The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-10
CASH: HALF A BARREL.
Zion City Faithful Pour Their Money
at DIR. DOvic's Feet.
From the Chicago Tribune.

at DR.. DOwic's Feet.
From the Chicago Tribune.
With a twenty-foot map of New
York on the wall behind him and
standing beside d red, white and blue
contribution barrel, John Alexander
Dowie exhorted 5000 of his followers
last night to support his approaching
invasion of Gotham. When the meet
ing was over the barrel was half filled
with money. So large was the amount
given that no attempt was made to
count it until to-day.
The scene that followed Dowie's ex-
hortation was remarkable. Stepping
to the edge of the platform the general
overseer of Zion demanded:
Are you ready to give?"
Yes" was shouted back.
'Freely?" he asked.
YES"
"Cheerfully?"
Yes"
Then with Elder Speicher on one
side and Elder Lee, recorder of the
host, on the other, a line was formed
to the contribution barrel AS the
crowd advanced Dowie announced that
he had given $780, Elder Speicher 1925,
and others already over $1,000. Blanks
were given on which those who had
no money could make pledges.
All sorts of gifts were given-horns,
guitars and even dolls by the chill
dren. One man pledged his horse and
buggy.
Cash contributors, headed by over
a hundred children, dropped money in
to the barrel until practically all pres
ent had made an offering. AS each
dropped in his money with his left
hand, Dowie, standing on the right,
shook the other.
Many members of the passing throng
of givers were either halt, or lame, or
blind, but from each the prophet"
received something to swell the inva-
sion fund.
The treets and homes of Zion City
were emptied and Shiloh Tabernacle
filled when at o'clock Elijah II rose
to deliver an address both eminently
so practical in theory and spiritual in
settling that his great congregation
was taken by storm.
Both as a spiritual leader and as a
financial adviser" he said, II can
heartily call on all true members of
Zion to lend fullest support to the ap-
preaching crusade. Not as sacrifice
offering of thanksgiving only do seek
your most generous support tonight,
but l assure you as our cause gains
in strength the gain is directly re-
flected in our increase in material as
well as spiritual prosperity.
Il want no half-hearted support and
you will give none. 1 want no one
with one foot in Zion and one in some
outside speculation. 1 want all to in
vest and give all in and to Zion as
1 have done. 1 have never yet given
unsound financial advice There loud
assent, and the more you give to
further our cause the more your prop
erty and investment are worth.
"Outside you get per cent. on an
investment. Our stock pays s per cent.
and will pay II in two years. 1t could
be sold outside at higher prices, but
I won't sell it there. By giving freely
tonight you should finally only in
crease our great prosperity of the past.
My part is only 5 per cent, but 1t is
with you and for you all.
81 have never been troubled by the
financial end of my work. The ecclesi-
astical part has bothered me more.
Only recently one of our trusted men
has been convicted of stealing, but
the wicked shall be weeded out.
"A thousand shall go from among
you to New York. and 1000 from else
where. We shall go to win-and we
shall conquer New York. 1t is your
task to show us tonight that we can
conquer"
Then came his call for funds, and
the response of his people.