The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-15
Faiirnont Man Challenges
Zionist Leader to Defend
His Fiat Earth Theory
Seeks to Win $1,000 Offer
Of First Apostle Of
Zion Church


Pastor Wilbur Glenn voltva. Of
tho chriatian Catholic Apostolic
Church IN 2ion;9 located at Zion
City iillnols' y being called upon
BY q loeai man TO defend the fiat
eafthp theory advanced publicly by
the prominent Zionist some
months no.
II. NJ Moran Of R. F. D. No.
8 Is tie Fairmonter who has
caught IN the gauntlet SO haughtily
thrown down by the defender Of
the faith,y and who has started
out TO win the 81, 900 offered by
Pastor Nolyia "for proof that the
earth Is round.
MI Moranwho expects to travel
through Zion City this summer.
lias offered to debate the matter
with Pastor Yoliva and has sent
The Zionist the following letter.
MT Wilbur Glenn YoIIva,
ZION City, Ill.
eDear Sir:
q SEQ in the papers for the last
lew months that you have been
Offering $1,000 for proof t.nat tho
earth IS round.
q am writing this letter to asl,
u you mean this as it is stated or
do YOU require that tho htrson
calling yon convinces YOU that It
Is round?
this Is meant as It is stated,
then i challenge you for debate
on the subject during the early
summer at which time will be
travelling near your location.
M however. you demand that
you be convinced that the earth
d round then It Is useless to try.
because would know your attti-
ttIde toward the argument from the
atart.
Hoping TO- hear from you in re-
gard to this matter by return mail,
VERY truly yours,
''R. NJ. MORAN.
n. f. d. 5; Fairmont w. Va"
Mr.. Moran. though he mailed the
letter several days ago, has as yet
received no answer. Local per-
sons. who were Sin" on the matter.
are much interested in the fate OF
NM Moran's mtssive, and are
awaiting with eagerness the reply
Of the Zionist.
Pastor Voliva, according to
newspaper reports, fatty denies
that the earth Is a sphere. He
asserts that 1t IS an extended plain.
surrounded on all sides by ice. ito
keep foolhardy mariners from ven
turing out too far and falling off
into Oblivion. 2 Above the earth Is
heaven; under 1t, hell. The stars,
planets, sun and moon, he claims,
NE hung n}the sky like chande-
liers r Theisun, he thinks, travels
over the earth in an elIptlcal or
bit coming closer to the world
along the equatorial belt.
These theories unique in 1922, A.
D.-but not eunheard " in former
YEARS.; say about 1922, 3. Care
presented seriously by the Zion
City pastor and havo been given
considerable sensational cJawat
paper publicity throughout the
country during the last few years.
Whether the Stat earth" idea is
one of Pastor yoliya's private
views or whether 1t is that held
generally by Zionists has not been
stated.
.The Christian Catholic Apostle
lie Church in Zion"-whose mem
hers are known simply as Ziontsts
was found at Zion City near Chit
cago: in 1896, by John AlexanI'l r
Bowie! That gentleman, now de-
ceased, was born in 1S4S In EdIn-
bsirgh. and in 1868 went to Edin-
htrgh University, to study for the
ConEregationalist ministry. He
snbsequ emily became pastor Of. u
congregationalist church at Sgd
ney, Australia.
He was said to have been a
powerful preacher" but while at
Sydney, he got the idea into his
head that he was able to heal dis
easeS by prayer. He collected "a
following, followed up with a COL
lection, founded the Divine Heal
ing Association of Australia and
New Zealand" and built a taber.
nacle AZ Melbourne.
ins1ssS-iust about the time
nhienas Taylor Barnum was in his
prime Dowie came ID America,
and in spite OF opposition and ridi-
Guile, continued his healing" and
eventually set up church.
In 1895 he became the First
Apostle OF the Zion church found
ing Zion City with money taken up
among his followers. He spent the
next eight years organizing Amer
ica and then went over to "clean
nps England. Like a certain other
American reformer, no was mob
bedin London. turned Britain over
70 the devil and came home.
zion received It's first blow in
APRIL 1906, when Dowie was
charged with peculation and with
practicing polygamy and was kick
Cd out of the church, his wife and
SON giving their consent TO the
election Whereupon Mr.. Dowie
sued the Zionists for $4,000 900,
failed to get It, went crazy, return
"a 70 Zion City, died and was
buriedg
Histories Of the church STAG
that after his (Dowic's) death, the
city gradually became commun-
~ Of normal type" but In the Last
few years a reaction has taken
place and the old fanatlcism Is
again5 Weplng the residents. Local
persoiis who have toured the sec