DIVINE HEALING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 11 April 1922, Page 3

DIVINE HEALING

In view of the great interest f fit in the expected visit of the great English healer, Mr Hickson, to New Zealand, the following from an account of bis healing mission in the ancient Coptic church in Cairo is instructive. .I'or tins we are indebted to The Healer, a magazine devoted to the revival of the gifts of healing in tin: tliurcb. Mr Hickson (says its corespondent) readied Cairo on October 7th. The Bishop in Jerusalem had written cordially in favour ot Ids visit to Egypt: “1 wish every possible success to Ids proposed Mission ol Healing.’’ Mr Hickson also obtained the blessing and sanction of the aged Patriarch of tlic Coptic Church. The service of explanation in the Coptic church, raised nuidi interest, witness the fact, that some 200 came two days later for healing, while a- few hundreds more were present; but alas ! some to disturb. At the climax of tins disturbance Mr Hickson spoke with an amazing authority, and within ten minutes, bow I know not, the noise had mainly transferred itself outside the church. He laid hands on ail those who came to him for

healing. But it was necessary to cancel the services announced for the two

following days in that church. About a week before this event Mr Hickson told the present writer he know there would be opposition, but, lie also knew’ it would be all right. The Mission thence forward altered its method, Mr Hickson met smaller congregations,

j and people collected eagerly in private houses, in groups, to receive the blessing of prayer services for healing. It was noticeable how simply Air Hickson seemed to get into relationship and sympathy with people, of every standing, whose language and habits of thought were other than his own. We are grateful for having in our midst one who has such an implicit and unusual power of relaxing Jus personal effort, because Christ, through him is so much mure active. His astonishing and intuitive orthodoxy, from his absolute : belief in the Divinity of our Lord, to ! his New Testament practice of the felj lowship with the mighty angels, has lit I up more Hum one passage of Scripture | far ns with a new and luminous reality. ! And his power of unravelling and ihs- ! corning deep-seated old twists in mind’ i and disorders in soul have revived for" > Ils the prospect of release from a new ! area of troubles. We look forward to bis j return visit, God willing, with.eagerness. I A w’ord may be ailed to say that for j the last several years in Egypt w’e can i see how r events have been in train for I some such new accession of faith for 1 healing as is now offered to us. There I have been a number of eases of healing in Christ’s name in this country in recent years, and guidance, lias been given that it is God’s will. A group tor prayer for healing has been meeting for periods during the past five years. It gives us the more confidence in God’s purpose in the visits of Mr Hickson that they seem to he woven into the very pattern of tho fabric of Church progress here, and not to bo just a splash of colour dabbed on. May God bless and empower thd even greater encounters in India and beyond.