The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-05-29
Tremendous Power is Granted to
One Man in the Courts of New
City South Of Kenosha.
JUDGE BARNES RULE SUPREME
AS Solicitor General of Zion and All of the
Followers of Dowie He Yields Pow
erful Influence Among People.


| justice, for during the last few days
Judge Vischer Y. Barnes has been in
stalled in his Office of General Solicitor
for Zion and in this position he be-
comes the supreme appeal for the
thirty thousand mem bers of the Zion
church. The court is the most peculiar
ne ever established in this country
and follows out DR.. Dowie's Theocratic
plan of government. 1t is court
founded on the old principles set down
by the patriarchs of old Testament
history. Judge Barnes does not pre-
side in any Court room, there is no
clerk of the court, no magistrate or
sheriff to shout the ''Hear Ye, Hear
Ye," but whenever Judge Barnes is in
his office in the Zion Bank building
court is in session and the members of
the Zion church in Zion City or in any
part of the world can come to him to
have their troubles adjusted. The
Christian Catholic church in Zion rec
ognizes that the only form of settling
disputes is by arbitration, and Judge
Barnes is by appointment of the Gener-
al Overseer and by the vote of the ma
jority of the members of the church,
the "Lord High Arbitror" for Zion.
During his first week in office Judge
Barnes has had more than forty cases
which would have been cases for 1iti-
cation in the courts of the State and
Nation, but all were settled, peaceably
and without costs to the contesting
parties. The Zion courts are founded
| on the principle which has been laid
down by the Supreme court, viz: That
when two parties agree to arbitrate a
difference the decision of the arbitror
shall be as binding as the decision Of
the courts. On this broad basis all
Zion is submitting all her differences
to arbitration and Judge Barnes is by
all means the greatest man in Zion,
with the possible exception of the
General Overseer. He has the justice
of the entire Zion church in all the
countries of the world in his hands.
There are some cases which may be
submitted to DR.. Dowie on an appeal,
| but the appeal must be sustained. by
the General Solicitor before the find
ing becomes binding on the litigants.
Where members of Zion have dis
putes in other countries the settlement
of the disputes is carried on by CORES
pondence, each party to the action
sending to the arbitror brief covering
his contention in the case. On these
briefs the decision is based and when
it is rendered it is beyond appeal. 1t
will be an interesting question when
one Of the decisions of Judge Barnes
is taken to a United States court for
trial.
There is one beauty of the new plan
made by DR.. Dowie and that is the
fact that the litigants have absolutely
no attorneys to pay in the settlement
of disputes. Judge Barnes is en-
p1oyed by the corporation of Zion City
at salary of $4,000 a year, and it is
expected that he will give his services
IN all legal disputes to the members of
the Zion church. Zion laws make no
provision for the trial of criminals and
these parties are turned over to the
regular court officials of the county.
Thus far there has not been a single
arrest of member of the Zion church
on criminal charge. It is conceded
that this is remarkable record as the
church has now been in charge at Zion
City for more than year.
The police force of the city is an
entirely adequate one but the members
Of the force have little to do more than
to patrol the town and provide against
intrusion by outsiders.