The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-10


ties of tomorrow, which is expected to
see Dowie again set foot in the conmu-
nifty he founded.
Another mass meeting was held tonight
in Shiloh tabernacle, and final instruc
tons given by General Overseer Voliva,
the new manager of lions affairs for the
conduct of loyal followers of the new
regime, which the deposed prophet at
tempts TO regain his sceptre.
Dowie has been heralded as swooping
down on the city in blaze of wrath,
declaring that an underling cannot de-
pose his creator. The onslaught, so far
as tonight's meeting showed, is awaited
with repressed anxiety. but outward COM
posure.
With Voliva in the center of the stage
overseers and deacons of the church to-
night urged members of the congregation
to shear Dowie's entrance of dramatic
climax by remaining away from the rail-
way station busying themselves as usual
with common affairs of life, as though
there had never been an ''Elijah H."
Overseer Vollva, the first speaker at to-
nights meeting, said that Dowie had a
secret iron barred room in his home,
which was for the first time entered by
an outsider today.
Tells of Strong Room.
ut will surprise you to learn" said
Noliva, 'that in Shiloh house there was
the most curious room in America. The
Gar of Russia may have one and need
one, but who would think there was one
In the peaceful city of Zion? We knew
there was a room kept always locked
and into which Dowie himself went sell
dom. We entered 1t today, but to do so
had to batter down two iron doors. The
room was like a vault except that the
bolts and bars were mostly on the inside.
Light came into the room through bulls
eye window. the outside of which was
protected by heavy iron shutters Air
was admitted through a funnel. There
was a bed inside a bed SO curious that
l cannot attempt to describe 1t. And this
! room, this cell, was built by and for a
man who used to stand before you and
ask you to tell him what fear was like"
A visit to the basement of Shiloh house
confirmed Voliva's statement concerning
the nature OF Dowie's concealed retreat.
The room was fitted in anything but
monl<ish simplicity.
An electric light burned brightly, she'd
ding its light over the bed which was
made after the fashion of window seat
in an angle of the walls Like the room
itself, the bed was 81" shaped and to
have slept on 1t, one must needs have to
form an obtuse angle with bed teIe-
phone stood on a little stand beside the
couch. No arms were found, but enough
was discovered to show that Dowie. be-
hind three feet of cement walls, and his
IRON doors. had safe retreat
Mrs. Dowle Is Silent.
Mrs Dowie to fortify herself against
the anticipated strain of tomorrow did
not attend the meeting, but spent the
evening quietly at, home with few
friends
Because Dowie is Ill carriage will be
allowed to meet him as 1t might any other
sick man, for Theoretically he is no more
than any other citizen of this town. He
will be driven directly to Shiloh house
and taken to apartments as far as pos
sible from Mrs. Dowie's.
Dowies location in the house was de-
cided on following the receipt of the AS
ISOLATED Press bulletin from Little Rock
Ark, this morning In which Dowie is
quoted as saying that Mrs. Dowie will
never be a wife to him again.
Probably the idea is mutual" remark
ed Gladstone Dowie, son or the prophet
when the news was given to him. Il am
not in the least surprised"
In the circumstances will you allow
him to enter Shiloh house?" the junior
Dowie was asked
Yes. | guess we will have 70. but he
viii be put In wing of the house far
removed from my mothers"
The substance of the Little Rock bull
letin was conveyed to Mrs. Dowie by her
son. but following her rule since the rup-
ture In lions affairs became public she
refused to see reporters.
Few Are Still Faithful.
While 1t is believed that practically all
members of the church will refrain from
giving Dowie any open signs either of
approval or dsapproval tomorrow, 1t is
almost certain there are a few people
stlll faithful 10 the founder OF the city,
and they will be at the Northwestern
depot to meet him Among these it il
expected there will be number OF
negroes, for today in the houses,of two