The Washington times., 1905-03-09
DOV|E FOLLOWERS
ARE LOSING FAITH
The Apostles Helplessness
Shakes Their Confidence.
DEATH OF MADAM SPEICHER
Report That Leader Suffers With Can
Ger and May Never Return to
Lake Shore City.
DEATH OF MADAM SPEIcHER

CHICAGO, ILL.,, March 9.-Ominolls sig
nails of distress are hanging over John
Alexander Dowie's Zion City. Observers
from the outside are reading in these
signals impending disaster of some kind
Recent. events in the city of the Res-
tcratfon Host have somewhat shaken
the faith OF Dowie's followers
It was hard blow the first OF the year
when Deacon Carl Stern and MRS.
Speieher died. The prayers Of the First
Apostle awaited not to bring these two
stalwart members OF the church back to
health and strength. Mrs. Speicher
steadfastly refused to receive treatment
from physician. She trusted in the
power and saving grace OF DoWie. ana
her trust was vain.
Deacon Stern Follows.
Deacon Stern was Dowie's chief of po-
lice and commander of the Zion City
Guards. No man in the lake shore col
ony was more valuable, except possibly
Deacon Barnard. With Deacon Stern's
body was buried some of the faith and
hope OF the Zionists who followed him to
the grave.
Scarcely had this evidence of Dowie's
help1essness against disease and death
been thoroughly weighed when Deacon
Spaicher announced from the tabernacle
DI4DiI that the fiTSt apostle hAo pow
er to raise the dead. This declaration
was made at very inopportune time
The memories of the Zionites went back
to the funerals of Mrs. Spel&ner anu
Deacon Stern.
Then came the resignation or disrnis-
sal of Deacon Barnard. financial man
ager of Zion City, the biggest, brainiest
worker in the Dowie vineyard When he
passed through the gates of the town
and turned his back upon Shiloh Hill
another modicum Of faith was gone
Rumor About Cancer.
BY this time the minds OF the Zionites
were fertile ground for the sowing of ru-
mors. From Mexico. where Dowie Is
staying, came story that the Apostle
was suffering with cancer Deacon
Speicher denied it. He tried TO reassure
his congregation by telling them Dowie
would return in due time. that he was
detained IN Mexico by his plans for the
establishment of a new Zion City: Still
many believed the reports that Dowfe
intended never to come back
That Dowie Is much concerned by. the
growing skepticisIn and unrest among
his followers was disclosed when he sent
his son. Gladstone Dowie, with a special
message TO his people, assuring them OF
his devotion and painting a rosy picture
of the future of the church and its ma
terial interests here and elsewhere.
Big Financial Plans.
Deacon Barnard has declined to dis
cuss the material affairs Of Zion City.
but enough has become known to prove
that 1t is not going to be any easy task
to carry out Dowie's ambitious plans
The placing of a 500. eco mortgage on the
lake front OF the town shows there ars
heavy burdens to be borne. How to dis
charge the obligations is said to hav,
baffled the genius of Deacon Barnard
and finally resulted in his leaving Zior
CITY.
Dowie's wonderful power TO hold tn
trust and confidence OF his people is hi
greatest asset. II he can bring back tn
unailoyed, whole hearted faith of tn
days when the Restoration Host mad
its pilgrimage to New York, 1t is believ
ed he Will be able to weather presen
day troubles and take a new lease OF
SUCCESS.