PASTOR BIRCH AT THE CHORAL HALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8539, 13 April 1891, Page 5

PASTOR BIRCH AT THE CHORAL HALL.

FAITH HEALING.—A MIRACLE PERFORMED. Yesterday forenoon a fellowship meeting took placo at the Choral Hall under the supervision of Pastor Birch. In the even.iug he held a second service in the Choral Hall, which was very largely attended. The preliminary portion of the service was taken by Mr. Robert Fry, who gave out the hymns and read a portion of scripture. Mr. C. B. Stone, in making the announcements before the collection, asked the people to give as God had blessed them, as there wore the rent of the hall, cleaning, gas, advertising, etc., to be defrayed. He stated that Mr. Birch's committee had not yet seen clearly the mind of the Lord, or what He would dictate as to the pastor's future course of action, bub during the coming week it might be made more manifest as to whether he was to stay or not. Judging from that large audience that night, he did not think there would be much difficulty in deciding on that head. (Applause.) Pastor Birch then endeavoured to speak a word or two to the audience, but could only gasp out in a whisper that he had lost his voice, and could not speak to them. He was apparently suffering from sore throat or a severe cold. Mr. Fry explained that Pastor Birch had got wet two or three times during the week, and had caught a bad cold. They would sing a hymn, and see if his voice got better. On the hymn being concluded, a man got up in the third form of the hall and broke out into prayer. He prayed that the Almighty might restore Mr. Birch's voice, and said all things were possible to God, and the prayer of faith might be answered as of old. When the man had concluded Pastor Birch got. up and announced his text, " Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God," in his usual natural tone of voice, with a very slight huskiness. He said that he little thought that afternoon coming from Onehunga that he would be the subject that night of faith-healing. The pastor then went on with his discourse, occasionally touching on the Holiness dogma, and denounced the cliquism of the churches and their servility to wealth. They bowed low to the man with the big watch chain and his pockets filled with bank notes, and to the woman in silks and satins who drove up to the church in a buggy and pair. (Applause.) He illustrated this weakness by a nigger story. A darkey named Dickson attended a New York church. The first year he gave 20 dollars to the stated ministry, and was called Mr, Dickson. Trade fell off, and next year he only gave five dollars, and was then called " Brudder Dickson," which was a drop, but he did not complain much of that. The third year he was unable to givo anything, and he overheard himself at the church meeting spoken of as "that old nigger Dickson." (Laughter.) Hitherto lie had "felt that something like a rope was round his neck, but now he could preach freely salvation not only from hell but from sin. During the past year ho had done some things which he did not think wrong at the time, but he would not do them again. In concluding and making announcements as to the coming week, Pastor Birch* stated that the friends at Onehunga desired to hold a tea-party, and present him with an address on Wednesday. The friends in tho hall he asked to meet with him this evening, at the Lome street Hall, to seek the Lord's guidance as to his future course of action. He did not wish to appear as preaching in opposition to the old church, but he thought he might safely say that services would be held in that hall next Sunday. (Applause.) He wanted to avoid the appearance of evil, and to do what wa3 right in the sight of God and man. The miracle which had taken place that evening in the restoration of his voice, manifested the power of God, and showed to him an indication that the Almighty desired him to remain in Auckland. > The announcement of the miracle was received by the audience in dead silence, and no manifestation of any kind whatever was made. Pastor Birch said he would then leave the after-meeting in charge of Mr. Fry, and the ordinary service concluded and the bulk of the audience dispersed.