Lowell, Charles

Lowell, Charles D.D., a Unitarian Congregational minister of note, son of judge John Lowell, to whom Massachusetts is indebted for the clause in her Constitution which abolished slavery, was born in Boston August 15, 1782, and was educated first at Andover Academy, and later at Harvard College, class of 1800. After graduation he went abroad, and traveled extensively in the Old World. At Edinburgh he entered the divinity school of the university, and spent there three semesters. On his return home he studied theology with Reverend Dr. Zedekiah Sanger, of South Bridgewater, and Rev. David Tappan, professor of divinity at Cambridge, and was ordained pastor over the West Church, in Boston, January 1, 1806. In 1837 his feeble health demanded relief, and the Reverend Cyrus A. Bartol was ordained as his colleague. Dr. Lowell continued his pastoral connection until his death (at Cambridge, January 20, 1861), although he officiated but occasionally. He was remarkable for kindness, integrity, directness and simplicity of character, and was a most zealous and consistent opponent of slavery. As a preacher his popularity was eminent, and he was almost adored by his parishioners. Graceful as an orator, with a voice of uncommon sweetness, he preached with such an ardor and sincerity that he seemed to his hearers to be almost divinely inspired. He published some twenty different discourses, a volume of Occasionals Sermons (Bost. 1856, 12mo), and a volume of Practical Sermons (1856): — Meditations for the Afflicted, Sick, and Dying; and Devotional Exercisesfor Communicants. He also contributed largely to the periodical literature of his day. Among his surviving children are Prof. Lowell, the poet; the Reverend Robert Lowell, author of "The New Priest in Conception Bay," a novel of Newfoundland life; and Mrs. Putnam, the well-known writer on Hungarian history. See Christian Examiner, 1870, page 389; Thomas, Dict. of Biog. and Mythol. s.v.; Drake, Dict. Am. Biog. s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Am. Authors, s.v.