BOWIE'S "ZION" CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11686, 22 June 1901, Page 5

BOWIE'S "ZION" CITY.

HE CLAIMS TO BE ELIJAH. By Telegraph.— Press Association.—Copyright, New York, June 20. Bowie's " Zion' city is growing large. A temple has been erected and money ;a pouring in. Dowie has proclaimed himself the reincarnated Elijah.

The dciiig-s of this notorious so-called faithhealer—who will be remembered by many in Auckland—have '/ecu occupying a good deal of sf,aco in the American press. Be was recently prosecuted in connection witn (he death of liio wile of one of his Biipporloiy, but v. as acquitted, A telegram from Chitiiso 10 the New York Herald, lii'di May hi, Bays : — " Distention mid disranfiou are looming up on tins horizon ol ' Dr.' John Alexander Bowie's //ion. The biff religions oligarchy which He has bubt, up. with hmisell as stii.reme dicta* tor, and ivuich lias brought him wealth reported to amount to millions, is said to lie tottering to its fall. Mimerhi.rs of discontent have beta heard tor month-; in the highest ranks of Lite faithful, and recently some of (lie Ueoera! Oveiv<er"fl mo*t trusted and valuably lieutenants have become discontented with his ro-eni churns that ho is the object, of ma.i.v ,',i the prophecies of the Old and New '.!'«•,;, inviu'. and a second Elijah. They accuse him of hypocrisy, and have re- . !t-ncit >.':<■■ |i;»ii:ii'! in tiie church, iioi are strongly deiiuiiocintj ilie'r •'• rmer leader, lieports wore in circulation to-day that a large sum, said to lie at ir>si. L'O.WO dollars, had been v,-ji,i:i> from the Dowie iJajik, and that the callers at the bank were uimsjiially numerons a,n<l nei vous. ii. was declared today that the M-.hi-m i.'i ju-t atartins. and that ninny of the hitrhe:it and most influential oftlecrs of the Uowie Church are preparing to ieavo the orKuni'<at.ii;ii. '"Dr." Dowie,' cieclttrott J. \V. Cahcen, a former elder of Zion, to-day, 'is false in his theolo;\ and fake in Jo-, business transactions. He is not insane. On the contrary, ho is an extremely lons-neadrd man, and a man of superhuman running. me take the ground that ho is an out and out impostor, hut 1 lake the more fiiarit-.thle view that he is selfdnhidei.l. ile is trinity of the most arrant ■ hypocrisy, and yet l think lie believes in ids own acts. Von hare heard of the man who ! lied so much that be came to believe his lies j were the truth. 1 have known of acts of " Dr." Hi.v\ •••'.••- that seem In me downright iliaj ]i"t:cst. and others that were uncharitable and I u»>'hriitinii, to S'v.y the teas!'..' In the last | i-i-e of lii : I.carei of Ke.Uinp. 'Dr.' Dowie ! .-. ao'.-'e 1 a w.irninc to his followers against : wi.'h-nir.:-: the i.veac'o., and said:—'lt the devil i could divide /don he would destroy it.'"