Cain's Wife

1910

"I never discuss marriage," said the late Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, to the Womans' Companion, "without thinking of an old colored preacher in my state who was addressing his dark-skinned congregation, when a white man rose in the back of the building."

"Mr. Preacher," said the white man.

"Sir to you," said the parson.

"Mr. Preacher, you are talking about Cain, and you say he got married in the land of Nod, after he killed Abel. But the Bible only mentions Adam and Eve as being on the earth at that time. Who, then, did Cain marry?"

The colored preacher snorted with unfeigned contempt.

"Huh!" he said. "You hear dat, brederen an' sisters? You hear dat fool question I am axed? Cain, he went to de land o' Nod, just as de Good Book tells us, an' in de land of Nod Cain gits so lazy an' so shiftless dat he up an' marries a gal o' one o' dem no 'count white trash families dat de inspired apostle didn't consider fittin' to mention in de Holy Word."

—Amador Ledger, Jackson, CA, Dec. 30, 1910, p. 2.

Protest Against Hanging

Iowa, 1909

During the recent trial of the negro Junkin, in Centerville, for a capital crime committed in Ottumwa, a sensation was created by the publication of an appeal to the Christian sentiment of the people to prevent the hanging of the accused person.

This appeal was on high grounds — the thought that the taking of human life is not a proper function of government and is in violation of the command to not kill. The appeal was signed by William R. Benkert, as chairman of the executive committee of the United Christian party.

There was much criticism of Mr. Benkert for this action, but it was entirely consistent with the principles advocated openly and courageously by the organization of which he is the head. That party has a platform which is not at all original and doesn't claim to be a new thing. In fact, the party might be open to the charge of plagiarism, for the platform entire consists of the Ten Commandments.

The United Christian party appears not to have attracted national attention, but that has not prevented the party going ahead and holding national conventions, maintaining an executive committee and engaging in the distribution of literature, Mr. Benkert is a resident of Davenport.

The last national conference of the party was held in the famous Watch Tower on Rock Island in May, when plans were laid for organizing the various states and this was left largely to Mr. Benkert. He has the very great advantage that his wife, Mrs. Katherine Benkert, is secretary of the committee, so that there is not to be any friction in the workings of the organization. In fact, he is quite ready to concede to the secretary leadership in the good work and to accord to her more of the credit for that which has been accomplished than he takes to himself.

—Humeston New Era, Humeston, Iowa, Aug. 4, 1909.

Dowie Swears If He Had His Rights

Illinois, 1906

Then He Would Not Be a Bankrupt as His Enemies Allege

Chicago, May 16. — Attorneys for Dowie today filed an answer in the federal court in the receivership proceedings brought against Dowie some time ago. In his answer Dowie denied that he is insolvent, if all his property was restored to him.

Judge Landis, before whom the arguments were made, entered an order directing the attorneys to leave the matter alone, saying he would settle it himself.

Riots broke out again in Zion City yesterday, following disorder which attended Dowie's effort to address his followers in Shiloh Tabernacle Sunday. Crowds numbering hundreds gathered on Shiloh boulevard, near the general store in the afternoon, and engaged in a furious argument over the respective merits of their leaders, and the questions at issue in the struggle of "Doctor" Dowie and Overseer Veliva for supremacy.

One Dowieite was handled roughly by the mob and serious consequences were only averted by the arrival of the Zion police in answer to a riot call.

James Slater, a negro adherent of the "First Apostle," was escorted to safety by the officers, after being mobbed for his sturdy defense of Dowie. The crowd assembled again after the departure of the police, and another riot call was sent in, which brought out all the reserves of the station, led by Police Captain Walker himself. The mob was forced off the street corners and ordered to disperse.

FEAR FURTHER TROUBLE

The police are apprehensive of further trouble and have called in all their patrolmen from outlying points for possible emergency duty. Slater is said to have started the trouble by exploiting the virtues of Dowie to a crowd near the general store. He was interrupted by loud cries of:

"Dowie has all of my money."

"Dowie is a robber."

"Why doesn't he pay his debts?"

The negro became frightened and ran. He was overtaken by the mob and in turn rescued by the police,

DOWIE CHARGES CONTEMPT

Dowie took personal charge of seeking punishment of persons who caused disorder at his meeting Sunday. He instructed his attorney, Emil C. Witten, to draw Judge Wright's attention to the fact that the terms of the court order issued at the first hearing of the injunction proceedings against Veliva, to the effect that the "First Apostle's" meetings should not he interfered with had been grossly violated. He also ordered his counsellors to announce that all negotiations for the appointment of a triumvirate were off, and that the court proceedings should proceed.

—The Daily Review, Decatur, IL, May 15, 1906, p. 1.