The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-30

Whispered Nothing OF Gorgeous Robes
1,scy .Broidercd for John Alcxan.
der. Apostle.
tChicaso Dispatch,

Dcwi lie has dropped his first name ard
inow calls himself John Alexander.
lFrs, Apostle Of the Christian cathol.e
lChurch." And IL may be that Joan
alexander viii claim that > modern
In racie Was per-orEiea when he as
isumed his apostolic dignity on Sun
lday.
| Fur. almost miraculous TO say. forty
women kept secrst fcs forty hours.
John Alexander did not determine until
iwomen kept . secret for forty hours.
FRIDAY what garments he would wear
when he proclaimed himself apostle.
From early Friday morning until mid
might Saturday. forty women worked
the gorgeous raiment w1ica adorE-
led John Alexander whe Ne ceremon-
tiously appeared before 200 Of his fol-
flowers In the tabernacle or Zion city.
But not one OF the forty Whispered q
iword about the quality OF the satin OF
(which the robes We're made nor OF the
tembriodery on Dowie's coat. nor or the
fashion OF his headdress- And the 30
lin the tabernacle wee vastly surprised
both by the robes and that forty wnn-
len had kept a secret.
The vestments are a revival OF a most
Iancient pattern. John Alexander thus
lciaimed the right TO put them on with
1.-THE title oe First Apostle"
Il did not create the office II was
icreated by the Lord I didn't create 1t
any more than l designed these robes.
If you are in doubt as 20 nv authority
TO wear them. you viii find IL IN b
Itwenty-eighth chapter OF Exodus. the
lpatern given by God TO Moses when the
high priesthood was established:
And these are the garments which
they shall make;a breast plate and m
lephod and a robe and a broidered coat.
a mitre and a girdie: they b make
holy garments for Aaron thy brother
Iand his sons, that he may minister un-
to me ~ the priests office"
When the Apostle made his entrance
Into the tabernacle he wore a Ions gar
ment OF heavy white satin lined with
white silk. Over this vas a robe af
Ipurple satin. fringed with gold. which
Preached TO his knees. His "breidered
lcoat" was of white satin. embroidered
with geometrical patterns in purple n
Igold, the coiors OF his church. His cir
idle was historically accurate. But his
lbreastplate did not contain the Twelve
Jewels which Moses set I'm Aaron,s-tec
t~carbuncle, emerald. sapphire. diamond.
lonyx and the rest OF them. Perhaps
III the breastplate had contained the
twelve jewels the miracle of silenc.
could not have been performed: the
forty women would have had TO talk
tabout the diamonds sparkle and tia
lenerald's deep iustre. Instead of the
Jewels a scarlet cross edged with gold
twas on the b~reastplate.
John Alexander's m.tre or turban.
was of white silk with two
purple bands. II must have been heavy
or Ii was too small. for he 1t
fwhen he began TO preach. Aaron al
ways wore his mitre-when he PRAYED
and his orthodox descendants follow
1.-THE fashion to this day. John Aiexan-
der committed the anachrcnism of adj
lding white silk stockings and white
lcanvas shoes TO his apostolic costume.
John Alexander says that since he
Ipegan TO pray over the question wheth
Ter he should assume the apostolic or
lhce he had lost wenty pounds i'm lony
Ivigils.