The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-16
CRUSADE BEGINS.
Advance Guard of the Hosts of
Zion Arrive.
Work of Reganarating New York
Begins promptly.
OPENS WITH SINGING.
Crowd Gathers Quickly and
Blockades the Street.
Police Interfere and Drive the
Spectators Back.
OPENS WITH SINGING


New York, Oct 16.-Under the direc-
tion of an advance agent APO members
of John Nexander Dowie's Zion hosts
arrived from Chicago on the Baltimore
& Ohio railroad early today to partici-
pate in a crusade for the regeneration
of New York. All appeared cheerful and
happy and said they had an enjoyable
trip. They landed at the battery and
at once boarded cars for Madison
Square garden.
AS soon as the frs car started the
crowd on board began singing a hymn
and a large crowd of curious spectators
gathered around those waiting outside
the ferry house Men in the Dowie
party distributed tracts among them.
The men were all dressed in a UNIFORM
resembling that worn by the United
States infantry. The women dld not
wear uniforms. The crowd around the
ferry grew so large that it blocked the
street and police drove the spectators
back to the curb. One of the features
of the party was the Junior choir, con-
sisting of about fifty little boys. There
was also drum and fife corps of thirty
men dressed in khaki uniforms. Thirty
per cent of the party were women and
children of all nationalities
Arrangements are complete in Madi-
son Square Garden for the reception of
the restoration host" 1000 strong,
which will endeavor, by John Alexander
bowie, who claims to be the reincarna-
tton of the Prophet Elijah, to save the
people of New York from losing their
souls. Zion scouts were on hama at each
station and the members of the in
coming hosts will be directed in Il gen
eral way to Madison SquaIA Garden.
The various street ear lines viii have on
hand as many extra cars as possible,
but the police are expecting d busy day
answering questions and guiding the
wanderers, Elijah and his elders. chief
priests, and patriarchs, viii have apart
ments at the Plaza hotel whittier the
prophet will repair in his ouivate car
Tiage drawn by two blOOded coach
horses, the outfit having been specially
imported from Zion City. Meantime
there will be great running hither and
thither at Madison Square Garden
where the 4 900 newcomers will be regis
tered and told off and apportioned
among q great army of boarding house
keepers who will afford them shelter
during their tarry in the city.
Deacon Cotton chief of the commits
saIy department, has marshalled his
many cooks. cut thousands of beef
steaks, peeled barrels of potatoes and
apportioned almost tons os bread for
the first breakfast which will take place
Immediately after the arrival Of the
crusaders at the garden. Two thousand
men and women will sit down at the
first table and after they have finished
1000 more will appease their appetites.
The baggage train of the host in two
sections has arrived 1t brought thouS-
ands of trunks and bags.
A great semi-circular platform has
been built at the eastern end of the
garden from which Dowie and his as
sistants will deliver their messages to
the unregenerate. The baptismal font
dug in front of the platform is ready to
turn on the water, and in the central
space in the garden have been placed
5000 chairs. ma king the seating capaci-
ty of the garden $4,000.
The warfare will be opened in good
earnest Sunday. Parties of workers will
be sent forth over the city to distribute
literature setting forth the virtues of
DOwieism and picked agents will visit
the Bowery. Chinatown also will be an
objective point for trusted bands of the
prophet"
Dowie, himself arrived in his special
train at the Grand central disappoint-
ing the crowds who were awaiting him
al the West Shore railroad ferry his
train having come from Albany over the
Hudson river division. His private
carriage was awaiting at the West
Shore depot and the Zion leader with
his son and lieutenants took a public
hack to the hotel. A number of his own
peopel greeted Dowie. but there was lit
demonstration. Another train bringing
DR.. Dowie's adherents had previously
arrived on the New Central railroad
One hundred of the Dowieites who
TeaCntd luG city VIA the BenQSylNdn1a
railway were met by a score of board
ing house keepers They were hurried
in cabs or trolley cars to Madison
Square garden. 1t required more than
ten trucks to haul all their baggage to
this city Some of the trunks were
decora ted with small gold crosses print
ed white paper and stuck on the
baggage
Besides his son, Dowie was accom-
panied by his wife. Carl F. Stern. chief
of police of Zion City, and Robert Mas
sey All registered at the Plaza hotel
Madison Square garden. which is to
be the headquarters of the host for
most of the time they are here. was
soon occupied by 1900 of the citizens
pf Zion. Each presented at the en-
trance an identification card bearing
the photograph of the holder, and every
person was carefully scrutinized by
Director General Mitchell.
All had expected TO eat brea kfast in
the Garden. but it had been impossible
TO make provisions today for any meals
before p. m. and they left the Garden
in search of a meal in neighboring res
taurants. Scattered around the en-
trance to the Garden were the Zionites
each dressed in black uniform aud
black peaked cap. On the cap just
above the peak was gilt dove and un-
der it the word braided in gilt letters.
Patience" In the belt that they Wore
was the usual sword strap, but instead
of a weapon the strap held Bible. All
who wished were assigned to quarters
in nearby boarding houses
CONSPICUOUS among the arrivals was
the ZION band. numbering 3S members.
all dressed in a bright green uniform.
Among the most prominent of those
who arrived today was Elder Abraham
F Lee, general recorder of the Zion
restoration host, who has charge of
the restoration movement all over the
world. Others who arrived were
Charles L. Barnard, formerly a Chicago
banker, and now general financial man
nj ion ,-1s--