RATANA AND FAITH-HEALING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17224, 15 August 1921, Page 10

RATANA AND FAITH-HEALING.

—: — ' ' Speaking oil "Some Ancient and Miracles" at the Rugby street Church last night, the . Hev.. J. Napier Milne referred to the cure® of Ratana, which he oelieved to be perfectly genuine. He snid the New Testament warranted a much bolder attitude to what was termed "faith-healirig" than the Church had the courage to take. The Church had herself to blame for the rifle of such fnovementa qb Christian Science and New Thought. It was easy to pour ridicule on- those movements. But beneath tho froth there was draught of reality; truth was mingled with the jargon. Thousands of people had undoubtedly been helped iu their Boufs and healed) in'their bodies by Christian Science and New Thought. These movements, while explaining away some of tho great central truths of Christianity, at aome points emphasised partially. aspects of. Christian trutn. The Church had forgotten the power of spirit over matter, the power wihich </ur Lord recognised when He said to those who came to Him for healing, "Thy faith hath mode thee whole." There were many invalids who had 110 business to be invalids.. It was possible to sicken and even to die because we believed that we would. Sickness must not be spoken of as coming direct from the hand of God. If sickness and disease were according to the will of God, then we had no business to call in a doctor. It was not difficult to see how the error had arisen that bodily affliction was* divinely sent. We liad all seen the gracious uses of adversity, and we had come to identify the grace with its channel, pronouncing them both good.. The preacher did not think we were justified in expecting that any certain or wholesale method of healing would ever be forthcoming Nor was there any need to discountenance the use of medical science. Body and soul, science and faith, cleanliness and godliness, the culture of the spirit' and the search for anti-toxins—all had their u»o and piace. It was absolutely proven that tlhe Soodiiess of people made for health, that Faith was a mighty factor in heaiin?, and that with God all things were possible. A musical service was given by the choir. "O How Amiable" and "I Am Alpha" were tb« anthems. ilirs Vernon Edgar sang as a solo Sullivau's "Love Not .the Vorld,' P an<s amongst the special hymns sung w«.re "We "Would See Jeauß,", "Rock of Agea,' and -Low in the Grave He Lay."