The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-19
GAY TALKS OF DOWIE
FORMER BAPTIST MINISTER
JOINS NEW SECT.
He Says Zion City is Busy Place and
Its Chief is Busy Man.
Has Been There.

Of the Adams Street Baptist Church. Jes-
terday In an interview gave some inter-
esting information about the church of
John Alexander Dowie and his colony at
Zion City.
Mr.. Gay has recently been converted to
Dowie's church the Christian Catholic
Church in Zion,' and has just returned
from Zion City. He says ne finds that
a great many Of his friends In Montgcm-
cry are interested in his trip end his
connection with Dowie's church.
did you meet DR.. Dowie personality"
Mr.. Gay was asked by representative
of Tho Advertiser.
Yes" replied Mr.. Gay "alth ough 1t has
he en- said that he Is more din cult to see
than President Roosevelt. He asked me
to dine with him twice and we discussed
Southern problems In connection with our
church. DR.. Dowie has to look after
thirty-eight district departments Of his
work and he is a very busy man."
Are there many Dowieites in the
South?"
There are not 80 many as vet, Eecause
the demand for such q clean life with
regard to swine's flesh and tobacco
binders most preachers from membership
much less the rank and file of Chris
tians. But We have over 10000 irembsrs
and they are scattered in little bands all
over the world, even In islands of the
sea-"
DO you believe Dowie is Elijah the
second?"
Not In the sense that newspapers de-
nounce and poke fun at MIN. He simply
claims to be restoring primitive putty
of life and doctrines. and does this, In
the spirit and power of Elijah WHO de-
nounced the idolatry and false religion OF
his day. Seeing the amount If sickness
and misery developed by improper care
and hurtful habits among Chi ,tian peo-
plo. he has been raised up to lead those
who will follow into q repentance wnicn
Cleanses spirit, soul and body. he las,
in six years, gotten together this vast
number Of people who desire never 10 he
sick and will abstain from harmful haLits
such as liquor, tobacco. iaziness, gut
tony, drugs, swine's flesh, oysters ara
and such carelessness Of the body which
breeds disease. Nearly Ave thousand
ministers of one degree or another have
Joined in this higher respect for the body,
for our doctrines are orthodox with re-
gard to so-called spiritual things"
"Is Dowie a tyrant or self assertive
over his ministry
Not at all so. He is the most pleas
ant. affable tactful leader that 1 have
ever seen. He first satisfies himself that
minister is true to the principles ard
then turns him loose to work in g. given
field as best he can. He has never given
me an order nor written me a letter. He
knows what gave UP to follow perse-
cuted sect"
"Is Dowie making money as fast az It is
reportedr'
Faster" replied Mr.. Gay, without
hesitation. II think lions investments are
not rated as high as they ought to be
Ins tead of DR.. Dowie holding in trust for
| the Christian Catholic Church the twenty
| fve millions which the reports generally
show, / think am safe in saying, hav-
| ing knowledge on the inside, that We
have thirty-two millions in money an6
| frst-class investments.
"Ie never has taken a cent for answer
| ed prayer in healing or charged for 1t
| nor has he ever taken cent OF the
tithes and offerings of the people; except
! in this way. He invests all the fundt
| in consultation with his financial mana
gers who are converts from among the
| most successful business men of this
country, and takes per cent. or the
| income from these institutions. such as
| the lace industries, the bank, general
stores, etc. In other words, he gives
the gifts of the people"
Does he live in great luxury"
There are twenty homes in Montgom-
cry more luxurious than his, but not one
whose owner has the personal wealth
he possesses. However, for as hard
worked man as he is there could hardly
be luxury IL he walked on a gold floor,
sat on gold cloth, ate in gold plates, and
rested on an ivory bed-none Of which
he does. His home is little better than
mine. AS to the poverty of the prophets
of olden time. every thinking man can
see that no barefoot ,one-gallused, I'M
barbered son of the desert could have
as much influence on the twentieth CEN
fury mind when men know that to have
great sums Of money is to have greater
opportunity for usefulness. as man who
shows he has been endowed ty God with
talents to organize, govern, produce. beau
tify. enable cleanse, and live Tor his
generation.
THE howl for Christians, in order to
be cody and Christ-like, to be as full Of
sores as Lazarus and as helpless as babies
to combat with the educational financial,
political and industrial questions of today
is too silly to notice though there are
many sensible men in the ministry and
pew who think 1t would be necessary to
live entirely apart from all these tc.ngs
If one is purely Christian"
Can you telly us something about Zion
city,"
Yes. sometime l would be glad to an
swer any question about this place which