Scandal in a Faith-healing Church.

Evening Star, Issue 9003, 9 December 1892, Page 4

Scandal in a Faith-healing Church.

4 remarkable meeting was held on the afternoon of November 23 in the Foresters' Hall, Smith street, Collingwood, when a number of persons attended in response to an invitation to Christians to meet aud consider the evidence laid before them in answer to Pastor Abbott's assertion that they could thank God for the victory over a great public scandal. Mr John L. Jonas was the conductor, and appeared with a voluminous budget of correspondence with which to combat the assertion just quoted. The pastor mentioned is the controlling medium of a faith-healing establishment known as Bethshan, No. 156 Nicholson street, Fitzroy, where he resides. He also conducts services at the Foresters' Hall under the principle of the Free Christian Church, the doctrinal belief of which is that Christ may appear on earth at any moment, and all who disbelieve that or do not expect Him will suffer tribulation immediately he appears. About four years ago a serious scandal was raised at Cork street, North Fitzroy, where a Mr Johnston officiated, and ho was succeeded by Mr Abbot Lately ugly rumors have again been rife, and amongst other stories one gained ground that the domestic relations of Mr and Mrs Abbot werestrained. The condnot and management of Bethshan also came in for a share ef uncomplimentary remarks.

Mr Jonas explained that he was acting with a desire to bring about a thorough reconstruction of the Bethshan Institution. He would like to ask Pastor Abbot if he would be willing to reinstate Mrs Abbot in the position of wife aud mother. He had an attested copy of a letter sent to the offije-bearers of the church, in which Mrs Abbot referred to a person as " this fiend who has come between me and my husband and caused our separation," and added that H there were many who had done their utmoat to drag us apart." She wrote: " I oried out to God out of the very depth to comfort me in my trials. I have been treated worse iu my own home than anyone outside would imagine, as one who is cast off, a mistress done with ; treated with contumely, hatred, malice; made a target for the sneers of those who have supplanted me. How would the women of the church like to have their homes invaded in such a manner? Would they allow othor women to take their places and submit to see their husbands showing attention to others that should be theirs. For many months he haß come down to breakfast and said • Good morning' to everyone in the room but me, and kissed that woman who has taken my place always. Because I objeot I am called a jealous being, and am said to he a liar and a thief, a pickpocket, an Impure woman, a hypocrite, and am said to have a devil. Is it possible to have a worse character?" In this complaint she enumerates her grievances, and points out that what she alleges takes place is done in her home and in the house set apart for God's work. A copy of a marriage certificate was read, whioh set forth that Albert J. Abbot and Elizabeth flislop were married in Timaru, on the 25tb September, 1876, by J. W. Beswick.

Mrs Abbot was present, and at Mr Jonas's request related her story in touohing tones that caused no little oonsternation. The statements were perfectly true, and she oould stand by all that she had said. She oonld not at any time charge her husband with immorality, because she had never Been it. "Only God knows," she piteously oried, " what I have gone through in that bouse since the last eighteen months." Alluding to the behaviour of one lady at the Bethshan Institute, she continued: " When I accused her of sitting upon his knee, she Bald yes, and sho would do it as often as she liked."— {Cries of "False.")

A letter was afterwards read from Pastor Abbot, in which allusion waß' made to his wife and her family, and the letter concluded : " But that is a small matter ; my character is so buried with Christ that I have lost my identity." A long letter was next produced from a former inmate of the Bathshan, in whioh she stated that she had resolved to expose the sin and bypoorisy about the place, and wound up by declaring that it would be impossible to write in a letter of all the works of the Devil that she saw at Bethshan.

Two men, stewards, next addressed the /udience to vindicate the pastor, and then the lady who had been acoused of sitting upon his knee took the platform, and a lively scene ensued. This female assured all present that she was not conscious of suoh » circumstance, and did not remember »it, but a gentleman in the room had explained to her that she had tripped, and accidentally fell into the pastor's lap. As for another aoensation that she had oome put of his room at midnight, it was to be answered by the admission that she had mended his trousers on a certain Friday night and took them to his room. The proceedings occupied fully three hours and a-half, and were plentifully interspersed with aorlmony. Remarkably strong assertions were made, whioh, if the half of them are true, call for an inquiry into the whole affair. Prayer was offered up, and the meeting closed.—'Age.'