FAITH-HEALING CURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8556, 2 May 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

FAITH-HEALING CURES

BROKEN LEG MENDED BY PRAYER. A Manchester correspondent has interviewed the proprietress of the " Bethshan" or Faith-healing Home in Liverpool with a view to ascertaining particulars of the work carried on. At No. 30, Prince's Avenue, the broad brass-plate upon the outer gate proclaims in bold lettering that this is the earthly tabernacle whence the Heaven-sent miracles are said to emanate. Prince's Avenue is the most fashionable thoroughfare in Liverpool. It is inhabited by " smart" people, lias a sprinkling of doctors, is neatly laid out as a boulevard. The door was opened by Mrs. Crook herself, the proprietress of the " Bethshan." In a quietly fluent fashion she commenced to relate how and whorefore she had come to bo associated with the "Bethshan" and faith-healing. " Some IS years ago," Mrs. Crook said, " I was in so delicate a state of health as to be given up by five doctors, but by God : blessing I came to know Him, and was so tilled by His spirit that I lost sight of myself. Then my body seemed to get better, so much so that, meeting my doctor one day, he asked me how it was that my health was so much improved. I told him that it was Christ. Then I began to visit ,fche sick in Everton, and it appeared as if in answer to prayer they were raised up. A lady said to be dying of consumption was healed. A poor woman to whom the doctors had given only eight hours to live was raised up, and the next day went downstairs. It was borne in upon me that the Lord was answering my prayers. I continued in the work. My own children were raised up when they were very ill. One of them had her lungs affected. I took my own ailments to Him and they were cured. Then the Lord revealed to me that I must take a room for his work. I began in the Whiteiield Hall, Whitefield Lane, Liverpool. We had frequent meetings,'" and there again many were healed. From there, with other helpers, I went to Islington, where we took a house and named it " Bethshan," tho House of Rest. The Lord blessed our work there. We had many cases. "" A woman was cured of cancer. About nine years ago we removed again to Great George's Square, and it was there that my broken leg was healed. It was in November, four years ago," said Mrs. Crook, " that I fell upon the doorstep of the house and broke my leg—a compound fracture. I was taken into the house, and carried upstairs in agony, but with strong faith that God would heal my hurt. My great anxiety was lest a doctor should be brought to me, and in that fear I refrained from informing my husband. For three days I passed the time lying upon a bed or sitting in a chair, suffering tortures. My foot from the ankle was hanging loose, the bono completely broken, and the whole.of the leg blackened and swollen to thrice its natural size. Upon the fourth day Dr. Hill called. I refused to see him, until after his own earnest entreaty and upon his promise not to touch my limb without my consent. Dr. Hill asked to see my leg, and upon seeing it he urged 1110 strongly to allow him to set it. 'No,' I said, 'the Lord will heal mo ; I feel it.' Dr. Hill expostulated. The Lord, he said, was able to perform miracles, no doubt, but this was one that he surely would perform only through the medium of human hands. I remained firm, bub asked Dr. Hill to pray with me and for me. He did so. Ho felt my pulse. ' Why', he said, 'it is as steady and normal as it can be— is the pulse of a person in complete health.' I told him I knew I would be healed, and he left. In four hours afterwards I was able to lift my leg and foot without pain and cross them over my other leg, and in a few days after that I was well." " But was the leg really broken?" asked the interviewer. "It; was a complete fracture, and a bad one," replied Mrs. Crook, emphatically. Hereupon one of the ladies in the room interposed with corroborative evidence. Her brother-in-law, she said, although a clergyman, was a sceptic in regard to faith-healing, and, .hearing of the reported cure of Mrs. Crook, and that a doctor could certify to the facts, had written asking seriatim certain questionsjstraight to the point. To those queries Dr. Hill replied with equal precision, and the lady now produced a copy of the doctor's letter. He stated : " (1) I saw and carefully examined the injury. It was a very bad fracture. (2) I fully explained to her the great danger of neglecting proper treatment. (8) I did consider the limb would never become sound again or useful unless she had recourse to the ordinary treatment for fracture. (5) As she had no human aid, I cannot but believe she was healed by I Divine action*" ]