The Washington times., 1907-06-02
FORTUNES IN RELIGION


one OF the strangest phenomena Of our
dimes is the tact that the millions OF
America. otherwise the shrewdest bust
ness people on eartn. are easily the most
gullible OF all when II comes 70 freak
experimentation.
me rise and downfall Of John Dowie
Is case in point. With n Tyealth Of his
own. he accumulated fIOnt gifts at least
&3,OJO,eg. The self-styled Elijah" was
Kind OF grotesque high priest, VINO
dlssiDated the vast fortune poured cut
by mis- too credulOus flock. and IS al
this moment 2 luuatic under restraint
Ills last appearance before 200 Of his
congregation was the traSedyS closing
scene. Surely a remarkable personality,
that played a marvellous role IN a life
entirely unique. Fifteen years ago ne
rounded Zion city. an Industrial town OF
over 100 people. Its factories and stores
were humming hives Of Industry but
now his wealth IS gone and the com
munity's debt stands at EI.30O,000.
The downfall of1iJOwie and DOWlels-n
dates from Elijah IFS" pilgrimage 70
New York three years ago 20 convert
wat he was pleased 10 call the world 8
wickedest city. Alas the pilgrimage
only resulted in ridicule and a loss Of
nearly El00.0J0, But il was only a few
weeks before last Christmas that the
end came. On that day a. was an
nounced that Zion City would be aban-
ooned- On that day. too. DOwie made
his last appeal 10 the faithful few re-
naming. But even 10 them he was a
poo imbecile. raying incoherenuy IN
warlike figures OF speech that MAJ ked
the ringing down Of the curtain on
tragi-cCmedy that was over.
And thea there Is that other Elijah"
Sanford, who built his huge temple at
a cost OF $4,000 on the sandhills near
Durham. in the State Of Maine. sand
ford came near rivaling Dowie as a
prophet. and began TO build the founda-
tons OF the temple with his own hands
in 1893 As showing the Credulity OF
TIE Americans, Il may be mentioned that
az this time the mans sole possessions
were a WheelbarrOW and shovel hAs
ne labOred he was 5eered by the farm
ers; yet one after another Of them fell
under his influence and accepted his
strange tenets.
Indeed. many OF THIN sold their rich
farms and gave al they had In the
world TO the new ElSJah. He sent mis-
sionaTies into foreign lands, and immi-
grants for the new faith colony began
20 arrive al Ellis Island, the Famous
immigration station IN New York nar-
Dor. The new prophet imposed lasts
Of incredible duration; ne himself
claimed TO raise the dead 70 lie; and
wide
Physicians and the orthodox churches
OF the State tried 20 combat the new
craze. but IN vain. Like many another,
Sanford thrOye on IrsrsecuGon; saia ne
was the representative Of Cod and
ruled even his richest and most power
ful adherents with an iron rcd But
wood. brick and stone on Beulah Hin
began 10 look deserted, rats infested
the PRAYER rooms in the mlnarets. None
remained but a few half-starvcc dupes
in tie stronghold. where the impudent
Chariatan claimed 10 have talked with
the Almighty.
The governor OF Maine ordered an in
vestiSation OF life behind the bars OF
New Zion and SandfOTds assistant,
Moses" Holland. was hailed forth, with
a number OF half-inSane creatures more
dead than alive Sandfords wealth IS
still believed 10 be great for he de-
posted large sums. given by believers
In various banks throughout the United
States His assistant. Moses, ana
other lieutenants would pray with up
lifted arms day and night for weeks at
a time. Without moments break the
petitions assembled. food was brought 70
the praying men and women when lhey
and money flowed in a steady stream
10 "the temple huilded on the sand
Fantastic as these things are, they are
exceeded BIZ what IS 10 come Sanford
bought "feet'-an old beTkentine and
two yachts With Elijah" Sanford
and Moses" Holland as admirals, they
put to sea with seventy or the noch-
The Holy Fleets destination was
kept secret. but il leaked out later that
the pilgrims went 10 Beirut, In syria.
Their leader had acquired land near
IOnna- ana LLltLE SlllAt 1A AGdSA tA AAAN
ciOlv Ghosters' may remain. AT pres
emit however, the State authorities in
Maine are trying 10 wind Up the affairs
of this disastrous sect.
AWAY out in Seattle. In the far North
western State OF Washington, the Holy
Rollers are in full swing, and already
they have caused blood 70 How George
Mitchell. a despairing young man, who
claimed that the lives Of his two sis
tiers had been ruined by Frank z Can
field. the sO-caled joshua or the
sect. shot the leader dead
And the affair had a terrible sequel
One Of the Misses Mitchell followed her
brother 10 court in Seattle. and in the
midst OF lie hearing produced a re-
volver and shot hkm dead. AS a result
the Holy Rollers on the Pacific coast
had 70 fly for their lives. for the murder
OF young Mitchell aroused wild frenzy
against them
This sect was organized six years ago
by the shores Of Canandaigua Lake in
Western New York. Belief In he'll is