THANKSGIVING

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 129, 28 November 1923, Page 13

THANKSGIVING

SERVICE AT TOWN HALL

SPIRITUAL HEALING MISSION

The Tow* H&ll wsn . crowded last ev*iiiag at the thanksgiving service in co.-uj«ction with the spiritual healing joiiwksc. After the singing of a hymn, a prayer wu ofiered up by the Rev. W. Shirer \&i. James's Prasbytevian Church) «ws i<Se EflV. E. Drake -(Trinity Methods Church) read the 35th chapter of InaiiCtL. The Eev. J. Reed Glasson (Congvegationalist) said he desired to describe in simple language how the mission impressed him. Alluding to the preliminary service at St., Paul's, he said he felt that he was' there as a member of the Universal Church of Christ. He thought that many, as he did, must have felt that they had the presence, the realised presence, of the living Head of the Church. He felt as he had never felt before, that there was one Church, and only one Church, of which the variaous communions were part. Some had received great physical blessing, but everybody had received a great spiritual inspiration which would never be forgotten. The spiritual aspect had never been forgotten throughout the mission. Even those who had not been cured of their physical trouble had confessed that they could now bear their sufferings as they had never been able to do before.. The mission was one of the signs that the Church was awaking, and that in response to that awaking there was a, move, so to speak, of God. So that it seemed -to be a partial recovery of the power which the Church possessed in the early days. BISHOP SPROTT'S ADDRESS. Bishop Sprott began his address by heartily thanking all those who had assisted at the mission. All the workers, he said, had had a most strenuous time. Although the carrying out of the mission was a novel experience to them all, yet so perfectly did the organisation work that the trying days passed without a hitch. They owed the workers a deep debt of gratitude, yet.he was sure that the workers themselves found far greater reward than any thanks that could be given to them in the sense that they -were ministering to hundreds of sufferers. He thanked the ministers and members of other Churches for so cordially co-op-erating in. the mission, and to them a large part of its success was due. He agreed with: the Rev. Mr. Classqn. that there had been nothing- in his experience that had brought them so closely together _as this mission. In thanking the medical men of the hospitals visited, he must not be understood as implying that those medical authorities necessarily approved of all their methods. Those who took part in the mission did not inquire into that; but in any case the doctors could not have shown greater courtesy and kindness. He specially thanked the organising secretary, the Rev. W. Fancourt, for the efficient manner in which he had done his arduous work. MISSION SHOULD BE CONTINUED. "We all hope," said Bishop Sprott, "that this mission will be continued in some form or other. I should count it a disaster if such a wonderful experience as we havo had should be allowed to pass away without any results I . other than those which immediately followed from it; and if in a few months' time we looked back upon it as something that has passed and gone. At a meeting this afternoon wo unanimously came to the conclusion that in some form or other it 6hould be carried on. "There are patients," continued Bishop .Sprott, "who came, to the mission, and who as yet are riot conscious of having received, at any. rate, physical benefit. I wish very earnestly to impress upon such sufferers and on all their friends who have been praying for them, that they should not cease to pray." He then referred to St. Paul and his "thorn in the flesh." He held that God dealt with us individually; and therefore we could not apply an instance mentioned in the Bible to some other case. The cases stated in .the Bible had their lesson, but we must look for that lesson. Paul only ceasea to pray because he had received an answer that more than satisfied him. He felt that he had been given some source of strength far greater than hie own natural strength. The speaker urged continued prayer until the sufferer was healed or until the sufferer received an inward illumination, revelation, inspiration, and conviction similar to that ■which St. Paul received—a conviction which satisfied, and more than satisfied, the 'sufferer's own heart. Bishop Sprott then read out a list of requests and testimonies sent to the clergy by those who had benefited by the mission, and who desired to join V.'ith those present in the service of thanksgiving. He asked all present to P >n giving thanks to God for the many cases of benefits received. A general thanksgiving prayer was offered up. The Te Deum was than sung, and the service was concluded by the Bishop pronouncing the Benediction.