Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-07-28
RELIGIOUS SCANDAL IS SETTLED
Neither elijah" or Acting Over.
seer voIiva Own Title to the Vast
Properties of the Community That
Are Valued at About s21 ,ooo,o 900
:: New. Ruler to Be Elected.
(By Associated Press.l

CHICAGO, ILLS, July 27.-Ncith-
er John Alexander Dowie, founder,
nor Wilbur Voiva. present general
overseer, is owner of the properties
of the Christian Catholic church In
Zion, including Zion City, ILL.,, and
said to be worth from $12,O00,000 to
S21,000,000, according to decision
handed down today by Judge K NJ.
lands, of the United States District
Court.
Judge lands declared the property
of Zion City to be trust estate,
and named John G. Hately, mem
her of the Chicago board of trade,
receiver Of the church's property
and ordered the election OH Scptem-
Der is, Of an overseer (trustee of
the church's property by members
of the church at Zion City.
Dowie's Compensation Unsettled.
Judge Lands will decide later
what compensation Dowie will he
allowed for his services to the
church.
Judge Lands declared void the
conveyance of the Zion City property
to Alexander Granger by Voliva UNI
der power of attorney from Dowie.
The adjudication in the banlidupt-
cy proceedings against Dowie was
also set aside so that pending liti
CATION against Dowic may automat-
aicaliy be restrained until the end or
until litigation is ended.
HateIy's Bond Approved.
Receiver Hately's bond of $4,000.
was approved later by the court, AMI
Haetiy went to Zion City and as
stunned charge OF the property.
The following is brief abstract
of the whole lengthy opinion:
1t appears that Dowie, native
of Scotland, where he had received
a theological education. came from
Australia to the Pacific coast in
1888 and remained there a number
of years engaged in church work;
from there he came to Chicago and
in 1899 undertook the Zipn City en-
terprise In execution of scheme
conceived by him many years be.
fore; that he purchased vast tract
of land, n part of which was sub-d-
yided and laid out in park and resi-
dence property, provision being made
for manufacturing sites; that the
guarantees OF building lots erected
houses accommodating 5000 to 5000
people, that Dowie constructed
school houses and college buildings
at cost of several hundred thous-
and dollars, and tabernacle seat
Ing 1000 people. and that a lace
factory. soap works and other in
dustrial enterprises were established
to give employment to the inhabit.
ants of Zion City, who were practi-
cally all members Of the church.
Money Contributed to Society.
The financing Of this scheme was
accomplished, in part, by monies re-
ceived from purchasers of lots I'M
der 1,10O-year leases. but large
tributedy to Dowic by persons out.
side of Zion City.
Dowie's testimony respecting the
origin Of the property and his rcla-
ton to 1t is then quoted as follows:
~ acquired property by the gen.
erosity of good people throughout
the world; have looked upon the
estate as the result largely of my
own good sense under God; the mon.
ey came in the form of contributions
from the same common source. the
people all over the world. mostly
outside Of Zion City; believe the
PROPERTY to be completely mine to
! do with as please, and that no hui.
man being has any claim or interest
in it.
Admits churcf1s Right to It.
y consider IT, however, that the