Typed Letter Signed by VOLIVA, Wilbur Glenn (1870-1942)

This controversial religious cult figure, who predicted the end of the world in various years during the 1920s and '30s and staunchly believed the earth was flat (backing this up with a $5,000 reward for anyone who could disprove his theory), became leader of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church in Zion, Illinois around 1905 when that town's religious zealot founder (John Alexander Dowie) became incapacitated; he effectively controlled this town and the lives of its 6,000 residents and amassed a personal fortune doing so, though a deathbed admission of embezzlement destroyed his reputation. TLS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Zion, IL, 7 September 1922. Addressed to Waldo C. Moore. Very good. Faint edgewear, with original folds visible but not weakened. Typed in blue ink from the "Office of / WILBUR GLENN VOLIVA, GENERAL OVERSEER OF / THE CHRISTIAN CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN ZION," Voliva here thanks this admirer (treasurer of The Peoples Banking Co. of Lewisburg, Ohio) for "a due-the-bearer emergency currency" and for "The Little souvenir," sending in return (not included) "my personal check, and also a cancelled c heck signed by John Alexander Dowie." Signed with his usual flamboyant full signature as large as his ego, an enormous 5" X 3½". Scarce and unusual.