The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-09-01
DOWie'S Plan a Fraud.

DOwie's Plan a Fraud.
The Advance received from the
Rev. W. A. Putnam, pastor of the Nj.
E. church at Rushmore, Mimi, the
following communication which is
herewith presented. Mr.. Putnam
says plainly that the Dowie divine
healing plan is fraud:
81 am ex-pastor of DR.. Dowie's
singing evangelist, F. A. Graves, who
induced one OF his old friends in Ran
som, Mimi, to kill his hogs flor Jesus
sake" July IL, 1899.
The many reported cures through
DR.. Dowie induced some here to have
some faith in their doctrine, but Mr..
Graves unkind and unchristian Ian
guage, together with the killing of
thirty two hogs and pigs, and also the
careful investigation of many of their
alleged cures. finding them fraudu-
lent, has turned even the best of his
friends against the cause he cham
pions.
verify believe if he could go every
where, talking and acting as he did
here few weeks ago, Dowleism would
receive its death blow. His best
friends are greatly incensed against
him, and not one l am satisfied, has
been convinced or convicted by his
addresses here. But lest the glowing
report which he gives of his recent
work here shall deceive Others, wish
to publish few facts.
In introducing F. A. Graves of hog
killing fame, DR.. Dowie stated that
he was soon to marry a Miss VIVA l.
Peck whom he claims under God to
have healed of double curvature of
the spine, Bright's disease Of the kid
neys, heart trouble, partial blindness
aud some ailment of the feet. Hers
is claimed to be the best testimony
to divine healing DR.. Dowie has had,
but one clause in her testimony arous-
ed my suspicion, and l Immediately
wrote her former pastor relative 10
her case and received the following
reply.
miss Peck intends to be a person
of truth and veracity but inclined to
greatly exaggerate the facts. know
she was not afflicted with curvature
of the spine, Bright's disease and
heart trouble at the time of the al
legged cure by DR.. Dowie. She had
convalesced nearly to recovery. She
is we'll; her neighbors believer her
cured, but I do not know of any who
believe her miraculously cured.'
l also wrote her ex-physician who
replied to the effect that while she
was troubled with Bright's disease in
it's first stages and heart trouble, he
was not prepared to say that she had
curvature of the spine or that she was
healed by DR.. Dowie.
Also anyone who will be at pains
to read the testimonies of her parents
and sisters will see that they are
guardedly evasive.
I have investigated all of DR.. Dow
les reported cures that have come
under my notice and have found no
clear cases. They perhaps were not
altogether fabricated, but were doubt
less largely imaginary, the result of
melancholia or lack of will power to
repel.
However, without doubt some we're
aroused from their condition by him.
In "Leaves of Healing" July l,
1899, DR.. Dowie states that he had
baptised two of Bishop Ninde's sons
with the full consent of their mother
and he supposed of their father. This
aroused my suspicion and I wrote the
the bishop, and in his absence re-
ceived the following reply from his
wife:
"Our two dear boys were baptised at
DR.. Dowie's home but not into his
church as one would infer from their
report.) We we're sorry that they
we're baptised. 1t was mistake for
them to receive baptism there, though
at the time they thought that it was
right. They would not do it again,
DR.. Dowie made it appear to them
that their healing depended upon
their receiving baptism"
The hog killing which occurred in
Ransom, Mimi, July Is, 1899, under
the direction of F. A. Graves, as a re-.
ligious tenet, was blot on that
hitherto quiet and harmonious com
nunity. There are nope now who
are pleased with the affair and I trust
that none here will be led away with
the idea. Even those whose bops
we're killed have decided to consider
the matter further before embracing
It; and are already sorry they have
killed their hogs as they did.
Mr.. Graves has turned manv
against him and his cause by his un.
kind and unbrotherly remarks. In
his address on the Sabbath he called
people liars, accused some of selling
diseased hogs knowingly. Declared |
that none but himself could offer a |
prayer of faith. Denounced all secret |
societies even calling their mutual |
protect on robbery. Asserted that a |
lovely girl who recently died here
was killed by the devil. He also
magnified and colored his work here
30 az to make It appear in the Leaves