Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-21
A Few Thoughts on bowie.

!
Messenger of the Covenant" "Restor-
Ter of All Things" and who has moved
on from Chicago to New York. with
fully 5000 of his followers, to hold
meetings in Madison Square garden
and save the metropolis from its sins,
is a man so sensational and spectacu-
lar in his methods that ridicule and OPP
position are inevitable. He is fair
subject for the wit of the paragraph
writer and the cartoonist. and abuse is
heaped upon him from a thousand pull
pits. and yet, in all fairness, 1t must be
admitted that Dowie is a man to be
taken seriously. Whatever one may
think of his belief or his methods. those
who have watched his work are united
in the opinion that he ms man of
most powerful personality and Of the
greatest business capacity. He may be
| fraud as a prophet. but he is a. man
of profound scholarship, an orator of
great eloquence and a master of men
with all the qualities that the greatest
generals are made of.
Dowie is a Scotchman by birth, and
is only Sc years of age. although his
patriarchal beard and his bald head
give him the appearance of much
greater age. When boy. he went to
Australia. seeking his fortune. Later
he returned to Scotland where he Sc
cured a university education, and
course in theology, after, which he re-
turned to Australia to preach the Cos
pei. But his individuality was such
that he was not to be confined within
the limits of any creed or denomina-
ton. and he broke what he conceived
to be his theological letters and re-
turned to his native land where he or
ganized Divine Healing association"
He came to this country about dozen
years ago and drifted to Chicago, where
he carried on his art Of healing. in
spite of public ridiculet and the frequent
arrests and fines to which he was sub
jected. At that time as often before
and since he showed himself a great
fighter. and his pluck and persist
ence won him the victory, in spite of
the jeers of mobs, and the water from
the fire hose which the city authorities
used to break up his meetings.
Soon Chicago got used to him and
ceased in large measure it's opposi-
ton. Then finding life in that city
rather tame. he proceeded to found his
famous Zion City, on the shores of Lake
Michigan, some so miles north of Chi
cago. This city has none like it in the
world, and is probably without paral-
lei in history. Shiloh is not to be men,
toned with it. 1t now has a population
of over 10000 people, and he is the I'M
disputed autOcrat of the community.
The city is beautifully laid out, with
broad avenues, fine residences and sub
establishments. 1t has it's schools, it's
homes for working-girls; and its be-
nevolent institutions for children; and
on it's outskirts are great gardens which
supply it's food. The chief feature of
the city is it's lace-making industry.
These lace works are the largest in the
United States and have made Dowie a
very wealthy man. His personal
wealth is estimated at several millions.
works and other business establish
ments of Zion City. goes to Dowie,
himself. although the community is, in
theory at least, established on the CO.
operation plan. His followers, how
ever get pleasant dwellings and
enough to eat and to wear. and as this
seems to satisfy them. the outside
world has no right to find much fault.
Dowie's remarkable qualities as lead
had his vision of the wickedness of the
great eastern metropolis and heard the
call for his services there. Promptly
at his command. fully third of the
people of Zion city dropped their tools,
abandoned their homes and left every
thing to embark on the crusade with
him. Even the mothers left their little
children in common nurseries to join
the Restoration Host" The execu-
tive ability of Dowie was never better
shown than in the manner in which
this invading army was brought from
Chicago to New York. -crowding over
eight special trains. but so thoroughly
were the details looked after. and so
complete was the system and organi-
cation. that there was no confusion or
delay, either in starting or on the road,
or at the time of arrival in New York.
| A LINGERING COUGH