The San Francisco call., 1906-04-09
Zion City Congregation Ap-
plauds Unanimously When
DepOsed First Apostle Is
ExcOriated by Successor
ROUSING ENDORSEMENT
OF NEW LEADERS ACTS
Wife of Patriarch Loudly
Voices Her DisapprOyal of
His Methods and Her Sane
tiOn Of His Overthrow

ZION CITY, H., April s--The people Of
Zion City today heard their former lead
er John Alexander Dowie, denounced
from the pulpit in Shiloh Tabernacle and
they approved Of Il, or at least as many
OF them as could crowd into that vast
meeting house signihed their willingness.
~ manner that left no doubt Of sin
cerlty, to follow in the footsteps Of the
first. apostles successor. General Over
seer Volfva. lions new leader was the
man who told Of DOwle's alleged mis-
deeds and the more bitter and scathing
the words of denunciatiOn the more gen
eral and enthusiastic was the approval
OF his listeners.
When, after denouncing Dowie as
"spendthrift,' liar" and traitor to his
trust and his people" Overseer Noliva
suddenly stopped in his announcement of
the founder Of the sect and demanded a
decision Of the audience as TO who should
be their future leader, the 5000 persons in
the tabernacle arose as one and signifled
their willingness 10 follow Noliva TO the
end.
On the platform with Voliva were Mrs.
John Alexander DOwie, Judge Barnes,
head Of the law department of Zion City,
and Overseers Spreicher, Excel, Cantel
and Granger. At the conclusion of a
newly appointed head Of Zion, clad in
robe Of simple white and black, a de-
cided departure from the gaudy raiment
assumed by the first apostle on similar
occasions, stepped to the front of the
platform and IN a slow. clam and studied
voice, made the announcement that he
was going TO take advantage Of today's
meeting TO tell a few truths about the
man whom the ZiOnists had so faithfully
followed for so many years.
DENUNCIATTON OF DOWIE.
Voliva then told the vast audience of
the ''deplOrabIe conditions" he found at
Zion City when he, arrived here a month
ago from Australia and took up the man.
agenent Of the home Of the Catholic
Christian Church at Dowie's command.
TIE speaker did not mince his words, but
told in the first few words he uttered Of
the 'perhdy" of John Alexander Dowie
When most bitter in the denunciation Of
his former master. there was no one in
the tabernacle who showed approval Of
his remarks more than Overseer Jane
Dowie, the wife for thirty years Of John
Alexander Dowie and the mother of his
three children. At one point in his re-
marks, when Voliva in angry tones ex-
claimed, Il viii see that when all the
costly furniture and the expensive library
adorning DOwies Zion City residence, and
which was purchased by that hypocrite
while many Of his people were in need
Of food, are sold, the money viii be
turned into Zion storehoUses,' Mrs. Dowie
half arose from her chair and with voice
and hand loudly applauded the words of
the speaker.
overseer Noliva, in justification Of the
overthrow Of Zion's apostle. told how
money had been squandered foolishly for
Dowie's own comfort, while the creditors
En5 rha raovle of Zion were RAILING loud
ly for funds.
As an illustration Of this state Of af-
fairs NOliva cited his own experience in
Zion church. He declared that he had
been compelled TO keep himself and fam
fly Of five on $50 month allowed him
by Dowie and that out Of this monthly
salary he had been compelled to turn over
& tenth in tithes to the church. He asked:
what has become of all this money