The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-05-04
DOWIE FACES ACCUSERS.
Fake PIcphst Peaches in Zion City
and Caus Upon Enemies to Show
Their Hand.

NSA-AAAA7 oAoISuO4Ay anu VIII 81 Cut
effort before an audience of $500 per-
sons in Zion City tabernacle Sunday
afternoon, John Alexander Dowie, his
voice strained to its utmost capacity,
charged mis- traducers, if any were
present, to rise to their feet and make
their accusations before the congrega-
ton. The followers of Voliva, the new
leader in Zion Citys affairs, however,
were at that moment attending a re-
yival meeting set for the same hour
at the Zion College building a quar-
ter of mile distant. There five
thousand Of the city's inhabitants were
gathered together with the famous
choir, now Invested of ecclesiastical
garb and the Zion band and orches.
ira. Those who listened to the words
OF DOwie We're for the most part visit
ors from other towns, brought in by
the hundreds by the electric cars and
railroad trains throughout the fore
noon. For over an hour the crowd
iE the tabernacle waited for the ap
pearaEce OF the venerable fake first
apostle
Immediately in front of the plat
form and in the choir loft ware prob
ably $50 Of the faithful. Dowie was
borne bodily by two stalwart negro
attendants to an ante-room up the
stairs to the platform and deposited
upon his feet before the elaborate
prayer altar He was attired in an
apostolic robe of white and gold and
purple which ne had never worn be.
fore in public. Upon his head was
a turban of marvellous pattern EN-
broidered in purple and gold He de
livered his address and sermon seat
ed before the altar
Only occasionally when reused to
an unsual pitch of earnestness did he
rise to his feet. Mrs. Dowie, who has
reGounced her allegiance to the Vol
iva faction, sat in wicker chair
among Dowie's followers in the con.
gregatiOn. He prefaced his ser.
mon by spirited denial of the charg.
es that have been brought against
him, in the course of which he ex-
hibitad much of the fiery Impotence
OF his discourses in the past.
'"They say i've taken the peoples
money, do they?" he shouted. Answers
of Eyes" and mo- came from differ.
ent parts Of the audience. A man in
the rear, more persistent than others,
was singled out by Dowie.
Pointing his finger at this man,
Dowie continued: ''Let that man stand
up and give his name. Let him tell
what money l took and when"
With all eyes focused on him the
man shrunk into his seat. A guard
was ordered to compel him to stand
but he stood in shamefaced silence.
Then it was that Dowie rose to his
feet and demanded that any of those
present who had anything to charge
against him do so then and there.
with tears IN his eyes, he described
the sorrow he felt upon receiving the
news while in Mexico of the revolt
among his people. He declared that
he could not sleep until he had learn
ed the worst, and that his cup of grief
was full when he found that his wife
and son had deserted him.
Then he paid a tribute to Mrs
Dowie. my wife has some noble quail
ities," he said. 'She was mrsled and
imposed upon. They used her until
they were through with her and then
cast her aside. My son played tricks
upon me which he ought not to have
done, but he, too, was deceived"