Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-08-22

ago it was scattered settlement of
100 souls. Its residents today number
6.O00. and over thousand homes have
been erected.
The Rev. John Alexander Dowic, a
native Of Edinburgh, appeared in Chi
cago about ten or twelve years ago. He
quickly stepped into prominence as a
leader of faith heaers, having come, in
fact, as a missionary for the lntcrna.
tional Society of Divine Healing, of
which he afterward became president.
Opening his meetings in tent, he soon
drew crowds. made himself notorious
rs the rcincarnation of the prophet Eli
jah and proceeded to found the Chris
tian Catholic Church In Zion, an or
ganization which now has 100000
members probably, recognizes him as
its head and contributes TO him for its
maintenance in tithe, rigidly enforced,
of the financial increase of all its men,
bers.
Zion City on Lake Michgan's shore
will be Dowie's capital until his fol-
lowers outgrow it. Ultimately he hopes
to build Il worlds capital near Jcrusa-
lem. There, if his dream of religious
conquest come true, he or his successor
will rule the Catholic Church in Zion
for all the world.
TO become a member of the Church
of Zion man must give an annual 10
per cent of all he earns and of all his
worldly possessions-if he does not
give all he owns. Dowie says it is
merely obeying the ScripturaI injunc.
tion to give "tithes to the Lord"
The secret of Dowie's power and in
fluence is ineXplainable. Whether 1t
be personal magnetism or religious
fervor the fact remains that he is en-
listing recruits in his cause by thou
sands, and they all render him un.
questioned homage and obedience. He
controls now about 100000 followers.
Pilgrims are t1ocking from all over
the United States and from Europe.
In every part of the civilized world he
| has missionaries proselyting for his
faith. Pilgrims have been rolling into
the new city since last fall with their
| families and household goods. The
railroads have been taxed to care for
| the business. The roads are swamped
with lumber and overwhelmed with
supplies and family effects. Every
available shed, stable and tent on the
grounds is occupied. Guests are packed
like sardines in the hospice. The over
flow is forced to Waukegan and other
neighboring towns until such time as
they may be accommodated in Zion
City. And over all are the watchfu
eye and alert mind of John Alexander
Dowe.
Zion City is forty-two miles north OF
Chicago and an equal distance south
of Milwaukee, on the line of the Chica
go and Northwestern railway. For y.
miles it's eastern edge is washed by the
waters of the lake. From the shore the
tract of $500 acres which at present
comprises Zion City extends some
four miles west, broken here and there
by stretches of woodland. The pros
pect is one of exceeding natural beauty
The land, under the art of the land
scape gardener will make a superl
setting for parks. lagoons, bridges ant
boulevards. all of which are embraced
In the scheme of Identification.
The main avenues of Zion City arr
laid out $50 feet wide and the grant
boulevards twice that width, with ion
foot parkw ways in the middle. In th'
center will rise one day magnihcen
marble temple. projected to seat 3O,oO'
persons. Every avenue in the city ant
every boulevard will lead to this tenn
pie. At present temporary tabernacle
of wood, seating G,00O persons, fur
pisbes shelter for the faithful at thei
devotions.
No business houses can encroacl
upon residential territory, no dwelling
shall be in the commercial district. ant