The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-05

John a. Lewis, formerly of Meridian,
Miss, who by the will of John Alex.
dnder bowie is to succeed the latter
as the head of the Zion Church and
become the new apostle. is well known
in Pensacola. having visited here upon
several occasions.
Mr.. Lewis viii be remembered by
Pensacolians, especially those inter.
ested in railroad developments at that
time, as being one OF the early pro.
motors of a road connecting Pensacola
and Memphis, Tenn. and which was Ia
be known as the Memphis q Gulf.
About five years ago he undertook to
interest capitalists in the matter and
did succeed in getting Chester H
Pond, also of Mississippi, interested,
and the latter took Seely Dunn, of
Memphis, in on the deal
At the time he was endeavoring to
put through the railroad scheme he
was Yice-president of the Mississippi
Cotton Oil Company and during rhc
time that Pond and Dunn were re-
questing franchise privileges OF the
city he visited the city on one or two
occasions though he never appeared
prominently in the matter. When
Pond and Dunn gave up the scheme
nothing more was heard of Mr.. Lewis
until he resigned his position, paying
him salary CT $4,000 per year. and
joined John Alexander Dowie in the
Zion movement. but il is said that in
this, as in all other matters. he kept
a lookout for John A. Lewis and IS
now reported TO be worth several nil
lions, in addition to what has been
left him by the apostle.
A writer in the Birmingham Age
Herald, under a Meridian date, recent
~ said of Mr.. Lewis:
Methodist Deacon.
In his bOyhOOd home. around little
Cuba, Ala, John A Lewis was reared
IN the atmosphere of Methodism. At
ter he came to Meridian, however, ne
was prominently identified with the
Baptist Church of this city for a num-
Der of years Returning to the faith of
his father, joining the Meridian Metho-
dist Church, he became one of the
most prominent and active OF the lead
ers. His interest and enthusiasm
were marked and he became the lead
err of the Methodist Sunday School.
Becoming an enthusiast upon mat
teFs religious, Mr.. Lewis began TO in
wade every known field of research
for teachings, doctrines and soul-sol-
ace. He became in turn a Baptist, a
joined the Holiness Band.
was d sanctified brother and then cast
his lot with John Alexander Dowie,
being an humble and devoted follower
Of the late apostle for several years
In this city before the call came to him
to take a more prominent part in the
direction of the destinies of the sect
founded by Dowie. The manner of his
has been told in several
ways. One says that he attributed a
rapid and complete cure Of a bad case
Of indigestion to the teachings of Dow
lie, and in his gratitude joined that
faith.
Relatives of Mr.. Lewis in Meridian,
where he has spent the major portion
of his eventful life, claim that he be-
came interested in the Dowie move
ment several years before he became
activity identified with the sect In his
wide researches, he became possessed
Of the Leases Of Healing" the official
publication in Zion City. From pass
ing interest, he developed a mania foB
the publication, and made several
trips to Chicago to personally inter,
view Dowie. after which he announced
lis conversion to the faith and becama
I active worker in the Meridian
laId