The age-herald., 1900-08-18
ZION'S OVERSEER
On His Way to Jerusalem Put Up at
 New York

From the New York Herald.
 Travelling in the magnificent style of an Indian rajah, there arrived here yesterday John Alexander Dowie, ten years ago a 'poor parson," and today, by his own con- fession, more than twice a millionaire. He declaims the title of a healer. and scouts the theories of Christian science, yet thou sands believe that he was the instrument of curing their infirmities. He has been re. viled, mobbed and imprisoned more times than he himself can count, yet through op- position which would have speedily ended the career of an ordinary man, this re- markable person prospered and his pocket book bulged with fatness.
 He calls himself the general overseer of the Christian Catholic church in Zion. He registered at the Murray Hill Hotel yester- day as from "Chicago-Zion." He is on his way to the old world and at the dawn of the twentieth century, in fulfillment of a VOW made years ago, he expects to enter Jerusalem He is the sole trustee, and, in fact, the owner of vast properties and en- terprises which his followers have created by contributing to the "cause' one-tenth of their incomes. He has a bank, a print ing house, land company, many taber- nacles, and, in fact, whole town with de- veloping industries, which are under his cirect control He also has institutions known as houses of healing, which are practically faith cure sanitariums.
 He will sail for Europe this morning at 5:3o on the Graf Waldersee of the Ham, burg-Ameriean line. He is accompanied by his family, and in addition he has a valet, private secretary and stenographer, who are in constant attendance.
 His followers in Chicago accorded to him an enthusiastic farewell. He had a private car, which the Michigan Central placed at the disposal of his party. He was met st yrcrhl ia l,xrC "a nj ia in, f2 2r passenger agent of the New York Central, who did everything possible to assist the general overseer in his triumphal entry into New York.
 The party was conveyed to the Murray Hill hotel, block away from the Grand Central station, in landaus. After them came the baggage, seventy-one pieces in all which was transported to the Graf Walder- see at her Hoboken pier.
 The doctor went on board the Graf Wal dersee with look of ineffable exultation upon his face The stewards hastened to do his bidding. Six of his guard followed him about the vessel Half a score of gray-haired women in black silk and with old-fash- toned brooches at their threats went into the cabin where the doctor was sitting and silently contemplated him. With a look of glad recognition the doctor saw the re- porters.
 In appearance John Alexander Dowie is distinguished. His forehead is broad and high His eyes are keen and he has way of looking at his listeners which holds the attention. He wears a long gray beard. His hair is half gray, half black. He wore a baggy, light gray suit and a slouch hat In dress he was not unlike a prosperous planter. He is well educated. keen witted Scotchman.
 His air of exultation wore off as he talked, the mannerisms dropped from his speech, and he was revealed as a shrewd, hard-headed financier, who was not a little proud of the fact.
 He talked for an hour of his life and his work His followers, he said, gave a tenth of their incomes to the organization, and in return were singularly blessed. In fact he said that those who had been poor working men were getting rich. A follower of the doctor must neither use medicine, drink alcohol use tobacco, go to theatres or races or eat the flesh of swine.
 'They are able to give bill on that account" said the doctor.
 Briefly outlined from his own elaborate explanation of it, the doctors financial suc- cess is the result of business abiliy of a high order. He told me that within the last nine years he had received $975, 900, and of this amount he had taken only $25, ,000 for his personal use. The rest he had put into the organization of which he is the overseer.
 He bought 6,5OO acres of land near Wau- kegan, Wis, forty-two miles from Chicago, and he managed the purchase so adroitly that. as he said with a chuckle, nobody knew he was buying it. The overseer per scnally holds the title. He says that he has made will giving his wife dowry and practically giving all the property in perpetuity to the church which he has founded.
 When asked how much the church was worth, he replied:
 Some say a million and & half and oth- CTS five millions. I should say two nil- lions. That is pretty good, is it not. for a poor parson who started with nothing?
 T taught" said the doctor, that Christ ians should co-operata. As a result of