[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Journal, 15 Jan 1814 - Obituary - The Rev. Dr. W. LOWTHER

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 15 Jan 1814   (p. 4, col. 1)

 

THE LATE REV. DR. W. LOWTHER. 

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[The following merited eulogism on the character of this Divine, whose obituary was lately noticed in this Paper, has been
transmitted to us by a Correspondent.] 

 

The late Rev. Dr. W. LOWTHER had been rector of Lowther many years, and so attentive to residence, that it seemed to have been a sin
with him to remove from his flock. 

 

His life was unspotted; his opinions and actions were liberal, steady, and uncorrupt. 

 

The sins of the world were but little increased by him: the propagation of a false, loose, or wanton story never passed his lips.
Neither the purity of the young, or of any one, was ever endangered by his company, nor could their minds possibly receive a taint
from his lips or his pen; every one might profit, and no one could lose, by his company or communications. Purity of heart was a
distinguished trait in his character; the value and excellence of which may be best estimated, when we feel the grating effect of
those impressions which impurity has once struck upon the retentive mind. 

 

His eminence as a magistrate bore a due proportion to his strict principles as a divine; uncorrupt in all things, he filled and
executed this office beyond all praise; he was eminently learned as a country magistrate, and yet more eminently clear and
unprejudiced in his decisions.-The best and most learned of our Judges might have been, and some were, proud to acknowledge his
merits. 

 

His natural abilities were good, and above the middle rank; his sermons were remarkably sound and well adapted; and how much more
the church might have been benefited, if all his labours and studies had been yielded to her, may partly be estimated from his
indefatigable diligence in the course of his juridicial life and labours. 

 

His reading of late years was chiefly confined to the laws of his country; and of his legal knowledge, his friends and neighbours,
rich and poor, largely participated. 

 

It may certainly be lamented by all who are zealous for the welfare of the church, that so much of his time was thus employed: but
though early life (from the improper fashion of those and succeeding periods, and possibly from a compliance with his patron's
wishes) he accepted the magisterial office: yet, even in critical times, he kept himself so uprightly in it, and so unbiassed, that
from his justiciary the country found safety and security, a shield and defence. Neither did this good man add to himself other
secular offices unsuitable to the clerical order. 

 

His modesty and moderation were also remarkable; though conscious of superior knowledge, he often gave place to slender and small
pretensions; as a divine he could refuse a high dignity and situation when offered and pressed upon him; as a magistrate he could
condescend to listen to and strengthen the feeblest, and often "searched for the cause which he knew not;" as a man he was sober,
temperate, humble, and charitable; and lastly, it pleased God to grant him one of the mercies for which Bishop ANDREWS prayed, "to
die with as little pain as may be." 

 

 

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