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SidelightsontheHistoryandPersonalityoftheVenerableWilliamClowes

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TranscriptionofArticleinthePrimitiveMethodistMagazinebyJ.T.HorneCLOSINGWORDS.THEsacrificesmadebytheseworkingpotterstopayWilliamClowestenshillingsaweek,putstheminahighrankamongsttheworld’sbenefactors.Theyhadbroodedoverthespiritualdestitutionoftheirfellowsuntiltheirheartsrosetotheheroicdecisiontogivethemselvesfortheirsalvation.ItwasaholyresolutiontobuildthestructureoftheircharacteraccordingtothepatternshownthemattheCross.Inactingthustheywerenotconsciousthattheyweredoingabravething,anditisthatelementofunconsciousnesswhichproclaimsitsgreatness.Wehaveheardofmanysuchinstancesofsacrificeconnectedwithourorigin.Thefactis,onlyaportion-averysmallportion-ofthehistoryofthosedays,hasbeenwritten,andtheunwrittenparthasoftenbeenthebestormostinterestingportion.Afewthingsweknow-justalittleofwhatcametothesurface-buttheinteriorisbeyondourken.Thecrustoftheearthshowsthefruits,flowersandlandscapes,butitconcealsthevolcanicfiresbeneath;sothewordsandworkswhichweknowaresomethingliketheouterfeaturesoftheearth,butwhatdoweknowoftheinterior,ofthevolcanicfiresbeneaththesurface-whichdominatedanddirectedtheseoutermanifestations?TheyareknownonlytotheworkersandtheirGod.TomakethispaymenttoClowesthefamilyofNixonseveraltimeswentwithoutfood.IthadbeenmutuallyarrangedthatheandWoodnorthshouldmakethepaymentonalternateSaturdays,butoccasionallyworkwasshortatthepottery,andatsuchtimesthewholeweeklywagedidnotmuchexceedtenshillings.HisdaughtertoldusthatonceafterpayingthestipulatedamountNixonwasleftwithsixpenceforthefamily’sfoodfortheweek.ThenextdayherfatherwasplannedtopreachataplacesomedistancefromTunstall;andhestartedinthemorningwithoutanybreakfast,gatheringblackberriesashewalkedalongtheroadtosatisfyhishunger.Heconductedthreeservices,butnoonegavehimfood,andwhenbecommencedhishomewardjourney,footsoreandhungered,healmostfaintedbytheway.Hisroadtookhimbyafriend’shouse,wherehehopedtogetapieceofbread,butwhenhereachedtheplacehefoundthedoorwasbolted,asthefamilyhadretiredforthenight.Staggeringtothehouse,inhisweakconditionhefellagainstthedoor,andthenoiseawokethesleepingman,whoquicklydescendedtoascertainthecauseofthedisturbance.FindingNixonoutside,andlearninghisfamishingconditionheplacedbeforehimaplentifulsupplyoffood.Aftersatisfyinghisneeds,andrestingforawhile,heresumedhisjourney,reachinghomeintheearlyhoursofthemorning.ButthesufferingswerenotallconfinedtothehouseofNixon,forthefamilyoftheEvangelistsharedthehardships.Atotalincomeoftenshillingsaweekwasasmallamountforthesupplyofthehouseholdneeds.Mrs.Cloweswascompelledtousethecoarsestfood,andsheandherhusbandveryoftendinedoffalittlesuetandpotatoes,orapieceofbreadandadrinkofwater.ButeventheseprivationswereinsufficienttokeepthehouseholdexpenditurewithintheincomeandWilliam

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Clowessoldhisfeatherbedtosupplyhisneeds.Suchafactinourhistoryis“significantofmuch!”Whataninwarddramaliesbehindsuchanactifwecouldonlygetatit!Whatstrangethoughtsmusthavepassedthroughhismindwhenhefoundhimselfreducedtosuchstraits!WecanseehisbleedingfeetasheclimbstheruggedsteepsofCalvary,with“thecrossthatlooksnotback.”Hereisahighlystrung,unworldly,sensitivenature,pulsatingwithnewideas,withasoulthrobbingwithintenseresponsetothespiritualneedsofthepeople,yetreducedtothealternativeofmakingcompromisewithsinandrefusingananswertotheMacedoniancry;orsellinghisfeatherbedtosupplyhishouseholdneedsasherespondstothatgreatimpulsewhichdrovehimout,“notknowingwhitherhewent.”ThiswasanactofheroismassublimeasthatofGeorgeFox’s,whenhemadehimselfaleathersuitthathemightbetterprosecutethismission;andallthelightuponitwhichcomesfromlaterinquiriesonlygivesitgreaterprominence,andshowsittohavebeenofsuchaqualitythatClowesisworthyofaplaceamongstthepeersinthekingdomofgrace.Passingwithhimintohiswiderspherewithitstumultsandtriumphs,itsconflictsandconquests,wemustnotforgetthosewhomheleftatTunstall.WeshouldnotbeunmindfulofthepartwhichMrs.Clowesplayedinthegreatsurrender.Itisprobable,allthingsconsidered,thathersacrificewasgreaterthanhis.Hesays,“WhenIwascalledtoleaveherforlongperiods,therewasaninterruptionofconjugalanddomesticcomfort,whichwaspainfultousboth,butespeciallytomywife.Herdistresswasoftenextreme,buttheLordcametoherhelp.”Letusnotforgetthispatientwomanwhosublimelygaveuphomecomforts,andsurrenderedthesocietyofherhusbandformonthstogether.Patheticstorieshavebeentoldusoftheirpartingswhenheleftherforhislongmissionaryjourneys.Foralongtimeshewasthesubjectofmentalderangement,andshefinallysankintoconfirmedinsanity.Thisconsiderablyincreasedthedomesticdifficulties,andseveraldistressingtalesaretoldofherconductwhileinchargeofherfriendsatTunstall.Beforetheendcamehermindnearlyrecovereditsnormalstrength,andshediedatTunstallinJanuary,1833.Mrs.Woodtoldusthat“shewasburiedinthesamegraveasMrs.HutchinsonwhosehusbandwasatravellingpreacheratTunstall.HergraveisalongsidethatofmymotherinTunstallChurchyard.”Afterconsiderablesearchingwefoundthespot,butthegravewasovergrownwithlonggrass,whichconcealedtheslab.Thefaceofthestonewas“peeled,”andsomeofthelettershadbeenobliterated.Thephotographerexperienceddifficultyingettingapictureofthestone,andnowhehasonlyshownveryindistinctlytheremainingletters.OnehalfofthefacewasoriginallygiventotheinscriptionrelatingtoMrs.Clowes,andtheremainingportionwasdevotedtothefactsrelatingtoMrs.Hutchinson.

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Mrs.Woodtellsratheraweirdstoryconcerningheraunt.Shesaysthathernephew,WilliamClowes,Junr.,“wasgoingtohisworkbetweenfiveandsixo’clockonthemorningofherdeath,andhewasalarmedatseeing,whathethoughtwasMrs.ClowessittingonthestepsoftheMarketHall.Herushedbacktohishouseingreatexcitement,andreachingthefootofthestairs,hecalledtohisfather,saying,‘Getup,father,atonce,forIhaveseenAuntHannah.SheissittingontheMarketstepsinhernightdress.’”Onthatdayandexactlyatthathourshedied.ThesuccessofClowesontheMissionfieldwasasubjectinwhichhisoldfriendsandmembersatTunstalltookthekeenestinterest,anditisnotpossibletosayhowmuchthatsuccesswasrelatedtotheirprayers.Theywerecertainlyofone“accord,”iftheywerenotin“oneplace.”TheevidencepointstotherelationshipbetweenClowesandNixon,asofthestrongestandstrangestcharacter.Itappearstohavebeenofsuchamysteriousnaturethatonespiritruledthetwomen,andinanyconflictinwhichonewasengagedtheotherwasasharer.Thereisabundantevidencetoshowthathoweverfaraparttheymightbeonehadaknowledgeofthedoingsoftheother.Itseemedthattheypossessedincommonsomeindefinablequalitybywhichtheyhadthepowertoprojecttheirfacultiesthroughspace,andnotonlycommunicate,butwatchthemovementsanddoingsofeachother.Scienceisshowingtousthattheoutsideuniversecontainsinnumerablemysteriousqualitiestheoperationsofwhichhavenotyetbeenformulatedintolaws,andperhapsitwillbemadeknowntousthatmanhasinhimselfelementscorrespondingtotheseunknownonesintheoutsideworld.Ormaytheexplanationbefoundinwhatappearstobethefact,thatClowesandNixonhadsofreelyandfullyreceivedGodintothelowestandoutermostboundsoftheirnature?TospeakphilosophicallytheDivineSpiritsowroughtinthemthattheybecamespiritualized,andphysicallawsweresupersededbyspirituallaws.Isthisamystery?Doesitappeartovergeontheromantic?Cansoulsbecomesoknittogether,thatspaceisannihilated,andoneperson’swill-orfaith-influencesanother?Isitpossibletoreachthatconditioninwhichmindassertsitssovereignty,andbringsmattersthoroughlyunderitscontrol?Lethistoryspeak.HerearetwomenwhodweltinthesecretplaceoftheMostHigh,andrenewedtheirstrengthundertheshadowoftheAlmighty,andtheysimplyturnedimpossibilitiesintoaccomplishedfacts.ThefollowingrevealingsentencesaretakenfromourconversationswithClowes’niece.“JamesNixonandunclehadfixedhoursforprayer.SometimeswhenNixonwasatmother’s,asthetimeforprayerapproachedhewouldsaytoher,‘ImustbegoingforitistimeformetomeetWill.’Itwasaverycommonthingformothertoaskhimaboutuncle’shealth,andhecouldalwaystellher.Weallseemedtotakeitforgrantedthatheknewallthathewasdoing.IrememberoncewhileunclewasatHullthatmothersaidtohim,‘Jim,haveyouheardhowClowesis?’Hisanswerimpressedmeatthetimeasbeingratherstrange,forhesaid,‘Isawhimlastnight,andhewassoweakthathecouldnotwalkroundhisClass,buthehadtokeephisseatalltheevening.’”Manysuchincidentshavebeentoldus,andtheymustnotbeignoredinestimatingthecharacterofClowes.Heroisanothertakenfromournotes.DuringavisitwhichhemadetoBirmingham,Nixon,whowasatTunstallsawthemailcoacharrive,andthatMr.Garnerwastheretomeethim.HenoticedthathespokesharplytoMr.Garner.AfewdaysafterClowescameontoTunstall,and

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duringtheirinterviewNixonaskedhimthesubjectoftheirconversation,andwhyhehad,spokeninsuchamanner.HisreplywewillgiveinthewordsofMrs.Thelwell.‘‘Ihadaskedhimnottoarrangeformetoattendanyservices,asmyhealthwouldnotpermitmetospeak,andhetoldmethatIwasexpectedtoaddresstwomeetings.Itwastoobadforhimtodoso.”ItwascommonknowledgeatTunstallthatNixonknewwhetherCloweshadagoodtimeathisservices.Manyinterestingincidentsrelatingtothissubjectwerecontainedintheircorrespondence.Foralongtimetheseletterswerepreservedbythefamily,buttheywerelenttoafriendbyMrs.Thelwell,andneverreturned,andtheirwhereaboutscannotnowbeascertained.Inreplytoourenquiryhowherfatherobtainedthisknowledgewereceivedthisanswer.“IamafraidIcannottellyoumuch.Hetoldmethatsometimeswhenhewasprayinganimpressionwasmadeuponhissoul,andhealwaysattachedgreatimportancetosuchimpressions.Ihaveseenhimwhenhehascomefromhis‘kneework’withafarawaylookinhiseyes,andatsuchtimeshecouldtellusthekindofservicesCloweswasholding,andthenumberofconvertsathismeetings.IamquitesurehewastoldbyGod,forheusedtospendhoursinprayer.”WehavegivenbutthebriefesthintsofwhatcouldbewrittenconcerningthisfeatureinthelifeofClowes.Somewhohavespokentousonthesubjecthavespeculatedveryfreelyonthequalityofthisrelationship.Tousthepivotonwhichthewholequestionturnsisthatofpersonality-themanhimself.Itmaybethatalongtheselines,revelationsonthissubjectareyetinstoreforhumanity.HavinglefthissecularemploymentClowescommencedacourseofHomeMissionarylabourswhichfindsfew,ifany,parallelsinmodernhistory.Inthisworkheandhiscompeersweresingularlyinadvanceofthetimes,andatleasthalfacenturyaheadofthegeneralityofChristianworkers.Outofdoorpreachingwasthenconsideredanintolerableinnovation,andbigotryandprejudicewererampant.EvenmembersandleadersofNonconformistchurchestreatedtheopen-airEvangelistastheoff-scouringoftheearth.Allthisischangedto-day,forhighdignitariesoftheEstablishmentzealouslycarrytheirmessagetotheworkingpeopleinthehighwaysandlanes,thestreetsandmarketplaces,andareapplaudedfortheirholyenthusiasm.ButsurelysuchworkersshouldnotforgettheirindebtednesstoWilliamClowesandhiscolleaguesforhavingsetthemsuchatbrilliantandsuccessfulexampleof“Howtoreachthemasses.”AfterallthathasbeenwrittenitishighlyprobablethatCloweswillremainacomparativelyunknownman.Hisnoblestpicturecannotbedrawnbythepen,norwillhisrichestexperienceseverbetoldbybooks.Hewascontenttoleavetoposteritytheonlyauthenticrecordofhiswonderfulworksinwhathecallshispublished"Journals,”oneofthefewlivebooksproducedbyourChurch,andwhichtheConferenceoughttore-publishinconnectionwiththeCentenary.Ifwecouldonlyhavehadthesecrethistoryofhisprayerroom,whatarevelationwouldhavebeengiven,forsurelytherarestinspirationresteduponhiminthatplace.ThelateRev.CharlesShaw,anativeofTunstall,andformanyyearsaleadingministeroftheMethodistNewConnexion,toldusthathehadheardhimmanytimes,butheneverknewonewhocouldoffersuchprayers.

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Thebeautyoftheimagerywhichheemployed,thefreshnessandvarietyofhispetitions,andthewonderfulunctionwhichattendedhisutterances,madethewholeexerciseremarkablyimpressive.TheholyawewhichrestedonuswhilstClowesprayedisindescribable.”Theresultsofhislabourscannotbechronicled.Hisbiographer,Mr.Davison,says:“Hisconvertsaretobefoundinmanylandsandindifferentgradesofsociety.Wehaveheardandseenthematthepotters’wheelsinStaffordshire;inthecollieriesofNorthumberlandandDurham;intheshipsandfishingboatsonthecoasts;onthefarmsofYorkshire;inthemillsofLancashire;amongthemenofbusinessinourtownsandcities;andinthedepthsoftheCanadianforests.”Fromamusterofanecdotesillustratinghisabsorptioninhisworkwecanonlyfindroomforone.HewassojourningforawhileatafarmhouseinYorkshire.HishostperceivedthatwhoevercameinhiswayheardfromhimafewwordsontheimportanceofbeingrightwithGod.Intheestablishmentwasaman-servantwhowasdaringlywicked,andfearingthatifanythingseriouswassaidtohimhewouldinsultMr.Clowes,thehostbeggedthatwhenthemancameintodinnerMr.Cloweswouldallowhimtopassinsilence.Clowessmiledandmadenoanswer.Thedinnerhourarrived.Hesaidverylittletotheyouth,andscarcelyspokeatthetable.Insteadofstandingupashismannerinvariablywastoreturnthanks,hequicklyrosefromhisseatandsaid,“Letusprayaminute.”Therewasonlyonedoorbywhichtheyouthcouldleavetheroom.Clowessteppedtoit,closedit,andkneltdownsoclosebehinditthattillhemoveditcouldnotbeopened.BeforethehouseholdhadmuchtimetothinkhewasuponhiskneespouringouthishearttoGod.Thedangeroftheyoungmanwastheburdenofhissoul,andhisnamewastheprincipalsubjectofhissupplication.Theprayerwhichheofferedwastheprayeroffaith.ThesubduingpowerofGodmightilydescended,andtheawe-strickenyouthcouldresistnolonger.Hisconsciencewasfilledwithdeepanguish,andfallinguponhiskneesinthebitternessofhissoulhecriedforsalvation,andthescenespeedilyandsafelyendedinhisconversion.Inclosingour“Sidelights”wemaybepermittedapersonalreference.DuringourstayatTunstall,inconnectionwiththerenovationofJubileeChapel,itwastousalabouroflovetointroduceaMemorialWindow,dedicatedtoourFounders.Thewindowisplacedatthesouthendofthathistoricbuilding,andisahandsomestainedglassrepresentationoftheSaviourrobedinred,withaCrownofThornsuponHisbrow.Underneathisinscribedthetext,“Thepeoplethatwalkindarknesshaveseenagreatlight;theythatdwellinthelandoftheshadowofdeathuponthemhaththelightshined.”Isaiahix.2.Belowisthefollowinginscription,“ThiswindowisdedicatedtothegloryofGodinlovingmemoryofHughBourneandWilliamClowes,throughwhoseunselfishheroismandself-forgetfultoilthePrimitiveMethodist

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Churchwasfounded.A.D.1905.”ThisisnottheonlyreferencetoClowesintheChurch,forinthecentrelightintheWestsidedownstairs,weplacedapairofpanelscontainingpictorialrepresentationsofBourneandClowes,whichwerepresentedbytheRev.H.B.Kendall,B.A.,inmemoryofhissonMr.HerbertSissonsKendall,bywhomtheyweredesignedandexecuted.WehavereadmuchandheardmoreofthesayingsanddoingsofWilliamClowes,andwearefirmlypersuadedthathewasoneofthemostremarkablemenofmoderntimes.Hewasanapostolicman,andifhisrecordcouldhavebeenwrittenitwouldhaveaddedanewchaptertothe“ActsoftheApostles.”

__________________________________________________________________________________ReferencesPrimitive Methodist Magazine 1906/969