- Once upon a time, on the shores of Lake Michigan, a man
saw his vision come to fruition. John Alexander Dowie, born in Scotland,
ministered in Australia and New Zealand, before settling in America. He
founded a city (population now some 22,000) called Zion, in Illinois, and
gave its streets, parks, and buildings all Biblical names. Dr. Dowie wanted
a haven where people could work, and play free from the vices of the world.
He imagined a city of God here on earth.
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- By 1900, this dream became a reality when he unveiled
the map, showing his church members the Coming City. It was to be called
Zion, located halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee by Lake Michigan. In
May of 1902 he presented the official seal of the city to the city council.
In part Dr. Dowie said, "I hold my hand on the lever of that which
is, perhaps the most important outward sign of a city organization, and
that is the seal which I shall presently ask the mayor and the council
to accept as a gift from the General Overseer. I don't think that the danger
to Zion without is worth considering. The only real danger that can ever
come to Zion is from within".
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- On May 10, 2005, Mayor Lane Harrison, spoke forth the
prophetic warning words of Dr. Dowie from so many years before. Indeed
a danger of impossible and unthinkable proportions had happened from "within"
the idyllic city of Zion. A maniacal, monster, possessed with demonic rage,
cold bloodedly, and without any semblance of humanity, slaughtered two
precious children, as they played on a spring night in Beulah Park. Obviously
biological sperm does not a father make. This Monster in Beulah Park was
the 'biological' father of eight year old Laura Hobbs. This Chainsaw Monster,
this butcher of innocence, is the epitome of evil and danger that Dr Dowie
worried would some day steal away his vision of Zion. But even he, could
not, as none of the fine officials in Zion could, imagine the malignant
depravity of a man that would butcher his own child and her friend.
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- Fathers are supposed to cuddle, sing to, laugh with,
and protect their little girls. Daughters imagine their dads as Prince
Charming and their Knight in Shining Armor. Little Laura and Krystal should
have felt safe and protected when Jerry appeared to call Laura home. Instead
he was the monster under the bed, the shadow on the wall, the bump in the
night, the menacing stranger, and the crash and thunder of a fearful stormy
night. The Monster in Beulah Park was daddy! Laura's daddy back in Zion,
home from prison, the danger "within"!
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- 1 John 3:16-18, says; "My command is this: Love
each other as I love you. Greater love has no man than this that he lay
down his life for his friends." The Monster in Beulah Park was over
six feet tall, muscular and raging. This didn't stop little Laura's best
friend from throwing herself into the fray when the Monster punched Laura
and she fell to the ground. Krystal, Laura's very best friend, could have
saved herself and ran from the park but she stayed and ended up slaughtered
beside her friend. Who can imagine such courage and such unwavering loyalty
towards a friend? No greater love indeed!
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- I have to tell myself that little Laura and Krystal are
together in a safe place now; far from the butchery, savagery, and violence
of the earth below, who have forgotten that big people are supposed to
protect little ones, teach them, and nurture them. Forever light where
they now reside, the moment of madness forgotten, as they sing in their
childlike voices, "Let the stormy breezes blow, their cry cannot alarm
me; I am safely sheltered here, protected by God's hand; Here the sun is
always shining, here there's naught can harm me; I am safe forever in Beulah
Land". Dwelling in Beulah Land-Charles Miles
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