Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-02
DOWNFALL OF "ZION. "

Financial difficulties which began dur
ing the crusade of John Alexander
Dowie, the self-styled "ElTah ILL.," and
his "Restoration Host" to New York a
month ago, and which have been rapidly
increasing since Dowie's return, culmi-
mated last night in the Federal Court In
Chicago taking possession of all the
property controlled by Dowie in Zion
City, Ill.
This town, which was founded two
years ag, by Dowie, had a population
of over 10, 600, is the general headquar-
ters for Dowies church and is said to
represent an expenditure OF S2o,-
900, 00O
Fred NJ. Blount, cashier Of the Chi
cago National Bank, and Albert ID.
Currier, law partner of Congressman
Boutell, were appointed receiver OF the
property. Their bonds were fixed at
800, 900 by Judge Kohlsaat, OF the
United States District Court, who made
the appointment on the petition OF sew
eral creditors.
The receivers, with their attorneys
and Custodian Redieske, with SIX deputy
marshals. went out to Zion City last
night to serve upon Dowie the notice OF
the receivership. Redleske and his
deputies went to the bank, while the
others called upon DOwie at his resi-
dence. As the officers were about to
demand admission to the bank man
ran from rear door. One of the dep
uties overlook him, and second man
came running from the bank; LET me
have those papers; l will get away with
them"
Redieske threatened to place them un-
der arrest unless they returned at once
to the bank, which they did. He then
put the bank and the three men in 1t
under a guard.
While this was taking place at the
bank the receivers and their attorneys
called on DOwie and read to him the
petition and order of court which placed
Zion in the hands OF receiver
The bankruptcy proceedings against
Dowie were based on the allegation that
he is insolvent and that while in this IL
nancial condition he committed an act
of bankruptcy by making preferential
payment on November to the E. >.
Streeter Lumber Company for 50, 10
Dowie has been hard pressed by his
creditors, especially since it was an
nounced that his recent mission to New
York had proved unsuccessful imam
cially.
Dowie is known to have accumulated
large sum as the head of the Christian
Catholic Church, the assets OF the or
ganization being estimated at between
$40, 900, coo and $50, OO0, 900. There
was a large outlay of money however,
when Zion City was started. Then lace
and candy industries were started, and
as both of these ventures have never
been paying investment great deal
more money was tied up. Dowle 5
differences with his brotber-in-Iaw,
Stevenson. over the management OF the
lace factory cost more than SlOO, OOO,
and other suits recently begun in Lake
county by creditors are said to aggregate
large sum.
When Dowie's wife and son sailed
from Boston on October "A on the Gun
nard line steamer SaXOnia for Liverpool,
whence they we're to go to Australia, a
heavy iron box was carried to Mrs.
Dowie's stateroom and carefully guarded
until the steamer sailed. Dozens Of
Dowie's followers gathered about the
ships decks for an hour before she left
the dock, but they were not permitted TO
90 near the box. Two stewards who car
| ried it from the DOwie carriage to tie
stateroom were followed by Pinkerton
detectives, and when the box had been de-
posted in a corner chosen by Dowie, the
detectives were told to permit no one to
.nter the room. 'Is it true that there Is
gold in that box?" asked a reporter.
s'Peace be with thee" was DOwie's re-
ply. and then he gave the detectives aud
stewards an order to drive the reporters
to another part of the ship. Officers OF
the Saxonia say that when the shil
reached Liverpool the box was carried
to a carriage in which Mrs Dowie and
her son. Gladstone Dowie, rode, while
another carriage conveyed the rest of the
baggage to hotel. Mrs. Dowie and he
son both denied that the box contained
gold and securities TO the value OF 81
500, 600.
! John Alexander Dowie is the mos
remarkable of all the faith healers
prophets or 'Messiahs" who have push
ed TO the rescue of sinful world in tn
last half century. He calls himsel
Elijah the Restorer, and he claims to %
the reincarnation Of Elijah the Prophe
or. to be more exact, the third rein
carnation, for the first Elijah was caugh
up to heaven in a whirwind, and tn
second, John the Baptist, was beheaded
He is remarkable, first, for the size O
the fortune he is said to have accumulal
ed, which, it has been said, amounts
$15, 900, 900, made in ten years on
capital at the start Of nothing. He
remarkable for the number of his fol
lowers. and for his hold upon them
No fewer than 100, 600 persons, scattere
throughout the world profess faith j
Dowie. But the most remarkable Of a
, is the method by which he has accom-
nlished this. Starting in as an obscure
penniless faith healer, in a little co
- tape on the South Side in Chicago, te
- wears ago, he began preaching to lit
~ band in a cheap hall. Soon ne ha
1g ,g enough of following and enough col