The twice=a=week herald. (Amarillo, Tex.) 1887-1906, 1906-07-31
iOWIE LOSES CONTROL
Silt STYLED Elijah no Longer has Claim Of
Power In Zion City,


John Alexander Dowie and Wilbur
Vcllya over the property OF Zion
city. The court holds that Zion City
and It's industries do not belong to
Dowle, and that while the contrib
utors OF the funds did not express a
formal declaration of trust, yet a
trust was created, and Dowie had no
right to treat the property as his
own. The court refused to appoint
Alexander Granger as receiver for
the reason that Granger made vow
recognizing Dowie as the Messenger
of the Covenant, and the prophet
foretold by Moses and Elijah, TO be
the restorer TO which the obligations
and all relations to the human gov
ernments shall be held as subordi-
mates The court said that he was
not obliged to repose confidence in a
man so constituted that living In this
republic, he would seronely VOW his
readiness at all times to abandon his
family and betray his country, The
court ordered an election on the third
Tuesday in September for a general
uyerseer OF all members OF the
church residing in Zion City both
male and female, TO have one vote
gch. He announced that suitable
uanyiSions would be made for Dowie
~ account Of his services as trustee
50 at last the great Dowie bubble
TO he pierced, and Judge Lands
"s sounded the death kne OF the
modern Elljahs' earthly power.
'je canhe but one conclusion from
lection that the court has seen
, order John Alexander Dowie
,.t his power and the citizens Of
H'ly are preparing to claim the
gy that is, and has always
heirs John Alexander Dowie,
,.ualisu OF obscure birth and
'ga attainmcnts by sheer force
dominant cgotism and zeal
r..N 20 least counterleltcd religious
.s,Ncr extremely we'll, has built up an
Natuflon without u parallel in re-
cot Umca Although in many ways
'Nila' 10 the birth aud growth Of
Ncrmon power. It has differed from
'cl nonism in being the result and
i'c property Of one man Instead OF
living himself with others who
m'ghD snare in the control, Dowie
ho cxacted implicit and absolute
.Uhordination 10 his will Starting
thirteen years ago with a few follow
vys in Chicago this sol STYLED proph-
e. has grown in power and influence
hy leans and bounds. From tho first
20 demanded the property and prod
nets OF the followers of his own
hands to he free from the sin and
Inflammation of the world, DOWN.
up an ideal commonwealth, n few
'- from tho city Of ChicaGo--Hion
.lH unique lNNNlNlVdll'N NhN N'-
a city Of thousands Of inhabt
Al Of whom were bound TO obey
10 The letter Factories and
tstries sprung up in the city, and
amount oi money pouring into
O " Golfers Of Elijah" was enormous
rast temple erected in the city
.,a decorated lavishly and here the
prophet VAS wont 10 appear in 70
,rlendent robes and announce his dc
crroS and eXhortations In fiery I'D
dresses The laws promulgated by
the prophet forbade tobacco, liquor
and regulated 10 minute particulars
the daily life NJ the faithful. Dowie |
has ever bon extremely Chary of
newspaper publicity, and reporters
have Jared butpoorIyin getting at the
whole truth Of Zion City affairs,
The beginning of Dowie's downfall
began in the failure Of his speCtacu- |
lar descent upon New York city spv- !
cral years ago, in search for now con.
vrrty His meetings at Madison
Square Garden. With the great Zion |
Clty choir, amounted to nothing more !
than 4 laughing atock Fiercely dc
nolrcing the sin and callousnes Of |
i'0 city, Dovie Withdrew his flock of |
cionaries and returned TO his /
tern stronghold
EST winter the prophet anuounc- |
mat h. would retire from Zion !
g. and would start city in Mexico |
elsewhere His dominion over
ION CITY was 10 continue but some
ct tho more thoughtful questioned
lrsies right 10 their property.
lnder the leadership of Nolivs, a
subordinate OF Dowie's, they instiest-
Cd movement TO unseat Dowio. This
has ss Judge Landiss decision
shows succeeded, and Dowie's retire
ment is question Of only short
time