Arizona republican., 1901-06-22
JOHN ALEXANDER DOwIE.
A Millionaire in Ten Years-Proclaims
 Himself Elijah.

I heard John Alexander Dowie, head of the sect of Dowieites. speak to the chosen of hla flock the other night in Chicago, his only appearance in publia since his declaration that in him Elijah the prophet. is reincarnated. A thick-set, well groomed, vigorous man 8 or 60 years old is Dowie, with a snow white full beard, and very black hair ringing his bald head, with one cunning eye and one kindly one, with a good strong. resonant. authoritative voice and a disposition to boast that he hae been working twenty-six hours at a stretch, for pnperhuman strength is part of his pose as a more than human creature.
 He ran lightly up the steps leading to the stage--for the pulpit of the DGwieltes' tabernacle is more sugges- tive Of histrionir affairs than sacred ones-twirling his glasses jauntlly as he pranced before his audience, savor- Ing the hush, that dumb applause of hearts which is greater, more rever- ential than that of hands, and sank down upon one knee fin silent prayer.
 Elijah" Dowie was late. The meet ing had been called for s o'clock. IL was a quarter past 10 before the Gen eral Overseer," the title which haa hitherto contented Dowie. arrived. Previous to his coming the next greater power in Chicago's Zion, Overseer Piper, had conducted the meeting. 4 fat. tall man is Overseer Piper. given to unolerical pastures and informal col loquialisms. with a lNapoleonic long black lock acrosS his forehead, and a smooth shaven. broad face. which sends stereotyped beams of indulgence and encouragement down upon this or that member of the audience giving testi- mony."
 The audience is composed largely of those who are called in Zion, "The Seventies" These are bands of sev- enty workers who go out, like those sent nearly 2000 years ago, two Ey two. They are sent as missionaries 10 the saloons. to the down town offices Of the msdical men, the politicians and the secret societies, ard places whose vile ness more tolerent people than Dowie- ties admit. They are ununiformed Salvation Army people in d way, wear ing only button with Dowie's sarewd old white bearded face as a dlstin- gushing mark.
 Pale faced, hysterical women. these are. for the most part lacking the sonsy plumpnegs and optimistic good nature of the Salvation Army lassie, The men are weak in chin and strong in diaphragm Hairy ia 2sd, with i'll shaped heads, they sing the hymns with crude, uncultured voices. with n weak, feminine, emotional throb in them Zion. like better established churches. is composed mainly of wo- men, and there are many negro Dowie ties
 Above in the galleries-the taber- nacle stage is more in the center than the back of the house the seats sloping up from it behind. as well as on three sdes-the unfit Dowieites sit. An army of the unfit it is that Dowie has gath cred about him. This one a cripple, that one with withered hand; wo- man here the pupil of whose eye is dimmed by cataract; one beyond panting with the cold fever of con sumption.
 And yet, with such material as this. the genius of Dowie has in the thirteen years since he began to preach new religion changed his position from that of a penniless prisoner in an Austra- Han town to all that he is today?
 President of bank.
 owner of s5.OOO, eco worth of property.
 Proprietor of the greatest religious city since the fall of Mormondom.
 Absolute czar of a faith whose cult 10000 people profess, the more ardent giving up one-tenth of their incomes to their church--which is Dowic.
 Head of d college.
 Publisher of a newspaper.
 owner of a hospital.
 The dean of medical faculty, deriving it's powers from himself, which cures miraculously by prayer and the laying on of hands.-Mriam Nicholson in philadelphia North American.