A PROFESSED WORKER OF MIRACLES.

Press, Volume XVII, Issue 2269, 1 August 1870, Page 3

A PROFESSED WORKER OF MIRACLES.

[" Pall Mall Gazette."] The Liverpool Mercury gives an interesting account of a meeting held in that town by Dr. Newton, from the United States, who heals the sick and afflicted through spiritual aid. Dr. Newton himself seems to have borne some few afflictions of a rather serious nature; for, after telling the audience that he "loved them as he would a brother," he stated that he had many hair-breadth escapes, among which he might mention " strangulation, shipwreck, and a serious fall." Dr. Newton's power of healing is not limited. " I can heal," he said, ** a multitude a» well as a few. 1 can do just as well on five thousand as on a small number." He then proceeded to give " a specimen of his great power." " I will cause, he added, a shock to pass

: J from mo which will be felt more o? less by all present, and if any one is in pain after it, let him como to mc and I will cure hira." This part of th© exhibition appears to have been not so successful as could bo desired. According to the "Mercury," tho doctor stood up, extended hia arms, threw back his head, closed his eyes, made a sudden start as if ho were about to cast himself headforemost into a river, raised bis head again, and shook it in a manner which gave tho impression that he had really taken the plunge, had risen to the surface, and shaken his dripping hair oft* hie face ; and then, opening his eyes, took a general survey of the persons before him. This was the " shock," and it would have been admirable, but nobody seems to have been shocked at all. The doctor, therefore, proceeded to heal people. He first healed a cripple. "Do you love mc?" he asked the sufferer ; " do you love mc as a brother ! " Yes, the cripple did happily love Dr Newton, who accordingly kissed him, and said " Disease depart from thee," the result being that the cripple was bo much better that he went through several twistings at the doctor's request. The next patient proved a more awkward customer to deal with. A sturdy-looking man, with a strong Northern accent, rose and said, " I tak' exception to what you say. Ye say all pain haa left the people in this room. Noo, I have Bufierred for a lang time and i'm nae better." This gentleman suffered from rheumatism, and nothing Dr Newton could say or do seemed to give him relief. Tho reason of the failure was, however, most satisfactorily accounted for. " This case," the doctor said, "is one of a very peculiar sort; this person has a very strong will; he is very positive in his will principle." "My dear friend," he inquired, " did you believe I could cure you before you came up here ? " " Certainly not," replied the patient, and he was accordingly dismissed, as |he expressed it, " nae better," aud incurred great disgrace among the audience. About thirty or forty peraona came to be healed on Sunday, and, except the unbelieving Scotchman, all expressed themselves the better for the "shock." Dr Newton then blessed Liverpool (including Birkenhead), and expressed bis intention of coming to London, where, if he remedies all the ills from which we suffer, he will find plenty of work cut out before him.