Invitation to Ahmadiyyat — Page 290
290 Promised Messiah as published another announcement in 1903, entitled ‘Prophecies about Dowie and Piggott’. In this announce - ment, he wrote that God had sent him in this age to re-establish belief in the Oneness of God and to put an end to idolatry. He said that he had been given a specific sign for America, and it was that if Dowie entered into a prayer-duel with him or, directly or indirectly, confronted him, then ‘before my very eyes, he will leave this world in pain and anguish’. The Promised Messiah as went on to say that he had previously invited Dowie to a prayer-duel but he had given no reply. Dowie was now being allowed another seven months. He then wrote, ‘Be sure, calamity is due to befall Dowie’s Zion. ’ In the end, without waiting anymore for Dowie’s reply, he prayed, ‘God, ordain that the falsehood of Piggott and Dowie may soon become apparent to all people. ’ This announce - ment, too, was published widely in Western countries and was commented on in several newspapers, such as The Glasgow Herald in Britain and New York Commercial Advertiser in America. Thus, millions became aware of its contents. When this announcement was published, Dowie’s star was at its zenith and the number of his followers was on the rise. They were so rich that they gave Dowie presents worth hundreds of thousands of dollars every New Year. Dowie also owned several industrial establishments and his bank balance amounted to about 20 million dollars. His retinue of servants was larger than that of the richest in the land. He was in excellent health and attributed this to his own miraculous healing powers through which he claimed to be able to heal anyone. In short, he had an abundance of money, health, followers and power. Upon the publication of the second pamphlet by the Promised