The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-19
Big Crowd Visits Him i'm Madison Square
Garden Many Leave AfterTaking Look

New York, Oct. le.-Elijah the Restorcr.
otherwise John Alexander Dowie. made
three attempts yesterday to convince
New Workers OF his authority. BY ell ap-
pearances he failed He will be In the city
for two weeks more; most Of his follow
ers will remain in the city for at least
another week.
They hope to bring some salvation to the
city before they go. But yesterday after
noon when nearly third OF a great audi
ence I'm Madison Square Garden had made
a rush for the street after having had one
good look at him Dowie acknowledged.
with many bitter phrases. that the mod
ern Sodom' needed Zion even more than
he thought IL would
As a spectacle the great assembly in
Madison Square Garden opened magnif-
Gently. The scene setting and the arrange
ment Of the professions and the music
were on so grand n scale that experienced
observers OF such occasions told one an
other that there was sure to be a great
spiritual upheavai before the meeting was
over. IL was a ceremony fit TO awe and
impress even crowd bert on satisfying
its curiosity about the best advertised
holiday show ever given I'm New York
The doors were thrown open TO the pub
lie at 1880 o'clock. The people from the
street came streaming in. They did not
the seats in the house, not reserved for
the Host. were filled. There were a few
less than 5000 seats. all told.
The doors were closed for a time and
coming up from the basement the Zion
white-robed choir appeared at the Madi-
son avenue entrance marching up the
middle aisle. The band. which had been
playing spirited marches and hymn
tunes, started the professional: "Open
Now Thy Gates OF Beauty"
LIKE A BIG WHITE DOVE.
1t was beautiful procession. The
surpliced choristers, at the head Of which
were little girls not more than five or
six years old, az pretty as pretty could
be. There were nearly hundred of these
girls: the oldest were apparently about
a. They were followed by a ruddy-faced
lot OF little boys and then by older girls
and other boys and grown people They
sang with mighty volume.
Along the side aisles two other process
sions advanced all robed In black gowns
These we're the deacons and deaconesSes
200 of them They sang. too. The whole
Garden fairy rocked with the chorus.
The white-robed choir divided in front
OF the pulpit and In two columns OF twos
assembled to the seats above. When they
were all in place the audience fairly
gasped with the dramatic conception OF
the picture The platform had been att
fully arranged so that from the BODY ana
the rear OF the hall the choir formed 'ho
outstretched wings Of a giant white dove
poised above the pulpit
Out from a curtained door al t'c left
OF the pulpit came compact body Of
Zion Guards. The ranks opened and
Dowe moved toward the steps Behind
him was Overseer Jane Dowie. his wife
and behind her. A. j. Gladstone Dowie
his grown son.
ROBED LIKE A BISHOP.
Dowie was attired like an Episcopalan
bishop. His outer robe OF black was lined
with purple. The sleeves of his surplioc
were very full and soft. At his back hung
hood lined with the colors OF Zioa-blue
white and gold. II was explained later
that. though this looked exactly like an
academic hood, II was not one II ALL
ut Is simply the hood OF the r~neral
overseer OF the Restoration Host" said
tho explaining authority.
Mrs. Dowie wore simple costume
much like her husbands except that there
were no colors I'm it. She is n S1ighty