The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-01-07
p A PROPHET FOR PROFIT.

In spite of the endeavors of the au
thorities of the State of Illinois, John
Alexander Dowie, the prophet" OF
Zion" OF Chicago, Keeps on his way.
doing business along many lines and
rapidly nearing that condition which
ne has often described as the richest
man in the West" He Is the head OF
everything in the community. which
gives him as banker, wholesale mer-
chant, manufacturer and retailer and
real estate agent and builder practical
control of the affairs of the city he Is
promoting. ... 90
The private funds he has anna ssed.
the deposits made in his private banks
and all the resources of a church which
numbers thousands OF fanatics. all are
being manipulated by this shrewd on
orator, who only a few years ago pass
ed through this city from Australia. IL
Is said with not more than 800 in his
pocket. The hold he has gained over
the many who have left all to follow
his teachings, has given the idea that
it is through a species of hypnotism
that he secures his control of the peo-
pie. Whatever the means ii is a fact
that now he is securing all the aid that
he needs. and the more the authorities
try to press upon him the greater Is
the belief of his disciples. One of the
backsliders said that the prophet was
the whole thing in Zion. and there
was no one to say him nay. Continu-
ing. according to the New York Suns
account of the incident:
The backsider testified that to join
/ Zion you have to repent restore that
which you have taken restore 1t Ia
DowIe, presumably, confess, and prom
lse to obey implicitly the Overseer of the
Lord that Dowie's people fear him and
believe that he can call down the curse
of God upon their heads; that Dowie haG
threatened to curse Dwight L. Moody Il
Mr.. Moody did not cease attacking the
OVcrsecr of the Lord. and that Mr.
Moody's death was called by the prophet
a punishment for those attacks. The
backSlider also testified that he ut on,
time believed that Dowie could call dowr
the curse ana could heal the sick by his
prayers. The witness had family ant
friends and business relations in Eng
land and didn't want to come TO thi:
country, but Dowie commanded him t
come, lin the name of the Lord" AM
there WAS no staying. Dowie would wave
his hands and hold the witness close t
rs body when praying with him.
Magnetism, mcsmer SIN, hypnotism-
some or all of these Influences radtatet
from the prophet and compelled obedi
ence on the part of the ''sensitives." Il
was shown at the trial that he has beer
known to clasp persons close to hi:
breast until they have been affected by
the magnetism of his person and have
according to his disciples, gone from hi'
presence into the world as thoroughly
mesmerized as poss BILE and absolutely
subserv,ent to his will" The attorne,
for the backslider insisted that Dowlt
came to the United States from Austria
liza with only 800 In his pocket and has
mesmerized several MILL dollars
Whatever be the explanation OF his pow
er over his converts. the power seems t.
be virtually absolute. No other shamar
, or medicine man has more doc!le follow
ers or has ever made the business Sc
profitable. The amount of credulity in
the world seems to be an invariable
quantity. Or is 1t greater than ever ir
an age often deemed unbelieving?