Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-10-28

JOHN ALEXANDER DOwIE.
Zioa--that marvellous creation Of his
geRjgs and his energy which he has es
tabltshed on the shore of Lake Michigan
midway between Chicago and Milwau-
kee.
The program for the Zion crusade in
New York City was simple. yet thor
ough. Every morning the members of
the invading army attended the morn
ing services, conducted hy Dowie, after
which they separated into bands Of ten,
each band led by a captain, and spread
themselves over the ojty. Every house
and office in the city vas visited. While
exborting was done, the members had
Instructions not to enter into discussions.
Invitations were extended 10 attend the
Dowle meetings IT Madison So are Gar
dea. or Carnegie Hail, and literature,
consisting chiefly Of Leaves Of Healing.
the official organ Of the church, was dis
tributed bowie believes that he viii
make 10000 converts to his faith, which
really means the acceptance of bowie
as Elijah, the messenger of God and the
only true and authentic revealer of the
divine viii
Dowie1s Wonderful Career.
Fantastic as seem the claims of Dewie
that lie is the reincarnation of Elijah and
Of John the Baptist, ne has led fully
100000 persons of almost all races and
creeds TO believe him. In Zion City,
on the shore Of Lake Michigan, there
are seventy distinct nationalities repre-
sented among his believers, and through
cut the world there are 100000 adher-
nrfc aF tsatv~ gir,, nc apuN,,qaC-
ed by Dewie The growth of his cult
is truly astonishing,.
Dosis. is 'Scocfch by birth and at one
time was n member of the Methodist
Church Much OF his life was spent in
Austraiia, where stories differ as TO his
success in the ministry Shortly before
the Worlds Fair in Chicago he appeared
in that city, Pcnniless preacher, with
out church. He posed as divine
healer and naturally attracted consid-
cradle notoriety He rented small
building on the South Side and soon had
a small following His disccarses, being
OF the sensational order, brought him a
good deal of newspaper advertising and
every attack leyeied at his pretensions
added - his prominence. One of the
cardinal doctrines Of his creed Is that
each menber must contribute one-tenth
portion Of his property and income to
the church. 1t was not long under the
application, II this rule before Dowie be-
gan erecting Zion schools and stores and
tabernaeles along Michigan avenue. He
leased the Auditorium, the largest hall in
Chicago, and soon the building was too
small 10 accommodate the crowds which
thronged to hear him. Despite p thin
squeaky voice and n slight lisp Dowic is
a most effective speaker. His personal
magnetism is great, and in the Audi
torium he was able TO hold vast crowds
for hours, listening to his pleading and
more often to his fierce denunciations.
Being a faith heale" he was savage in
his denunciation of doctors and drug
gists. He was equally severe upon the
newspapers, all Of which he classed I'M
der the general head OF the reptile
press" and he often pitched into the
churches. Modesty is a word not known
In Dowie vocabulary. Alternately he
talked Of God and Dowie with equal IA
mIi0rity. But no matter what his sub
jcct and no matter how coarse its treat.
ment. his wonderful eloquence thrilled
and men and women Of refinement and
education were attracted by him
Two years ago Dowie announced from
the platform Of the Auditorium that
he was Elijah and tlat this was his third
rencarnation. the second having been in
the person OF John the Baptist. the i'm
mediate precursor Of Christ. The an
nouncetnent shocked some Of his hearers
who abandoned him. But IL attracted
others and it has been attracting men
and women from all quarters of the
world ever since.
Owns Zion City.
Soon after the announcement Dowie
moved his followers TO Zion City. which
he established on Lake Michigan, forty
two miles distant from Chicago and Mil
waukee. When the hegira TO Zion City
began the place was a barren waste and |
the Zianists lived in tents Now there |
exists sold city Of stone and brick, |
with 1000 inhabitants, every one Of |
whom IS q firm believer IN Dowie. Sew (
eral manufacturing plants have been es- /
tablshed, hourishing banks exist and I
the community is exceedingly prosperous. /
All Of this property, valued Mt $4,000. /
600. Is in the hands Of John Alexander
Dowie. He still exacts from his follow
srs a tenth portion Of their income and /
is especially severe upon the backsliders. /
Dowie is a man Of remarkable energy. /
He often works eighteen hours or more
a day and often has ySorked forty hours
with scarcely stop, even for meals. His
library is filed with works in various
oriental languages. Of many OF which he
In fuastsr