Fulfilment of a Grand Prophecy - Hazrat Ahmad’s Challenge to John Alexander Dowie — Page 61
Fulfillment of a Grand Prophecy. THE TIMES, London, Monday, November 9, 1903 "The Dowie Mission". Mrs. Dowie, the wife of Mr. John Alexander. Dowie, whose attempt to conduct a mission in. London some time ago was attended by many disorderly scenes, and Dr. A. J. Gladstone Dowie, her son, conducted religious services at CaxtonHall, St. James yesterday afternoon and evening. . Admission was by ticket until a quarter of an hour before the beginning of each service, after which non-ticket holders were admitted. This congregation in the afternoon was not a particularly large one, but in the evening people were admitted to the gallery and the hall was crowded. A hymn sung by the choir, who were accompanied by a stringed band preceded the entrance of Mrs. Dowie and her son at each service. On their entry the congregation rose and remained standing until prayer had been offered by Mrs. Dowie, who was described on the handbills as "The Rev. Jane Dowie,. Overseer of Women's work in the Christian. Catholic Church in Zion. She wore a black gown over a loose white robe, and her son, who appeared in academic robes. There was no disturbance at either service, except that in the afternoon Mr. Dowie, while giving what he termed "A true account of the Pearson affair," was interrupted by some persons at the back of the hall, who cheered the statement that in New York, as in England, there was a statute which rendered any person who allowed his child to die without calling in medical assistance liable to prosecution for criminal negligence. Mr. Dowie resented the interruption, and in a loud voice exclaimed, "If there are any cads here who wish to make a noise will they get out? And will they go quickly and at once? I won't stand any impudence- not one bit, either in England or America. " The speaker proceeded to explain that it was the belief of the "Christian Catholic Church" that the Almighty would cure any person who was sick, provided that he or she led a pure life and repented of all sin. In defense of their principle they were prepared to pay any fines that the law might inflict, but they would use all legal means to abolish a law which said that no man could allow his children to die without calling in medical assistance. Mrs. 63. Dowie, who followed, announced that her subject was "The Principles, Prospects, and Practices of the Christian Catholic Church," but her remarks were mainly directed to the Press criticisms of the work. She remarked that when the people began to receive the blessing of Diving healing, when the blind were receiving sight, and the deaf hearing, the ministers of the churches started to tell "abominable lies" about the work, and, she added, "If a minister starts to lie he can do it even better than the newspapers, and that is saying a good deal. " Speaking of her husband, whom she described as "the general overseer," she said the members of the Christian Catholic Church believed him to be the third Elijah. All the theologians who had studied the question had declared that Elijah must come before Christ's second appearance, and he had come. The movement was the beginning of the restoration of all things. How long it would be before the coming of the Lord they could not tell, but they believed it was near at hand. At the evening meeting Mr. Dowie gave some particulars of the work which is being carried on "in the city of Zion," where, he said, the manufacture of lace and candy making were two of the principal industries. As at the afternoon meeting, however, a good deal of his speech consisted of diatribes against the Press and Press reporters, whom he described as "pure automatons, worked from the central office which imagines all their lice for them. " He was not alluding to The Times, but the general character of the Press was that it told lies without excuse. The "general overseer" wanted to make as much money as he possibly could, but it was in order that he might be able to put it back into God's work, for the extension of His kingdom throughout the world. Notwithstanding the many lies that had been told about them, the New York meetings had been eminently successful. Mrs. . Dowie said a Press reporter spoke the truth by accident, sometimes. The “general overseer" was not infallible, and was very human in his actions, for he came right down to the everyday things of his life.