The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-05-03
OLD DOWIE is ON DECK,
TrerblingIy Moves Upon Zion City,
Prsaches in Tabernacle and Calls
for Accusers to Face Him.

for AccGSerS to Face him.
Standing unsteadily. and with great
effort before an audience Of $500 per-
sons in Zion City tabernacle Sunday
afternoon, John Alexander Dowie, his
voice strained to it's utmost capacity,
charged lis traducers, if any were
present, to rise to their feet and make
their accusations before the congrega-
tion The followers of Voliya, the new
leader in Zion City's affairs, however,
were at that moment attending re-
vival meeting set fer the same hour
at the Zion College building a quar-
ter of a mile distant. There five
thousand of the citys inhabitants were
gathered together with the famous
choir, now divested Of ecclesiastical
garb and the Zion band and orches-
ira. Those who listened to the words
OF Dowie were for the most part visit
ors from other towns, brought in by
the hundreds by the electric cars and
railroad trains throughout the fore
neon. For over an hour the crowd
ir tie tabernacle waited for the ap-
peararce CT the venerable fake first
apostle"
Immediately in front of the plat
form and in the choir loft were prob
ably $50 Of the faithful. Dowie was
horne bodily by two stalwart negro
attendants to an ante-room up the
stairs to the platform and deposited
upon his feet before the elaborate
prayer altar He was attired in an
apostolic robe of white and gold and
purple which he had never worn be-
fore in public. Upon his head was
a turban of marvellous pattern en-
broidered in purple and gold. He de-
livered his address and sermon seat
ed before the altar.
Only occasionally when reused to
an unsual pitch of earnestness did he
rise to his feet. Mrs. Dowie, who has
renounced her allegiance to the Vol
iva faction, sat in a wicker chair
among Dowie's followers in the con-
gregation. :,-- He prefaced his SER
mon by a spirited denial Of the charg-
es that have been brought against
him, in the course Of which he ex-
hlbited much Of the fiery impatience
of his discourses in the past.
"They say I've taken the peoples
money, do they?" he shouted. Answers
Of Eyes" end "no" came from differ
ent parts of the audience. A man in
the rear, more persistent than others,
was singled out by Dowie.
Pointing his finger at this man,
Dowie continued: "Let that man stand
up and give his name. Let him tell
what money took and when"
With all eyes focused on him the
man shrunl: into his seat. A guard
was ordered to compel him to stand,
but he stood in shamefaced silence.
Then it was that Dowie rose to his
feet and demanded that any Of those
. present who had anything to charge
against him do so then and there.
With tears in his eyes, he described
the sorrow he felt upon receiving the
news while in Mexico of the revolt
among his people. He declared that
he could not sleep until he had learn
ed the worst, and that his cup of grief
was full when he found that his wife
and son had deserted him.
Then he paid tribute to Mrs.
Dowie. my wife has some noble quail
ities," he said. ''She was mrsled and
imposed upon. They used her until
they were through with her and then
cast her aside. My son played tricks
upon me which he ought not to have
done, but he, too, was deceived"