MISSION OF HEALING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 10

MISSION OF HEALING.

PROCESSION OF PATIENTS. BODIES PRONE ON FLOOR. AN ONLOOKER'S IMPRESSIONS. No one was led by the spirit to speak in a strange tongue at last night's meeting of the Covenant Hall Mission, that was conducted by Mn A. H. Dallimore, but once again many people suffering from real or imaginary ills of the body dropped to the floor unconscious when (ho missioner laid his hands upon them and invoking tho "mighty namo of Jesus of Nazareth" commanded tho weakness to depart. Previously ho affirmed that ho did not exert hypnotic power, but ho did not explain why tho "laying on of hands" induced a condition of trance. Tho sight of theso people on the floor is somewhat revolting to tho ordinary mind. For instance, 0110 young woman lay as if in a troubled sleep, sometimes twitching. Her trance lasted tho whole of tho period devoted to healing. The missioncr had to walk from side to sido of tho space in front of the platform where the people lay, often having to step over theso pathetic prono forms. A Vocal Sceptic. Last evening there was somo activo opposition, a young man at tho back denouncing tho missioner in emphatic terms when tho first woman fell. The missioncr look no notice, but sent a boy up the main aislo to prove that he had had a stiff leg cured. Ho also treated a girl who ho said had had to bo carried for four years. Through faith, which, in this case, involves hypnotism, she had been restored and recently had run in a race. There is too large a suggestion of magic about much of the business for the person who cannot believe in the literal interpretation of the Gospel. Handkerchiefs are often produced for " healing power" for absent friends. Mr. Dallimore said that in some cases theso articles had been placed in the beds of sufferers without their knowledge and had wrought benefit. But where does faith come in in such a case ? Another point that should be mentioned is that he accepts the statement of every person about their health, disregarding the fact that imaginary ills tako many people to doctors every day.

" The Operation Will Not Be Necessary." In one case last evening a woman went up, becauso she was facing a dangerous operation and did not wish it. " Now," said tho missioner, " I am going to make a plain statement. She will not have that operation. It won't be necessary." Promptly she was hypnotised and lay on the bare linoleum.

_ Because ono girl had lost the restored sight of one eye it was stated she had lost faith, but had como to renew it. A man declared his child who had been mentally defective had been cured and that he himself had been cured of neuritis in the arm, which he stretched. In regard to a handkerchief for a sick person it was said that the lady who was to send it away would return next Sunday and fell of the effect. "So you see I am making some rash statements tonight," said Mr. Dallimore.

" Yes," shouted the voice of tho young man who had already interrupted. A little girl with long plaits came forward for adenoids. As she was hypnotised tho missioner said,-"We thank you, Lord Jesus, for removing them now." Over a case of sore throat he said, "Goodbye, sore throat. What a wonderful Jesus."

He later said/ that a hospital nurse, had come forward. "Wo have several nurses and ono doctor," he remarked. " You Couldn't Hypnotise Her."

One elderly woman did not drop and after prayer walked back to her seat. " You couldn't hypnotise her," interjected tho young man. " Let tho Lord have His own way," said tho missioner, and during the treatment of tho next patient added, "That is proof lam not a hypnotist. You touched tho nail on the head that time."

A woman presented a handkercliief for the healing of her two children and also asked that lier husband should be found work. In his prayer the missioner said, "Let the Lord find this good man work, and find it soon." Later Jio said (hat once lie had lost his own voice for 15 years, which was a serious matter seeing that he had been on the stage at ono time. "Lord Jesus healed my voice," lie said. "No one can take it from me. I've got the goods." As to handkerchiefs, he mentioned that ono of them had "burned like fire" in the hands of the lady who took it away. "Wonderful tilings happen when the Lord gets busy." Earlier in tho meeting he said his congregation was looking at a man who had been raised from tho dead. After all signs of life had left his body he had been restored to life through the prayers of his mother.

After witnessing the evening's transactions one decided to read again "Ihe Golden Bough" and "Primitive Mentality."