Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-05-04
DOWIE'S ANSWER
pEPosEo LEADER IN ZION CITY
TABERNACLE.
NE oeFIes HIS TRADucERs


Only . Small Following Of the Faith
fui prsssnt-suiidins Crowded With
Strangers.
chicago.-Standing unsteadiiy and
with great effort before an audience of
1900 persons in Zion City tabernacle
Sunday afternoon. John Alexander
Dowie charged his tradueers. II any
were present. to rise TO their feet and
make their accusations before the
whole congregation.
Tho followers OF Voliya. the new
leader OF Zion Ci,y's affairs. however.
were AT that moment gathered together
al a rival meeting.
Those who listened TO the words OF
Dowio for the most part We're yisltors
from other towns. brought In by tho
hundreds by the electric ears and rail-
road trains. For over an hour tho
crowd assembled In the tabernacle
waited for the appearance OF III. yener'
able "hrst apostle" Immediately In
front OF the platform and in tn. choir
loft were probably 100 OF III. faithful.
powic was born bodily by two stall
waTt ncsro attendants from an ants
room. up the stairs to the platform
and deposited upon his feet before tho
elaborate. prayer altar. lie Was Mt.
tired In an apostolic robe OF whit. and
gold and purple. Upon his head WAS n
turban ot marvellous pattern .mbroid.
cred In purple and gold. lie delivered
his address and sermon seated before
tn. altar. Only occasionally when
aroused TO nm unusual pitch OF earnest.
nchs did hc risc To hlR feet.
Mrs. powlc hat Ia chair among
Do~ic's followers In III" congregation.
Except for the presence upon tho
platform OF former Mayor II. u. iiar.
per. Dowi. was alone. ~. announced
tho hymns and led in prayer In u volco
the nrmneAa and strength of which sur.
priaed those who had been In attcn.
dance upon him.
He prcfaccd his sermon with spir.
tied denial OF the charges brought
against him. In the course Of which hs
exhibited much OF his former iirc.
They say have taken the peoples
money. do they" he shouted. An.
swcrs OF ''ycs" and mo" came from
different parts Of the audience. a man
In the rear more persistent than 9th.
crs. wns singled out by Dowi-. Point.
In. a trembling finger at The man.
Dowic continued: 'Lct that man stand
up and give his name. Let him tell
NhHt HhoH's tubk. anu NE'u.
With all eyes focused upon him. tho
man shrank In his seat. y guard was
ordered to compel hi;i to stand. but he
stood In shamcfacod silence. Then
Dowic rose to his feet and demanded
that any OF those present who had
anything TO charge against him to do
80 then and there.
Displaying great emotion. Dowic dc.
Ecribcd the sorrow he felt upon rccciv.
Ing the news while In Mexico OF the re.
volt among his people. He declared
that he could not sleep until he learned
the worst, and that his cup OF grief
was full when he found out that his
wife and son had deserted him. Then
he paid tribute to Mrs. Dowie. My
wife has some noble qualities" he said.
"She was mislcd and imposed upon.
They used her until they were through
with her and then cast her aside. My
son played tricks upon me which no
had ought not to have done. but he,
too. was deceived"
Dowie made his first appearance n:
G:30 this morning. when he conducted
n prayer and praise service. attended
by 100 persons. voliva also held n
meeting ut that hour. which was
largely attended.