Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-05-17
RIOT AT ZION CITY
Meeting at Which John Alexander
Dowie Presided Broke up In
a Free Fight.
SECOND ATTEMPT THE SAME


Chicago, May 14.-A meeting owe
which Alexander Dowie presided a
Zion City Sunday afternoon was bro
ken up by number of the followers
Of the opposing faction, assisted by
several outsiders and before the Grove
dispersed free fight occurred.
Dowie was addressing the audience
numbering about 900, and made the
statement that the overseers Of the Vo-
Iva factionwere thieves and robbers.
At once q number of those In the au-
dience were on their feet shouting
mo, no, YOU are the robber; why
don't you pay your debtsf" The dis
turbance became so violent that a
Zion guard was sent to restore order.
The guard took hold of an old gray
headed man who was loudest In his
demands for Dowie to pay his obliga-
tons and this was signal for free
fight. A dozen men seized the guard
and were about to drag him down the
aisle, when Gladstone Dowie and Dea-
con Arlington mounted the platform
and called upon the audience not to
create disturbance and to take their
Geatb.
After quiet had been restored Dowie
again attempted to proceed with the
meeting, but he was jeered and called
traitor and robber until he finally de-
cided to dismiss the audience,
At an after-meeting called for Dowie
adherents only, but which was invaded
by a large number Of those who were |
riotous at the former meeting, Dowie |
precipitated a second general disturb !
Rnce. He caused to be read a letter |
from one Of his supporters stating |
that the writer's wife had passed safely
through the crisis Of a serious illness
while Dowie prayed for her. This fact
Dowie compared with the case Of Mrs.
M. =. Cantel. wife of an overseer, who
died last Friday without medical at
tention while VoliVa and his support.
ers were offering prayers for her re-
covery. Dowie declared that he feared
the woman would die because she had
associated herself with the rebels. I'm
mediately there was a storm Of Kisses
and shouts of SHAME" Shame"
There is death in store for more Of
you II this rebellion keeps on" con-
tinued Dowie. Again the people sprang
from their chairs, shouting and ges-
until the tumult became so
general that Dowie was obliged to
bring the meeting to a Close
A riot call was sent to the police
station and Captain Of Police Walker
with four men hurried to the taber-
1acle in wagon. By the time the
oolice arrived most of the audience
lad left the building. In the midst of )
he trouble, Burleigh, the negro at
endant of Dowie, rushed upon the |.
'latform and placed himself at the =
first apostles" side, while those of {
he uniformed Zion guards who have y
AIKEN sides with Dowie formed a line y
( defense in front of the platform. y
10 attempt at violence, however, was '
lade against Dowie. y,
Dowie was SO weak that he had to y
9 carried from his carriage into the y
abernacle by two attendants, but It =
Tas announced at Shiloh Sunday night &c !.
hat he had eaten a hearty dinner and =.
hat he felt no Ill effect from the ex- :, *
ltement Of the afternoon. %
Southern Baptist Convention. :,
chattanooga, Tenn, May IA mass m
Getting on evangelism and a memori- Ii
meeting held at the Auditorium W
ere the principal features of Sundays al
ssion Of the Southern Baptist con- "
'ntion. Three business sessions will :
held Monday and 1t Is expected that =
Q convention will adjourn at the
ening session. Greensboro, N. c., is M M
Q only announced candidate for the =
o. convention. The selection Of the ~
ace Of meeting is left to a special =,
which will decide later. ~
uthern Baptists Oppose Lynching. IA
Chattanooga, Tenn, May 15.-The ne
uthern Baptist convention, the lar exl
1t and most important meeting in III
history, adjourned at 10 o'clock au
'nday. At the afternoon session az
olutions were adopted decrying me
lching and proposing as a remedy on
It the laws for the punishment of all pei
sses Of criminal assault should be siD