FAITH HEALING

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 67, 12 December 1932, Page 8

FAITH HEALING

Mr. Dallimore’s Mission AUCKLAND INQUIRY Report of Investigators “The whole exhibition has been wed described as ’a vaudeville show under the cloak of religion,’ ” states the report of the representative committee which has investigated the faithhealing mission conducted at Auckland bv Mr. A. H. Dallimore. The printed report of the committee, bears the quotation from Abraham Lincoln: “You may fool all the people some oz the time, Aud some of the people all the time, But you cannot fool all the people all the time.” The special committee was composed of prominent ecclesiastical, medical and educational authorities, and the investigation was aimed at the actual results achieved by faith-healing methods. Numerous cases were dealt with, and about 44 of the cases are summarised in the report. The general result of the cases checked up is that no permanent benefit followed on faithhealing. Mr. Dallimore refused to co-operate with the committee and he refused to substantiate his testimonies. No Genuine “Cure.” The conclusions of the committee are as follow: — “Several of the cases for which a cure has been claimed through the Revival Fire Mission have been investigated by the committee. Not one of these “cures,” on being subjected to medical investigation, has proved to be genuine. Some of them appear to have been sheer self-deception, for the evidence crumbled at the touch of inquiry. Others who were sincere in their belief that they had been cured quite forgot to give credit to the medical treatment undergone before and during their visit to the mission. One of the most disuieting facts in connection with this mission has been the amazing credulity shown by a section of the public. -■ “The hysterical applause given at the Revival Fire Mission at every mention of ‘miraculous cure’ is a manifestation of that queer inferiority complex which delights in the abnormal and unconstitutional. Civilisation only restricts —it does not eradicate—those irrational and insurgent impulses in man which ever and anon surprise us by their ready response to the appeal of the sensation-monger. Morbid Curiosity, b. “This is particularly noticeable when the motives of self-pity and selfexhibition are crudely played upon and used to further the missioner’s propaganda. Morbid curiosity is fed by, and grows upon, the spectacle of religious excitement breaking out in hasty testimonies of physical miracles. The incomprehensible gibberish called 'speaking with tongues’ is of the same order. We believe that the susceptibilities of the great majority of the public have been deeply shocked by the degrading spectacle known as ‘going under the power? “Unfortunately the ridiculous side does not lessen the danger to the health, sanity and morale of the community. The permanent results of this mission may be looked for in broken homes, broken hearts, and broken careers when the idle testimonies of spiritual and physical blessings have long been buried in richly-deserved oblivion.

These considerations will satisfy the public of the need of a careful and impartial investigation such as has been attempted. “The aim of the committee has been solely to bring the facts to light and to help public opinion to a balanced judgment.”