Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17
WHAT IS DoWIEp
History and Power of the Founder Of
Zion City.

From the New York Mall and Express.
A man who has had extraordinary
history, whether or not there is anything
extraordinary in his character or powers.
Is about to begin a religious crusade In this
city which is without any close precedent
in it's character and magnitude. John Alex
ander Dowie. religious leader. charlatan
or ''fakir,' as he may be regarded, VINO
pretends to be an incarnation of Elijah the
prophet, will arrive here presently with
about 1000 of his followers and will at
tempt to Go for New Yo:k what the
churches have not done. He has plenty
of money, plenty Of determination, plenty
OF enthusiasm and power of some sort
which draws thousands of people to HIM.
1t may be worth while to attempt an esti-
mate of this parsonage.
He was born in Edinburgh Scotland, in
May, 1S47, SO that he is now not an Old
man. though his patriarchai white beard
suggests age. Yet his power has all been
developed in the last ten years His be-
ginnings and early life were commonplace.
He is by his bringing up an Australian, not
a Scot, though he returned to Scotland to
take a course in the theological seminary
at Edinburgh. He is not an uneducated
man, though destitute of the culture or the
schools. He was Congrega tional minister
in Australia without attracting any part1c-
ular attention. That was before he took up
the yellow side of religion.
After he had strayed to Chicago in 1889
he seems to have slowly built up power
over eredulous minds through joining in
evangelistic work. program which Is
practically repetition Of the leading fea-
lures of MOrmCniSm, minus rolygamy.
grew up in his brain. He founded Zion.
as Joseph Smith did, but with more imme-
date material success. 1t was only In 1S'b
that he established this Zion City on the
shores of Lake michigan, and it is now i
large and prosperous community. He
tithed his followers, as Smith did, and as
the Mormons still do. He stared a pape",
yellow in it's style and methods, naturally.
He advertised himself widely and well.
Like Smith, he now called himself a proph-
et and proclaimed himself the restorer of
all things" All this was afterthought,
however. Smith believed in his prophetic,
his divine powers. from boyhood. Dowie
pretentions have grown as he found people
tho age of fifty-four. that he made this last
discovery.
This man who calls himself the living
physical and spiritual embodiment OF Eli
JAN cannot be regarded as other than
charlatan. Yet great things have been
done in the world by charlatans. Dowia
has profoundly impressed himself upon his
followers They have put themselves and
all that they possess into his hands. They
all work for him and are fed by him He
has forced them to leave off at least all
their small vices. They neither smoke nor
drink He has not room in Zion" for all
the converts he has made. He will make
many converts here-not enough. probably.
to affect the life of the city profoundly. He
will pass on. and the metropolis will go on
its even way. neither very good nor hope
lessly bad. And while he is here. he is en-
titled to respect. He is probably strong
enough. too to get as much respect as he
really needs in his business.