Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-03-10
THE NEWS OF THE WORLD.

violating to the care of the sick but
the more trouble that was made for
him. the more he prospered in rea1-
Nv Branch churches were estab-
lished in other cities. A large hos
p1tal for the healing Of the sick was
built in Chicago and a college for the
training of Missionaries was organ
lied a printing plant put in operation
and a bank was also started
The Christian Catholic church IN
Zion City, the outgrowth OF the orig
inal international divine heling asso-
citation. was formally organized III
February 1896, Dowie becoming gen
eral oyerseer. Four years after,
Dowie, before a large audience IN the
auditorium theater, announced that
he was Elijah, the Restorer, spoken
of in Malachi. This assumption OF
biblical personality created even
more of a sensation among his follow
ers than any of the worldly success
es of the prophet. Previous to this,
Dowie had marked out his plans
for a Zion City, the browning effort
of his life Six thousand acres OF
land were purchased or secured by
options and in August of 1901 the hrst
building was erected in Zion City,
which a year later had a population
of 10, 900.
In Zion City as we'll as the church,
Dowie was supreme. The title of the
six thousand acres bought with the
money Of the sect rested in him. Lots
were leased, not sold. Running for
999 years, these leases were filed
with the following restrictions:
The premises shall never be used
for a slaughter house, saloon or beer
garden, tobacco store, opium joint,
theater, gambling establishment,
dance hall, circus, pharmacy, drug
store, office or residence OF a prac-
ticing physician or surgeon, place for
selling pork or secret meeting place.
In December of 1903 Zion City was
placed under control Of federal re-
Ownership which was dissolved a week
later on DoWie's presentation of abil-
ity to pay dollar for dollar all indeb-
tedness. At that time Dowie esti-
mated the value of his holdings in
Zion City at $25 900 900; since then
the value of the lace factory, the
other industries and holdings at Zion
City are believed to have increased
to $28, 900 900.
Eighteen months ago Dowie began
the promotion of a second Zion City
in Mexico. While engaged in this
undertaking hisshealth failed and he
went to Jamaica shortly before Christ.
mas, 1905, for his health While
there he suffered a stroke of paraly-
sis from which he never fully recov-
cred. 1t was at this time that he
appointed Wilbur Glenn Voliva his
first lieutenant and general over seer
of the church. A month after Voliva
took charge in Zion City he, by
power of attorney vested in him by
Dowie, had all the property belong
ing to the church transferred from
Dowie to Overseer Granger, charging
extravaganza and gross mismanage-
ment by Dowie. At the time the
transfer was made Voliva called all
the Zionists to the tabernacle in Zion
City and denounced Dowie. With
the exception Of less than 200 Dow
les former followers, all the inhab-
itants Of Zion City chose VoIiva as
their future leader, and word was
sent to Dowie in Mexico that he had
been deposed. He imediately start
ed for Chicago and took the contro-
versy to the courts for settlement.
No arrangements have yet bee1
made for the funeral.