THE CHURCH AND SPIRITUAL HEALING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 961, 31 October 1910, Page 7

THE CHURCH AND SPIRITUAL HEALING.

In an article' on "The Church and Spiritual Healing" a writer : in "} lowbray's -Annual" (Anglican) states'.—A great deal of interest has been draw a in recent years to the' effect of mind on body—to mental health and mental healing, and to those higher : spiritual influences that lie behind, and are generally classed .together under the name of. spiritual healing; v. Very remarkable cures have by now come within the per; sonal notice of most people; and the existence of some such cases' is not denied in medical oiroles, though the critical scientific mind would not accept all the cures that are claimed. The Gospels are full of healing works; and the Gospels also tell us that the Apostles and others healed the sick as well as our Lord. Tho Acts abound in therapeutic miracles: the .Epistles bear witness':.'',to "gifts of healing," and- to the' use of unction, not for tho absolution of the dying, but for the healing of the sick. Church history is full of tho same thing; and miracles of healing, some of them extremoly well attested, abound in tho lives of the saints; whilo tljere have .also been enthusiastic faith-healing 1 - movements among Protestant Christians within the last two centuries. ' Churchmen, who understand'what SacramenUilism i?, can never despite the outward and, visible: they -will welcome the great' discoveries of.' medicine and hygiene, but they may at tho same time confidently expect that doctors will' increasingly apgrcciate tho help which' religious inuenoes .bring to' their therapeutic work, aud- Aiili wolcome, as many do already, the power of spiritual succour in the sick-room. Medical, scienco is proclaiming more . strongly overy year - the power of mind over b<wy;' and the later psychologists, such as Professor James! have already sown seed which will bear a remarkable harvest. There are three societies in the Church for the-study and practice of spiritual healing—the Guild of Health," the "Society of Emmanuel," and : the "Churoh and Medical Union." In.Amorica thero is a strong "Emmanuel Movement," founded at Boston, by Dr. Worcester, the Rector of Emmanuel Churoh of that city, and Dr. M'Comb in that city.' '