The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-04
DOWIE DECLARES HE'LL FIGHT
ORDERS VOLTVA DEPOyED AND
APPOINTS A SUCCESSOR
To Serve Until He Himself Arrives Early
Next Week-OpDonents Plan TO Frus'
trate Him and Gain Possession Of
His 82OO 900 hummer Home for Zion.

CHICAGO. April s.-John Alexander Dowie
has picked up the gage OF battle so dra-
matically thrown down'by Overseer Voliva
and his supporters on Sunday and will
return to measure strength with the young
leader who has supplanted him.
Breathing the spirit Of imperious leader
ship, which long ago stamped Dowie as a
leader of men, three messages penned by
him were received to-day. One OF these
told Voliva that he was shorn Of all power.
The second informed Judge Barnes OF the
action and named +. H.. White as the new
overseer, pending the arrival Of Dowie
early next week, and the third directed the
appointee to take charge promptly.
The kilograms were the first which had
been received from Dowie since he had
been appraised of the action taken in the
Sunday meeting at the tabernacle and
their announcement Of the first apostles
intended return precipitated an immediate
meeting Of the cabinet, which lasted far
into the night.
Judge Barnes and Secretary White, the
new overseer. responded to the hurried call
which was sent out for the gathering and
entered the chamber where the other elders
of the church were seated. They remained
inside less thar fifteen minutes and 1t is be-
lieved that during that time they delivered
Dowie's ultimatum, declared that they
would stand by him.. and then declined to
participate further in the proceedings.
Overseer Voliva declined to make public
the message which was handed to him or
to confirm the statement that one had
been received by him. The kilograms
TO Judge Barnes and Deacon Wilthe, how
ever, were given out as soon as they were
received.
The attempted recall of Voliva came as a
climax TO a day which was filed with hap
penings which startled the faithful OF Zion.
Rumor of immoral acts by the fallen leader
became broad assertions as they travelled
from mouth to mouth, and stories of dis
sensions in his household multiplied as they
were repeated.
Open charges that he had been cruel to
his. wife, that he had acted improperly with
women he had visited, that he had become
an advocate of the confession and that he
had been prevented from making Il polyga-
nous marriage only by the refusal OF those
to whom the overtures had been made
were spoken freely by those who less than
a week ago mentioned his name with rev.
erence and offered up prayers for his re-
covery and return to them.
While this was going on the leaders or
the Church, who had made a decla ration
Of independence from his rule and had
usurped the power which he had delegated
to them temporarily, were e~ndeavoring to
gather up the tangled ends of the financial
situation and bring order out Of chaos. Plans
for financing lions industries in order
that her people might have employment
were among the first which were considered.
In order to forestall any attempt which
might be made by Dowie to assume charge,
in the event of his return. however, Over
seer Voliva and the members of the council,
who have adhered to him, took the precau-
ton to nail down everything of value, while
the power of attorney which had been given
to Voliva at the time he was sent here from
Jamaica was still in force. The attempt
Of Dowie to revoke it when he was appraised
Of the turn Church affairs had taken was
anticipated, and for that reason much haste
was employed.
Following the filing of papers in Waukegan
on Monday. covering all of the property in
Lake county, a deed was filed to-day for
record in Muskegon county, Mich, for
Dowie's summer home, Ben Medium, valued
at SOC, 900. The deed was signed by Voliva,
holding power Of attorney for Dowie and
his wife and ran to Deacon Alexander
Granger, who is given full charge of lions
finances.
This, it is believed, covers all of the prop
erty Of which the church will he able to re-
gain possession and the deeds which have
been Executed will he protected, if it is
necessary to resort to the courts.