The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-09

n
thing. but was due to evil, which, in
turn, was the work of the devil. Dowie
came before the people with a pecu-
llarly strong power of magnetism, a
compelling force of suggestion. The
people saw, heard and acted. Thous-
ands enlisted under the banner of the
man. They were convinced that he
was what he proclaimed himself to be,
and possibly what in his hysteria he
believed himself to be, a second Elijah.
within few years he had fitted up
palatial quarters and maintained
homes, schools, bank, a weekly pa
per and various other institutions to
promote his schemes. He paid thous-
ands of dollars weekly to rent the
largest halls in Chicago and these
were packed to hear him rant about
the newspapers who denounced him,
the preachers and medical men. He
and his family lived in regal state.
His son, Gladstone, graduated from
one OF the best universities in the
country and his daughter likewise as
we'll educated.
He went to New York in a special
train. accompanied by large retinue
of servants and no end of baggage.
From New York he sailed for Europe,
paying $1,500 for staterooms on the
steamer Graf Waldersee. In London
he lived in royal state at the Hotel
Cecil.
Then came the execution of another
OF the mans great projects-the pur-
chase of 5000 acres Of land in Wau-
kegan, ILL.,, as a site for Zion City, and
the next day a call upon his people
for another $1,0OO,O00.
Following quickly on these decisive
steps. Dowie began a campaign for the
regeneration of London. He was
jeered and hooted and mobbed. He
went across the channel and met
like reception. He returned to Lon
don, only to have the treatment re-
peated, and then he abandoned the
worlds metropolis.
One of his most spectacular efforts
was that for the regeneration of
Greater New York. Oct. IA, 1908,
eight special trains, bearing some
thing like four thousand of the faith
full, headed by the prophet, left Chi
cago for the eastern metropolis. The
crusade was to cost not less than
100000. Dowie hired Madison Square
Garden, but the people would not go
to his meetings. He gave up the
crusade and went back to Zion City,
there to be sued by his creditors, an
other indication of the approaching
end.
Zion City became restless and Dowie
decided upon trip around the world.
He went to Australia, whence he
c:s5les of great successes III his work.
Two days after his cable, message was
sent he was mobbed in Sydney. He re-
turned home by way of Europe. His
trip had cost nearly million dollars
and had proven an utter failure. Ar
irving at Zion City once more he found
himself in financial trouble. Still the
man kept on. He managed to raise
100000 and had all bankruptcy pro-
ceedings Cancelled.
Last October he was stricken with
paralysis while on his way to Mexico,
where he contemplated the founding
of another Zion City. His condition
improved somewhate and he returned
to the United States, but it was only
for a short time. He soon found him
self oblige dagain to seek a warmer
climate. Before departing for Mexico
a second time he appointed one of his
followers, Voliva, who had been his
principal agent in Australia, as gen.
eral overseer. But the crisis was fast
approaching. A considerable element
of Dowie's followers had begun to lose
faith in the so-called prophet. Scandal
became rife. The man who had de-
clared he could do no wrong was said
to have urged polygamy on his follow
ers and his name was coupled unhap-
PLY with those of certain women of
his colony. Finally an open revolt
broke forth in Zion City and Voliva
proclaimed Dowie dethroned, and
threatened the so-called prophet with
arrest for the misuse of funds If he
returned. Dowie, however, was not to
be deferred. Rallying his fast-failing
strength he left Mexica and hurried
back to Chicago. Zion City refused to
receive him and he appealed to the
courts for assistance. Voliva fought
him at every step and had the sup
port of most of the influential members
of Zion. Dowie was permitted to re-
turn to Shiloh house and to hold serv-
ices at intervals in the tabernacle. bur
he failed to secure restoration of his
former power.
The career of Dowie was one of
strange contrasts. He showed, in the
building of Zion City, the assembling
Of factories and business interests, the
organization of large enterprises like
that of the New York crusade, execa-
tive genius of a high order. But n
religious matters he was either self
hypnotized hysteric or knave. He
was said to possess a strong veil Of
Scotch mysticism-fruitful soil for
the self-suggestion that resulted in his
boast that he was the prophet fore
told by the prophet Malachi. On the
other hand. however, stood his ever
recurrent demand for money. Millions
poured into his hands, yet he asked
for more. The widest spendthrift
could not match Dowie for schemes to
rid himself of money. 1t Is estimated
that the invasion of New York by the
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A Jap RORRER