The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-07-29
EDITORIALS.

Next TO Chicago University in making
a variety Of distracting noises, is John
Alexander Dowie. founder Of the Zion.
ito movement, and who has now bios
somed out into veritable founder oi a
City OF Zion on earth, at the tail end Of
which is tl5, 900 900 real estate deal,
with blare of trumpets and beating Of
Drums, this exploiter OF a new form OF
religious gullibility has sprung a
scheme 40 old or the hills, hltchIng the
sale Of corner lots onto patent device
for getting a seat close TO the throne In
this world and the next. There are 10
be no butchershops. powder factories,
saloons, drugstores, theaters. cigar
.tores or doctors, besides DIR. Dowie in
nSw Jerusalem, and here is TO be the
starting point for the regeneration Of
mankind. The founder of Dowieism is
said 10 have agreed TO pay 81 $50, 900 for
the tract Of land near WaukeEan, and, II
this sale goes off as he figures, II will
net him a profit Of nearly 1900 per
cent, bigger commission than ordinary
wicked real estate men in this mean
world have the cheek 10 demand.
But Dowie is not an ordinary iakir. He
belongs 10 the highest class, like Mo.
hammsd, he expects 10 90 TO heaven
alive, on wings Of fire like the prophet
elias, and such u man has TO be paid
we'll for his real estate inspirations. In
his new City Of Zion there will be no
guile OF any kind, but 1900 per cent for a
startSr 10 40 rank that probably every
body else will be honest in the presence
OF = man OF the unlimited gall Of Dowie
himself. This seems to be an age Of YER
table religious eharlatanry when people
are turning 10 any kind OF loud-
mouthed drum-beater or sensational
journalism or real estate swindle for sal.
Vation. While Rev. Sheldon,o of Kansas,
10 not = chalatan and may be doing
some good In the world, the husks he
fed large Chicago audience the other
day was very dry fodder for thinking
person. For instance. he eaid the high
est developed man never grew up on
doubt and never indulged in the spirit
Of judging. That may have been true
At some time, but the man who
never doubts and who never exercises
his faculties OF judgment is pretty poor
material even for emotional church
membership. The man who doubts his
own ability and who Is skeptical about
accepting everything that lie handed
out TO him In the name Of religion is q
safer man TO trust with your pocket
book than tho fellow who swallows
like shark or bullhead, all that II
showed at him. Take the Dowie real
estate craze. How many people will b'
swindled out OF their hard coin by an old
iakir who expects to moult his wing
before arriving In the next wordH haI
Rev. Shelton with all his nillions o.
books sold TO the oredulous, on How
Jesus Would Run City, helped clear
up the dirty politics on one town th'
size OF SALIENT Judged by actual per
iormance no won't stand as high II
the next world as one OF tho Cap
ital City hayseed aldermen. The peo
pie he sells books TO don't read theil
bibles as much as they do'Sheldon''
fiction. or they would know the Saviour
didn't aspire 10 covers cities, but Il
rule in the hearts OF men, and Away
said his kingdom was not Of this worlc
but Was a spiritual kingdom and thai
II men and women got right in their
hearts they would not need police, stand
ing armies and criminal laws TO make
them good. sheldon and Dowie may
be stepping stones in the development
Of religious truth, but il looks like a
long way around 10 hitch your Wagon
bound for heaven 10 a 6teen million
dollar real estate sWindle, when you
are told as plain rs print and holy
writ can make il that the kingdom Of
heaven is not dependent on beating Of
drums. buying Of corner 'o,s, but il
within You.
Among the three-ball Roman candle
professors Al the Chicago university
none is capable OF making = greater brz
and splutter than one Professor rrlggs
Who teaches .. classes In English Lisera-