The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-13
Elijah II.

Closely akin in nature T. the humbUg
known rs the Church Of Christ Scien-
tist'' is the "ZionIte" sect. of which
John Alexander Dowie IS the putative
father and head Not long since this
unbIushing fraud cooIy announced
from the platform Of the Auditorium
Theatre, in Chicago. that he was Elijah
Il It seems, though. that he was not
willing TO let the matter rest upon the
basis Of this personal claim. 50 he called
a meeting Of his elders. oveTseers, dea-
cons, and deac0nesses, and had them
vote upon the proposition Of whether he
was or was not Elijah II.
The public was not in the least sur
prfsed at the vote. which was an
noUnced as 249 in the affirmative and
II the negative The result was an alb
soIuteIy f0reg0ne concIusion-just as
certain as if the great apostle" had
shut himself up in a private room and
cast the vote personally The single
thing connected with the ridiculous af-
fair that in any way runs counter to
what was generally expected Is the cir
cumstance that there were any dissent
ing votes at all. This, however, can
only be ascribed to a faint cloud which
for a moment east its shadow over
Brother Dowie's spiritual vision. There
was a slight break in the perfect clear
ness Of his inspiration. which prevent
ed him from knowing in advance ex-
actIy what the vote would be But as
he was off in his calculation only TO the
extent Of about two per cent Of the
total vote. i must be acknowledged
that he did very well Even IN Elijah
il can hardly be expected 10 fOresee and
guard against every little contingency.
Besides, since the vote was taken this
new prophet" has been prompt. ener-
setic, and, perhaps, efficient il his
measures, taken for the purpose Of rec
tifying the-error that was Inadvertently
allowed TO creep in and mar the har-
mony of this highly important and in
teresting proceeding. Two Of the dis
senters were at once expelled from the
sect, and the other three were placed
on probation. The two who were ex-
PEELED were Japs. Il would never have
done TO allow them to retain their
standing. and, as members Of the sect,
carry into Japan the abomiUabIe heresy
implied by a vote that John Alexander
DOwie. Esq. Is not IN truth and in fact
Elijah IL Now they can only speak as
heTeticaI Outcasts, whose voices and
opinions are altogether ungodIy and Of
no weight What the effect Of the pro
baton viii be upon the other three re-
mains TO be seen.
But without these five sacrilegious
disturbers. Mr.. DOWie had d rather for
midabIe looking vote, and If there IS
anything in mere majorfties he certain
Iy Is it" 50 far as the votes Of two
hundred and forty-nine Iunatics OF
frauds can make him -'it'-that is 10
say, Elijah II
Mr. DOwie Is now reported as saving
that the Japs showed base ingratitude,
iHasmuch as he had fed and clothed
them. paid all their expenses, educated
them, and sent money 10 their families
IN Japan But" he says, they are
people who want 10 make money out Of
their religion" This statement makes
It clear that the Zionite leader has been
shamefuIIy wronsed by these Oriental
ingrates- Any man who had been fed,
clothed. and educated by Dowie anu
would then refuse 10 vote him Sec
ond Elijah" can only be regarded as a
monstrods and shocking example of
human depravity-
And then to think Of these Japs-
mere Japs-desiring 10 make money out
Of their reLgioul They ought have
known that this right Is strictly limited
in such societies to a very select Few;
that among the Zioniles Dowie has a
practical monopoly Of the privilege, and
that any attempt TO encToach upon that
monopoly would at once call forth an
expression of divine wrath" through
the medium of Elijah II
Laying aside the buFIesque features
Of this comic opera performance in the
name Of religion, it may be well to con-
slider for a moment the more serious
matter that Dowie also claims to be a
divine healer" and here Is where the
fraud comes IN that concerns every
body. His case is on all fours with that
Of the "healers" who profess the Chris