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Memoir of the Rev. Walter M. Lowrie.
SEP.
the Chinese who were in the habit of holding intercourse with him, and they had an exalted opinion of his character.
As a preacher he was always instructive and interesting. He made no pretensions to eloquent oratory, but his delivery was solemn and appropriate, and there was an originality and solidity in his sermons which rendered them impressive, and fixed the attention of his hearers.
His qualifications as a missionary were of a superior order. His amiable and cheerful temper, his sound judgment, his superior natural talents eminently fitted him for this work. Besides this, his untiring industry and perseverance were such as to enable him to accomplish tasks in the most unfavorable circumstances which others would shrink from undertaking. One of his venerable instructors in the theological seminary says of him, that he was capable of enduring a greater amount of continuous literary labor than almost any man he ever knew. But above all, his piety was of that sober, steady, earnest kind, which peculiarly fits a man for meeting the difficulties, trials, and temptations which fall to the missionary's lot. His path was as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. He enjoyed much of the pleasures of religion. His hope seems to have been always bright, though his experience was not always joyful. Sometimes he was cast down and sorrowful, complaining of spiritual desertion and wandering from God. To others, however, even while he was "writing bitter things against himself," it was evident that he was growing in grace and spirituality of mind. This was especially the case during the latter part of his course. His Heavenly Father was preparing him for his great change. Why one so young, and giving so much promise of usefulness, should be thus suddenly cut down, is one of those mysteries of Providence which we know not now, but shall know hereafter.
His remains were never recovered. They rest in peace under the care of Him who will yet fashion them like unto his own glorious body. They rest until the sea shall give up its dead-until that day for which he had "an inexpressible longing," when the Lord shall come again to earth, and all those who love him shall be caught up to meet him in the air. A cenotaph was erected to his memory by his colleagues, a drawing of which, with the inscription, is given at the close of the volume.
L. N. N.