Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1906 — DOWIE DEPOSED AS ZION LEADER [ARTICLE]

DOWIE DEPOSED AS ZION LEADER

Deputy Overseer Voliva Elevated to the Position—Former Leader Declared Insane. Chicago, April 3. —The thousands of Zion City chose between John Alexander Dowie, first apostle, and Wilbur Glenn Voliva, and Voliva was elected unanimously as the leader of the people. Dowie virtually was read out of tlie church lie had founded and the thousands deposed him as the head of affairs of the city as far as they were capable. They charged him with mismanagement and with willfully squandering their money that had been intrusted to him. They were charitable as they condemned, however, for they refused to hold that he had erred knowingly and charged lie was insane. The first apostle's own wife, Jane Dowie, spoke against the policy pursued by her husband of late, and agreed with the college of overseers and deacons that his removal would tend to the rehabilitation of the city and would renew the confidence of the people in the theocracy. A scorching telegram was sent to Dowie on behalf of tlie Zion City community, deposing him as leader, charging him with polygamous teachings, hypocrisy, misuse of funds, tyranny and other offenses, and threatening criminal proceedings. Chicago, April s.—John Alexander Dowie, late master and ruler of Zion City, now faces threats of arrest. He will be arrested upon his arrival there next Tuesday, according to the council now in charge of the city's affairs, if he makes one move toward reasserting any control over the community. "Two charges will be made the basis of his arrest,” said Deacon William Piper, "They are misappropriation of fun Is and slandering persons through the medium of tlie United States mails.”