Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-09
End Comes Unexpectedly
to Former Head of
Zion City.
FEWfOLLOWERS AT END
Remarkable Career of Man
Who Proclaimed Himself
"Elljah the Restorer.'

Chicago, March 9.-JOhn Alexander
Dowie is dead.
He passed away at 7:4O this morning
at Shiloh house, Zion City. There
were present at his demise only Judge
ID. ~ Barnes and two personal attend
ants. 1t has been his custom to hold
religious services every Sunday after
noon in the parlor of Shiloh house.
About $50 of his original followers re-
mained faithful and attended services.
Ceased Five Weeks Ago.
Five weeks ago these meetings ceas-
ed. and Dowie appeared no longer in
public. Since that time Dowie has
gradually been failing. Shortly before
l this morning Dowie became delirious,
but his talk was as sane as at relig-
ious meetings in the days of his prime.
He denounced people with the old time
vigor, and ordered the guards to throw
out the disturbers. He gradually be-
came weaker.
End Not Expected.
The death of Dowie was unexpected.
Mrs. Dowie as Judge Dowie, the pro-
phet's father. and his son, Gladstone,
who are at Ben McDhui, Mich, have
been notified. and are expected at Zion
City today. Judge Barnes, who was at
the bed side of Dowie, is member OF
Voliva's council, but remained friendly
10 Dowie, believing him to be insane
and not responsible for his actions
Dowie's wife, father and son held the
same view, and it is therefore believed
though they were estranged, they
will attend the funeral.
sketch of Career.
Dowie was born in Edinburgh Scot
land May 25, 1S47 In 1860 his parents
moved to Adelaide, Australia, where
young Dowie in seven years as clerk il
business house saved enough money
to return to Edinburgh and take a fivl
years course in theology and art. He
forsook the denominational church il
1873, and went to Melbourne, where ht
set up Free Christian tabernacle, or
ganized a divine healing association
and gained fame by going about thu
country during the prevalence of putrit
fever, effecting many cures by praye
and laying on of hands.
Came TO America in Poverty.
Dowie- landed in San Francisco il
1888 almost without funds, and afte
two years wandering along the coas
he and his family came to Chicago
twithstanding during the next fiv
years Dowie was arrested at least
hundred times for violating the cit,
ordinance relating to the care of tn
sick, he established a branch OF hi
church in other cities, erected a larg
hospital for the healing of the sick il
Chicago, organized a college for tn
training of missionaries and started
printing plant and bank.
Announced as "Restorer.-
The Christian Catholic church il
Zion City the outgrowth of the oTigina
into an international divine healing as
sociation, was formally organized i
1896, DOwie becoming general overseel
Four years afterwards Dowie annount
ed he was Elijah the Restorer."
Planned Zion City.
Previous TO this. Dowie had marke
out his plans for Zion City. Six thou
and acres of land were purchased
August, 1901. In Zion City, as well a
the church, Dowie was supreme. TIL
title to this thousands of acres DouSl
with the money of the sect, vested
him. Lots were leased for 999 year
In December, 1908, Zion City was pla
ed under control of federal receive
ship, which was dissolved week late
on Dowie's representation of his abb
ity to pay dollar for dollar for all il
debtedness.
Estimated Wealth at &25,0O0.660.
At that time Dowie estimated til
value of his holdings in Zion City ;
$25,000,000. Since tlen the value
the lace factory and other industrit
and holdings are believed to have il
creased to $2S,0O0,O0O Eighteen montl
ago Dowie began the promotion of
second Zion City in Mexico While e
gagged in this undertaking his healt
failed and he went to Jamaica Viii
there he suffered stroke of paralys
from which he never fully recovered
y0iiva Undid Work.
II was at this time he appointer w
bur Glenn Noliva. his first lieutenar
general overseer of the church.
month after Voliya took charge, he,