THE REV. DOWIE IN LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE REV. DOWIE IN LONDON.

THE GENERAL OVERSEER DOES NOT

LIKE HECKLING. The "General Overseer of the Christian Catholic Church in Zion" addressed at St. Martin's Town Hall, London, lately, a meeting, in the course of which his shallow pretence of disinterestedness in the cause of the public salvation must have been obvious to even the most credulous of his hearers. Dr. Dowie led off by quoting the Biblical story of the leper who, having been healed, refused to bring the gifts which had been the condition of his healing.

This was coupled with the patriarchal hand-layer's covert suggestion that if the public did not arrive with the gifts the healing would not take place as advertised. These wholesome precepts the general overseer and dollar-millionaire thrust home to his flock with shouts and melodramatic gestures.

In case there were unbelievers present, the wealthy faith-healer told them a story about a girl in Ireland who, being at death's very door, wrote to him for rescue. At half-past eight one morning he prayed, and that very evening she was "up and around." At that stage of the proceedings a gentleman in the hall arose to ask for guidance, whereupon Dr. Dowie, throwing off his cloak of Christian forbearance, shouted: ' " Now you sit down and be quiet. I won't allow any interruption. Understand, I'm teaching you—not you me. I'm too old at that business. So behave, now, or you'll be spanked." The gentleman sat down. For some time Dr. Dowie wandered from the object of his mission, then, with a smile of sunny complacency, he told the people that when he thought they were ready he would lay his hands on them. " But, mind," he added, ingenuously, " I shall expect you to comply with the conditions." Towards the close some persons began to make preparations for leaving. Dr. Dowie had called for a hymn, but noticing the signs of an exodus, he said, " No, I think we'll have an offertory now. I think you'd better give something. I've paid for the hall, but perhaps you'd better pay it yourselves." don Daily Mail.