Lowe, Joseph (1815-1836)

MEMOIR OF JOSEPH LOWE,

(Leicester Circuit.)

Joseph Lowe was born at Ansty in Leicestershire, June 23, 1815. His honest industrious parents have had five children; the eldest died happy in the Lord, see, P. M. Magazine for 1832, page 375. Joseph was the second son; and though he was in some degree moral, he did not see the necessity of serving God, till he began to attend the preaching of the P. Methodists. And under their ministry the Spirit of God convinced him of the necessity of being born again. He cried earnestly for mercy; and a prayer meeting we held in the chapel, April 15, 1830, was at first a time of sorrow and bitter lamentation to poor Joseph. He feared his sins would sink him lower than the grave, His brother John, seeing his distress, said to one of the friends, “Do go and pray for Joseph, for I think his heart will break.”

After some struggling, the Lord came down in mercy to his help, broke his chains, and set his soul at liberty. This caused much rejoicing.

He now saw the importance of casting in his lot amongst us, which he did on the following Sabbath, and became a steady member of society. He was not a person of many-words, but when he did speak it was generally to the point. He was a regular attendant at the means of grace, especially his class meetings. He became a useful Teacher in the Sunday school; was very serious among the children, and punctual to his engagements.

Near the close of 1835, he was laid on the bed of affliction, which put an end to his active labours. I often visited him and found him ripening for heaven. He was at times tempted, but God was his strength. He died March 23, 1836, in his twenty-first year. I preached his funeral sermon from Prov. xiv. 22, to a large and serious congregation.

John Richards

(Approved.)

Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1838. Page 230.