MINISTRY OF HEALING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 3, 5 January 1926, Page 7

MINISTRY OF HEALING

MEDICINE AND THE CHURCH

ADVISORY COMMITTED.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 21st November.

On the initiation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has acted on a minute, of the 1920 Lambeth Conference, a committee has been appointed consisting'of a number of doctors and clergy whose mission will be to advise the Church on the Ministry of Healing. The Bishop of Southwark is to be chairman. In 1920 the Lambeth Conference expressed the opinion that "much good might be done by the appointment of a permanent committee of clergy and doctors to advise the Church in these matters." The members of the committee are: Medical—William Brown, M.D., D.Sc; H. C. Cameron, M.D., F.R.C.P.; J. W. Car:-, M.D., F.R.C.S.; W. MAdam Secies, M.D., F.R.C.S.; Sir Percival Hartley, M.D., F.R.0.P.; and Sir Maurice Craig, M.D. Clergy—The Bjshop of Southwark (chairman), the Dean of St. Paul's, Rev. Canop, Pym, Rev. P. Underhill, Rev. Harold Anson (one time in New Zealand), and the Key. L. W. Grensted. THE MEDICAL ATTITUDE. The British Medical Association is understood as not taking any official part in or cognisance of. the committee. This was the decision arrived at at a recent conference, and will be adhered to, it was stated by Dr.. Anderson (acting in the absence of Dr. Cox, the secretary). "Individual medical men are at liberty to take what action they think fit, either to acept or decline invitations to serve upon the committee," he said. "The association will not seek to influence them in any way. The position is that, while not in the least desiring to hamper the Bishop of Southwark and those who will meet with him, we think the time has not arrived when we can speak authoritatively on behalf of the profession generally on the question of spiritual healing. "There is, we feel, too much difference of opinion among doctors in regard to the subject at present for us to do so, Some believe heartily in spiritual healing, while others are as strongly opposed to the idea underlying it. That being the case, the associations view is that the only fair and dignified attitude is to allow perfect freedom while taking no official share in the work of the committee. The Archbishop hag, we recognise, a perfect right to institute such an inquiry, and we shall await its report with interest." , VALUE OF FAITH. Dr. Otto May, hon. physician and surgeon to University College Hospital, and the author of many medical works, discussing the subject, said: "My own feeling is that the mental stata of the patient, particularly in regard to the desire to become well and faith that he or she can be cured, is of great importance. It is undoubtedly a good factor towards recovery for the patient to have faith in himself an- in his doctor, and, I would add, faith in the Almighty as well. At the same time, I cannot find any evidence leading me to believe in Divine interference with the laws of Nature or the ordinary physical and psychological laws." BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT. The view of "The Guardian" is that the setting up of the committee will hi welcomed with relief and hope by all who have watched carefully the development of the healing art. It will be hailed with relief, because there is need for a body, qualified to speak authoritatively, to which the clergy especially can turn with assurance for instruction and advice. There are growing up withiu the Church several spiritual healing "sects," each of which regards the dogmas of the others with suspicion; and their disagreement makes it increasingly difficult for those who have had no special training to select the most trustworthy for their confidence: the Archbishop's committee will help such persons to arrive at a right judgment, and perhaps will stimulate to further thought some who regard this practice, in whatever form, in the light of a pestilent heresy. The appointment of the committee will be welcomed also with hope, for the results of "spiritual healing" already attained are plain to ccc, and new knowledge of the subject is being won almost daily. The early stumblings after the truth concerning the interactions of body and mind led to the achievements of the best modern psycho-analvitii: and patient inquiry into the relation of these tiv6 to man's spiritual nature may w«ll lead to diioover- > i«d »\'«n tiio** b«u«fUUl ia tb« net duunti [iuturai .