The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-09
OOWIE IS DEAD;
ZION MOURNS
Passes Away At TAO P. M
Tn Shiloh House in the
City he Founded.
DISsENTION FORGOTTEN
Crowds Gather to Pay Homage to the
Apostle-Life of the Famous
Divine Healer.


a. m. today at Shiloh house, Zion City.
The sudden death of the deposed lead
er of the north shore religious colony
caused a great sensation throughout
Zion City His end was not entirely
unexpected.
Bright's disease is the supposed
cause of death. The prophet had
been low all yesterday, and friends
sat up with him all of last night.
Wife and Son Not Asked For.
The end was peaceful. He had been
unconscious most of the night Only
a few feeble mumbled prayers escap-
ed from his lips during the last hours.
Not once did he speak the name Of his
wife or son, who are supposed to be in
Michigan.
Few of the Faithful at His Side.
At the bedside were Judge Barnes.
Deacon Hanson. Frank HatchfeId,
Deacon Schad and Seeman Haehneu
Judge Barnes was among the lead
ers in the church who went over to
. Voliva.
"The apostle is deadw was the cry
which issued forth from the doors of
Shiloh house a few moments after the
death
Awed Crowd Surrounds House.
Men anu WOIl6I-InOSG SIlII Id1LnIuI
to the Dowie standard-took up the
cry. The hundreds who had renounc-
ed him in favor of Voliva rushed into
the streets and Shiloh house was soon
surrounded by an awed, silent mass of
humanity.
Volivn Visits Death Chamber.
Overseer Voliva was one of the first
to visit the room containing the body
of his former superior. He entered
Shiloh house, hat in hand and the
same reverential manner was assumed
by all of those who had led in the de-
thronement of the man whose word was
once iron law.
Business was practically suspended
in Zion City. following the news OF
Dowies passing Storekeepers left
shops to join the crowds in the streets
where the sudden death of the "apos-
tie" was discussed
Life of Dowie.
Born of Scotch parentage in 1S47
John Alexander Dowie as a boy was
member of the Presbyterian church. II
one of the few interviews he ever gave
out during his lifetime he said of him
self that he was often punished fol
whistling the Sababth.
Little is known of his early life. He
went to Australia in 1878 when he wa:
81 years old, and there began his ca
reer as a divine healer" and evangel
ist that in little over a quarter of
century made him the head of the Ziol
church, with a following of over so. O0
in every country of the world and tn
virtual master of property valued a
$21,00O000 Had he been able to carr!
out his Mexican plantation scheme
~ lot r1o h
would have increased his property Il
nearly double it's value at the time o
his death.
Rev Dowie began his American ca
reer In Chicago, where he conducte
meetings at 14th street and Michigan
avenue. Although he was pennies
when he came and a. one time had hi
baggage attached to secure the pay
ment of bill for $27, his following
rapidly increased until. finally. he wa
compelled to rent the Auditorium 1
order to accommodate the crowds.
Then followed the founding of Zio
City, the trip to New York which prov
ed to be his first failure. his Australia
trip and finally the trouble with Volivs
which ended in his overthrow.
About this time he planned a colon
IN Mexico, but the internal dissention
and Strengthened financial condition c
the church prevented the realization c
his dreams along this line.
Dowie was a man with a powerfr
personality and in his younger day
ruled the church with an iron hanC
Perhaps one of the most pathetic thing
in the modern religious history was tn
revolt which lead TO the excommunica
tion from the church that he had spen
a quarter of a century in building