The Founding of Zion
In 1896, he founded the Christian Catholic Church, which emphasized spiritual healing but otherwise differed little from the more millennialist of the Protestant churches. In the meantime, Dowie started to dream of building a city in which only Christians would live, a city where no vice or sin of any kind would be allowed. He called this city “Zion,” and in order to bring his dream to reality, he dressed up like a tramp, and wandered the countryside buying up land – enough land to build a city. Finally, in 1900, he announced his undertaking to his congregation, and soon his city was built. In 1901, Dowie established the City of Zion on the shore of Lake Michigan, about 40 miles north of Chicago, with about 5,000 of his followers.
The Rise and Fall
There was little or no persecution, and the walls of his new tabernacle were covered with braces, wheel chairs, and all types of apparatus for the lame and crippled – hung there by those Divinely healed! He ruled the community as a theocracy, forbidding physicians’ offices, dance halls, theatres, drugstores, and smoking and drinking. Various industries were begun and the town prospered – with Dowie in sole control of the businesses. Zion’s commercial success was increasingly jeopardized, however, by Dowie’s several expensive and futile trips, first to New York to convert the city in 1903 and next to, Mexico to establish the “Zion Paradise Plantation.”
The Decline and Fall
After all his success, trouble began. First, John began wearing priestly garments of his own design; then he started saying he was “Elijah.” After this declaration, he seemed to have lost touch with reality. He tried to buy land to build other Zion Cities but in the process bankrupted the first one.
Downfall and Removal
Many other tragic events took place, and eventually, a great man of God fell, ironically, when the persecution stopped, although he had previously weathered all sorts of trials. When prosperity came to him in America, he abandoned his simple ways and pride filled his heart. Opposition to his fiscal irresponsibility and other accusations led to his removal in 1906, and he was replaced by Wilbur Voliva, a trusted friend whom he had earlier named temporary head of the church. Dowie suffered a stroke on the platform which he delivered his last sermon. Then while he was out of the country to recover, the City of Zion held an organizational meeting to vote Dowie out. Dowie fought this decision to the last ounce of his strength but never succeeded in regaining his position. He was allowed to live his last days inside of Shiloh House, his home of many years, and slipped into eternity on March 9, 1907.
Legacy
Out of the Dowie movement came a host of zealous Pentecostal converts who joined with those from Los Angeles and the lower Midwest in planting the movement among Holiness people in Chicago and beyond. The Pentecostal message was then spread to Africa by John G. Lake, who had been an elder under Dowie. Among the many others who were also blessed and influenced by the ministry of Dr. Dowie were: F.F. Bosworth, Raymond T. Richey, Gordon Lindsay, Charles Parham, William H. Piper, Zion’s Overseer At Large, who later became founder and pastor of the Old Stone Church in Chicago, Fred Vogler, and J. Roswell Flower who was instrumental in the founding of the Assemblies of God in 1914
Tale Tuesday 028
Date: 14th February 2023
Title: JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE – Part 2
Source: The Azusa Street Revival
Author: Roberts Liardon
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