Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers

Sketches Of

Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers

LUNAH W. LOWE

(pages 340 - 341)

Elder Lunah Lowe was born in Grainger County, Tenn., about seven miles from Rutledge, November 26, 1820, and died at his home, one mile east of Rutledge, June 13, 1894. He spent the most of his life in his native county, and was known by almost everybody in the county. He made a profession of religion and was baptized early in life, casting his lot with the Baptists. Yielding to his impressions to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ he was ordained to the work of the ministry by authority of the Blackwell's Branch Church, and served as pastor, at one time or another, the following church Central Point, Head of Richland, Mouth of Richland, Little Valley, Puncheon Camp, Beech Grove, Blackwell's Branch, Kidwell's Ridge, Macedonia, Poplar Springs, Indian Ridge, Block House, Locust Grove, and perhaps another church or two. He was popular as a pastor and enjoyed the respect and esteem of the churches to which he ministered and of the community in which he lived. His moral character was above reproach. He was not only a pastor, beloved and respected, but was a successful revivalist. His Bible was his sole textbook, his only and all-sufficient rule and authority for doctrine and practice, which fact made him a pronounced Baptist. He believed in missions and pastoral support, thought that "the laborer was worthy of his hire," but, like many other preachers of his day, did not stipulate with his churches for a fixed salary. He had a number of striking sermons, prepared for special occasions, which he preached with great power and impressiveness, notably one on Faith, in which he was said to have reached "towering heights for a man of his education." At the time of his death he was a member of the Rutledge Church, to the upbuilding and advancement of which, for many years, he had devoted his energy and ability. He was buried in the Methodist burying ground at Rutledge.

In his young manhood he was married to Mary Ferguson, to which union were born four sons and two daughters. He is survived by his four sons (all of them now old men) and one daughter, his widow having followed her husband to the better country some years ago. Earth was made poorer but heaven richer by the passing of Lunah Lowe.

Burnett, J .J. Sketches of Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers. Nashville, Tenn.: Press of Marshall & Bruce Company, 1919.

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