The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-04-06
IS EXPELLED FROM
CHURCH CHURCH He FOUNDED
Apostle Dowie Deposed ano
is Warned Not to
Resent 1t.
is SERIOUSLY ACCUSED
Called Traitos and Uajust and Charges
Wiki Teaching Polygamy-Wife
and Son Join ia Denounc-
ing Dowie

Witk Tesehi,,s Polysamy-Mife
and Son Join ia Denounc>
ing Dowie
Chicago. April 5.-The formal IN.
nolncement OF the overthrow OF Johr
Alexander DoWie was made last night
by Oyerseer John G. Speicher> who pre-
sided over a meeting of 1000 members
OF the church in the tabernacle at Zion
City.
The meeting opened with the quota
tfon OF various church dignitaries OF
passages from the bible expressive OF
the sentiment which has grown up
against the self styled prophet The
| crowd which filled the great structure
and which formerly answered yes" or
~Tro" when DoWie nodded or shook his
head last night applauded when he
was accused. Overseer Speicher called
out the number of chapters and verses
of scripture. n in responSe the Nari-
| Gus church officials and prominent
members who occupied seats upon the
platform quoted the passage called for.
The new dictator of lions for
tunes, Wilbur Glenn Noliva. respond
ing to the reference given him, quoted:
Thou shalt not steal" This senti-
ment was greeted with vociferouS APP
plause.
wife HIM.
Mrs Jan Dowie, wife of the first
apostle followed. Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neigh
Dor" was her More APP
| plause followed.
The congregation then joined With
a zes1 that seemed to indicate theil
belief in the words, Better Days Are
Coming
Gladstone Dowie, son of DR.. Dowie
| and Overseer John Excel then eN-
planned to the audience the new turn OF
affairs.
Dowie was yesterday deposed as 8
religious leader, suspended from mem
bership in the church he founded,
shorn of his temporal possessions as
far as they are located in Zion City
the home of his church, and warned TIC
accept the situation quietly lest worse
things befall him.
The following is the message sent tic
Dowie informing him of the change IN
the situation.
Telegram gewas D seeei1ed y fere and aeN ehi.
cago Pactica " all, including Gin
cinnati representative, indorse Vol
Twas administration, Speicher's re-
in~statens-Et. hangers retention.
emphatieally protesting against
Representations. eXaggerations. ty-
ranny ara injustice. You are here
by suspended from office and mem
" ~ CeSlll
and other grave charges. See letter.
Quietly retire. Further interior
ence will prec pitate complete ex-
posure. rebellion, legal proceedings.
Your statement of stupendously
magnificent financial outlook is ex-
tremely foolish il view of thousands
suffering through your shameful
mismanasemen,. Zion and creditors
will be PROJECTED at all costs.
The message was signed by w. G.
Voliva, general overseer; William H.
DiVo~ WOO Fr, CI;1o~ D. IL L
Cantell. overseer for the United king
dom; H. B. Brazfield, vice president OF
Zion university; Overseer John Excel,
general ecclesiastical secretary, and
John G.. Speicher, overseer for Zion
City.
Put Affairs in Order.
After sending the cablegram to Dowie
Overseer Voliva discussed the proceed
ings of the day. He said:
81 nave acted in the matter under the
power of attorney which l possess.
What has been one l believe to be for
the good of the church in Zion City and
for its creditors. Legal counsel has been
retained and everything was carried out
in accordance with their advice. We
Zion City in good order. If further steps
are taken it depends upon what is
done by Dowie. The situation is up
to him as it stands"
Regarding the polygamous teachings
mentioned in the message to Dowie, Ov-
erseer voliva said he would issue a
statement regarding them later when
| Dowie a been given an opportunity
for reply. He said, however, that the
teaching had not been public, but was
of private character.
will Dowie be received in Zion City
II he cares to come back the overseer
was asked.
Move - q n Ion dnys Hn must h vyo
himself if he comes back or he will
have to look out for himself"
will the church send him one to
r%eturn?"
The overseer declined to answer.
All of the men now prominent in
Zion City church, with the exception
of Overseer Noliva, are men with whom
Dowie has quarreled in the past.
Turns Property Over.
The active revolt against the lead
ership of Dowle was foreshadowed
when Overseer Wilbur F. Voliva. who
had been placed by Dowie in charge
of the church while he sought health
in Jamaica and Mexico, announced
that he would nc longer accept the or
ders Of Dowie, who had. he declared,
f, grossly ~mismanaged the affairs Of the
church. The members of the church,
including the wife and son of Dowie.
agreed to stan with Voliva.
The first move looking to his over
throw was made by Overseer Voliva,
who holds n power Of attorney from,
Dowie. In company with several Off
Gals of the church Voliva FASTENED tc
Waukegan. the county seat Of Lake
county, in which zion City is situated
and filed for record a warranty deed
transferring to Deacon Alexander
Granger all the real estate held b,
Dowfe in Zion City. He also executed o
bill of sale to Deacon Granger putting
him in possession Of all the personal
property of Dowie, including HIS horses
and carriages, books and even his bed.
Later in the day Granger conveyed
these to Voliva mt at nightfall the
overseer appointed by Dowie had not
only succeeded him as the head OF the
church. but was the holder Of all his
property as we'll.
ANOTHER DoWIElTE INSANE.
Chicago, April 3.-Mrs. Carlos Rom
ero, Il young Spanish woman, wife OF
a eacon in Dowie's church, died at he1
HON in Zion City while insane and