Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-03-15
ALEXANDER DOWIE
YIELDS TO DEATH
FOUNDER OF ZION MOVEMENT
rs DEAD.
HEALTH GRADUALLY FAILED
End Was Not Unexpected and Will
Not Affect the Church In Any Man
ner = Voliva Considered Him In
sane.

Chicago.-John Alexander Dowie
died at Shiloh House, Zion City, Sat
urday morning at 7 40 O'Clock.
Dowie has been gradually failing
for some weeks and shortly after l
o clock ne became dehrious. With
him at that time was only his person
al attendant who later in the morn
ing summoned Judge D. n. Barnes,
who with two attendants, were the on
ly ones present when he died.
1t had been Dowie s custom all
summer and winter to hold religious
services every Sunday afternoon IN
the parlors of the Shiloh House.
About $50 of his original followers
remained faithful and attended these
services. Dowie always wore his
apostolic robes and made a character
istic address. Five weeks ago these
meetings ceased and Dowie appeared
no longer in public. The Sunday
meeting, however, was still held by
his adherents.
After Dowie became delirious his
talk was the same as at religious
meeting in the days of his prime.
He denounced people with the old
time vigor, ordered the guards to
throw out disturber5 and acted just
as he had on so many previous occa-
sions.
No arrangements have yet been
made for the funeral.
Mrs. Dowie, Judge Dowie, the
prophet s father, and his son, who are
at Ben McDhue, Mich, have been
notified.
Judge Barnes, who was at the bed
side of Dowie is a member of Voliva S
council but remained friendly to Dow
lie, believing him to be insane and
not responsible for his actions. Dow
les wife, father and son, held the
same view, and it IS therefore believ-
ed, that they will attend the funer-
al.
Late in the day Mr.. Voliva recon
sidered his determination to say moth
ing regarding the death of Dowie and
declared that the death of the former
leader will not affect the future of the
church in any adverse manner.
because of Dowie S sad mental
and physical condition." said Voliva,
che has been a hindrance in many
ways. Now that he has done a work
for humanity that is in some respects
second to none that has been done by
anybody, past or present, his death
will not alter the conduct Of the
church, -
Dowie s final message to the world
was given to Judge Barnes, who with
a nurse and one other attendant, was
alone with him at the end. Judge
Barnes said that Dowie died quietly
and without pain and was composed.
He also said that several days ago
Dowie called him and foreseeing his
demise, held a long conversation with
him. Judge Barnes said he could
not divulge the purport of that coa-
versation now, but is prepared to do
SO when the occasion arises.
Life Sketch of Dowie.
John Alexander Dowie was born in
Edinburgh, Scotland, May 25, 1917.
In 1860 his parents removed to Ade.
laide, Australia, where for sever years
the youth was a clerk In a business
house. Here Dowie developed the
commercial instincts that served him
so well later in life. He saved enough
money during the period to return tq
Edinburgh and at the age of 20 to
take FIVE years course in theology
and the arts. He became a master
of Greek and Hebrew and cultivated
literary taste that resulted in after
years in library of 10000 volumes,
with which he was thoroughly famil-
lar. Six years of denominational ac-
tivity wearied Dowie, who longed for
wider field of operation.
He forsook his church and In 1878
went to Melbourne, where he set up
free Christian Tabernacle, the frsl
of it's kind, and organized a divine
healing association, which afterwards
became international in character.
He became president of this associa-
tion and gained fame by going out
in the country during the prevalence
of putrid fever and apparently effect
ing many cures by prayer and the
laying on of hands.
After ten years in Melbourne, Dowie
decided to move to England, where