Eccentric faith healer John Alexander Dowie died - On this day in history

Scottish faith healer John Alexander Dowie died in Illinois, USA, on 9 March 1907. Dowie was an Edinburgh-born theologian who founded the Christian Catholic Church at Zion, USA. He caused controversy with his belief in the power of healing by prayer alone and proclaimed himself 'Elijah the Restorer', banning his followers from drinking, smoking or eating pork.

Dowie put himself at odds with other faith healers, through his vocal disagreement with their healing methods and was eventually overthrown and expelled from the church, which later collapsed through financial ruin.

FURTHER READING

The personal letters of John Alexander Dowie

QUICK LINK: Tales of Scottish eccentrics