Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-06
Wires Zion City He Will
Bring$1O, 100000 and
Sacred Parchments.
MORE REVELATIONS
Details of Private Life Laid
Bare---Makes Sweeping De-
NAL From Mexico.

Chicago, April G.-The Daily News
| says today John Alexander Dowie has
announced in private telegram to one
of his deacons he will return to Zion
City late Monday night, and perform
a miracle" He promises, among other
| things, bringing to the faithful in
Zion" 100000 in gold, and several
scrolls of parchment upon which are
written the five books of Moses.
Given by Baron Hirsch.
In a message which was sent from
the City of Mexico, Dowie declared he
is now greater than he ever was be-
lieved to be-" 1t is asserted Dowie
claims $4,000, 900 which he is bringing
from Mexico is a bequest left him by
the late Baron Hirsch TO assist in the
delivery of the Jews of Russia.
Mrs. DowIe Changes Mind.
1t was declared from Zion City today
that at the meeting of the women of
the Zion church today Mrs. Dowie, who
has repeatedly declared she had left
her husband, announced her intention
of standing by him. She stated in
meeting while Dowie had unquestion.
ably sinned, it was the work of an un-
clean spirit that had entered into him,
and asked the prayers of the women
present to aid in casting out the evil
spirit.
Planned Hnrem.
Chicago, April G.-John Alexander
Dowie, the deposed first apostle of the
Christian Catholic Church of Zion,
planned harem of seven wives.
He had gone SO far as 10 select the
women who were to practice openly
with him the polygamy which hc
taught in secret. Miss Ruth Hofer
was to be the first wife. To five OF
them he had proposed marriage and
they had accepted.
1t is just to say that neither Mrs.
Ware nor her daughter, Harriet, was
among the number Four OF them
were said to be widows
Invited Divorced Women.
Dowie for the last three years had
stereotyped letter that he would send
TO all divorced women urging them to
come to Zion. Among the servants at
Shiloh house none but the most at
tractive found favor in Dowies eyes.
Dowie and his harem were to have
been the nucleus around which II was
proposed TO found the Paradise colony
in east central Mexico. Dowie out
lined this plan of a polygamous colony
TO his overseeTs. At the same time
he asked them to divorce his present
wife on the grounds of incompatability.
The amazing proposition was made TO
the leaders of the church week be-
fore Dowie was stricken with paraly-
sis.
These astounding revelations were
made yesterday in Zion City, at meet
ing of officers of the church.
Mrs. Dowie Attended.
Mrs. Dowie attended the meeting.
With voice trembling with emotion
and with tears streaming down her
face she told the overseers, the dea-
cons and deaconesses, the evangelists
and the elders Dowie's brutal proposals
to put her away that he might espouse
seven young, attractive women. She
told how he had threatened her with
violence because her womanhood re-
volted.
Her son Gladstone, added his testi-
mony. One by one the elders who had
been appriscd of Dowie's polygamous
plans by himself told how he had ar
gued with them and described the vio-
lent rage that had followed their hor-
ror stricken rejection of his proposals.
Plans 10 Play Moses, Now.
Dowie may now, in his apparent eX-
tremity, have discarded the seven
wives plan, but he is said to have a
new one In Zion he is believed to be
thoroughly. demented. and it is said
there that he has chosen the role of
Moses, dropping entirely the character
of Elijah.
1t was reported there last night that
the prophet" had cabled to a New
York house for sill1en raiment fitted