Bisbee daily review., 1907-03-13
DOW|E'S CAREER
 E UNIQUE IN 7 HISTORY
Was Practically First Founder Of Religion in America Who
 Made Millions From Efforts.
 Died PenniIeSS.

The death of John Alexander Dowie at his home in Zion City a day or two ago brought to an end a career, which was probably unique in American his tory. Starting with absolutely nothing this man built up an enormous follow ing; amassed great wealth; exerted a wonderful influence, and finally in his old age died practically pauper with only a few chosen followers loyal to him.
 Dowie was born in Edinburgh, Scot land, May 25. 1S47. In 1860 his pa- rents removed to Adelaide, Australia, where for seven years the youth was a clerk in business house. Here Dowie developed a commercial instinct that served him in later life. He saved. enough during this period to return to Edinburgh at the age of 20 years, to take sfiye-year course iu theology and art. He became a master of Greek and Hebrew and cultivated literary taste that resulted in after years in a library of 10000 volumes with which he was thoroughly familiar.
 Six years of denominational activity wearied Dowie, who longed for a wider field of operation. He forsook
  bourne, where he set up a free Chris tian tabernacle, the first of its kind, and organized divine healing associa- tion which afterward became inter- national in character. He became pres ident of this organization and gained fame by going. out into the country during a prevalence of putrid fever and apparently effecting many cures by prayer and the laying on of hands.
 After ten years in Melbourne Dowie decided to remove to England where the association had a number of branches, but fate took him across the Pacific and his announced intention of making Great Britain his world head quarters was never carried out.
 Dowie landed in San Francisco in 1SSS. needing money. He needed s250 and had just told his wife that he had asked God for it" when a man he had not seen in months, came along and put that amount into his hands. That was the starting point in his wonderful money-getting career in the western world. ...
 i In 1890 Dowie went to Chicago During the next five years he was ar rested at least a hundred times for violation of city ordinances relating to the care of sick, but the more trouble l that was made for him. the more he prospered. Branch churches were es- ! tablished in other cities. large hospi- i tai for healing the sick was built in Chicago. A printing plant was put in operation, and a bank started.
 The Christian Catholic church in Zion City Is the outgrowth of the orig i inal International Divine Healing As sociation, and was formally organized ' In February, 1896, Dowie becoming general overseer.
 Four years afterward, Dowie, before large audience in the Auditorium Theater. announced that he was Elijah the Restorer This assumption of a biblical personality created eytn more of a sensation among his followers than any of the worldly successes of the prophet"
 Previous to this Dowie had marked out the plans for Zion City, the crown ing effort of his life. Six thousand acres of land were purchased, and in August, 1901. the first building was erected in Zion City, which year later had a population of 10000. In Zion City Dowie was supreme. The title to the six thousand acres bought with the money of the sect, rested in | him. Lots were leased, not sold
 In December, 1905, Zion City was placed under the control of federal receivership. which was dissolved a week later on Dowie's presentation of his ability to pay dollar for dollar all | indebtedness. At that time Dowie es- timated the value of his belongings in Zion rity at se5,000.000. Eighteen months ago Dowie began the promo tion of the second Zion City in Mexico.
 While engaged in this undertaking his health failed and he went to Ja' maica. While there he suffered a stroke Of paralysis from which he meyer. fully recovered. At this time he appointed Wilbur Glenn Voliva his first lieutenant. general overseer oi the church. The mouth Voliya took charge of Zion City he. by a power oi attorney. had all the property belong ing to the church transferred from