PRAYER IN HEALING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 129, 4 June 1927, Page 17

PRAYER IN HEALING

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Just recently I happened to read several articles by well-known physicians and theologians on the subject of prayer in healing, and on the disastrous effects of fear. It is interesting to note that it as .only in comparatively recent years that science has concerned itself witlv this phase of human thought and feeling. At the same time, however, every physician worthy of his calling has admitted that.the mind influenced-the body in sickness as well as in health, and has realised that the patient's faith in his ability and in the medicine prescribed have been important contributing factors in conquering discordant conditions.

, Many doctors realise too the force of the fear... thought in the development of disease on the human body, and in this connection the opinion expressed by the medical correspondent .'of. the "London Times" is interesting. "It is probably true that more people are crippled or weakened by the fear of dissease than by the disease itself." How necessary it is, therefore, that, people should endeavour to fill their thoughts with hope and confidence instead of the useless and debilitating contemplation of disease. . The best antidote,for the latter condition of mind is the simple habit of prayer, and the earnest endeavour to cast fear out of consciousness. Wo are told in Timothy that "God hath '"riot given us the spirit of fear, but 1 of power and of love and of a sound mind."

To; show the trend of advanced medical thought, I will quote the ppinion of several eminent surgeons and doctors on the subject of prayer and healing. Dr. Bichard S. Cabot, well known as a. great physician and a member of the Massachusetts General Hospital, said: "I believe that prayer does cure disease. Healing comas to some ihdivi-; duals directly through prayer I am sure. I use it in my practice, and rely on it to : day- more often than in medicine. I believe, that ; prayer is. ; a contributing factor in the;victory over disease.-]. If I- had no material means at - hand, I should use prayer with confidence that it would Work the cure, if recovery,.'were in conformity -with God's will; -and when prayer has thus been made a factor, in ' recovery, I believe" it, is through '.direct action on the part of God." .;. .".". .. ■•' .:-. V.

At a- conf ereiice of medical specialists held in Leicester, England, some years ago, Dr. Hyslop, Superintendent pf the 'Bethlehem Boyal Hospital/ London, was one of the speakers. In. tiro course of his ' address, this well-known surgeon said: "Of all hygienic measures to counteract disturbed sleep, depression of spirits, and all ; tho miserable sequels of.a disturbed mind, I would uiidoubtedly, gfve , tho .first, place to the simple- habit-'of prayer.?''... . Dr.; Willia'ni M.' Sadler,-' author of "Physiology of Faith and Fear," in a series of magazine articles, said in part, "Learn to trust God. If Christianity were practically applied to our everyday life, it would so purify and vitalise tho race that at least ono half of our sickness and sorrow would disappear.' Faith .is aii actual remedy for these physical ills which .result from doubt, discouragement, anil .depression. I make.this statement as a'physician and surgeon. Let us go back to our neglected Bibles with, their exceeding great and j>recious promises, to our ■Biblea wherein it is written: 'Casting all your care upon Him, for Ho caroth for you. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will giye you rest—Who healeth all thy diseases.' " .'. . *■• ■. ■''•':" ; •"

Under the heading" Values in Healing," "The Silent Partner, ", an American journal published the following: "Dr. Mayo, tho famous surgoon, in stressing the great value of roligion in healing, said,' There is a change in attitude of'the regular practitionor, produced by the changes in religion and in the; art of healing. A gleam of hope is better, than a whole fog bank of fear in the matter of getting a patient into •-Eteaven or into good physical condition. "I'm God's child" has saved many a person who.looked up from tho marble slab at,tho surgeon's knife.' "

In 1916, the "Medical Eeview of Beviews," commenting on a certain sect Which practices spiritual healing, said: "Our ..;.friends arc scientifically correct when they say that fear causes consumption and worry produces cancer. Cancer comes front faulty circulation, faulty circulation is the direct result of jerky imperfect breathing, and imperfect breathing always goes with, and is a result of, fear, worry, hate and un: kindness."

•jNlight it not be well foi';the profession to inquire into these matters? All the resources of .medicine and all the skill of : surgery sometimes fail—were we to exclude, as foreign to the prosent day or perhaps to any day at all the power of f aithT and prayer.—l am, etc.,' .■■'•■'■■ ' '. • \ DIUEA.