MILNER STEPHEN AGAIN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1322, 21 March 1884, Page 4

MILNER STEPHEN AGAIN.

(BT TELEGRAPH.) IxvEF.CAr.ciLL, March 20. Milner Stephen heul«d in public to-day at Sloan's Tneatre. aDd quite a scene occurred. Mr Loui3 Rodgers, who hud paid Stephen two guinea 3 to treat him for deafness on the occasion of his former visit, rose and affirmed that he wa3 no better for it, and challenged Stephen to bring forward anyone who had benefited by his treatment in luvercargill. _Ha said no wonder that Stephen complained that people did not come to him this time —"Once bit twice shy." Rodgcra said be knew othere who were nothing the better of Stephen's treatment, and thought it a pity that people did not come forward and state so boldly. He was ready to admit that Stephen was in earnest, and believed he had this power, bat it was only a fad. Mr Stephen elicited the fact that Rodgers had only been treated once, a further charge of a guinea having caused him to drop further treatment. He affirmed that Rvdgers must have come to him without faith or belief in hi 3 (Stephen's) power to heal. No benefit could be got in such cases. His scale of fees was printed, and Rogers •was therefore not deceived in the matter. He denied being possessed of supernatural power, and could not say how it came that he could heal sick ; but the fact remained that he did so. Had Rodgers said he received no benefit, he would not have charged him for further treatment. He did'nt profess to cure instantaneously, as many people supposed ; in fact, he did not like instantaneous cures himself. Having read several testimonials from other parts, Stephen if it did not seem extraordinary that he, who had stood before the people of Melbourne and Sydney unchallenged, should be bowled out in this out of the way corner of the colonies. Rodgers could not judge of his (Stephen's) powers, because his small mind could not comprehend it. He looked on Rodger's remarks with contempt, and asked if it ■was possible that he could have made those who had given him testimonials make liars and swindlers of themselves. He offered to treat Rodgers again gratis. Rodgers said the thing was all " bunkum " if Stephen could give one case of cure at Invercargill he would go down on his kneefe and beg his pardon. Stephen said Rodgers had done hi 3 ntmost to have his revengo for the loss of two guineas, but it would fail. He asserted that he had been most successful in Dunedin among the last treated there by him. After a smart passage at arms, Rodgers gave Miiner the lie direct, and in return was called a vulgar upstart. Rodgers retorted by calling Stephen an imposter. Dr. Wardalc, of the local hospital, also tackled Stephen, and a long discussion followed. The doctor challenged Stephen to produce anyone who had benefited by his treatment locally, and offered him two patients from the hospital, with ten guineas down if he cured them. One was a man who threw away bis crutches after Stephen's treatment on a former visit, but was back in the hospital a day after. Stephen contended that if the people went back to the cause of the disease, he could not be expected to guarantee that they could remain whole. He cited the case of a miner who was cured of rheumatism by him and went to work in the mine, ■with the result that the disease came back immediately. He declined to say that he -would cure" the case 3 mentioned by the doctor, Tvho, perhaps, knew they were incurable. He did not profess to cure every case. The episode created amusement and excitement among the audience. None of those who went up for treatment spoke of feeling relieved ; but none were acnte cases. Stephens combated his opponents chiefly by reading the testimony of cures he had performed elsewhere.