Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-10
BUBBLE BURSTED.
DR.. Dowie's Zion City in the
Hands of Receivers.
Financial Difficulties Overwhclm the
Self-StyIed "EIijah III''-He Ap-
peais TO His Followers to Sell
Their Property and Help
Gods Church Work.

/
ties which began during the crusade
of John Alexander Dowie, the self
styled "Elijah ILL.," and his restora-
+ tion host to New York month ago
and which have been rapidly increas-
ing since Doves return eliminated
/ last night in the federal courts talk
| ing possession of all the property
controlled by Dowie in Zion City, III.
This town, which was founded two
years ago by Dowie, has a population
of over 10000, rs the general head
quarters for Dowie's church and is
said to represent an expenditure Of
500, 100000.
Fred NJ. Blount, cashier of the Chi
cago national bank, and Albert ID.
! Currier, a law partner of Congress-
man Boutelle, were appointed re-
ceivers of the property. Their bonds
were fixed at 100000 by Judge
Kohlsaat, of the United States dis
( trict court, who made the appoint
ment on the petition of several credit
/ orS.
The bankruptcy proceedings
against Dowie were based on the al
| legation that he is insolvent and that
while in this financial condition he
committed an act of bankruptcy by
making a preferential payment, on
November ., to the L. Streetor Lum-
ber Co. for $3,770. Dowie has been
hard pressed by his creditors, es-
pecially since it was announced that
his recent mission to New York had
/ proved unsuccessful financially.
Dowie accumulated large sum as
the head OF the Christian Catholic
church, the assets of the organza-
tion being estimated at between 500
100000 and $4,000, 900. There was
large outlay of money, however,
when Zion City was started. Then
lace and costly candy industries were
started, and as both of these ventures
have never been paying investments
a great deal more money was tied up.
Dowie's differences with his brother
in-law, Stevenson, over the manage
ment of the lace factory cost more
than 100000 and other suits recently
begun in Lake county by creditors
are said to aggregate large sum.
Last Wednesday Dowie's first con-
fession of weakness was made at a
rally in the tabernacle at Zion City. e.
"a lot of you people have cash in
your pockets" Dowie said to his fol-
lowers. dig down and get it out.
1t is Gods and we need it in his
work. You're towards if you don't
give it up"
Dowie talked in the same strain
for more than an hour, tears glisten-
ing on his cheeks as he told of the
financial straits in which the Zion
industries found themselves.
Instead of frightening many into
depositing, this appeal sent a long
line of people to the bank on Friday,
when they lined up at the paying
teller's window drawing out their
money. Less than $4,000 was de-
posted in the bank on Friday. while
the amount withdrawn was twice as
much.
Yesterday Dowie asked the mem
bers of Zion more urgently than ever
for money. He declared that he must
have $5OO,OOO without delay. This
sum- he said he was willing to take
in short loans, but that they must be
forthcoming Immediately. In the ef-
forts to remedy the condition of af-
fairs at Zion City hundreds of letters
were sent out to Dowie's followers in
In these letters, in which glowing
prospects of Zion City's future were
painted, and in which Dowie himself
is quoted as praying that all those
who believe in him will follow the
Lord" all DowieiteS are urged-al-
most communicable sell their farms,
stores and everything else and come
at once to Zion City and take up the
IL 81 hnp ph,t,-a A f,f hoe No
have money in banks near where
they now live were asked to draw
that money out of the banks and send
it for deposit at Zion City.
Last night the receivers and their
attorneys called upon Dowie and
read to him the petition and order of
court which placed Zion in the hands
of a receiver.
The order of court issued compcls
Dowie to appear i'll court Decem-
ber II.
Chicago, Dec. 3.--A great gathering
of the Dowieites was held in the
tabernacle at Zion City last night. 1t
was called by Dowie for the purpose
of starting a fund of $1,000,000 with
which to pay off all the Indebtedness
that hangs over Zion City and hiIr-
self. The outpouring of his followers
was not one to bring cheer to the
heart of the general overseer of Zion.
Dowie gave to his followers a state
ment of the financial situation of
Zion City, told them that the assets
were ample, the only trouble being
that he was not able to realize upon
them at once. All he needed was a
contribution of ready money with
which to tide over the present crisis
in the affairs of the city and, this
once done, Zion would grow to great
er power than ever before.
1--WE want $1,O0O,OOO,' he said "and
/ want the faithful here in Zion City
to contribute half of that sum. |
want it now; tonight"
The collection taken up is said to
have amounted to less than $1,000.
Accepted Carncgie's GIFT.
Philadelphia, Dec. 2.-City councils
committee on free libraries yester