Fulfilment of a Grand Prophecy - Hazrat Ahmad’s Challenge to John Alexander Dowie — Page 40
42. Fulfillment of a Grand Prophecy. The New York Times. . THE NEW YORK TIMES. SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 1903. . THE NEW ONE-CENT STAMP. . When the new issue of the two-cent stamp made its appearance it became. Decessary in the discharge of a duty to the public to speak of it in the language of mild satire. The new one-cent stamp of the reform series has now made. Its appearance and gentle irony fails to do it justice. Mr. Dooley is still the model, this time posing as FRANKLIN, who carlcatured with a chin which reinis one of the stocking which the patriotic young woman who had not, learned how to toe off" knit for some soldier who might need it. The foot got longer and longer, until it was about two yards In length. FRANKLIN's chin bears about this relation to the rest of his features. As a portrait it is absurd, though it might answer very well as a caricature. It s. THE RIVAL PROPHETS. . It is definitely settled that this combe, proclaimed "a llar" throughout the world. . A genuine Ellish would jump at such a proposal, When the chesty priests of munity is to be Invaded in October next' by the spectacular Mr. Dowie and sey-Basl denied the prophetic supremacy of eral thousands of his followers. . Mr. . Dowie is the founder of the City of Zion, (Illinols,) from which point he says he has projected over Chicago a purifying influence. The purpose of the Invasion is to effect a similar moral regeneration here. It la timely to recall that Mr. . Dowie has proclaimed himself to be in fact the prophet ELIJAIL, though his recognition in that capacity has been rather limited. Some of the Chicago newspapers habitually and familiarly refer to him as "Lije," but it is suspected that this is mere ribaldry. Serious persons out there say he does not show the distingulshing characteristics of the flery. Tishbite. Although the general IncreduDOWIE, still it is reasonable to suppose that on the eve of his departure for a new and more Important scene of activsupported on either side by two nudelity does not seem to embarrass Mr. male figures probably "writhing on amaranthine asphodel "caryallds which. Bupport nothing, unless it be the absurdity of the design. In miniature they sugity he must welcome any opportunity to gest worms for balt. " Is there no penMr. Dowin (as the prophet) has foretold the deatruction of all who do not belleve in the divinity of his misalon; and he has gone out of his way to include the establish his historic Identity. Such an 'alon fund from which the designer for opportunity has presented Itself. the Post Office Department may be guaranteed a comfortable support on the condition that he will design no more: stamps? If not, would It not be an act of patriotism to create one by popular subscription? We wish him well, but even more strongly we wish that he might find some other and more fitting. bering 450 experienced professionals) to. ELIJAH, he dared the whole outfit (numa prayer test. . No handicap could dash deluged with water the woodpile he had hlm. But one against hundreds, he even pledged himself to burn. How he reviled the perspiring priests and spurred them on with Insults is a matter of record. . That is the kind of prophet ELIJAH WAS. . This incident is recalled because AMMED's challenge is much like that of Elisait to the priests, and whether the founder of. Zlon (Illinois) is in error as to his own. Identity will be, determined by his acceptance or rejection of this test. The. Mohammedan is generous rather than fair. He waives the consideration that he is ten years the elder and he stipulates that death shall be by disease, lightning stroke, or snakebite. The normal death rate of Chicago is far below that of Quodlan, and statistics show 073 deatha from annkebites in India last year and none Cook County. Apart from the prayers the conditions favor Mr. Dowie. . TOPICS OF THE TIMES. . After quoting part of a paragraph about Allasissippi levees that recently uppenred lu the always amiable column, Endistant Mohammedans in the grand calaclysm. It happens that the Far East has. its own prophets and naturally they con-neering News very unanalably remarksa sider this attack as contrary to the etliown prestige they must down the arrooccupation than adding to the gayety of les of the profession. To maintain their nations in this particular way. We value our historical heroes, and it pains us to have them made game of in this fushton. . The Franklin atamp la "the limit. ”. INSULTING THE CAPITOL. " gant Westerner. It is an old story that when prophets fall out there is Hall Columbla to pay. One MIRZA GHULAM. . AHMED, & Mohammedan of. . Quodlan,. Gundaspur, India, (having 100,000 tol-1. The country throws a certain statutory lowera,) has lвsued a challenge which protection around Its flag and escutcheon would suit the Indisputable' Ellah down that they may not be defiled by the adto the ground, Popular opinion' as to the vertising reptile or otherwise dishonored,verity of Mr. DOWIE's claim will depend but it has not so far been thought,neces- a good deal on his treatinent of this chalsary in such a way to protect the. Nation's Capitol from Indignities. It was hardly conceivable that any much could be offered to it, such a divinity and stateliness hedge it, throning it in utIributes of ninjesty It not of awe, to worn off the fool. or malignant who would lift a profane hand against it. Muț the Detroit chauffeur who has just tried to ride up Its front steps in hin, inolor, making provision beforehand to have the exploit photographed, gives token that. It is not without need of particular measlenge, AHMвD's proposition is that the. Western prophet and 1,000 of lifa people shall pray for the early death of the Mohammedan Messiah, while the latter and a similar number of gifted Mostems shall. petition, for the speedy deletion of Mr. . DOWIE. The first of the two to die is to "It would be difficult to crowd Into the above space more misinformation thin is there conveyed. ” As the paragraph in question was in large part Interrogatory and in no part didactic, we have some excuse for resenting a condemnation so harsh, but resentment is confession at least ny often as suleide ls, and the subject of Mlsalasippi leveca la one of several upon which wejare humbly, willing to receive, Instructlon from specialists of recognized auThorltys la to be feared, however, that we are not competent to get much wisdom from the two-column lecture with which. Engineerlig News follows up its first shot. . For, right at the bogliming of the lecture, we find this curiously puzzling sentence: "Levee engineers have known for many years that the next Mininalppi flond would certainty exceed the highest singe yet recorded, at least along the channel In Tenressee and Northern Maslarlppl, on account of the closing of the St. Francia Bauly In. Arkansas and Missouri, into which the Alississippi has formerly overflowed at every great flood. ” That sentence rends smoothly enough, but somehow, after reaching tha end of it, che goes back to "for many years, " couples It with "the next Missinsippi flood," and falls into n wort of Unzo or swound, with the result that the rest of what is, very likely, a beautifully held article, disappears in a “molty mist. With painful difficulty we did plerco that mist