Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-03-16

Head Of Christian Catholic Church
Died at zlo, City.


Chicago. March 3. John Alexander
Dowie, the self-styied Elijah III" ana
founder of Zion city and the Christian
Catholic church, died at his palatial
home in Zion City this morning Death
came suddenly, although it has been
known for several weeks that he has
been in i'll health,
Dowie has been at his home In Zion
City since shortly after his spectacular
return from Mexico,s several months
ago. when he came with the avowed
purpose of busting Overseer yolvia
and several other prominent leaders In
the Zion City movement, who had de-
posed Dowie from leadership and sc.
cured control of the Christian Catholic
church. OF which Dowie had been the
absolute head.
The fight was carried into the
Chicago courts. where Dowie failed to
regain the leadership OF his sect and
possession OF the property Shortly AT.
terward he retired to his home In Zion
City, where he remained quietly await
ing the issue of the law suits.
Had Remarkable Career.
John Alexander Dowie's career was
remarkable and filled with dramatic
and sensational incidents. Arriving in
this country from Australia about Is
years ago, he began his movement in
San Francisco where he made com
plete failure. Shortly before the open
ing OF the Worlds Fair In Chicago he
arrived in this city, heralded as sdi-
vine healer" At the beginning OF the
Worlds Fair he was at the head OF d
small number OF followers. who met In
frame church building near the out
skirts OF the city.
by adopting an extreme and sensa
tional policy he succeeded In gaining
great notoriety throughout Illinois and
adjacent states, and his doctrines APP
pealing to certain class of people. he
was soon enabled to establish hos
pital" where divine healing was
practiced During the fair he added
many recruits to his ranks, and within
a short time was able to outline his
plans for colony of his followers.
which was later established on the
west shore of Lake Michigan, within q
few miles from Chicago,
Built Costly Home.
Here he built himself costly home,
! a huge tabernacle and established in
dustries for the manufacture OF lace.
candy and other articles OF commerce,
and gathered about him about 5000
followers, who professed to believe
implicitly in Dowie's statement that
he was the re-incarnation OF the.
prophet Elijah. For a time the city
fourished, the influx OF converts fur
nishing the funds necessary for the
continuance Of the plans OF the general
overseer About two years ago the In
dustries began to languish. and Dowfe
formulated plans for great movement
in New York city. where he personally
took charge Of the work. having as
his assistants band Of several hun
dred followers. This proved to be .
complete failure, and Dowie returned
to Zion City.
Later he went on tour around the
world, in the hope OF attracting more
followers to his standard. but was ev-
erywhere met with jeers Returning
to the United States he formulated
the plan OF establishing a new Zonl
City in Mexico, and II was while he
was In that country that his dissatis-
fed followers In Zion City seized the
reins OF government and overthrow his
power. The matter has been In the
courts ever since. and Dowie has been
kept In the background by those who
had shorn him OF power and leader
ship.
Dowie was man OF remarkable tai
ents and magnetic power and at one
time in his career was said to be at
the head Of following OF many thous-
and persons. and to control more than
$40 100000 worth OF property and
money, which had been placed tn his
care by the members Of his queer sect