The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-08
DOWIE TELLS
 OF TROUBLES Prophet Says He Will Fight Deposition. IS STILL LEADER OF ZION Will Call on His People to Cast
 Out Usurpers. His Wife and Son, He Declares, Started the Movement Against Him Be- cause He Intended to Leave
 His Money to Church.
IS STILL LEADER OF ZION

San Antonio. Tex, April 7.-Dr. John Alexander Dowie will arrive in~Zion City next Tuesday, when he will call upon his people to gather in Sniion tabernacle at the Wednesday night meeting and there. behind closed doors. he will ascend the rostrum and Will show them that he Is still leader or all Zion. Just what Dr. Dowie will say. he refuses to divulge. but that he VIII opens the vials ofg his wrath and hurl anathemas upon his accusers, was evi- denced by the grim look of determina- tion which overspread his countenance as he detailed his plans.
 This meeting will be for the chosen people only. On this night all strang- CTS will be asked to leave the pro- cincts of Zion. hut Sunday afternoon great mass meeting will be held at the tabernacle. to which the general public will be invited. For this occa- sion excursion trains will be run from Chicago to Zion City. Dr. Dowie Will then tell the story of Zion.
 John Alexander Dowie. first Apostle and founder of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church and of the City or Zion, crossed the border today from Mexico into the United States on his Journey northward to face the accusers who would depose him from the leader ship of the sect which he inaugurated. Dr. Dowie and his party. consisting of Deacons John A. Lewis of Mexico and James F. Peters of Zion City. Miss E. MacClennan, his nurse; D. W. Murdock of Zion City, bis personal attendant. and & valet, decided to stop over and spend Sunday in San Antonio because of religious scrup1es which prompted them not to travel on the Sabbath. So anxious, however. was Dr. Dowie to reach Zion that he decided to take the fast train which leaves here Sunday afternoon. He will arrive in St. Louis the following afternoon. and there.a af- ter comforting with local Zionites.' who will be at the depot to meet him, he will board special car and hasten on to Zion City.
 Vigorous in His Demeanor.
 The physical appearance and vigor- aus ianguagas of, the leader dispelied aH of the rumors sffoat concerning his enfeeble condition. Far from be- ing "a very sick man in his cottage" as certain of the leaders in Zion are credited with averr!ng, Bowie seemed to be both remarkably alert mentally and active physically.
 Press dispatches had heralded his coming and a large and curious crowd was at the station when he alighted from the train. Local Zionites. headed by l. C. Hall, were out in force and none of the discontent said to exist among the residents of the home city of the colony was evidenced by his followers here. They welcomed cor dially and escorted him to carriage in which he was driven 70 the Menger Hotel. where rooms mad been secured. for him and the other members of the party.
 There he was interviewed by a rep resentative of the Associated Press and had the following t3 say regarding ex- isting conditions in Zion and the fu- ture of the colony and the Christian s Catholic Apostolic Church.:
 Tt hurts me much. these malicious and scandalous stories that have been spread broadcast over the world, pIac- ing me in the light If a hypocrite and a cheat. And it hurts me the more when I think that mere boy whom I trusted and believed GO be an honest and God-fearing man should be the instigator and disseminator of them. Don't misunderstood me. Voliva is a shrewd fellow, but with ali that he is an imitator. He tried to psurp the place of John Alexander Do vie, first apostle and that he can never do. have deposed him, do you understand?
 
 tian Catholic Church"
 pr. Dowie was asked what he intend cd to do to Voliva when Zion City was reached, but he only smiled grimly and said:
 "A good general upon the eve of battle never exposes his plans to the enemy. I promise you I shall make 1t interesting for him. Oh. 1t Is hard. so hard. not to lay hands on such d man and lay them on hard" |,
 VIII Fight for Hearing.
 The doctor spoke earnestly and at times his eyes filled with tears. My people shall hear me-" he continued and I know what their answer will be. Woe unto any who try to pre- vent me from addressing them.' As Dowie uttered this last sentence he arose from his chair, his face purple with passion and excitement. T shall fight" he shouted, until the last ves- tige of strength leaves"
 Deacons Peters and Lewis, who were in the room during tho interview. arose at this juncture and assumed pastures which expressed a willingness to follow their leader to any extremi- tY.
 T shall call out the guards" said Dowie in the voice of general and we shall fight. not behind breast works, mind you, but always on the charge"
 When the first apostle sat down it was not hard to believe that ho in- tended to carry out his plans to the letter. Then he resumed his earnest and quiet demeanor again and took up the separate charges made against him and refuted them as follows:
 you may say that the statements that Zion is on the verge of a collapse are absolutely false. We owe a iit- tle over $4OO,O0O and our resources to- tai more than $2O,00O,0OO. The credi- tors of Zion will be paid one hundred cents on the dollar. We may be a lit- fl. siCw, but do not think so. I want to acknowledge now before the world something that have never been will ling tu admit before. and that is. that made mistage when I absolutely forbid Zion to borrow. My authority for this rule was based upon that verse in Deuteronomy which says Zion shall lend and not borrow
 ''I realize that this was an error of judgment upon my part, for we are living in the twentieth century and must meet modern conditions. So Zion is going to borrow and I assure you thst today we can get more than we