FAITH-HEALING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 264, 7 November 1932, Page 9

FAITH-HEALING.

MR. DALLIMORE'S MISSION.

HUNDREDS OF PATIENTS,

STRANGE STORY OF A TOOTH.

The scene of Mr. A.' H. Dalliinore's "revival fire"' campaign with "healing" was removed to St. James' Theatre for last night, and the popularity of it was shown when, by ten minutes past six, the uishers met every newcomer with,: "Room in the top gallery only." The large building was crowded long before seven. While the people were waiting, the orchestra of 22 played almost continuously selections from the unconventional repertoire of "hymns" that are used—the tunes generally eeem to get as near jazz as possible without being blatantly secular. . ; ■ At 7 p.m. Mr. Dallimore, who had been presiding at the piano, wae relieved by Mrs. Dallimore, hymns were sung, prayer was said,.and Mr. Dallimore read and made running comments upon passages from the New Testament dealing exclusively with the miracles performed by Christ. Incidentally he referred to ■his "mission," and mentioned several cases. One was of a baby called "Sonny" who had been prayed over "before he was born and was given to God." Sonny pulled a kettle of boiling water over himself, his mother called on Jeeus, and there wasn't a mark on Sonny'e body. "I think Sonny's mother is present tonight," said Mr. Dallimore. A woman tstood up, the audience craned its neck, and there was applause.

A Dental Miracle. Mr. Dallimore also quoted from a letter written by a Hamilton girl of 15, who recounted that she had gone to him with toothache, and he had anointed her cheek. In the morning, lying on the pillow was something hard. She looked, and it was the offending tooth, described by Mr. Dallimore as having been "hollow, but firm as a rock," when she was anointed. In the night that tooth had been taken out, and there was cavity where the tooth had been. Some of the audience applauded. "Can you wonder we trust' Jesus?" asked Mr. Dallimore. "Caii you wonder I love him?" At a later eUuze Mr. Dallimore made ; another reference" to this tooth. He said it was rather humorous because a reference had been made to him getting a tooth out. The question had been asked, "Why not heal the tooth?" "God did not heal the tooth of my little pal in Hamilton, said Mr. Dallimore; "he took it out! (Applause.) . -v Then came the collection, and wlule it was being taken up Mr. Dallimore expressed gratitude to the owners of the theatre for allowing him to use their building. He made no reference to being refused the use of the Town Hall. Quoting from letters in front of him, Mr. Dallimore referred to a case of internal trouble cured at Xelson; to toothache banished by a blessed handkerchief; to a devotee who had found her spectacles broken in their case, took it as a Divine hint, and had since found her sight so-improved that she could read email print. Applause greeted the announcement of each miracle. The Piece de Resistance. The stage was then cleared, and the main item of the evening took place. Hundreds of people, mostly women and girls, filed on to the stage. Mre. Dallimore held a goblet that contained oil, Mr. Dallimore dipped a finger into it. made a pass or a "peck" at each patient's face, the patient fell back, was caught by an attendant, and Mr. Dallimore (who was in his shirt sleeves) passed on to the next. "Heal her, Jesus, Mighty Jesus!" "Lord!" "Wonderful Jeeus." These were some of the expressions used by Mr. Dallimore as he went quickly from one patient to the next. In some cases the subject failed to respond to his gesture indicating a backward fall. In such cases the "healer" redoubled his calls, and placed one hand on the patient's chest and the other on its back, but in quite a number of cases the result was still negative. ■ In nearly every case the patient carried a handkerchief in his or her hand, and this was "touched" by Mr. Dallimore, and when it dropped to the floor was picked up and thrown on the prostrate body. At times the stage was full of supine bodies. Some remained motionless for several minutes, and then got up in a rather dazed manner and wandered off. Some of the "touched" fell like logs, some crumpled up at the knees, and some merely collapsed limply. It was not an edifying spectacle. "Gift of Tongues."

jeuuuuicvx juo ~— r - v on the patient's eheet and the other on its back, but in quite a number of cases the result was still negative. In nearly every case the patient carried a hand- = kerchief in his or her hand, and this was "touched" by Mr. Dallimore, and when it dropped to the floor was picked up and thrown on the prostrate body. At times the stage was full of supine bodies. Some remained motionless for seveial minutes, and then got up in a rathei dazed manner and wandered off. Some of the "touched" fell like logs, some crumpled up at the knees, and some merely collapsed limply. It was not an - edifying spectacle. J "Gift of Tongues." , One woman called out some gibberish in a high-pitched, hysterical voice, and ' continued to do so after she returned to her seat. When appealed to for an , explanation, one of the ushers said: ■ "She had received evidence of the visit < of the Holy Ghost; it is the 'gift of ; tongues."' The performance went on until about 9.20 p.m., when Mr. Dallimore held up his hand in a dramatic manner and called ' in a loud voice, "No more!" , The singing of the Doxology and a benediction, pronounced by the chief actor, brought this singular evening to a close.