RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Love Lowtb
of Hanover expressly stipulated that the state commissary, who was to be present at every synod, have a seat, but not a vote. There were at first five French and three German congregations of the confederation. In 1708 a German-Dutch and a Huguenot congregation in Brunswick joined the confederation; in 1711 the German Reformed congregation of Miinden (Hanover) was included, followed, in 1753, by the Reformed in Gottingen, and finally, in 1890, by the congregation of Altona. On account of the removal of Huguenots to the large cities, their congregations dwindled and were finally united with the local German congregations. The first to suffer this fate was the congregation at Biickeburg (1755), followed by those of Celle (1805), Brunswick (1811), and Hanover (1812), while the congregation of Hameln was dissolved altogether.
Since 1812 the confederation has consisted of the congregations of Brunswick, Biickeburg, Celle, Hanover, Gottingen, and Miinden, with Altona since 1890. In 1824 the congregations of the kingdom of Hanover were recognized as possessing equal rights with the Lutheran churches, and as having the rank of state churches. In 1839 a new agenda for all congregations of the federation was adopted which guards the independence of the individual congregations but vests the ultimate authority in matters affecting church discipline and doctrine in a synod of the whole confederation. The State adheres to the right of its territorial power; and the resolutions of the synod must be confirmed by the State. The election of a minister formerly required the consent of the government, and the general state laws in Prussia still require that it be communicated to the provincial president, who may veto the election within thirty days. In sentences of synods in matters of discipline the right of an appeal de abusu to the government is recognized. The presbyteries and synods have remarkably advanced the life of the Church and of the educational institutions as well as the material resources of the communities. From the first the confederation provided for the surviving members of the families of their pastors, and at a later time also of their teachers. The widows' fund, founded in 1706, has a capital that would amount to 60,000 marks for each congregation. The confederation has sought to live in peace with its Lutheran neighbors. In the agenda of 1711 the synod adopted the resolution of the Conference of Charenton (1631), according to which Lutherans are permitted to take part in the worship of the Reformed Church without sacrificing their own confession. (F. H. Brandes.)
Bibliography: T. Hugues, Die Konfoderation der reformierten Kirchen in Niedersachsen, Celle, 1873; the publications of the German Hugenotten-Verein, particularly the Geschichtsbl&Uer, Magdeburg, 1891 sqq., in which the contributions of Drs. F. Albrecht, F. H. Brandes, H. Tollin and H. Villaret are especially pertinent.
LOWRIE, lau'ri, SAMUEL THOMPSON: Presbyterian; b. at Pittsburg, Pa., Feb. 8, 1835. He was graduated from Miami University (B.A., 1852) and Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pa. (1855); remained for an additional year at Allegheny, after which he spent two semesters at the University of Heidelberg (1856-57). After being
pastor of the Presbyterian church at Alexandria Pa., from 1858 to 1863, he spent nine months at Berlin, and then held pastorates in his denomination at Bethany Church, Philadelphia (1865-69), and Abington, Pa. (1869-74). From 1874 to 1878 he was professor of New-Testament literature and exegesis in Western Theological Seminary, after which he returned to the ministry, being pastor of Ewing Church, near Trenton, N. J., in 1879-85 and chaplain of the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia, as well as minister of a mission Sundayschool (now Emmanuel Presbyterian Church) in the same city, in 1886-89. From 1891 to 1896 he was co-pastor with T. W. J. Wylie, of the Wylie Memorial Church, Philadelphia. He was also corresponding secretary of the Presbyterian Historical Society from 1893 to 1906, when he retired from active life. In addition to assisting D. Moore in preparing the volume on Isaiah for the American Lange series (New York, 1878) and A. Gosman in preparing Numbers for the same series (1879), he has translated H. Cremer's Ueber den Zustand nach dem Tode (Giitersloh, 1883) under the title Beyond the Grave (New York, 1885), and written Explanation of the Epistle to the Hebrews (1884) and The Lord's Supper (1888).
LOWRIE, WALTER: Statesman and missionary secretary; b. near Edinburgh, Scotland, Dec. 10, 1784; d. in New York City Dec. 14, 1868. He was brought to America when eight years of age; studied for the ministry with marked zeal and swift progress, but, being prevented from finishing his studies, went into politics, and in 1811 was chosen to the senate of the State of Pennsylvania; after seven years' service there he was United States senator, Dec. 6, 1819-Mar. 3, 1825. At the expiration of his term he was made secretary of the senate of the United States, serving till 1836 when he became secretary of the missionary society of the synod of Pittsburg, which became, the year following, the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. He was corresponding secretary of this organization until his retirement in 1868, shortly before his death, and to his faithful service much of the great success attained by the board must be attributed.
LOWRY, ROBERT: American Baptist; b. in Philadelphia Mar. 12, 1826; d. at Plainfield, N. J., Nov. 23, 1899. He was graduated at Lewisburg University (1854). He was pastor at West Chester, Penn. (1854-58); in New York (1858-61); in Brooklyn (1861-69); at Lewisburg, Penn. (1869- 1875); and at Plainfield, N. J. (1876-85). He was professor of belles-lettres in Lewisburg University (1869-75). He was the editor of several popular hymnals, and also wrote a number of hymns, the best-known of which are " Shall we gather at the river," " One more day's work for Jesus," and " Where is my wandering boy to-night? " Bibliography: S. W. Duffield, English Hymns, p. 479,
New York, 1886; Julian, Hymnology, pp. 699-700.
LOWTH, lauth, ROBERT: Bishop of London; b. at Winchester Nov. 27, 1710; d. in London Nov. 3, 1787- He was a son of William Lowth (q.v.)
Lowth, William Lucian the Martyr