Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-12-05
REMARKABLE MAN
John Alexander Dowie, Whose
Affairs are Now Menaced
by Debt.
POWER SHOWN EARLY IN LIFE
Reached Present Station After Many
Battles and Discourage
mentR.

particular interest is now attached
by the financial difficulties that
threaten its existence, forms a
strange study of the possibilities
arising from present sociological con-
ditions. Its history begins with the
birth of John Alexander Dowie-a
son of Scotch parents, who recently
has declared that the man he called
father is not his father. Dowie was
born near Edinburg May p, 1S47.
His mother was ScoI-an Alexander.
The man who until last month was
called his father was also Il Scot
John Murray DOwie-whO now lives
in iowa. Last month, during the New
York trip that probably wrecked
Zion, John declared that John Muir
ray Dowie was not his father, and
that he was the offspring of an Eng
lish army officer, member of the
nobility. He said his mother had been
led to believe that her marriage to
the army officer was invalid and that,
to save her name, she married John
Murray Dowie.
John Murray Dowie was a Congre-
gational minister of comfortable for
tune, and young Dowie received fair
foundation for his education under
him and in the board schools of his
native town. In 1860 the family re-
moved to Adelaide, Australia, and
for seven years young DOwie served
as clerk in a mercantile establish
ment. He even then displayed remark
able aptitude for business. Also he
displayed religious tendencies, and at
the age of 10 declared that he had
Of IN-G1nnSia l,vrI Il 81
In speaking of this time of his life
DOwie declares that to him the Savior
always has been as a close friend.
and that since childhood he has been
accustomed to speak directly TO Him
on all things and at 'any time as to
one in the same room.
To Chicago In 1890.
Tt was in 1890 that Dowie dawned
upon Chicago He built tabernacle
and snort time after built another.
The dozen followers became hun
dreds The health authorities at
tackled Dowie. Dowie abused them
and got Advertising And then Zion
tabernacle No. 3, seating over 1000
persons, was erected.
Then followed long battle be-
tween Dowie, the health authorities
aRflskis enemies. He was driven-frem
South Chicago, chased out of Pull |
man, stoned, Knocked, arrested. Many
of his patients died. Every time he |
succeeded in clearing himself, and in
almost every instance those who at |
tackled him were discomfited.e
Feb. -, 1896, Dowie organized the )
Christian Catholic church in Zion and
appointed himself general overseer, +
with his wife, Jane Dowie, as over /
seer. His work began to attract at !
tention all over the country. Con- |
verts rushed into Chicago and began |
to ccngregate around the taberna- |
Giles.
Going back a little, in 1899, Dowie |
began preparations for his greatest |
move. His agents went to work |
quietly and bought up land along the
lake above Waukegan, ~ miles from
Milwaukee. Then, when ALI these
acres were his, Dowie announced that |
he intended to build Zion City there. |
Chicago merely grinned. Dowie had |
been driven out.
Early in August, 1901. ground was
broken for the first house in this city |
of peace. The city is plated on exact /
geometric lines, with two great boule- l
wards through the center. These are
crossed by two other boulevards at 1
angles Of As degrees. The east and |
west streets are numbered from one
to so, First street being oH the Wis
consin state line.
Biblical Names for Streets.
The north and south streets have |
biblical names, chosen, phabetically, |
from Aaron avenue, on the lake shore,
to Zebulon avenue, miles back in the /
town. Seven thousand six hundred II
and twenty-eight acres are included
in the city limits.
In 1867 when he was 90 wears old, II
Dowie returned to Scotland, and, on
the money he had saved while work
ing in Australia, took n five years
course in the university. The records
show that he was a remarkable stu
dent, especially of languages, and of
religious history, which seemed to be
his chief delight. To the Greek, Latin
and German that he learned at uni
versity Dowie has since added a fair
knowledge of Chinese, Sanskrit,
French and Italian, and has made
study Of the languages and religions
VI AlAAAIds COHhCA WIN Ills
medan followers almost as well as
with those from the ranks of the
christian church.
Dowies on graduation from the di-
vinitv school, at once took orders in
the Congregational church, and, in
1872, returned to Australia and began
preaching at a Congregational church
in Newtown, a suburb of Sidney. He
continued in his work, with success,
his magnetic oratorical powers draw
ing large crowds wherever he preach
ed. 1t was during this time, accord
ing TO stories told of him since COM
ing to America. that Dowie had trou-
BILE with the law. although this Dowie
denies.
Left the ChuEeh.
In 1878 Thy divine direction, hel
n T.