The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-04-07
D0WIE PLuCkED
PROPERTY SOLD UNDER POWER
OF ATTORNEY.
ACCUSED AND THREATENED
Once Powerful Prophet and Leader
Shorn of His Possessions and Aban-
doned in Mexico-No One to Speak
Word in His Behalf

Word in His Behalf.
Chicago.-John Alexander Dowie
head of the Christian Catholic Church
IN Zion" was today Monday deposed
as religious leader. suspended from
membership in the church he founded.
shorn of his temporal possessions SC
far as they are located in Zion City.
the home of his church. and warned to
accept the situation quietly lest worse
things befall him.
The active revolt against the leader
ship of Dowie was foreshadowed yes
terday when Oyerseer Wilbur G. Vol
iva, who had been placed by Dowie in
charge of the church while he sought
health in Jamaica and Mexico, an
nounced that he would no longer ac-
cept the orders of Dowie who lad, he
declared, grossly mismanaged the af-
fairs of the church. The members OF
the church, including the wife and son
OF Dowic agreed to stand with Noliva.
The first movement looking to his
overthrow was made early to-day by
Oversecr Noliva, who has a power OF
attorney from Dowie, In company
with several other officers of the
church. Nuliva FASTENED to Nau-
kegan. the county seat of Lake county,
in which Zion CITY is situated. and
filed for record warranty deed trans
ferring to Deacon Alexander Granger
all the real estate held by Dowie in
F., Zion City. He also executed 4 bill OF
sale to Deacon Granger putting him
in possession of all the personal prop
erty of Dowie, including his horses and
carriages, books, ana even his bed.
Later in the day Granger conveyed
these to NoliVa. and at niehtfall the
IA.,,,r l.a.l ~
only succeeded him as the head of the
church, but was the holder of all his
property as well.
The following message was sent to
Dowie informing him of the change in
the situation:
"Dowie, Ocotlan. Jalisco, Mexico
Telegram received here and Chicago
Practically all, including Cinclnnati
reports, indorse Noiiva's admlnistra
ton, Speichcr's reinstatement, Grain
gers retention, emphatically protest
ing against your extravaganza, hypoc'
racy, misrepresentation, eNagSera
tions, tyranny and injustice. You are
hereby suspended from Office and mem
bership for polAgamouS teaching and
/ other grave charges. See letter, Qul
etly retire. Further interference Will
precipitate complete exposure, rebel
| lion, legal proceedings Your state
/ ment of stupendously magnificent
| financial outlook is extremely foolish
| in view of thousands suffering through
| your shameful mismanagement. ZloI
| and creditors will be protected at all
| costs"
The message was signed by W. G
| Voliva, general overseer; William ri
| Piper, overseer for Chicago: ii. Il
| Cante, overseer for United Kingdom;
| H. d. Brasfeld, vice president zion
| university; Overseer John Excel, gen
! eral ecclesiastical secretary, and John
| G. Speicher, overseer for Zion City.
After sending the cabegram to
| Dowie Overseer Voliva discussed the
| proceedings of the day. He said:
Il have acted in this matter under
| the power of attorney which | pos
| sesSed What has been done l believe
| to be for the good of the church IN
| Zion City and for its creditors. Legal
counsel has been retained, and every
thing was carried out in accordance
with their advice. We shall go ahead
and put the affairs of Zion City in good
order. If further steps are taken it
will depend on what is done by Dowie
The situation is up to him as II
| stands"
| Regarding the polygamous teachings
mentioned in the message to Dowle
| Overseer Voliva said he would issue
| statement regarding them later when
Dowie had been given an opportunity
to reply He said, however, tnat the
teachings had not been of public
| character.
Deacon Speicher. who first became
a convert to the faith of the Zion City
church as a physician, declared today
that Dowie is a very sick man. suffer
ing from pulmonary trouble paralysis
and dropsy and occasional delirium.
II is generally believed by the ofi
GERS of the church that the deposec
leader will make a fight to recover his
lost power. If this is done, they as
serted to-day, the matter would go "a
| the courts Dowie's project OF the
| establishment of a colony in Mexico
will be abandoned by the new admins
| tratiOn.
Dowe will be given an allowance
| according to adviCeS from Llon Clty
tonight, sufficient to maintain resi-
| dence in Mexico, if he so desires, OF
| he will be received by the new officers
| of the church as a common citizen,
| should he elect to return and take up
| his residence in Zion City. No action
| under the criminal laws will be taken
| against him on account of the funds ha
| is alleged to have wasted. nor will any
civil action be brought TO recover.
| If the deposed leader becomes OBJ
| streperous, however, it was said that
his son, Gladstone, was prepared to
| make revelations that would startla
the world"