Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17

the final manifestations OF h.s egomania
as que to Illness. Zion City went into the
nanos or a receiver and shrank from a
population of 1900 or $4,000 to less than
4sooO But 1t appears that even with the
rev That remained all is not harmony.
HoHva, whom Dowie brought from Aus
.ralla TO manage affairs in Zion, is said not
to be popular.
Inc present head OF the church." said
one OF the converts recently. lis tyranuous
ana cruel carried away by the desire to
when Voliva year ago came to Zion
iuliy trusting in Dowie he found the out
LOOK disheartening. The bank was drained
t>Sfedit was gone. People were unpaid and
hungry and there was nothing to do but
compel them TO pay more to support Zion,
ana now and then Dowie drew on them
for funds.
An Illustration of the condition is shown
In the faith of one of the converts
He was lost man on the .treets of Chi
ca-o, penniless. diseased, helpless slave to
drink and his passions. He went to Zion
after his conversion and dug in the bitches;
then he worked in the lace factory. Then
he rose to the head of a department in the
engraving works for Leaves of Healing"
the Zion paper. When asked recently by
one or his associates, Has he not robbed
YOU? Have you not been begging for pay
ments OF 80 cents to buy bread for your
family, while he owes you hundred dollars
and is spending it in luxury for HIMSELF"
the man answered: Il will not lightly cast
away a man who has done SO much for
me-
Voliva supposed himself the discoverer Of
this condition; but he found all his associ-
ates knew 1t and had been powerless: but
he held power of attorney. By brilliant
coup he transferred all Dowies interest to
a deposed overseer, Granger. who was given
1t in trust for the people. At conference
which followed 300 officers voted to stand
~ n1i,- md FIGHT
Voliva still in command and Dowie resting
in the Zion cemetery.
"'To succeed widely" said a Dowieite re-
Gently the Zion plan of destruction and re-
construction requires a great prophet with
unmistakable divine authority and marked
common sense. attested by holy lie anu
mighty miracles. No such man is In sight.
When he appears we snail CONSIDER MS
message
The value of Dowies work and the fu-
ture of Zion are now dominant questions.
The latter question is answered by many
who, believing that Dowleism was centered
in its founder and leader. consider Ii des-
tined to be added to the long list of queer
religious sects which have not outlived
their founders. The members Of the COM
munity just at present seem bent upon
getting back the worldly goods which they
put into the experiment
AS for the first question, the tastes OF the
rarely organized prophet were nice to dain-
tiness the smell of liquor and tobacco, the
taste Of pork were abhorrent TO him: and
doubtless had much to do with his religlouS
pronunciamento against their use In any
shape or form. So far anybody knows
his private life had been in accordance
with the strictest and most conventional
moral laws and his followers have been
rescued from evil lives and made industri-
GUS citizens. He cut off in his city or
zion all tobacco and liquor bills. He for
babe card playing and theater going. and
encouraged outdoor games and recreations.
He demanded that his people adhere
strictly to the scriptural ritual of clean liv-
ing. He prohibited doctors and drug bills.
Including patent medicines, and. convincing
the ailing that they were well, sent them
cheerfuly to their tasks. Naturally all
Zion felt spiritual and physical regenera-
tion and became a clean, eager and indus
trious people Thus the dreams, intangible
and optimistic, which a skeptical and hos
tile world ieered at, he lived to see be-
come an actual reality, and thousands to-
day, notwithstanding reverses and failures
and death. still cling with faith to the mys-
terry of his dominant personality. Ihey nad
taken the oath and keep IT..
II VOW in the name of God my Father
and Jesus Christ. His Son and my Savoir.
and the Holy Ghost that | recognize John
Alexander Dowie. general overseer in his
threefold prophetic office, as a messenger
to obey all rightful orders issued by him,
and that all family ties and obligations and
III r'~'nti rs tn III human Governments shall
be held subordinate to this vow. This I
,Idae IN Inc .resence of God"