Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-09
; 0UTSIDE POINT OF VIEW.
Written for tho T,mes-Repub,l.,,

Written for tho Times Republican
The public generally have watched
with interest the legal battle of Dowie
(Elijah 2nd) in the courts of Illinois.
But few realize what a tremendous
mental, possibly hypnotic power this
man has. And so when the following
story came to the writer. the dramatis
personae being Iowa people, 1t seemed
worth telling In this column. Pre-
facing that none of the parties con-
cerned lived in Marshalltown or vicin-
ity, it can be said a young man living
in one of our Iowa towns. very re-
ligious young man, drfted into Chi
cage and became Dowie's private sec
rotary. In some way he interested
several good women in the vicinity
of his former home in the the Dowie
religion. One of them, woman Of
intense religious zeal, member OF the
NJ. f. church, left her Iowa home for
a visit to a town in Illinois, and while
away from home became a thorough
convert to Dowieism. Having some
money of her own, she was induced to
invest 1t in Dowie's enterprises. This
part of the story has little to do with
what follows but it may be said in
passing. that her husband has finally
succeeded in getting ii out of Dowies
clutches by an enforced investment
in real estate.
1t soon came to be known in the
little crowd of Dowieites, living in our
Iowa town, that this lady's husband
90
Dowieism, and it became subject of
correspondence between Dowie's pri-
vate secretary and some of the women
believers. Finally letter, type writ
ten, but signed in ink with a pen, d.
rected to believer in -, Iowa,
came into possession of the husband
of the lady visiting in Illinois. The
writer has read the letter, and for
obvious reasons does not give CODY
of all of 1t, but what is here given is
startling to say the least That the
writer of it is in danger of prosecution
for sending such a letter thru the mail
the friends of the husband think more
than probable. Furthermore the hus-
band has this letter securely locked
in his safe. and 1t may yet be used
for the purpose. Of ending the young
mans further usefulness as q ready
letter writer. After a lot OF sancti-
monious whining and sacrilegious
talk, which the writer would only dare
to write to an infatuated religious
woman. come these sentences:
Il feel that there must be some de-
liverance for you SOON There is a way
in which God can work. We do not
like to pray, what may seem hard
prayer, that your husband might be
taken out of the way. yet we know
aud he must know, that 1t is not pos
sible for him to hinder Gods work,
and if he will stand in the way he
must take the consequences"
In subsequent letter from the same
private secretary, is statement to the
effect that they have not yet found
1t necessary to pray the husband on.
of this life, but he need not doubt but
the power exists, etc. When to this
is added that this private secretary
of Dowie is said to be an actual and
honest believer in the Elijah part of
Dowieism, and Furthermore that phys.
icially said private secretary has been
cured by DoWie of q disease that saps
the brain power of any young man.
that he is mentally and physically
completely under the domination of
his chief, the whole business presents
a chapter OF credulity, imposition and
religious intolerance. almost an APP
parent impossibility in Iowa. IN the
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