The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-04-11
DOWIE'S WILL FILED
The Last Will Of John Alexander
Dowie Filed for Probate in
Lake County Today
WIFE TO HAVE LEGAL SHARE

The mantle of leadership of John
Alexander Dowie is bequeathed by
him to John A. Lewis, his close per-
sonal friend and adviser. The last
will and testament of the late first
apostle in Zion was offered for pro-
bate at Waukegan today, and the final
wishes of the founder of the Christian
Catholic Apostolic church will be
made court records. Gladstone
Dowie is left $40, to be paid in gold.
John A. Lewis announced that he
would accept the trust imposed upon
him by DR.. Dowie despite the fact
that it meant great personal sacrifice
on his part, and that he would at
once assume the position of general
overseer. He said he absolutely be-
lieved ia the power of the dead leader
to name his own successor, and that
he would take up the battle to see
that the wishes of Dowie were car
ried out in every detail.
Knowing his estate would be small
because of adverse legal decisions,
DR.. Dowie, ia his viii, urged Lewis
to carry his contentious to the court
of last resort, and, should he finally
lose there, to call upon four others,
preferably from among those who re-
manned true to him in lifetime, and
then, in conference, decide what
should be done with the small estate
remaining.
That no part of his estate is to fall
into the hands of the church so long
as Wilbur Glenn Voliva is at the
helm is the one idea to be read be-
tween the lines, although all refer
ence to this condition of affairs is stu
diously avoided in the actual wording
of the will.
Although Judge Lands has ruled
against DIR. Dowie in the United
States court" said Attorney Emil c..
Wetten, of Chicago, who will file the
will for probate, 'tthe final decree has
never been entered. Probating the
will probably will serve to hurry mat
tiers. In addition to his personally,
DR.. Dowie owned ia fee several thou
sand acres of land in the black belt
in Africa, which he one day expected
to colonize. Even if his estate loses
in the courts, he still will have some
thing to bequeath."
| To Mrs. Jane Dowie, his wife, his
| legacy was the share of the estate to
which she would be entitled by law
even if he had made no will.
Executors named in the will are
John A. Lewis, Fielding II. White,
and James f. Peters. The provision
in made that, should Lewis refuse to
accept the trust imposed upon him,
White is to take up the work as has
been directed. The will was signed
on Aug. 6, 1906, and was witnessed
by A. E. Arlington, w. L. Brauen
and Hugh H. Grant.
The newly appointed general over
seer issued a typewriter statement
several pages long, the greater por-
ton of which was devoted to praising
the life and work Of the first apostle.
SAT an early date" he says, eve
must determine definitely the matter
of an ecclesiastical and spiritual leader
and, second, the reorganization Of the
four great departments that are pc
culiar to Zion-to wit: ecclesiastical,
educational, political and financial.
TO bring about this FUND amental
and important reorganization will re-
quire the earnest and most hearty
cooperation of every member of Zion
who has the desire for the success OF
Zion in his heart, and who is willing
to sacrifice selfish. personal ambition
and lay aside all grievances, real or
imaginary, and all Ill will, working
together for the coming of his king.
dom, when truth and equity shall
reign supreme"
Daniel G. Bryant, overseer for
Africa, was among the most promi-
nently mentioned for spiritual leader.
William H. Piper, of Chicago, was
suggested. Those who had followed
Voliva in the split of a year ago main
tanned that Overseer Lewis would
certainly name him for the place.