Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-03
"ELlJAH /"
IS STRICKEN.
JOHN ALEXANDER DoWlE THE
HEALER is VICTIM OF
PARALYSIS.
NO CHANGE IN PLANS
The "Apostle," Self Proclaimed Proph-
ct, Admits His illness But Asserts
That He is Recovering and Starts
on Trip to Mexico.

Chicago, Oct. 2. - LET me give
thanks in the presence of all the
people for wonderful personal
deliverance. Smitten down last
Lords day night with what seem
ed to be the hand Of death, we
have come up out of the valley of
the shadow of death and seem to
be stronger for the trial through
which we have passed. Mind has
triumphed over matter, spirit has
triumphed over mind, and we re-
alize today that the spirit of God
is omnipotent."
After week of anxiety, their
feelings alternating between deep
fear and wavering confidence, III
onists yesterday heard the forego-
Ing message from its leader and
rejoiced. Gathered in the big
wooden tabernacle at the top Of
Shiloh Hill, more than 1900 men,
bers of the flock offered up pray
ers for the swift recovery of DR..
Dowie, and when his message was
read the white robed choir sang,
I'VE Praise Thee, o, God"
Chicago, Oct. John Alexander
Dowie, stricken with paralysis and Sc
greatly in peril that he himself ad
mits he may never return to Illinois
Is on his way to the new Zion church
in Mexico.
The leader suffered a paralytic
stroke last Sunday, but so closely was
the secret guarded that not unit
Leaves of Healing came from the
press Saturday did the outside worlt
know of the fact. DR.. Dowie Las nam
ed his successor as chief Of the ZioI
hosts, but the name is not revealed.
Leaves Of Healing contains three
messages from Dowie to his followers
The first is dated Wednesday, Sept
~, and contains this revelation of his
illness.
"On Sabbath night, at the close O
the Lords supper, I was just about t.
finish my work, and lovingly conclude
with the words of the benediction. Fo
a number Of minutes / had been feel
ing that the end had come. l coulc
realize that all life was going.
Almost Immediately after I enter
ed my room at the rear of the plat
form, | lay down upon reclining
chair, and was con-cious that l hat
gone to sleep thinking it probable tha
| should awake on the other side. Bu
1t was not to be so. I awoke, but with
an enfeebled body.
Body Is Still Feeble.
Although every day has brought me-
some added strength, it is yet feebl,
body out Of which speak.
But my heart cries out for Mexico
and as | had made arrangements 70,
going, God willing, / shall CO. / know
that. whether | live or die, God Ii
pointing the way to Mexico; therefore
! go, if He will permit, tomorrow morn
ing. Whether | am permitted to la.
the foundations in Mexico or not,
show the way and say, GO forward!
The second message is a reprint O
the words of the farewell address o
the leader delivered at the Northwest
ern Railroad station in Zion City a
$3.50 o'clock Thursday morning, as h,
and his party were about to depart fo
Mexico. In part this reads:
"My beloved friends, I felt that
wanted to see you, and to say "Peac
to thes!" and good-by for season, OF
earth.
CAS- you are aware I was able to con
tinue work last Lords day until thu
last word had been spoken, and thel
/ slept, and awoke with one side en-
tirely Daralyzed. However, God ha
been wonderfully good to me, and ey
cry hour has added to my strength.
am now able to stand, as you see, OF
both feet, and to address you with pei
feet comm and of my faculties.
Very Near to Death.
81 have been very near to death, an,
I think that comparatively few 60 S,
near and come out Of the valley.