The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-10
SLEEPING ON ITS ARMS.
Zion City Ready for the Coming of the
 Prophet.

Zion City, III. April 9.-Zion City is Sleeping on its arms" tonight, to quote one of the erstwhile followers of John Alexander Dowie, awaiting the coming of the first apostle" There is but one subject of conversation and that Is the possible eventualitles of tomor- row. which is expected to see nowie again set foot in the community he founded
 Another mass meeting was held to- night in Shiloh Tabernacle. and final instructions given by General Overseer Voliva, the nav manager of Zion's af fairs, for the conduct of loyal follow CTS of the new regime, when the de- posed prophet" attempts to regain his sceptre.
 Dowie has been heralded as swoop- ing down on the city in d blaze of wrath. declaring that an nnderling cannot depose his creator. The on slaught, SO far as knights meeting showed. is awaited with repreased anx- iety. but outward composure.
 With voliva in the centre of the stage, overseers and deacons of the church tonight urged members of the congregation to shear Dowies entrance of any dramatic tinge by remaining away from the railway station, busy ing themselves as usual with common affairs of life. as though. there had never DfeH dD plllJdn II.
 Overseer Voliva. the first speaker at tonights meeting. said that Dowie had secret iron barred room in his home which was for the first time entered by an outsider today.
 Tt will surprise you to learn" said Voliva. that in Shiloh house there was the most curious room in America The czar of Russia may have one and need one. but who would think there was iF, ha fttl att 1f Aya know there was a room kept always locked and into which Dowie himself went seldom. We entered 1t today but to do SO we 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 funnel. There was a bed inside. a bed SO curious that I 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"
 Mrs Dowie to fortify herself against the anticipated strain of tomorrow, did not attend the meeting. but spent the evening quietly at home with a few friends.
 
 be allowed to meet him as 1t might any other sick man. or theoretically at least he Is no more If as much than any other citizen of this town. He will be driven directly to Shiloh house and taken to apartments as far as poss- ble from Mrs. Dowie's.
 Dowie's location in the house was decided on following the receipt of the Associated Press bulletin from Little D All tn as saying that Mrs. Dowie will never be a wife to him again. .;
 Probably the idea Is mutual" re- marked Gladstone Dowie. son of the prophet when the news was given to him. "I am not in the least surprls- ed"
 Tn the circumstances. will you all low him to enter Shiloh house?" the junior Dowie was asked.
 Yes. I guess we will have to. but he will be put in a wing of the house far from my mothers"
 The substance of the Little Rock bulletin was conveyed to Mrs. Dowi" by her son but following her rule since the rupture in Zion's affairs became public, she refused to see reporters.
 While 1t Is believed that practically all members of the church will refrain from giving Dowie any open signs either of approval or disapproval to- it Is almost certain there are q few people still faithful to the found CT of the city and they will be at the Northwestern depot to meet him. Among these 1t is expected there will be a number of negroes. for today in the houses of two brothers, both col ored, Autographs bearing the likeness of bowie were placed in the windows and were kept there despite numerous vigorous requests that the offenSing pictures be removed
 Gladstone Dowie tonight repeated solemnlv the statements he has often made of date that if the old man" in- sisted on fight he CGladstone) still had "n card up his sleeve" which was being reserved for the crisis. What this ..card, is has never been made pub lie. but the present management of Zion annarcntly regards it as d trump of great potency.
 Inasmuch as scarcely anybody thinks uo,yie will lay down his arms until thoroughly beaten, 1t Is expected that tbis card will be thrown face upward on inc tabfe tomorrow. If not tomor- row then Wednesday,, when a large meeting with Dowie barred) will he hold in the tabernacle. If Dowie wants to hold a meting 1t Is said he will have to do it in a vacant lot and