
, .
“
A gain I s ay unto y O u that if two O f y o u s h al l agr ee
,
28 4
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N A L E XA N DE R DO WIE
, , ,
never rej ecting her food Yet she does not seem to .
need care and we are hop ing that the fresh breezes
,
”
and it needs father to put down the reb ellion W hen .
c a s i o n al l
y he delivers a sermon to goats and naughty
boys wh o m h e sees from our back window This is
'
“
scarcely orthodox according to D wight ,
Goats ! .
28 6
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
good go ats and p erhaps God will make you little lambs
,
”
o f J esus .
“
earnestness he said God gave it to me mother That , , .
“
He adores dear little J eanie Macfarlane o r dear
”
little sister H e firmly believes she never gets
.
“ ” “
naughty and that no goat or naughty spirit has
,
“ ’
ever got into sister s heart although he will freely ,
b re kin g up
a h is ho m e a n d leavin g h is wo rk in S idn ey h e h a d go n e en , ,
r o ute t E gl n d t m t
o n s ou dr l by th e n m e of H oldin g wh o un d r
a o ee a c n e a , e
an d wh h d p r o m is d h im
o a lar ge um f m o n y with wh ich to b u i ld a
e a s o e
d t d ix y rs l t r th an th e p r es en t d t b in g pub lish ed in Th e Ch r is
a e s ea a e a e, e
tian Co lo is t ) n .
My D arling W ife
I today received your sweet letter O f l s t with o u r
“ ’
dear little son s letter to me enclosed full O f thick
love and indeed t h e both cheered me very much
,
v
.
28 7
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
28 8
TH E PERS O NAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
W ell don t b e alarmed if I tell you that much of it
,
290
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
'
letters from M r H.
— r e fl e c ti n g upon me and seemed ,
29 1
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DO WI E
—
like A i n whom and in father he expre s ses l u l l con
fi d e n c e and winds up by saying that he has been oh
,
b eyond a doubt .
o f quiet satisfaction .
TH E PERSON AL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DOWI E
“
W hat wish d o you mean he said boiling over , ,
with rage .
“
W hat he roared
,
“
—
I conspire with A to get
,
“
O h no I said the money was to be go t o ut
, , ,
”
O f me ; and what I s ay is true .
“ ”
H o w out o f y o u ? he said looking very uneasy , .
” “
This way I replied y o u were heard by one
, , .
”
f ellow ? he asked when he got voice .
“ ‘
I answered Tis n o t I who am mean and con
,
29 4
TH E PE R SON A L L E TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDE R DOWI E
“
I d o deny saying them he said ,
.
”
it is to me
'
—
W it h these words or similar I have tried faith , ,
295
TH E PERSONAL LE TTE RS OF JO HN ALEX AN DE R DO WIE
, ,
i —
when the s u n shines o n t ay and that man my father ,
obeyed .
“
and b ending over you n o w I s ay G o d bless y o u and ,
“ ”
my head h as been shaky and dizzy with st r ong
296
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXA N DER DOWI E
them well nigh all about our a ff airs and they will ,
I am sure
they will do their b est to help you until I can s en d .
,
.
,
.
and daughter .
it long till I emb race y o u and tell you all I never can
write The L ord bless y o u and all our dear ones al
.
ways .
2 98
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DO WI E
My D ear Mrs M .
1 n te r es ti n
g to O bserve the handwriting o f that epistle
should it arrive I have a p erfect recollection O f the
.
’
and thief O f a widow s savings in their own neighbo r
hood they never s ay anything until it is too late
, .
299
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO HN AL E XANDER DOWI E
this wretched man proves can tie a soul hand and foot
, ,
“
B lessed i s he that watcheth and keepeth his gar ,
”
ments lest he walk naked and they see h i s shame
, , .
”
c e i v ed by the spirits o f devils N ow if there is a .
,
3 00
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
My D ear M adam
It h as been in my heart for some weeks that I
should write to you concerning the work O f the L ord
in this city with a view sp ecially to enlist your
,
whom y o u are o n e .
3 02
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
t o many .
—
was a sham stones and packing taking the place o f
3 04
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
3 06
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
n e v e r a ccount e d f or th e p o u nd s w h ic h I h ad
o nc e r e c e iv e d b y d ee d o f gift t o b u ild a ch u rc h .
.
, ,
I am ,
(D a te d f r o m th e ori
Vi c t C ofl ee H ou
a
’
s M h
e, a rc 29 , 18 8 2—a lm os t
desp a ir s—s ufi ers f or f oo d— r e a dy to die o r liv — tr u
e e to th e s ervic e f
o
h is L o r d ).
B eloved W ife
It i s hard and bitter fo r me to have to write to
y o u today ; but it would have been impossible fo r me
to write to y o u two days ago .
”
failed .
3 07
T HE PE R SONAL L E T TE R S OF JO HN A L EXA N DER D OWI E
“ “
that B ut when I s aw th e star again I rej oiced
.
, , ,
“ ”
hard to bear ; and my feet were almost gone into
ways o f doubt and fear and sin and death : for that
“
, , ,
B ut He kept me .
3 08
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
Mr C
. a Christian bookseller with whom I am well
acquainted I did n o t average one meal p er day up
.
’
more money from it This money was Go d s direct
.
”
and thanked God and took courage I had to pay .
rule .
Oh fo r
the end o f all this sense O f p ain and sin in
,
31 0
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWIE
’
The Church o f today is as unlike Christ s example
a s it w as eighteen hundred years ago when it crucified
“ ”
Him P erhaps we may b e nearer the midnight than
.
” “ ”
when the Cry comes with lamps gone o ut as , ,
31 1
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
B e O f good c heer for the morning is coming O f
the endless day I do n o t fear to live : for life can have
.
“
fully than ever and can s ay : I am persuaded that
,
“
B e o f good cheer I am not ill or apprehensive
.
,
keep i t .
312
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAN DER DOWI E
be done .
“ ”
F aint not at my tribulation G o d will show y o u .
“
yet it is your glory The L ord ever bless and keep .
y o u .
( o ry
S t f ho u h
o r e cam e to pr ea c h D ivin h lin g—l t r pu b lish ed in
e ea a e
g g
r e a t i o n a l Church at N ewtown a suburb O f the b eau
, ,
heavy for I had b een visiting the sick and dying beds
,
goo d citi z ens and more than all true faithful Christ
, ,
314
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
oh h ow
,
I longed to hear some words from H im w h o
wept and sorrowed for t h e su ff ering long ago the M an ,
‘
and J esus still delivers for H e is j ust the same to
,
’
day .
s e nger s w h o said
“
O h come at once M ary is dying ;
, , ,
”
c ome and W ith j ust such a feeling as a shep
pr ay .
31 5
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO HN ALEXANDER DOWI E
”
mysterious ? In s tantly the sw ord was fl ashing in my
h and — ,the S pirit s S word the W ord o f God ’ “
God s , .
’
” “
way ! I s aid pointing to th e scene o f conflict h o w
, ,
.
,
”
that saves the sick ? A t once o ff ended at my words , ,
,
’
”
ease which was doing S atan s will
,
“
It is not s o I ’
.
,
“
my heart : J esus o f N azareth went about doing good ,
.
, , , ,
31 6
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
c o v e r y that H E I S J U S T TH E S A M E T O DA Y -
.
j ean ie ) .
B eloved F riend
A gain I have stood over the open grave and laid ,
“ ”
aside the earthly garments of my little A ngel whose ,
”
seemeth Him good .
“
A ngel ”
— b eing esp ecially delighted to s e e us clasp ,
seen her and our hearts were glad to look upon her
,
318
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
I said Y o u dear little A ngel father is s o glad
, ,
“
D owie who was sitting near her said Come here
, , , ,
’
J ohn and look at J eani e s eyes
,
I immediately went .
take her n o w .
’ ’
o clock on L ord s D ay morning the end came and ,
‘
, ,
319
TH E PERSO NAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N AL EXANDER DOWI E
endless day .
’
.
,
”
we shall s e e good fruits B ut the evening H er al d .
,
“
-
3 20
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
i e
. The O l d Testament with the A pocrypha in
.
, ,
.
,
—
more than ever w e have both new treasures in ,
( Me m o by h ims lf r g r din g th
m a de s C am r o v D o wie
e e a e ca e e n .
tr i d i
e nFi t r oy P o li
z Cour t A p r i l 20 188 5 f r vio l tio n of bye l w
ce , , , o a - a
p r oh i b i ti g s tr t p r ch i g
n ee d f wh ich h w
ea n f o un d gu i l ty fin ed
an o e as
—
, , ,
a nd fl
su r e d i mep r iso n m n t f r th i r ty f o ured ys r c ivin g u c o n di ti o a l
o - a e e n n
r l e eas e by go v r o r ) e n .
3 22
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
co r d i n l
g y .
323
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXA N DER DO WI E
3 24
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
o ut ,
the window sill being partly torn o u t It was .
unprecedented thing fo r me to do .
suddenly .
“
c over us with disease B ut none O f these things move
.
”
Gospel o f the grace O f God .
“
k i l l us ; but we cannot fear : for to us to live is
”
Christ and to die is gain
,
B ut for my dear ones
.
’
3 26
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
as H ealer there .
188 6— p o t s ts g i s t li k i g D ivi
‘
( S ep t 6 . , r e a a n n n th e do c tr in e o f ne h e lin g
a
wi th S p ir itua lis m , Mi d u s t )
n c re , e c.
i t will work .
”
the power o f G o d as I will G o d helping me e n , , ,
3 27
TH E PE R S ONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXAN DER DOWI E
“
are always the primary method s adopted by seducing
”
S pi ri ts i n leading man y to fall away from the faith ,
that all who have bee n healed and they number many ,
”
with H i s stripes we ar e healed .
“ ”
and the M ind H ealing echo o f it in your columns .
3 28
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
"
B ut o f the final issue there can b e no doubt .
“
f —
O ppositions o science falsely s o called have , ,
“
the faith cannot b e S haken by false science— i t is n o t
”
“
only un c hangeable but imp erishable Fo r that faith .
”
once delivered to the saints I will earnestly contend
“ ”
and will guard that which is committed unto me .
( Wr i tten f u ll; 10 1 8 86
, ,
—
f o r e c a s ts pol i ti c a l s i tu a ti o n — e x ho r ts to f a ith
f uln e ss )
.
B eloved W ife
A fter my long letter of W ednesday you will n o t
expect mu c h today .
330
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
A ll I ask for is enough ; and although the answer
is sometimes delayed to the last moment i t a l way s
co m e s .
Mr O
. who went down to A uckland N ew Zealand ,
.
,
tion ?
M any in power are now making great display O f
”
their riches b efo re the eyes o f E urop e It is like dis .
33 1
TH E PERSONAL LE TT E R S OF JO H N AL E X ANDER DOWI E
“
d ays are c o m m g N o w let us continue the cry
. Be -
,
”
hold the B ridegroom cometh ! W e must tell men
everywhere to b e r eady — s pir i t s ou l and b o dy— fo r
“ ”
, ,
“
The time is sho r t and we must well employ i t .
—
first F aith H ealing M ission to B allarat y o u need no
“ ”
description : f o r we can never forget the light s .
Had you any sp ecial exp eri ence o n the same night
’
s ay about 1 O clo c k o n F riday morning last ? My b ed
’
room was full O f glory and there s more to follo w ,
.
P ray over all this matter and look upward with i n cr eas ,
we a r e only faithful .
332
T HE PERSONA L LE T T ERS OF JO H N ALE XANDER DOWI E
hereafter .
I am ,
3 34
TH E PE R SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEX AN DER DOWI E
and may y o u and all your dear ones j oin above that
glorious company o f all who have faithfully witnessed
fo r J esus throughout all the ages as did o u r fathers ,
( Wr i tte n to a f r i en d ) .
“
. In
default o f news I will give y o u anoth er ,
”
favorite tune P raise will go to it .
335
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ER S OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
O f G o d last year
, .
us .
336
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N AL EXANDER DOWI E
“ ”
he who excuses accuses s o says the F rench p r o
, ,
Throne !
M any p ersons cannot understand that a man does
n o t need to belong to a denomination to b e a Christian ,
338
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
deplo r es l k f u tho r i ty i m o d rn
ac o a n e c h urc h esf —
mould no t r tu rn t
e ld o o
"
way o f
“
s ttli g f ull f o n fid n
e n -
o c e ce an d hop ) e.
wife .
”
upon these slain that they may live .
“
If I desired to settle as it is called I could , ,
389
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO HN ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
headquarters free in o n e o f the b est parts o f that co un
’
try near to H alifax W e are in the L ord s hands e n
, .
“
where and in something : for God is faithful .
3 40
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
n o t repent It is an impossibility
. .
( Fr o m th e
fi s t c opy
r f L v s f H l i
o g i ssu
ea d l u n
e l ol BBS— J ea n , e e ,
"
m o n thly A us tr l i a m g i
an f r th p r o m o ti o n f h li g an d holi ss
a az n e o e o ea n ne
m i is try in A us tr li
n upo h i d p ar tu r f r A m r i )
a a, n s e e o e ca .
, ,
r u ar y 1 8 8 3
,
It was no little grief to part from the dear
.
34 2
TH E PER SONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
) ,
343
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DO WI E
“ ”
separated fo r this work fo r some time by the Holy
S pirit wh o had used them to many o f God s sick ones ’
,
4 concerning the call to the
.
,
’
confusion among Go d s p eople and a stumbling block ,
-
’
O n L ord s D ay F ebruary 1 9t h last j ust five years
, ,
3 44
T HE PERSONAL L E T T E R S OF JO H N ALEXANDER l 3o e
“
W e herewith subscribe our names o n b ehalf o f ,
the above ,
J O H N S A MU E L WA LL I N GT O N ,
J OS EP H G R I ER SO N ,
E ld er s .
folds them .
3 46
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
“
goods in doing things honestly in the sight of all
,
”
men and in preparing O u r L ittl e P i lgrim B and o f
,
“
A gain I say beloved P ray fo r us daily
,
It ,
3 47
TH E PE R SO N AL LE TT ER S OF JO H N AL EXANDE R DOWI E
“ ”
T ill H e come was then s u n g and as we went ,
“ ” “
r inging and ,
the ransomed o f the L ord still come
”
with s m gm g unto Zion A s we looked up ward in
.
“ ”
that b eautiful night we s aw the many mansions o f
,
34 8
TH E PERSONAL LE TT ERS OF JO H N ALEXANDER DOWI E
’
of rich men s homes embowered amidst trees and,
350
T h e Se c o n d V o l u m e of L e tte r s
J O HN A L EXA N D ER D O W IE,
w i th a h i s to r y of th e Z io n Mo v e m e n t , is n ow in c o urse
of p r e p ar at i o n .
O n e V o lum e In c o m p l e te w i th o u t t h e O t h e r .
L IMIT ED ED IT IO N S .
S EN D IN YO U R O R D ER NO W .
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