Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-10-17
RISE OF DOwIEISM.

his host are now in New York. They
are attracting the interest of many. The
following synopsis of Dowieism is given +:
In 10 years John Alexander DOwie, a
Scotchman by birth, has risen from the
doubtful returns of street preaching to
the leisurely opulence that belongs to
the head of Zion. He has established
himself as prophet of $4,000 people,
who give him one-tenth-the Bible tithe--
of their weekly earnings, and has made
Zion City, ILL.,, which he founded, a
thriving manufacturing town, with a
lace plant imported bodily from Noting
ham, England. at cost of over 81, ,O0O,-
600. Dowie has declared himself to be
the reincarnation of the Prophet Elijah
and divine healer and restorer. He
calls himself Founder and General Over
seer of the Christian Catholic Church
in Zion, Reincarnation of the Prophet
Elijah, Restorer and Messenger of
the Covenant. Dowie claims to
speak by inspiration, and his fol-
lowers accept his utterances as divine
messages. They hold also that dis
ease should be cured by prayer and
that the employment of physicians is
sinful. The use of tobacco and spirits,
attendance on theatres, card-playing and
membership in oath-bound secret socie-
ties--particularly the Masonic order
are forbidden. All who would be saved
must give one .enth Of all they possess
aud earn 10 the General Overseer, to be
used as he wills. They believe in God,
ir Jesus Christ, His Son and in the
salvation of those who keep His COM
mandments and the will of His repre-
sentative on earth {Dowie) through the
atonement on the cross. They believe
in the literal resurrection of the dead,
in the communion of saints and the life
everlasting. When Dowie was at the
Worlds Fair in Chicago he stood before
his tent and shouted: "All doctors are
liars and towards. All druggists are
low tricksters. Come to me and be
healed by faith. l am the only man in
the world practicing and preaching the
true word of God" Personal enemies
to Zion are, with Dowie, all thieves,
robbers and tricksters, and in his
speeches to- Zion he devotes them, col
ective and individually, to "Fire Fire
Fire In appearance Dowie is tall and
large. He is 6 feet high and weighs $50
pounds. His hair and beard are griz-
zled, almost white, and he has high,
thin voice. His gestures are many and
violent, in keeping with his often uu-
restrained speech. His best asset is
wonderful personal magnetism. Dowie
| is 81 years old and was born in Scotland
where he studied for the ministry.
Early in life be went to Australia. 1t
was when in Sydney, N. S. W., that he
formed his faith-hesling theory. While
reading his Bible he made up his mind
that Christ meant to heal the body as
well as the soul, and that bodily healing
could be accomplished by the laying on
of hands. Dowie first tried the cure on
himself. He suffered from form Of
stomach trouble that doctors had pro-
nounced hopeless. He says he read the
Bible the whole of one night, prayed for
cure and was cured. In Sydney
Dowie was twice imprisoned for holding
temperance meetings without permit.
At that time he was an ordained Con-
gregational minister, but in 1878 he left
that faith, went to Melbourne and SET
I'D the "Free Christian Tabernacle, "
the forerunner of Zion. Dowie left Aus.
tralia in 1888, he says, because he want
ed to travel his enemies say because he
was driven out by the authorities. He
landed in San Francisco with bis wife
Jane Dowie his son, Alexander Glad
stone, and his daughter, Esther Tha
son graduated in 1900 from the Univer
sity of Chicago. In was in 1890 tha
Dowie went to Chicago ITO fight th'
devil on bis own ground" At first h
established healing homes, and on com
plaint of the medical fraternity special
city ordinance was passed requiring tina
medicine be used in them. AS a resui
of repeated violation of this ordinance
and Of the street-preaching ordinanc,
Dowie was arrested more than hundred
times, and in 1898 had achieved suci
prominence that he made up his mine
the time was ripe to found the church
Straightway he founded the Christian
Catholic Church of Zion and made himsei
its head. Its development since has been
marvel. Dowie's wealth is now estimated
at fully $2G, 900, 900, and he is consider
ed one of the shrewdest business men il
the limited States.