Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-13
"JoY CONFETTI IN THE MORN
Hymn the Dying Man Sang the Night
Before Death.


Hymn the Dying Man Sang the Night
Before Death.
During one of his lucid intervals the
dying man said in a clear voice: "Yes,
j forgive everybody. They are my peo-
pie. ! forgive them ALL He did not
mention the name Of his wife Jane or
his son Gladstone. but once lie said
during the night: Yes, ! know she
has been refractory for eight years,
but | forgive her. too" The end came
in themorning hours and with singular
appropriateness for, during the long
vigil OF the night. the dying man had
sung "Joy Cometh in the Morn
Amid the former scenes of his great
ness, in the heart of the community
founded entirely by his genius ana
magnetic personality. the self-styled
prophet died unhonored and almost
alone. There We're With him less than
half Il dozen faithful followers, includ-
ing paid attendants, and one of them
negro. No l;insman was at his bed
side. His wife and son, repulsed last
November when they endeavored to
see him. were mt their Michigan home.
Ben McDlmi-practically nj. shat re
mains OF the vast estate gathered by
Dowie--wllen news of the death came.
The tnal Who had healed others could
not cure himself. His indOmitable viii
was forced to submit TO the disease
which had had him in its grasp for the
greater part Of two years. His faith
in his own restoration to health was
sis, dropsy. and n complication of dis
eases. Strangely enough, his closest
followers also believed that Dowie
would in some miraculous manner re-
cover his health. In n letter to Mrs.
Dowic, sent on the evening before DR..
nowie'S death, his secretary said: 1.-The
world believes that he is dying but
VIC feel that he will recover"
Wilbur Voliva did not visit the house
of the man who had raised him 10
power and whom Voliva afterwards
deposed. He was suffering from an
affection of the throat, he said, but lie
gave ont 4 formal statement in which
he paid a high tribute TO the dead
leader. Gle was n dreamer, hut he
was a great benefactor," said Noliva.
A touch of the ostentation that
marked the rule of John Alexander
Dowie will be observed during the flu
neral services of the leader The white
robed choir which was shorn of Its
vcstments when Noliva assumed COLI
troll in Zion City will take an active
part in the ceremonies. Judge V. Y.
Barnes, one of the few elders of the
church who remained faithful to
Eowie, will conduct the services, and
will deliver the funeral sermon. Dur
ing tomorrow and Wednesday the body
will lie in state in the reception hall
of Shiloh House. the Dowic residence.
The burial will be nj Lake Mound
cemetery. Zion City. beside the grave
of poMie's daughter, who died sever
al years ago from burns caused by the
explosion of an alcohol lamp.
AS to the financial status of Zion
City 1t has been cleared considerably
Ivy the death of the man who created
it. Dowie's claims, always in con
trcversy, are ended with his death.
His wife and his son Will not fight
for the property. Dowie once esti
mhred it to be worth So 100000. They
are content to remain on their AIichi-
gan estate. Receiver Hntely believes
that the unsecured creditors of Zion
City-tlle members of the community
will receive A cents for every dollar
they haze invested. The outside cred
itors he expects to pay in full.