ORAL ROBERTS MISSION

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 6

ORAL ROBERTS MISSION

REPORTS SAID TO BE MISLEADING

Cabled reports had given a misleading picture of the Oral Roberts mission in Sydney and Melbourne, according to Pastor W. E. Wilson and Associate Pastor W. R. T. Lewis, of the Evangelistic Temple, Christchurch, in a statement to “The Press” on their return from Australia as official observers of the mission.

They said that Oral Robert’s mission aroused great interest among clergy of a number of denominations, and many clergymen attended meetings in both cities. The Most Rev. H. W. K. Mowll, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, and Primate of Australia, wished the Roberts campaign well, saying he approved the attendance of his clergy. He telephoned this message to the Sydney campaign chairman, the Rev. P. B. Duncan. An Anglican, the Rev. John Hope, briefly Addressed an audience of 5000, saying, “I thank God for sending a man with the message of deliverance.” In both campaings they saw, at close hand, many who claimed to receive Divine healing in answer to prayer. After interviewing many persons concerned they were convinced that many genuine healings occurred, and they described several instances. They said that Mr Roberts repeatedly declared that he could not heal and had never claimed to have personally healed anybody. He emphasised, “Only God can heal!”

The pastors said that the Sydney tent meetings were orderly and reverent, apart from one or two interjections, which New South Wales police quickly restrained. As' the Melbourne campaign proceeded, however, a group, apparently organised, disrupted meetings, intimidating audience members. The pastors were at a loss to understand why the Victorian police seemed to have no power to enforce order and secure religious freedom for the services. Through the public address system, a former Lord Mayor (Cr. William Brens) was heard only with difficulty above jeers and counting out. He publicly questioned Mr Roberts and declared, “I am satisfied the campaign comes within the law.”

“The Sydney attendances in 10 days totalled 75,000, 2500 going forward to accept Christ as Saviour. In five days in Melbourne, 40.000 attended, and about 800 decided and went forward,” continues the statement.

“Thousands of Australians remain grateful to Christian people in America who enabled Mr/Roberts to accept the Australian ministers’ invitation to visit them. They also believe that Australia will long reap the benefit of Mr Roberts’s ministry. Thousands of Australians, blessed spiritually and physically through the Oral Roberts mission, are now living Christian lives and have therefore become more noble and law-abiding citizens.”

The pastors also refer to medical interest in spiritual healing; and they draw attention to a reported statement by Dr. W. L. Carrington, a Melbourne medical practitioner, that “spiritual healing does take place.”