Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-12-25

much we may be compelled to admit
that his followers are honest, clearly,
morally pure and peaceably disposed
people, and that his creed contains
nothing to offend, with the exception
Of his own unique claims to prophetic
mantle, 1t is impossible to overlook the
fact that the vast majority Of those
who have cast in their lot with his are
fanatical IN their devotion and have
not only given up all their worldly
goods into his keeping, but have sur
rendered their right to think or speak
or act for themselves.
A visit to Zion City will bring you
away with one thought uppermost.
You may be impressed by the growth
Of town where few years ago there
was nothing but swampy lakeside
tract, by the number Of industries that
have sprung up, by the quiet and order
OF the place and the peculiar novelty
of seeing a large community that has
no theater, no drug houses, no saloons
and no cigar stores. But the thing that
will impress you most Is the fact that
nearly every one of the men that lives
there, in a home he does not own, on
land he never can own, has ambition,
initiative and force Of mind about
equivalent to that possessed by
sheep.
Devotion Ia Pathetic.
Those among Dowie's followers who
have marked intelligence or who
have certain amount Of independence
about them are not to be found among
the body Of the flock. They are the Of
flcers, choir leaders. assistant healers,
elders, or travelling representatives, and
being given high-sounding titles and
small amount Of executive power in
their little departments are held safe
" within the ranks. But among nearly
all Of the 10000 that form the popu-
lation OF Zion there Ia blind devotion
that will take them to the end with
Dowie, whether the end spells utter
ruin for the n and their families or con-
tinued giving the tithes and all their
other available assets as soon as they
are earned.
devotion, but 1t 10 rather pathetic than
ridiculous. 1t Is startling thing to at
tend one of Dowie's meetings and see
1900 or 5000 men and women in an
age like this, sit meek and approving
under q storm OF his melodramatic nm
vective that falls little short of pro-
family; to watch them silent and sub
dued as the man to whom they have
given up every dollar they possessed
in the world calls them dirty dogs"
Swine" thieves" and "vile cattle" for
not giving more.
Dowie is fond Of saying he has been
lied about every day. That is true But
1t is not lie to say that in one breath
he calls his people my well beloved
and in the next denounces them as
robbers Of Cod" "piunderers OF the
holy temple" shameless hussies" and
"puny brutes OF men," And through 1t
all they sit still, nod their heads In APP
prevail and then go out and mortgage
or sell more OF their property In the
vain attempt to satisfy his money hun
ger.
Nobody who knows Dowie will ac-
cuse him OF desiring to appropriate
these funds for his own personal profit.
!, To be sure, he lives comfortably, but
the amount he spends on himself is
very modest when we consider the
time and energy he puts into his work,
his immense capacity for labor and the
great sums that come into his own alb
solute control at regular intervals.
Nor viii people believe any more