Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/335

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THE GENESIS OF A MODERN PROPHET
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the work upon New Testament lines, by ordaining such persons as I believe God has called and qualified. I propose to carry it forward by training our young people in a very thorough manner in sabbath and week-day schools, where they shall not only be taught the letter of the word, but its spirit, and where they shall get a thorough Christian education from the kindergarten to the college, and from the very beginning be trained to carry forward the work of God in all parts of the city.

Replying to words of appreciation he said:

I do not think that I have reached a deep enough depth of true humility. I do not think I have reached a deep enough depth of self-abasement and effacement, for the high office of apostle, such as he had reached who could say, and mean it too: "I am less than the least of all saints, and not worthy to be called an apostle." But if my good Lord can ever get me low enough, and deep enough in self-abasement and self-effacement, to be truly what I want to be, and hope in a measure I am, "a servant of the servants of the Lord," why then I should be an apostle by really becoming the servant of all.

No man has ever approximated toward that sacred office without feeling that, if ever God called him to it, it would be a call to a cross and perhaps to a martyr's crown …… If I should be called to that office, I feel I should be called, in the depths of my heart, to die. I do not think I am afraid to die for Christ. I live for him.

A series of resolutions was adopted at this conference which declared full agreement with the principles of organization recently set forth by Dr. Dowie, accepted the basis of fellowship by him proposed at the earlier conference, requested "that Rev. John Alexander Dowie, as the Overseer called by God to that position, proceed to the enrolment of members," and decided that the Christian Catholic Church should be fully organized on Saturday, February 22, 1896. In reply to an inquiry from a follower, whose home was at a distance, what policy he was to pursue as to church affiliation where there was no branch of the church just now organized, Dr. Dowie said:

I would say to my brother that it would be well for him to join the Christian Catholic Church here, and then when he goes to Milwaukee, to go to that church where he can hear the gospel most earnestly preached, and say to the pastor of that congregation: "I don't want to join your church, but I would like to be permitted to attend your ministry, to sit at the Lord's table with you, and to help along Christ's cause with my time and money; but I am a member of the Christian Catholic Church. I will co-operate with you, if I can retain my membership in the Christian Catholic Church, all right; and if