FAITH HEALING

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 31, 31 October 1932, Page 10

FAITH HEALING

Bishop’s Condemnation “SUCH NONSENSE” Committee’s Investigation Dominion Special Service. Auckland, Oct. 29. An appeal from the Bishop of Waikato, Cherrington, to refrain from attending faith-healing missions is contained in the latest issue of “Cathedral Parish Notes.” “It is not the Bishop’s business to say what people not of his Church shall do in the matter,” the report states, “but he does most emphatically say that it is simply wrong on the part of Church people to play about with such nonsense, whether carried on under the guise of religion or otherwise. God .has so abundantly blessed men in their diligent and painstaking work for the cure of ailments that it must be a direct offence against Him to think that we can regain health by any silly short cuts. “Hypnotism and auto-suggestion are methods of cure which should be employed by medical men only, for they onlv can understand the special need of each patient. To claim faith healing in this century as a cure, because our Lord and his apostles cured in this way, is to misunderstand the New Testament and disparage the wonderful gifts of healing which have been given bv God to doctors and nurses. * “The Bishop earnestly hopes that all Church people will refrain from these exhibitions which, in his ‘opinion, are both silly and wrong, and in the long run can only do harm to those taking part.” “Already a number of people have offered themselves to the committee for investigation,” said the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh, chairman of the committee which is to inquire into faith healing in Auckland. Mr. Lawson Marsh said the aim of the committee was to investigate the claims that cures had been effected. The work of investigation had only just begun, but from time to time statements would be issued to the Press.