A NEW SECT

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1920, Page 3

A NEW SECT

SOME STEAKGE BELIEFS. "SIGNS AND WONDEHS" AT DUNEDIN. For about a year past there has been in Dunedin a small but steadily growing body of people professing a faith, some features of which "could not fail to attract outside attention. They have lived together quietly and uuobstrusivelv, but rumours of

miracles of healing- and of hysterical midnight gatherings, in which "demons" were exorcised, have gathered about them. It is also true that their influences over certain impressionable and suffering people has aroused not a little anger and indigantion among the relatives most nearly concerned. A reporter visited the headquarters of the movement a few days ago. There was at first an unwillingness to make any statement for publication, but on it beinp; pointed out the movement was already being much talked about, the leader, Miss Burnard, eventually consented to receive an interviewer. Miss Burnard said the mo-ve-j. i. i :± ■ : i... „i_ :..

meut had its origin away back in the days of Pentecost. It was spreading all over tho world. They expected the second coming of Christ very soon, and this was being- preceded by special outpourings of the Holy Spirit, similar to the outpouring at Pentecost recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. "Signs and wonders" were following now just as they followed then. NO NEED FOR DOCTOItS. Asked as to their views aboutphysical healing - , she said there wore two kinds of physical healing. "Numbers of our band have been delivered from sickness agaii l and again. Instead of going to the doctor we pray the prayer o* faith." Miss Burnard frankly admitted that they believed in present-day "demon possession/' and stated that quite a number of their band, here have been delivered from demons. A number with failing' sight, she said, have been persuaded to give up their glasses, and some suffering from deafness to lay aside ear trumpets. But with candour she added that the manifestations that they had been waiting for in these cases had not yet come. The trouble, of course., was lack of faith on the part of tho afflicted ones. The reporter took occasion to put a leading- question on the subject of interference by the band with domestic relations, and was met with unvarying candour and

a cheerful irresponsibility. Miss Burnard explained that they only did as the Lord led them, and the Lord himself came "to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother." THE GIFT OF PROPHECY. Miss Burnard claims the gift of prophecy for members of the band, and says that many of their prophecies have been fulfilled to the letter. Of others the fulfilment is yet to come. Another gift which she says is possessed by some of the band is that of

"discerning the spirits." This means that the people so endowed can infallibly distinguish between the spirit of good and the spirit of evil, and can always detect Satan when masquerading as an "angel of light." She also indicated the nature of some of the meetings held by the band. O'n occasions thev fast when "led" to do so, and many spend all night weeping and groaning and praying together.