Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-06-24

hundred souls To-day its residents num-
Der 5000. Then modest country home
rose from the rolling prairie here and
there. To-day thousand houses are TAX
Ing form under hammer and saw. Chief
among them is the luxurious mansion
that will be Dowies home.
In the center of the new religious me-
tropolis will rise one day a magnificent
marble temple. Every avenue in Zion
City. every sweeping boulevard, will lead
to the temple. From this structure, pro-
jected to seat 10000, Dowie wi,l expound
his doctrine. Zion City will be Dowie's
capital until his followers oltgrow it..
Ultimately he hopes to build a worlds
capital for his church near Jerusalem
There, if his dreams of religious conquest
be fulfilled, he or his Successes will rule
all the earth.
The church is not the only agency
Dowie will use in the advancement OF
his power. Religion and education will
go hand in hand in the upbuilding of the
kingdom. He has also Land the founda-
ton of a political organization--tbe theo-
cratic party-with which he plans TO over
throw existing parties.
The secret of Dowies power and in
fiuence has not been told. Be lit person
al magnetism or religious fervor. or in
finite audacity, or whit you will, the fact
remains that he is enlisting recruits in
mis- cause by thousands. He has been
.assailed in print as a grasping lover of
pelf because he exacted the biblical 1.-THE
from the fruits of his followers toil. lie
has been denounced from the pulpit as a
a.
be the chosen prophet of God. lie has
been held up to scorn by the medical pro-
fession because he puts his bal on the
use of drugs and DEGREES shat the secular
art of healing is sacrilegious aad vain.
The strongest proof of the marvellous
influence of the man is found in the ma
terial Zion City, now being built EN-
braced in the town are $500 acres of the
finest land in the State. To this Mecca
of Dowieism pilgrims are fock,ng, From
Arkansas and all the West they are com
ing, overland and by train. New Eng
land is sending newcomers every day.
Dixie is pouring recruits into the fold.
The immigration Of the faithful began
early last fall. 1t Continued unbroken
throughout the winter Out in the woods,
on Lake Michigan's shore, in white tents,
with the mercury below zero and with
eringly cold winds blowing in from the
lake. scores of families waited for the
coming of spring. And to-day 1000
buildings are under construction.
Dowie Owns the City.
Dowie is the virtual owner Of the city.
Absolute title to lots and Lard is not
given. Leases are executd for eleven
hundred years. To every one Is attached
a group of provisions. The lessee agrees
not to use the land 'for any purpose con
trary to the will of God, and particularly
not for the sale Of drugs, tobacco or alc0-
hol in any form, houses OF III fame. the
aters, gambling houses, hog raising or
selling"
Upon the violation Of the covenants Of
the lease the land is forfeited and seyerts
to Dowie or his successor.
Moreover. there are to be no dance
halls and no secret lodge rooms In Zion
City. These are considered agencies Of
the devil for the degradation OF the peo-
pie. Swine are forbidden because, in the
belief of Zionites, Gods ban If upon
them. Pork is declared 10 be Che direct
cause of cancer, tuberculosis, raeuma-
tism, scrofuia. cholera and othsr dis
eases.
The municipal government is under
Dowie's direction 1t is constituted ike
that Of other Illinois towns, but y regis
tiers Dowie's will Even the judiciary
system is constructed with Dowie as the
of last