The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
CAPT. RusCIE, THE "REsTORER's"
FORMER COOK, TALKS OF ZION.
Positive that John Murray DOwie Is
Father OF Prophes-Tells of DO1ie's
Money-Getting Propensities.
Atlanta Journal.

was brought IN close touch both with him
ard with John Murray Dowie, his father.
and I was struck then with the perfect
likeness between the two. They have the
same shaped foreheads. the same COM
handing appearance and build, and the
same piercing eyes. Even their voices are
similar in tone.
Then Judge John Murray Dowie joined
his son In Chicago about 1894 on his return
from Australia, he was welcomed with
open arms by the prophet, and was intro
duced TO Zion the father Of its founder
amid great enthusiasm.
THE son made his father an elder In his
church and referred 20 him repeatedly from
the pulpit as the church's benefactor and
principal donor. The relations between
father and son were most cordial.
THE trouble began when the father mar
ried a second time and this woman.
Mrs. North, did not get on well with the
prophets wife The Ill feeling between
these two women, am convinced, brought
about the recent estTangement and DowieS
bitter denial OF his father in New York"
Samuel A. Runcie. former private cook
10 Prophet John A Dowie of Zion City,
but now a captain IN the Salvation Army
with headquarters at 1914 EdgewOod avenue.
this city, when seen by a Journal reporter
this morning stated as his firm belief that
the recent denial by Prophet Dowie OF his
father in New York was utterly false. Capt.
Runcie says that there can be no doubt that
the two are father and son.
II was shortly after the worlds fair in
Chicago that Captain Runcie, then with
the Salvation Army, but on a furlough,
went TO Chicago and became private cook
TO Dowie at the Zion Home at Michigan
avenue and Twelfth street. At that time
Captain Ruaoie was cook by trade.
II was while there that he was thrown
with Elijah III and observed the relations
between him and his father. He also saw
much of the inside operations OF Zion and
of Dowie's methods.
He was there however. only a few
months. for Dowie issued an order compell-
ing all help in Zion 20 join the organization
and as Captain Runcie did not approve of
this and was already a member Of the Sal
walton Army. he left Dowie's employ.
On his departure DoWie presented him
with a Bible, with a group of his family and
assistants pasted In the back and with the
following inscription in his own handwrit-
ing on the fly leaf:
To Samuel Runcie, with the Christian
love and prayers of the help in Zion. Chi
cago-Nov. 20, 1896.
Isaiah AZ.
Matthew s:1slE
Thessalonians 5:22:24.
Captain Runcie gives some interesting de-
tails of Zion Behind the scenes and ne also
retails some domestic gossip that hereto
fore has never seen the light and is decid-
edly racy In its nature. His statement fol-
lows:
HIRED WITH DOwIE.
1T don't remember exactly when hired
to Dowie as his private cook. but I think
1t was some time directly after the worlds
fair. was employed at the Dowie Home
for Incurables in Chicago. where Dowie a.
that time lived, and was his private cook
and waiter.
'Tt was soon after my installation there
that che prophets father arrived in Chi
Rag~te jsin his son. The latter gave out
no specific information beyond the fact
that his father was Judge laterly re-
turned from Australia, that he was wealthy
and that he would take leading part in
the affairs OF Zion
prophets recent statement that his father
was in rags. Moreover. Dowie, in answer
ing charges made against him that he used
his religion for gain, stated yesterday from
the pulpit in the Chicago Tabernacle that
most of his wealth came from his wife,
and that his father had furnished great
deal Of the money for the maintenance OF
the movement. and had built the Zion
Home for Incu-ables, at Michigan avenue
and Twelfth street. He also repeatedly
praised his fathers Hberality before his
audiences, mentioning donations which the
latter had given ranging from $500 TO 81 .O0)
at time. Their relations were cordial all
the time, and on no occasion did the son
make any disparagfng remark about his
father. His mother he never mentioned,
even indirectly.
mo one ever doubted the relation be-
tween them Physically. father and son
were startlingly alike. Their foreheads,
esir beiF heT
detail about them was strikingly similar
in fact, SO much so as to cause comment.
He's a chip of the old block was the
usual expression applied to Elijah when
compared with his father.
The father also was a man Of great
consideration and kindness. and he was
liked by everyone from the deacons and
elders down TO tie servants. A more
courteous man i have never met, and 10
this respect he was an Improvement on his
son.
$50. taking into consideration the physi-
cal likeness between the two, the cordial
ity that existed between them. and the
public praise bestowed upon the father
by the son; and also remembering the ova-
ton which was given the old man by the
members OF Zion. you can imagine my sur
prise when / read the recent account of
Dowie's sensational invective against his
father and his denial OF their relation, in
New York.
1T doubtless came from the fact that
Dowie married g second time. and this
woman. a. Mrs. North. and the younger
Mrs. Dowie could not agree. They doubt
less caused the whole trouble.
John Alexander Dowie Elijah H. con-
i tinued Captain Runcie. was a particular
had to cook his meals. but / had also to
serve them TO hin in his private dining
room He expected everything just so. I
put sugar In his soffee. If his rolls were
a degree too cool. or his steak chops too
rare-well, i heard from Elijah III. One
phrase sufficed hiIn on these occasions 1t
You internal fool-you Internal jack
asst
1.-THE whole family lived at the Zion home
at Michigan avenue and Twelfth street.
There were John Alexander Dowie. the
prophet; Gladstone DOwie, his son. Miss
Esther Dowie. the daughter who was after
ward burned TO death. and Judge John Muir
ray Dowie. the father who has lately come
into so much notoriety.
I'VE all liked the old man and Miss
Esther. but Gladstone Dowfe was caution.
He said worse things than You internal
fool He had his fathers temper. only
worse. Mrs. Dowie. the prophets wife, was
also little sharp At times. But we loved
Judge Dowie and Miss Esther
RENTED TO PATIENTS.
''Dowie and his family live on the first
floor and the help on the seventh; in be-
tween. the floors were let TO patients at
rates ranging frem so to s25 a week for
each patient With the exception of the
first two or three floors there were no con-
venIences of any kind in the way OF SER
wants and baths. The patients vegetated
there In the intervals of healing
This ceremony took place generally on
Sunday mornings. At that time the patients
were summoned into n large hall where
Dowie and his assistants were In waiting
D0wie would go among them, lay his hand
on the head or neck. and say in an i'm
-pressive voice.
:" I bid thee. In the name OF God. rise and
be whole.
'@That was the whole treatment as far as
could see Dowie would pray for any