PUBLIC THANKSGIVING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 54, 28 November 1923, Page 8

PUBLIC THANKSGIVING

enthusiasm at town

HALL

There was a scene of enthusiastic devotion at tho Town Hall last night, when a public thanksgiving service was held. The hall Mid galleries were crowded 1 . „ , , Special prayers were offered by the Rev AV. Shiver, of St. James s Presbyterian Ohurcii, and the Bev. E. Drake of Trinity Methodist Church, read the lesson from Isaiah chapter 35. After a general recital of the Apostles’ Creed the Bev. J- Reed Glasson of the Terrace Congregational Church,' delivered a short address. Bishop Sprott expressed his gratitude to all who had assisted at . the mission, and said that the organising secretary (Bov. W- Fancourt) had performed his duties with greet efficiency. It was to be hoped that the mission would bo continued; it would Im a disaster if it were allowed to pass without Mr. Hickson’s work being made permanent in our midst, there were patients who were not yet conscious of physical cure. He washed all who suffered and all who prayed with them to continue to pray. . This was the missioner’s earnest desire. Vhe excerpt from St. Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthians, from which ho took his text, was especially symbolical of the efficacy of prayer to relieve bodily infirmity. .. “The Bible is not a book that deals with generalities,” said the Bishop. “All the people it. deals with , have their own individuality, characteristics, and circumstances. We. through tho infirmity of our intellect are compelled to deal with people by classes—they are either farmers, or merchants, or labourers, and so on. But when we come into the spirit region, God deals with us as individuals. Ho can take cognisance of any qf the differences that distinguish us from each other. It was. he said, because of St. Paul’s sickness —an intermittent malarial fever, followed by serious pros-tr'ation-—that he had preached the Gospel to the people of Asia Minor. On three occasions ho had prayed for relief from his maladv and then ceased praying. Why ? Was it because he did not believe ho would be cured? No. Rather had he received an answer from the Lord on High, which completely satisfied him —that ho was blessed with supernatural enablement ; that he had found a- source of strength greater than his own could ever be. What lesson should the people taike from this? They should pray—patients and people—until cure camo «« until the sufferer received an inwava conviction that would satisfy him, »• a revelation or inspiration, such as satisfied St. Paul’s heart. It was no easy thing. It meant that there should be a strong conviction of a reality of love, of the goodness of God. ’ General thanksgiving prayer, . the solemn recital of blessings received, and hymns terminated the service. Mr. Robert Parker was in charge or the musical arrangements, and Messrs. AV. H. Collie and L. B. Shortt were organists. MISSION IN CHRISTCHURCH CURES AT OPENING SERVICE By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch. November 27. The spiritual healing mission was opened in the Cathedral this morning by Mr. J. M. Hickson. Soon after 8 o’clock a large crowd began to gather about the Cathedral grounds. _ Motorcars filled with invalids came into the Square from different parts of the city, and without any delay the patients were taken into the building by the stewards. Sightseers who were very numerous, were kept out of the grounds by the police and a. “live fence” of Christ’s College and High School boys. The arrangements made for the reception and comfort of the patients were wonderfully complete. Once the healing part of the mission service had hegun”there was a steady stream of motors ready to take patients away as speedily as ‘possible. In the grounds ■were large tents, which were used as resting places and refreshment rooms ter patients. In these places tho service given by nurses and helpers was good and o.uick. Tt was just 11.30 o’clock when Mr. Hickson laid hands on his first patient, an old man who was blind', and he then passed from one to another. Most of tho patients were happy in their faith, and many of them looked much more cheerful nnd hopeful than when they went into tho building early in the morning. “I feel so much happier,” said an elderly woman in an invalid chair, who had her arms and legs in bands and plaster. “I have faith and I know that all will be well with me, so I have just to keep on praying.” “I feel a decided improvement,” said a young married woman with leg trouble, who went into the building on a. stretcher, and came out on one. but as soo n as she went into tho rest tent she became better and was'able to sit on a chair and walk a little. Sitting on a stretcher in the tent, a veung mother, crying with joy, had hor arms round a. mite of a boy, aged two years and a half. “He has walked to-day for the first time,” she said, “and I’m sure that faith has done it, ter his father and I have prnyed so.”, Pho said that her child’s brain had' not developed much and ho did not seem to have confidence enough to walk. He could go one stop and then he would collapse on the ground. After the ceremony in the Cathedral she had him supported hy her side as she placed a contribution in the box/ at the door. As she did so. tho child broke away from her side and walked down the steps. Visit to Leper Station.

Mr. Hickson, with Archbishop Julius and others, visited the lepgr patients at Quail Island this afternoon. Alter Mr. Hickson had addressed tho patients, the laying-on of hands took place, Arcfibisliop Julius also laying-on his hands. “We left the patients very, very contented and happy,” jftaid tho Rev. A. J. Petrie, of Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton. Mr. Hickson expressed the opinion that they were well prepared. The men were keyed up and for an hour or two before the arrival of the party were in a state of quiet excitement. During the service they were deeply moved. Even the two Chinese seemed fully to comprehend and appreciate everything that was being done for them.