The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-25
DOWIE AN lMPOSTER
SAVANNAH MINISTER'S STAMP CELL
JAZZ IL" AS FANATIC AND FAKIR.
UNDOUBTEDLY IS SINCERI
IN HIS BELIEF is OPINION OF DIR. j.
Y. FAIR.

Worst Type-Rev. Ii. C. Christian
Terms Him EgOtist and Religious
Fanatic-InjuriOust to Christianity.
HeaIinEs Arc Results of People
Throwing OF DeIusiOns.
The crusade of John Alexander Dowie
and his followers in New York has at
tracted attention among all classes. In
Savannah the progress of the move
ment is being carefully watched, espe-
cially by those interested in religious
matters.
A number of Savannah clergymen
were asked yesterday for their opin-
ions of Dowie and the movement.
Without exception they, of course, de-
MED all belief in his absurd claim TO
be the reincarnation of Elijah, and in
his ability to heal by laying on OF
hands" Some took the ground that he
is an imposter, pure and simple, and
that his object is simply the accumula-
tion of money.
Others took the position that Dowie
is honest in his belief that he is the re-
incarnation of Elijah. The religious
fanaticism with which he Is imbued
has convinced him that he is all that
he claims to be. and, blinded by his
own conviction, he can not understand
why others will not look upon him as
the old prophet come again to earth.
AS to his crusade, none expressed the
belief that it would be successful, at
least not to any extent. The unanl-
nous opinion seems to be that while
the movement is new and has lost none
of it's uniqueness. Dowie will continue
to attract crowds, and will be the CEN
ter of attention. When the newness of
the crusade wears away. interest will
lag, and the prophet" will be compell-
ed to return again to his Zion"
Dowie Honest and Financier.
Dr. J. Y. Fair. pastor of the In
pendent Presbyterian Church, is one
of those who take the ground that
Dowie is sincere in the belief that he
is all that he claims to be- DR.. Fair
also recognizes Dowie as a financier,
the success of Zion attesting that fact.
In speaking of the Chicago leader and
his crusade Dr. Fair said:
Il think that Dowie is honest in his
belief, though of course I do not be-
lieve in his claim. He is a religious
fanatic and his enthusiasm has car
ried him away with its force. l be-
leve that he thinks he can do a great
good in this world and that he is or
dained to cleanse the world in prepdra-
ton for the second coming of the
Messiah
Furthermore, he is an astute finan-
cier. The example of this shreWdness
in affairs of this world is not new
thing among those who are fanatics
on religious subjects. The success of
Zion is sufficient evidence of Dowie's
good sense and keenness in the man
agement of money and in investing
it to the best advantage"
A Religious Fanatic.
When asked regarding his reputed
healings of the lame and those other
wise afflicted. Dr. Fair said:
THE incidents which are given of
his power in this line are probably
only the results of those who think
they are unable to do certain things
when in reality they can. They are
victims of their own minds and not
really afflicted physically. Under the
stress of religious excitement they
throw off the hallucination under which
lHey are ldDOrlnS, ana are, TO all APP
pearances, healed of physical ailment.
His arrogance is nothing unusual
among religious fanatics. Believing
that he is ordained of God, he be-
lieves that he is absolutely right. Hence
he takes upon himself the right to
judge others, and, if you do not be-
lieve as he does, he condemns you. AS
for the movement he is leading, to my
mind, only inevitable failure awaits it."
Terms Him FaIxir.
Rev. w. A. Nisbet, pastor of the
Westminster Presbyterian Church,
when asked for his opinion, said:
THE most charitable view that I can
take of the man is that he is a, deceived
fanatic. The next statement that
would make is that he is q conscious
fakr. BY that 1 mean that he not
only is an imposter, but that he knows
he is an imposter. He is taking this
mothed of accommodating worldly gain.
I have no confidence in him even as a
man. His 'healings' are either the re-
suit of people throwing off imagined
troubles or are merely unfounded
statements"
elijah IL" an ImpOster.
Rev. Robb White. rector of Christ
Church, was emphatic in his statement
that Elijah IL is an imposter. In
speaking of him Rev. Mr.. White said:
He is a humbug, pure and simple. He
is doing what he is simply for the
money that he can make out of it. He
is a fakir and he knows that he is
fakir. All he wants is money and he
takes this method of getting it. AS
for his reported healings, I take no
stock in them. When he cures a man
who has had a leg cut off or who has
a bullet hole through him, then l Will
believe in his healing powers"
Calls Him False Prophet.
Rev A. NJ Williams, pastor of Trini-
ty Methodist Church, said: "Dowie is
one of those whom Christ prophesied
would come one of the false prophets.
1t is a pity that our laws of freedom
of speech are so broad that he can
not be stopped, and the gullibles of
lowing as an old minister once said,
if some one were to promulgate the
theory that all men should stand on
their heads, there would be many
who would follow him. Dowie is
an imposter of the worst type"
Enthusiast and EgOtist.
Rev. H. C. Christian, pastor of the
Wesley Monumental Church, said,
among other things "Dowie is an
enthusiast, and egotist, and one who
seeks and Graves notoriety. He takes
this method of securing notoriety He
may believe that he is right. Such
,men and such fanaticism are in
is any good in him and his doctrine,
then for the sake of that good l would
say let him go on"
Rav Mr. Christian also tooL the