RATANA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 300, 13 September 1921, Page 5

RATANA

(To tho Editor.) Sir, —In your issue of September 9 you publish an article from the “Church Gazette” which' 'has filled myself and others with amazement. Why should tho undoubted cures ufliich Ratana has effected bo a matter fof* so much comment and questioning, particularly from the organ of aiChristian church? What I personally have heard and read: of Ratana’s work - docs not bear any resemblance to mental suggestion, or any medical theories whatever. Rather doos it seem as if he were obeying the injunction of Him who said: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise tho dead, cast out devils; freely we have received, freely givfe" (Matt. X), and •in John, XIV: "Verily, verily, I say Unto you, he that belleveth on me the works that I do shall ho do also, and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." The following sentence taken from the article in question explains the mental attitude of the writer: “It is a serious mistake to imagine that God’s agency ia mor© real in extraordinary events such as miraculous cures than in ordinary happenings, such as cures by suggestion, or by medicine or'surgery." When a healing takes place (as has happened in thousands of cases) through the prayer of spiritual understanding, would it not bo more logical to suppose that - it was in .accordrpce with a law of God than against ’ it, and eliould therefore bo regarded as natural instead of supernatural? Huxley l once "When a physical, phenomenon is ‘observed which appears contrary to an existing acceptance of law, it is more intelligent to recogniso, a result of a law to proceed to x acclaim a miracle.”

As for mental suggestion, I have hoard tho statement made time and again that ejiLauggqstions can only be implanted in a mind which has a tendency in the direction of the suggestion made. Ono writer, speaking of tho foregoing, says: "This in itself is a' sufficiently damning excuse, as it would place everybody under a certain moral level at the mercy of \ tho hypnotist.” • Surely, tho majority of ministers of tho Gospel believe that when a cure is effected by prayer alone the Divine activity is more manifest than .when a patient recovers after an operation or from the adminis-. tering of a drug I I will quote from a book which I have before mo on this subject: "That prayer has been efficacious in . healing sickness is shown by tho Bible and authentic history. Tho Apostles and early Christians proved the verity of Jesus’s teachings, and as has been shown, all who believe in Him and His teachings are enjoined to do the works that lie did and greater.”

Why are they not being done by all who profess to follow him now? Lei Christendom solemnly answer this question. Tho Apostle James distinctly said: "Is any among you afflicted? Lot him pray. . . . And the prayer of faith shall save the sick. . . ." James V,

1.1, 15. Wds Jesus talking idly? Have U’s words become oboslofe? Has the law of prayer been repealed? These who deny that God will or can heal the sick to-day aro denying that lie is almighty.' No believer in God, in Christ, and in tho Bible can consistently dispute the power and efficacy of prayer. —I am, etc., DIURA. [This Ijtter hag been slightly condensed.]