The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-04-03
TO DETHRONE
THE PROPHET
Dowie Of Zion City Sus-
pended as Ruler.
WASTEACHING POLYCAMY
" G VOliva, Hailed as His Successor
DenOunces Elijah Il. In Strong
Language.

CHICAGO. April B. John Alexander
Dowie head OF the'Cmistan Catholic
church in Zion has been deposed as
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 the church, aud warned to
accept the situation quietly lest worse
things befall him
The active revolt against the leader
ship of Dowie was foreshadowed when
OverScer Noiya who had been placed
by Dowie in charge Of the church while
lie sought health in jamaica and Mex
leo, announced that he would no longer
accept the orders of Dowie who had,
he declared grossly mismauaged the
affairs OF the church
His wife aud son, it is claimed by the
residents of Zion City. have allied
themselves with W. g. Noliya. who
was called by bowie from Australia
TO conduct tie affairs OF Zion City
when Dowie's health hecamc shattered.
The action dcpoSiag bowie from ac-
tive control of zion City and its re-
llgious aud business affairs was taken
at meeting held in The Zion City
tabernacle
The meeting sent the following tele.
gram to Dowie AT Ocotlan. JaliSco,
Mexico:
You are hereby deposed as ruler Of
Zion City. Practically all, including
Cincinnati representatives, indorse Mr.
Voliva's administration, Speicher's re
lnstatement and Changers retention,
all emphatically protesting against
your extravaganza, hypocrisy, miSrep-
reservations. eXaggerationS, Tyranny
ana injustice lou are hereby suS-
pended from Office and membership
for polygamous teaching and other
grave charges
quietly retire. Further interference
will preclpiiate complete exposure. re-
bellion, legal proceedings. Your state
ment OF sfWendously magnificent
financial outlook is extremely foolish
in view of thousands suffering through
your shameful mlsmanagement Zion
and creditors will be protected AZ all
costs.
The message was signed 10y w, G.
Voliya, general oyerseer. William IL.
Iper. overseer for Chicago; H. f. Can
! tel overseer for United Kingdom; II.
ID. Braseheld, vice president Zion uni
yersity. Oyerseer John Excel general
ecclesiastical secretary and John g.
[ Speicher. overseer for Zion city.
This is our ultimatum to Dowie,'
said Noliya, speaking of the message.
I I'VE have not taken this step without
/ serious consideration aud We now
await DOwie's action. our legal posi-
ton in this is under the general power
of attorney which hold. aud upon the
advice of our legal advisers lave
/ transferred the entire estnte TO Alex
ander Granger general financial man
ager have taken this action, believ-
ing 1t to he hest for the protection Of
Zion and its creditors. 1t is a defen-
siys move. and it now remains for
Dowe to act We now intend going
right ahead and the whole institution
will be put In good order
Asked about The charge of polyga
nous teaching mentioned in The tele
gram, Overseer Nolya said.
The teaching of polygamy was moi
made in public, but was done private
ly. | shall not 20 into details in this
matter until Dowie has had an oppor
tunIty 10 reply TO the charge
In long message received from
Dowie. which precipitated the ''reyou
ton" he ordered the instant dlsmissa
of Deacon Granger, who is now al
powerful in directing the affairs of th'
community at Zion City. Deacon Spei
cher. who before he became CONVEX
to the faith of the Zion city churcl
was physician. declares that Dowi,
is q very sick man. suffering with pul
monary troubles. paralysis and drops,
ana occasional dellrlum,
It is generally believed by the oili
GERS of the church that the depose'
leader will make fight TO recover hi
lost power If this is done they de
clarrd That the matter would go to tn
courts.
Dowle's project for the establish
mcnt of colony in Mexico will b
abandoned by the new administration
An allowance will be given Dowie sui
ficleut TO maintain Il residence IN MeN
leo If he so desires If he becomes oil
streperous il is said that his son Glat
stone Dowie, is prepared to make stal
Ting revelations.