MISSION OF HEALING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18519, 2 October 1923, Page 9

MISSION OF HEALING.

AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING.

GREAT SPIRITUAL UPLIFT.

SEVERAL PHYSICAL BENEFITS.

AFFECTING SIGHT AT CHURCH.

The spiritual healing mission of the Anglican Church: was? opened in. St. Matthew's' Church by Mr. J. M. Hickson yesterday morning, when, a very largo

number of people, chiefly women and children— grievously ill, others not apparently suffering from other than the afflictions of age or comparatively trivial disabilitiesreceived the • laying' on of bands, and the blessing of 'the Church from tho Bishop, Dr. ■ Avcrill,. or ono of the attendant clergy.. . Nothing of a sensational character occurred, and erroneous preconceived iiik prcssions that the mission would produce highly emotional scenes and spectacular healings that would instantly be acclaimed as miracles, were dispelled." - On the other hand, those who had hoped and prayed for a spiritual experience of an unusual character, were able, to testify to a wonderful stirring of tho soul. Following such a remarkable series of preparatory services of intercession, it ■ was expected that tho huge congregation of intercessors and sufferers at the first service would, experience exalta-, tion of the soul to a rare degree, but anticipation could not have exceeded realisation. The sou! of the congregation was in tune with the Infinite, and, j although it would not havo been sur- i prising if lingering doubts had made their mark on this faco and that, at tho exercise of a ministry so long forgotten as to be now regarded as novel, there was no outward evidence of any mental turmoil. A Eeverent .assembly. ! In an ordinary church service most people aro sufficiently self-conscious to permit individuality to assert itself in ■ many little ways. There, in the calm sanctified atmosphere of the beautiful church, _ the people forgot themselves in the spirit of prayer. Long before the service opened, people vrero on their knees praying for the blessing of God upon the sick and afflicted. It was obviously not the habitual prayer which people utter after entering church. Heads remained bowed for long periods in supplication. Certainly, the experiences of yesterday proved that whatever results are achieved in physical healing, the mission has already produced a quickening in the spirit- . nal life of a large section of the community. The organisation was perfect. Everyone, including intercessors, was admitted by ticket, and all went smoothly. Patients and others were all in their places by tho appointed time. The ushers were ail clergymen, some belonging, to other denominations, and they, together with the white-robed nurses, all knew their duties precisely, There was no noise and no bustling about: a quiet efficiency prevailed. -

The soft notes of the organ stole to the vaulted roof, and added to the sense of calm and spiritual well-being.

A Pathetic Procession.

When the church doors were opened at eight o'clock, there were already people outside waiting admission, end the succeeding two hours were a time of subdued stir and activity. By nine o'clock a very large number of patients and intercessors had taken their seats, and shortly afterwards the stretcher and chair cases began to arrive. Very pitiful was the tight of this procession of the stricken, come to seek healing from a God of Compassion, after earthly means had failed. Among those who passed into the church were several men and women borne tenderly on . stretchers by officers of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, others who were assisted into invalid chairs and wheeled in, and yet others who draeged .themselves painfully alons on crutches. The tap-tapping of . sticks, the shuffle of crippled feet. the_ soft glide of rubber-tyred chairs, sounded incessantly as that long procession of the afflicted passed within the portals of the House of God, and tears filled the eyes of many ;tmong the crowd of watchers at the gatesas they looked ion the white, worn faces, and pain-twisted limbs of the poor sufferers ■.•-■••.''■''''•"'; Service in the Vestry.

Some" of the most pathetic cases were those dealt with in one of the vestries below the church before the mission service began. Here -were assembled those suffering from epilepsy, or nervous disorders," which rendered it inadvisable that they should be taken into the church itself.. They numbered.' about 20,' among them elderly.men ami women, and little children borne tenderly in the arms of their mothers. In order that the. new and unfamiliar surroundings, and the period of waiting, might not unduly disturb them, those in attendance began to sing hymn;,, in which ; the patients soon joined." and nothing, more poignant was there in the whole of the mission service than the sound of those wavering and uncertain voices raised in hymns and intercession. Across the strains of music sounded suddenly the weeping and wild cries of a. little child mentally' distraught, but gradually she was soothed, and the sin trine went on. ' ' . , Shortly before 10 o'clock, Mr. Hickson, accompanied bv Bishop Avenll. and a member. of the clem", descended to the vestry, where a brief service was held, followed by the laying-on of hands and a blessing pronounced by the Bishop. The child who had cried burst into another terrible fit of weeping, as she was led in from the sunny out"-of-door3, and she was treated separately in another vestry. But the exorcism of the spirit which , troubled her was .not. as in days of old, accomplished immediately, although the child was quiet and smiling happily when rho left the church grounds. Some Practical Results. Others who ha/1 been treated rested quietly a little while, then passed outsideand made 1 their way homeward. No immediate cures seemed to have been effected, but there was peace and happiness on almost every face.

A very. large number.of patients availed themselves of the opportunity. for rest and refreshment provided in St. Matthew's .Sunday-school, by members of the Girls' Diocesan Association. _ Here it was possible to form some, slight estimate of the practical results of the mission service. The sight of two invalid chair;,, left there by men who had been wheeled into the. building, and had left it on foot, seemed to point, to cures which existed not merely in the imagination, but in real fact. Many of those questioned as to whether they felt any improvement in their condition said they felt wonderfully happy, and were convinced that physical healing would follow. It certainly seemed io have followed very quickly in other cases. Twelve Years' Sufferer Finds Relief. A man with a joyous face, seated in a wheel chair, sno'ke of healing already partly accomplished, and of absolute conviction that a complete cure would fol low. " I have suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for 12 years," he said, "and although I cannot take a step, I can just manage to stand. Since I have been attending the intercessory service, I havo gained the freer use of one hand, a finger of which was stiff and practically useless. My worst trouble was in my feet and neck, which I have not been able to move for months. When I went into the church this morning, my neck was filled with pain. The pain has vanished completely, and as you can see, 1 can move my head in any direction. Don't you think that speaks 'for itself?" And looking into that radiant face, one could find no answer but. the one he had • found for himself. '

The same radiance lay in the eyes of a little old woman, who declared she had suffered from partial deafness for 20 years. a statement supported'. by her husband •ir:rl a friend in attendance. "People have always had to talk very loudly in order to make her hear," thev'said. But no on<! hr.A to, talk ,very loudly to make. her hear yesterday : morning;, she conversed with an inquirer without the slightest effort, and 'like those who were healed by the Great Physician in ages gone by, vent on her way thanking God.