MISSION OF HEALING

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1186, 8 December 1924, Page 11

MISSION OF HEALING

MR HICKSON IN ENGLAND. &lANY CURES REPORTED. Particulars of the spiritual healing services held in England recently by Mr J. M. Hickson —who conducted a. mission in New Zealand in October of last year—are given in the London newspapers. Four hundred sick people, some on stretchers, and almost unconscious, somo barely able to totter, some to outward appearance in normal health, gathered with their friends and helpers iri the Frizinghall Parish Church at Bradford. Mrs Crossland, of Bradford, who had been blind for five years when she entered the church, now says that she can see a little, and that she’s certain that sho will entirely recover her sight. The mission, the first to be held with the full sanction of the English Church authorities, was attended by the Bishop of Bradford, Dr. Perowne, who personally accompanied Mr Hickson as he moved among the sick, laying his hands upon them. “NOW I AM BETTER.” Cases of apparent betterment were not infrequent, but in only one instance was the change a spectacular one. This came toward tho end of the session, when an elderly woman, upon leaving the church, threw her crutches down upon the roadway and climbed almost unaided into the car.provided for her. She is Mrs Pinfold, of Bradford. She stated that she; had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for a long time.

“Two years ago lo this very day I took to iny bed,” Mrs Pinfold said, but now I am better.” Somebody picked up hor crutches and asked where they should be put. “You can leave them where tlioy aro if you like,” said Mrs Pinfold. Her face was suffused with the light of what seemed perfect happiness and serenity, and she was driven away amid the rather awed hand-clapping of the crowd. That evening Mrs Pinfold, when seen at her house, said that she felt better then than when 9110 left* the church, and to prove, it sho walked twice round tho kitchen table, heel and toe, a thing which she had not been able to do for two years. “I feel that I can walk anywhere now,” sho said, “and 1 am going to walk to tlie polling booth if necessary.” Mrs Pinfold is 60. For 16 w;eeks at one time hor leg was fastened in irons.

EPILEPSY AND PARALYSIS CASE. At tho nows that a woman had announced herself cured of epilepsy and paralysis, the largo congregation at the church sang the Doxology with rcvi\ alist fervour. The woman herself, her supporting sticks discarded, walked slowly but firmly towards her car. She is Mrs V ickerman, of Shipley*. She has suffered for 18 years, and has been able to move about only with extreme difficulty. Mrs Vickerman was se'en with a number of other special cases by Mr Hickson, the missioner, in the vestry before tho service began. Afterwards sho was being assisted by two nurses into the rest marquee, when sho threw hor sticks away. “I have done with these,” she said, and stepped steadily forward without them. Scarcely able to contain herself for joy, Mrs Vickerman spoke of her great hope that, she.may be able to return lo her old profession of teaching. “It is my dearest wish,” she said, “and now,” drawing herself up confidently, “there is no reason why 1 shouldn’t do it.” OTHER PATIENTS’ TESTIMONIES.

Two Other cases of healing wero- announced by tho Bishop of Bradford from tlie alter. One was that of a woman from Keighley who had been suffering from arthritis and neuritis for a number of years. She had been unable to grasp anything in her bands, but this power she declared returned to her, and her pain was gone. Tho other instance was of a j woman unable to walk for 12 years. She i could, alter the service, move freely about: the house. Both cases aro vouched for j by tho Rev. E. T. G. Hunter, rector of j Keighley. _ , I Among other patients who testified to j an improvement in their condition after, tho laying on of hands was Mrs Cross- , ley of Keighley, who has had spinal; trouble for five years. She said that for] the first time in all that period she telt j that health was again possible for her. Miss Dosworth, a domestic servant, ot , Bradford, who has suffered from paralysis of the right arm since her birth stated that after she had been up to the altar sho found that she could rnovo her arm slightly. . , Ar tlie closo of the service at 1 adding ton, a woman who had been blind for many tears, suddenly exclaimed that she was ” able to make her way to the door without assistance. In another case a man who had been lame for a considerable time and who 'lias attended previous services conducted by Mr Hickson m the church, said ho felt so much better that it. would not be long before ho could dispense with his crutches.

SCIENTIST’S POINT OF VIEW. In a letter to the Times, Dr. Otto May. of Hampstead, sets out the medical point of view of the healing mission Ho says he has no reason to question the authenticity of the cures described, but that it is of real importance that the public should understand the limitations, as well as tho possibilities, of tins type of treatU 1 “Undoubtedly,” says Dr. May, ‘‘the most dramatic cases aro those of the cui of paralysis of many years duration o a patient suddenly regaining command ot inoveiiieii'-s which had seemed irretrievably lost. To tho public one case ot paralysis is much like another if onn can be cured by faith, why not all? It must therefore be clearly pointed out that cases of paralysis fall into two groups: (1) those in which it is duo to some definite organic disease of the nervous syslcm-u disease which could bo demonstrated by objective changes if the body were exam; ined after death; (2) stalled functional paralysis, in which there is no giOoS phsicial disease, but m which the loss of power is entirely mental in origin duo to psychological repression, dissociation, sufTKestion. , • , “These latter are the cases which ca be( and are, cured by the various methods of psychotherapy (mental healing), are* in fact, so cured every day 111 tIH hospitals and clinics dealing with nervous diseases, though without the publicity an emotional atmosphere associated witn ‘spiritual mission.’ . , ‘‘This, 'then, is part of the story tha symptoms dependent who ly on '' ien | factors may be suecesfully treated by form of psycho-analysis, auto-suggestion hypnotism, or emotional suggestion. Bu ■ it is not quite the whole story. 1,1 every case of organic disease, 01 «“!-> you will, while some of the aymptoins are duo to the actual disease, otlicis a . tirelv mental, due to the psychical ettect, of the symptoms, and, m , the patient’s realisation of bis cl> -cast.. 1 other words, every case of ' some mental element, ready suitable suggestion.

CAUTION URGED BY A BISHOP. The Salisbury Diocesan l-esolved to appoint a committee.to co>. aider the ministry of hea mg. «. ■ lan Cameron referred to the \vondoiful li cidents in the Bradford mission. The Bishop of Salisbury (Di. Donald c o n) suggested that they should suspend their judgment until they knew more about it. He said it was because he believed so intensely that there was somethin"- behind the movement that he was anxious to go slowly. Missions on a .urge scale, he said, should not bo held without most' careful preparation, and >n many quarters they did not know how sc m. iatc them. They must go forward with caution, reverence, and hope.