THE MODERN ELIJAH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12550, 18 April 1904, Page 6

THE MODERN ELIJAH.

DOWIE'S ATTACK ON THE

KING.

LOYAL ACTION".IN SOUTH

AUSTRALIA.

The Adelaide Observer gives the following account of the attack made on the King by the Rev. J. A. Dowie recently. "When Christ comes back," said Mr. Dowie, "He will abolish all other Governments. King Edward will have to take a back seat very low down. I don't want to say a single disrespectful word, but nobody can boast of King Edward's piety. Nobody imagines that be has any religion to spare. You only hope that he has enough to get into heaven when he dies, and that will apparently be by the skin of his teeth. He has never been renowned for his religion. (A Voice: "Leave the King alone.') It is of no use you howling about that. I don't care if he is the King. I am standing in the place where John the Baptist spoke, and if I get any more talk back 1 shall say more about King Edward and not less. You cannot make me shut up with that kind of talk. I am the servant of God. John the Baptist did not cure for King Herod, and if you stir me up I don't care. You hold your tongue, or else I'll go after the King more severely. I simply say that when Christ conies every King and President and potentate will have to take a back seat and go pretty low down, some of them. Sometimes a peasant will go higher than they, for God is no respecter of persons. When Christ comes th*re will be no king. God only gave the people kings in His wrath, so the Bible says. God has no use for republics either, and I say that although I belong to one. It is not God's purpose to have rulers and kings, monarchies, republics, and democracies, for He will reign over this world Himself, When Christ comes back lie will come as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He will say who snail to King and Governor of .South Australia and Mayor of Adelaide. When He conies there will be a fresh deal. The politicians of this and every other country are like a pack of cardsthe more you shuffle them the dirtier they get, and the last shufUe in Australia was such a tremendous one that poor Mr. Deakiu doesn't know what to do because the people have returned three parties of about equal strength. The people don't know bow to select their rulers, and the world will never be happy until God rules."

The Mayor of Adelaide sent the following letter to Mr. Dowie next morning: — "To the Rev. J. A. Dowie. Sir,—l am sure that the Corporation and the City of Adelaide has never before permitted anyone to use the Town Hall for the purpose of expressing disloyal sentiments towards our beloved King ; and although you may be an American, yet a disgrace to your nationality, your utterances appearing in yesterday afternoon's press are an insult to every British subject of our Empire, and 1 enter my strongest protest against any further utterances of a disloyal character. If they should so occur I shall have no hesitation in instructing the police to eject you from the Town " Hall. —Respectfully yours, L. Cohen*. Mayor of Adelaide." The publication of Mr. Bowie's utterances was followed by prompt action on the part of the Government and the civic authorities. The Modern Elijah was announced, and had made most elaborate arrangements accordingly, to address meetings in the Exhibition Building and in the Town Hall, but his programme was completely upset by the determination of the authorities controlling Government and municipal buildings that in consequence of his disloyal sentiments they could not permit him to further use such buildings. Public feeling strongly approved the action of the Government and the Mayor, and the feeling became so intense that a petition to the Premier was circulated and rapidly and largely signed. by influential citizens. None of those to whom it was handed declined to attach their signatures. The memorial, which was received by Mr. Jenkins before noon, directed his attention "to the insults offered to King Edward by the Rev. J. A. Howie," and respectfully requested the Premier "to demand a full apology before he leaves South Australia." The Premier (Hon. J. G. Jenkins), reading the report in the press of the remarks of Mr. Dowie in reference to His Majesty the King, immediately sent for the Superintendent of Public Buildings, and instructed him to cancel the agreement with Mr. Dowie for the use of the Exhibition Building. The engagement of the Exhibition Hall was thereupon cancelled, and the Mayor, having consulted several members of the" Adelaide City Council, also prohibited Mr. Dowie from again using the Town Hall. In connection with the loyal toast honoured at the repast at the conclusion of the inspection of the town of St. Peters on the day following Dowie's outburst, the Mayor "(Mr. H. W. Langsford) said the sentiment was always received with enthusiasm throughout the British Empire. On this occasion, however, it would be entertained with deeper interest on account of the violent attack which had been made upon His Majesty by the religious mountebank who was at present travelling through the Commonwealth. Britons the world over were proud of their Empire and ruler, and of the Constitution under which they lived, and any aspersions cast upon His Majesty should be strongly resented by them. (Applause.)

DOWIE OX THE PRESS. When Dowie arrived at Fremantle several pressmen went on board the steamer to interview him. In an angry tone he declared to the reporters, "I have nothing to say to the press." Then he fairly screamed, " The press of Australia ! They are villains and perjurers. Why can't they tell the truth; Australia is going to damnation, all through the press. Wherever I have been they have concocted lies and libels, and one wonders why decent, self-respecting people allow you to mix with them. You are servants 'of the devil, and I am sure he will have a special place in hell for you. You smoke. Filthy, disgusting stinkpots, go away. I tell you, go away. I have nothing to say to you." With' this Mr. Dowie jumped u\: and disappeared down the companion way. A reporter was informed by Mrs. Dowie that the Zionist general overseer was really very angry and annoyed with Australians ■ "You see," she said, "we have not been treated fairly by the press, and naturally he is vexed. I trust you won't take anything he has said as personal. You see, he has not had a good time at all."