The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-30
D0WIE BACK IN ZION.
Challenges His Enemies From the Pull
pit Of the Tabernacle.

Chicago. April 30.-Standing unstead-
ily and with greet effort before an
audience of 2, 500 persons in Zion City
tabernacle Sunday afternoon, John
Alexander Dowie charged his traducers,
II any were present, to rise to their feet
and make their accusations before the
whole congregation. The followers OF
Noiivas the new leader in Zion City's
afIairs, however, were at that moment
attending rival meeting, set for the
same hour at the Zicn college building,
a quarter OF a mile distant. There 1000
OF the city's Inhabitants were gathered,
together with the famous choir now di-
vested of its ecclesiastical garb, and the
Zion and and orchestra.
Inose who listened to the words of
Dowie were for the most part visitors
from other towns, brought in by the
hundreds by the electric cars and rail-
road trains. For o. er an hour the crowd
in the tabernacle waited for the ap-
pearance Of the venerable first apos-
tie" Immediately in front of the plat
form and in the cLoir loft were prob
ably 100 of the faithful
Dowie was borne bodily by two stall
Wart negro attendants from the ante
room up the stairs to the platform and
deposited upon his feet before the
elaborate prayer altar. lie was at
tired in an apostolic robe of white and
gold and purple. Upon his head was
a turban of marvellous pattern eIn-
broidered in purple and gold. He de-
Hvered his address and sermon before
the altar Only occasionally, when
aroused to an unusual pitch of earn
estness. did he rise to his feet.
Mrs. Dowie, who has severed her
allegiance to the Voiiva faction, sat in
chair among Dowie's followers in the
congregation. Except for the pres
ence upon the platform of the farmer
once upon the platform Of the former
He announced the hymns and led in
PRAYER IN voice the frmness and
strength OF which surprised those who
have been in attendance upon him.
He prefaced his sermon by a spirited
denial OF the charges that have been
brought against him, in the course Of
which he exhibited much of the fiery
lmpatience which marked his dis
courses in times past
They say I've taken the peoples
money do they?r he shouted. An
swers of Yes and NO" came from
different parts of the audience. A man
IN the rear, more persistent than 9TH
ers, was singled out by Dowie. Point
ing a trembling finger at the man.
Dowfe continued: Let that man stand
up and give his name. Let him tell
what money I took and when" With
shrank in his seat A guard was order
ed to compel him to stand, but he
stood in shame-faced silence. Then it
was that Dowie rose to his feet and de-
had anything to charge against him to
do so then and there.
Displaying great emotion, Dowie de-
scribed the sorrow he felt upon receiv-
ing the news while in Mexico of the re-
volt among his people. He declared
that he could not sleep until he had
learned the worst. and that his cup of
grief was full when he found that his
wife and son had deserted him. Then
he paid a tribute to Mrs. Dowie.
My wife has some noble qualities, .
he said 'She was misled and imposed
upon. They used her until they were
through with her. and then cast her
aside. Ny son played tricks upon me,
which he ought not to have done, but
he, too, was deceived"
Dowie has taken up his abode in
Shiloh house, where he intends to re-
main in retirement at least until after
the decision of the court on the matter
of his injunction against Voliva and
others next Thursday.